Georgian Dream to Expropriate Tbilisi Properties for Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Georgian Dream Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili has signed a decree authorizing the expropriation of private property from five owners in Tbilisi to make way for the construction of the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center. The order, signed on April 3 and published on April 7, designates the project an "essential public need" following the breakdown of negotiations for voluntary sales.
The project is a joint effort between Azerbaijan and Georgia, with the Azerbaijani government providing the funding while the Georgian side handles land acquisition. Although the foundation for the center was laid in 2023 at 25 Gorgasali Street near the Azerbaijani Embassy, the Ministry stated that an expansion became necessary during the building's design phase.
This expansion requires the removal of a traditional "Italian courtyard" residential settlement, a housing style organized around a shared courtyard characteristic of Tbilisi's historic neighborhoods. While the government reached agreements with 13 owners who sold their properties voluntarily, the five remaining residents who refused to transfer their rights now face state-mandated expropriation.
The finalized project envisions a 5,380 square meter site featuring a multifunctional educational platform. The complex will house a children's theater, a concert hall, and a 780 square meter public space designed for international festivals and academic programs. According to the decree, the center aims to boost cultural tourism and strengthen regional cooperation, which the government believes will have a positive impact on the country's broader economic environment.
The timing of the decree has drawn attention, as it was published just one day after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Tbilisi on April 6. During his trip, Aliyev held meetings with high-level Georgian Dream officials, including Irakli Kobakhidze and the ruling party's Honorary Chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Under Georgian law, the affected property owners have the right to appeal the valuation and the expropriation order in court.
