In Crimea, police officers issued human rights activist Abdureshit Dzhepparov a warning against violating the law. Law enforcement officials explained the document's origins in connection with the upcoming holiday on May 9th, but such actions typically occur shortly before the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People (May 18th).
On February 1, the castling of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze will be announced. They will exchange positions, the pro-government Imedi TV channel reported. Reshuffles may also affect other departments, including the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice.
Earlier, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili called talk of personnel changes “speculation.” At the end of December 2023, the founder of the ruling party, billionaire, former citizen of the Russian Federation Bidzina Ivanishvili returned to Georgian politics, taking the place of honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream. He named the reason for the lack of opposition in the country and, accordingly, a lever to control power. At the same time, Ivanishvili claimed that there would be no changes in the government.