The crisis of rising prices continues in the country, while citizens grow poorer year by year – Tazo Datunashvili

According to Tazo Datunashvili, one of the leaders of "Lelo – Strong Georgia," a crisis of rising prices persists in the country—alongside the process of banning opposition parties—and the economic situation of the population is deteriorating.

As Datunashvili stated at a press conference held today, data from Geostat (the National Statistics Office of Georgia) indicates that annual inflation reached 5.9% in October 2026. He noted that prices have increased for both essential goods and services.

According to Datunashvili, in October, the price of diesel fuel rose by 61%, gasoline by 37%, beef by 16%, chicken by 15%, and tomatoes by 37%. He further stated that prices within the transport category increased by 21.9%, while the cost of intercity travel by road transport rose by 17%. "Lelo – Strong Georgia" calls on the government to temporarily reduce the excise tax on gasoline—a tax that, according to a party representative, was doubled by "Georgian Dream" in 2017—taking into account the current situation in international markets.

According to Datunashvili, countries such as Poland, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Italy have already decided to reduce excise taxes on fuel. He suggests that this measure would not only lower fuel prices but also help halt further price increases for other goods.

"The public must realize that, alongside the banning of political parties and the emergence of authoritarianism, the country is facing a severe crisis. Wages are not rising, investments are not coming in, and pension increases fail to offset rising prices; consequently, Georgian citizens are becoming poorer year after year," stated Datunashvili. According to his assessment, several months after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze promised price reductions and initiated relevant investigations and the establishment of commissions, the government has failed to deliver on these price cuts.

"Instead of lower prices, citizens are being offered nothing but repression and the destruction of the opposition," stated Tazo Datunashvili.