Georgia First Movement Launches as Political Party Under Viktor Kipiani

The Georgia First movement — known in Georgian as Jer Sakartvelo — held a founding congress on June 28 at the Courtyard Marriott in Tbilisi and moved to become a registered political party. Viktor Kipiani, who chairs the analytical organization Geocase and was once a lawyer for Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, was elected party chair. The party has not yet been registered by the Public Registry.

Platform and founding figures

Georgia First describes its ideology as pragmatic right and says it seeks to build what it calls a "thinking state." Kipiani told delegates the party does not aim to be opposition only and wants to be oriented toward change.

Several public figures are associated with the initiative, including former Georgian Public Broadcaster anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, diplomat Valeri Chechelashvili, former Deputy Economy Minister Nikoloz Alavidze, and activist Giorgi Tumasyan. The congress also elected a political council that includes Rusudan Tevzadze, a former For Georgia political council member who renounced her parliament mandate in October 2025; former armed forces chief of staff Vakhtang Kapanadze; Chechelashvili; and GeoCase researchers Giorgi Antadze and Nikoloz Khatiashvili.

Kipiani's break with Ivanishvili

Kipiani, as a senior partner at MKD Law, represented Ivanishvili as the billionaire reported asset difficulties in the West after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The two parted ways in March 2023, after Georgian Dream introduced the contested foreign agents law that drew mass protests. Kipiani publicly criticized the bill and the ruling party, and then-Georgian Dream MP Anri Okhanashvili later confirmed Kipiani no longer represented Ivanishvili.

Congress messaging and registration context

Addressing delegates, Kipiani said Georgia First rejects glorification and the cult of personality, condemns political revenge, and considers it unacceptable to distinguish between friendly and unfriendly countries in the civilized world. On relations with other parties, he said the movement is open to engaging with everyone and has what he called a special attitude toward the opposition Alliance, while adding that Georgia First has the capacity to develop beyond that grouping.

Several recently launched opposition parties have faced obstacles securing registration with the Public Registry. Freedom Square was rejected twice before registration was secured in November 2025, as was the case with the Federalists.