On July 17, 2025, the Minister of Education, Science, and Youth from “Georgian Dream,” Givi Mikanadze, called journalists “ridiculous” and “powerless” in response to a question regarding his doctoral degree.

“You are very ridiculous, really very ridiculous, so powerless. What diploma are you talking about? PhD candidate… you can read this in any of my CVs. You are very ridiculous. Do you know how powerless you are?” — Mikanadze stated.

When he was appointed minister, Georgian Dream’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, referred to him as a doctor from the University of Amsterdam. It later emerged that Mikanadze does not actually hold the degree. Journalists were attempting to verify this information.