A Sulaimani court has sentenced Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement—the largest opposition party with 15 seats in the Kurdistan Parliament and 9 in the Iraqi Parliament—to five months in prison. The charges stem from a complaint filed by a former New Generation MP in the Kurdistan Parliament, who alleged that Abdulwahid threatened her with blackmail.

Context: Abdulwahid has been in detention for three weeks under a court order based on a complaint filed in 2019 by Shadi Nawzad, a former New Generation MP who later joined the PUK. He was initially sentenced to six months in prison under Article 431 of the Iraqi Penal Code for “making threats” against Nawzad. His lawyers appealed, and the sentence was reduced to five months in today’s ruling.

Analysis: The case, though dating back to 2019, was revived on August 4—just three months ahead of parliamentary elections. Given Abdulwahid’s prior month-long detention in 2021 and his current three weeks in custody, he will in practice serve about three more months, meaning he will be released only weeks after the November elections. The timing raises questions, though the arrest may ironically boost New Generation politically. It provides campaign material and may push other opposition parties to sharpen their criticism of the ruling parties in order to keep pace with New Generation’s combative stance. Abdulwahid has long argued that rival opposition groups—particularly the Halwest Movement, which competes for a similar voter base—are too close to the PUK. Halwest, for its part, has accused New Generation of shady dealings and frequently cited Abdulwahid’s visit to Ankara and his meeting with Turkey’s deputy foreign minister as evidence against him.

Abdulwahid has also built a quiet working relationship with the Iraqi prime minister. Notably, his media outlet NRT TV has adopted a markedly softer tone toward Baghdad compared to its relentless criticism of the KRG. While New Generation frames itself as an opposition force in both Erbil and Baghdad, NRT’s coverage consistently portrays the Iraqi government in a positive light.

In March, we reported that the PUK had stepped up efforts to curb Abdulwahid’s business activities, allegedly in response to his diplomatic outreach. He reportedly met Turkish officials and was close to striking a deal with the KDP to form a government excluding the PUK, before retreating under heavy pressure. Unverified reports suggest the PUK reactivated several legal cases against him, with one court allegedly seizing projects worth 92 billion IQD in Sulaimani.

At the same time, Abdulwahid has pursued business deals in Baghdad, seemingly as a way to shield himself from PUK pressure. Yet he has also faced setbacks there, including the arrest of his brother on bribery and corruption charges. These developments could make him more vulnerable to political leverage from multiple sides—significant given his party’s parliamentary weight in both Erbil and Baghdad.

Before entering politics, Abdulwahid built his fortune through controversial schemes. He sold shares in projects with promises of high returns, initially delivering payouts that drew in more investors. Many later lost their money when he stopped payments, citing failed projects, even as his own wealth continued to grow. Critics have likened this to a Ponzi scheme.

This legacy explains why he now faces 79 additional cases, over 70 of which are from shareholders in his projects. At least three other cases remain active, including: one over tearing down a KDP candidate’s campaign banner in Sulaimani; another dating back to the pandemic, accusing him of defying quarantine rules; and a lawsuit from a KDP candidate after Abdulwahid declared that “anyone with dignity should not become a candidate of the authorities.”

Beyond the courts, Abdulwahid faces growing financial pressure. He owns the Nalia Group of Companies, including NRT TV—the backbone of New Generation’s political strength. According to an official document from the Sulaimani Enforcement Directorate, Nalia owes 91.7 billion IQD to a Sulaimani bank under the KRG Ministry of Finance. The loan, taken to finance the Chaviland project, remains unpaid. As a result, the bank has pursued legal action, and enforcement orders were issued in September 2024 and February 2025. This week, the ministry announced that Nalia’s assets will be put up for public auction to recover the debt.