DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, December 4 – The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party confronted the liberal group in European politics Thursday, demanding that ALDE publicly distance itself from opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili. The ultimatum follows Elisashvili’s arrest November 29 on charges of attempting a terrorist act, a case that has fueled intense discussions in Georgia’s divided political scene … Read more
TBILISI, December 4 – Georgia’s Black Sea oil business was rocked again on Thursday as three employees of the Batumi oil terminal were detained on charges of bypassing customs procedures and illegally disposing of more than ten thousand tons of crude. The State Investigative Service said the value of the undeclared oil exceeds 15 million … Read more
Georgia’s government is selling its planned overhaul of higher education as a bold modernization drive. Natia Pipia, an assistant professor at Tbilisi State University, sees it as a very expensive experiment that could reshape the country’s economy, and its protest scene. At the heart of the plan is “one city, one faculty” and a wider … Read more
TBILISI, December 4 – Starbucks may finally be on its way into Georgia’s food and beverage market, with talks underway for a possible 2026 launch. The negotiations are being led by the Alshaya Group, a franchise operator in the Middle East and Europe, while Starbucks’ regional operations would be handled by Shaya Turkey, the company … Read more
TBILISI, December 4 – Supporters of jailed opposition politician Levan Khabeishvili rallied outside Georgia’s State Security Service in Tbilisi on Thursday, accusing the authorities of holding him behind bars because of his political comments. Some were activists from the United National Movement (UNM), others, family members and friends. They were gathered to protest what they … Read more
TBILISI, December 3 – A customs officer at Georgia’s main Black Sea port has been arrested on bribery charges after investigators said he sold confidential commercial data from a government database. The Finance Ministry’s Investigation Service reported Wednesday that the officer worked at the Revenue Service’s customs clearance zone in Poti, a major gateway for … Read more
TBILISI, December 3 – Police in western Georgia have arrested two men accused of stealing industrial fuel from a construction site on the runway at Kutaisi International Airport. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, officers from the Imereti Police Department detained two 27-year-olds employed as technicians at Spenus Group, a company working on the … Read more
TBILISI, December 2 – Georgia has cut planned funding for the construction of the Anaklia deep-sea port, one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, according to the final version of the 2026 state budget submitted to parliament. The government now intends to spend 50 million lari (18 million USD) next year on the port’s … Read more
TBILISI, December 2 – Georgia will reintroduce mandatory uniforms at all public primary schools starting from next year, the government announced on Tuesday. The rule will apply to pupils from first through sixth grade and is part of a broader overhaul of the country’s general education system. Education Minister Givi Mikanadze unveiled the plan during … Read more
TBILISI, December 2 – Georgia has unveiled plans for two university towns which will spread out the country’s higher education system geographically and ease some of the pressure on Tbilisi. The government says the new campuses planned for Kutaisi and Rustavi will offer modern facilities, cheaper housing and space for a combined 60,000 students. The … Read more