DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, October 19 – A Tbilisi court on Sunday sentenced journalist and TV anchor Vakho Sanaia to six days in administrative detention after finding him guilty of violating Georgia’s law on public assemblies. Judge Manuchar Tsatsua ruled that Sanaia, a prominent presenter on opposition-leaning broadcaster Formula TV, was guilty of blocking traffic during a protest … Read more
TBILISI, October 19 – A well-known Georgian journalist and TV anchor, Vakho Sanaia, was detained by police in central Tbilisi on Sunday, his employer Formula TV reported. A Video circulating on social media showed Sanaia entering a police car, with bystanders filming. Formula said the journalist was detained for allegedly blocking Rustaveli Avenue, where opposition … Read more
TBILISI, October 19 – A senior Georgian Orthodox bishop has publicly criticized the government’s handling of the recent nationwide searches targeting former high-ranking officials, comparing the approach to the methods used by the Bolsheviks in the early 20th century. In a post published Saturday on social media, Metropolitan Anton of Vani and Baghdati said he … Read more
TBILISI, October 18 – Georgia’s political scene was thrown into turmoil on Friday after law enforcement agencies carried out simultaneous searches at 22 locations across the country, including the homes of former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former State Security Service head Grigol Liluashvili, and former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze. According to the Ministry of Internal … Read more
TBILISI, October 18 – Five people detained during the October 4 protest in Tbilisi appeared before court Saturday, rejecting charges of participating in group violence and, in one case, attempting to seize a strategic facility, offenses that carry prison terms of up to six years. At the hearing, defendant Mariam Meqantishvili broke down in tears … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – In the first three quarters of 2025, the government of Georgia granted refugee status to 11 foreigners, and humanitarian status to 20 others, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Most of those receiving status came from Ukraine or Turkey. Under the refugee regime, seven Turkish citizens, one Russian … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – Three people were killed in a traffic accident on a road near the village of Kavtiskhevi in Georgia’s Kaspi municipality, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed on Friday. According to the ministry, the crash occurred on Thursday evening. An investigation has been opened under Article 276 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze sharply criticized the European Commission on Friday, accusing its press office of showing “direct support” for what he described as an attempted coup and of remaining silent about the recent attempted storming of the presidential palace in Tbilisi. Speaking to reporters, Kobakhidze said the Commission should … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – Georgia’s State Security Service announced Friday that three people have been arrested in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi for allegedly producing fake medical certificates and helping others obtain disability status in exchange for money. Emzar Gagnidze, head of the service’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, said during a briefing that the suspects, including doctors and … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – Explosions were heard overnight in the Russian resort city of Sochi, where local authorities said air defenses shot down incoming missiles and drones. Sochi’s mayor, Andrey Proshunin, said all emergency services had been placed on high alert and were working under the coordination of the city’s operational headquarters. He later confirmed … Read more