DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, October 3 – Tensions flared in Georgia’s capital on the eve of crucial local elections after violence broke out near Metekhi Bridge, leaving two people injured, including a youth leader from the opposition United National Movement (UNM). Igor Narmania, head of UNM’s youth wing, was preparing to make a public statement with fellow activists … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR is expanding its fuel terminal on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, a move that will strengthen the energy link from the Caspian to Europe. SOCAR’s Kulevi terminal, which has operated since 2008, has submitted environmental documents to Georgian authorities for the addition of four new cylindrical steel … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Russia has become Georgia’s third-largest trading partner this year, with bilateral turnover reaching USD 1.7 billion between January and August, according to official data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (GeoStat). The figure marks a 4.3% increase compared to last year and accounts for 10.5% of Georgia’s overall trade. Imports … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – On the eve of Georgia’s local elections, parts of the opposition are promising what they call a “peaceful revolution.” The dramatic language has raised tensions in Tbilisi, where analysts warn that the country may be heading for a confrontation with echoes from its turbulent past. According to Rezonansi, opposition organizers initially … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Tbilisi drivers often grumble about getting stuck in traffic, but the head of Georgian Taxi Federation insists the capital’s gridlock is nothing compared to other big cities. Zurab Agladze, founder of the federation, told BPN that licensed taxi drivers with modern, registered cars have a major advantage: they can use the … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – With just two days to go before Georgia’s local elections, mayoral candidates in Tbilisi went head-to-head in a fiery televised debate Thursday night that showcased the country’s deep political divides. The debate, broadcast on the public broadcaster’s Channel 1, brought together nine registered candidates, including incumbent mayor and ruling Georgian Dream … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Georgia has been ranked ahead of several of the world’s most influential economies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, in a new global index measuring commitment to democratic transformation. The ranking, published within the Coherence Report produced by the Spain-based research network Common Future, is … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Georgian businessman and public figure Levan Vasadze has released an open letter, dated 20 September, claiming that British sanctions announced on 19 September led Georgian banks to restrict services not only to himself, but also to members of his family – and a wine company owned by his spouse, BPN reports. … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Georgia is set to hold nationwide local elections on October 4, with authorities pledging transparency, security, and swift results through the broadest use yet of electronic voting technology. According to Central Election Commission (CEC) chair Giorgi Kalandarishvili, 3,061 polling stations will open across the country, including 2,284 equipped with electronic ballot … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Chinese state-owned companies have won contracts to build many of Georgia’s biggest road projects, but a debate is brewing about fair competition and the future of the country’s own building industry. According to Georgia’s BPN, six of the ten largest road contractors operating in 2024 were Chinese. That dominance has raised … Read more