Monday, March 16, 2026

Heavy rains flood homes and roads in western Georgia

TBILISI, September 21 – Torrential rains have caused flooding in western Georgia, damaging homes and infrastructure. In Khobi, in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, heavy downpours flooded household plots, courtyards of apartment blocks, and basements. Water also entered the first floors of several homes. Local officials said emergency crews and municipal services were mobilized, with special … Read more

Georgia PM says foreign-funded groups blocked hydropower plans

TBILISI, September 20 – Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze blames the halting of two major hydropower plans on ‘sabotage’ by foreign-funded groups. Hydropower projects in Georgia have long drawn street protests, but Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze now says some groups went further, engaging in sabotage and demands for stakes in energy projects. The PM pointed to … Read more

Georgia speaker blasts US Congress ‘Nightmare’ proposal

TBILISI, September 20 – Georgia’s parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili has strongly rejected a new sanctions package proposed in the U.S. Congress. The so-called “Georgian Nightmare Act” was adopted as a proposed addition to the National Defense Authorization Act by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and would instruct officials not to take any action or allocate funds … Read more

Georgia police free teen detained with toy pistol at rally

TBILISI, September 20 – Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed the release of a teenager who was arrested during a rally in Tbilisi on September 15 for allegedly displaying a gun. The ministry said forensic experts determined that the object seized was not a real firearm. Police had initially reported that a person born … Read more

Tbilisi gas outage leaves 17,000 without supply after pipeline accident

TBILISI, September 19 – A pipeline accident in Georgia’s capital has cut gas supplies to around 17,000 customers, energy provider Tbilisi Energy confirmed to Interpressnews. The shutdown, which began just after midnight today, September 19, hit large parts of the Dighomi and Gldani districts. Both residential neighborhoods and major facilities, including hospitals, schools and businesses, … Read more

Georgia and China to update free trade deal

TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia and China are preparing to update their free trade agreement, which has been in force since May 2017. The news was announced by Georgia’s Ministry of Economy. Talks have already taken place between the two governments. On the Georgian side, the negotiations were led by Deputy Minister of Economy and … Read more

Nearly all Georgia’s minibuses and trucks are over 10 years old

TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia’s public transport fleet is showing its age. According to the country’s statistics office, almost 93 percent of all minibuses and buses in Georgia are more than ten years old. The 2024 data show a total of 54,600 buses and minibuses registered nationwide. Of these, 50,600, or 92.7 percent, were built … Read more

Russia to Abkhazia flights top 70,000 passengers since May reopening

TBILISI, September 18 – More than 70,000 passengers have flown on direct routes between Russia and Abkhazia since Moscow resumed air links to the breakaway region earlier this year, according to Russian aviation chief Dmitry Yadrovo in a briefing with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Flights into Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, restarted on May 1, … Read more

Ruling party runs unopposed in one-third of Georgia’s mayoral races

TBILISI, September 18 – As Georgia heads toward local elections, in 25 municipalities across the country, only the ruling Georgian Dream party has put forward mayoral candidates, according to official data released by the Central Election Commission (CEC). The country has 74 election districts outside the capital Tbilisi, meaning one-third of races will be uncontested. … Read more

Russian fuel shortages deepen as refinery shutdowns hit supply

TBILISI, September 18 – Russia is facing its worst gasoline shortage in two years, with wholesale sales dropping sharply while prices hit record highs, according to business daily Kommersant. On September 16, sales of A-92 gasoline at the St Petersburg commodity exchange fell 21.7% to 15,600 tons, the lowest level since 2023. A-95 gasoline sales … Read more