DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, September 18 – The joint Lelo and For Georgia candidate for mayor in landslide hit Kharagauli surveyed affected villages today, as the elections are only weeks away. Inga Maghradze was joined by Aleko Elisashvili, who is running for deputy mayor of the capital for the same two party ticket, although he is leader of … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgian opposition leaders are turning to Europe for support ahead of the country’s heated municipal elections. On Thursday, Mamuka Khazaradze, chairman of the Lelo coalition, and joint opposition mayoral candidate Irakli Kupradze met with Brussels Mayor Philippe Close in the Belgian capital. They were joined by their campaign chief, Tazo Datunashvili. … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – The opposition in Georgia are divided ahead of the October 4 local elections, a day some groups have called for using to stage a “peaceful revolution,” while other disagree. Former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia, now leader of the For Georgia party, dismissed the plan as an illusion and “the biggest mistake.” … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – One of Georgia’s most high-profile opposition figures, Elene Khoshtaria, has been ordered to pay 5,000 lari (about USD 1,800) in bail following her arrest for defacing a ruling party election banner. A judge in Tbilisi set the bail on Monday, but Khoshtaria, one of the leading figures of the opposition Coalition … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia’s Olympic judo champion Zurab Zviadauri is refusing to speak to investigators, while still in detention after being arrested on charges of illegal gun possession. His lawyer, Datuna Modebadze, told reporters that while Zviadauri already had defendant status in a separate murder case, he was not barred from carrying a firearm. … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Prosecutors in Georgia say five people have been charged with running a large-scale illegal cannabis operation in the eastern wine region of Kakheti. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, investigators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs uncovered 1,337 cannabis plants in the village of Vakiri, part of Sighnaghi municipality. The plants weighed … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Tbilisi is taking another step toward cleaner and more efficient public transport with the rollout of 200 brand-new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. The city government unveiled the 18-meter MAN buses this week, calling the move part of a wider push to reduce congestion and promote environmentally friendly transport in Georgia’s … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – A defendant in Georgia’s high-profile illegal alcohol case has rejected the charges, with his lawyer insisting he has no connection to the factory or property at the center of the investigation. The attorney told Interpressnews that the allegations are based on “incorrect information” and that his client runs a legitimate business … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia’s economy is showing strong momentum, and one of the biggest surprises is how much the education sector is driving growth. According to the National Statistics Office, SakStat, Georgia’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.3% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. While the … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Police in Moldova have carried out large-scale raids just weeks before the country’s parliamentary elections, targeting suspects accused of voter bribery and money laundering. Local media reported that searches were conducted at multiple locations across the country. The operation was led by Moldova’s Office for Combating Organized Crime (PCCOCS), supported by … Read more