DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia has been ranked 17th in the world for crime control, scoring 92 out of 100 in a new rule of law survey released by the European Commission and carried out by the World Justice Project. According to Georgia’s ruling party, the country’s performance puts it ahead of six of the … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Leaders of Georgia’s biggest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), met in Washington with U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson today to renew efforts to lobby for the MEGOBARI Act, a sanctions bill targeting ruling-party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. UNM chair Tina Bokuchava, secretary general Petre Tsiskarishvili, and senior figure Levan Sanikidze launched … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Frustration is mounting in Georgia as both port renewal plans on the Black Sea have stalled. Poti’s USD 300 million expansion has been on the table since 2018 but remains frozen. The port’s director, Zviad Chkhartishvili, told Georgian media that Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili has asked for two more months before … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – A group of activists in Georgia say they are preparing for what they call a “peaceful revolution” on October 4, vowing to announce a caretaker government and declare power transferred by 8 pm the same night. The organizers, who have branded the rally a “national congress,” claim they expect between 200,000 … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Nearly one in four Russians plans to spend the upcoming New Year holiday in Georgia, Armenia, or the Baltic states, according to a new survey published by Russian travel service Kupibilet and reported by TASS. The poll of more than 1,500 people found that 24% were choosing those nearby destinations, while … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Seven people have been arrested in Georgia after investigators uncovered an underground factory churning out counterfeit booze and untaxed cigarettes, authorities said. The Finance Ministry’s investigative service announced that officers seized a staggering 75,137 bottles of alcohol and 318,000 packs of contraband cigarettes in the raid. Officials said the haul’s black-market … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Zurab Zviadauri, Georgia’s first Olympic champion, has been arrested on charges of illegally possessing a firearm, the Interior Ministry confirmed to Interpressnews. Zviadauri, who won gold in judo at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was detained under Article 236 of Georgia’s criminal code, which covers unlawful purchase, storage, or carrying of firearms. … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is booming in Georgia, but safety controls are not keeping pace, industry officials warn. Vakhtang Iobashvili, head of the Union of Petroleum Importers, told BPN that while LNG use is spreading rapidly across Europe and Georgia, the sector is “practically uncontrolled.” He said there are … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – Georgia is building a brand-new runway at Kutaisi International Airport, a project officials say will turn the country’s second-busiest hub into a major player for long-haul flights and cargo. Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili toured the site with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze this week. She called it a “historic … Read more
TBILISI, September 16 – Georgia’s prosecutors say they have uncovered the country’s biggest-ever money laundering case, involving more than USD 624 million and EUR 35 million allegedly funneled through illegal cash smuggling and fake currency exchange operations between 2022 and 2024. One suspect has been arrested, though officials have not named the individual. The Prosecutor’s … Read more