Friday, April 10, 2026

DFWatch staff

Timetable announced for Georgia’s ‘peaceful revolution’

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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

Russians eye Georgia and Armenia for New Year holidays

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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

Georgia busts bootleg alcohol and cigarette ring

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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

Georgia’s first Olympic gold medalist arrested on weapons charge

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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

Georgia turns to liquefied gas but oversight missing

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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

Kutaisi airport to get new giant runway to handle biggest planes

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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

Record USD 624 million money laundering scheme exposed in Georgia

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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

Turkish truckers prefer Georgia’s risky mountain route into Russia

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TBILISI, September 16 – Turkish truckers hauling cargo into Russia are still betting on Georgia’s land corridor, even though it comes with long delays and unpredictable closures, according to new research by the Transport Corridor Research Center (TCRC), a Tbilisi-based think tank. The key link is the Kazbegi–Upper Lars crossing on the Georgian-Russian border, the … Read more