DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, September 12 – Sales of Georgian sparkling wine in Russia fell in the first seven months of 2025, according to figures published by the Russian business daily Kommersant. Between January and July, Russia imported 28,800 decaliters of sparkling wine from Georgia, totaling about 288,000 liters. That was a 3.8 percent drop compared to the … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Wizz Air says it will close its base in Vienna, ending all flights from the Austrian capital by March 2026. The Hungarian budget carrier announced that the shutdown will happen in two stages. From October 26, 2025, two aircraft will be withdrawn and flights to Bilbao and London Gatwick will stop. … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Georgia’s State Security Service carried out dramatic arrests in the Black Sea city of Batumi, detaining the leader of the opposition National Movement (UNM), Levan Khabeishvili, along with party member Murtaz Zodelava. Former defense minister Juansher Burchuladze, a close ally of ex-prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, was also taken into custody. The … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Police in Georgia say they have detained 42 people across the country in a sweeping crackdown on drug crimes carried out over the past 24 hours. Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze told reporters on Wednesday that most of those arrested are accused of being major drug dealers. Others are suspected of … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Georgia’s seaside resort city of Batumi is booming, but locals say the growth has turned daily life into chaos. Once known as a quiet Black Sea town, Batumi is now packed with high-rise towers, hotels, and restaurants, and residents complain that the city can no longer keep up. “Moving around is … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Georgia’s security services say they have foiled an attempt to smuggle powerful explosives into the country, detaining two Ukrainian citizens in an operation near the Turkish border. The State Security Service (SUS) announced that on September 10, a truck with Ukrainian license plates crossed into Georgia from Turkey through the Sarpi … Read more
TBILISI, September 11 – A senior Georgian official has welcomed news that a controversial U.S. bill targeting the country’s government is unlikely to pass in the Senate, while fiercely criticizing opposition figures who testified against Georgia in Washington. The stalled MEGOBARI Act would increase U.S. sanctions on Georgia if democratic backsliding continued, while offering defense … Read more
TBILISI, September 11 – Mikheil Kavelashvili has used social media to comment on the reported killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing it as politically motivated. Kavelashvili wrote that Kirk’s death was “horrifying” and directly linked to his outspoken conservative views, criticism of liberal ideology, and opposition to LGBT rights. He called Kirk “another … Read more
TBILISI, September 10 – A Georgian man detained by Russian forces near the village of Khurvaleti in central Georgia has been released and returned to government-controlled territory, the State Security Service announced. According to the agency, Tengiz Korashvili was seized on May 19 near Khurvaleti in the Gori municipality, close to the boundary line with … Read more
TBILISI, September 10 – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has informed Georgia that it will not be able to send observers to the upcoming local elections scheduled for October 4, due to the short notice. The director of the organization’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Maria Telalian, explained … Read more