Saturday, January 31, 2026

Georgia arrests five for USD 1.5m road project fraud

TBILISI, September 24 – Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) says it has busted a multimillion-lari fraud scheme tied to a major infrastructure project, arresting five people and charging another who remains on the run. According to the agency, the case involves fraudulent appropriation of 4,184,249 lari (around USD 1.5 million) belonging to the Ministry of … Read more

Defense challenges police evidence in Tbilisi contract killing case

TBILISI, September 24 – The high-profile trial over the killing of Georgian businessman Levan Jangveladze and the attempted murder of his driver, Gia Chaduneli, took another turn Tuesday as defense lawyers challenged the reliability of evidence presented in court. At the hearing in Tbilisi, an expert witness who had reviewed security camera footage from the … Read more

Murder trial of Georgian businessman continues with new witnesses

TBILISI, September 22 – The high-profile trial over the killing of Georgian businessman Levan Jangveladze and the attempted murder of his driver is underway at Tbilisi City Court, where 14 witnesses are set to testify. Those scheduled to appear include a medical expert, a taxi driver, eyewitnesses, and employees of the Tbilisi Towers hotel. Court … Read more

Police bust property fraud ring in Batumi

TBILISI, September 21 – Police in Georgia’s Black Sea region of Adjara have arrested four people accused of running an organized fraud scheme that tricked citizens out of nearly half a million lari. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the group targeted people in Batumi interested in securing loans with property as collateral. Investigators … Read more

Georgia charges five over massive illegal cannabis farm

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

Defendant denies involvement in Georgia alcohol smuggling case

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

Georgia busts bootleg alcohol and cigarette ring

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

Record USD 624 million money laundering scheme exposed in Georgia

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

Convicted officials in Georgia face 30 years of asset scrutiny

TBILISI, September 16 – Georgia’s ruling party has unveiled new legislation that would tighten the country’s anti-corruption law by tracking convicted officials’ assets for three decades. Under the proposal, any public servant, political officeholder, or employee of state agencies and enterprises found guilty of financial or official misconduct would be required to submit annual asset … Read more

Georgia arrests 42 in sweeping drug raids

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