Thursday, April 23, 2026

Tbilisi accused of crackdown over ‘sabotage’ case

TBILISI, August 28 – Georgia is facing international criticism after a Tbilisi court froze the bank accounts of seven major civil society groups, citing an ongoing investigation into alleged “sabotage” and material support for violent unrest. Prosecutors say the NGOs helped fund protective gear and supplies for demonstrators during last year’s clashes outside parliament, framing … Read more

Did donor money fuel Tbilisi protests?

TBILISI, August 27 – It caused an outcry on Wednesday when authorities froze bank accounts belonging to seven organizations after prosecutors accused them of channeling donor funds toward violent protest activities. The groups themselves denounced the charges as baseless and politically motivated. The court decision was made under the new ‘foreign agents‘ law, which came … Read more

11 protesters face up to 6 years in jail as Georgia begins trial

TBILISI, August 26 – Eleven protesters are facing trial in Tbilisi today on charges of “group violence,” stemming from last year’s pro-EU demonstrations near Parliament. The accused include public figures such as actor Andro Chichinadze and comedian Onise Tskhadadze, among others, all charged under Article 225, Part 2 of Georgia’s Criminal Code—an offense punishable by … Read more

Georgia replaces security chief after just four months

TBILISI, August 25 – Georgia’s ruling party has nominated Mamuka Mdinaradze, a senior lawmaker from Georgian Dream (GD), to lead the State Security Service (SUS), one of the country’s most sensitive institutions. The move follows the abrupt resignation of Anri Okhanashvili, who had only held the post since April. Parliament is expected to confirm the … Read more

Georgia PM: We’re more democratic than some EU states

TBILISI, August 20 – Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says he is ready to challenge what he calls “biased” criticism from European officials, insisting that Georgia has achieved progress that surpasses even some EU and NATO member states. Some EU leaders have suggested sanctions against Georgia, such as withholding visa-free travel rights, if the government fails … Read more

Over half a million Georgians struggle under soaring inflation

TBILISI, August 19 – Inflation in Georgia reached 4.3% in July compared with a year earlier, the highest since mid-2023, with food prices by far the biggest driver. According to the National Bank, food costs rose 10.3% year-on-year, accounting for 3.2 percentage points of the overall inflation rate. Bread, potatoes, sunflower oil, and the country’s … Read more

Two opposition parties agree on joint candidates to ‘take back’ the capital

TBILISI, August 18 – Two Georgian opposition parties, Lelo and For Georgia, have named Irakli Kupradze as their joint candidate for Tbilisi mayor in the October 4 local elections. Giorgi Sharashidze was presented as candidate for chairman of the City Council, while Aleko Elisashvili and Tata Khvedeliani were put forward as deputy mayoral candidates. The … Read more

Georgia’s ruling GD party claims UK involvement in activist training abroad

TBILISI, August 18 – A senior Georgian Dream lawmaker has claimed that Georgian youth are being trained abroad, with alleged backing from the UK, to prepare for violent protests ahead of the country’s October 4 local elections. Irakli Zarkua, chair of parliament’s diaspora committee, told reporters that young activists were being coached in Lithuania, allegedly … Read more

Georgia prepares for elections, opposition calls process a sham

TBILISI, August 18 – Georgia is preparing for nationwide local elections on October 4, but the gap between the government and much of the opposition has rarely looked wider. The Central Election Commission (CEC) says more than 24,000 people applied this month to work in polling stations, with 9,117 vying for leadership roles and over … Read more