Monday, March 16, 2026

Georgia launches probe into high supermarket prices

TBILISI, January 21 – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with 15 representatives of major supermarket chains on Wednesday, putting rising grocery prices at the center of a growing government crackdown on retail markups. Speaking after the meeting, Kobakhidze said everyday food items in Georgia cost significantly more than in parts of Europe. He pointed … Read more

Legal group files new claims over abuse of Georgian POWs in 2008 war

TBILISI, January 21 – A Georgian legal watchdog has filed a written position at the European human rights court in cases brought by Georgian soldiers and their families against Russia, linked to the 2008 war. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association said it submitted its arguments to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on … Read more

Georgia’s president pardons 159, but families still wait for names

TBILISI, January 20 – Georgia’s president Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned 159 convicted people late Monday as a gesture of clemency in connection with the Orthodox Epiphany celebration. But hours later, there was confusion among families and supporters over who, exactly, made the list. Kavelashvili’s press service announced at 10:33 p.m. on Monday that the president had … Read more

Electricity use rises in Georgia as crypto miners drive demand

TBILISI, January 19 – Georgia’s electricity consumption climbed again in 2025, driven by rising household demand and heavy use by large industrial players, according to data released by the country’s energy regulator GNERC. From January through November 2025, Georgia consumed 13.4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, up 2.1 percent compared to the same period a … Read more

Heavy snow hits Georgia

TBILISI, January 19 – Heavy snowfall is disrupting daily life across Georgia, with eastern Kakheti and the capital Tbilisi both reporting major cleanup operations and travel limits. In Kakheti, officials said on Sunday that intense snow and ice led to restrictions on the Vaziani–Gombori–Telavi road, allowing traffic only for high-clearance vehicles. They also said public … Read more

Lawmaker: Jailed protesters should show remorse to get pardons

TBILISI, January 19 – A ruling party lawmaker said on Monday that people detained during recent protests are unlikely to receive presidential pardons unless they admit guilt and show genuine remorse. Levan Makhashvili, chair of the parliament’s European Integration Committee, told reporters that the president has clearly set conditions for granting pardons. According to Makhashvili, … Read more

Georgian ex-president warns EBU of pressure at state broadcaster

TBILISI, January 18 – Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, said she met in Paris with the president of the European Broadcasting Union to discuss what she described as a severe crisis at Georgia’s public broadcaster. Zourabichvili said the meeting with EBU President Delphine Ernotte focused on recent decisions taken by the management of Georgian Public … Read more

US extension keeps Lukoil’s Georgia fuel stations running for now

TBILISI, January 16 – The United States has pushed back a January 17 deadline that required Russian oil giant Lukoil to complete the sale of its foreign assets, giving the company until February 28 to wrap up deals that could directly affect its operations in Georgia. The extension was issued by the US Treasury’s sanctions … Read more

1,700 trucks stuck at Russia–Georgia border

TBILISI, January 16 – More than 1,700 trucks were waiting on the Russian side to cross into Georgia at the Zemo Larsi border checkpoint on Friday, according to the press service of North Ossetia’s government. Officials said truck traffic on the highway has been suspended “until further notice” due to worsening weather conditions. Passenger traffic … Read more

Georgia businesses see inflation cooling

TBILISI, January 16 – Businesses in Georgia are expecting slower price growth over the next one and three years, according to a new inflation expectations survey released by the National Bank of Georgia. The survey, based on December responses from “participants in economic activity,” found that one-year inflation expectations fell compared with November. The central … Read more