TBILISI, October 3 – Tbilisi drivers often grumble about getting stuck in traffic, but the head of Georgian Taxi Federation insists the capital’s gridlock is nothing compared to other big cities. Zurab Agladze, founder of the federation, told BPN that licensed taxi drivers with modern, registered cars have a major advantage: they can use the … Read more
TBILISI, September 30 – The Georgian government has submitted its draft 2026 budget to parliament, outlining higher pensions, expanded social spending and new investments in defense and infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Finance, pensions for citizens aged 70 and older will rise by 45 lari, reaching 495 lari (USD 180) per month. In Georgia’s … Read more
TBILISI, September 26 – Georgia’s National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) has ordered utility companies to compensate customers nearly 473,000 lari (about USD 175,000) for unfair charges and service violations in August and September 2025. According to the regulator, the payouts cover electricity, natural gas, and water users who had lodged complaints. Issues … Read more
TBILISI, September 25 – One in five Georgians is now officially dependent on social assistance, opposition politician Tazo Datunashvili said Wednesday. The Lelo politician blasted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s government for boasting about “unprecedented economic growth” while poverty deepens. He pointed to fresh welfare statistics showing 708,764 people receiving subsistence aid in August 2025, up … Read more
TBILISI, September 23 – Medical experts in Georgia argue that the dominance of private companies has hurt the quality of care. Business leaders insist government run hospitals are unnecessary. Healthcare specialists say Georgia’s system has been in crisis for years, forcing many patients to seek treatment abroad. Private investors own most of the country’s hospitals, … Read more
TBILISI, September 22 – In Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region, heritage activists have carried out a major cleanup of the 13th-century Pitareti Monastery, a national cultural monument threatened by age and earthquake damage. The project was led by Movement for Cultural Heritage, a civic initiative that for five years has been organizing bi-annual campaigns to clear … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgia’s public transport fleet is showing its age. According to the country’s statistics office, almost 93 percent of all minibuses and buses in Georgia are more than ten years old. The 2024 data show a total of 54,600 buses and minibuses registered nationwide. Of these, 50,600, or 92.7 percent, were built … Read more
TBILISI, September 16 – Georgia is facing a family crisis: official statistics show that two out of every three newly formed marriages end in divorce. Experts warn the trend is worsening year by year, hitting not only family stability but also the country’s economy and demographics. According to the national statistics office, Sakstat, 9,925 marriages … Read more
TBILISI – September 15 – Child poverty in Georgia has reached alarming levels, with new figures showing that one in three children lives below the poverty line. According to the country’s Social Service Agency, 278,628 children aged 0 to 18 were receiving subsistence allowance as of August 2025. Georgia’s official statistics list 880,633 people in … 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