Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism report’s findings on Georgia were “pre-written,” accusing the rapporteur who prepared it of concealing a “conflict of interest” and of forcing Georgia “to register women as men and men as women.” The remarks follow the March 12 publication of a critical report under the …

The de facto authorities of occupied Abkhazia reported the detention of Emzar Bagishvili, a Georgian citizen with an “Abkhaz residence permit,” on suspicion of spying for Tbilisi. According to the region’s de facto security service, Bagishvili, born in 1968, was detained on March 10 in the village of Okumi in the Tkvarcheli district. Bagishvili was …

Tbilisi “vigorously rejects” the findings and recommendations of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report, Georgia’s permanent representative to the OSCE said after the report came out, as countries that had invoked the mechanism urged Georgia to address democratic backsliding noted in the report and fully implement the recommendations. The report, published on March 12, noted “marked …

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Georgia on March 12, with 438 votes in favor, 37 against, and 81 abstentions, condemning “politically motivated” arrests in Georgia, demanding the release of detainees, and calling for targeted sanctions for those responsible for “politically motivated arrests, prosecutions and violence against the democratic opposition, dissidents, protesters and journalists.” …

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Israel’s Ambassador Walid Abu Haya on March 11 amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Kobakhidze “expressed concern over the developments in the Middle East and extended condolences to Israel over the loss of lives,” the government administration said in a press release. He also “expressed …

The European Union will not include Kulevi Port in Georgia in its 20th package of sanctions against Russia, expected to be adopted shortly, citing “positive commitments” by Georgian authorities and the port operator in reassessing the initial proposal. The decision was communicated in a letter from EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan to Georgian Dream Foreign …

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said it arrested 30 people on corruption-related charges in 12 criminal cases during a large-scale anti-corruption crackdown across several regions of the country. Emzar Gagnidze, director of the SSSG’s Anti-Corruption Agency, announced the arrests and case details during a March 9 briefing. He said the cases involved bribery, …

A senior delegation of parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, led by OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, is visiting Georgia on March 8-10. The delegation also includes Luís Graça, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Representative on South Caucasus; Jevrosima Pejović, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs and Security; Baroness …

Below is the weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations. Sokhumi 30 Drones Detected Over Abkhazia 30 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected in the airspace over Abkhazia on March 4. According to Adgur Gumba, the de …

The Communications Commission, Georgia’s media regulator, signaled plans for more proactive enforcement of restrictive broadcasting laws in a statement criticizing recent U.K. sanctions against two pro-government television channels, Imedi TV and POSTV, imposed over allegations of spreading “Russian disinformation.” ComCom, chaired by former Georgian Dream MP Goga Gulordava since January, is responsible for enforcing the …

Two individuals, Levan Zardiashvili and Saba Mindiashvili, were charged with interference with journalistic work in connection with the September 8, 2025, attacks on reporters from the Publika online outlet outside Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s campaign office, Publika reported on March 5. The incident stems from September 8, 2025, tensions outside Kaladze’s campaign office in Tbilisi’s …

The de facto Defense Ministry of occupied Abkhazia reported that “about 30 drones” were detected in a “massive raid” across the region on March 4, after multiple media outlets reported drone sightings from unconfirmed origins. Adgur Gumba, the de facto commander of Abkhazia’s air force and air defense, said on March 5 that the drones’ …

The Georgian Dream-led disputed parliament has adopted in the final hearing a restrictive package that imposes additional curbs on receiving foreign funding, criminalizes “external lobbying,” restricts political activities, imposes limits on businesses, and penalizes “systematic” refusal to recognize the government’s legitimacy. The changes, announced in January, include amendments to the Law on Grants, Law on …

There are many believers in Georgia, but none worship as loudly as the local trucks. You can spot them rushing through the suburbs or driving across the countryside; some carry cargo, others transport cement to construction sites, leaving dust in their wake as they roar through narrow streets. There are those with larger trailers who …

Greek authorities arrested a Georgian national on suspicion of espionage at the Souda Naval Base in Crete, a critical NATO and U.S. facility in the Eastern Mediterranean, local media and Reuters reported, citing police and intelligence sources. The 36‑year‑old man, whose name has not been released, had reportedly been under surveillance by Greek intelligence for …

Georgia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.9% year-on-year in January 2026, according to rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on February 27. Geostat said the growth was primarily driven by the information and communication, financial and insurance, mining and quarrying, and accommodation and food service activities. In contrast, construction and …

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it is “closely monitoring” the situation in the Middle East with “deep concern,” in a statement made late on February 28, hours after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, followed by retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region. “We emphasise the importance of diplomatic efforts to …

Imedi TV said it will launch its own “Imedi Bank” within “a few months,” with financial backing from the broadcaster’s “loyal friends and sponsors,” days after being sanctioned by the UK for spreading “Russian disinformation.” Sanctioned on February 24 along with POSTV, another major pro-government channel, Imedi said on February 27 that it will have …

Four out of five members of the board of trustees of pro-government Imedi TV, including former owner Irakli Rukhadze, left their positions a day after the UK announced sanctioning the channel over “Russian disinformation.” Rukhadze, as well as Giorgi Bakhtadze, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and Davit Shonia, requested expedited approval of their resignations on February 25, citing …

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) said it purchased USD 86.6 million on the Bmatch trading platform in January, bringing the country’s international reserves to USD 6.3 billion. The move continues a steady increase of reserves over the past year, with the central bank reporting similar purchases almost every month. The NBG reiterated that “international …

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a leading human rights organization in Georgia with over three decades of history, announced it will temporarily cut its free legal aid services and focus only on strategic cases, entering what it called “crisis mode” amid increasing repression of civil society. The move comes as the Georgian Dream-led parliament …

The Georgian Dream government adopted a decree on March 12 that envisions a gradual ban on the production, import, and sale of plastic bottles, citing environmental concerns. In particular, from July 1, 2026, restaurants, cafes and other public catering establishments will no longer be allowed to serve drinks to customers in plastic bottles, and starting …

The OSCE Moscow Mechanism, a human rights dimension tool for monitoring member states’ human rights and democracy commitments, has released a report on Georgia, noting “marked democratic backsliding” in Georgia since Spring 2024 and recommending immediate release of “all prisoners held for political reasons” and repeal of a series of restrictive laws, among others. The …

TV Pirveli, one of Georgia’s major opposition-leaning channels, said late on March 11 that its satellite broadcasting had stopped due to unpaid fees. The channel announced a fundraising campaign to restore broadcasting. “TV Pirveli’s satellite broadcasting was switched off today due to financial debt. Satellite and free-to-air broadcasting involve large sums, which the channel was …

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Georgia reached USD 1.68 billion in 2025, marking a 7.6% increase compared to the adjusted data for 2024, according to the preliminary figures released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) on March 11. According to Geostat, the growth was primarily driven by increases in equity and reinvestments. Equity capital …

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s new Supreme Leader amid continued war in the Middle East. “On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Georgia attaches great importance to the partnership …

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the ruling party may amend its appeal to the Constitutional Court seeking to ban major opposition forces to cover more parties, days after nine opposition parties announced the formation of a new alliance. Speaking to journalists on March 9 about the opposition alliance, Kobakhidze said all parties in …

Up to three government-critical experts and figures have been reportedly summoned by the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) after the agency launched a probe over the “contents” and “motives” of allegations about the Iranian recruitment networks in the country. The probe follows several independent reports suggesting the growing influence of the Islamic Republic of …

The Georgian Dream-led disputed parliament’s March 4 legislative package, tightening restrictions on foreign funding and political activity, has drawn criticism from international actors, including the OSCE/ODIHR, the EU, and several European governments, who warn it could severely restrict civic and political activity in Georgia. The package introduces additional restrictions on receiving foreign funding, criminalizes so-called …

The EU issued guidelines warning of entry bans if Georgian officials fail to use their diplomatic or service passports when travelling to the bloc for “official and diplomatic purposes,” as visa-free suspension for Georgian diplomatic passport holders under the new mechanism takes effect on March 6. The suspension, approved by the EU member states in February, follows …

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said it condemns the drone attack in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan that injured several civilians. “Any act that blatantly violates international principles and norms and escalates regional tensions is unacceptable,” the ministry stated on March 5, hours after the attack. “Georgia expresses its solidarity with the fraternal Azerbaijan in this …

Nikoloz Samkharadze, a Georgian Dream member of the disputed parliament and chair of its Foreign Relations Committee, met on March 4 in Washington with Andrew Baker, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor. The meeting took place during a visit by the four-member Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Samkharadze, to the United States, where they were invited …

Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 4.6% in February, while consumer prices rose by 0.2% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on March 4. Annual inflation was mainly driven by price increases in miscellaneous goods and services (9.8%) and in food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.5%). On a monthly …

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet members are visiting Tbilisi on a working visit from March 3 to 4. Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili received him at Tbilisi International Airport. The Armenian delegation also includes Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Arayik Harutyunyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Education Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, …

Nine Georgian political parties announced uniting in an “opposition alliance,” signing a coordination document to work towards a goal of “saving national independence and statehood,” as the country remains caught in a protracted political crisis marked by Georgian Dream’s crackdown and continuous anti-government protests. The 5-chapter document, which lays out steps to be taken for …

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, a public body established in 2022 as part of EU-recommended reforms, was officially abolished on March 2, with its functions absorbed by the State Audit Office. The decision was first announced in November 2025 by disputed Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who argued that the Bureau’s responsibilities, including “collecting and monitoring the asset …

The ruling Georgian Dream party decried the UK’s sanctioning of two pro-government channels and again appealed to the U.S. to change its attitude towards Tbilisi in a conspiracy-filled statement made after the February 27 political council meeting attended by the party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. The statement, read out by GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, comes …

British Ambassador Gareth Ward was summoned to Georgia’s Foreign Ministry on February 26 over the United Kingdom’s decision to sanction two pro-government television channels, Imedi TV and POSTV. The ambassador reportedly already arrived at the Ministry. “We have had communication with the British side,” Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili told the pro-government broadcaster Rustavi …

Georgian Dream leaders, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, have expressed support for Imedi TV and POSTV, the two major pro-government channels sanctioned by the United Kingdom on February 24 over “Russian disinformation,” as uncertainty persists over what specific effects the sanctions may have on the broadcasters. Calling the UK’s decision to sanction the two channels …

Estonian Ambassador to Georgia Marge Mardisalu-Kahar was summoned to the Georgian Foreign Ministry on February 24 following a social media post by the Embassy expressing support for Ilia State University (IliaUni), Georgia’s leading academic institution, which is facing significant cuts under controversial higher education reforms. On February 22, the Estonian Embassy in Tbilisi published a …

Below is the weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations. Sokhumi Georgian Citizen Detained on Suspicion of Spying for Tbilisi The de facto authorities of occupied Abkhazia reported the detention of Emzar Bagishvili, a Georgian citizen with an “Abkhaz residence permit,” on suspicion of spying …

23 Georgian sailors were aboard the Malta-flagged tanker Zefyros, one of the vessels attacked by Iran off the Iraqi coast on the night of March 12, RFE/RL’s Georgian Service reported, citing a relative of one of the sailors. All Georgian sailors, including the captain, are reportedly safe. Two oil tankers sailing in Iraqi territorial waters …

Georgian authorities have dropped their earlier plan to ban the import of vehicles older than six years after protests, but will instead impose a high excise tax on such cars, fueling criticism that the move amounts to a de facto ban through around a fivefold tax increase. While Georgian officials cite environmental concerns behind the …

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the “frozen” political dialogue between the European Union and Georgia is the “biggest problem” to Armenia’s path toward EU integration, during a March 11 address to the European Parliament. “The biggest problem on Armenia’s EU integration path at the moment is the frozen state of the political dialogue between …

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons and a high-level delegation concluded a three-day visit to Georgia on March 10 aimed at “encouraging dialogue, strengthening democratic institutions, and promoting engagement across the political spectrum,” the organization said in a press release. During the March 8-10 visit, the delegation met with key Georgian Dream officials, including …

Bacho Akhalaia, former Defense Minister under the United National Movement government, who is in pretrial detention over his alleged role in the October 4 unrest, has been charged in a new case as the State Security Service of Georgia accuses him of incitement to overthrow the government. The charge stems from a statement Akhalaia made …

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze hinted at the possibility of reviewing Georgia’s membership in the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty protecting women and girls from violence, after Zurab Makharadze, leader of the far-right Alt-Info/Conservative Movement party, it undermined traditional family roles. The exchange took place during a televised debate on the pro-government …

A de facto court in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk sentenced Georgian citizen and prominent lawyer Beka Basilaia to 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony in absentia, alleging that he participated in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian state media TASS reported on March 6. According to TASS, …

EU High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Georgia’s newly adopted legislation on foreign funding and political activity establishes a “system of state control over political activity in the country” and is part of the authorities’ “systematic” effort to restrict “democratic and civic space.” The Georgian Dream-led disputed parliament has adopted …

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the government administration reported on March 6. Kanda praised Georgia’s “strong macroeconomic performance,” reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s economic development. “During the meeting, the parties discussed the fruitful cooperation between the government of Georgia and …

Georgian and Turkish law enforcement authorities arrested 14 Turkish citizens in Georgia in a joint operation, including eleven wanted internationally under an Interpol Red Notice and three wanted at the national level in Turkey. The arrests were announced at Georgia’s Interior Ministry on March 5 by Irakli Dondoladze, deputy director of the Central Criminal Police …

Georgia’s Supreme Court refused to consider on the merits the complaint of imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, director and co-founder of online media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, effectively exhausting all domestic legal remedies. According to Netgazeti, the judicial panel – consisting of Levan Tevzadze, Merab Gabinashvili, and Mamuka Vasadze – made the decision without holding an …

Georgian Dream MPs Nikoloz Samkharadze, Mariam Lashkhi, and Lika Shartava, together with People’s Power MP Eka Sepashvili, are visiting the United States to attend the inaugural summit of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations on March 4-5, at the invitation of controversial U.S. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. Led by Samkharadze, the delegation is also meeting with U.S. …

The situation in Georgia “continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate” in 2025, the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform said in its annual Europe Press Freedom Report, published on March 3. The report, “On the Tipping Point: Press Freedom 2025,” assessed threats to the media in 46 Council of Europe member states, as …

A group of MPs in Georgia’s disputed parliament introduced amendments to the Election Code requiring international observers to be foreign citizens, their interpreters to undergo special registration, and giving the Central Election Commission (CEC) authority to set rules for photo, video, and audio recordings at election commission sessions. The Parliament’s Legal Issues Committee approved the …

The Georgian Dream government stated on March 2 that it is following ongoing military actions in the Middle East with “deep concern,” extending condolences to both Iran and Israel, and expressing solidarity with Gulf countries. Conflict in the Middle East is widening after the U.S. carried out airstrikes alongside Israel against Iran on February 28, …

Three persons have been charged with violating the rules for handling environmentally hazardous substances, the prosecutor’s office announced on February 26, shortly after media reported about locals in Melauri village of Samtredia municipality, Western Georgia, discovering a “surgical waste” dump allegedly containing amputated human body parts. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation found that …

A new bill “To require a report on Russian and Chinese intelligence assets in Georgia, and for other purposes” has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 24, sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson and co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. No further …

Flags on government buildings have been lowered to half-mast, as Georgia commemorates the 105th anniversary of the Russian army’s capture of Tbilisi on February 25, 1921, a date that marked a milestone in the Soviet occupation ending of the brief independence of the First Republic of Georgia (1918-1921). The occupation came despite Russia’s formal recognition …

On December 24, 2025, in a sudden yet long-overdue acknowledgment, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze released a video lamenting the disproportionately high grocery prices burdening Georgian consumers. He suspected possible dishonest, cartel-like practices and called on parliament and law enforcement agencies to investigate the issue. In the days and weeks that followed, the State …