RSS Parrot

Georgian Court Approves Journalist Afgan Sadigov’s Deportation to Azerbaijan After Late-Night Arrest

https://civil.ge/archives/729102

Published: April 5, 2026 05:40

Tbilisi City Court granted a request to deport journalist Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan in a ruling delivered at around 4 am on April 5, hours after his late-night arrest at home over what police said was “insult” on social media. He was also fined GEL 2,000…

After Synod Meeting, Clergy Hint at Next Patriarch’s Education Requirement, No Decision on Age

https://civil.ge/archives/728963

Published: April 3, 2026 15:30

The Holy Synod’s meeting on April 3, which was expected to clarify eligibility criteria for candidates to succeed the late Patriarch Ilia II, ended after nearly six hours without a specific decision on age and education requirements, with clergy still…

Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – March 27-April 2, 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/729004

Published: April 3, 2026 12:13

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 Occupied Abkhazia Launches Forum of Big Deals and Even…

Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 4.3% in March 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/728959

Published: April 3, 2026 08:23

Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 4.3% in March, while consumer prices rose by 0.8% month-on-month, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on April 3. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 0.9%…

Moldovan MPs, Including Pro-Russian ex-President Igor Dodon, Visit Georgia

https://civil.ge/archives/728814

Published: April 2, 2026 15:49

Several members of Moldova’s parliament, including the country’s former president, Igor Dodon, now leader of the pro-Russia Socialist Party, are visiting Georgia from April 1 to 5. Dodon, who just had a working visit to Moscow before arriving in Tbilisi,…

Mikheil Kavelashvili Visits Slovakia

https://civil.ge/archives/728586

Published: April 2, 2026 14:15

Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili is visiting Slovakia from April 1 to 3. In Bratislava, he met with Slovakia’s president, Peter Pellegrini, and Speaker of the National Council Richard Raši, as well as with Slovakia’s Deputy Prime…

Public Defender Submits 2025 Human Rights Report to Parliament

https://civil.ge/archives/728482

Published: April 2, 2026 14:07

The Public Defender of Georgia submitted to the disputed parliament on March 31 an annual report on the State of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia for 2025. The 420-page document reviews a range of human rights concerns, including issues related to…

Tsotne Ananidze Becomes New Chair of Adjara Supreme Council

https://civil.ge/archives/728767

Published: April 2, 2026 12:32

Tsotne Ananidze, a Georgian Dream member, has become the new chair of the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, the region’s legislative body, succeeding Davit Gabaidze, who resigned on March 30 after serving nearly ten years in the post.…

CoE Body Calls on Georgia to Repeal Laws Restricting Grants, Political Activity

https://civil.ge/archives/728682

Published: April 2, 2026 10:58

The Expert Council on NGO Law, an expert body of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, issued a critical opinion on a legislative package adopted on March 4 by Georgia’s disputed parliament that further restricted grants and political activity,…

Switzerland Requires Visas for Georgian Diplomatic Passports Following EU Suspension

https://civil.ge/archives/728716

Published: April 2, 2026 10:09

Starting April 3, Switzerland will require holders of Georgian diplomatic, official, and service passports to obtain a visa for entry, a measure tied to the EU’s suspension and set to last one year. The Federal Council of Switzerland approved the move on…

Concerns Mount About Georgia’s ‘Disappearing’ Stray Dogs Amid State ‘Veterinary’ Raids

https://civil.ge/archives/728548

Published: April 2, 2026 09:15

Concerns are mounting across Georgia as animal rights defenders have raised alarms over “disappearing” street dogs in what authorities claim to be temporary transfers to carry out “veterinary manipulations” to manage the hyperpopulation of homeless animals…

Who May Succeed Patriarch Ilia II, And How Could It (Re-)Define Georgian Orthodox Church

https://civil.ge/archives/727517

Published: April 1, 2026 15:34

Two weeks after the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Georgia finds itself in a peculiar debate: while many caution against interfering in, or even publicly discussing, the succession process, few can resist expressing preferences or engaging in…

Georgian Dream Allocates GEL 43 Million to Orthodox Patriarchate Schools

https://civil.ge/archives/728519

Published: April 1, 2026 13:09

The Georgian Dream government ordered the Ministry of Education to allocate GEL 43,035,000 (approximately USD 16 million) to educational institutions affiliated with the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate. According to a March 26 decree signed by Georgian…

131st IPRM Meeting Held in Ergneti

https://civil.ge/archives/728415

Published: April 1, 2026 13:05

The 131st meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place on March 31 in the village of Ergneti, near the occupation line in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region. The meeting was co-facilitated by Christoph Späti, Special…

ECtHR Finds Georgia Failed to Effectively Investigate Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

https://civil.ge/archives/728462

Published: April 1, 2026 10:44

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that Georgia failed to effectively investigate allegations of sexual abuse of a child by her stepfather, in a case the applicant’s representative organizations said is the first ECtHR decision on Georgia…

Two Rustaveli Avenue Protesters Sentenced to One Year in Prison

https://civil.ge/archives/728314

Published: April 1, 2026 09:13

Protesters Tornike Toshkhua and Mindia Shervashidze were each sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of group violence in an incident involving the late football player and Georgian Dream supporter Beka Gotsiridze. Tbilisi City Court…

GYLA: ECtHR Begins Examining Complaints Over FARA

https://civil.ge/archives/728424

Published: April 1, 2026 09:04

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a local human rights group, said the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has begun examining an application challenging the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a Georgian version of the U.S.…

Ex-Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili Appointed Georgia’s Ambassador to UK

https://civil.ge/archives/728370

Published: March 31, 2026 15:31

Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgia’s former minister of foreign affairs, has been appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry announced on March 31. The ministry said Darchiashvili has also been appointed Georgia’s permanent representative to…

Iranian Ambassador Warns of ‘Price’ of Aiding U.S., Day After Rubio-Kobakhidze Call

https://civil.ge/archives/728284

Published: March 31, 2026 14:39

Ali Moujani, Iran’s ambassador to Georgia, warned of a “price” for countries that aid the United States, in social media posts that came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on a phone with Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze…

Georgian Dream Maintains Lead in Party Donations in Early 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/728162

Published: March 31, 2026 13:30

The ruling Georgian Dream party received the largest share of political donations in January-February 2026, followed by opposition Lelo-Strong Georgia and the GD-affiliated People’s Power party, according to the latest data published by Georgia’s State…

Russia’s SVR Accuses Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Interfering in Election of Georgian Church Leader

https://civil.ge/archives/728244

Published: March 31, 2026 11:26

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople of interfering in the Georgian Orthodox Church’s internal affairs by promoting candidates for Georgian patriarch, as the country will soon have…

Opposition Alliance Announces ‘National Mobilization Campaign,’ Plans Independence Day Rally

https://civil.ge/archives/728163

Published: March 31, 2026 09:49

The opposition alliance of nine parties announced on March 31 the launch of a two-month “national mobilization campaign,” to be symbolically culminated in a large rally in Tbilisi on Independence Day, May 26. The March 31 announcement came on the 35th…

Opposition Politician Aleko Elisashvili Charged With ‘Terrorism’ in Separate Incident

https://civil.ge/archives/728177

Published: March 31, 2026 09:10

Opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili, who is in pretrial detention on attempted terrorism charges over his alleged efforts to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court chancellery in November, has now been charged with terrorism over a separate, similar…

Georgia’s GDP Up by 8.8% in February 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/728176

Published: March 31, 2026 08:31

Georgia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.8% year-on-year in February 2026, according to rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on March 31. Average real GDP growth for January-February stood at 8.4%. Geostat said…

Rubio, Kobakhidze Discuss ‘Areas of Mutual Interest’ in Phone Call

https://civil.ge/archives/728114

Published: March 30, 2026 17:06

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze about “areas of mutual interest,” including “security in the Caucasus and Black Sea region,” according to the State Department, in a call that comes…

Georgian Households to Pay 18-34% More for Electicity Starting in April

https://civil.ge/archives/728040

Published: March 30, 2026 15:36

Georgia’s National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) approved new electricity tariffs at its March 30 session, increasing household rates by 5 tetri in both Tbilisi and the regions, which translates into a roughly 18% to 34% rise…

MIA: 13 Supporters of ‘Neo-Nazi Groups and Fascist Ideology,’ Including Seven Minors, Arrested

https://civil.ge/archives/728012

Published: March 30, 2026 12:22

Police arrested 13 individuals, including seven minors, who are “supporters of various neo-Nazi groups and fascist ideology” and who “physically and psychologically abused people of various ages with extreme cruelty,” Tbilisi Police Chief Vazha Siradze…

Families of Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Demand Access to New Treatments, Meeting with Kobakhidze

https://civil.ge/archives/727974

Published: March 30, 2026 11:51

Parents of children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic muscle-wasting condition, continue to demand that the state ensure free access to internationally approved, modern treatments and establish a multidisciplinary care team.…

Davit Gabaidze Resigns as Chairman of Adjara Supreme Council

https://civil.ge/archives/727973

Published: March 30, 2026 10:05

Davit Gabaidze has resigned as chairman of the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, the region’s legislative body, after nearly a decade in the post. Gabaidze, a Georgian Dream member who has held the post since 2016 through three consecutive…

French Photographer Says Georgia Revoked His Residence Permit in ‘Political Decision’

https://civil.ge/archives/727946

Published: March 30, 2026 09:03

Francis Prymerski, a French photographer who has lived and worked in Georgia for years, said his residence permit was revoked weeks after it was extended, calling the “sudden” move, made “without any explanation,” a “political decision.” Prymerski wrote…

GD Economy Minister Meets British Ambassador

https://civil.ge/archives/727771

Published: March 28, 2026 14:07

Georgian Dream Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili met with UK Ambassador to Georgia Gareth Ward, the Economy Ministry reported on March 27. According to the ministry’s press release, the sides discussed “the dynamics of economic cooperation” between the…

After Patriarch’s Funeral, Ruling Party Accuses Opponents of ‘Anti-Church Campaign’

https://civil.ge/archives/727765

Published: March 28, 2026 12:29

Georgian Dream officials have accused opponents and critics of waging an “anti-Church campaign” aimed, among other things, at discrediting senior clergy and the late Patriarch Ilia II, days after the widely-revered leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church…

Georgia Records Lowest Number of Births in Over Three Decades

https://civil.ge/archives/727708

Published: March 27, 2026 13:17

Georgia had 37,867 live births in 2025, the lowest figure since 1994, the earliest year for which official data is publicly available. According to figures published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on March 27, the number of live births…

Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – March 20-26, 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/727670

Published: March 27, 2026 13:11

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 Russian Energy Delegation Inspects Enguri HPP The…

International Reactions to Elene Khoshtaria’s Prison Sentence

https://civil.ge/archives/727610

Published: March 27, 2026 09:46

The international actors and diplomatic missions in Georgia have widely condemned the prison sentence against opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria as disproportionate and politically motivated, describing the case as part of the Georgian Dream party’s…

Georgia in NATO Secretary General’s 2025 Report

https://civil.ge/archives/727555

Published: March 26, 2026 14:38

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s 2025 annual report, presented on March 26, states that elements of NATO-Georgia cooperation were “reprioritised” following the 2024 parliamentary elections and “their aftermath.” Rutte separately said during a press…

Zakharova: Georgia’s Prosperity Lies ‘Not in Confrontation, But in Cooperation With Russia”

https://civil.ge/archives/727475

Published: March 26, 2026 12:26

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that she believes Tbilisi is beginning to understand that the “key” to Georgia’s prosperity lies “not in confrontation, but in cooperation with Russia” when discussing the prospects for political…

CoE Committee of Ministers: 77 ECtHR Cases Against Georgia Pending Execution

https://civil.ge/archives/727466

Published: March 26, 2026 10:14

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, which oversees the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights rulings, published its annual report on March 25, according to which in 2025, it received eleven new cases from the ECtHR against…

Ukraine Says It Identified Hungarian Spy Chief Who Operated in Georgia Under Diplomatic Cover

https://civil.ge/archives/727467

Published: March 26, 2026 09:26

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it identified a Hungarian military intelligence officer who led a spy network in western Ukraine after operating for years in Georgia under diplomatic cover. The man has been identified as Zoltán Andre. “From 2016 to…

National Bank Says It Purchased $429 Million in Foreign Currency in February

https://civil.ge/archives/727344

Published: March 25, 2026 14:25

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) said it purchased USD 429.3 million on the Bmatch trading platform in February, bringing the country’s international reserves to USD 6.65 billion. The February figure follows net purchases of USD 86.6 million in January…

Dispatch – March 25: This is fine

https://civil.ge/archives/725429

Published: March 25, 2026 13:24

It was February 20, a Friday afternoon, when the bank messaged me that my accounts had been frozen. I was sitting at my desk, in a hurry, and my first reaction was one of irritation. I did not have time for this. I was not surprised, or shocked, or angry,…

NBG Keeps Key Refinancing Rate Unchanged at 8%

https://civil.ge/archives/727249

Published: March 25, 2026 10:59

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) has decided to keep the key refinancing rate unchanged at 8%, where it has stood since May 2024. The Committee said that it stands ready to maintain a “tight stance” should…

De Facto Donetsk Court Sentences Georgian Fighter in Absentia to 14 Years

https://civil.ge/archives/727250

Published: March 25, 2026 10:31

The “Supreme Court” of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk sentenced Georgian national Shmagi Dighmelashvili in absentia to 14 years in a “maximum-security penal colony” for fighting on Ukraine’s side “as a mercenary.” He has been placed on an…

Admissions at State Universities to Double in 2028-29 Amid Georgian Dream’s Education Reforms

https://civil.ge/archives/727228

Published: March 25, 2026 10:08

Georgian state universities will accept twice as many students for bachelor’s and master’s programs in 2028-2029, as more applicants are expected amid education reforms, which will reduce both school and bachelor’s program lengths. In particular, for…

Tamar Bagrationi Attends Washington Summit Hosted by First Lady Melania Trump

https://civil.ge/archives/727222

Published: March 25, 2026 07:47

Tamar Bagrationi, wife of Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, is visiting Washington, D.C., where she was invited by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to participate in the “Fostering the Future Together” global summit on March 24-25.…

Russia Sentences Dozhd Journalist to 10 Years in Absentia Over Post Saying ‘20% of Georgia Is Occupied by Russia’

https://civil.ge/archives/727071

Published: March 24, 2026 13:58

Moscow’s Tagansky District Court has sentenced Valeria Kichigina, a journalist at the independent Russian-language TV channel Dozhd, to ten years in penal colony in absentia, over her social media post on the August 2008 war, in which she wrote that “20%…

Forbes Georgia Ranks Country’s 100 Wealthiest, Ivanishvili Comes in Second

https://civil.ge/archives/726985

Published: March 24, 2026 11:21

Forbes Georgia, a local business publication, on March 23 published its first-ever ranking of Georgia’s 100 richest entrepreneurs, placing Bidzina Ivanishvili – the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and its current honorary chairman, widely…

Khoshtaria Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Prison Over Writing Protest Message on Kaladze’s Banner

https://civil.ge/archives/726979

Published: March 24, 2026 08:15

Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa opposition party, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison after being found guilty of “property damage” for writing a protest message on Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s campaign banner in September. Tbilisi…

Peter Andreoli, U.S. State Department Official, Visits Georgia

https://civil.ge/archives/726906

Published: March 23, 2026 14:03

Peter Andreoli, a representative of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is visiting Georgia. “He will meet with representatives of government, the private sector, and Georgian society,” the U.S. Embassy said on March 23,…

SSSG: Minor Faces Charges for False Terrorism Threat on Day of Patriarch Ilia II’s Funeral

https://civil.ge/archives/726793

Published: March 23, 2026 13:10

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said on March 23 that a minor faces charges for making a false terrorist threat at Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral on March 22, where the funeral service for the late Patriarch Ilia II was held before a…

Religious, Political Leaders Deliver Funeral Speeches on Ilia II at Holy Trinity Cathedral

https://civil.ge/archives/726478

Published: March 23, 2026 12:58

Six religious and political leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Georgian Dream founder and Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, delivered speeches at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi following the funeral service for Patriarch Ilia…

Obituary | Ilia II – The Man Who Reinvented the Church

https://civil.ge/archives/726287

Published: March 22, 2026 18:50

Georgians are bidding farewell to Ilia II, the longest-serving head of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. Ilia II passed away at the age of 93, after nearly five decades steering the wheel of the Orthodox…

Live Updates | Georgians Bid Farewell to Patriarch Ilia II

https://civil.ge/archives/726382

Published: March 22, 2026 11:50

Mass turnout is expected as Georgia lays Patriarch Ilia II, the late leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church, to rest on March 22. Ilia II, the longest-serving Georgian Patriarch, who led the Church for nearly half a century, passed away on March 17 at the…

Georgia Prepares for Patriarch’s Funeral

https://civil.ge/archives/726136

Published: March 21, 2026 15:42

Georgia will lay Patriarch Ilia II to rest on Sunday, March 22, with an all-day event in Tbilisi expected to draw a large crowd and feature major officials and religious leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.…

Protester Faces Up to One Year in Jail Under Third-Time ‘Police Disobedience’ Charge

https://civil.ge/archives/726354

Published: March 21, 2026 13:23

Shalva Esartia, an anti-government protester in the western Georgian town of Zugdidi, has been sent to pretrial detention and faces up to one year in jail, as he is charged with repeated, third-time “disobeying a lawful police order” in a criminal case his…

Kobakhidze Visits Hungary, Meets Orbán, Addresses CPAC

https://civil.ge/archives/726333

Published: March 21, 2026 11:31

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has visited Budapest, where he met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual gathering of conservative politicians from around the…

66th Round of Geneva International Discussions

https://civil.ge/archives/726210

Published: March 20, 2026 13:15

The 66th round of Geneva International Discussions (GID), a multilateral format to address the security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, was held on March 18-19 in Geneva. The Geneva International Discussions/GID were…

Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – March 14-19, 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/726192

Published: March 20, 2026 12:55

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. 66th Round of Geneva International Discussion The 66th round of…

Georgia’s GDP $38 Billion in 2025, Real Growth 7.5%

https://civil.ge/archives/726195

Published: March 20, 2026 11:00

Georgia’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached GEL 104.6 billion (USD 38.1 billion) in 2025, a 12.4% increase from the previous year, while real GDP grew by 7.5%, according to preliminary data released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia…

RSF Warns of ‘Subtle and Widespread’ Chinese Influence in Georgia’s Information Space

https://civil.ge/archives/726131

Published: March 20, 2026 09:40

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based media watchdog, said in a newly published report that China has been “gradually strengthening” its influence on Georgia’s information space, warning of what it described as a “subtle and widespread influence…

Georgia’s Foreign Trade Falls 6.9% in January-February 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/726062

Published: March 19, 2026 09:56

Georgia’s external merchandise trade, excluding non-declared trade, totaled USD 3.51 billion in January-February 2026, marking a 6.9% year-on-year decrease, according to preliminary data released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) on…

U.S. Helsinki Commission Members Call to Use Sanctions for Georgia’s Compliance With OSCE Report

https://civil.ge/archives/726006

Published: March 19, 2026 08:34

The bipartisan leadership of the U.S. Helsinki Commission has called on U.S. officials to use sanctions and “other available tools” to insist the Georgian Dream authorities comply with the recommendations of the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism report. The report,…

Georgians Will Be Required Posting Up to $15,000 Bonds for U.S. Tourist, Business Visas

https://civil.ge/archives/725993

Published: March 19, 2026 08:16

Starting April 2, Georgia will be among 12 new countries whose nationals will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000 before receiving B1 or B2 visas for business and tourism in the United States, the U.S. State Department announced on March 18. The…

In Pictures: Georgians Pay Their Respects to Late Patriarch Ilia II

https://civil.ge/archives/725924

Published: March 18, 2026 17:24

Large crowds of Georgians, including clergy and officials, joined a procession on March 18 to pay their respects to Ilia II, a day after he passed away at the age of 93. A choir sang chants as a hearse carried his casket through the streets of Tbilisi,…

‘End of Epoch’ – Georgia Mourns Patriarch

https://civil.ge/archives/725768

Published: March 18, 2026 12:02

Georgia has declared a period of mourning following the passing of Patriarch Ilia II, with politicians across the spectrum and representatives of various public groups coming together to extend condolences and reflect on the legacy of the influential…

International Condolences Pour In After Ilia II’s Passing

https://civil.ge/archives/725775

Published: March 18, 2026 09:41

Foreign church leaders, diplomatic missions, and officials have extended condolences to Georgia following the passing of Patriarch Ilia II, head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, who died late on March 17 at the age of 93. Patriarch Ilia II, who led the…

BREAKING: Patriarch Ilia II, Leader of Georgian Orthodox Church, Dies at 93

https://civil.ge/archives/725614

Published: March 17, 2026 18:47

Patriarch Ilia II, whose nearly five decades of rule have marked the growing influence of the Georgian Orthodox Church, has died at the age of 93, nearly a day after he was hospitalized amid deteriorating health, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, Patriarchal locum…

V-Dem Institute Report Again Classifies Georgia as ‘Electoral Autocracy’

https://civil.ge/archives/725545

Published: March 17, 2026 14:16

The V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute, a Sweden-based research organization, has again classified Georgia as an “electoral autocracy” in its Democracy Report 2026, saying the country’s period of democratization “lasted until 2016.” The report,…

72 Arrested in Crackdown on ‘Thieves’ World’ in Adjara

https://civil.ge/archives/725581

Published: March 17, 2026 13:57

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the State Security Service, arrested 72 individuals in Adjara region during a crackdown on the criminal underworld, the so-called “thieves’ world,” the Georgian Dream Interior Minister Geka Geladze announced…

Ex-Ombudsman Summoned to SSSG Over ‘Communication’ With Moscow Mechanism Expert

https://civil.ge/archives/725520

Published: March 17, 2026 09:37

Former Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili said on March 17 that he has been summoned by Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG) over his “communication” with an expert of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, days after the publication of the critical report that noted…

Money Transfers to Georgia Up 17% in February, EU and US Lead

https://civil.ge/archives/725397

Published: March 17, 2026 09:16

Money transfers to Georgia from abroad reached USD 295.32 million in February, marking a 17.1% increase compared to the same month last year, according to data from the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The largest share of these inflows came from the…

Patriarch Ilia II in Hospital Under Intensive Care

https://civil.ge/archives/725470

Published: March 17, 2026 06:39

Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilia II has been hospitalized on the night of March 17 and is in “very serious” condition, Georgian Dream Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze confirmed. “Considering the age and every factor, the situation definitely is…

Kobakhidze Slams OSCE Moscow Mechanism Report, Accuses Author of Bias

https://civil.ge/archives/725354

Published: March 16, 2026 15:14

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze slammed the author of the recently published Moscow Mechanism report, accusing her of “political bias” in a statement that largely defended the ruling party against criticism of contested elections,…

Over 40 Families Evacuated as Ongoing Landslide Shakes Western Georgian Village

https://civil.ge/archives/725326

Published: March 16, 2026 12:54

Up to 45 families have been evacuated from the village of Kursebi in Tkibuli Municipality, some 20 minutes’ drive from the western Georgian city of Kutaisi, due to a landslide that began in the early hours of March 12 and continued in the days that…

Kobakhidze Meets Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister

https://civil.ge/archives/725311

Published: March 16, 2026 10:16

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleiko, the Georgian government said on March 16. The one-on-one meeting, held at the Georgian government administration, focused on bilateral relations and…

Lelo Calls for ‘Responsible Political Dialogue’ with Georgian Dream, Faces Pushback

https://civil.ge/archives/725271

Published: March 16, 2026 09:48

The opposition Lelo/Strong Georgia party has called for launching “responsible political negotiations” between the ruling Georgian Dream party and those opposition forces it said won the support of “the majority of Georgia’s population” in the 2024…

Ex-Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

https://civil.ge/archives/725267

Published: March 16, 2026 07:45

Georgia’s former Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being found guilty on multiple counts of abuse of office and money laundering. Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Galustashvili, who had presided over and…

Kobakhidze Says Moscow Mechanism Report Was Pre-Drafted, Alleges ‘Conflict of Interest’

https://civil.ge/archives/725207

Published: March 14, 2026 14:57

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…

GYLA to Cut Legal Aid Services Citing ‘Crisis Mode’ Amid Growing Repression

https://civil.ge/archives/725187

Published: March 14, 2026 12:00

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…

Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – March 7-13, 2026

https://civil.ge/archives/725168

Published: March 14, 2026 10:21

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…

Sokhumi Detains Georgian Citizen on Suspicion of Spying for Tbilisi

https://civil.ge/archives/725126

Published: March 13, 2026 11:18

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…

Georgia to Gradually Ban Plastic Bottles

https://civil.ge/archives/725123

Published: March 13, 2026 10:53

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…

Georgian Sailors ‘Safe’ After Drone Attack on Tanker Near Iraqi Waters

https://civil.ge/archives/725053

Published: March 13, 2026 09:36

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…

Tbilisi ‘Vigorously Rejects’ OSCE Findings as Member States Call to Fulfill Recommendations

https://civil.ge/archives/725049

Published: March 13, 2026 08:58

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…