Georgia’s State Security Service has revealed a group involved in the embezzlement of funds intended for free canteen programmes. Investigations have uncovered a scheme where millions of lari, belonging to the state, were fraudulently misappropriated. Five individuals have been detained, including a company director, managers of four subcontractor firms, and one employee. Between 2023 and…
Switzerland has implemented travel restrictions for individuals holding Georgian diplomatic, official, and service passports. Effective from April 3, 2026, Georgian citizens possessing these passport types will require a visa to enter the country, as determined by the Swiss Federal Council. This temporary measure, lasting one year, was finalized in a meeting on April 1st. The…
From Georgia-USA 02.04.2026, significant alterations to US visa regulations for georgian citizens are set to commence. Starting April 2nd, 2026, the US State Department has incorporated Georgia into a “visa bond pilot programme” encompassing 50 nations. This action effectively eliminates the issuance of extended, multiple-entry visas to georgian nationals. Georgia becomes the sole European country…
The Georgian Dream party has joined a newly formed political group within the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, a move described as a “little brother” to the right-wing Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament. Announced on Tuesday, this new group, Patriots for Europe in Congress, aims to “further strengthen…
Mansur Velishov, a Shia Muslim theologian, remains imprisoned in Azerbaijan’s Umbaki Correctional Prison following a six-year sentence. Reports indicate he has endured months without adequate medical attention, resulting in severe sores on his spine and hands. Initially detained in March 2023 on drug possession charges, his family and activists believe these accusations stemmed from his…
Igor Dodon, the former pro-Russian Moldovan president, recently traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia. Accompanied by a group of opposition parliamentarians, the visit was presented as a step to enhance “parliamentary collaboration.” The arrival has already sparked political responses and some criticism. Dodon stated his presence in Tbilisi is a working trip, part of his role within…
Armenian and Russian leaders held contentious discussions in Moscow between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan on April 1, 2026. Official photo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan engaged in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, addressing bilateral issues alongside Armenia’s relationships and ongoing projects with the EU and the US. Putin repeatedly…
The disappearance of a Daghestani minister has sparked serious concerns following reports of a potential assassination attempt. Temirlan Abutalimov, the Daghestani National Policy and Religious Affairs Minister, has been absent from public view since early March, after returning from a trip to Moscow. He last posted on his Telegram channel on March 3rd, announcing his…
Azerbaijan ramps up pressure against ‘political prisoners’ Since February, Azerbaijan has intensified its actions against imprisoned civil society members, journalists, politicians, and scholars. This escalating pressure has sparked considerable speculation among activists abroad regarding the reasons behind it. Initial reports in late February detailed brutal behavior and psychological abuse within the Baku Pretrial Detention Centre,…
In a recent survey of the North Caucasus region, a small percentage – 3% – identified Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin as an ideal regional leader. The poll, conducted by the Russian Field research centre, examined perceptions of leadership within the North Caucasus Federal District, encompassing regions like Daghestan, Chechnya, and North Ossetia. Interestingly, alongside historical…