Abkhazia experienced a 15% increase in electricity prices beginning April 1st in Sukhum. This tariff adjustment was initially scheduled for January, but the governing body postponed its implementation. The new rates now apply to households: individuals using single-phase connections will pay 2 roubles per kilowatt-hour (approximately $0.02), while those with three-phase connections will pay 2.7…
The cancellation of approximately 40% of hotel bookings in Azerbaijan during the Novruz holiday signifies deeper issues within the nation’s tourism market, extending beyond typical seasonal fluctuations. This trend reveals that even during a traditionally busy period for domestic and regional travel, consumers are reconsidering their plans and seeking alternative destinations, indicating difficulties in reaching…
Georgia–Iran Relations Intensify Amidst Ambassador’s Statements The Georgian government is facing a significant diplomatic challenge following statements made by Iran’s Ambassador to Georgia, Ali Moujani, sparking considerable backlash. Moujani asserted that no country was immune to the consequences of a regional crisis, specifically referencing the ongoing conflict and implying a veiled threat directed at Georgia….
Russian anti-war activist Roman Evseev reported being targeted by the FSB following a trip to Russia in December 2025. The account, published by the First Department, details his experience after relocating to Georgia in 2022 following the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Evseev had been volunteering with Ukrainian refugees and working at a private…
The Georgian court has handed down a one-year prison sentence to two anti-government protesters, Mindia Shervashidze and Tornike Toshkhua, following their conviction for assault. Judge Elene Goguadze delivered this verdict on Wednesday, concluding a case where both defendants had been held in pre-trial detention since their arrest. The sentence will commence from the date of…
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, of attempting to ‘subjugate’ the Georgian Orthodox Church by influencing the selection of candidates to succeed Patriarch Ilia II. In response, the Georgian Church dismissed such interference as impossible. According to the SVR’s statement released on Tuesday, Patriarch Bartholomew I…
A Yerevan court has prohibited the distribution and viewing of “Our Road to Independence,” a documentary concerning Armenia’s Declaration of Independence, directed by Tigran Paskevichyan. The Public TV holds the film’s rights and has not broadcast or published it since its 2020 production. The ruling, issued on March 27th following a June 2025 lawsuit, recognized…
The whereabouts of Nikita Zhuravel, a man convicted in Chechnya for burning the quran, have finally been confirmed after months of uncertainty following his ‘disappearance’ during a prison transfer. Zhuravel’s location remained unknown since late December. Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Presidential Human Rights Council, cited a letter penned by Zhuravel to his mother,…
The Georgian government has enacted a law requiring all international tourists to possess valid travel health insurance upon entry, effective January 1, 2026. This shift aligns with international tourism standards and addresses a key challenge for the nation’s healthcare system. GPI Holding, a Vienna Insurance Group member and a leader in this field, is strategically…
Georgia 01.04.2026: New Regulations Impacting Foreign Workers Everything you need to know about Georgia’s new rules for hiring foreign workers. Tbilisi Share Share. From 1 March 2026, Georgia has significantly restricted employment opportunities for foreign citizens, marking a substantial shift in the country’s approach to immigration. Foreign nationals now require a special permit to work…