Dispatch – April 15: Last Supra - Civil Georgia The ajika they offer in Imereti is not nearly as spicy as the one served further west. That’s probab

Read our latest Dispatch column about the culinary magic of Georgia’s funerals, and the solace and wisdom it offers to those left behind:

Trump Tower to Be Built in Tbilisi - Civil Georgia Trump Organization, a real-estate conglomerate founded by U.S. President Donald Trump and managed by

Trump Organization, a real-estate conglomerate founded by U.S. President Trump and managed by his family, plans to build Trump Tower in Tbilisi - "first Trump branded project in the region" - with local partners, the group announced in its press release.

"Give medication to children" - Tbilisi's traditional Saturday march is led by families of children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), who have been demanding access to modern treatments for a rare genetic muscle-wasting condition.
🎥 Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge

Ivanishvili’s Son Laments ‘Violence’, ‘Polarization’, Calls for ‘Discussion, Debate’ - Civil Georgia Responding to a question during the ruling party's youth event about abuses against protesters and a

Responding to a question during the ruling party's youth event about abuses against protesters, Tsotne Ivanishvili, the youngest son of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, lamented “violence” and “polarization” and called to engage in “conversation, discussion, debate” instead.

Protesters, Journalists Report Frozen Accounts Over Unnotified ‘Road Blockage’ Fines - Civil Georgia A number of demonstrators and several journalists, including Civil.ge's chief editor, have reported

A number of demonstrators and several journalists, including Civil.ge's chief editor, have reported having their bank accounts frozen in the past months over unnotified police fines related to alleged “road blockages” during Tbilisi rallies.

Kobakhidze Attends Antalya Diplomacy Forum - Civil Georgia Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, together with GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvi

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, together with GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani, is participating in the 2026 Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

State Security Service Says Its Chief Mdinaradze Visited Czech Republic on ‘Working Visit’ - Civil Georgia The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said on April 17 that its chief, Mamuka Mdinaradze, alo

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said on April 17 that its chief, Mamuka Mdinaradze, along with two deputies and the head of the intelligence service, was on a “working visit” to the Czech Republic.

Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – April 10-16, 2026 - Civil Georgia Below is the weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of

Below is our weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations:

Weimar Triangle Delegation Visits Tbilisi - Civil Georgia A delegation from the ministries of foreign affairs of the Weimar Triangle countries - France, Germa

A delegation from the ministries of foreign affairs of the Weimar Triangle countries - France, Germany, and Poland – visited Tbilisi on April 16 and met with Georgian Dream officials, opposition politicians and civil society representatives.

Zakharova Says EU Membership Would Add Georgia to Russia’s List of ‘Unfriendly’ Countries - Civil Georgia Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that if Georgia were to join the European

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that if Georgia were to join the European Union, Russia “would have” to include it on the list of countries with “unfriendly regimes” and extend to it “retaliatory economic measures.”

Imedi Accuses Human Rights Advocate Igor Blaževič of Links with ‘Revolutionary Scenario’ in Georgia - Civil Georgia Imedi TV, Georgia’s major pro-government channel, has claimed that Igor Blaževič, human rights advoc

Imedi TV, Georgia’s major pro-government channel, has claimed that Igor Blaževič, human rights advocate and senior advisor at the Prague Civil Society Centre, is linked to a “revolutionary scenario” for the Georgian opposition:

Disputed Parliament Approves New ComCom Member with Imedi Background - Civil Georgia Ani Vazagashvili, who has headed the legal department of the pro-government and UK-sanctioned Imedi

Ani Vazagashvili, who has headed the legal department of the pro-government and UK-sanctioned Imedi TV, was approved by Georgia’s disputed parliament as a new member of the Communications Commission (ComCom), the state media regulator.

Ex-Imedi Owner Rukhadze Sells Liberty Bank Shares to BasisBank - Civil Georgia BasisBank, owned by a Chinese Hualing Group, acquired Liberty Bank, Georgia's third-largest bank, wh

BasisBank, owned by a Chinese Hualing Group, acquired Liberty Bank, Georgia’s third-largest bank, which has been co-owned by the ruling party-close businessman Irakli Rukhadze, the former owner of pro-government Imedi channel, which he sold shortly before it was sanctioned by the UK.

Georgia Closing Airspace Over Abastumani ‘Ivanishvili Whim’, Sources Tell RFE/RL - Civil Georgia On April 16, Georgia is to close airspace over the area of Abastumani, a health resort in the countr

Georgia is to close airspace over the health resort Abastumani on April 16, with authorities citing the need to ensure clear skies for the local observatory, but RFE/RL Georgian service citing sources claiming that the move is more of a “whim” of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Money Transfers to Georgia Up 9.8% in March, EU and US Lead - Civil Georgia Money transfers to Georgia from abroad reached USD 320.60 million in March, marking a 9.8% increase

Money transfers to Georgia from abroad reached USD 320.60 million in March, marking a 9.8% increase compared to the same month last year, according to Georgia's central bank. Largest share - combined 64,4% - again came from EU countries and U.S.

Disputed Parliament Adopts New Exemptions to Controversial Grants Law - Civil Georgia Georgia's disputed parliament adopted amendments to the controversial Law on Grants, introducing new

Georgia’s disputed parliament adopted amendments to the controversial Law on Grants, introducing new exemptions to apply to diplomatic and international organization missions, as well as the Georgian Red Cross Society and financial and credit institutions.

Botchorishvili Says Authorities Reviewed 165 Applications Under Grants Law - Civil Georgia Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili said the officials reviewed 165 grant applicatio

Georgian Dream’s Foreign Minister said more than 95% of 165 grant applications were approved under the country’s contested Grants Law, as critics warn the system restricts access for independent media and civil society.

Belarusian Photographer Detained at Minsk Airport Upon Arrival From Georgia - Civil Georgia Belarusian photographer Alexander Shishko has been detained at Minsk National Airport upon arrival f

Belarusian photographer Alexander Shishko has been detained at Minsk National Airport upon arrival from Georgia, several sources reported.

Michael O’Flaherty, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, Visits Georgia - Civil Georgia Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, is visiting Georgia "to engage

Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, is visiting Georgia "to engage with government, authorities, and civil society on a range of important human rights concerns."

Péter Magyar Pledges to Continue ‘Good Relations’ with Georgia - Civil Georgia Hungarian Prime Minister-in-waiting Péter Magyar pledged to continue what he called "good relations"

Hungarian Prime Minister-in-waiting Péter Magyar pledged to continue “good relations” with Georgia in his first comment on the country after voters chose him to replace Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Georgian Dream.

Hungarian Opposition Win Inspires Georgia’s Resistance as Ruling Party Loses Ally - Civil Georgia The landslide opposition victory in Hungary in the April 12 parliamentary vote has reverberated in G

Opposition victory in Hungary has reverberated in Georgia, offering renewed hope to those resisting the undemocratic rule of Georgian Dream, Viktor Orbán's close ally. But there is less agreement on what conclusions to draw from Péter Magyar's success:

Patriarchal Locum Tenens Speaks of Late Ilia II in First Epistle After His Death - Civil Georgia Patriarchal Locum Tenens Shio (Mujiri) of the Georgian Orthodox Church spoke about the late Patriarc

Patriarchal Locum Tenens Shio of the Georgian Orthodox Church spoke about the late Patriarch Ilia II and addressed unity in the first Easter epistle after Ilia II’s death, delivered late on April 11, on the eve of Orthodox Easter, at Tbilisi's Sioni Cathedral.

De facto court in Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk sentenced Georgian opposition politician Koba Khabazi to 13 years in penal colony in absentia, alleging he fought for Ukraine against Russian forces as a “mercenary”:

Read our 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:

Georgia marks the 37th anniversary of the April 9, 1989, massacre of pro-independence protesters by the Soviet army. Tensions occasionally flared around the memorial outside Parliament, where, among others, Georgian Dream officials arrived to pay tribute.

Three Minors Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison in Murder Case of Teacher Giga Avaliani - Civil Georgia Three minors - Aleksandre Gabashvili, Giorgi Rikadze and Demetre Chikovani - were found guilty and s

Three minors – Aleksandre Gabashvili, Giorgi Rikadze, and Demetre Chikovani – were found guilty and sentenced to multiple years in prison in the high-profile murder case of 28-year-old teacher Giga Avaliani.

UNM-Era Minister Wanted by Tbilisi Appointed Head of Ukraine Police Department for Interpol Cooperation - Civil Georgia Zurab Adeishvili, Georgia’s former prosecutor general and justice minister under President Mikheil S

Zurab Adeishvili, Georgia’s former prosecutor general and justice minister under President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently wanted by Tbilisi, has been appointed Director of Ukraine’s National Police Department of International Police Cooperation.

ComCom Issues Written Warnings to Four TV Channels for ‘Violating Impartiality Principles’ - Civil Georgia The Communications Commission (ComCom), Georgia’s state media regulator, has issued written warnings

Communications Commission, Georgia’s state media regulator, issued written warnings to four TV channels, both pro-government and critical broadcasters, citing “violations of principles of impartiality” under the country’s Law on Broadcasting.

Properties to Be Expropriated from Five Owners for Construction of ‘Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center’ in Tbilisi - Civil Georgia Properties will be expropriated from five owners in Tbilisi to make way for the planned construction

Properties will be expropriated from five owners in Tbilisi to make way for the planned construction of the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, after GD Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili signed a decree citing failed negotiations to secure voluntary sales.

Illegally Detained Georgian Citizen Released From Occupied Territory - Civil Georgia The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported on April 8 that a Georgian citizen who had bee

The State Security Service of Georgia reported on April 8 that a Georgian citizen who had been illegally detained on April 2 is now “free” and in Tbilisi-controlled territory.