Civil.ge
@civil.ge
Georgia's online news magazine of record. Since 2001.
United National Movement (UNM) held its 13th congress on August 5, electing an interim “governing council” and its head, Irakli Pavlenishvili, to lead the opposition party for six months until a new and permanent chair is chosen.
UNM Congress Elects Interim ‘Governing Council’ With Irakli Pavlenishvili as Head - Civil Georgia
Opposition United National Movement (UNM) held its 13th congress on August 5, electing an interim “g
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Georgia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister George Zurabashvili met with Mark Clayton, deputy director at the UK Foreign Office’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate and a former UK ambassador to Georgia.
Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Meets UK Foreign Office Delegation, Including Former Ambassador Clayton - Civil Georgia
George Zurabashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, met on August 5 with M
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified an agreement aimed at supporting the implementation of occupied Abkhazia’s 2026–2030 “state program” for socio-economic development.
Putin Approves Agreement to Support Occupied Abkhazia’s 2026-2030 Development Program - Civil Georgia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified an agreement aimed at supporting the implementation of
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Georgia’s State Security Service said it arrested two people after they allegedly supplied horse meat instead of beef to kindergartens in Kareli and Marneuli municipalities and obtained money from the state budget.
Two Arrested After Allegedly Supplying Horse Meat Instead of Beef to Kindergartens - Civil Georgia
Two people have been arrested after allegedly supplying horse meat instead of beef to kindergartens
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Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused opposition and government critics of ignoring Russia’s 2008 war against Georgia and turning “Russophobic” only after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kobakhidze Accuses Opposition, Critics of Ignoring 2008 War, Turning ‘Russophobic’ Only in 2022 - Civil Georgia
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused opposition and government critics of ign
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The Facebook page of Studio Monitori, a prominent Tbilisi-based investigative journalism outlet, was temporarily disabled on the morning of August 3, before being restored hours later at around 8 pm.
Studio Monitori’s Facebook Page Temporarily Disabled Amid ‘Cyberattack’ Allegations - Civil Georgia
The Facebook page of Studio Monitori, a prominent Tbilisi-based investigative journalism outlet, was
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The head of Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE), the country’s main electricity transmission grid owner, has left his post days after Georgia was hit by two nationwide blackouts on July 24-25.
Head of Georgian State Electrosystem, Country’s Major Grid Owner, Leaves Post After Two Nationwide Blackouts - Civil Georgia
The head of Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE), the country’s main electricity transmission grid own
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Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 5.5% in July, while consumer prices fell by 0.4% compared to June.
Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 5.5% in July 2026 - Civil Georgia
Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 5.5% in July, while consumer prices fell by 0.4% compared t
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Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international public broadcaster, launched an EU-funded Georgian-language news service on Instagram on August 3, with plans to expand to additional platforms at a later stage.
DW Launches EU-Funded Georgian-Language News Service - Civil Georgia
Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international public broadcaster, launched an EU-funded Georgian-language
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Starting August 3, Georgian citizens applying for U.S. business and tourist visas may be required to post a bond of up to $20,000 under a U.S. Visa Bond Program that is becoming permanent and covers nationals of 50 countries, mostly from Africa.
Georgians May Need to Post Up to $20,000 Bond for U.S. Tourist, Business Visas Under Permanent Programme - Civil Georgia
Starting August 3, Georgian citizens applying for U.S. business and tourist visas may be required to
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Students at Georgia’s public universities from the third semester will need to have at least 80% of the required ECTS from the previous semester to keep their full state funding.
Promised Free Tuition at Public Universities in Georgia to Be Partly Merit-Based From Third Semester, Tied to ECTS - Civil Georgia
Students in bachelor's and master's programmes at public universities in Georgia will have their tui
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Imprisoned opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili is facing a new criminal charge of “contempt of court” after a prosecutor accused him of “insulting” a police officer who was testifying as a witness in court.
Elisashvili Faces New Charge as Prosecutor Accuses Him of ‘Contempt of Court’ Through ‘Insult’ of Police Witness - Civil Georgia
Imprisoned opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili is facing a new criminal charge of "contempt of c
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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.
Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – July 24-30 - Civil Georgia
Below is the weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of
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Georgia’s real GDP grew by 8.6% in June compared to the same month last year, according to Geostat’s rapid estimates. The average real GDP growth rate for January-June stood at 7.9%.
Georgia’s GDP Up by 8.6% in June 2026 - Civil Georgia
Georgia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.6% year-on-year in June 2026, according to rap
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Zurab Menteshashvili, an active participant in Georgia’s anti-government and pro-EU protests, was released from prison on July 31 after serving a nine-month sentence for “repeated road blockage.”
Protester Zurab Menteshashvili Released From Prison After Nine-Month Sentence for ‘Repeated Road Blockage’ - Civil Georgia
Zurab Menteshashvili, an active participant in Georgia's anti-government and pro-EU protests, was re
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Nauru has withdrawn its recognition of Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions as “independent states” and terminated diplomatic relations with them with “immediate effect.”
Nauru Withdraws Recognition of Georgia’s Occupied Regions - Civil Georgia
Nauru has withdrawn its recognition of Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Osset
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A new initiative group has been launched in Georgia to prepare a legislative proposal aimed at protecting “traditional values” and other issues it considers part of the country’s national identity.
New Initiative Group Launched to Protect Georgia’s ‘Traditional Values,’ Prepare Legislation - Civil Georgia
A new initiative group has been launched in Georgia to prepare a legislative proposal aimed at prote
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The U.S. Embassy announced that Amy W. Diaz has assumed the position of Chargé d’Affaires in Georgia.
Amy W. Diaz Assumes U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Role in Georgia - Civil Georgia
The U.S. Embassy announced on July 30 that Amy W. Diaz has assumed the position of Chargé d’Affaires
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Nearly one in every four international visitors to Georgia in Q2 2026 came from Russia amid an overall 5.2% decline in international visitors.
International Visitors to Georgia Down 5.2% in Q2 2026 as Russians Remain Largest Group - Civil Georgia
Georgia recorded 1.3 million international visitors in the second quarter of 2026, down 5.2% year-on
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Mamuka Mdinaradze, now the State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies in the Georgian Dream government, will become the “State Minister for Regional Policy,” a yet-to-be-created position.
Mdinaradze to Become ‘State Minister for Regional Policy,’ Regional Development Ministry to Be Abolished - Civil Georgia
Mamuka Mdinaradze, now the State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies in the Georgian
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Thai travel vlogger Hlun Solo, who had been missing for more than two weeks after travelling to Georgia on a solo trip, was found dead in a hotel room in Tbilisi, police confirmed on July 29. He was 27.
Missing Thai Travel Vlogger Found Dead in Tbilisi, Police Say - Civil Georgia
Thai travel vlogger Hlun Solo, who had been missing for more than two weeks after travelling to Geor
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Nauru cut diplomatic ties with Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said, welcoming the move.
Nauru Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Occupied Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Regions as Tbilisi Welcomes Move - Civil Georgia
Nauru has cut diplomatic ties with Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia r
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Georgia participated in Sea Breeze 2026, a major U.S.-led multinational maritime exercise that brought together NATO Allies and partner nations.
Georgia Participates in Sea Breeze 2026, U.S.-Led Multinational Maritime Exercise - Civil Georgia
Georgia participated in Sea Breeze 2026, a major U.S.-led multinational maritime exercise that broug
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Five were fined and four sent to administrative detention among the ten protesters and activists arrested in Tbilisi on July 26 for holding what the Interior Ministry described as “insulting banners.” The banners referred to Georgian Dream honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Court Fines Five, Sends Four to Detention Among Protesters Arrested Over ‘Insulting Banners’ About Ivanishvili - Civil Georgia
Five were fined and four sent to administrative detention among the ten protesters and activists arr
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Georgian Dream Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze resigned, citing health reasons.
Georgian Dream Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze Resigns, Citing Health Reasons - Civil Georgia
Georgian Dream Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze resigned, citing health reasons. In a resignation l
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The “Rike Tubes,” modern glass-and-metal structures in Tbilisi’s Rike Park built during the UNM era, are being demolished after City Hall confirmed it had issued a permit to their owner, Rike Dom, which plans to build a hotel on the site.
‘Rike Tubes,’ UNM-Era Modern Structures That Never Opened, Being Demolished in Tbilisi - Civil Georgia
The “Rike Tubes,” a pair of modern cylindrical glass-and-metal structures in downtown Tbilisi’s Rike
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The U.S. Embassy in Georgia said it is "troubled" by the government’s "hate speech" division, stressing that the United States considers free speech "foundational to a functioning society" and opposes "censorship and restrictive laws" to silence critics.
U.S. Embassy ‘Troubled’ Over Georgian Government’s ‘Hate Speech’ Division, Warns Against Restrictions on Free Speech - Civil Georgia
The U.S. Embassy in Georgia said it is “troubled” by the government’s Division for Combatting Hate S
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Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili questioned the benefits of EU membership if the bloc abolishes the unanimity principle, a move he said major powers appear to be seeking and which would be “catastrophic” for smaller states.
Papuashvili Questions EU Membership Benefits If Unanimity in Decision-Making Is Abolished - Civil Georgia
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili questioned the benefits of European Union membe
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The State Security Service of Georgia said it arrested a former law enforcement employee who allegedly used the names of Geka Geladze and Tsotne Ivanishvili to obtain money from two defendants’ family members by promising their release and plea agreements.
SSSG Arrests Former Law Enforcement Employee Accused of Fraud Over Promises to Secure Defendants’ Release - Civil Georgia
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said on July 27 that it arrested a former employee of a
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Inter RAO, one of Russia’s largest state-controlled energy companies and the indirect owner of several major power assets in Georgia, was included in the European Union’s latest sanctions list against Moscow.
EU Sanctions Include Inter RAO, Russian Energy Giant Indirectly Owning Georgia’s Power Assets - Civil Georgia
Inter RAO, one of Russia's largest state-controlled energy companies and the indirect owner of sever
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