Georgia
Only two bidders left in the auction for HSBC’s Maltese operations
The auction for HSBC’s Maltese operations has attracted more interest than first expected with the number of bidders rising to five at its peak. However, three have dropped out and only Bank of Georgia and Armenia’s Ardshinbank remain in the race
MACRO ADVISORY: Georgia is too important to sanction
Despite warnings from the World Bank, the IMF and some Rating Agencies that the continuing protests in Tbilisi and the deteriorating relations with the European Union will have a negative impact on Georgia’s economy its not happening yet.
Fleet-cannibalised Russian aviation can only look on as Central Asia carriers take over regional market segments
Moscow has even considered asking Kazakhstan to run some of its domestic flight connections.
EU threatens suspension of visa free travel for Georgians amid ruling party crackdown
The EU has warned Georgia may lose its visa-free travel privileges should the ruling Georgian Dream party not take steps to reverse its current course, which many Western countries have condemned as increasingly authoritarian and anti-European.
Etihad Airways announces seven new routes from Abu Dhabi hub
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will launch seven new destinations from Abu Dhabi between November 2025 and March 2026, expanding its network across the Middle East.
COMMENT: Kremlin goes on the offensive in the south by expanding former prime minister Kiriyenko's foreign policy powers
The Kremlin used to tread softly when exercising its influence in the countries along its southern border, but no more, after the powers of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff Kiriyenko were expanded.
European foreign ministers hit out at Georgian ruling party
Statement condemned ongoing democratic backsliding by the ruling Georgia Dream party, which has consolidated power via crackdowns on independent media, NGOs, activists and opposition politicians.
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Russian aid agency seeking to fill USAID gaps in former Soviet Union
Imperial attitudes undermine ambitions for expanded influence.
Former head of Georgian Adjara region hospitalised after what government claims was suicide attempt
Questions raised over "suicide note" pro-government media say was found in Tornike Rizhvadze's clothes after he was hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the chest.
UK Foreign Office summons Georgian chargé d’affaires over ruling party crackdown
London officially condemns the Georgian Dream government’s crackdown on civil society, independent media and its political opponents.
Two more Georgian opposition leaders jailed bringing total to six in one week
The ruling Georgia Dream party’s ongoing crackdown on political opponents has placed the majority of Georgia’s pro-Western opposition leaders in jail and sparked a huge international backlash.
Fourth Georgian opposition leader handed prison sentence
bne IntelliNews witnessed a heavy police mobilisation leading Giorgi Vashadze roughly from the Unity-UNM headquarters and forcing him into an unmarked police car.
Three Georgian opposition leaders jailed in one day
Girchi leader Zurab Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze of the Lelo party have also been barred from holding public office for two years.
COMMENT: Georgia goes from sanctions-dodging transit country to Russia’s oil export backdoor into Europe
Georgia has long been suspected of being a major transit country for European sanctioned goods travelling to Russia, but now it appears the trade is flowing in the other direction: Georgia has become a major backdoor into the EU for Russian oil.
Israeli embassies worldwide suspend operations
Israeli diplomatic missions globally have suspended operations amid the ongoing Israeli military operation against Iran which has killed nearly 80 people.
Georgian opposition leader’s husband “abducted” in Tbilisi, forced to apologise for calling Ivanishvili’s son gay
UNM chair Tina Bokuchava said her husband was ambushed and forced into a car by masked individuals outside the family’s Tbilisi residence.
Georgian interior ministry undergoes major reshuffle
Reshuffle follows the resignation of sanctioned former Georgian interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and his deputy.
Abkhazian president says Russia will build “technical support base” on separatist region’s Black Sea coast
Badra Gunba's announcement conflicts with his predecessor's statement that Russia would establish a permanent naval base in the Georgian breakaway republic.
Georgian ruling party launches legal offensive against critical TV channels
Georgian Dream accused Formula and TV Pirveli of using anti-government terminology in their coverage.
Georgia’s Ivanishvili refuses to meet with US ambassador to hear message from Trump
US-Georgia relations soured in late 2024 after Washington froze its Strategic Partnership with Georgia in response to the authorities’ use of violence to disperse protests.