Akhalia's Detention Dominates Georgian News Amidst Corruption Probes and Ukraine Focus
The political and legal landscape in Georgia was significantly shaped today by the detention of former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalia, who was ordered imprisoned by the court on charges related to organizing group violence. His arrest generated considerable controversy, with Akhalia himself alleging that the State Security Service (SSS) threatened to detain his wife if he did not testify against associates, a claim vehemently denied by the SSS as “immoral lies.”
Parallel to these developments, the State Security Service's Anti-Corruption Agency announced a major crackdown, arresting four individuals and charging a total of eleven across four distinct criminal cases involving corruption and other offenses. These cases reportedly include issues with substandard road rehabilitation projects in Samegrelo and Kvemo Kartli, totaling over 2 million GEL in wasted funds.
On the international front, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remained a key focus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statements indicated upcoming meetings with Donald Trump to discuss security guarantees and potential peace plans. Domestically, Georgia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukrainian citizens residing in the country, with the government extending financial aid (300 GEL per family, 45 GEL per individual) and medical services until April 1, 2026.
Economically, the government is set to allocate 2.6 million GEL from its reserve fund to subsidize non-standard tangerine harvests in the Adjara Autonomous Republic, aiming to support farmers. Discussions continued regarding the significant price differences for products between Georgia and European countries, with calls for deeper analysis beyond merely blaming business greed. Meanwhile, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reported that its main server was targeted in a suspected cyberattack, disrupting its programming for a second day. In more positive news, football star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was named Georgia's best footballer of the year by the Georgian Football Federation.