High-Profile Murder Accusation, Economic Measures, and Infrastructure Milestones Dominate Georgian News
The Georgian political and legal landscape was gripped today by the unfolding case involving former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze. He stands accused of orchestrating the murder of Levan Jangveladze, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs declaring him internationally wanted. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili noted that Partskhaladze's alleged Russian citizenship complicates potential extradition, sparking intense debate among political figures and analysts, who suggest the case highlights deeper issues of corruption and power struggles. However, Partskhaladze's legal team vehemently denies the charges, calling them unfounded.
On the economic front, authorities announced measures aimed at ensuring stability amidst public concerns over rising prices. The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) Chairman, David Narmia, confirmed that natural gas tariffs will remain unchanged for another year, and electricity tariffs will not increase for the next three months, delaying previously anticipated adjustments. Meanwhile, discussions around high food prices continue, with the Prime Minister emphasizing the significant difference between Georgian and European market prices, prompting calls for anti-monopoly legislation. From January 1, 2026, foreign tourists entering Georgia will face a new mandatory requirement to hold health and accident insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 GEL.
Significant progress was marked in national infrastructure with the completion of the long-awaited Rikoti Pass highway project. Set to open to traffic from tomorrow afternoon, this major four-lane expressway is expected to drastically reduce travel times and improve connectivity across the regions. However, challenging winter weather conditions led to several disruptions, including the suspension of practical driving tests in Kutaisi due to heavy snowfall and widespread road restrictions on mountain passes like Paravani and Gudauri-Kobi. Western Georgia also experienced power outages following damage to electricity lines, though Kutaisi International Airport maintained normal operations despite the snow.
Internationally, the Ukraine conflict remained a key focus, with reports of a meeting between US ex-President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida, where they reportedly came "very close" to an agreement on a peace plan, excluding the Donbas region. Concurrently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov controversially claimed Ukraine attempted a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod region, a claim swiftly denied by Zelensky. In sports news, Georgian athletes continued to make headlines; UFC star Merab Dvalishvili was named the best fighter of 2025 by multiple publications, while NBA player Sandro Mamukelashvili delivered a strong double-double performance.