Georgia Navigates Global Tensions, Energy Expansion, and US Visa Freeze
The day's news in Georgia was marked by significant international political developments and critical domestic issues. Globally, tensions continued to escalate regarding US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on several European allies, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. These tariffs are reportedly linked to a dispute over Greenland, with European leaders like Germany's Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and France's Emmanuel Macron strongly asserting they "will not be blackmailed" and that such threats undermine transatlantic relations. NATO member states echoed these concerns, emphasizing that tariff threats jeopardize collective security.
Domestically, a major economic development surfaced with plans to commission 37 new hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) across Georgia in 2026. These HPPs are projected to generate a combined total of 978.7 million kWh of electricity, signaling a significant boost to the country's energy independence and infrastructure. This comes amidst broader discussions on Georgia's budget, with concerns raised by Nikoloz Alavidze about projected unforeseen colossal expenses in 2026 that could burden the population.
Further impacting Georgian citizens, the United States officially confirmed a temporary suspension of immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, including Georgia. The US Embassy clarified that dual citizens applying with a passport from a non-suspended country would be exempt. On the internal political front, the State Security Service (SSS) referred a case to the prosecutor's office concerning allegations by Vephkhia Kasradze, recently detained during protests, that SSS employees had planned to abduct his child. Meanwhile, heavy snowfall and blizzards continued to affect various regions, prompting Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze to issue warnings to drivers and confirm ongoing road-clearing efforts.
In other news, law enforcement agencies reported several arrests, including 14 foreign citizens for illegal stay and individuals for drug crimes and the production of 210 bottles of falsified alcohol. On the sports front, Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze achieved a historic victory by becoming the European Champion in the men's category, while the Georgian handball team faced a tough loss against Croatia in their European Championship match.