Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s wealthiest individual and former prime minister, is suspected of transferring assets to Georgia to avoid U.S. sanctions. Transparency International (TI) Georgia claims recent tax code amendments, which allow tax-free asset transfers from offshore accounts, were tailored to benefit Ivanishvili.
With an estimated fortune of $4.9 billion, largely held in offshore accounts, Ivanishvili has faced growing scrutiny. The U.S. imposed sanctions on him in response to Georgia’s political crackdown, including the suspension of EU accession talks and violent suppression of protests. TI Georgia suggests he is shifting company ownership from offshore entities to domestic firms. The UK may also sanction him, which could affect his businesses linked to British Overseas Territories.
In January, nearly $500 million worth of artwork entered Georgia, allegedly from Ivanishvili’s collection, raising further concerns.
Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has defended Ivanishvili, calling the threat of sanctions "without foundation" and crediting him for the country's "democratic breakthrough." The head of Georgia’s parliamentary finance committee, Paata Kvijinadze, justified the tax changes, stating they were intended to attract investment.
Ivanishvili has also sued Swiss bank Julius Baer, alleging it misinterpreted U.S. sanctions. His long-running disputes with Credit Suisse over financial mismanagement have reportedly fuelled his distrust of Western institutions.
Experts warn that Georgia’s economy faces significant risks due to ongoing political instability and international isolation. While the government highlights a recent $6 billion investment deal with the UAE as a sign of economic resilience, analysts predict stagnation and growing fiscal challenges.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced reshuffles in Georgia’s economic leadership, unveiling new appointments.
Senior officials from the United States and Georgia met in Tbilisi to review bilateral relations and regional security amid ongoing diplomatic discussions.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is in Hungary for high-level meetings focused on expanding bilateral engagement. The visit includes talks with Hungarian leaders and is expected to pave the way for new agreements across several key sectors.
Georgia has launched its first modern dry port near Tbilisi, aiming to become a vital logistics and trade hub linking the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, one of the most trusted branches of American defense analysis, has released its annual global threat assessment — and Georgia is firmly on its radar.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Masked law enforcement officers have detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the 'Sacred Struggle' movement in Armenia. He is accused of preparing terrorist attacks and an alleged attempt to seize power, according to the Investigative Committee.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has announced a major reform initiative aimed at strengthening national sovereignty in the country’s space sector.
An explosive device detonated on an armoured combat-engineering vehicle in Khan Younis in Gaza, killing seven Israeli soldiers and seriously wounding another soldier on Tuesday (24 June).
Iran’s parliamentary committee has approved a draft bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until Tehran receives firm guarantees on the agency’s conduct.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
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