Georgia

Mikheil Kavelashvili announced a possible reset of relations with the United States after Trump's victory. Earlier, the United States suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia and imposed sanctions against the Georgian Dream.

In Tbilisi, police detained more than 20 anti-government protesters, including the former mayor and opposition leaders. The protesters tried to block the entrance to the city, which led to clashes with law enforcement.

In Tbilisi, law enforcement officers searched the homes of protest movement activists, including the founders of the Daitove group. Equipment, money and protest symbols were seized from one of the activists.

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the President of the Ukrainian Hockey Federation sent an official letter to the President of the IIHF. The letter calls for maintaining sanctions against Russia and Belarus over the deaths of more than 90 members of the hockey community.

Georgian President Kavelashvili announced the suspension of EU accession talks due to his unwillingness to comply with Brussels' demands. He accused “foreign governments” of trying to drag Georgia into the war in Ukraine.

The flag of the European Union was removed from the ceremonial hall of the Georgian president's residence. The new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, left only the national flag and the presidential standard.

The Georgian delegation suspended its work in PACE because it disagreed with the resolution demanding new elections. The delegation considers PACE's demands unacceptable and violating the country's sovereignty.

PACE adopted a resolution demanding new elections in Georgia. The Georgian delegation lost the right to participate in key committees and the opportunity to hold leadership positions until April 2025.

The 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn will be attended by 28 athletes who have previously represented Russia or were born there. 14 participants partially trained for the competition in Russia, most of them ex-Russians in the Georgian team.

EU foreign ministers decided to suspend the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports. Slovakia and Hungary opposed the decision, but it was passed by a qualified majority.

A fuel oil spill from Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait killed about 50,000 birds and more than 100 dolphins. Experts estimate that the actual number of dolphins killed may reach several thousand.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to restore relations with Georgia, but only if Tbilisi is ready. Moscow accuses the US and EU of interfering in Georgia's internal affairs and putting pressure on the country.

Today, rallies in support of prisoners of conscience will be held in five cities of Georgia. Participants of all the marches will gather near the parliament, such actions will be held every Friday.

A spokesman for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called Slovak Prime Minister Fico's statements about a group of experts involved in the protests a “standard fairy tale. ” The ministry confirmed that a possible meeting between Fico and Zelenskyy in Davos had been discussed.

Irakli Kobakhidze supported Slovak Prime Minister Fico's statement about the threat of a coup d'état. According to him, protests in both countries are coordinated from one center.

In the resort city of Batumi, a man born in 1998 with a mental illness injured three police officers. The incident occurred after a call due to the inappropriate behavior of a person on Komakhidze Street.

Georgia has 18 official holidays a year, the most in Europe. In 2024, a new holiday was added on May 17 - the Day of Family and Parental Respect.

The PACE Monitoring Committee is assessing Georgia's fulfillment of its international commitments amid the political crisis. The delegation met with the authorities, the opposition and visited imprisoned activists.

In Batumi, the leader of the opposition party, Giorgi Gakharia, was severely beaten in the Sheraton Hotel, he suffered a concussion and a broken nose. Deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream party are suspected of the attack.

Georgian police detained about 20 people during the protests over the past day. Nine people were detained in Tbilisi, near a restaurant where judges were holding a corporate party, and eight more in Batumi.

An earthquake of magnitude 3. 4 was recorded in northern Georgia with an epicenter 34 km from Tianeti. The tremors were felt in the village of Ukanapshavi at 09:23 local time.

In December 2024, the cost of making khachapuri in Georgia reached a historic high of 7. 03 GEL. Almost all the ingredients have risen in price over the year, except for eggs.

The Stalin Museum in Gori has announced a tender for the restoration of the house where the Soviet dictator was born. The renovation work is to be completed in 11 days and will include renovation of the roof, floor and other elements of the building.

More than 50 Georgian civil servants are preparing a class action lawsuit over their dismissal for criticizing the country's rejection of EU membership. The dismissals took place without justification following amendments to the Law on Civil Service.

Irakli Kobakhidze denied Macron's statement about Russia's growing aggression in neighboring countries, noting that it concerns only Ukraine. The Georgian prime minister advised the French president to focus on helping Ukraine.

The 40-day pro-European protests demanding the release of detainees and new parliamentary elections continue in Tbilisi. The protesters held a candlelight vigil on Christmas Eve, and a nationwide strike is planned for January 15.

The fuel company Wissol cut out the footage of actor Andro Chichinadze, who was detained for participating in the protests, from the commercial. The company explains this by the expiration of the contract, not political motives.

The Georgian Interior Ministry has started expulsion proceedings against 91 foreigners, including 25 protesters against the freezing of EU accession talks. 10 people have already left the country.

Some Chinese air carriers have begun to avoid flying over southwestern Russia after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. New routes to Georgia and Hungary now go through Azerbaijan and other regions of Russia.

Tens of thousands of pro-European demonstrators celebrated the New Year outside Georgia's parliament, continuing their protests against the government. President Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters, refusing to hand over power to a successor.