Economic Press Monitor March 16 - 22, 2025	Days:  22 01 08 15 22

economic & politics

REZONANSI: “THERE IS ALREADY CHAOS IN SERVICE SPHERE – BIG PART OF COURIERS AND TAXI DRIVERS DOES NOT UNDERSTAND GEORGIAN LANGUAGE”

March 19, 2025 - In Georgia, provision of information about products and services in Georgian is mandatory, but this requirement is often violated by companies, the newspaper says.

As the article notes, Georgian Competition and Consumer Protection Agency received many applications, related to poor quality of service provision in Georgian or inability to receive them.




TABULA: “LEVAN VARSHALOMIDZE IS DETAINED IN KAZAKHSTAN, THERE IS A THREAT OF EXTRADITION TO RUSSIA – BEZHASHVILI”

March 19, 2025 - Levan Varshalomidze, former head of Ajara government, was detained in Kazakhstan, reported Levan Bezhashvili, one of the leaders of the Unified National Movement. He noted that there is a threat of extradition to Russia.




NETGAZETI.GE: “PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE CONFIRMS THAT ARREST ON THE FUNDS WAS IMPOSED BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT PROTEST”

March 18, 2025 - Funds that provided assistance to detained, fined and injured participants of pro-European rallies in Georgia were seized as part of an investigation into sabotage.

Among them are Nanuka’s Foundation, Prosperity, Fund Ertmanetistvis 24/7 (For Each Other), Sirtskhvilia (Shame) and Tbilisi Human Rights House.




REZONANSI: “IMPRISONMENT OF SAAKASHVILI EXTENDED UNTIL 2033 – WHY “NATIONAL MOVEMENT” ACCUSES ZURABISHVILI”

March 18, 2025 - Tbilisi city court sentenced Georgia’s third president Mikheil Saakashvili to combined 12.6 years in prison in cases of illegal border crossing and embezzlement of budget funds.

Regarding the court decision, Saakashvili himself declared: “I will be dangerous for you both in prison and dead, because my name is connected with the struggle for freedom, victory and success of Georgia!” “We are fighting and must fight, fight, there is no other option”, he said.




REZONANSI: “LEGITIMIZATION OF “DREAM” OR SPECIFIC DEMANDS – WHAT THE NEW US ADMINISTRATION DEMANDS FROM THE GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES”

March 17, 2025 - On March 14, the meeting of US ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan and Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili was held.

The newspaper indicates significant differences in the statements of the US embassy and Georgian Foreign Ministry, and notes that is still unknown on whose initiative the meeting was organized.

macroeconomics & budget

REZONANSI: “LARI APPROACHED NEW EQUILIBRIUM – WHETHER NATIONAL CURRENCY WILL BE STRENGTHENED FURTHER?”

March 18, 2025 - As of March 17, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) set the official exchange rate of lari at 2.7759 GEL/USD. Since the beginning of March, the rate has been fluctuating around this level, the newspaper notes.

companies

BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “NBG FINED LENDING ENTITY LLC “UNITED CAPITAL” 18,000 LARI”

March 19, 2025 - The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) fined lending entity (non-bank) LLC United Capital 18,000 lari. The company was fined for several reasons.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: ““GINO HOLDING” BUILDS RESIDENTIAL AND WELLNESS COMPLEX “TBILISI BOULEVARD” ON TBILISI SEA – “SAKARTVELOS BANKI” IS A SUPPORTER”

March 19, 2025 - Gino Holding builds a residential and recreational complex Tbilisi Boulevard on the Tbilisi Sea (artificial water reservoir in Tbilisi outskirts).

The project area makes up 30 ha, of which the first phase will cover 12 ha.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: ““PROCREDIT” BECAME GEORGIA’S FIRST BANK HOLDER OF CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN”

March 17, 2025 - ProCredit Bank became the first bank in Georgia, which holds a certificate of origin. This certificate confirms that the electricity used by the bank comes entirely from renewable energy sources.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “BECAUSE OF GROWING FLOW OF TOURISTS FROM KAZAKHSTAN AND HIGH DEMAND, “AIR ASTANA” ADDS A NEW DIRECTION ATYRAU-TBILISI”

March 17, 2025 - Starting May 27, the Kazakh airline Air Astana will add a new direction to its flights to Tbilisi airport. Namely, the airline will operate flights between Atyrau and Tbilisi three times a week.