Category: News

The Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia opposes the use of Sukhumi airport, calling its operation illegal. The reason is the absence of a Georgian certificate of suitability. According to the agency, flights to Abkhazia violate the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Sukhumi airport was closed in 1993 by order of Georgian authorities. In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) revoked its code and excluded it from its documents.

However, in 2019, the Abkhazian government independently assigned the airport a new international four-letter code URAS.

Despite Georgia’s protests, Sukhumi airport accepted a test flight of YUVT Aero airline from Moscow on February 7. Moreover, regular air service between Russia and Abkhazia may be launched as early as May 1.

This step caused a new wave of discussions about the status of the region and the legality of the airport. Georgia intends to seek a ban on flights to Sukhumi, citing international norms and national legislation.

Rain and wind are expected in most parts of Georgia on March 19-20, while heavy snow is expected in high mountainous areas, the Environment Agency reported. The danger level is considered by experts as high.

In the western part of the country the weather will begin to deteriorate at the end of the day on March 17. Heavy snow is possible in mountainous areas in some places. Wind is expected in coastal areas, and a storm of 4-5 points is forecast at sea.

Snow melt and accompanying intense rainfall caused by high air temperatures in mountainous areas of Georgia may significantly increase water levels in rivers.

There is a risk of flooding and inundation of nearby areas. Flash floods are expected on small rivers in eastern Georgia. Avalanches are possible in high mountainous areas of the country, landslides and mudslides are possible in hilly and mountainous areas. The danger level is considered by experts as high.

During the last week the thermometer has been rising to 26-28 degrees Celsius in most parts of Georgia. Unusual for this time of year heat was preceded by heavy snowfall, which fell on the regions of Western Georgia on February 22. Guria and Adjara were particularly affected by the elements.

On March 14-16, Georgia will continue to have precipitation-free weather and atypically high temperatures for March, in some regions it will be up to +30 degrees Celsius, the National Environmental Agency reports.

In Tbilisi the daytime temperature will be +24, +26 degrees.

In coastal regions (Batumi, Kobuleti, Anaklia, Poti, Sukhumi) it will be +25, +27. In the plains of Western Georgia, including Kutaisi and Zugdidi, they promise +27, +29.

In the mountainous areas of Western Georgia (Ambrolauri, Oni, Tsageri, Shovi, Chiatura, Sachkhere, Khulo, Rikoti Pass) the temperature will vary between +24 and +26 degrees. Even at altitude, such as in Mestia and Bakhmaro, temperatures will exceed +20.

In the plains of eastern Georgia, in Rustavi and Gori, it will be up to +27. In the mountainous areas, in Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi, the temperature will be +20, +22 degrees. In Gudauri and Omalo the daytime temperature is expected to be +15, +17 degrees.

A special regime has been introduced on the road to Sairme health resort.

The Department of Roads of Georgia from March 10 to April 10 introduces a special mode of traffic on the section of Baghdati – Sairme resort (Imereti region) of the road of intra-state importance Kutaisi – Baghdati – Abastumani – Benara, the department reported.

Movement of vehicles will be limited daily from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00. During the rest of the day and night, the movement of vehicles is free.

Restrictions will be in effect for the time of repair works on the specified section.

Forecasters predict warm weather mostly without precipitation on the territory of Georgia in the coming days, and in the western part of the country the air temperature may rise to plus 27 degrees Celsius.

According to the National Environmental Agency, March 11-13 will be warm and without precipitation in the capital of Georgia. The air temperature in Tbilisi during the day will be +23…+25 degrees.

In coastal areas (Batumi, Kobuleti, Anaklia and Poti) it will be mostly without precipitation, the air temperature during the day will be +24…+26 degrees Celsius.

Another earthquake occurred in Georgia on Saturday, this time with magnitude 4.0, the National Seismic Monitoring Center reports.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the north-eastern part of the republic, 31 kilometers from Tianeti settlement near the village of Ukanpshavi.

Earlier the Center reported about the earthquake near the Georgian-Armenian border with magnitude 5.1.

Also on Saturday, an earthquake was reported in northern Armenia. The Rescue Service of the Armenian Interior Ministry reported that the earthquake occurred 6 km northeast of the city of Spitak (100 km north of Yerevan) at a depth of 10 km, with a magnitude of 4.6.

Turkey plans to launch several major railroad projects. This was told by the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Thus, a railroad line will be laid from Ankara to Georgia, which will pass through Samsun, Orda, Trabzon and Rize. At present, the Black Sea coast in Turkey can be reached by plane from Istanbul and Ankara, while only bus service is developed between the cities.

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will resume flights from Kutaisi to Madrid and Hamburg from April 29. Flights to both destinations will be operated twice a week – on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The cost of tickets: to Madrid – from 79 euros one way, to Hamburg – from 43 euros. The airline will also fly more often from Kutaisi to Prague, Larnaca, Athens and Thessaloniki.

Check prices and buy tickets you can on Wizz Air official website or on the Trip.com.

A tourist from Russia was kidnapped and killed in Georgia. The criminals have been detained, a case of murder, robbery and illegal acquisition of firearms has been opened, the investigation is ongoing. This was reported in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

It is specified that a married couple from Russia was going to a ski resort in Upper Svaneti, on January 2 they left Moscow in their own car. On their way from Tbilisi to Tetnuldi on January 5, another car blocked them on the mountain road. Unknown men first asked for a pump, then tried to take away the Russians’ cell phones, threatening them with weapons.

When the man asked not to touch his wife, he was shot twice and taken away, and one of the criminals got into the car of the Russians and stole it together with the wife of the murdered man. The woman was later dropped off on the side of the road and immediately called the police. The man’s body was found in the Nakra River.

The police found and arrested both criminals, they are men aged 32 and 38, one of them has a criminal record. They face prison sentences ranging from 16 years to life.

A Russian-speaking blogger in Georgia has incurred the wrath of local residents. He published a video in which he complains to a bakery seller about financial difficulties and asks for free baked goods. He was given khachapuri, but after that he defiantly throws it in the trash can. 

The video gained hundreds of thousands of views, and the blogger started receiving threats. So far, he only jokes back.