As a result of more than 1,000 investigative actions conducted in the case, 17 members of the organized group have been detained at this stage, and 3 individuals who are in hiding will be declared wanted. In addition, charges have been brought against 11 individuals who are cooperating with the investigation, and criminal prosecution has been initiated against 24 legal entities.According to the agency, former high-ranking officials of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency are among the accused. They have been abusing their personal interests and official position to facilitate the functioning of the criminal scheme for years.The investigation revealed that a large-scale network of so-called “pharmacy drug trafficking” operated in the country in 2018–2025, and the process was organized by the heads of companies importing psychotropic drugs. To cover up the crime, the drugs were documented in the names of fictitious pharmaceutical companies, but in reality, without any prescriptions or permits, they were sold at high prices throughout the country in facilities that did not even have the status of pharmacies.It has been established that the income from illegal trade amounted to 53,833,723 GEL. In order to legalize the funds, a significant part of the criminal income was recorded in the form of salaries and dividends, after which the defendants acquired a large amount of real estate and movable property. The mentioned assets have been fully seized, from which the damage caused to the state will be compensated in the future.According to the statement of the Deputy Head of the Investigation Service, Guga Tavberidze, the investigation is underway under Articles 192 and 194 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for imprisonment for a term of 9 to 11 years. The agency warns all individuals and legal entities operating in the field that the state will be particularly strict towards such crimes, which damage the budget and endanger the lives of citizens.The mentioned large-scale event was carried out by the Investigation Service under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, as well as with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service and the Revenue Service.

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The need for legislative amendments arose after the decision taken in December 2025 transferred the functions of the Personal Data Protection Service and the Anti-Corruption Bureau to the State Audit Office from March 2026.According to the rapporteur of the draft law, First Deputy Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, Irakli Kheladze, the main novelty is the subordination of the regulatory commissions - the Communications Commission and the State Commission for Electronic Communications, which were not subject to inspection until now - to the Audit Service. Their audit will be carried out on a similar principle to the National Bank, which means that the agency will only inspect administrative and capital expenditures and will not interfere in the substantive decisions of the regulators.Within the framework of the reform, auditors are also granted exceptional powers, which will allow them to request information related to state procurement directly from private individuals participating in tenders. In addition, in order to speed up operational work, the Audit Service will receive direct access to the electronic databases of other administrative bodies based on memoranda.At the same time, sanctions are being tightened, and the amount of the fine for failure to provide documentation or submitting false information to the agency is increasing from the current 1,000 GEL to 5,000 GEL. The draft law also specifies that financial compliance and efficiency audits include control of both ongoing and already implemented activities.From a structural point of view, the law adds a new position - the Secretary of Public Relations. He ensures coordination and communication with other agencies under the instructions of the Auditor General, although the addition of this position does not require additional financial expenses from the budget.

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Speaking to journalists, the Prime Minister reviewed the current situation in the opposition and noted that the weakening of opposition parties and the destruction of political power will have a positive impact on the country’s democratic environment and political system.According to Kobakhidze, the disagreements between opposition entities exclude the possibility of gaining public support.The Head of Government emphasized that this trend and voter sentiment were clearly reflected in the 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025 election cycles, where the opposition failed to achieve the desired results.The Prime Minister assessed the opposition spectrum as an anti-state group and a foreign agent, adding that their structural dismantling is a prerequisite for the country's long-term stability.

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Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Vučić noted that Georgia’s 9.3% first-quarter economic growth stands out compared to European countries. He said such performance would be “extraordinary even in Western Europe” and highlighted Georgia’s progress since 2012.The Serbian president also pointed to sectoral developments, including strong growth in tourism and a reported 12% increase in construction activity. He said Serbia is analyzing Georgia’s economic data to identify areas for potential policy lessons.Vučić emphasized the “brotherly” ties between the two countries, rooted in shared Orthodox traditions, and met with the acting head of the Georgian Orthodox Church during his visit, marking his first official trip to Georgia.

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Kobakhidze also paid special attention to the trade and economic potential and welcomed the active work on the free trade agreement between the two countries.“We have made great progress in this process, only a few issues remain to be agreed upon, after which both sides will be ready to sign the free trade agreement. This agreement will create new opportunities for business, contribute to the growth of trade turnover and attraction of investments,” the Prime Minister noted.The Head of Government also stressed the need to develop transport and logistics ties. According to him, Georgia, as an integral part of the “middle corridor”, is ready to deepen its partnership with Serbia in order to fully utilize the transit potential between Europe and Asia.In addition to the economic agenda, the parties discussed regional security and the principles of sovereignty. Irakli Kobakhidze thanked Aleksandar Vučić for his firm support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and reaffirmed that Georgia also unwaveringly supports the sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.The Prime Minister called Serbia’s decision to open an embassy in Tbilisi an extremely important step, adding that this diplomatic mission will further strengthen the political dialogue between the two countries.

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The Prime Minister said he hopes this step will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement.“We commend the mediation efforts that contributed to creating the conditions necessary for this understanding to be achieved. We remain hopeful that this important step will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement and the durable resolution of the conflict,” Kobakhidze wrote.

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The main part of the high-level meeting was devoted to deepening cooperation in the trade-economic, investment and transport-logistics spheres.Main focus on synchronization of transit routesOne of the central topics of the talks was the integration of regional transport projects. The parties discussed the prospects for the further development of the “Middle Corridor” and mechanisms for attracting additional cargo flows on this route.According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Georgian side is following with great interest the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which is progressing at a rapid pace. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the railway line will significantly contribute to strengthening connectivity between Central Asia and the Black Sea region. He also noted that Georgia is making large investments in domestic infrastructure to expand its transit function.Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov confirmed that connecting the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor with Georgia’s port infrastructure is one of the priority areas on the bilateral agenda. Zhaparov called on Georgian business circles to more actively discuss investment projects in the logistics, agriculture, construction, digital economy and tourism sectors of Kyrgyzstan, where the country creates favorable conditions for investors against the backdrop of sustainable economic growth.Intergovernmental Commission and the Prospects for Direct FlightsAs part of the visit, the second session of the Georgia-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation was held in Bishkek. According to the parties, the resumption of the work of the commission is a timely step that will contribute to increasing trade turnover and establishing direct business contacts.The talks focused on the importance of increasing bilateral flows in the tourism sector. It was noted that the launch of direct air traffic between Georgia and Kyrgyzstan would provide an additional stimulus to both economic cooperation and deepening people-to-people ties.Political dialogue and bilateral documentsAt the end of the meeting, Irakli Kobakhidze and Sadir Zhaparov signed a joint statement. Bilateral intergovernmental documents were also signed, which define the legal basis for future cooperation.The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for his unconditional support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. In turn, Sadir Zhaparov expressed gratitude for the Georgian side's support for Kyrgyzstan's international initiatives related to the sustainable development of mountainous regions.Irakli Kobakhidze invited the President of Kyrgyzstan to pay a reciprocal official visit to Georgia.

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Kobakhidze emphasized that for Kyrgyzstan, as well as for all five Central Asian countries, trade and economic partnership with Georgia and strengthening connectivity are of strategic nature.“Georgia connects all five Central Asian countries to the Black Sea and the Western space. Therefore, it is important for Kyrgyzstan to cooperate with us in economic and trade terms, and it is also important for us to deepen this cooperation. Kyrgyzstan has been developing rapidly in economic terms in recent years and is trying to strengthen its function in terms of connectivity. This creates new opportunities for our bilateral cooperation,” the Prime Minister said.Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze also touched upon the visa dialogue held in Brussels and expressed regret that the issue of visa liberalization is being used as an instrument of political blackmail.According to him, Georgia is absolutely open to dialogue and has clear answers to all questions asked. The Prime Minister expressed hope that approaches in the European bureaucracy will change and a fair position will be formed towards the country.Irakli Kobakhidze also responded to criticism from US Congressman Joe Wilson, who criticizes Georgia for deepening relations with China. The Prime Minister called these statements illogical in the context of the fact that the US itself is trying to strengthen ties with China. According to the head of government, the aforementioned attacks are carried out under the influence of the “Global War Party” and on external orders, although they do not have a special value for Georgia.

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According to Papuashvili, the opposition parties are confronting each other with the same methods that they used to use against their own country.“I said, they have already done it, they have eaten each other, and now they have started to do it again and eat each other. Let’s watch, let’s get a little pleasure from this. What they used to do to their own country, they are now doing exactly the same to each other. So let’s observe and enjoy it,” the Parliament Speaker noted.He compared the National Movement’s positioning in opposition unity to the Georgian feature film “Blue Mountains.”“Like “Blue Mountains,” they can’t tell if they’re here or there. We, as “Blue Mountains,” should watch this comedy that they’re making us watch,” Papuashvili said.According to the head of the legislative body, these processes also indicate the irrationality of the external forces that organize these groups. According to him, this reality reveals “what kind of people are sitting in Brussels and some capitals” who are betting on the aforementioned opposition unity.“Didn’t they stand by them in the 2024 elections? Didn’t they say, ‘Vote for them,’ or ‘Don’t they make resolutions on their orders and in agreement with them?’ The Georgian people should also see what we are dealing with. When Brussels and other forces that are behind them cannot be identified in such simple issues, can you imagine that they should hand over international politics and geopolitics to them? That is why there is chaos in the world today, war in Ukraine today,” Shalva Papuashvili said.The Chairman of the Parliament linked the local opposition’s governance model to the global political context and noted that the collapse of the security architecture in the international arena is precisely the result of such approaches.“What is happening in the opposition is a mini-example of what is happening in the world thanks to the same forces that we call the ‘global war party’ and the ‘deep state.’” "The name may be different, but the essence is the same - these are the people whose governance model we see in the form of the radical opposition. They turned the political space into a circus and they are doing exactly the same thing on the international political platform, and that is why the global security system has collapsed," said Shalva Papuashvili.

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This information became known from material published on X by Laura Kelly, a journalist for the American publication The Hill.GOP donor Steve Nicandros is back in Washington advocating improved U.S.-Georgian Dream relations, reaching out to Joe Wilson, who is leader of holding GD accountable for election fraud, support for Iran and repression of Georgian peopleA journalist who has previously written about Nicandros’ lobbying activities for the Georgian Dream party has released an official letter dated June 8, 2026, in which the businessman personally addresses the congressman.It is worth noting that Congressman Joe Wilson is a harsh critic of the current Georgian government and is a co-author of the “MEGOBARI Act” prepared in Washington.Steve Nicandros emphasizes in the letter that since 1997, his company has invested more than $500 million in the country's oil and gas sector. The businessman does not directly mention Frontera in the letter and introduces himself as the head of TXN Energy. He notes that he respectfully disagrees with the congressman's recent tough stance on Georgia's current political course, but wants to share with him the "unique perspective" of the private sector.According to Nicandros, Washington's attempts to impose sanctions and harsh public messages are significantly harming American businesses operating in Georgia. With the same position, he also addressed other Republican members of the House of Representatives in January of this year and called on them to oppose the "MEGOBARI Act".Congressman Wilson has not yet issued a public response to the appeal.The multi-year, multi-million dollar arbitration dispute between Frontera and the Georgian government ended in 2020.Tbilisi initially planned to terminate the contract, but ultimately changed its mind and continued negotiations.The American company currently owes the Georgian budget GEL 15.4 million, which the state corporation considers “irrecoverable.”

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