Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgia Marks Completion of Long-Delayed Railway Modernization Project
Georgian Dream officials have marked the completion of a 14-year railway modernization project, describing it as one of the largest investments in the country's transport sector and a major boost to Georgia's transit potential.
The project modernized the railway line from Tbilisi to Makhinjauri in Adjara, with its most complex section running through the mountainous pass that connects eastern and western Georgia. Officials say the upgrade will increase cargo capacity, improve safety, and shorten travel times, including a reduction of about 30 minutes on the Tbilisi-Batumi route by 2026.
A completion ceremony was held on December 24 in Kvishkheti, Shida Kartli, near the entrance to an 8,300-meter dual-tube railway tunnel that authorities described as the largest of its kind in the region. The event was attended by senior government officials and representatives of Georgian Railways.
"This is one of the largest investments ever made in Georgia's transport sector," Irakli Kobakhidze said at the ceremony. "With the completion of this project, railway capacity has increased significantly, operating costs have been reduced, safety has been improved, and passenger comfort has been enhanced."
The modernization project was launched by Georgian Railways in September 2011 and was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. It was financed through a World Bank loan and implemented by Georgian Railways and the China Railway 23rd Bureau Group, under the supervision of European engineering firms.
According to official data, the mountainous section alone cost around GEL 1 billion and included the construction of 40 kilometers of new railway infrastructure, 10 bridges, six tunnels, and dozens of engineering structures. Authorities say the upgrades increased annual railway capacity from 27 million tons to 48 million tons and cut freight transit time through the mountain pass by several hours.
Despite these claims, the project has drawn criticism in recent years. Residents of several villages along the Zestaponi-Kharagauli-Khashuri section have blamed the construction works for landslides and soil erosion, alleging that tunnel blasting and slope cutting damaged the surrounding environment. A complaint filed with the Asian Development Bank in 2025 was dismissed on procedural grounds.
The completion of the railway upgrade comes as Georgia seeks to strengthen its role in the Middle Corridor, a Europe-Asia transit route that bypasses Russia and has gained prominence since the war in Ukraine.
"This is not just infrastructure, it is a strategic choice," Kobakhidze said. "Georgia's future lies in its role as a transit hub integrating all modes of transport."
Donetsk De Facto Court Sentences Georgian Citizen to 15 Years in Absentia
A de facto court in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk has sentenced 28-year-old Georgian citizen Nino Kakhniashvili to 15 years in a penal colony in absentia, accusing her of participating in the war in Ukraine as a mercenary.
According to a statement from the Donetsk de facto prosecutor's office, Kakhniashvili arrived in Ukraine in April 2022 and voluntarily joined the Georgian National Legion. Prosecutors claim she underwent military training and took part in combat operations against Russian forces until September 2022.
The statement further alleges that Kakhniashvili later returned to the conflict zone in 2023 and remained there until June 2025, during which time she allegedly received the equivalent of more than two million rubles for what authorities described as mercenary activity.
Kakhniashvili was convicted under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes participation in an armed conflict as a mercenary. The sentence provides for serving time in a general-regime correctional colony.
Russian authorities placed Kakhniashvili on an international wanted list on December 15.
Kakhniashvili has rejected the accusations, saying she did not take part in combat. Responding publicly, she said her role in Ukraine was strictly humanitarian.
"I confirm that I was present in so-called hot spots, however, my activities were entirely limited to performing medical duties," Kakhniashvili wrote on Facebook on December 18. She added that she provided medical assistance to soldiers of various nationalities as well as civilians.
Calling the charges baseless, Kakhniashvili said her actions "never went beyond the scope of a doctor's professional duties, ethical standards, and international medical protocols."
