Prepared by Messenger Staff
Kobakhidze Meets With Serbian President Vucic
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is in Georgia for his first official visit to the country, meeting with Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on June 16 for talks covering trade, European integration, and bilateral ties.
The two held meetings in both one-on-one and expanded formats at the Georgian Dream government administration in Tbilisi, a day after Kobakhidze hosted Vucic and his delegation for an official dinner, which included a ride on the Tbilisi Funicular.
Discussions focused on a pending Free Trade Agreement, with both leaders saying only a few issues remain before negotiations can be wrapped up. Belgrade's decision to open an embassy in Tbilisi was also welcomed as a step toward stronger political, economic, and cultural ties. Kobakhidze reaffirmed Georgia's commitment to its EU agreements and expressed hope Serbia would continue supporting Georgia's European path, while Vucic praised Georgia's economic trajectory since 2012. "Very few countries in Europe have achieved the kind of economic results that Georgia has delivered, whether measured by GDP growth or other key indicators," Vucic said.
Kobakhidze called the visit a "landmark event," describing the two countries as bound by friendship, shared Christian heritage, and close people-to-people ties. Both sides also reaffirmed mutual support for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russian-Backed Donetsk Court Sentences Georgian Fighter to 14 Years
The self-proclaimed "supreme court" of Russian-occupied Donetsk has sentenced Georgian fighter Bacho Nonashvili in absentia to 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony for allegedly fighting as a mercenary on Ukraine's side, Russian state media outlet TASS reported.
According to the de facto prosecutor's office, the 40-year-old arrived in Ukraine via Poland in summer 2023, joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, underwent military training, and took part in combat operations against Russian forces until March 2026. Prosecutors claimed he received the equivalent of over 2.8 million rubles as payment. Nonashvili has been placed on an international wanted list.
He is not the first Georgian to receive such a sentence. Several other Georgian fighters who joined Ukraine's defense against Russia's full-scale invasion have previously been sentenced in absentia by Russian-backed authorities in Donetsk on similar charges.
