Prepared by Messenger Staff
Elisashvili to sue Papuashvili over 'assault rifles' claim
Giorgi Rekhviashvili, lawyer for opposition Citizens party leader Aleko Elisashvili, says his client will appeal to the court over what he calls a violation of honor, dignity, and business reputation, responding to comments made by Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. Elisashvili was sentenced to 13 years in prison on July 10 after being found guilty of attempting to organize a terrorist act, over an attempt to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court's chancellery building in November 2025. His Lelo-Strong Georgia coalition has called the sentence politically motivated.
Rekhviashvili disputes Papuashvili's claim that Elisashvili "purchased machine guns in order to commit a crime," calling it false.
"The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, continues his campaign of demonization against Aleko Elisashvili," Rekhviashvili says. "He is slandering him, accusing him of committing a crime by purchasing assault rifles. This is direct pressure on the court, direct pressure on the prosecutor's office, violation of the presumption of innocence and, of course, this is a criminal offense. We are appealing to the court for the violation of Aleko Elisashvili's honor, dignity and business reputation."
"His rights are already being violated daily," he adds. "Of course, we do not hope that these rights will be protected and guaranteed in Georgia, however, as a lawyer, I am obliged to use all legal instances at the domestic national level. Sooner or later, high-ranking officials will be restricted from circulating such blatant lies about people, and when the court is freed from political captivity, Papuashvili will be held accountable."
TAV Georgia launches $150 million expansion of Tbilisi International Airport
TAV Georgia, the Georgian subsidiary of TAV Airports, part of French aviation group Groupe ADP, is investing $150 million to expand Tbilisi International Airport, with Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili attending the project's launch on July 13.
The project, running from 2026 to 2028, will double the airport's annual passenger capacity from five million to ten million, adding five more boarding bridges, seven remote aircraft stands, nine check-in counters, 24 passport control points, and two baggage belts, along with upgraded terminal spaces and expanded parking.
The expansion follows a January 2025 agreement extending TAV Georgia's concession at the airport until 2032 in exchange for the $150 million investment and doubled capacity. It is one of several government aviation projects, including a planned international airport near Vaziani, now expected to break ground at the end of 2027 and open by 2031, replacing Tbilisi airport once its current concession expires.
The ceremony came days after heavy rain flooded part of the terminal and forced three flights to divert, drawing criticism over the airport's readiness for severe weather.
Kobakhidze called the project "one of the largest expansion and development projects" for the airport, calling it central to Georgia's "economic development, connectivity, tourism, and investment attractiveness." Kvrivishvili said the airport is entering "a new and highly important stage," noting 43 new airlines have launched in Georgia's market over the past five years, including Norwegian's new Tbilisi-Copenhagen route, with China Eastern set to begin Tbilisi-Shanghai flights. She said Georgia's airports served a record 8.5 million passengers in 2025, with cargo volumes up 49%.
