Political and business leader Bidzina Ivanishvili plans to restore an abandoned Georgian spa resort, where Joseph Stalin used to frolic in radioactive waters, to its former glory.
After the Russian foreign ministry threw them under the bus, Georgian officials were forced to change their story about who initiated a landmark meeting between the two sides.
An embattled banker and promoter of a major East-West transit project is calling on supporters to challenge Georgia’s billionaire leader in next year’s election.
The owner of Rustavi2, who just wrested back control of the station, now says he wants to sell it. Government critics see an elaborate plot to gag an opposition-friendly outlet.
After being weakened by massive protests, Georgia’s ruling party has regained its footing and has taken several steps to neutralize government critics.