Georgian artists associated with Mikheil Saakashvili and the opposition complained about censorship

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze responded to complaints from a number of Georgian artists that the authorities do not invite them to perform at New Year’s concerts in any regions. Among those who complained were Nino Katamadze (participated in protests), Sopho Nizharadze (mother of the 3-year-old daughter of arrested ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili), Merab Sepashvili (his supporter) and others.

Singer Merab Sepashvili believes that he is being blocked due to political preferences. He has never hidden the fact that he is a supporter of Saakashvili and the largest opposition party he founded, the United National Movement.

“We never interfered or made a decision where I decided who should sing, who should perform, what the presentation and design should be. All this is done by qualified people. Maybe when they were in power, they themselves did this and now they think that others are doing the same,” Kaladze said.

On December 31, a large gala concert will take place in Tbilisi on the First Republic Square. According to media reports, the event will cost the capital's authorities almost 719 thousand lari (about 265 thousand dollars). Concerts on New Year's Eve will also be held in the regions.

Последние новости
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
Society
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
19 December 2025

During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
Society
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
19 December 2025

Following the murder of 10-year-old Kobiljon Aliyev, a boy from a Tajik family, at a school near Moscow, Adam Kadyrov, the son and aide of the head of Chechnya, stated that the tragedy was not an isolated incident, but the result of a "systemic problem."
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
Politics
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
19 December 2025

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili criticized the statement by European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas that the European Union supports the Georgian people, but not the country's government.
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
Human rights
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
19 December 2025

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the arbitrary arrests and sentences handed down to Azerbaijani scholars Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov. The resolution expresses concern over the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which, according to the European Parliament, has reached 400.