RT @anneapplebaum: The Wagner group, or what’s left of it, is now running an opioid ring in Africa
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Day: July 14, 2026
Tbilisi City Court has upheld a lawsuit filed by film director Goga Khaindrava against the Georgian TV channel Formula, ordering the broadcaster to pay him 10,000 lari ($3,810) in compensation for moral damages.
The case concerns an investigative report aired by the programme Saturday Formula, which alleged a corruption scheme and the possible illegal entry of foreign nationals into Georgia. Khaindrava described the report as a false accusation and defamatory, and took the case to court.
The judge ruled entirely in Khaindrava’s favour. The court ordered Saturday Formula to retract the disputed claims and pay compensation for moral damages.
The dispute stems from a report broadcast in January 2024. It alleged that Goga Khaindrava may have helped foreign nationals enter Georgia in exchange for payment by submitting lists of names to the relevant authorities to facilitate their entry.
The same report is also the subject of a separate criminal investigation into an alleged false accusation. As part of that investigation, Saturday Formula presenter Davit Kashiashvili, the report’s author Natuka Lomadze and cameraman Misho Markashvili have all been questioned.
Formula’s lawyer, Eto Katamadze, described the court’s ruling as unfounded. She said the broadcaster would exhaust all available domestic legal remedies before potentially taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
“What happened was exactly what we expected — the court fully upheld Goga Khaindrava’s claim and ordered us to pay compensation for moral damages. We believe that free and responsible journalism should not be punished in this country,” Katamadze said.
She added that the investigation should answer the questions raised in the report and warned that the ruling could become a basis for increasing pressure on investigative journalism.
Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office said it opened an investigation on 16 June 2026 into a possible false accusation under Article 373(1) of the Criminal Code. The investigation followed a complaint filed by Goga Khaindrava’s lawyers, who alleged that the TV channel Formula had committed an offence against their client.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Khaindrava has already been questioned as a witness, and investigators plan to carry out further investigative measures.
Formula’s representatives argue that the court issued its ruling before the competent authorities had reached a final conclusion on the disputed facts.
“We do not know whether the information that was published was true. It is for the competent investigative authorities to determine that, and journalists should not be held liable for carrying out their primary duty — reporting information,” Eto Katamadze said.
According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Georgia fell from 114th to 135th place out of 180 countries.
Formula TV fined 10 000 lari
#FBI:
Some thoughts on #LindseyGraham‘ illness:
#AorticDissection is the #AcuteCondition, and it is very painful and disabling. However, Graham was able to function for at least several hours before his death.
Here how the symptoms of Aortic dissection are described:
Sudden, severe, and sharp #pain in the chest or upper back (frequently described as a “tearing” or “ripping” sensation).
Severe abdominal pain.
Shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke-like symptoms. [5, 6, 8]
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Aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease – Google Search google.com/search?q=aortic+d…
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening tear in the inner wall of the aorta, the body’s largest artery. When it occurs due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), it is because chronic plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) has hardened, narrowed, and weakened the aortic wall, making it prone to tearing under high blood pressure. [1, 2]
What Happens in the Aorta
Some thoughts on #LindseyGraham‘ illness:
#AorticDissection is the #AcuteCondition, and it is very painful and disabling. However, Graham was able to function for at least several hours before his death.
Here how the symptoms of Aortic dissection are described:
Sudden, severe, and sharp #pain in the chest or upper back (frequently described as a “tearing” or “ripping” sensation).
Severe abdominal pain.
Shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke-like symptoms. [5, 6, 8]
–
Aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease – Google Search google.com/search?q=aortic+d…
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening tear in the inner wall of the aorta, the body’s largest artery. When it occurs due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), it is because chronic plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) has hardened, narrowed, and weakened the aortic wall, making it prone to tearing under high blood pressure. [1, 2]
What Happens in the Aorta
The Tear: ASCVD damages the inner layer of the aorta. High blood pressure or sudden stress forces blood through this tear, splitting the artery’s walls.
The Consequences: This split blocks critical blood flow, which can cause strokes, organ damage, or fatal internal bleeding. [1, 3, 4]
Key Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis: Plaque buildup stiffens the aorta, reducing its elasticity.
Hypertension: Chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure is the leading trigger for the arterial tear.
Age and Sex: It is most common in men aged 50-70.
Lifestyle: Smoking and high cholesterol are major contributing factors. [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Symptoms: It acts as an extreme cardiovascular emergency. Common symptoms include:
Sudden, severe, and sharp pain in the chest or upper back (frequently described as a “tearing” or “ripping” sensation).
Severe abdominal pain.
Shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke-like symptoms. [5, 6, 8]
For detailed information on diagnosis and emergency protocols, visit the American Heart Association or the Cleveland Clinic. [1, 2]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] newsroom.heart.org/news/what…
[2] today.com/health/news/lindse…
[3] mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond…
[4] cnn.com/2026/07/13/health/ao…
[5] my.clevelandclinic.org/healt…
[6] heartfoundation.org.nz/your-…
[7] uchicagomedicine.org/forefro…
[8] abcnews.com/US/aortic-dissec…
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Georgia‘s State Security Service (SSG) said investigators had detained or brought criminal charges against a total of 28 people in connection with 14 separate criminal cases following operations carried out across nine regions of the country.
The cases involve alleged bribery, the production and sale of forged official documents, organised commercial bribery, the fraudulent acquisition of state-owned funds and land, and abuse of office.
According to the State Security Service, three people were arrested and 11 others charged in connection with five criminal cases involving public procurement and the fraudulent misappropriation of state budget funds.
The cases relate to the alleged falsification of documents and other unlawful actions by private companies during road rehabilitation projects, upgrades to drinking water networks and the renovation of public schools in three municipalities. Investigators say the suspects fraudulently obtained tens of thousands of lari.
The investigation also found that some of the accused, while fulfilling public procurement contracts for Tbilisi’s kindergartens and Batumi’s free canteens, supplied smaller quantities of Easter products than agreed, substituted different brands and trademarks, and delivered lower-quality disinfectants.
The SSG said the alleged offences caused losses to the state amounting to 669,497 lari (about $255,000).
Seven people have been charged in three separate criminal cases involving the fraudulent acquisition of state-owned land, abuse of office and official forgery.
The investigation concerns the alleged fraudulent acquisition of state-owned land plots covering a total of 91,564 square metres. According to the authorities, several officials from the mayor’s offices and municipal councils of three municipalities used forged documents to obtain the land at different times.
The agency said the alleged offences caused losses to the state amounting to 397,804 lari (about $151,000).
Three more people have been arrested in connection with three criminal cases involving alleged bribery.
Investigators say officials from the municipalities of Lanchkhuti and Tetritskaro, as well as the Oni Forestry Service, accepted bribes from Georgian and foreign nationals on separate occasions.
According to the State Security Service, they allegedly promised in return to authorise the placement of a mobile retail facility, known locally as a “drive”, on state-owned land and provide it with official protection, allocate state land for beekeeping, and facilitate the illegal logging and transportation of oak timber.
Four people have been arrested in connection with three additional criminal cases involving the production and sale of forged official documents and organised commercial bribery.
According to the State Security Service, the investigation found that the suspects accepted bribes on separate occasions to produce and sell forged driving licences, Georgian passports and fake bachelor’s degree diplomas issued in the name of a private higher education institution.
As part of the investigation, the authorities carried out covert investigative measures under court orders. According to the SSG, these operations produced audio and video evidence documenting the alleged offences.
Georgia’s State Security Service arrests 28 people
Summary
Direct military confrontation between the US, Israel, and Iran has entered a sustained phase, with strikes on nuclear and civilian sites, naval blockades, and retaliatory attacks reshaping Middle East security. The conflict is accelerating arms production in Europe, deepening China-Russia strategic ties, and destabilizing global oil markets, while peripheral states like Oman and Lebanon face spillover violence.
Key Stories
US and Israel launch sustained strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites — Reports confirm three consecutive nights of US-Israel airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile launchers, and civilian infrastructure, with Iran retaliating against Middle Eastern bases. The 103-day war has killed thousands and triggered a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Europe forms anti-ballistic coalition to bolster Ukraine’s missile defense — France and Italy launched Project Freya, a new initiative to accelerate production of Aster and Patriot interceptors for Ukraine, following Zelensky’s appeal. The US has pledged additional Patriot batteries, signaling a shift from ad-hoc aid to industrial-scale arms manufacturing.
China expands influence in post-Putin Russia amid espionage concerns — Beijing is cultivating mid-level Russian officials and elites to shape the country’s post-Putin leadership, while Chinese espionage attempts rise. Moscow is avoiding confrontation to preserve the strategic partnership, despite growing unease.
Lebanon and Gulf states face escalating spillover violence — Israeli drone strikes hit southern Lebanon, while Bahrain and other Gulf states report fresh US-Iran clashes. Oman is mediating to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as regional powers brace for wider conflict.
Oil markets volatile as Middle East war disrupts global supply chains — The US-Iran naval blockade and attacks on Gulf shipping lanes have sent oil prices surging, with analysts warning of prolonged market instability. Asymmetric warfare tactics by Ukraine and Iran suggest a protracted conflict with economic ripple effects.
Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said four more people have been charged over an alleged scheme to fabricate asylum claims and documents for Georgian citizens seeking asylum in the United States, following a joint operation with the U.S. Embassy’s Regional Security Office (RSO).
The announcement came six weeks after a similar operation in which three people were arrested and six others were charged over an alleged scheme to fabricate asylum claims and produce forged documents for U.S. and Canadian visa applications.
The four newly charged individuals are accused of helping Georgian citizens illegally remain abroad, arranging the submission of false information to obtain asylum in the United States, and producing and distributing forged official documents, prosecutors said in a July 14 statement.
According to the statement, one suspect was detained on July 13, while two others were charged in absentia. They face up to six years in prison, while the fourth defendant faces up to seven years.
“For the purpose of obtaining financial gain, three citizens of Georgia formed a criminal group whose aim was to prepare false stories, so-called ‘cases,’ and corresponding false evidence necessary for Georgian citizens seeking asylum in the United States,” prosecutors said.
“Members of the criminal group convinced Georgian citizens that, with the help of documents they had prepared and the stories they had created, they would be able to obtain asylum in the United States without difficulty. The group members were fabricated stories about how Georgian citizens were persecuted in Georgia for various reasons, including their political positions, sexual orientation, persecution by law enforcement agencies, and other reasons,” the statement said, adding that they prepared forged documents to substantiate these stories.
During searches of the home and office of one of the group’s members, investigators seized mobile phones and computers containing forged documents prepared “in the names of nearly 500 citizens,” including fabricated asylum case files, forged official documents, and forged electronic seals of “various organizations,” the statement said.
According to prosecutors, between January 1, 2025 and June 2026, members of the criminal group obtained financial benefits amounting to GEL 675,794, USD 388,526, and EUR 4,964 from the scheme.
The statement further said criminal prosecution has also been initiated against one member of the group who “provided forged documents to members of the organized group already facing charges in this criminal case.” According to the statement, the suspect “fully admits guilt and cooperate with the investigation.”
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