Practical guides, updates, and local knowledge for expats in Batumi and across Georgia.
Metropolitan Shio became Patriarch Shio III on 12 May 2026 at Svetitskhoveli — the first enthronement in nearly 50 years, marking a generational transition for the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Batumi marks Georgia's Independence Day on May 26 with a public holiday, events near Alphabet Tower from 11:00, and an URSA concert at 20:00.
Cybercrime cases in Georgia rose from 139 in 2020 to 246 in 2025; courts confiscated more than 3.78 million GEL from convicted cybercriminals last year.
Georgia's migration police detained 46 foreign nationals during nationwide checks; deportation procedures are underway after they were found in the country illegally.
Georgia and Kazakhstan will expand interior ministry cooperation on transnational crime, cyber security and special unit training after talks in Tbilisi.
Georgia is launching an online portal to monitor weekly supermarket discounts on 15 basic goods, with major chains reporting their best prices.
The largest European drills led by US Special Operations Forces are underway in Georgia with about 3,000 troops from the US and NATO partners.
Up to 40 unauthorized commercial structures have been dismantled along the Gonio-Kvariati coast near Batumi after seasonal permits expired.
Tickets for the resumed Tbilisi–Baku rail service will start from about 127 GEL one way, with sales opening soon and fares linked to the Swiss franc.
Georgia's National Food Agency found more than 5 tons of expired fish at Royal Fish Batumi during an inspection; the firm was unregistered and fined.
Georgia issued 2,025 restrictive orders in Q1 2026 domestic violence cases involving 3,774 people; women were the main victims and Tbilisi led caseloads.
China Southern Airlines will restart direct Beijing–Tbilisi flights via Urumqi from 8 June 2026, three times weekly.
Authorities detained three citizens in the Pankisi Gorge on charges of joining the Islamic State and supporting terrorist activity.
Residents at Bagrationi 129 protested after cracks appeared in their building near an active construction site; Batumi officials say works are legal pending a forensic review.