PM Kobakhidze pledges ‘strictest measures’ against illegal logging amid ‘major environmental, infrastructure push’

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has pledged to intensify the government’s efforts to combat illegal logging, calling it “one of the most serious crimes” and vowing that the strictest possible measures will be taken against offenders.

Presenting his annual report to Parliament on Friday, Kobakhidze thanked lawmakers for tightening the legal framework and said active work was underway to protect and restore Georgia’s forest resources.

“The forest is one of our country’s most significant assets, and it is our duty to preserve it for future generations,” the Prime Minister said. “We will not allow anyone to treat this vital national treasure carelessly.”

As part of broader environmental initiatives, forest restoration and development were carried out across 2,120 hectares, while forest inventory work was completed over 124,000 hectares. Further inventory work covering an additional 126,000 hectares is planned for 2025–2026, he said. 

Kobakhidze also highlighted progress on other environmental fronts, including the construction of two non-hazardous waste disposal sites and two transfer stations. Air quality was now monitored in eight cities, and Black Sea water quality was regularly assessed at 12 locations. In addition, a glacier research project in partnership with foreign experts was expected to deliver results by autumn, aimed at improving early warning systems for climate-related threats.

In the same address, Kobakhidze outlined “extensive” road infrastructure developments, describing the construction of highways and rehabilitation of roads as a “strategic priority” for the country’s economic and regional development.

A total of 437 kilometres of domestic and international roads were rehabilitated during the reporting period, and 84.4 kilometres of new main roads were opened - a figure the Prime Minister noted exceeded what the previous administration achieved over a nine-year period.

Significant progress was made on Georgia’s East-West Highway, 70% of which was now complete, he added. The remaining sections, including the final segment of the Rikoti Pass - a key link between eastern and western Georgia - were set to be finished by the end of this year. Once complete, Kobakhidze said, the project will mark the successful delivery of what he called the "project of the century."

Further progress was outlined on the Samtredia-Grigoleti route, the Grigoleti-Kobuleti road, and the Khulo-Zarzma mountain road, among others. He also announced that preparatory work has begun for the challenging Batumi-Sarpi section and for highways linking Georgia to neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan, with construction of the Tbilisi-Sadakhlo and Tbilisi-Tsiteli Bridge highways set to begin by the end of 2025 and be completed by 2028.

In Kakheti, a key winemaking and tourism region, Kobakhidze detailed the opening of several strategic roads, including the 31-km Tbilisi-Sagarejo highway and the 16.5-km Bakurtsikhe -Tsnori road. Ongoing work on the Sagarejo–Badiauri section was expected to conclude in May.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that work on the long-awaited Rustavi highway has advanced, with land acquisition underway and a public tender set to be announced later this year. The project was scheduled for completion by 2027.

“These infrastructure developments are vital for improving connectivity, supporting regional growth, and unlocking Georgia’s economic potential,” Kobakhidze concluded.