From 2025, the salary of an ordinary member of the Georgian Parliament will be 8,250 GEL (about $3,000) instead of 4,624. This is four times more than the average nominal salary in the country. The income of the Speaker of the Parliament increased from 6,260 to 10,000 GEL (about $3.6 thousand).

Protests that began in Georgia after the government announced a freeze on negotiations on the country's European integration continue for the 36th day. Demonstrators spent the entire New Year's Eve on Rustaveli Avenue, and today the Georgian Day of Destiny (Bedoba) is being celebrated there. Even on January 1, the action gathered, although it was not announced in advance. Thus, the rallies do not stop for a single day.

Germany, Poland and France once again condemned the actions of the Georgian authorities and called on them to dialogue with the opposition and civil society. In addition, the countries will implement the decision of the European Union to cancel the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomats. The corresponding joint statement of the three foreign ministers was published on December 31.

In Tbilisi, the participants of the New Year's protest dispersed only at dawn, picking up the trash behind them. Local publications note that there was a "sea of ​​people" on Rustaveli Avenue, and many came with children. Thousands of Georgians celebrated 2025 at a phenomenally long table, which they set themselves with food brought from home. Those gathered spoke inspiring toasts, sang and danced.

The departure and reception of planes at the airport of the capital of Dagestan is temporarily suspended. The "Carpet" mode has been introduced due to the threat of drone attacks.

Russia will continue to support Abkhazia, allocating 5.2 billion rubles in 2025. This was reported by acting Minister of Finance of the unrecognized republic, Vladimir Delba.

In 2025, Russia is ready to do everything possible to establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russian Ambassador to Yerevan Sergey Kopyrkin stated this in his New Year's greetings.

An unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over the Shalkha training ground near Vladikavkaz, there were no casualties or damage. This was reported by the head of North Ossetia, Serhiy Menyailo.

The sixth president of Georgia, Mikhail Kavelashvili, who took office on Sunday, today spoke at the annual ambassadorial meeting of the heads of Georgian diplomatic missions abroad "Posly-2024". In his address, he stated that Georgia will continue the process of European integration.

Azerbaijan has tightened migration rules for Russian citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the Russian Federation. According to the government resolution published on December 29, the maximum period of their visa-free stay in the country is now 90 days a year. The new conditions will enter into force in 2025.