International rating agencies, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, have expressed concerns over the impact of Georgian-Russian relations on Georgia's economic outlook. Standard & Poor's downgraded Georgia's long-term rating outlook from positive to stable due to increased militarization in separatist regions and rising political and security risks. This move could affect Georgia's NATO membership aspirations, fiscal performance, and economic growth. Fitch, however, maintains a stable outlook for Georgia, acknowledging high growth rates but also recognizing the potential for political instability and the risks of conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Escalating tensions could lead to negative rating actions by Fitch and affect Georgia's budget and foreign capital inflow.

Bank Republic, part of the Societe Generale group, has assured its Georgian customers that their savings are secure following a scandal involving a rogue trader who caused a EUR 4.9 billion loss. The incident, which took place in France, led to a significant drop in Societe Generale's shares and a downgrade by Moody's credit rating agency. Despite the financial turmoil, Bank Republic emphasized that the incident would not impact its operations in Georgia and that it would continue to provide quality service. Societe Generale plans to strengthen its capital base by launching a EUR 5.5 billion capital increase. Bank Republic holds a significant market share in Georgia and has substantial total assets.

Georgia successfully issued its first international bond, raising USD 500 million through a 5-year fixed-rate Eurobond. The offering was oversubscribed by more than three times, indicating strong investor interest. Deal managers JPMorgan Chase & Co. and UBS reported that the UK and offshore US accounts were major investors. The bond's appeal was attributed to Georgia's economic reforms and the global scarcity of sovereign bonds. Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s provided ratings for the bonds, with Fitch noting Georgia's structural reforms and investment inflows but also pointing out risks due to political and economic factors. The proceeds from the bond issue are planned to be used for energy infrastructure projects between Georgia and Turkey.

Georgian presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili, based in London and Israel, has alleged an assassination plot against him by the Georgian Interior Ministry, intending to blame Russia. He revealed this to a British newspaper, providing an audio tape of a conversation between an alleged Georgian official and a Chechen hitman discussing the plot. The tape's authenticity has not been independently verified. Georgian state officials have accused Patarkatsishvili's campaign of fabricating government plots for publicity. Meanwhile, Patarkatsishvili, who has been out of Georgia since a crackdown on anti-government protests, demands legal and physical protection guarantees before returning. Former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili previously accused President Saakashvili's administration of plotting Patarkatsishvili's assassination, but later recanted his statements.

Fitch Ratings, an international rating agency, has upgraded the long-term ratings for four Georgian banks: TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia, ProCredit Bank Georgia, and VTB Bank (Georgia). TBC Bank's rating was raised from 'B-' to 'B+', while Bank of Georgia also saw an increase to 'B+'. ProCredit Bank Georgia and VTB Bank (Georgia) were both upgraded from 'B' to 'BB-'. The upgrades reflect a greater likelihood of state support for TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia, and shareholder support for ProCredit Bank and VTB Bank (Georgia). The upgrades are seen as beneficial for the banks in attracting financial resources and reflect the stability and support from international shareholders, particularly in the case of ProCredit Bank, which is largely owned by Germany's ProCredit Holding AG.