Monthly Archives: December 2012

Georgia preparing for wine export to Russia

By | December 31st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Twenty Georgian companies are preparing to export their product to Russia. A conference was organized at Tbilisi Marriott Hotel bringing together representatives of those companies and discuss the issue of Georgia exporting to the Russian market. […]

Crime is under control, says government

By | December 31st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The crime situation in Georgia stabilized in December, as the number of criminal incidents has been significantly reduced, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During a visit to a family who had been attacked by robbers, President Mikheil […]

Another Stalin statue goes up in Georgia

By | December 31st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A statue of Josef Stalin which had been torn down has been put up again in a village in eastern Georgia. Locals in Akura restored the monument of the Soviet dictator two years after it was taken down. Villagers rehabilitated the monument to […]

Saakashvili visits crime victims, calls for tougher policing

By | December 31st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says there should be declared an emergency situation in the Georgian police. He said it while visiting a family which a few days ago was attacked by burglars. December 29, the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained […]

Anti-NATO demonstration in Georgia quashed

By | December 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — An attempt at demonstrating against Georgian NATO membership was Sunday quashed by a counter-demonstration. The two rallies took place on Pushkin Square in the center of Tbilisi and started with a call the same day to support friendship with Russia, […]

Georgian soldier missing in Afghanistan found dead

By | December 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A Georgian soldier who has been missing for ten days was found dead in Afghanistan December 29. Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze is the nineteenth Georgian soldier to lose his life while carrying out his duties as part of the NATO-led ISAF mission […]

Another witness questioned in Girgvliani case: minister’s wife

By | December 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has questioned the wife of the former interior minister regarding a case of beating of policemen. This is a case in which former officials in the Interior Ministry have been charged. Tako Salakaia, wife of […]

Ivanishvili government gets rid of tuition fees

By | December 30th, 2012|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government has decided to cancel tuition fees for many popular studies. Bachelor students in 14 fields of specialization at state universities will have their tuition fees cut to zero from 2013. The free subjects will be agronomy, education sciences, energy […]

Georgia charges missing ex justice minister with torture

By | December 29th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has officially charged a former Justice Minister in absentia for abuse of power and being responsible for torturing prisoners. Zurab Adeishvili, the former Justice Minister in Saakashvili’s government who […]

$2 mill of emergency aid for 2008 war still stowed away

By | December 29th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TV sets were among the aid found. The items were meant for refugees in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. (Photo published by the ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch — The Ministry of Refugees and Internally Displaced People has discovered five unregistered warehouses, where there were kept humanitarian aid which should have been distributed to refugees in 2008 and 2009. The ministry on Friday published photos […]

Local government after the parliamentary elections

By | December 29th, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

The victory of the opposition in the October 1, 2012 parliamentary election created an unusual political situation for Georgia: the majority in parliament and the local governments are controlled by two different political forces, the ruling and the opposition party. […]

Georgian parliament overturns Saakashvili’s veto

By | December 29th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian parliament overrode President Mikheil Saakashvili’s veto against a law about mass amnesty. 91 MPs voted against Saakashvili’s new version of the law, while 4 supported it. Now, the Georgian Dream coalition’s law, which was passed […]

Parliament to return to Tbilisi in spring

By | December 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Dream coalition says parliament will return to Tbilisi by the end of the spring session. After the parliamentary election in October, 2012, the eighth parliamentary assembly has been holding sessions in a new building in Kutaisi, […]

Amid crisis, Georgia moves to give president more powers

By | December 28th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The governing Georgian Dream coalition suggests bringing forward a planned reform to give the president power to immediately dissolve parliament and announce a new parliamentary election. The powers are part of a package of constitutional […]

Saakashvili presents downsized amnesty bill

By | December 28th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has vetoed the coming into force of a law on amnesty, and sent his own version of the law to parliament. Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili on Friday said the legislative body has received the president’s […]

Saakashvili vetoes mass amnesty

By | December 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili will veto a planned mass amnesty passed by parliament, arguing that the new government is about to release dangerous people into society. The amnesty was passed by parliament December 22 after much […]

Witness confirms Cartu Bank bankruptcy plot

By | December 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

The leader of a business chamber in Georgia says he helped the previous government try to bankrupt Cartu Bank, which was owned by current Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Giorgi Isakadze, Chair of Georgia’s Small and Medium Enterprises Association, […]

Elite Corruption and Government Pressure on Business in Georgia

By | December 27th, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

Elite corruption directly affects the economic development of a country. There are a number of studies, including publications by the World Bank, which prove the interdependence between the size of the unobserved economy and corruption in a country. Moreover, […]

Fraud allegations against Saakashvili campaign rally

By | December 27th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia says public money was spent on campaign rallies for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement party last September, which is illegal, and that documents were falsified to cover it up. The party […]

Kars-Akhalkalaki will not be halted

By | December 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway will continue as before. Irakli Kovzanadze, Chair of Georgia’s Partnership Foundation, said this in Azerbaijan on Wednesday, during a visit there by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and […]

Georgian Public Broadcaster gets new director

By | December 27th, 2012|Categories: Media, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The supervisory board of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster Wednesday elected a new director as replacement for Giorgi Chanturia, who unexpectedly resigned almost two weeks ago. The board chose Giorgi Baratashvili, who has a background from different […]

Three months after election, civil society groups make new plans

By | December 27th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The largest Georgian union of civil society organizations December 24 met to discuss the role of civil society, and their activities and future plans. The National Platform, as the union is called, has been joined by 106 civil society organizations. […]

Ivanishvili and Aliyev discussed energy export

By | December 26th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili Tuesday met the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, during an official visit to Baku. The two held a closed meeting which took place at Aliyev’s Zagulba palace. Also present were Georgia’s Foreign […]

Earthquake hits Georgia again

By | December 26th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — An earthquake hit Georgia Wednesday morning; the second one in three days. Two strong quakes were felt early morning December 26, at 02:44 and 03:00 am. According to the seismic monitoring center, the strength of the earthquakes were 5.5 and […]

Top-level corruption was rife in Georgia: NGO

By | December 26th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Just as the Inter RAO corruption scandal is jolting the political scene in Georgia, a Georgian think tank claims to have revealed three further cases of what is called high level corruption. The Saakashvili government has been credited with having effectively […]

Georgia prison rape video was real

By | December 26th, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has concluded an investigation of a handful of videos showing torture of prisoners which sparked protests two weeks before the election in October, 2012. The videos were published September 19, and showed […]

Security Council spent money on lobbyists, Ivanishvili claims

By | December 25th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Secretary of the Security Council and the Prime Minister disagree about the expenses and financing for the National Security Council of Georgia. The issue surfaced when the 2013 budget was presented to parliament, showing that the […]

Georgian sailors returning home

By | December 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The twelve Georgian sailors who have been adrift on a ship abandoned by its owner off the coast of Panama are returning home. The sailors aboard the Maria del Carmen 2, sailing under a Nigerian flag, were rescued by staff at the Georgian embassy […]

Georgia sends rescue team to Afghanistan

By | December 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A military search team left for Afghanistan on Monday in order to search for a Georgian soldier who has been missing for almost a week. The team is headed by the deputy chief of the Joint Staff. ISAF isalready  conducting a search and rescue […]

Georgia will never return to the Commonwealth, the PM says

By | December 25th, 2012|Categories: News|

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia’s new government’s declared foreign policy priorities haven’t changed and country will have good relations with its neighbors, but will never return to the Russian-dominated CIS, said prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili of Monday’s […]

Ivanishvili to ask for quota system for Kars-Akhalkalaki

By | December 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is considering proposing a quota system for sharing cargo load between the existing railway through Georgia and a new railway under construction which will bypass Georgia’s Black Sea ports Poti and Batumi. […]

Georgia cuts electricity price by a quarter

By | December 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili promises that electricity prices will be reduced by around 25 percent from January 1, 2013. As winter has arrived in Georgia, Ivanishvili brought good news to a press conference Monday at Sheraton […]

Georgia’s Interior Ministry auctions off luxury cars

By | December 24th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Interior Ministry has decided to put its luxurious cars up for auction. The new leadership at the ministry has prepared around 50 cars for sale, and models range from Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Vogue, to BMW […]

TI asks for proof that wiretap was legal

By | December 24th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Transparency International Georgia demands that the authorities show proof that they had a legal right to secretly tap the phones of two former officials. The phone conversations in question were used to justify detaining officials in the […]

Five policemen dismissed in one of Georgia’s controversial cases

By | December 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Five policemen who were involved in one of the controversial cases against officials in Georgia have been dismissed. The five were based at the Central Criminal Police Department and carried out the first detention of Tengiz Gunava, a former […]

Phone outage after earthquake in Georgia

By | December 23rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — There was an earthquake in Georgia on Sunday, causing minor damage in parts of the country. According to the national seismic monitoring center, the earthquake struck at 17:31 local time and had a magnitude of 5.7. The epicenter was 46 km […]

Saakashvili addresses party, delegates return to parliament

By | December 23rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili will return to parliament on Monday. This became clear at a party conference Sunday. The president addressed his party’s activists and tried to fire them up as they are […]

‘Justice Minister arranged fake torture video to defuse scandal’

By | December 23rd, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into one of the prison torture videos that shook the country two weeks before the 2012 parliamentary election. The first of six videos was published in the morning of September 18, […]

Six released on bail in corruption ring case

By | December 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Six suspects in a corruption case involving a one million dollar bribe, a dummy company and three power stations were Saturday released on bail. The two most high profile names among the suspected conspirators are Nika Gvaramia, former education […]

Vera Kobalia questioned about Cartu Bank bankruptcy scheme

By | December 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Economy Minister Vera Kobalia was Friday evening questioned regarding the bankruptcy of a bank connected to Prime Minister Ivanishvili. Former Justice Minister Zurab Adeisvhili was also called in for questioning in the same case, […]

Supreme Court tightens surveillance oversight

By | December 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Supreme Court of Georgia is establishing a special group which will oversee the issuing of warrants for secret surveillance. Kote Kublashvili, Chair of the Supreme Court, said Friday that Zaza Meishvili, Chair of the Criminal Law Chamber, […]

Georgia gives 3 500 prisoners amnesty

By | December 22nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The parliament in Georgia has finally passed an amnesty law which will mean that 3500 prisoners will be released. The goal of the bill is to soften the crime policy. It aims to achieve this by releasing some prisoners and halving the sentence for others. […]

Kitsmarishvili fined for damaging Maestro’s equipment

By | December 22nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A court has fined the former manager of Maestro TV, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, with USD 845 204 for damaging equipment belonging to the TV company one year ago. November 30, 2011 Erosi Kitsmarishvili and a group of strangers scaled the walls of […]

Ivanishvili says his focus is on the economy

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: Interviews|Tags: |

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the main goal of the new government is to improve the economic situation and to strengthen the course of Euro-integration in the foreign policy, as well as to make certain steps to improve relations with Russia. DF Watch spoke with the […]

Saakashvili will not dismiss Ivanishvili’s government

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says he has no intention of dismissing the new government. In a live televised press conference late Thursday night, he said that he has no plans to use his constitutional powers to dismiss the cabinet. […]

Saakashvili will veto bill about Georgian court system

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch -- The Georgian president says he will veto a new bill to reform the oversight of the justice system. President Mikheil Saakashvili Thursday evening held a televised briefing about recent events in the country. He said parliament is reviewing a bill which will place the Council of Justice and the courts completely [...]

Georgian soldier goes missing in Afghanistan

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A Georgian soldier serving in Afghanistan has disappeared, according to the defense ministry. The soldier, who was serving as part of the ISAF mission, disappeared on December 19, and no one has seen him since. […]

Ambassador Norland questions detention of Gvaramia

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland says that when a director of a TV company is detained, it naturally raises questions. Norland on Thursday held a closed meeting with Prison Minister Sozar Subari. After the meeting he commented on the […]

Court says wiretap was without warrant

By | December 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A court in Georgia says it did not give permission to eavesdrop on the former Interior Minister and the Director of Rustavi 2 TV. Police Wednesday detained two former government officials on suspicions of bribery and falsification of documents. […]

Saakashvili’s party boycotting parliament

By | December 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The National Movement party of President Saakashvili is boycotting parliament. Its representatives have returned to Tbilisi, saying they are moving into ‘another regime of activity’. Vano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister and Secretary […]

ICC to investigate 2008 Georgia-Russia war

By | December 20th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering launching an investigation into the war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008. The Justice Ministry of Georgia on Wednesday released a statement which says that in accordance with Georgia’s international […]

Former energy minister detained for corruption

By | December 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The ex-energy minister in Georgia, Alexandre Khetaguri, has been detained, suspected of accepting bribes in connection with power stations only months ago. Also other former government officials have been detained in the case, suspected of having received […]

The fate of truth in our days

By | December 20th, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

The example of one small country The reason behind this letter lies in critical comments made by western political circles and media concerning the government, which was elected by the majority of the citizens of Georgia in the October 2012 parliamentary election, […]

Ivanishvili considers tearing down ‘ugly’ new buildings

By | December 19th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — In Georgia, the prime minster and the president have clashed over what to do with newly built and half finished buildings. During President Saakashvili’s rule, modern complexes have popped up around the capital Tbilisi and in other towns […]

EU rewards Georgia’s reforms with €22 million

By | December 19th, 2012|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — EU is giving another €22 million to Georgia this year in recognition of its reform efforts. Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, on Wednesday attended the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council in Brussels. […]

Another ex-prime minister questioned

By | December 19th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Another former prime minister in Georgia was Tuesday called in for questioning. This time, Nika Gilauri spent five hours with the investigative service of the finance ministry, answering them about the sale of a park area in Tbilisi. The head […]

Georgia’s reserve funds lacked transparency

By | December 19th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A new survey shows that the least transparent issue during recent years has been the spending of money from two state reserve funds. Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA) presented the survey, which deals with the spending of money from […]

Ivanishvili looks forward to meeting Putin

By | December 19th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili hopes to meet with the Russian leaders Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev in the future. Recently Georgia’s special representative for Russian relations met the deputy foreign minister of Russia in Geneva. […]

Okruashvili is on hunger strike

By | December 18th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former defense minister who is in prison awaiting trial has gone on hunger strike. Irakli Okruashvili, who is charged with abuse of powers and extortion, says he is doing it to express solidarity with ten other prisoners who didn’t make […]

Saakashvili to fund free media

By | December 18th, 2012|Categories: Media, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has decided to finance media and non-government organizations and issued a special decree December 17, 2012. A program to contribute to the civil sector and development of free media will […]

80 % of Georgians like Ivanishvili

By | December 18th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — 80 percent of the Georgian population likes the new Prime Minister, while only 29 percent likes the president. 63 percent support the Georgian Dream coalition, while 10 percent support the former ruling party. Those are the results of a survey […]

Georgia makes it illegal to sell condoms that enhance pleasure

By | December 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Lawmakers in Georgia want to make it illegal to use condoms that enhance sexual pleasure. Other condoms will be legal. On Monday, a disputes was brought to a calm in parliament after a debate about what specifically can be called a sexual […]

Friends of Buta Robakidze will not be prosecuted

By | December 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court has ruled out that there will be criminal charges brought against the friends of Buta Robakidze, who was killed by police in 2004. November 24, 2004 Giorgi Kurdadze, Kakhaber Azariashvili and Akaki Bartaia, all friends of […]

Ivanishivili’s coalition is winning the trust of Georgians

By | December 17th, 2012|Categories: News|

TBILISI, DFWatch — The political party section of NDI’s first survey after the parliamentary election shows a U-turn compared to the situation a couple of months ago: Politicians in the coalition which recently came into government score high on trust […]

Experts ask for legal reform to improve media freedom

By | December 17th, 2012|Categories: Media, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A handful of media experts are calling for legislative reforms to address problems with media freedom in Georgia, and have prepared a draft bill as a first step. The bill would amend the law on broadcasting, and was presented by its authors […]

Stranded Georgian sailors plan lawsuit in Panama

By | December 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian sailors who are stranded off the coast of Panama plan a lawsuit at the marine court in that country. The twelve Georgian sailors on a ship sailing under Nigerian flag plan to file the suit on Monday if their demands aren’t met. “The temperature is […]

Large ammunition depot found in south Georgia

By | December 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian police have seized a large amount of ammunition in an abandoned house in a town in the south of the country. According to Interior Ministry, the ammunition was hidden at an abandoned airport dormitory house in the town Akhalkalaki. […]

Traffic restrictions after first snowfall

By | December 16th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The season’s first snowfall has led to restrictions on traffic several places in Georgia. The snow is causing problems in the Kakheti region, in east Georgia. Local media also report that ice is making it difficult for people to move around […]

Ex-minister’s uncle detained for illegal tree-cutting

By | December 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Police have detained the uncle of a former interior minister for illegally cutting forest. Levan Tumanishvili the head of Tao LTD, was Saturday interrogated for violation of the conditions of a license for using the forest, after trees were […]

Friday prayers interrupted in Georgian village

By | December 15th, 2012|Categories: Society|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A religious conflict has broken out in a village in Georgia after orthodox Christians started interrupting Muslims in their Friday prayer. The conflict started a few weeks ago. Tariel Nakaidze, leader of the Georgian Muslims, wrote on his Facebook […]

Georgia raises salaries for its soldiers in Afghanistan

By | December 15th, 2012|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Ministry plans to improve conditions for Georgian soldiers serving in NATO’s ISAF mission to Afghanistan. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Friday stated that the salary will be increased for Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan […]

Georgia and Russia’s first step towards mending relations

By | December 15th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia and Russia representatives on Friday agreed to continue the dialogue. Zurab Abashidze, the Prime Minister’s special representative for Russian relations, and Gregory Karasin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, on Friday met in Geneva. […]

Georgian Public Broadcaster director leaves

By | December 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — General Director of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster (GPB) Gia Chanturia has resigned. He handed in his resignation letter to the GPB’s supervisory board, which approved it today at a special session. Late Thursday night, there were unconfirmed […]

73 fired Telasi workers get their jobs back

By | December 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The power company Telasi has brought back 73 out of 107 employees who were fired, according to the company’s director. Workers at Telasi, which distributes electricity in Tbilisi, have been out in the streets for two months. They were among the […]

Details published about Saakashvili’s flights

By | December 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Defense Ministry in Georgia has published details about flights made by the government with a Gulfstream G450 which was recently withdrawn from use due to budget cuts. The information used to be state secrets, but was published because of the […]

Georgia is losing out on foreign investments

By | December 14th, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s direct foreign investments have significantly decreased in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, according to Georgia’s National Statistics Department, Geostat. According to the new report, the total amount […]

Saakashvili confidente financed Russian revolutionairies

By | December 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Russian police have published new evidence which seems to strengthen the case that Georgian politicians tried to foment social unrest in Russia. The evidence relates to the connections between the Russian opposition and the Georgian […]

US supports Georgia having direct talks with Russia

By | December 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The US supports Georgia’s decision to start direct talks with Russia, Thomas O. Melia, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, said Thursday. Melia, whose full title is U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, […]

Georgia and Russia plan rare meeting Friday

By | December 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The two countries fought a brief war in August 2008. Tomorrow they will meet face to face for the first time. The meeting will take place on neutral ground in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of periodic talks between the sides in that war. […]

Two thirds still without a job in Georgia

By | December 13th, 2012|Categories: Society|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Two thirds still consider themselves unemployed in Georgia, a new survey shows. 67 percent say they are without a job in the latest survey of public attitudes by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The number has not significantly […]

U.S. monitoring how Ivanishvili and Saakashvili cooperate

By | December 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The U.S. is closely monitoring the transition of power from President Saakashvili’s National Movement to Prime Minister Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition. Also subject to scrutiny is how well the two political blocs are working together, […]

Ivanishvili’s election promises considered unrealistic

By | December 13th, 2012|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government’s proposed budget is in some regards unrealistic, according to a new report. Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) presented the report Analysis and Recommendations on 2013 year Draft Budget of Georgia on Tuesday. […]

Saakashvili loses one of his jets

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili has lost one of his two business jets. The new government has decided not to allow the president to use it anymore. Alexandre Burchuladze, Deputy Defense Minister said in an interview with Rustavi 2 that the reason […]

MP investigated for beating of businessman

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A member of parliament from Saakashvili’s National Movement party is being called in for questioning regarding the beating of a businessman. According to the prosecutor’s office, Paata Lezhava on September 23, 2012 beat businessman […]

U.S. officials visit Georgia

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Two U.S. government officials arrived in Georgia Wednesday as part of a tour of the Caucasus. Thomas Melia from the State Department and Catherine Newcombe from the Department of Justice, will meet with Georgian government officials, media and […]

Crime wave is receding, says interior minister

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The interior minister says the crime situation in Georgia now is under control, but remains difficult. Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says criminals have taken advantage of the process of handing over power. “We weren’t able to timely […]

South Ossetia: one of the world’s worst repressive regimes

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — South Ossetia – a breakaway region of Georgia – is ranked among the world’s most repressive regimes by Freedom House. Freedom House, a non-governmental organization, has published a new report called ‘The Worst of the Worst: The World’s […]

Knife re-offender stirs debate ahead of mass amnesty

By | December 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A man who was recently released from prison has reportedly attacked someone with a knife. The interior ministry December 10 reported that a prisoner named Tengiz injured a 31-year old man called Tamaz with knife and escaped from the scene. […]

Lukashenko will beg on his knees for Georgia’s return to CIS

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko says he is prepared to beg on his knees for the Georgian government to return the country to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Lukashenko said this in Minsk on Tuesday during a meeting […]

Court rules that Okruashvili must remain in prison

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court Tuesday heard two separate set of charges against former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, and determined that he must remain in pre-trial custody. The first set of charges pertain to negligence of duty while he as defense […]

Abandoned Georgian sailors have run out of food

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian sailors who have been stranded on an abandoned ship in Panama are still suffering from hunger and unable to leave. The crew of Maria Del Carmen, which is flying a Nigerian flag, released a letter on Monday which says that they still […]

Ex-official detained in Ukraine may be extradited

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Georgian interior ministry official was Monday given 40 days preliminary detention in Ukraine by a court in Kiev. Ukraine is considering Oleg Melnikov’s extradition to Georgia during his detention, online media in Ukraine report. Melnikov has a background […]

Kutaisi parliament cost USD 196 million

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A new study has revealed the true cost of Georgia’s new parliament: USD 196 million. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) on Monday presented a report about the cost of building a new parliament building in Kutaisi, the second […]

Second hand clothes are in fashion in Tbilisi

By | December 11th, 2012|Categories: Society|Tags: |

The clothes market near Tbilisi central train station. (Photo: Mari Nikuradze.) TBILISI, DFWatch – There are stores in between the large markets near the central train station in Tbilisi were people sell second hand clothes from abroad. There, people are crowding close to piles of clothes, peeking inside to find what they want. Rusa, 21, says […]

Trading ambassadors for prisoners

By | December 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian government is in negotiations with President Saakashvili’s associates about releasing detained officials against replacing ambassadors appointed while he held government power. The unusual high level “prisoner exchange” has become […]

Georgia to chair GUAM in 2013

By | December 10th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia will have the chairmanship of GUAM in 2013. Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said at Monday’s regular briefing that Georgia was officially appointed in Dublin a few days ago, at a session of the GUAM foreign minister council. […]

Russia and Georgia to meet for direct talks

By | December 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — At last, Georgia and Russia will meet to start sorting out their differences. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations after the war in 2008. Zurab Abashidze, Georgia’s Special Representative for Russian relations, on Monday said that […]

Lavrov says Russia will allow regular flights to Georgia

By | December 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Russia and Georgia will soon meet to discuss allowing import of Georgian agricultural products and restoring regular flights between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is ready to start talks about the issue, […]

Ivanishvili explains the need for amnesty

By | December 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Prime Minister expects to see a rise in crime for a few days after a mass amnesty comes into force, and says the population should understand and get on with it. Bidzina Ivanishvili Saturday visited parliament in Kutaisi, and […]

Ukraine detains wanted Saakashvili ex-official

By | December 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Police in Ukraine have detained a former Georgian interior ministry official, who was announced wanted by Interpol and is sentenced to preliminary detention. Oleg Melnikov was detained in Kiev on grounds of information provided by Interpol […]

Revised 2013 budget presented

By | December 9th, 2012|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia has presented a 2013 budget of USD 5.3 billion. USD 4.4 billion of this is expenditure. The revised budget comes as a result of consultations after critical remarks by members of parliament, and the new […]

Ucha Nanuashvili is Georgia’s new ombudsman

By | December 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Ucha Nanuashvili has been chosen as Georgia’s new ombudsman. The 38 year old lawyer has more than 15 years of experience as a human rights worker and is currently director of the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center. Mr Nanuashvili’s […]

Ex-minister questioned again about fake passport

By | December 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was Friday questioned a second time about his attempt to leave the country with a fake passport November 30. The interior ministry has made public several witness statements seeming to confirm that […]

Detainee in Georgia-Dagestan border shooting released

By | December 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

Ahmed Chataev, who denies guilt, was released on bail Thursday. He lost a leg in the border shooting near Dagestan in August, 2012. According to Chataev this was the first attempt by boeviks to enter Chechnya from Georgia after the end of the second Chechen war. (IPN.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court on Thursday released a man detained after a firefight on the border with Russia in late August, 2012. Akhmed Chatayev was released on USD 3 000 bail, which he will have to pay within 30 days. August 28, Georgia started […]

Fake passports were common in Georgia’s interior ministry

By | December 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s interior ministry is investigating one more attempt to jump the border with a fake passport. The ministry says it discovered a suspicious passport issued in the name of Gocha Tsereteli, but the photo shows former Deputy Interior […]

Failing revenues forces major shifts in budget

By | December 7th, 2012|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The revenues into Georgia’s state accounts have decreased by USD 50.5 million lari compared to the budget. For this reason, priorities will be shifted until next year. According to the 2012 budget, revenues should have been USD 5 billion […]

Saakashvili criticizes government’s handling of NATO

By | December 7th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says the meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission on Wednesday was not a step forward for the country. Saakashvili made the comment during a working visit to Poland. “Unfortunately, we didn’t see […]

Interview with Irakli Alasania

By | December 7th, 2012|Categories: Interviews|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania sat down with DF Watch to talk about the bilateral security and defense cooperation with the US which he said has already started. A few days ago bilateral consultations were held in Tbilisi […]

Rasmussen says NATO will not interfere in detention cases

By | December 6th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO will not interfere in the legal process in Georgia in regard to the recent detentions of former government officials, the alliance’s Secretary General says. After summing up a meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission in Brussels, Anders […]

Poll shows massive support for Ivanishvili government

By | December 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Dream, the party of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili which recently took over government power, has about five times more support than the National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The is the result of a poll […]

Georgian patriarch hosts Israeli ambassador

By | December 6th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Patriarch Ilia II hosted Israeli Ambassador Yuval Fuchs and his wife at the Patriarch’s residence in Mtskheta, close to the capital. Fuchs thanked Illia II for his merits in deepening relations between the two states in regards to […]

Georgia places 51. on corruption ranking

By | December 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia comes in at 51. place in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). In the previous ranking, the country was in 64. place. The CPI is prepared by Transparency International and scores and ranks countries and territories based […]

Testimonies published in Merabishvili forged passport case

By | December 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian authorities are continuing their investigation into former interior minister Vano Merabishvili for trying to leave the country with a forged passport. According to the interior ministry, Merabishvili gave them false information on purpose […]

Westerwelle asks Georgia to stay its course

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Germany’s foreign minister Guido Westerwelle says he hopes the change of government in Georgia won’t influence the country’s course towards NATO and the EU. Westerwelle said this ahead of a meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission, […]

Lavrov asks Georgia for more details about dialogue

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Russia wants to know how Georgia plans to improve relations with its neighbors. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said this while answering questions at a press conference in connection with the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council […]

Georgia to introduce a traveling parliament

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The governing coalition in Georgia wants parliament back to the capital Tbilisi, but with an added option to meet at other places if necessary. Recent consultations among the Georgian Dream coalition, which came to power after the October 1, […]

Rasmussen comments on Georgia

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO stands if Georgia fulfills necessary criteria, NATO Secretary General states. Anders Fogh Rasmussen was speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the NATO-Russia […]

Georgia starts investigating prisoner abuse

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Prosecutors in Georgia are preparing to press charges in several cases of prison abuse, based on a series of leaked videos which spurred a major scandal in September. Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said at a press conference on Tuesday […]

Court detains Data Akhalaia in absentia

By | December 4th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Interior Ministry official has been sentenced to pre-trial detention in absentia. Data Akhalaia, former chair of the feared Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry, is charged, together with Soso Topuridze and Geronti […]

Georgia gets a new Chair of the Joint Staff

By | December 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Minister and President have agreed on a new candidate for Chair of the Joint Staff. Irakli Alasania, Defense Minister on Tuesday presented Colonel Irakli Dzneladze who will be filling this post. A day before, consultations […]

Weapons cache discovered in Tbilisi

By | December 4th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Military Police in Georgia have seized about a hundred weapons of different types at an apartment in Tbilisi. Vako Avaliani, Advisor to the Defense Minister, on Monday said the weapons were not registered. The ministry learned about the location […]

Seven die in road accident

By | December 4th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Seven persons died Monday evening in a car accident in Western Georgia, according to the Interior Ministry. In a statement the ministry writes that the accident took place at about 20:00 in the village Tseva, in the Imereti region. A truck […]

NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO’s Foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels December 4 and 5. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, will chair the meeting. Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister arrived in Brussels Monday evening […]

UN vote on Palestine causes controversy in Georgia

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — It has caused great controversy in Georgia that its representatives at a session of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of Palestine being given observer status in the world organization. The vote comes amidst a time of criticism […]

Misunderstanding that Georgia will not Facilitate a Solution

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

If our strategic allies’ warning is about reversing the current legal processes, I would say it is impossible and could be even harmful. If it is about being more considerate in decision-planning and aware of the environment, I would agree and subscribe to it. […]

Data Akhalaia charged in absentia

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

Data Akhalaia, former chair of the Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry, Georgia’s domestic intelligence service, has been charged in absentia for abuse of powers and illegal deprivation of liberty. Akhalaia, the brother of the detained […]

New details about 2004 Robakidze murder

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Another Interior Ministry official has been interrogated regarding the murder of Buta Robakidze, who was killed by police in 2004. This time Levan Gvazava, Former Deputy Interior Minister was interrogated. He was called in for questioning on […]

Justice Minister in doubt about charges against ex-official

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The court released a former interior ministry official on bail until the trial, in the most controversial case among the recent detentions. Tengiz Gunava on Sunday was sentenced to pay USD 6 000 bail. First he was detained for illegal possession […]

Ex-minister questioned about forged passport

By | December 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was Saturday interrogated. He did not comment except saying it’s a pity that the prime minister is using the interior ministry as a tool of repression against the opposition. The interior ministry […]

World AIDS Day marked in Tbilisi

By | December 2nd, 2012|Categories: Society|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Saturday evening around 30 local organizations marked World AIDS Day with an event on Freedom Square in Tbilisi. Volunteers and organizers of the event stood and formed of giant ribbon holding candles in red plastic glasses as a sign of solidarity […]

Editorial in the Post leads to controversy in Georgia

By | December 2nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — An editorial comment published by the Washington Post has caused great controversy in Georgia. “The magnate-turned-prime minister said last week that his first official visit to the United States had been postponed, which is a good thing. […]

George Soros visits Georgia

By | December 2nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Philanthropist George Soros on Saturday visited Georgia and met with Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. George Soros’ visit will last for two days ending December 2. Ketevan Kutsishvili, Chair of Open Society Georgia Foundation, which was founded […]

Ex-minister wanted to fly to Armenia with forged passport

By | December 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The former interior minister Vano Merabishvili is under investigation for having tried to board a flight from Tbilisi go Yerevan Friday with a forged passport. Merabishvili was traveling together with President Saakashvili and others. According […]

Georgia turns to Interpol in hunt for torturers

By | December 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Four former officials from the Interior Ministry will be charged with illegal deprivation of freedom, torture and abuse of powers. Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said at a briefing Friday that former Deputy Defense Minister Data Akhalaia, […]

Nuland: prosecutions must not appear politically motivated

By | December 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland gave more details about a meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Georgian foreign minister Maia Panjikidze Thursday. Nuland said the two discussed the recent detentions of several […]