Monthly Archives: November 2016

Government deal to soften impact of currency drop on mortgage lenders

By | November 30th, 2016|Categories: Economy|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government offers a temporary aid package to people who have their mortgage loans in US dollars, to ease the disastrous consequences of the lari’s continued race to record low depths. The decision was made at a […]

Georgian government to raise excise tax due to tanking lari

By | November 29th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Amid growing discontent with the economic situation in the country, and a national currency which plunges to new depths every day, the government announces a hike in excise the tax rate for fuel, tobacco, imported autos and gambling. “As you know, […]

13 women killed in family violence so far in 2016

By | November 29th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–New grim figures from Georgia’s ombudsman show that 13 women have been killed in family violence during the first ten months of 2016. In some cases, the police were alerted in advance, but did not intervene. Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili spoke Friday about […]

Founder of failed UNM splinter party leaves politics to start lobbying firm

By | November 29th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former lawmaker with background from the National Movement announced on Monday that he is leaving politics, after founding and campaigning for the splinter party Girchi. Pavle Kublashvili, a former head of the justice committee in parliament, […]

Fake TSU diplomas may be in circulation after forgery ring busted

By | November 29th, 2016|Categories: Education|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A forgery ring sold diplomas that looked like they were issued by the country’s most prestigious educational institution, Tbilisi State University. Investigators are now trying to hunt down the fake documents. […]

Georgian parliament approves new government

By | November 28th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament Saturday passed a vote of confidence in a new cabinet government formed after Georgian Dream won a landslide in the October 8 election. 110 MPs voted for and 19 against a cabinet, which had only three personnel changes […]

Another transgender woman attacked in Tbilisi

By | November 28th, 2016|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A transgender woman was attacked in Tbilisi on November 25. The attack happened late at night on Tamar Mepe Avenue. The target of the attack, Nata, had her nose broken and suffered other facial injuries. She left the hospital on Saturday. […]

William Courtney: It won’t be easy for Trump to make big changes in US policy towards Russia

By | November 28th, 2016|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , , |

William Courtney: “Because of such wide Western consensus for sanctions against Russia, it will not be easy for the Trump administration to make big changes in that policy.” William Courtney, Former US Ambassador to Georgia and currently with the RAND Corporation in Washington DC, shared his views on the US President Elect Donald Trump’s foreign policy agenda with Anna Kalandadze of Voice of America’s Georgian service.  […]

TSU students begin new sit-in, demand election cancelled

By | November 27th, 2016|Categories: Youth|Tags: , , , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Student at Tbilisi’s largest university began another round of protest this week, breaking into building number 6 of TSU and refusing to leave until there are reforms of the education system. Using the same name as the ad hoc group during a wave of protests […]

Britain’s Sir Alan Duncan visited Georgia

By | November 27th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Dir Alan Duncan (left) and Dimitri Kumsishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Sir Alan Duncan, United Kingdom’s Minister for Europe and the Americas, visited Georgia this week to take part in bilateral talks about reforms and security. The Waldrop dialogue is an annual conference between representatives of the two countries’ […]

Georgian lari hits all-time low

By | November 27th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian lari on Friday hit an all-time low at 2.5026 against the US dollar. The previous record was in January this year, when it was valued at 2.49 laris per USD. Georgia’s National Bank has sold USD 180 million of its reserves since August, but has not […]

Women in Tbilisi say: We won’t give away the night

By | November 26th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

(DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Women carried dresses and skirts as flags through central Tbilisi on Friday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The march was organized by Movement of Women and began from Pushkin Square in the center toward the police station. […]

Video: Brawl erupts between Georgian politicians’ debating live on TV

By | November 25th, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: , , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – A fistfight broke out between two guests during live political talk show between supporter of the United National Movement and a retired colonel, turned a conservative political analyst. […]

Georgian interior minister lists achievements ahead of confidence vote

By | November 25th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Acting Interior Minister Giorgi Mghebrishvili showed up at several committee hearings on Wednesday as parliamentarians were preparing for a vote of confidence in the new cabinet. Listing his ministry’s achievements, Mghebrishvili said police in Georgia […]

Georgian prosecutor plans to reopen case against former president’s son

By | November 24th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office in Georgia is planning to take a fresh look at a high profile trial against the son of deceased former President Zviad Gamsakhurdia. “Prior to this decision, a comprehensive and objective investigation had been repeatedly […]

Two arrested after dismembered body found in Tbilisi basement

By | November 24th, 2016|Categories: Crime|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Two persons have been arrested i Georgia accused of involvement in a macabre murder. One of the suspects is accused of killing the victim in an alcohol fuelled rage. The murder took place in late October, according to investigators. A neighbor complained […]

Transgender Zizi dies in hospital after brutal attack

By | November 24th, 2016|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

The scene of the crime. (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A transgender woman who was attacked and severely injured on October 14 died at the hospital Tuesday night. The lawyer for the Women’ Initiative Supportive Group informed journalists that Zizi (32) had passed away. The attacker cut her throat […]

General Chachibaia promoted to chief of the Georgian Army General Staff

By | November 24th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: |

Vladimer Chachibaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Tuesday appointed General Vladimer Chachibaia as new chief of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF). 45-year-old Chachibaia, who served as chief of the Joint Staff of the armed forces […]

Two flights cancelled at Tbilisi airport due to pilot strike in Lufthansa

By | November 23rd, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi international airport reported two flights are postponed on Wednesday because of the pilot strike in Lufthansa. The two affected flights were to have been carried out early Thursday morning, Tbilisi-Munich at 4.05am and Munich-Tbilisi at 5.00am. […]

Putin ratifies agreement to join military forces with breakaway Abkhazia

By | November 23rd, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Kremlin.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified an agreement to join the military forces of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, with the Russian armed forces. The combined forces agreement signed on November 21, 2015 establishes a joint […]

FGM will be ended ‘very soon’ in Georgia, says acting justice minister

By | November 23rd, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A government spokesperson says she had never imagined that female genital mutilation is being practiced in Georgia, and that the practice will be ended very soon. Three villages in the eastern Kakheti region are maintaining the practice which […]

Georgia’s Prime Minister reveals new cabinet: Who’s in and who’s out?

By | November 23rd, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s acting head of government Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Tuesday unveiled his new cabinet, with only minor personnel changes from the last one. One notable change is the promotion of Dimitri Kumsishvili from Economy Minister to the more important […]

UNICEF survey: Children are still the most vulnerable group in Georgia

By | November 22nd, 2016|Categories: Society|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new study presented on Monday shows that every fifth child in Georgia is living in poverty. The findings in the welfare monitoring study, a household survey published every two years by United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF), emphasized […]

McCain visits Georgia in January

By | November 21st, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Before the America’s president-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of the office, a leading Republican Senator,   Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, and his fellow party member Lindsey Olin Graham will lead a congressional delegation to Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia January to push back against Trump on Russia policy. […]

Georgia wins Junior Eurovision Song Contest

By | November 21st, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Mariam Mamadashvili. (Palitra TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the third time. At the final, which was held in Malta, Mariam Mamadashvili won with a performance of the song ‘Mzeo’ which garnered 239 points. […]

Georgia’s patriarch pledges to mend ties to Russia

By | November 21st, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Patriarch Ilia II (left) and Patriarch Kirill meeting in Moscow in July, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Patriarch Ilia II joined other Eastern Orthodox leaders in Moscow on Sunday to attend the 70-year anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the Patriarchate of Georgia, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II was invited by the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow […]

Transgender Day of Remembrance observed in two cities in Georgia

By | November 21st, 2016|Categories: Minorities|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Transgender Day of Remembrance was observed in two cities in Georgia on Sunday. In Kutaisi and Tbilisi, small gatherings commemorated transgender people who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. […]

Georgian parliamentarians appointed faction leaders

By | November 20th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The newly elected parliament mits first session on Friday, and one of its first decisions was to register five factions and the majority and minority. The Georgian Dream majority consists of 116 MPs. 115 are members of Georgian Dream, which received […]

Government takes caretaker role as parliament begins selecting new cabinet

By | November 20th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament approved the composition of the new parliament on Friday, and the government now has a caretaker role until lawmakers has approved a new government. MPs voted to recognize the authority of the ninth parliamentary assembly. […]

Ivanishvili sells de Kooning painting at Christie’s for USD 66 mill

By | November 19th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A large, colorful abstract Willem de Kooning painting from one of the artist’s most productive periods was Tuesday sold at Christie’s post-war and contemporary auction in New York. The price: USD 66.3 million. The Dutch-American artist’s ‘Untitled XXV’ from 1977 […]

UNM member refuses to serve in Adjara’s supreme council

By | November 18th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

Levan Varshalomidze apologized to voters for not being able to protect their votes. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A politician for the UNM party in Adjara has refused to serve in the region’s supreme council, echoing a recent decision by Sandra Roelofs, the former first lady, to not take her seat in parliament. Levan Varshalomidze, former chairman of the Adjara government, […]

Margvelashvili vows to protect presidential powers in the face of GD-dominated parliament

By | November 18th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – President Giorgi Margvelashvili said that he wouldn’t tolerate acts directed against state institutions in his welcoming speech on Friday at the opening session of the newly elected parliament. […]

Israel prepares to turn away asylum seekers from Georgia and Ukraine

By | November 18th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Israel might begin rejecting asylum requests from citizens of Georgia and Ukraine, Tel Aviv-based newspaper Haaretz reports. The past two years have seen a surge in asylum requests by Ukrainians and Georgians, as citizens of these countries […]

Defense officials accused of mixing politics and service vow to clear their name

By | November 17th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Sergo Ninua (left) and George Tsabadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two high officials in Georgia’s Defense Ministry temporarily suspended themselves from their duties on Wednesday, after being accused of abuse of power during the Saakashvili presidency. Sergo Ninua and George Tsabadze, both lieutenant-colonels […]

Georgian opposition party threatens to plant marijuana on New Year’s Eve

By | November 17th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A political party in the former Soviet republic Georgia has launched an unusual campaign to legalize marijuana: If the parliament doesn’t decriminalize the weed by the end of the year, they will plant the narcotic plant in their office on New Year’s Eve. […]

UNM nominates parliament posts while discussing successor to Saakashvili

By | November 17th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

Sergi Kapanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement has nominated Sergi Kapanadze as vice speaker of parliament from the minority. The leader of the parliamentary minority will still remain Davit Bakradze. He was speaker of parliament from 2008 to 2012. Nika Melia, who was UNM’s candidate […]

Plans revived for Trump Tower in Batumi, Georgia

By | November 17th, 2016|Categories: Economy|Tags: , , |

Donald J. Trump. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Plans for a Trump Tower on Georgia’s Black Sea coast are being revived, after laying dormant for the last five years. Newly elected US President and businessman Donald Trump visited Batumi personally in 2012 and later praised Mikheil Saakashvili […]

Georgia’s Orthodox Church realizes it was wrong about EU and NATO

By | November 16th, 2016|Categories: Europe|Tags: , |

The Patriarchy. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Clergy from the Georgian Orthodox Church describe getting rid of some misconceptions about NATO and EU after a visit to Brussels last week. The unprecedented visit started November 7 with Georgian clergy meeting NATO’s envoy for South Caucasus […]

Man sentenced to 12 years for attack on opposition politician

By | November 16th, 2016|Categories: Crime|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 12 years in jail for shooting an opposition politician last February. Alexi Petriashvili, then the party secretary of the Free Democrats, was approached by two men on a cemetery in the middle […]

Georgia slightly improved in Internet Freedom ranking

By | November 16th, 2016|Categories: News|

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Internet freedom across the globe declined for a sixth constructive year and two-thirds of the world’s internet users live in countries where authorities resort to censorship. However, Georgia has improved its position and has ranked as a free country according to a report released on Tuesday by Freedom House, a US government-funded pro-democracy NGO. […]

Money transfers to Georgia up 14% in October year-on-year

By | November 16th, 2016|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The flow of money into Georgia grew by 14 percent in October, according to the latest monthly report by the National Bank. The money flow into the country was USD 102.5 million, USD 12.6 million more than in October 2015. 91.9 percent of transfers […]

Mogherini situation in Georgia ‘extremely encouraging’ to get visa waiver

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini on Monday has emphasized that the situation in Georgia is ‘extremely encouraging, extremely positive’ to deliver on visa liberalization for the citizens of the country. […]

Nanny caught on camera beating ten month old baby

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: Crime|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A 60-year-old woman was arrested in Tbilisi on Tuesday, accused of beating a 10-month-old girl she was looking after. The accused has been working as a nanny for a family in Tbilisi for a month and half, according to a statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. […]

Georgian diplomat nominated as UNWTO Secretary General

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: News|

(for.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time Georgia has nominated a candidate for the position as Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2018-2021. […]

Saakashvili ally Khatia Dekanoidze resigns in Ukraine

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Ukraine’s National Police Chief Khatia Dekanoidze who was in charge of police reform in the country stepped down on Monday just in a week after resignation of her compatriot and ally, Odessa governor Mikheil Saakashvili. […]

Opposition-leaning Tabula TV temporarily suspends broadcasting

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – In an official statement released on Monday on its website, Tabula named ‘change the format of its broadcasting, as part of larger structural changes to our operating procedures’ as a ground for suspension. […]

Georgian social drama wins awards at European festivals

By | November 15th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – An award-wining Georgian film ‘Anna’s Life” directed by Nino Basilaia has triumphed at the prestigious film festivals in Europe this weekend. Soon after winning the Grand Prix for the […]

Georia’s trade turnover grew 22% Jan-Oct 2016

By | November 14th, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover increased by 22 percent in the first ten months of 2016, but against a background of increased import and reduced export. The trade turnover amounted to USD 9,950 million, according to preliminary figures published […]

Georgian lari tanking, on course for second record low this year

By | November 14th, 2016|Categories: Economy|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian lari is on course for a new historic low, after setting a record earlier this year at 2.4921 laris per US dollar. Today it is valued at 2.4899. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili explained the new drop in the value of the lari is as a result of growing imports. […]

Saakashvili believes Ukraine’s Poroshenko won’t extradite him to Georgia

By | November 14th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who recently resigned as Odessa governor and is set to lead an opposition party, believes that Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko won’t honour Tbilisi’s request to extradite him in the homeland, where he faces criminal charges. […]

Georgia’s ombudsman calls on government to end female circumcision

By | November 13th, 2016|Categories: Society|Tags: , , |

(Aida Mirmaksumova.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Defender confirms that female genital mutilation (FGM) is being practiced in the eastern Kakheti region, a practice locals call ‘baptizing’. Georgians learned last week that FGM is being practiced in three villages in Kvareli […]

Saakashvili forms new political party in Ukraine, demands snap election

By | November 13th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili has formed a new political party in Ukraine, demanding early elections there. The announcement comes a few weeks after his party in Georgia, the National Movement, was defeated in the parliamentary […]

Prison inspector accused of asking for bribe to get prisoner released early

By | November 12th, 2016|Categories: Crime|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s secret police on Friday arrested a prison inspector for attempted fraud. The suspect is working at prison no 16 in Rustavi south of Tbilisi and is accused of trying to help an acquaintance get a prisoner released earlier in return for USD 7,000 bribe. […]

Germany thanks Georgian soldiers for helping repel attack on consulate

By | November 12th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: |

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany thanked Afghan and Georgian forces on Friday for repelling an attack on a German consulate in northern Afghanistan the day before. The attack on the consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif ended as the attackers were pushed back by consulate security, […]

Gubaz Sanikidze leaves National Forum, former GD coalition partner

By | November 11th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Gubaz Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The change of leadership among Georgian Dream’s former coalition partners continued Friday, as Gubaz Sanikidze said he is leaving the National Forum after the election defeat last month.  Sanikidze has been one of the party’s most active […]

Russian MFA Warns Citizens of risks travelling in Georgia

By | November 11th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Amid growing inflow of Russian tourists to Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry warns its citizens about the risks associated with such visits, referring to the Law on Occupied Territories, which may result for RF citizens facing formidable fines or even prison term. […]

Murdered transgender women remembered in Tbilisi

By | November 11th, 2016|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

(DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Friends and activists gathered Thursday to remember the transgender woman Sabi Beriani, who was brutally murdered in Tbilisi two years ago. November 10 has become a national day of remembrance for transgender victims of violence, […]

Exiled Saakashvili losing grip on party, blasts former associates

By | November 10th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who recently resigned as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region, blasts members of the National Movement for bowing to the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party. On Wednesday, in a video interview […]

Body of German missing since July found in Svaneti

By | November 10th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The body of a German man who has been missing since July was found Thursday in Svaneti, a mountainous region in northwest of Georgia. Sergei Smislov’s family has been looking for him for several months, believing that he was kidnapped […]

NATO starts joint military exercises in Georgia

By | November 10th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian army on Thursday has begun two weeks of military exercises with the NATO at the Vaziani military base, in Tbilisi eastern outskirts. The Joint Training and Evaluation Centre […]

IWPR Reveals Female Genital Mutilation Practice in Georgia

By | November 10th, 2016|Categories: News|

IWPR, Aida Mirmaksumova Tbilisi, DFWatch – An Institute War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has unveiled that a small native Caucasian ethnic group living in a remote east area of Georgia, has been performing female genital mutilation (FGM) practice during past two decades. […]

Tbilisi reacts to Trump’s victory

By | November 10th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Donald Trump visiting Georgia in 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian leaders congratulated Donald Trump with being elected as president of the United States, while political analysts in Tbilisi tried to predict how the result will affect US-Georgian relations. Georgian Dream parliamentarian Gia Volski […]

Georgia’s President: two-party dominated parliament won’t encourage development

By | November 9th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi, DFWatch- President Giorgi Margvelashvili has announced that he feels disappointed regarding country’s parliamentary elections, as he was expected a multi-party system in the newly elected parliament, but it turned into a bipolar. […]

US support for Georgia will be even stronger: Ambassador Kelly

By | November 9th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Ambassador Kelly at the US embassy organized breakfast to celebrate the 58th U.S. presidential election (embassy photo) Tbilisi,DFWatch – Following the tense electoral night in the United States, Ian Kelly, US Ambassador to Georgia has emphasized that no matter who wins, US will remain strong alley to Georgia.   […]

New Rights leaves Paata Burchuladze-led coalition

By | November 9th, 2016|Categories: News|

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Political party New Rights left a coalition led by operatic bass Paata Burchuladze after it suffered sound defeat in the parliamentary elections in October. Mamuka Katsitadze, lead figure at the New Rights, […]

Sandra Roelofs refuses to serve as member of Georgia’s parliament

By | November 8th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

Sandra Roelofs. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former first lady Sandra Roelofs has turned down her mandate to serve as a member of parliament despite being among the top ten names on the National Movement’s party list. On Monday, Roelofs asked the Central Election Commission (CEC) […]

Head of Georgian Church to attend patriarch Kirill’s 70th Jubilee in Moscow

By | November 8th, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: , , |

Ilia II meets Kirill in Moscow Jan, 2013 (Pariarchate.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The head of Georgian Church  is expected to pay a visit to Moscow in November to attend a 70-year jubilee of his Russian counterpart. According to the Patriarchate of Georgia,  Catholikos-Patriarch Ilia II was invited by the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow […]

Pankisi native, reportedly ISIS member, killed in Middle East

By | November 8th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–One more Pankisi native has been killed in the Middle East. Reports vary about where the 24 year old Mukhad Khangoshvili was killed. According to Interpressnews, which relies on an unidentified source in Pankisi, it happened in Mosul, […]

Georgia reintroduces compulsory military service

By | November 8th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Levan Izoria said Monday that he is reversing a decision by his predecessor Tina Khidasheli to end compulsory military service. He made the announcement on Monday during a meeting with the media to present a report about his first 100 days on the job. […]

Georgian ex-President Saakashvili quits as governor of Odessa

By | November 7th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Saakashvili spoke of the reasons for his resignation at a press conference in Odessa. TBILISI, DFWatch–The exiled former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili announced on Monday that he is leaving as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region, a position he has held since May 2015. During a press conference broadcast on his Facebook page, […]

GD presents its list of committee heads in the new parliament

By | November 7th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

Georgian Dream’s bigwigs approved Irakli Kobakhidze’s nomination as new speaker of parliament on Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a landslide victory in the election, Georgian Dream bigwigs gathered on Sunday to agree on key appointments for the new parliament. After the political council session was over, GD announced its list of candidates, which, not surprisingly, […]

19-year-old girl took part in ‘ritual murder’ of her own mother

By | November 6th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The teenager colluded with her boyfriend and another friend to knock her elderly mother unconscious, then they stabbed and killed her, dismembered the body, burnt it with gasoline at a garbage dump in Tbilisi and threw it in a ditch, according […]

GD considers its party secretary as new speaker of parliament

By | November 5th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , |

Irakli Kobakhidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After several weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Friday confirmed that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party is considering its secretary Irakli Kobakhidze for the post as new speaker of parliament. It was expected that the stern […]

29-year-old man arrested for beating his 15-year-old wife

By | November 5th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 29-year-old man was arrested a few days ago in Georgia for beating his 15-year-old wife. The young victim’s mother says her underage daughter has broken teeth, broken ribs and a broken nose after suffering systematic abuse at the hands of her husband. […]

Third suspect arrested for disrupting election in Jikhashkari

By | November 5th, 2016|Categories: Elections|Tags: , |

(Luka Pertaia/Netgazeti. TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia on Thursday arrested a third person for creating a disturbance at an election precinct near Zugdidi during the parliamentary election on October 8. Deputy Interior Minister Shalva Khutsishvili told journalists on Friday […]

Three Chinese citizens arrested in Georgia, suspected of assaulting workers

By | November 4th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia arrested three Chinese citizens on Thursday, as workers on a railway line in western Georgia claim that they were beaten by representatives of the company. In a short statement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said its investigators […]

Georgian lari drops again, approaching important benchmark

By | November 3rd, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Nodar Khaduri, Minister of Finance, insists ‘this is really a temporary decline.’ TBILISI, DFWatch–The opposition in Georgia is blaming the government of impoverishing the country after the lari dropped in value again and is approaching a ‘psychological’ benchmark rate of 2.50 against the US dollar. Its official rate against USD was set as 2.4195 […]

GD plans to replace ministers in charge of the economy

By | November 2nd, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

Dimitry Kumsishvili is proposed as new finance minister. TBILISI, DFWatch–After a crushing victory in the parliamentary elections, Georgia’s ruling party this week began the work of forming a new government. Several changes have been proposed ahead of a meeting in the GD political council to take place at the end of this week. […]

Commission suggests making mosque ruins cultural heritage site

By | November 1st, 2016|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A commission tasked with settling a dispute between Christians and Muslims over the ruins of a mosque in the south of Georgia delivered its recommendations on Thursday, but it is uncertain if this will help solve the two year old conflict. […]