GD prepares “non-provocative” resolution on Ukraine, doesn’t mention neither Russia nor Putin
Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream, after lengthy deliberations, finally submitted a draft resolution in support of Ukraine to parliament on Wednesday for approval, which immediately drew criticism from the opposition after it was revealed that it did not mention neither Russia nor Putin. Two meetings were held between the Georgian Dream and opposition factions on Wednesday to draft a joint text of the resolution, but failed [...]
Ex-President Saakashvili says Russia is also planning to attack Georgia, along with Ukraine
Imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili says that if Russia launches a direct military aggression on Ukraine, it will inevitably invade Georgia and occupy Black Sea ports that are of strategic importance to it. [...]
News
US reaffirms support for Georgia as tensions between West and Russia grow
TBILISI, DFWatch--While the crisis in relations between Russia and the West over NATO enlargement continues to escalate, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried reaffirmed the US’ support for Georgia [...]
Appeals Court rejects Igor Giorgadze’s lawsuit against DFWatch
Igor Giorgadze. TBILISI, DFWatch--Tbilisi Court of Appeals on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Georgian security chief and former KGB operative Igor Giorgadze against DFWatch and its editor Lasha Tughushi, in which he demanded [...]
PACE co-rapporteurs to make monitoring visit to Georgia
(coe.int) Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will make a fact-finding visit to Tbilisi Wednesday for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Georgia. Titus Corlatean (Romania, SOC) and Claude [...]
Saakashvili was inappropriately given strong “anti-psychotic drugs” in prison, a group of medics says
Mikheil Saakashvili at the Tbilisi Court, November 29 (Imedinews photo). TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgia's former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, was given "anti-psychotic drugs" while in custody without a medical need, according to an organization involved in his defense, [...]
Georgia’s former president Saakashvili to be moved from prison to military hospital after deteriorating health 50 days into hunger strike
Supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili rallied in Tbilisi Friday. (Adjaratv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch--In Georgia, the government Friday agreed to transfer the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili to a military hospital, after a sudden deterioration of his health. [...]
Saakashvili rushed to prison hospital as supporters rally around the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi
(RL/RFE.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili was rushed to a prison hospital in Tbilisi Monday evening, reportedly due to a deteriorating health condition after being on a hunger strike for 39 days. Saakashvili [...]
Saakashvili receives emergency treatment as health seriously deteriorates after 25 days on hunger strike
TBILISI, DFWatch--Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition deteriorated critically Monday, after 25 days of hunger strike. His condition was so serious that he required emergency treatment by doctors. After a while his condition improved, [...]
Georgia’s GD government holds off on tougher Covid-19 restrictions until after second round of local elections
Amiran Gamkrelidze. (TV Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Officials in Georgia are considering a return to tougher Covid-19 restrictions after a sharp rise in new cases, but are likely to wait until after the second round of the [...]
Georgia mourns nine victims of building collapse
People brought dolls, flowers and candles to the site where an apartment building collapsed in Batumi, Georgia, killing nine people. (IPN.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgia is mourning the victims of the collapse of a 7-storey building in [...]
From Ambassador notes: Tedo Japaridze’s interview with Zuhdi Janbek, a Jordanian general with the Circassian origin
Zuhdi Janbek is a prominent Jordanian statesman, politician and public figure. He held different high-level positions in the Jordanian hierarchy throughout his outstanding career, among them the post of the President of Circassian Charity Association [...]
Europe and Georgia
PACE to discuss dismissing its president in October
PACE President Pedro Agramunt. (Council of Europe.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will discuss a proposal to dismiss its chairperson in early October after a motion was tabled on Friday. The motion to dismiss PACE President Pedro Agramunt was backed by 158 out of the 636 member […]
Opinion
Minorities
Georgian ombudsman names priest, blogger as organizers of July 5 anti-LGBTQ rally and calls for their prosecution
Zurab Makharadze (center with a microphone) and Archpriest Spiridon (left, with a wooden cross) at the rally in front of parliament. (Megatv.ge) The ombudsman calls for the prosecution of an ultra-nationalist journalist and an archpriest [...]
NGO News
Georgian NGOs express concern over oil spill off Russia’s Black Sea coast
(Photo: Instagram / _svetlana__radionova_) TBILISI, DFWatch--Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform, a coalition of more than 200 non-governmental organizations, expresses concern over an oil spill off Russia’s Black [...]
Georgian NGOs condemn Belarusian elections, violence against peaceful demonstrations
A coalition which unites over 180 Georgian NGOs harshly criticizes violence of Belarusian authorities against peaceful citizens in the wake of presidential elections held on August 9, and urges Georgian [...]
Companies related to GD donors receive tens of millions of public funds: Report
GD president Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and speaker of parliament Archil Talakvadze. (Facebook.) Georgia’s ruling party received almost half of revenues totally got by all parties in 2019, whilst [...]