This September marks 15 years since DFWatch was founded in Tbilisi in 2011, at a time of deep political divisions in Georgia.
The country was experiencing a prolonged confrontation between President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government and an opposition struggling to form a workable coalition. The Georgian Party, launched the previous year with prominent figures including the late Erosi Kitsmarishvili, had brought together several opposition leaders but failed to establish itself as a lasting political force.
The media landscape was also restricted. Government-friendly television stations dominated broadcasting, while opposition politicians, journalists and activists faced pressure and surveillance.
It was against this backdrop that three experienced newsmen came together to establish DFWatch. We started with practically nothing, driven by a simple ambition: to improve English-language news coverage of Georgia at a crucial moment in the country’s history.
The response was encouraging. Volunteer columnists quickly joined the website, helping to shed light on a wide range of political and social issues. They included prominent figures from across Georgian public life, among them Tedo Japaridze, Sandro Baramidze and human rights advocates such as Tamar Chugoshvili.
Many others contributed over the years, too many to name here without risking leaving someone out.
The 2012 elections brought to power the Georgian Dream coalition, ending nine years of rule by Saakashvili’s United National Movement. DFWatch continued covering Georgia’s political developments, including the new government’s policies and controversies, and growing concerns about democratic standards and corruption.
Our reporting also addressed minority rights, gender equality, regional security and other issues affecting Georgian society.
With generous support, we were able to train and mentor young journalists, some of whom went on to report on Georgia for international audiences.
Throughout these 15 years, DFWatch has retained one defining characteristic: it was founded by news people who wanted to report the news. We started with practically nothing, motivated not by a funding opportunity but by a genuine interest in journalism and a desire to help international readers understand Georgia.
Fifteen years later, Georgia once again finds itself in a political deadlock, with an entrenched government and a deeply divided opposition. Political battles are increasingly fought in courtrooms rather than in parliament, just as they were when we started. The country also faces growing geopolitical uncertainty and unprecedented pressure from its partners in the West.
The circumstances have changed, but the need for independent journalism remains as important as ever. Our task is still to report what is happening and help readers understand the reality inside the country, beyond the competing political claims and rhetoric.
We believe journalism should serve readers by reporting the facts, not by promoting the political objectives of governments, opposition parties or wealthy donors.
We thank everyone who has contributed to DFWatch over the years, and all our readers who have followed our work.
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