When thinking about the crucial events of the year 2012, what comes to my mind first is the prison abuse scandal. The released videos depicting the various acts of torture and ill-treatment
Ill-treatment – old and new challenges
DFW-admin
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover fell 4 % Jan-Apr
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-April 2013 fell by 4 percent compared to the same period in 2012.
The trade turnover with EU was reduced by 13 percent, while the negative net trade balance with CIS countries went down 57 percent.
Georgia marked Independence Day in 26 cities and towns
TBILISI, DFWatch–Sunday May 26, Georgia marked its Independence Day in 26 cities and towns all over the country.
The celebration included folklore ensembles and choir concerts, military and police equipment exhibitions, theatrical performances and other events.
Georgia preparing switch to digital by 2015
TBILISI, DFWatch–A conference on digital media was held in Tbilisi May 23-24 to discuss the transition to digital TV, good and bad examples from other countries and positive and negative sides of the process.
Media experts from Estonia, Lithuania, UK, Moldova, Russia,
15 000 sign petition to punish May 17 hate crimes
TBILISI, DFWatch–About 15 000 persons have signed a petition that asks to punish those who committed violence on May 17.
After clerics and parishioners attacked a peaceful demonstration by LGBT persons and their supporters on May 17 to mark the International Day
Georgian Railway director charged with embezzlement of USD 40 mill
TBILISI, DFWatch–The unit to combat financial fraud in Georgia has charged Irakli Ezugbaia, the former head of Georgian Railway, of appropriation and embezzlement of state money. He is not in Georgia but has been sentenced in absentia to pretrial detention.
His
Mere Violence or Clash of Values?
The May 17 events revealed confrontation between church and secularism as one of the main public conflicts in any political system. Public conflict is a matter of public concern. Public opinion on this issue is divided into opposite positions, various social groups
Hammarberg: Hard to explain how May 17 could happen
TBILISI, DFWatch–Thomas Hammarberg says it will be difficult to explain to Europe how the May 17 violence could occur in a democratic country such as Georgia.
Christian Orthodox activists last Friday used violence to disrupt a planned peaceful event to mark
Lawmakers discussed how to destroy 'dirty archive'
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to partially destroy illegally recorded secret surveillance material in one week.
Deputy Interior Minister Levan Izoria said on Monday that this process will be conducted with the participation of society.
Religious Radicals – the Biggest Threat to Georgia's Democracy
These shameful events posed new questions (or rather question marks) for the Georgian democracy. The country has achieved a lot since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has effectively fought crime and corruption; it has managed to change its government through peaceful