DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, DFWatch–The new owner of Rustavi 2 is not planning to sell his shares. Instead, Kibar Shalvashi plans to develop Georgia’s largest opposition TV channel as a “critical and rigorous” outlet. “I consider it my primary duty to put television freed from Saakashvili into public service and regain confidence, to be critical and rigorous, but … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–At least two families in Georgia were forced to leave their homes in a village near the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict line on Thursday. The families left after Russian troops approached them and asked them to vacate their homes within 72 hours. The village of Gugutiantkari belongs to Gori Municipality and is located 32 km … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Two women from Belarus have died and one survived with injures in an hiking accident in Svaneti, on the slopes of Mount Tetnuldi, a 4,858m high peak in the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. The three tourists, aged between 36 and 60, departed from a larger group en route to the camp and disappeared on … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has placed Nika Gvaramia under GEL 40,000 bail in a controversial corruption trial that the opposition calls politically motivated. Initially, the Prosecutor’s Office wanted even stricter bail conditions: GEL 80,000 bail and banning the former head of Rustavi 2 from leaving the country. Gvaramia claims the case is politically motivated and … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Members and supporters of Georgia’s current and previous governments traded accusations on the 11th anniversary of the war between Russia and Georgia. Members of the incumbent government once again blamed the previous government and personally former President Mikheil Saakashvili of irresponsible actions which brought Russian troops on Georgian soil. United National Movement (UNM) and … Read more
On the eve of 11th anniversary of Russo-Georgian War of 2008, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia issues the statement saying that fundamental human rights of the conflict-affected population continue to be violated and Russia keeps on violating the ceasefire agreement by maintaining and even increasing its military presence in the region. “Eleven … Read more
On the eve of 11th anniversary of the 2008 August War between Russia and Georgia, Tbilisi city authorities are considering changing the name of Moscow Avenue. “I confirm that this issue is on the table and included in our agenda,” Giorgi Tkemaladze, Chairman of Tbilisi City Council, said on Wednesday. “When the decision is adopted, … Read more
On the anniversary of the August war, the Tskhinvali regime temporarily closes the de facto border. The checkpoint, located near the village of Mosaburni (the so-called “Razdzhani” checkpoint), will close at 8 pm on Tuesday and open at 6 am on Friday, August 9. According to the de facto State Security Committee, which is in … Read more
სოხუმის რეჟიმი ბაბუშარას აეროპორტის აღდგენასა და მისთვის, არც მეტი არც ნაკლები, საერთაშორისო სტატუსის მინიჭებას გეგმავს. სეპარატისტულ ხელისუფლებაში აცხადებენ, რომ აეროპორტში არსებულ სიტუატიას უკვე სწავლობს რუსული კომპანია და განსახორციელებული სამუშაოების გეგმაზე ანგარიშს ამზადებს. თბილისში კი აცხადებენ, რომ საქართველოს თანხმობის გარეშე ბაბუშარას აეროპორტში საერთაშორისო მიმოსვლის დაწყება შეუძლებელი იქნება. როგორც ჩანს, სოხუმში ისევ რუსეთთან “საერთაშორისო მიმოსვლის” იმედი აქვთ … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Black Sea contains toxic concentrations of several pollutants, a new study has found. The dangerous substances include soot, pesticides, insecticides, mercury and flame retardants. In addition, 124 chemicals dangerous for the sea ecosystem and human health were identified in the study, which was presented in Odessa on July 29. These include persistent organic … Read more