Monday, April 20, 2026

DFWatch staff

Gali residents take up cigarette smuggling after failed harvest

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The spread of the deadly brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has caused such devastation of orchards that locals have been forced to return to illegal businesses, such as smuggling of goods, particularly cigarettes, from breakaway Abkhazia to Georgia proper. This illegal trade was rife a decade and half ago but had been almost entirely … Read more

Groups say 25-year old's fatal stabbing in Tbilisi was motivated by xenophobia

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A young human rights activist who was stabbed to death in Tbilisi nearly two weeks ago was murdered by members of a neo-Nazi group, Georgian civic activists say. Vitali Safarov, a 25 year old employee of a Georgian non-governmental organization (NGO) advocating minority rights, was severely beaten and stabbed several times at a pub … Read more

37 y/o woman released by South Ossetia, says she was mistreated during apprehension

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian woman released Tuesday by Tskhinvali says he was physically abused when she was apprehended but was treated better during her 10 day long captivity. Maia Otinashvili, a 37 year old mother of three minors, was handed over to Georgian authorities at the village Ergneti after allegedly paying a 15,000 ruble (USD 227) … Read more

‘Traitor!’ ‘Fascist!’ Accusations fly in Georgian election campaign

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Nika Gvaramia, head of the opposition TV channel Rustavi 2, calls the ruling party-backed presidential contender a ‘traitor’. GD party secretary Irakli Kobakhidze responds by calling Gvaramia a ‘fascist’. Kobakhidze, who is the speaker of Georgia’s parliament, slammed the Rustavi 2 director Monday morning at a press conference. “The Society had been waiting in … Read more

Russia does not rule out 'military measures' against Georgia in new threats over Tbilisi biolab

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia launched new threats and accusation against Georgia on Thursday over a US-funded laboratory in Tbilisi, warning that even ‘military measures’ are not ruled out. The move was ostensibly triggered by a former KGB general who served as Georgia’s security chief in the 1990s but fled the country after being accused of assassination attempt … Read more

South Ossetia presents video to show Georgian woman detainee is treated well after family says she was beaten

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Breakaway authorities in Tskhinvali have released a video supposed to show that a Georgian woman is being treated well in detention. Maia Otinashvili (37) was seized by armed, masked men on September 29 in her orchard in the village Khurvaleti, right on the border to the disputed territory. Meanwhile, the Georgia’s Public Defenders states … Read more

Owner of Georgian opposition TV channel Iberia claims ex-PM Ivanishvili extorted him for USD 4 mill

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The owner of the Georgian opposition-leaning TV channel Iberia blames the billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili of extorting him for four million dollars. Zaza Okuashvili, who owns one of Georgia’s largest tobacco manufacturing and importing companies, told opposition TV channel Rustavi 2 that the extortion took place at a private meeting in … Read more

Georgian schools ordered to take part in Abkhazia's 'Victory Day'

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GALI, DFWatch–On September 30, the de facto government of Abkhazia celebrates Victory Day, commemorating victory in the 1992-93 war. Among the planned events will be a procession by the initiative group “Our Heros’ Way”, which is mainly made up of Abkhaz youth. However, Georgian schools operating in the Gali district have also been ordered to … Read more

Georgia's former PM joins EBRD as consultant

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has embarked on a  new job as a consultant at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The contract which was signed ‘a few weeks’ ago one of the former PM’s responsibilities will be offering advice to Uzbekistan’s government about setting up a platform for dialogue between … Read more