TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities in breakaway Abkhazia released a Georgian ex-soldier on Monday after serving seven years of a 20 year sentence.
Giorgi Lukava, who was seized by Sokhumi in 2011, was handed over to Georgian authorities at Enguri bridge,
DFWatch staff
Abkhazian "visas" to be issued at Enguri border crossing
GALI, DFWatch–Breakaway Abkhazia will start issuing “visas” at the Enguri border crossing. Until now, these travel documents have only been issued in Sokhumi and Gali.
The moment Georgia's PM told the opposition leader 'f— you'
TBILISI, DFWatch–PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili swore several times at his counterpart during a debate with the acting head of the largest opposition party UNM on Wednesday.
Al-Qaeda commander from Pankisi reported dead in Syria
TBILISI, DFWatch–A high-profile al-Qaeda affiliated field commander of Georgian-Kist origin has been killed in the Syrian civil war.
Reports by Syrian and Lebanese news agencies said Salahuddin al-Shishani, was killed during a Russian air raid near Hama province, in northern Syria.
Abkhazia plans to charge customs tax at checkpoint with Georgia proper
GALI, DWatch–Abkhazia plans to begin charging import tax at a checkpoint with Georgia proper and impose stricter regulations on what goods are allowed to bring across.
The plans were aired by the head of Abkhazia’s de facto customs service,
აფხაზეთსა და ცხინვალში რუსები დიდ წვრთნებს ატარებენ, სადაც ჯამში 2 000 სამხედრო მონაწილეობს
ოჩამჩირის რაიონის სოფელ ნაგვალოუში, კოდორის ხეობის სოფელ წებელდაში, გადაუთასა და ცხინვალის რეგიონის სოფელ ძარწემში, ოთხივე ამ რუსულ სამხედრო ბაზაზე რუსული სამხედრო წვრთნები მიმდინარეობს და საერთო ჯამში, 2 000-ზე მეტი რუსი ჯარისკაცი და 1000-ზე მეტი ერთეული საბრძოლო ტექნიკაა ჩართული.
2,000 Russian troops conducting military drills in Georgian breakaway regions
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Russian soldiers are participating in military exercises in both Georgian breakaway territories, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Troops from all of Russia’s four military districts are taking part in the drills.
Man suspected of 2012 Abkhazia assassination attempt killed in shooting
TBILISI, DFWatch–The man accused of attempting to assassinate Abkhazia’s former de facto president in 2012 was shot dead by strangers on Wednesday. Also his driver died in the attack.
Pavel Ardzinba and his chauffeur were driving along the road connecting Sokhumi with Gudauta when their Mercedes-Benz was literally
Saakashvili supporters in Georgia demand his release from Kiev prison
Georgia’s former ruling party expresses solidarity against the “political persecution” of its leader, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is under arrest in Kiev, Ukraine.
Catastrophic mandarin harvest deals heavy blow to Abkhazia's exports
TBILISI, DFWatch–Abkhazia’s export of mandarins and other produce has plummeted by 2.7 times, dealing a heavy blow to the breakaway republic’s economy.
Local media blame the bad harvest on the spread of brown marmorated stink bug, which has devastated crops also in Georgia.