Author: DFWatch staff - Page 153

Abkhazia, South Ossetia declare quarantine to limit spread of flu virus

January 12, 2019 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s two breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Friday declared a quarantine in order to prevent the spread of the influenza virus H1N1 from Georgia proper. The quarantine will last for two months and not 20 days, as previously reported. In practice, a quarantine means an almost total ban on entering and … Read more

Flu death count reaches 13 in Georgia

January 11, 2019 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–13 people have died from flu in Georgia since the start of this flu season, the country’s health minister said on Thursday. The number of hospitalizations due to influenza diagnosis has increased to 845 from the previous 616. 44 patients are intensive care at different hospitals throughout the country, Health Minister Davit Sergeenko said. … Read more

Abkhazia considers 20 day quarantine to stem flu epidemic, locals say real reason is shortage of medicines

January 11, 2019 by DFWatch staff

GALI, DFWatch–Sokhumi plans to announce a 20 day quarantine and close Enguri checkpoint, the sole passage between Georgia proper and breakaway Abkhazia, locals familiar with the situation told DFWatch. Although breakaway officials claim no instances of H1N1 influenza virus have been reported so far in Abkhazia, DFWatch has witnessed at least dozens of instances of … Read more

Georgia's largest bank under investigation for money laundering, opposition claims political motive

January 10, 2019 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office (POG) has launched a criminal investigation of the country’s largest bank for alleged money laundering. The opposition calls the case an attack on unwanted business institutions. On Wednesday, POG summoned and questioned Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, the chairman and deputy chairman of TBC Bank’s supervisory board. The bank is … Read more

At least 10 have died of flu in Georgia this winter

January 8, 2019 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–At least 10 people have died in Georgia the last few weeks due to complications after contracting with the flu, health officials have said. The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health cited data showing that the seasonal epidemic is on decline, but there has been a wave of public concern as the … Read more

New Akhalgori travel restrictions delayed for one month

January 6, 2019 by DFWatch staff

AKHALGORI, DFWatch–South Ossetia has postponed for a month the coming into force of a new regulation which makes it harder for Akhalgori residents to cross the de facto border. On December 26, Tskhinvali adopted a new regulation which makes it much harder to cross the de facto border between Akhalgori and Georgia proper. The regulation … Read more

Record traffic across Enguri bridge on New Year's Eve

January 2, 2019 by DFWatch staff

GALI, DFWatch–A record number of people crossed Enguri bridge on New Year’s Eve this year – in both directions. The queue spanned almost the entire length of the 1km long bridge which connects territory controlled by Georgia’s central government and breakaway Abkhazia. “No one has seen such a thing here. The border guards say thousands … Read more

Georgia's parliament to consider a ban on wearing burqa and niqab in public

December 26, 2018 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The parliament in Georgia is to consider a proposal by a far-right group to ban the wearing of burqa and niqab in public. The bill was proposed by Emzar Kvitsiani, a member of parliament from the socially conservative political party Alliance of Patriots. The party is often accused of having pro-Russian sentiments, but party … Read more

Akhalgori administrator, who discriminated against Georgians, resigns

December 19, 2018 by DFWatch staff

AKHALGORI, DFWatch–The de facto head of administration in Akhalgori, who is known for his anti-Georgian policies, has resigned, but received praise from de facto president Leonid Bibilov, who pledged to find a new job for him in the government in Tskhinvali. If an ethnic Georgian was coming to the office of Philip Khachirov, he didn’t … Read more

Georgia offers grants to encourage trade with its breakaway regions

December 14, 2018 by DFWatch staff

Georgia proposes a new grant program aimed at encouraging trade across the conflict lines within the framework of the peace initiative A Step to a Better Future.