The massive power outage is caused by a failure in a high voltage power line. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A failure in a high-voltage power line has left large parts of Georgia without electricity Sunday evening. The capital Tbilisi is among the areas affected by the massive outage, which the Energy Ministry believes is caused by the failure of a 500 kV […]
Giorgi Khachidze (left) posing for a selfie with Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze. (Photo published by Khachidze.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Though officially on summer break, the parliament in Georgia convened on Saturday to declare trust in the government after seven of the ministers were replaced. The vote ended with 89 out of 150 representatives declaring trust in the government. No-one […]
Hugh Bayley (left), President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Georgian Speaker of Parliament, Davit Usupashvili. (Photo published by the parliament press office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of NATO Parliamentary Assembly says the alliance will strengthen its cooperation with countries along Russia’s southwest borders. Hugh Bayley, a member of the British parliament for the Labour party, says one of the main topics […]
KaZantip will be organized in Anaklia from August 20 to August 30. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Orthodox Church is against holding the electronic music festival KaZantip in Georgia, claiming that it will ‘harm’ Georgians. The ten-day music festival used to be held in Crimea, but due to the Russian annexation it will this year be held in Anaklia, on the Black […]
Giorgi Baramidze, member of parliament for the National Movement. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A lawmaker from the National Movement wants to ban Russian news channels in Georgia. Giorgi Baramidze floated the idea in a Facebook post last Saturday, but has not yet decided whether to make a formal proposal. Baramidze later explained […]
The used car market in Rustavi near Tbilisi. (Rustavi.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 90 percent of the cars people drive in Georgia are from before 2004, according to a new report by the Interior Ministry. The report, which was published on Friday, deals with cars registered in Georgia, but also imported and re-exported […]
The fight broke out during a match between Georgia’s Chikhura played and Turkey’s Bursa. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian and Turkish soccer players clashed in Tbilisi on Thursday, during a qualification match for UEFA Europe League. Georgia’s Chikhura defeated Turkey’s Bursa with a score 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out. The scuffle started when a Georgian […]
Nika Gvaramia, head of Rustavi 2 TV. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia on Thursday acquitted the head of Rustavi 2 TV in a corruption case. Rustavi 2 boss Nika Gvaramia was charged with accepting a bribe, money laundering, preparing fake financial documents, using them and helping in false […]
Hugh Bayley (left) shaking hands with then Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili during a visit by NATO Parliamentary Assembly in May 2013. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of NATO politicians are arriving in Georgia on Thursday, to meet Georgian politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The delegation is headed by the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, British Labour […]
Committee head Eka Beselia. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two members of the Georgian parliament insulted each other on Thursday during a meeting of the human rights committee. The committee was discussing the Public Defender’s annual report for 2013 when Chiora Taktakishvili from the National Movement […]
The investigative service is a body under the Finance Ministry tasked with exposing financial crimes. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s investigative service on Thursday detained three persons for organized financial crime that caused the state a loss of 345,774 lari (USD 197,551). In a statement, the investigative service says the three aimed at not paying […]
Vice Speaker of Parliament, Manana Kobakhidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new Georgian government will be put to parliament for a vote of confidence on Saturday. Vice Speaker of Parliament Manana Kobakhidze told journalists on Wednesday that parliament now waits for the president to present the new government, and then […]
New Culture Minister Mikheil Giorgadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Wednesday presented economist Mikheil Giorgadze, a government insider, as new culture minister. The PM on Monday dismissed seven ministers, but immediately reappointed two of them in new ministerial positions. […]
(Photo by the Prosecutor’s Office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three law experts are coming to Georgia to assist with the prosecution of former officials. Many former government officials have been put on trial since the change of government in 2012. Western leaders have expressed concern that the cases […]
The Georgian team won one gold and two bronze medals. (Photo published by the Education Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A team of Georgian school pupils won one gold and two bronze medals at the 26th International Olympiad in Informatics, which was held in Taiwan July 13-20. The Georgian team consisted of four pupils and two of their leaders. This year, more than 80 […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili (center) presented almost all the new ministers on Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Tuesday named another four out of seven candidates to fill the empty ministers seats left in a major government reshuffle. The first two replacements – for refugee minister and environment minister […]
Bus drivers protested in Tbilisi and many other places Tuesday, after one of their colleagues died. (Maestro TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Bus drivers demonstrated in many Georgian towns on Tuesday, as a response to one of their colleagues who died on the job in Tbilisi following a fight with a passenger. At 14:00, drivers stopped their bus or minibus and let the vehicle’s horn cry […]
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian speaker of parliament is Tuesday visiting Israel. Davit Usupashvili will meet with Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset, as well as with the head of the Israel-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Avraham Michaeli. Usupashvili […]
Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian ombudsman addresses law enforcement bodies to properly and effectively investigate the attack on priests at an Armenian church on July 19. On Saturday, about 50 people attacked Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. The Armenian Diocese […]
Beka Dadeshkeliani (left), head of the student union for social and political studies, and Beka Bekauri, head of the natural sciences students union. (Click to watch video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DF Watch on July 18 organized a discussion about the situation of students today. What problems are students facing? How can they be let to realize their skills and knowledge? In what way can the government or educational institutions help them, […]
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Monday fired seven ministers: the ministers for agriculture, prisons, refugees, environment, infrastructure, culture and diaspora. Explaining his decision at a morning briefing, he said that for the last two […]
The concert was held at Mziuri Park. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–What connects the Khudoni hydro power project, a prehistoric gold mine, shrinking green areas in Tbilisi and human rights abuses in the mining industry? They are all problems caused by the government’s economic policy, according to the youth group […]
The incident took place inside the Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. (Photo published by the Armenian Diocese.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 50 people physically attacked priests at an Armenian Church in Tbilisi on Saturday. The Armenian Orthodox Church says the attack was motivated by religious and ethnic prejudice, but Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs […]
Medical students Nirmal and Aravinoha Samy. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of Indians come to Georgia every year to study medicine at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU). The two Indian friends Nirmal and Samy have been studying at the university for three years and are quite happy about their choice. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on Friday ratified a new agreement with the European Union which was signed three weeks ago. The vote took place at a special session with 123 out of 150 MPs voting for and none against.27 MPs didn’t attend the session. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 16-year-old boy died on late Thursday as a result of a rockslide in Borjomi, a tourist resort in the south of Georgia. Nika Korghanashvili, who was spending his holiday in Borjomi with some friends, was walking home from the sulphur baths […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament will vote on whether to ratify the Association Agreement with the European Union on Friday. Several prominent European politicians are expected to attend the vote, including Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, Latvian […]
Drivers of line 19 are protesting after one of them died following an argument with a passenger. (Photo published by Tbilisi Transport Company.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Drivers of bus line number 19 in Tbilisi on Thursday laid down work as a sign of protest, after one of their colleagues died on the job. A passenger got into a physical scuffle with a bus driver at noon on the number 19 line in the suburb Ponichala, […]
David Gareja monastery complex. (Photo: Paata Vardanashvili.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Culture Ministry and Georgian Church will Thursday sign a memorandum about protection of cultural heritage. The memorandum is about taking care of cultural heritage that is in the ownership of the Georgian Church. According to the […]
Georgian ISAF soldiers Afghanistan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian soldiers are leaving the U.S. military base Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as it is being closed down. According to the Ministry of Defense, the closure of the base is related to the transfer of security responsibility […]
Foreign trade turnover in the first half of 2014 was up 16% compared to last year. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first half of 2014 was 16 percent more than last year, according to preliminary data from the National Statistics Department, GeoStat. According to the new report published on Wednesday, the amount of foreign […]
Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Saturday added further pretrial detention for former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia for the murder of Sergo Tetradze. Akhalaia’s defense lawyers wanted the court to set a 30,000 lari bail, but the court decided on two months […]
Ergneti checkpoint. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government plans to reopen the Ergneti market on the border with South Ossetia. In recent days, it has said reopening the market would not contradict a free trade agreement Georgia recently signed with the EU. Ergneti market was […]
The accident happened when a minibus struck a truck in Rikoti pass. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A minibus crushed into a truck on Tuesday, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old girl and ten others being injured. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the accident happened at Rikoti Pass, which connects western and eastern Georgia. […]
Erosi Kitsmarishvili was found in his car with a wound to his head. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian politician and media investor Erosi Kitsmarishvili was found dead in Tbilisi Tuesday afternoon. The Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately launched an investigation into what appears to have been a suicide, and later the Prosecutor’s […]
Saikhan Muzayev. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Chechen refugee continues to claim that he is being harassed by government bodies and that he is not allowed to cross the Georgian border. Non-governmental organizations and the Ombudsman appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop violating his […]
Temur Janashia, former head of the president’s protection service. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has questioned three of former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s security personnel as well as a former maid about a ‘top secret’ matter, refusing to give any details. Former protection service employees […]
Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Monday rejected a motion by the Prosecutor’s Office to change the USD 30,000 bail set for former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava into pre-trial detention. The judge said that the arguments in the motion were not strong enough […]
Giorgi Alibegashvili was elected new head of Tbilisi City Council. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new Tbilisi City Council on Monday held its first session after the local election to elect a new council head. Only nine members are being carried over from the previous assembly; four from the Georgian Dream coalition and five from […]
King Tamar Airport in Mestia. (Photo published by United Airports of Georgia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will be regular flights between Mestia, in the northwest of Georgia, with Mtskheta, just north of Tbilisi. The route, which opens on July 18, will cut travel time to the tourist resort from seven hours by land to 45 minutes. Flights will depart from the airport […]
Georgian film director George Ovashvili. (Photo posted on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian film Corn Island won the top prize at the 49th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic on Saturday. According to Agence France Press, the film won among eleven other films. Georgian director George Ovashvili […]
Beer brands on offer included Natakhtari, Kozel, Mtieli and Efes. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi beer festival was held July 12-13 for the fifth year. It brought together thousands of people to drink beer, play games, listen to live performances and watch the World Cup final on a big screen. As usual, people could buy tokens as they entered […]
The Georgian Dream coalition won all races for mayors and heads of municipality in the second round of the local elections. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition won the second round of the local election in every city and municipality, according to preliminary results from Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC). Davit Narmania, Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor, […]
Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was buried in Tbilisi Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eduard Shevardnadze was buried on Sunday with military honors at his residence in Krtsanisi, Tbilisi. The former Soviet foreign minister and president of Georgia was honored by the speakers of parliament of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Austrian […]
Lika Baghashvili, 24, supports the goal of the marathon; to take a stand against drugs and promote a healthy lifestyle. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bicycle marathon Sunday brought together youth from many countries in Tbilisi. “Live with sport” was the slogan of the marathon, which started from the Sports Ministry at 11:00 in the morning and ended at Freedom Square in downtown Tbilisi. […]
Tamar Zhvania, head of Georgia’s election commission, announced the preliminary results Saturday night. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition’s candidate for Tbilisi mayor will get 72.7 percent of votes, according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Georgia. Presenting the results Sunday night, CEC head Tamar Zhvania […]
Voter turnout at 17:00 was 28%, compared to 35% on June 15. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The second round of Georgia’s local elections are proceeding without any major violations. Voter turnout at 17:00 was 28% – significantly less than in the first round, when the turnout was 35% at 17:00, according to the Central Election Commission […]
The heroin was found in a trailer truck, hidden inside 93 barrels, each containing 30 kg of liquid heroin. (The trailer in this photo is unrelated to the case.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Friday seized 2.8 tons of liquid heroin hidden in a trailer truck destined for Turkey, in a joint operation between the Interior Ministry and Finance Ministry. The amount of the seized heroin is unprecedented and surpasses a 2.1 ton find last […]
Georgians go to the polls for run-off elections in eight cities and 13 municipalities today. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Today, Georgia holds the second round of the local election in eight cities and 13 municipalities. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), there are 1,715,514 voters for the second round, who will vote in 28 electoral districts comprising […]
The body of former President Eduard Shevardnadze was placed in Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi on Friday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The body of former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze was moved to Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi on Friday. A prayer was conducted at 13:00. The public funeral will be on Friday and Saturday at Sameba. Sunday, July 13, there will be a funeral […]
EU Ambassador to Georgia Philip Dimitrov. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU Ambassador to Georgia Philip Dimitrov says business in Georgia will have to do a lot and is not going to be served breakfast in bed after the signing of the association agreement. Speaking at a conference in Batumi, Dimitrov told […]
The TV show Bina 18 had a musical performance involving two women’s bottoms. TBILISI, DFWatch–A TV show on Thursday has stirred controversy for showing a man performing music by slapping his hands on the bottoms of two women. Human rights activists as well as the ombudsman say […]
Suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has asked a court to further toughen the pre-trial conditions of former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. Ugulava is already in detention for one charge, but in another case he was given 50,000 lari (USD 30,000) bail. […]
(Photo by the Ministry of Agriculture.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will begin exporting melons and watermelons and some other products to Russia. The agricultural products will add to goods like alcohol, mineral water and other products, which are already being exported to Russia. The Agriculture […]
NATO envoy James Appathurai (left) and Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Photo published by the Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai says the justice system shouldn’t be politically motivated and trials must be conducted independently, without political interference. Appathurai, who is on a visit to Georgia, on Wednesday met with Defense […]
Gas station companies are among the backers of a new TV ad offering discount for people who vote. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several large companies in Georgia are offering discounts for customers who go and vote in the second round of local elections on Saturday. A commercial appeared on television Thursday, placed by ‘businesses united for a common goal’. It calls […]
The Georgian government’s Russia person, Zurab Abashidze, says no ‘dramatic or significant’ changes are expected in trade and economic relations. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin says it is not necessary to begin threatening sanctions yet, but that Georgia and Russia should sit down and carefully calculate what changes Georgia’s new free trade treaty with the EU might lead to in trade relations between Russia and Georgia. […]
Bishop Iakob. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Is the National Movement a legitimate political party or an antidemocratic movement which leading figures in society have a duty to stand up against? That is the essence of a controversy sparked by a bishop in the Georgian Orthodox Church. […]
Davit Narmania, Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The candidates for Tbilisi mayor are facing off in a televised debate now at 8 PM local time. Davit Narmania from the government coalition has as his main election promise to build a youth center in Tbilisi, while his competitor Nikanor Melia […]
The new lari sign as it may look in handwriting. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Bank has unveiled a new symbol for its currency, the lari. The sign is a modified old Georgian letter ‘L’ with two bars, slightly resembling the euro sign. The winner of the National Bank’s competition is a cross between the Georgian letter […]
The Lithuanian parliament, Seimas. (Photo: Marcin Białek.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday ratified the association agreements between Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova with the EU. The vote was almost unanimous, according to the webpage of the national assembly, called Seimas. Lithuania is often […]
Suspended Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava lost his appeal and must remain in detention. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeal’s Court in Georgia rejected an appeal from former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava and he must therefore remain in detention. Ugulava is charged with embezzlement of more than one million lari from parking fees. His lawyers say they […]
Revaz Gachechiladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili on Monday appointed professor Revaz Gachechiladze as new ambassador to the UK, Northern Ireland and the International Maritime Organization. The appointment marks the end of more than a year without a UK ambassador. […]
Until now, more people have come to Georgia every summer since the war in 2008. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of visitors to Georgia in June dropped eight percent compared to the same period last year, according to new figures published on Monday by the Interior Ministry. Around 450,000 people visited Georgia in June. The summer drop breaks […]
James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai will visit Georgia on Wednesday to discuss the ‘substantive package’ which the alliance is to offer the former Soviet state at the upcoming summit in Wales in September, the minister in charge of European integration said Monday. […]
Former President Eduard Shevardnadze has died at age 86. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze died on Monday at about 12:00 PM, at age 86. Shevardnadze was minister of internal affairs of the Georgian Socialist Soviet Republic from 1967, making his mark fighting corruption, and in 1972 […]
“We will do our best to continue free trade with Russia,” says Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia’s Economy Minister. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Sunday that his country will try to have free trade with both Russia and the European Union. An expert meeting between Georgian and Russian bureaucrats is planned for Monday in Prague […]
Matrosov Prison lies in the southern Ortachala district of Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was Sunday moved to the so-called Matrosov Prison, where former government officials are usually held. Gigi Ugulava was first brought to the scandalous prison number eight in Gldani, Tbilisi. This is where most […]
The court building in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Seven people were Saturday fined 100 lari (USD 60) each for hooliganism after being detained the day before in a violent disturbance outside Tbilisi City Court. The violence happened after the court had decided to place former Mayor […]
Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court Saturday placed former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia in pretrial detention on new charges concerning the murder of Sergo Tetradze. Akhalaia’s lawyers wanted the court to set 30,000 lari bail, but the court decided to place […]
Former Member of Parliament Kote Gabashvili was one of the detained National Movement supporters. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters of the National Movement were Friday night involved in a violent disturbance outside Tbilisi City Court, after it decided to place former Mayor Gigi Ugulava in pre-trial detention. Several of its representatives were detained by police […]
Former Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court Friday night placed former mayor Gigi Ugulava in pretrial detention. He faces charges of money laundering and election fraud. Ugulava was detained at Tbilisi airport Thursday morning as he was about to take a plane to Ukraine. […]
The Moldovan parliament. TBILISI, DFWatch–As the first EU member state, Romania on Thursday ratified Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova’s association agreements with the Union. Leaders of the three countries in Europe’s southeast signed the agreements at a ceremony in Brussels on June […]
Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor, Davit Narmania. (Photo published by Georgian Dream.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One week before the run-off election for Tbilisi mayor, candidates are showering the electorate with promises, though the major issue in the campaign, whether to have direct debates between candidates, is still undecided. The government […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and new head of the pardon commission Zviad Koridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Friday appointed a journalist to take over as head of the pardon commission under his purview. The journalist Zviad Koridze will become new head of the commission, filling the empty seat left by Alexandre […]
The second round of local elections will be held on July 12. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The second round of Georgia’s local election will be held on next Saturday, July 12, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). CEC made its decision after a session which ended late Thursday night. The first round of the local […]
The Strasbourg court faulted Russia for expelling Georgians in 2006. TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russia violated the European human rights convention when it expelled thousands of Georgians following a spy row in 2006. The ruling will be seen as a moral victory for Georgia, which sued Russia […]
Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava was detained at the city’s airport. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Mayor Gigi Ugulava was detained Thursday morning at Tbilisi airport as he was about to leave for Ukraine. He is accused of money laundering. The Finance Ministry’s investigation service on Monday brought new charges against […]
From a wine festival in Sighnaghi in 2013. (Click on image to read about the festival.) (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia exported 26,872,145 bottles of wine in the first half of 2014. Out of the 34 different countries receiving the wine, two thirds of it went to Russia. In sheer volume, the almost 27 million bottles, each 0.75 liters, if put together […]
The EU-hosted field meetings take place in a tent on the de facto border. (From a video published by Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A spokesman for the Georgian breakaway region South Ossetia has accused the European Union’s observers of being biased following a field meeting Tuesday. As usual, the Incident Response and Prevention Mechanism (IRPM) meeting took place […]
Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia on Wednesday brought further charges against former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, for abuse of power and organizing torture and sexual abuse. Akhalaia called the accusations a lie. The incident took […]
Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday decided not to set bail conditions for former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, who is charged with embezzlement of more than one million lari from parking fees. The court did not agree with a request […]
Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava is charged with embezzlement of money from parking fees. He vigorously denies the charges. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has asked the court to set a 50,000 lari (USD 30,000) bail for former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava in a case involving embezzlement of money from parking fees. The office on Tuesday also asked Tbilisi City […]
The grave bears the inscription ‘Forgive, God, Nikala’ and is located at Kukia cemetery in Tbilisi. (Photo published by the Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The tomb of the Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani has allegedly been discovered in Tbilisi. Pirosmani was self-taught and his paintings are easily recognized for their simple style and depictions of country life, often of merchants, […]
Exams in Marneuli, a predominantly ethnic Azeri town south of Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are many obstacles to integrating minorities in Georgia, according to a new report published on Thursday by the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civil Equality. Problems include access to information and education, not knowing the […]
Art students say the academy is still teaching by ‘Russian, socialist’ methodology. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Art students in Tbilisi protested Monday against what they see as a backward teaching style and an outdated understanding of art. Students at the Academy of Arts demand transparency and changes in the procedure for electing a rector. […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian and Russian trade experts will meet in Prague on July 7 to find out how compatible Georgia’s new free trade with the European Union is with its already existing free trade framework with countries of the former Soviet Union. The […]
From left to right: Zurab Jibghashvili, constitutional expert, Zaur Khalilov, Executive Director of Civic Integration Foundation, and Agit Mirzoyev, Director of the Analytical Center for Cooperation and Consultations Between Ethnicities. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On June 23, DF Watch invited members of three non-governmental organizations working with minority issues to discuss how well ethnic minorities were able to participate in the June 15 local election. Our point of departure was the fact that […]
Gigi Ugulava called the new charges absurd. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The former mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava, was Monday charged with embezzlement involving the city’s parking company. In a statement the Finance Ministry’s investigative service says the company CT Park Ltd, which hires parking […]
The government coalition wants to reduce the term of administrative detention. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition in Georgia has proposed to reduce the maximum duration of administrative detention from 90 to 15 days. In 2012, it wanted to end the practice. Administrative detention is a form of harsh punishment left over from […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has improved its position on the Global Retail Development Index, a list of the most prospective countries for investing in retail trade. Georgia has climbed one place and is now number seven among 30 developing countries. […]
Repeat elections were held at fourteen precincts on Sunday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia conducted repeat elections at fourteen precincts on Sunday. The government coalition won in eight precincts, while the National Movement won at two precincts. Other parties’ candidates and independents won in the rest of the precincts. […]
Jehova’s Witnesses praying in Khobi, Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Jehovah’s Witnesses in Georgia continue to be under pressure as another community denies the establishment of a prayer house. This time, it is locals in Terjola, a town in Imereti, western Georgia, who refuse to allow another community […]
Georgians celebrated the new agreement with the EU until late night Friday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On June 27, Georgia became part of a big family, President Margvelashvili said at a concert in Tbilisi to celebrate the event. The concert took place at Europe Square near the presidential palace and was to celebrate the signing […]
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Russia might take measures against the EU’s new free trade area on its doorstep. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A threat by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Russia may take protective measures against the EU’s new free trade area on its doorstep are not being taken seriously by an analyst DF Watch spoke to. By signing the association agreement […]
From left to right, Petro Poroshenko (seated), Jose Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy and Irakli Gharibashvili. (Photo published by Gharinashvili.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia on Friday signed the Association Agreement with the EU in Brussels. The 1,135 page document was signed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, EU Council President Herman van Rompuy, EU Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso, and heads of state of all EU’s 28 members. […]
The Prosecutor’s Office in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former employee of the paramilitary organization Mkhedrioni who was wanted for four murders was Thursday detained in Azerbaijan, in a joint operation between Georgian and Azerbaijani prosecutors. The detained woman, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia today signs the association agreement with the EU at 09:00 in Brussels. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and the rest of the Georgian delegation arrived on Thursday. At Place du Luxembourg, Georgians have gathered together with […]
National exams began all over Georgia on Thursday. TBILISI, DFWatch–National exams started Thursday morning all over Georgia, on three different levels of education. About 36,000 school graduates will take exams from June 26 until July 16, while 4,500 students will try to pass an ability test which will improve […]
Workers at the Ferro factory in Zestaponi protested against bad drinking water Wednesday. Coliform bacteria have been found in the water. (Photo published by zestaponi.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tens of workers at the ferro-alloy plant in Zestaponi went on strike on Wednesday to protest the quality of drinking water at the plant. As DF Watch previously reported, workers at the plant are dissatisfied with their working conditions. […]
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze (left) and NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. (Photo published by NATO.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO will not offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at a summit in Wales in September, the alliance’s secretary general said on Wednesday. “The Summit in Wales will not be about a Membership Action Plan; but about more support […]
Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Tbilisi mayor who was removed from office has called off his lawsuit to get back his job, calling the whole justice system ridiculous. Gigi Ugulava, who was elected mayor of Tbilisi in 2010, at a time when most of the international community […]
People blocked the road for employees of Canargo Georgia which is exploring for oil in Sagarejo. They don’t want to lose their water supply. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals have rebelled against an oil company that wants to search for oil in an eastern Georgian town. People fear that they may lose their water supply. On Wednesday, they blocked the road for employees of Canargo Georgia and didn’t let […]
The moratorium on foreigners buying agricultural land in Georgia has been lifted. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Foreigners will be again able to purchase agricultural lands in Georgia unhindered. This follows from a decision by Georgia’s Constitutional Commission which means that the Constitutional Court abolishes the moratorium on foreign citizens […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia plans to hold a big outdoors concert in the capital to celebrate the signing of a treaty with the European Union on June 27. Georgian singers from Europe and from Georgia will perform at the concert, which will also feature […]
Wine export is one of the trade issues between Georgia and Russia. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Russia plan to hold a meeting of experts on trade and economic issues. The meeting will also deal with Georgia’s signing of a new treaty with the European Union about reforms and free trade. On the agenda is two treaties that Georgia […]
Tskhinvali, the capital of the Georgian breakaway region South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto parliament in South Ossetia plans to start discussing the issue of joining Russia. It was the parliament’s speaker who said this on Monday, as quoted by Itar-Tass. “We do not renounce our slogans, there will be no two-pronged […]
The Audit Office. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The public watchdog overseeing the financial activity of political parties in Georgia claims that the government coalition has received an illegal donation of GEL 40,000 (USD 22,500). The Financial Monitoring Service of the Georgian […]
Georgian agricultural products are being scrutinized by Russian phytosanitary experts. (Photo published by the Ministry of Agriculture.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of four experts from Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, Monday arrived in Georgia to examine the quality of fruit and other products that are exported to the Russian market. The […]
Youth in the predominantly ethnic Azeri town Marneuli can take a one year course in Georgian language to prepare them for university. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tural is a 19 years old high school graduate who plans to go on to university and study IT. The problem is, the teaching language at university is Georgian, which he doesn’t know well enough. Like many of his peers, Tiral chose to study […]
Levan Tetemadze was taken to the hospital and treated for head injuries and broken facial bones. (Photo published on Facebook by the National Movement in Batumi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A member of the National Movement was Saturday attacked in Batumi, a city on the Black Sea coast. Party activist Levan Tetemadze was beaten outside his house on Vazha-Pshavela street, according to Giorgi Kirtadze, head of the UNM in Adjara. […]
Professor Johan Galtung is a sociologist, mathematician and the founder of peace and conflict studies. TBILISI, DFWatch–Right now we have a civil war in Ukraine, says peace researcher Johan Galtung. He warns that Russia might intervene with a ‘short sharp shock’ if ethnic Russians are subject to widespread violence in eastern Ukraine. Russia is deploying troops […]
What happened at two precincts in the town Marneuli on election day has become a major criminal case. (The persons in this photo are unrelated to the case.) (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Interior on Friday charged 13 persons with having engaged in election fraud at two precincts in the south of Georgia in the local election on June 15. The precincts lie in the town Marneuli, 30 km south of Tbilisi. The ministry […]
In a few places, people will be asked to vote again on June 29 because the elections results were canceled. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Repeat elections will be held June 29 at seven precincts because results there were canceled, Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) announced. Among the precincts which will hold another first round in the local elections two are in Marneuli, […]
Gregory Karasin, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia thinks Georgia should take the first steps toward restoring diplomatic relations, but Georgia answers that restoring diplomatic relations with Russia is not on the agenda right now. Gregory Karasin, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, […]
Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto South Ossetian government on June 18 recognized the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic. The Lugansk republic, comprising a land area in the southeast of Ukraine, was established on April 27 after a referendum held on May 11. […]
The government coalition claims a video published by National Movement which appears to show election fraud was staged. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Election results at two Georgian precincts were canceled Tuesday, as a result of a controversial video published by the National Movement party, which lost the local election in that area. The video is made by the organization Free Zone, which […]
Georgia climbed 28 places on the Global Peace Index 2014. (Click on image to visit the report web site.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has improved its standing on the latest Global Peace Index by 28 places and is now 111 among 162 countries. The index, which was published Thursday by the Institute for Economics and Peace, gave Georgia 2.22 points. It says Georgia […]
Tarzan Maisuradze won the European junior wrestling championship in Katowice. (Photo by Sport Zone.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian wrestler Tarzan Maisuradze on Tuesday won the European junior wrestling championships in Katowice, Poland. Maisuradze won in Men’s Junior Freestyle 74 kg, defeating Konstantin Gkontsis from Greece, Murat Erturk from Turkey, […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia wants to take away one more power from the president: the right to award two top awards. The awards in question are the Shota Rustaveli award and the National awards of Georgia. The government wants to give […]
Photo published by the Anaklia organizing group. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republic of KaZantip, until now residing in Crimea, seems to be experiencing its own share of separatism, but it’s hard to figure out who is breaking away from whom. Perhaps it is more fitting to call the music festival uprooted […]
The metal plant in Rustavi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One man died from electrocution on Tuesday at the steelworks part of a smelter plant in Rustavi, near Tbilisi. Nukri Kimadze, 29, was taken to the hospital, but he died soon after arrival. Workers at the plant of Rustavi, a town 20 km south […]
Clean-up work is ongoing in Rikoti pass after a second landslide blocked the road again. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Another landslide Tuesday blocked the main road that connects western and eastern Georgia. The first landslide damaged the road through Rikoti Pass on June 12, but the pass was cleaned and reopened after a few days. Tuesday morning […]
Socially vulnerable are in difficult situation in Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Technical preparations for Georgia and Moldova signing free trade treaties with the European Union ended Monday. As ten days are left until the signing, there is little debate among ordinary Georgians about what the treaty will really mean to […]
Cleanup work continues in Dariali Valley. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Another body was found in Dariali Valley on Monday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced. This is the fourth victim of a massive landslide on May 17. The ministry said the body has been sent to Tbilisi to carry out an […]
Georgia’s foreign trade continues to grow. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first five months of 2014 was USD 4,498 million. This is 16 percent more than in the same period last year, according to preliminary figures published on Monday by the Georgian National Statistics Office, Geostat. […]
Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili voting in Ozurgeti on Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition had a strong showing in the local election, though not as strong as in the previous two national elections. In the capital Tbilisi, the coalition’s candidate for mayor, Davit Narmania, received 46.12 percent, […]
Pulled out, but won. Merab Topchishvili received 52% of the votes in Marneuli and will become head of municipality. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian politician who withdrew his candidacy one day before Sunday’s local election seems to have won by an absolute majority. Merab Topchishvili and the Georgian Dream coalition each held press conferences last week to announce his […]
Raul Khajimba. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new de facto rulers of Abkhazia are preparing to prevent Georgians with dual citizenship from voting in the election planned for August 24. “25-26 thousand people are not eligible to vote in the […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and candidate for Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania, celebrated Sunday night. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Both the ruling Georgian Dream coalition and the National Movement celebrated the results of exit polls from Sunday’s local election. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili congratulated candidate for Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania on his victory, […]
55 percent voted for the governing Georgian Dream coalition, 20 percent for the National Movement, based on results from 468 out of 3,637 precincts in the country. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream gets 55.45 percent of the votes in all of Georgia, UNM 20.19 percent while Burjanadze’s coalition received 9.8 percent of the votes counted in 468 out of 3,637 precincts in the country. In Tbilisi, preliminary figures […]
Levon Isakhanyan (left) and Inna Sukiasyan. TBILISI, DFWatch–A mother claims a priest forced her daughter to leave a church a few days ago because of her ethnicity. The priest denied this. Inna Sukiasyan, who is of Armenian origins, last week wrote on her Facebook page and later told journalists that […]
Kakha Kozhoridze, head of Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Independent observers in Georgia’s local election say the extent of violations seen so far is not enough to influence the final results. Two hours before voting ended in Georgia’s local election on Sunday, non-governmental organizations had filed 71 […]
One of the exit polls shows that there will be second round of the election for Tbilisi mayor, but another exit poll gives Georgian Dream a direct win. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An exit poll conducted by Rustavi 2 indicates that a second round might be necessary in Tbilisi. If the exit poll is correct, the candidate for the ruling Georgian Dream coalition will get 46.3 percent of votes, UNM candidate gets 27 percent of […]
Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze denied having violated election laws. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A government spokesperson in Georgia defended himself Sunday against criticism from an opposition politician for standing in front of a political banner during a press conference on election day. Energy Minister and Vice Prime Minister Kakhi Kaladze […]
Today’s election marks a significant expansion of local democracy in Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Sunday’s election in Georgia marks a significant expansion of local democracy in the country. Voters are electing twelve new mayors, 59 gamgebelis, or heads of municipalities, and about 2,500 members of 71 local councils. 16,190 registered […]
“I call on every politician to make today a victory for democracy,” said President Giorgi Margvelashvili after casting his vote in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch-Voting went smoothly Sunday in Georgia’s local election. 517,123 people had voted by noon, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). This is 16 percent of registered voters. ISFED said 98.7% of precincts were ready to receive voters […]
Tamar Zhvania, head of Georgia’s Central Election Commission. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will be 32 international and 59 Georgian organizations observing the local election on Sunday, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The CEC said the number of representatives of Georgian organizations […]
Merab Topchishvili confirmed that he is withdrawing as candidate for gamgebeli in Marneuli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A candidate for Georgia’s governing coalition in a town south of the capital has announced that he is withdrawing from tomorrow’s local election. The coalition earlier said he would withdraw. Merab Topchishvili was Georgian Dream’s candidate […]
From a rebellion in Mosul in April, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A United Nations spokesperson said Friday that 16 Georgians had been captured by Islamist insurgents in Iraq. Georgian authorities would not confirm the report. It was first reported by Reuters that insurgents in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria […]
Sakdrisi gold mine. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Friday canceled a decision by the Culture Ministry to remove the protected area status of Sakdrisi, an ancient gold mine which archaeologists say has more than 5,400 years old traces of humans. The court’s decision means […]
President of the EU Commission, José Manuel Barroso (left), and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso Thursday arrived in Georgia on the second leg of his visit to countries on Russia’s southwestern perimeter. Barroso said the Association Agreement Georgia is to sign on June 27 is not ‘exclusive’, […]
Georgian Dream has withdrawn Merab Topchishvili (pictured) from the election for gamgebeli in Marneuli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream coalition on Thursday withdrew its candidate for gamgebeli in Marneuli in Sunday’s local election, explaining that it was necessary in order to avoid making it into a purely ethnic vote. The National Movement is running with an […]
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani has asked Prosecutor’s Office to investigate whether the National Movement’s candidates are pretending to be under pressure. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party is under investigation for pretending to be victim of political persecution. Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani has asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate whether the National Movement […]
Batumi City Court. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Batumi City Court on Wednesday sentenced a man to 12 years in jail, who is suspected of murdering a Russian diplomat and his wife in Abkhazia last year. Yusuf Lakayev, an ethnic Chechen, was charged with illegally crossing the border, illegally […]
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. (Photo published by the EU.) TBILISI, DFWatch–José Manuel Barroso will visit Georgia Thursday and Friday. The two day stopover will be the EU Commission president’s first official visit to Georgia. Barroso is arriving from Moldova, and will leave for Azerbaijan on June 14. During […]
The family of murdered ranger Davit Tsendeliani demonstrated outside the National Movement party office on Wednesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The family of a forest ranger who was killed in 2008 demonstrated in Zugdidi Wednesday. Ranger Davit Tsindeliani is still formally missing, but is believed to have been killed in August 2008, after the war between Russia and Georgia. His family […]
Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. (112.ua.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has ridiculed the appointment of Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini as OSCE special representative to Ukraine. In an interview with Ukrainian TV channel TSN on Tuesday, Saakashvili said that […]
The Audit Office monitors the financial activities of political parties. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The State Audit Office wants to fine the political parties Alliance of Georgia’s Patriots, Conservative Party and Georgia’s Way. The body which monitors the financial activity of political parties claims that Alliance of Georgia’s Patriots didn’t declare donations […]
The workers want back the Labor Inspection to ensure a safer workplace environment. (Photo published by GTUC on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Trade Union demonstrated outside a hospital in Tbilisi on Tuesday to show solidarity with workers who were burnt in a fire in a coal mine the day before. Two of the injured workers after the fire in a Tkibuli coal mine are still in a difficult […]
Spokesperson for Georgia’s Foreign Ministry, Davit Zalkaniani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The parliamentary election in South Ossetia Sunday was soundly won by a political bloc which wants the breakaway region to join the Russian Federation. The party Edinaya Ossetia, or United Ossetia, has union with Russia as a […]
The Central Election Commission has damaged its reputation, says National Movement activist Giga Bokeria. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday restored a National Movement candidate’s right to run in the June 15 local election. Akmamed Imamkuliev was launched as the UNM’s candidate for gamgebeli in Marneuli, a town in southern Georgia. But June 5, […]
Poti port. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Direct foreign investment in Georgia in the first quarter of 2014 was USD 260 million, according to preliminary data from National Statistics Office, Geostat. The preliminary data published on Tuesday show that the amount of investments in the […]
Coal dust caught fire in the Mindeli Mine in Tkibuli, a town in western Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Seven people were injured in a fire in a coal mine in Tkibuli on Monday. Two of them are seriously injured. According to Tamaz Dolaberidze, head of the Metallurgy and Mining Industry Worker’s Trade Unions, coal caught fire at about 18:00 on Monday […]
Akmamed Imamkuliev. (Screen grab from Maestro TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission (CEC) in Georgia has canceled the registration of a National Movement candidate for gamgebeli of Marneuli in the June 15 local elections. CEC explained that the candidate didn’t comply with the requirements of the […]
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili in Ukraine June 7, 2014. (Photo published by the Georgian president’s press office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United States allocates USD five million in assistance to Georgia, specifically people affected by the so-called borderization at the administrative boundary lines around the breakaway regions. US Vice President Joe Biden announced the assistance […]
Georgian soldiers preparing to leave for Afghanistan in March, 2013. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is reducing its number of troops in Afghanistan from January 1, 2015, to 700, Mindia Janelidze, Chairman of the Council for State Security and Crisis Management (CSSCM), announced Sunday. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, who participated […]
The Ministry of Internal Affairs main office in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened an investigation into the 2008 disappearance and murder of Paata Kardava, an intelligence officer at the Ministry of Defense. The investigation centers on Roman Shamatava, former head of the Constitutional Security […]
Giorgi Gabedava, candidate for Tbilisi City Council. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Orthodox Christian activists protest against the international evangelistic Festival of Hope to be held in Georgia and call on people not to attend. Clerics and their supporters gathered at a church in Didube, the district of Tbilisi where […]
Clean-up work was resumed in Dariali Valley Saturday after a brief evacuation. (TV1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Clean-up work in Dariali Valley in northern Georgia was resumed on Saturday, a day after workers were evacuated due to a risk of a new landslide. Seismologists registered microquakes in Devdoraki glacier, which the government’s experts said was the direct […]
Suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava and other National Movement members accuse a district election official of being partial. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava Thursday broke into a district election commission office in Marneuli and swore at the local official in charge. It’s the latest in a series of incidents involving the party, as Georgia gets closed to the local […]
Demonstrators want the area’s heritage status to be restored. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A rally was held Thursday to demand the restoration of protected area status for the old Sakdrisi mine in southern Georgia. The rally took place outside the National Cultural Heritage Protection Agency in Tbilisi and was organized by environmental […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promises that Georgia’s progress will be assessed at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales, but stops short of saying what the outcome might be. Many Georgians had reckoned that their country would […]
Conservative Orthodox Christians in Georgia have gathered 30,000 signatures to remove a phrase in a new law which specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–30 000 people in Georgia have signed a document demanding changes in a newly adopted anti-discrimination law. The Union of Genus Leaders has been gathering signatures since May 17, International Day Against Homophobia, and asked […]
Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Georgia before spring 2015, by invitation of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. The PM on Monday met Merkel in Berlin and invited her to Georgia. She accepted the invitation and expressed her desire […]
Tbilisi, Dfwatch – Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili hopes that a progress done by Georgia will be ‘adequately assessed’ on the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales, but he also thinks it is not advisable to speak of this issue in advance, as it raises false expectations among his fellow counterparts. […]
(TV9) Tbilisi, DFWatch – A 25-year-old man has drowned in a river Sakirula, near resort town Borjomi, in southern Georgia on Tuesday after heavy rains caused floods across the area. Murman Lomsadze has virtually been washed away from his own yard and drowned […]
Wine export grew 147 percent in the first five months of 2014, compared to the year before. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia increased its export of wine by 147 percent in the first five months of 2014, compared to last year. 22,779,153 bottles of wine was exported to 32 countries worldwide, which amounted to USD 73,795,849. Revenues from wine export in January […]
Sakdrisi mining site. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has suspended a decree by the Ministry of Culture that gave a green light to begin mining at the site of an alleged ancient gold mine in south east Georgia. RMG Gold, a gold mining company that was prohibited from carrying on work in Sakdrisi, […]
Clean-up work is progressing 24 hours a day, and a new temporary road will be opened in a few days. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For over two weeks, the only road through the Caucasus mountain range has been closed due to a massive landslide May 17. Now, Georgian authorities say a new temporary road will be opened in few days, after intense work to dig a new path […]
Demonstrators, mostly youth, demanded decriminalization of marijuana yesterday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of people, mostly youth, gathered Monday outside the government office in Tbilisi to demand decriminalization of marijuana. The rally started at 18:00 in the evening. There were no speeches or appeals. People were dressed in green colors […]
Didier Burkhalter arriving at Tbilisi airport Monday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Swiss President Didier Burkhalter arrived in Georgia Monday evening as part of a round trip in the South Caucasus. Lasha Abashidze, head of Georgia’s Presidential Administration, and Davit Zalkaliani, First Deputy Foreign Minister, met him […]
German Chancellor Angela Merkal and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel says NATO will not offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the upcoming summit in Wales in September. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Monday met Merkel during a visit to Germany. At a joint […]
A local says the violence in Gardabani had an ethnic background and may be repeated if the responsible are not held to account. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A recent street fight last week in the eastern Georgian town Gardabani appears to have background in ethnic tensions. Some fear there may be more violence if the responsible are not held to account. Wednesday night’s streets clashes in Gardabani, […]
Alexander Ankvab. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, resigned on Sunday. Ankvab said he resigned in order to ‘maintain the stability of the country’, according to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass. “In accordance with […]
Tako Kakabadze (left), Ako Goguadze and David Uchadze. (Click to watch video.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three youth politicians told DF Watch in a recent discussion that political parties in Georgia do not pay much attention to youth problems. On May 31, Tako Kakabadze from New Rightists Party’s youth wing, Ako Goguadze from the youth wing of the […]
‘End the brutal drug policy’. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mostly young demonstrators marched through Tbilisi on Saturday, against what they see as a too tough drug policy. Their slogan, ‘Beka is not a criminal’, is in support of a man who may be sentenced to up to 14 years in jail for possession […]
Also at Kutaisi hospital, the number of cases is falling. 63 people were infected in Georgia’s second largest city. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 200 viral meningitis patients out of 400 have left hospital, according to Georgia’s Health Minister, Davit Sergeenko. He says the number of cases of viral meningitis has gone down in the large cities, after the outbreak peaked on May 23. […]
From last year’s demonstration. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth in Georgia also this year plan to demonstrate for decriminalizing marijuana. On June 2 last year, there was a large rally outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi for legalizing pot, and this year’s rally is planned at the government […]
Publicity photo of former President Mikheil Saakashvili published on the eve of his leaving office in November, 2013. TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili spent GEL 1,533,222 (USD 866,000) of public money on official visits during his last year in office. According to the report published by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) […]
Teona Lavrelashvili, founder of Georgian Youth Parliament. TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, a group of young students have created their own parliament. It has 100 MPs and prepares real draft laws which are sent to the real parliament. A few weeks ago, this youth parliament held its 2014 opening session in the parliament […]
The mud from the May 17 landslide in Dariali clogged the river Tergi and may have killed up to seven people. TBILISI, DFWatch–Nearly two weeks after a catastrophic landslide hit Dariali Valley in the Caucasus mountains, the search is continuing for four people who are still missing. Three have been found dead. The Road Department in Georgia is working in two shifts to clean […]
Prison No 8 in Gldani, Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The parole commission decided at a session Tuesday to release 79 prisoners. According to the Prison Ministry, 69 of those up for release are men, 10 are women. Two of the women had their sentence converted to community work. During the session, […]
Kakha Bendukidze, a former economy minister for Saakashvili, will be adviser for Petro Poroshenko’s new economy council. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is not to advise the new Ukrainian government, but his economy minister, Kakha Bendukidze, confirms that he has been appointed as an adviser to Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko. […]
The clashes involved some 200 people of Azerbaijani and Georgian ethnic origin. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Wednesday night there was a street fight in a town south east in Georgia involving hundreds of youth. The fight took place in Gardabani, a town with a mixed Azerbaijani and Georgian population. Claims vary about what started the scuffle. Some […]
Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili (left), German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Ukraine’s PM Arseniy Yatseniuk. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The prime ministers of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on Wednesday met with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in Germany. “We would like people to know that which road to choose, and our meeting today is held exactly for this [purpose],” […]
An offshoot of the KaZantip festival is being organized in Georgia, but it will also be held in its original location in Crimea. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The electronic dance music festival KaZantip will be held in Crimea after all. Earlier it was announced it had moved to Georgia. For the last 22 years, KaZantip has been held in Crimea. But this year, it was first announced it had moved to Georgia, […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze is visiting the U.S. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze on Tuesday began an official visit to the United States which will last until May 30. According to the Foreign Ministry’s press office, Panjikidze will hold meetings with representatives of different […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The opposition in Abkhazia Tuesday night took over the presidential administration in Sukhumi and demanded the resignation of President Alexander Ankvab. A new caretaker government claims to be in control of the breakaway region, led by Raul Khajimba, […]
Zurab Chiaberashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Mayor of Tbilisi and National Movement member Zurab Chiaberashvili was attacked in the cafe in Tbilisi on Tuesday. The attackers allegedly were Rezo Tabukashvili and director Giorgi Mgeladze. Chiaberashvili told journalists at the hospital […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has transferred the right to sign an Association Agreement with EU to the prime minister for him to sign. Who will sign the AA has been a subject of debate the last few weeks. Government officials have […]
Davit Kezerashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday acquitted former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili of cognac fraud. Kezerashvili, who is under house arrest and electronic surveillance in France after being detained at Nice airport last year and then released in February, was charged by Georgian authorities in February, 2013, with assisting […]
Soldiers took an oath and were greeted by their commander-in-chief, President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Thousands of people came to downtown Tbilisi to mark Independence Day on Monday. The day was celebrated in 12 cities and towns all over the country. There was no military parade, which used to be a tradition during the Saakashvili government, but the new […]
Kindergartens and schools will remain closed at least until the end of the week, due to an outbreak of viral meningitis. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian kindergartens and schools up to sixth grade will remain closed until the end of the week to deal with an outbreak of viral meningitis. The schools should have been opened today, but Health Minister Davit Sergeenko announced Monday that they […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Speculation that the new Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, might hire former Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili as an advisor, is cheered by the latter’s supporters in Tbilisi. It has not been possible for DF Watch to confirm a claim […]
The group Identoba claims violence against women is on the rise in Georgia, and that legislation meant to protect women is ignored. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The rights group Identoba held a demonstration Saturday outside the government office to highlight the problem of violence against women. The organization, which is most known for having organized a gay rights rally in May 2013 which was attacked […]
Iashvili Hospital in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of confirmed cases of viral meningitis in the last two months in Georgia has jumped to 306. According to Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), 169 of the cases were in Tbilisi, 51 in Kutaisi, 18 in […]
Although generally a people’s day, there will be a little military element to Georgia’s national day this year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second year in a row, Georgia will mark Independence Day without a military parade. The government has decided that Independence Day will be a people’s celebration and aimed at letting people take part. But even though there is no military […]
Georgian Dream and National Movement activists clashed in Rustavi Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A scuffle developed Saturday as supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition demonstrated outside the National Movement’s party office in Rustavi, a city 20 km south of the capital. Mamuka Chikovani, the UNM candidate for Rustavi mayor, […]
