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Georgian president maintains signing power remains with him

By | May 25th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili could delegate signing power to Prime Minister Gharibashvili when Georgia signs an association agreement with the EU June 27, an expert on the constitution suggests. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili maintains that he should sign Georgia’s association agreement with the EU, but says he wants to avoid a dispute about the issue. Shalva Tadumadze, parliamentary secretary of the government, said Friday […]

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Third victim found after big landslide in Georgia

By | May 24th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

The third victim of the Dariali landslide was also found inside a hydro power tunnel. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A dead body was found Friday night during the ongoing search and rescue operation following the landslide in Dariali Valley on May 17. This third casualty of the disaster was also found inside a tunnel that is part of a hydro power development […]

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Mayor wins right to be reinstated weeks before end of term

By | May 24th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

Gigi Ugulava in court in March, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Constitutional Court on Friday revoked a decision to suspend Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava pending a corruption trial, and he now plans to go back to work only weeks before the local election. Tbilisi City Court suspended Ugulava […]

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Foreign trade growth confirmed Jan-Apr ’14

By | May 24th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

(DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first four months of 2014 was USD 3,441 million, which is 14 percent more than in the same period last year. According to precise figures published by the National Statistics Department on Friday, export was […]

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One more found dead after Dariali landslide

By | May 23rd, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

A second person has been found dead after the catastrophic landslide in Georgia on May 17. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the victims in the May 17 Dariali landslide has been found dead inside a tunnel that was dug out in connection with an ongoing hydro power development in the valley. The body most likely belongs to a truck driver, according to rescue workers, […]

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Family tragedy highlights violence against women

By | May 23rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A family tragedy has shocked Georgia and brought attention to the problem of violence against women. It appears that a Georgian man first killed his pregnant wife and then took his own life. The tragic incident unfolded in the village Ochkhamuri, […]

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Hydro power tunnel searched for survivors after landslide

By | May 23rd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

A hydro power tunnel that was flooded after a landslide on May 17 was searched for the first time Thursday. This is how the site looked in 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time after the catastrophic landslide in Dariali on May 17, rescue crew made their way into a tunnel in search of survivors, Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 reported Thursday. The tunnel, which is part of a hydro power plant under construction, […]

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161 confirmed cases of viral meningitis in Georgia

By | May 22nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of confirmed cases of viral meningitis in Georgia increased from 142 to 161 Thursday, as the health minister calmed people’s fears and assured them that the virus is not spreading through the drinking water. A rumor that the virus […]

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Music festival KaZantip moved from Crimea to Georgia

By | May 22nd, 2014|Categories: News, Youth|Tags: , |

It is common to bring yellow suitcases to KaZantip. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time, the electronic dance music festival KaZantip will take place in Georgia, due to recent events in Ukraine. The festival has been held annually in Crimea since 1992. Now, following the Russian annexation of the peninsula, it is […]

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Landslide update: search continues as hope fades away

By | May 22nd, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , , , |

Some of the people rescued were workers at the Dariali hydro power plant. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The rescue operation in Dariali Valley is continuing, though officials at the Emergency Management Department say there is now almost no hope of finding anyone alive. Seven people, Turkish and Ukrainian nationals and one Georgian, are still missing. […]

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Schools closed in Georgia due to outbreak of viral meningitis

By | May 21st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An outbreak of viral meningitis has spread in schools and kindergartens in Georgia the last few weeks, with 142 confirmed cases so far. Kindergartens and schools up to 6th grade will be closed until May 27, while sanitary measures are being […]

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Georgian government criticizes Maestro TV for bias

By | May 21st, 2014|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , , |

Program host Vakho Sanaia on Maestro TV. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has criticized a TV program for being biased, after it turned the spotlight on promises made by the government in the 2012 election campaign. The target of the government’s criticism is a program on Maestro TV called  […]

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Six still missing after massive landslide in Georgia

By | May 21st, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

Aerial shot from the day of the accident, published on Facebook. TBILISI, DFWatch–Six people are still missing after the landslide in Dariali Valley on May 17, among them Georgians, Ukrainians and Turkish citizens, according to the Georgian interior minister. 12 Turkish citizens were rescued out of a tunnel, while two drivers […]

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Georgian government meets EU commissioners May 21

By | May 20th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso. (Europe Diplomatic Magazine.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government will meet with EU commissioners in Brussels on May 21. First Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani says this is the first time such a meeting is being held. “This is an unprecedented format in EU-Georgia relations, which […]

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Georgian media regulatory body gets new head

By | May 20th, 2014|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , |

(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) has elected Vakhtang Abashidze as new chairman. This is the first time a head of GNCC has been elected. Abshidze, the only candidate, received the support of all five commission members. During […]

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Conservatives rally at GPB after gay rights debate

By | May 20th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of conservatives demonstrated outside the Georgian Public Broadcaster on Monday, demanding that the TV program Red Zone is closed down, after it dedicated its Saturday show to homophobia. May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, […]

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Campaign wants mobile operators to oversee surveillance

By | May 20th, 2014|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

Campaigners object to parliament postponing the ‘secret key’ issue. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The ‘This Affects You Too’ campaign demands that parliament appoints a special session to review a package of amendments to better regulate secret surveillance and considers it ‘shameful’ that the assembly failed to reach a quorum last […]

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New wave of bomb hoaxes in Tbilisi

By | May 19th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi has been hit by a new wave of fake bomb threats. Law enforcers are conducting fruitless searches for bombs in public and private facilities. Ilia University was twice inspected on Monday and twice evacuated after there was a call made to the […]

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Protests in support of ‘the invisibles’

By | May 19th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Several protests were held in Tbilisi in support of the ‘invisible’. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several protest events were organized in the streets of Tbilisi on Sunday to express support for gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities. This followed Saturday’s massive rallies by conservative groups, who marked the newly announced […]

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One dead, seven missing after landslide

By | May 19th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

The government says three trucks were caught under the rock masses. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI,DFWatch–Seven people are reported missing and one dead, according to the latest information from Dariali Valley, where a massive landslide struck Saturday morning. The government’s security and crisis management council on Sunday published a statement […]

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One more Georgian detained on disputed SO border

By | May 19th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

One of the signs warning about the disputed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers on Sunday detained Otar Kokoshvili, 54, from the village Tamarasheni, near Kareli. He was taken to a detention facility in Tskhinvali, a central town in the breakaway region South Ossetia. According to his relatives, Kokoshvili […]

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Conservatives rallied against gay rights on May 17

By | May 18th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

The Georgian Orthodox Church organized many events to mark its non-acceptance of homosexual lifestyle, which it considers a sin. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Day Against Homophobia was in Georgia transformed into a day of family values, which was the initiative of the country’s most influential person, the Patriarch. A number of rallies and events were held on May 17 against LGBT […]

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Environmental group warned about landslide risk

By | May 17th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

An environmental group in Georgia says the hydro power project Larsi may have caused the massive landslide which struck Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An environmental group in Georgia warned two years ago that constructing a hydro power station in Dariali Valley would increase the risk of landslides. Five people are missing and a hundred and fifty have been rescued out of the disaster area […]

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Five missing after massive landslide in Georgia

By | May 17th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

The massive landslide may have killed three Turkish construction workers working on the Dariali hydro power project. (Photo posted to Facebook by Iago Kazalikashvili.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A landslide in Dariali Valley in northern Georgia has severed the only road across the Caucasus Mountain Range. Five people are still missing. Locals say three Turkish construction workers died who were working on the Dariali hydro power station. […]

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Gay rights protesters displaced as conservatives reclaim May 17

By | May 17th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Last year’s conservative demonstrators against the LGBT event May 17, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will be no gathering in Georgia today to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Instead, the Church and conservative groups plan a number of demonstrations to celebrate the recently announced day of family values. At […]

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Foreign trade turnover Jan-Apr up 14%

By | May 17th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

Georgia’s foreign trade in the first four months of 2014 was 14% higher than the same period last year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-April of 2014 was 14 percent more than the same period last year, according to preliminary data from Georgian National Statistics Department. According to the short preliminary report published on Friday, […]

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Young inventors from 37 countries met in Tbilisi

By | May 16th, 2014|Categories: News, Youth|Tags: , |

This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. TBILISI, DFWatch–International Young Inventors Project Olympiad (IYIPO) for scientists and inventors was organized in Tbilisi from May 3 to May 5. This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. Last year, there were 25 countries […]

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Georgia sees hope in NATO chief’s comment

By | May 16th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO. TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will address its open-door policy at the Wales summit later this year, but it’s too early to say exactly how. He said this in response to a question about whether it’s possible […]

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Former official found guilty of publishing sex tape

By | May 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Gela Khvedelidze plans to appeal the one year suspended jail sentence. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has found a former Georgian official guilty and given him a one year suspended sentence. Gela Khvedelidze was found guilty of having published a video of a private nature by posting it on the Internet one year ago, while he was […]

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17 Georgian bladdernut pickers released by South Ossetia

By | May 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking which may be harvested and sold in the market. (Ministry of Environment Protection.) TBILISI, DFWatch–17 Georgians were released by South Ossetia on Wednesday. They had all been detained on the border when they were out picking jonjoli, or bladdernut, a shrub used for cooking which may be sold in the markets. Now is the season for picking […]

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Chechen denied to leave Georgia, fears being turned over to Russia

By | May 15th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Saikhan Muzayev fears he will be secretly handed over to Russian counterintelligence. (Georgian Public Broadcaster.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Chechen refugee with Georgian citizenship told parliament on Wednesday that he is being pressured by authorities. Speaking at a plenary session, Saikhan Muzayev said he has tried to leave Georgia ten times but was denied leaving every time. Tomorrow, […]

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Speculations about why PM is to sign Georgia’s EU treaty

By | May 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili will sign Georgia’s association agreement with the EU, although he is not the head of state. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU will be signed by the prime minister, although he is not the head of state. In all of EU’s 28 member states, the Association Agreement with Georgia will be signed by the head of state, which usually […]

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Georgia to sign EU treaty June 27

By | May 14th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. (Interpressnews.) TBILILSI, DFWatch–Georgia will sign an association agreement with the EU on June 27. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili announced the date at a meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. “We received confirmation that Georgia will sign the […]

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Premiere of comedy film about Gay couple postponed after threats

By | May 14th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: |

Poster of the comedy ‘We are Mad’ TBILISI, DFWatch–A film director and producer in Georgia has postponed the first screening of the new comedy about a gay couple because of the threats and fear that it might be seen as an attempt to destabilize the country. Otar Mikeladze and David Bezhitaishvili […]

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Another EU visit: Rompuy expected in Tbilisi, after Hollande

By | May 13th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Herman Van Rompuy first visited Tbilisi in July, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After French president Francois Hollande’s plane landed at Tbilisi airport Tuesday afternoon, the same day Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, is arriving for a two-day stay. It will be Rompuy’s second trip to Georgia, […]

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François Hollande arrives in Georgia to strengthen EU ties

By | May 13th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

French President François Hollande arrived at Tbilisi airport Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–French President Francois Hollande arrived in Tbilisi Tuesday at midday. Hollande’s visit is the last stop of a tour of the South Caucasus. He was arriving from Armenia where he spent Monday, and before that Azerbaijan on Sunday. Arriving […]

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EU’s observers call for release of jonjoli pickers

By | May 13th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking in Georgia. (Photo by Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM) calls on South Ossetia to release all Georgians detained for picking the plant jonjoli. Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking in Georgia. It grows in the wild in areas adjacent […]

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Georgian Dream claims UNM created fake party office

By | May 13th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

Georgian Dream activists in Tskaltubo clashed with another group of campaigners who they claim are actually from the National Movement. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two groups of Georgian Dream coalition activists clashed during a campaign event Monday in Tskhaltubo, a town in western Georgia. One faction of activists asked the government for help, claiming that the coalition has two headquarters in Tskhaltubo, […]

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Rustavi 2 under investigation for illegal wiretapping

By | May 13th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Head of Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has launched an investigation into surveillance recordings published by Rustavi 2. The case is based on suspicion that the recordings were illegally obtained and published, which if true means that the TV company […]

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Georgian group calls on people to mark May 17 on the net

By | May 12th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , , |

The website calls on people to find creative ways to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, May 17. TBILISI, DFWatch–A website has been created in Georgia to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, May 17. The website is the creation of Identoba, an organization working to promote the rights of lesbians, gays and other sexual minorities. It was Identoba […]

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Seven more Georgians detained on disputed SO border

By | May 12th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

Four Georgians were released by South Ossetia, but seven more detained. This leaves nearly twenty people in detention in Tskhinvali. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards Monday detained seven more Georgians in villages bordering South Ossetia. The same day, four Georgians were released. This leaves nearly 20 Georgians who still remain in detention in Tskhinvali. The seven Georgians were detained […]

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François Hollande arrives in Tbilisi on Tuesday

By | May 12th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and French President François Hollande. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–French President François Hollande arrives in Georgia on Tuesday as part of his tour of the South Caucasus. Hollande’s trip takes place amid a crisis in Ukraine and is aimed at boosting the EU’s ties with the region, the French news agency AFP […]

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Georgian patriarch declares May 17 a day of family values

By | May 12th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church wants to declare May 17 a day to celebrate strength of family, respect for parents and a memorial day. Last year, there were fierce street clashes on May 17 last year, as the gay and lesbian community sought to mark […]

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Five Georgians released by South Ossetia

By | May 11th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Five out of eighteen Georgians detained in South Ossetia were released on Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia on Saturday released five out of 18 Georgians detained for allegedly crossing the disputed border. 18 Georgians have been detained by Russian soldiers in the last two weeks in villages on the disputed border. According to the five  […]

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NDI poll shows patriarch remains most liked in Georgia

By | May 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Patriarch Ilia II (seated, left) remains highly liked in Georgia, while former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has had a drop in popularity. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new poll published by National Democratic Institute (NDI) shows that Patriarch Ilia II remains the most liked person in Georgia. 96 percent of those asked say the like the patriarch. 61 percent say they like Davit Usupashvili, Speaker of Parliament; […]

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Georgia plans people’s celebration on national day

By | May 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Roses Square, Tbilisi, May 26, 2012. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second year in a row, Georgia will not hold a military parade on its national day of independence May 26. Columns of military personnel and hardware filing past and saluting their commander in chief became a tradition while Mikheil […]

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Who are behind the surveillance tapes at Rustavi 2?

By | May 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Nika Gvaramia (center), head of Rustavi 2. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Spokespersons for the Georgian Dream coalition say a claim by a TV station head that he and his staff are under police surveillance is staged and part of the National Movement’s election campaign. Head of Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia, claimed […]

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Stalin bust unveiled in dictator’s hometown on V-Day

By | May 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

The bust of Stalin did not remain long, and is now kept inside the municipality building in Gori. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bust of Joseph Stalin was Friday erected and taken down again the same day in the Soviet dictator’s hometown Gori, close to the Georgian capital. The bust was brought there by car and installed by members of a group called Eurasian Institute, […]

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Eight more Georgians detained at disputed SO border

By | May 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

A sign warning about the Russia-imposed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry has confirmed that 8 more Georgians have been detained today on the disputed South Ossetia border. Russian soldiers arrested 7 persons from the village Korbouli and one from the village Chala in the Imereti region, in western […]

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48% of Georgians will vote for the ruling coalition

By | May 9th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , , |

Davit Narmania from Georgian Dream can be reasonably confident he will become Tbilisi mayor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–48 percent of Georgians would vote for the Georgian Dream coalition if there were local elections tomorrow, a new polls shows. This the second part of a wider survey published by National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Thursday, contains the party […]

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New charges against ex-minister detained in France

By | May 8th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Davit Kezerashvili, former Georgian defense minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has brought in new charges against former Defense Minister Davit Kezerasvili, who was detained in France last year. Davit Kezerashvili, who was announced wanted through Interpol, was detained in October, 2013, […]

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Georgian president signs anti-discrimination law

By | May 8th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has signed a new anti-discrimination law, and it has therefore come into force. The Georgian Orthodox Church was against the law because it in their opinion ‘legalizes homosexuality’, and wanted to remove ‘sexual […]

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Two dead in building accident in Georgia

By | May 8th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two workers died after the dome of a half-finished church collapsed in a small village in the Adjara region in the south western part of Georgia. The accident happened as five construction workers under the age of 30 were working on a new church […]

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Georgian, Turkish and Azerbaijani presidents meet in Tbilisi

By | May 7th, 2014|Categories: Caucasus region, News|Tags: , , , , , , |

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül (left) and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey met in Tbilisi on Tuesday and celebrated the cooperation between their countries. The summit was initiated by the Turkish president and the main topic was three joint projects. Two of them are already […]

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Georgia’s former ruling party loses its trademark ‘number 5’

By | May 7th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: |

The number 5 has been the National Movement’s symbol in all recent elections. Here from a campaign rally in Tbilisi, August, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission has rejected the National Movement’s request to use the number 5 on the ballot-papers in the local elections in June. UNM, which is running alongside the Christian Conservative Party, said in a statement May 5 that […]

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Rustavi 2 director claims police is watching him

By | May 7th, 2014|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , , |

Head of Rustavi 2 TV Nika Gvaramia claims he is under surveillance. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV company accuses the government of wiretapping and spying on its management and journalists. The accusations were put forth on Tuesday by Nika Gvaramia, director of Rustavi 2, the last major TV channel that remains faithful to former […]

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Georgians are split on minorities issues

By | May 6th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Demonstrators against accepting homosexuality, Tbilisi, May 17, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The latest survey of public attitudes, published by National Democratic Institute (NDI), shows that Georgians are split in their views on the need to protect minorities. When it comes to protection of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities, […]

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Suspect in brutal revenge attack placed in pre-trial detention

By | May 6th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man suspected of beating the brother of a former government official was Monday placed in pre-trial detention by Tbilisi City Court. Businessman Davit Kodia, brother of former police official Erekle Todua, was beaten a few days ago in Tbilisi while […]

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Georgians less satisfied with their government

By | May 6th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Does ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili pull the strings in government after he left office, is one the issues people were asked about in NDI’s poll. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–36 percent of Georgians think the country is definitely or mainly going in the right direction. This is significantly lower than in November 2013, when 53 percent were of the same opinion. This is one of the results presented Monday in the latest […]

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Poll shows more Georgians see Russia as a threat

By | May 6th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

46 percent of Georgians are satisfied with the government’s response to the installation of barbed wire and fences by Russian soldiers, the NDI survey shows. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of people who think Russia is a real and existing threat to Georgia has increased by 14 percent compared to November. This is one of the findings in the latest survey of public attitudes by the National Democratic Institute, […]

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Presidents of Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan meet in Tbilisi Tuesday

By | May 5th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , , |

The National Library in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Turkey and two South Caucasus countries will meet at the National Library in Tbilisi on Tuesday, to attend the 2014 Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey Summit. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is host for Turkey’s Abdullah Gül […]

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Number of visitors to Georgia continues to grow

By | May 5th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Also the number of tourists to Georgia is increasing. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New figures published by the Georgian Interior Ministry show that 390,685 people visited the country in April. This is 7.4 percent more than in the same period last year. In the first four months of the current year, 1,396,952 people visited […]

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Transsexuals excluded from debate about discrimination

By | May 5th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , , |

Transsexuals demonstrated outside a TV studio in Gori Saturday, after being excluded from a debate about a new anti-discrimination law. (Trialeti.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Transsexuals demonstrated outside a TV studio in Georgia on Saturday because they were not allowed to take part in a debate about a new anti-discrimination law. Locals in Gori, a town close to the capital, came to the studio building of Trialeti TV […]

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Street justice: brother of ex-official hospitalized in Tbilisi

By | May 5th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Davit Kodua, brother of wanted ex-official Erekle Kodua, was brutally beaten in Tbilisi Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The brother of a wanted former official in the Saakashvili regime was brutally beaten in Tbilisi on Saturday. The victim of the attack was Davit Kodua, brother of Erekle Kodua, a former top police official who is currently outside the country and internationally […]

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Journalist breaks into endangered archaeological site

By | May 4th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

Sakdrisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Saturday, there was a scuffle between a journalist and guards working for RMG Gold, a Russian mining company digging in a prehistoric cave complex in the south of Georgia. RMG Gold issued a statement saying that their guards were confronted by a […]

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Georgian PM claims campaigners undermining government

By | May 3rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili claims a campaign to reign in illegal surveillance is an attempt to undermine the government. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says demands by influential NGOs to refine legislation to prevent illegal wiretapping is an attack against the government. After the Saakashvili regime lost power in Georgia, several Tbilisi-based […]

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Georgia passes modified anti-discrimination bill

By | May 2nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Priests organized several demonstrations against the bill, here outside parliament in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Lawmakers in Georgia on Thursday passed an anti-discrimination bill after being pressured from the European Union. The bill was slightly modified after criticism from the Orthodox Church. The Georgian Orthodoc Church was opposed to the bill because […]

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Dead diplomat’s family says death was suspicious

By | May 2nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Former Ambassador to Switzerland, Levan Mikeladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The family of a deceased diplomat claims that he did not die from natural causes. Levan Mikeladze was Georgian Ambassador to Switzerland. He died on April 26, 2009; officially from a heart attack. Mikeladze resigned in protest after President […]

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Georgian minister asks NATO for air defenses

By | May 2nd, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

US Vice President Joe Biden and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania asks NATO to install air defenses and other military systems in Georgia. He made the call in a speech at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, on Wednesday. “Now the West has to seize the […]

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NATO’s Caucasus envoy visits Tbilisi tomorrow

By | May 1st, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai will visit Georgia on Thursday. Appathurai, whose full title is NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, will meet with government members and the parliament, the Ministry […]

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Youth groups in Georgia plan several rallies on May 1

By | May 1st, 2014|Categories: In brief, Youth|Tags: , , , , , |

Green Fist, one of the youth groups organizing rallies May 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Young people in Georgia plan to mark the International Worker’s Day, May 1, with rallies different places in the country. A rally will be held at Tbilisi State University at 14:00 by Young Social-Democrats, Georgia’s Young Greens, Georgia’s […]

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Books brought to Georgia in WW2 to be returned to Germany

By | May 1st, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Germany offers to restore books kept at Tbilisi State University. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has decided to return books currently at Tbilisi State University that were brought here from Germany during World War II. Shalva Tadumadze, the government’s parliamentary secretary, explained […]

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Orthodox Church against EU in Georgian parliament

By | April 30th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Priests demonstrated outside parliament Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Clerics in Georgia don’t want a Europe where ‘homosexuality is legalized,’ and call on parliament to not pass an anti-discrimination law required for the signing of an association agreement with the EU. The Georgian parliament has two more […]

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Large weapons collection discovered in Tbilisi

By | April 30th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Military type weapons including anti-tank missiles were voluntarily handed over to the police by a 44 year old Georgian man. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian citizen has voluntarily handed over a large collection of military type weapons to the police department in Tbilisi. The impressive weapons collection included an RPG-26 anti-tank grenade launcher, four prefabricated PG-9 […]

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Rape case shocks Tbilisi

By | April 30th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained three Iraqi citizens who are suspected of rape of a minor in Tbilisi. They are suspected of attempting to rape a fifteen year old boy on Tuesday at an apartment on Zandukeli Street in the center of the capital, but […]

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Georgia’s defense minister to meet Chuck Hagel

By | April 30th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is to meet Chuck Hagel, US Secretary of Defense. Alasania is on a working visit to the US and plans bilateral meetings at the Pentagon. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry’s press office, […]

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Wolf pack attacked livestock near Tbilisi

By | April 29th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: |

It’s the fifth time wolves attack livestock in the area west of Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A pack of wolves has attacked livestock in a village near Tbilisi, Interpressnews reports. The wolf attack took place in the village Kodistskaro, near the town Kaspi, and only 60 km from the center of the Georgian capital. The news agency reports […]

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NGOs claim gov’t delaying anti-surveillance bill till after election

By | April 29th, 2014|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , |

The campaign ‘This Affects You Too’ suspects that the government wants to delay a law to protect against illegal surveillance. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Campaigners fighting to stop secret surveillance in Georgia are asking parliament to pass amendments to prohibit secret phone surveillance before the local election on June 15. Non-governmental organizations in the ‘This Affects You Too’ campaign […]

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Georgian Orthodox Church opposed to anti-discrimination law

By | April 29th, 2014|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , |

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church is opposed to a draft anti-discrimination bill, which is currently making its way through parliament. Clerics there want to remove ‘sexual orientation’ from the text. But human rights activists and Tbilisi-based NGOs […]

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Work halted again at prehistoric mine in Georgia

By | April 29th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Sakdrisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Work has been halted at the ancient Sakdrisi gold mine in southern Georgia, Interpressnews reports. The news agency quotes Irakli Lomidze, spokesperson for the Sakdrisi Survival Committee, who said the heavy machinery stopped Sunday night and did not […]

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Two more Georgians detained on disputed SO border

By | April 29th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers Monday detained two more Georgians on the border with South Ossetia. The incident took place in the village Kldistskharo, and on the same day as a meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, that are used to solve […]

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Protesters weary of RMG’s intentions at prehistoric mine

By | April 28th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

RMG Gold says it intends to dig in the area as long as it has a right to do so. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students, youth and environmental activists are still camped near a prehistoric gold mine in south Georgia, weary that a mining company might begin digging at the still sparsely surveyed archaological site. About a week ago, […]

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Georgia’s governing coalition launches local election campaign

By | April 28th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream coalition on Saturday launched its election campaign and presented candidates for mayors in 12 cities. The main event at Sports Palace in Tbilisi gathered up to 12,000 people and included MPs, government members, […]

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Three Georgian women released by South Ossetia

By | April 27th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Rusudan Khuroshvili, one of the three women who were detained by Russian soldiers for allegedly crossing the disputed border. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three women who were detained by Russian soldiers on the South Ossetian border on Friday have been released. The three were detained in the village Khurvaleti, which lies right on the disputed border. Georgian news agency Interpressnews reports that […]

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One more Georgian detained at disputed border

By | April 27th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , , |

Ditsi, another village where people have been detained on the disputed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One Georgian was detained Saturday by Russian soldiers near the border with South Ossetia. This is the fourth Georgian this happens to this week. Merab Kapanadze, 70, from the village Tseronisi, was detained while tending to his cattle […]

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Georgian and South Ossetian youth kick off Balkan tour

By | April 26th, 2014|Categories: In brief, Youth|Tags: , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bus with Georgian and South Ossetian youth was to start a tour of Turkey and the Balkans Saturday morning, Interpressnews reports. The trip, called Georgian – South Ossetian Youth Peace Express, will last 17 days and bring the youth by bus through […]

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Three Georgians detained on South Ossetia border

By | April 25th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

The detainees are believed to be held in a Tskhinvali prison. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers have detained three Georgian citizens in the village Khurvaleti for violating the border with South Ossetia. All three detainees – Rusudan Khuroshvili, Zeinab Kharkheli and Lali Khuroshvili – were taken to South Ossetia. […]

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Georgia’s foreign trade up 18% in Q1 – precise data

By | April 25th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

More than a fifth of Georgia’s export is used cars. (Rustavi.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2014 was USD 2,523 million, according to precise data from the National Statistics Department, GeoStat, published on Thursday. This is 18 percent more than it was in same period last […]

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Georgian president speaks at EU Eastern Partnership summit

By | April 25th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Czech President Miloš Zeman. (Photo by Georgian president’s office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Thursday met with his Czech colleague Milos Zeman during a visit to Prague. Mergvelashvili came to take part in the five year summit of the Eastern Partnership, a political effort by the EU to reform six former […]

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Witnesses heard in intelligence blackmailing trial

By | April 25th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three former Interior Ministry officials were in court yesterday. They are on trial accused of having blackmailed a bodyguard of businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012, shortly before the parliamentary election. At Thursday’s hearing witnesses said […]

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Steinmeier: Georgia’s treaty with EU not a threat to Russia

By | April 24th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU is not a threat to Russia-Georgia relations. Steinmeier, who is visiting Georgia with his French colleague Laurent Fabius, said at a press […]

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Margvelashvili to speak at Eastern Partnership summit

By | April 24th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has left for Prague to participate in the five year anniversary summit of the Eastern Partnership. According to president administration, Giorgi Margvelashvili will hold a speech at the summit on April 25. […]

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‘Biden threatened sanctions to stop them questioning me’

By | April 24th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Mikheil Saakashvili during an interview with Ukrainian TV in December, 2013. (112.ua) TBILISI, DFWatch–A government spokesman in Georgia rejects a claim by ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili that US Vice President Joe Biden called and threatened sanctions. Saakashvili claimed Biden threatened that the West would seize ex-Prime Minister Bidzina […]

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Ex-counterintelligence chief applies for asylum in Greece

By | April 23rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Data Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former Georgian counterintelligence chief in exile has applied for political asylum in Greece. Data Akhalaia, the former head of the Constitutional Security Department (Kudi) during the Saakashvili regime, is brother of the imprisoned former […]

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Simpler Russian citizenship rules may pose threat to Georgia

By | April 23rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

The Russian Interests Section in Tbilisi, where Georgians can apply for Russian citizenship. (Voice of Abkhazia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian diplomat says Georgia must be on guard after the Russian Duma passed a bill which simplifies the rules for getting Russian citizenship. The legislative amendment has been a cause of concern for groups in Georgia the last few weeks, with […]

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Georgia halts RMG’s mining at prehistoric site

By | April 23rd, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , , |

Scientists say the Sakdrisi site is 5,400 years old. (Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s culture minister promises to halt excavation work at an ancient a gold mine in the south of the country after protesters camped near the site raised the alarm that it was being damaged by RMG Gold. Culture Minister Guram Odisharia […]

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Memorial to the Armenian genocide unveiled in Tbilisi

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: |

The memorial is a stone Khachkari with a cross and ornaments engraved. (Photo published by the Armenian community.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A memorial to the Armenian genocide was unveiled in Tbilisi on Monday. The memorial is made of stone and stands in the yard of Surb Etchmiadzin Church in the capital. Levon Isakhanian, representative of the Armenian community in Georgia, […]

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Steinmeier and Fabius visiting Georgia April 23-24

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , |

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The foreign ministers of Germany and France will visit Georgia on April 23-24. Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and France’s Laurent Fabius were originally to have visited Georgia on March 3, but they both postponed due to events in Ukraine. […]

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Georgian president: No preparations made for Putin meeting

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the proposal by Russia’s Vladimir Putin for a meeting has had no actual follow-up or preparations. At the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Russian president said that there is a possibility […]

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Georgia on top of EU visa rejection list

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

12% of visa applications by Georgian citizens to Schengen countries were rejected in 2013, according to Liberal Academy Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is on top of a list of former Soviet countries from where the highest number of people get their visa application rejected by the EU. For each country in EU’s Eastern Partnership plus Russia, the Schengen visa rejection rate in 2013 was: […]

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Voter’s list shrinks ahead of local election in Georgia

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

Voting in the Nadzaladevi by-election a year ago in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are 3.49 million registered voters for Georgia’s June 15 local elections. This marks a gradual reduction in the Georgian electorate. In the presidential election in October 2013, 3.54 million people were eligible to vote, while a year before […]

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Georgian leaders attend Easter service

By | April 21st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) attending mass in a church in Dusheti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Where and how to observe Easter is important for politicians in Georgia, and this year was no exception. This Easter, the prime minister and other government members attended Easter Eve service in the recently constructed Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral in Tbilisi, […]

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Protest intensifies as RMG starts digging at ancient mine

By | April 21st, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

Protesters outside the studios of Georgian Public Broadcaster waiting for the culture minister to arrive to take part in a talk show. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Protesters who are camped near an ancient gold mine in southern Georgia say the mining company RMG Gold started excavation work on a section of the mine on Tuesday afternoon, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied this. The tent camp at Sakdrisi […]

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69 prisoners released for Easter

By | April 20th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–69 prisoners were released from jail on Saturday, following a decision by local prison boards and the Prison Ministry’s pardon commission. Altogether, the bodies have reviewed the cases of about 770 prisoners in three days, according to the Prison […]

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Georgian foreign trade in Q1 up 18%

By | April 17th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

Used cars is Georgia’s most important export item. Here Rustavi car market near Tbilisi. (rustavi.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2014 was USD 2,523 million. This is 18 percent more than in the same period last year. Preliminary data published by Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, show that export […]

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Georgian TV crew released by South Ossetia

By | April 17th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

A Georgian TV crew of three was released by South Ossetia Wednesday evening, after being detained the day before. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV crew of three was released by South Ossetia Wednesday evening. Bela Zakaidze, Vakho Lekiashvili and Mikheil Mikhoev were detained Tuesday as they crossed the de facto border near Adzvi. They were taken by Russian border guards to […]

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No news about release of Georgian TV crew held in South Ossetia

By | April 16th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , |

Vakho Lekiashvili (left) and Bela Zakaidze, two of the TV3 employees who are in detention in South Ossetia. (Interepressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is still unknown whether three Georgian journalists detained by South Ossetia will be released today. Neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor EUs Monitoring Mission have been informed about when they will be released. The Foreign Ministry […]

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Confusion over Georgian justice moratorium

By | April 16th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the National Movement is crying foul over the trial against one of their top people, suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. The reason is that the prime minister recently announced a ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting any member of the National […]

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Georgian justice minister calls for fair election campaign

By | April 16th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was pelted with eggs as he left the Constitutional Court Friday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s minister of justice calls on everyone to allow political parties to conduct their election campaign in a normal environment, after eggs were thrown at National Movement activists last weekend. People threw eggs at former Mayor of Tbilisi […]

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Georgian TV crew detained in South Ossetia

By | April 16th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Vakho Lekiashvili (left) and Bela Zakaidze from TV3. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV crew of three was detained by Russian soldiers Tuesday on the de facto border with South Ossetia. RES, the official news agency of the breakaway region confirmed that three Georgians had been detained, but failed to name the detainees. […]

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Abashidze and Karasin will meet tomorrow in Prague

By | April 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Zurab Abashidze, Georgia’s negotiator. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Negotiatiors for Russia and Georgia are meeting April 16 in Prague, after postponing several times. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin and Georgia’s PM’s Special Representative for Russian Relations Zurab Abashidze should have met on March […]

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Georgian lawyer group files lawsuit against Russia

By | April 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Razor wire in Dvani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A human rights organization in Georgia has taken Russia to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of 19 people living on the border with the breakaway territory South Ossetia. The case concerns people living in the village Dvani, southwest […]

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PM announces ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting ex-officials

By | April 15th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has introduced a ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting former officials from the National Movement party of Mikheil Saakashvili, out of fear that it may restrict democratic rights. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said […]

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Georgia gets new region and infrastructure minister

By | April 14th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , |

From left to right: Davit Narmania, Irakli Gharibashvili and Elhuja Khokrishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Elguja Khokrishvili was Monday appointed as Georgia’s new minister for regional development and infrastructure. He will take over from Davit Narmania, who is stepping down in order to run for Tbilisi mayor in the local elections on June 15. Announcing […]

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Georgia to hold local elections on June 15

By | April 14th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The 2014 local elections in Georgia will be held on June 15. This is decided in a decree by President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed April 10. The decree has been sent to the government for approval and will come into force as soon as it is published […]

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Anti-Russia rally outside government office in Tbilisi

By | April 14th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

The anti-Russia demonstrators want to ban organizations cooperating with Russia and to make it a crime to publicly deny Russian aggression against Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An anti-Russia rally outside the government office in Tbilisi Sunday demanded a ban on organizations cooperating with Russia and making it a crime to publicly deny that Russia is an aggressor. The rally was called ‘No to collaboration! No to […]

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Pro-EU rally and concert in Tbilisi

By | April 14th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

The concert was titled ‘We Want Europe’ and brought messages through speeches and music about why Georgia should become a member of the EU. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A concert was held in Tbilisi on Sunday to rally support for Georgia’s integration with the EU. The concert was called We Want Europe. Among the speakers was President Giorgi Margvelashvili who addressed the crowd in the beginning of the concert. […]

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MP and former prosecutor charged with abuse of power

By | April 12th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Roland Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has officially charged National Movement parliamentarian Roland Akhalaia. Akhalaia is charged with abusing his power as prosecutor by demanding money from the family of a defendant for entering into a plea bargain […]

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Georgia may limit questioning of politicians ahead of election

By | April 12th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani wants guidelines for criminal investigations involving people running in the local election in June. Tsulukiani did not explain more specifically what kind of rules it will be beyond calling for ‘recommendations’. She said […]

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Campaigners launch protest camp to defend ancient Georgian site

By | April 11th, 2014|Categories: News, Youth|Tags: , |

The Sakdrisi site. (Photo by Georgia’s Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A campaign to save an ancient gold mine in southern Georgia is planning to start a protest camp on Monday. The Public Committee to Save Sakdrisi, which consists of students, scientists and an initiative group of non-governmental organizations, plans […]

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Court ruling supports former GPB board members

By | April 11th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Georgian Public Broadcaster. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court has decided that the Public Broadcaster cannot fire members of its board before the end of their term. Meanwhile, parliament has still not selected new board members, a process which has been dragged out over […]

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Germany’s Steinmeier to visit Georgia in late April

By | April 11th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Photo by SPD.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit Georgia in about ten days. Steinmeier announced the trip after a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze who visited him in Germany on Thursday. One of the topics they […]

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Georgian FM Panjikidze is visiting Germany

By | April 10th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze today begins a working visit to Germany. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Panjikidze’s delegation will hold meetings with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Chancellor […]

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Russian plane flies briefly over Georgia

By | April 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

A plane of the type Antonov An-2. TBILISI, DFWatch–A Russian plane overflew Georgian-controlled territory briefly on Thursday, Georgia’s Interior Ministry confirmed. The plane, of the model Antonov An-2, flew over the village Khurcha near the de facto border with the breakaway region […]

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New tuberculosis center to be opened in Tbilisi

By | April 10th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is opening a new treatment center for tuberculosis in Tbilisi. The government is discussing the new clinic today. Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs , David Sergeenko, told reporters Thursday that the clinic, which will be located […]

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Georgian MP calls for “return” of breakaway territories

By | April 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tina Khidasheli called for a “return” of four territories under Russian control: Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestr. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A spokeswoman for Georgia’s coalition government Wednesday told European countries to be tougher against Russia and said four disputed territories currently under Russian control will be “returned”. Member of Parliament Tina Khidasheli drew on the fact […]

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Georgian parliament prepares to check safety of large facilities

By | April 9th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , |

Gia Tsagareishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is preparing to conduct impact assessments for many large factories and other facilities, built during the Soviet Union. Gia Tsagareishvili, head of parliament’s environmental committee, says many big installations have Soviet-era standards […]

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Georgian speaker: What will NATO do if Georgia is attacked?

By | April 9th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s speaker of parliament says his country could disappear from the world map if abandoned by NATO. “If Georgia takes step towards NATO, this will cause another aggression from Russia,” Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Tuesday […]

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Georgian minister says there will be no Ukraine scenario here

By | April 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili rules out that there will be a repetition in Georgia of what took place in Ukraine. Three months of protests in the center of Kiev turned violent, ending in President […]

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Georgia marks 25 years since deadly clashes with Soviet troops

By | April 9th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani took part in planting of saplings in remembrance of the 21 who died during a demonstration for Georgian independence April 9, 1989. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of the Georgian government today planted saplings in the Ninth of April Garden in Tbilisi, comemmorating the deadly dispersal of protesters by Soviet troops 25 years ago today. In remembrance of the tragedy, cabinet members planted […]

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Adjara changes its decision to allow new mosque in Batumi

By | April 8th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Muslims praying outside the Orta Jame Mosque in Batumi. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia’s southwestern Adjara region, authorities have changed their decision to allow the Muslim population to build a new mosque in Batumi, a city on the shores of the Black Sea. Tens of thousands of Muslims live in different villages and […]

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Georgia appoints ambassadors to India, Slovenia, Kuwait

By | April 8th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has appointed new ambassadors to India, Slovenia, Vatican and Kuwait. From May 1, Georgia’s ambassador to Slovenia will be Zurab Bekaia, Tamar Grdzelidze will be ambassador to Vatican from June 1, 2014, Roland Beridze will be ambassador […]

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Angela Merkel invites Georgia’s PM

By | April 8th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Angela Merkel. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany’s Angela Merkel has invited Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili to Germany. Gharibashvili will visit Germany in the beginning of June. According to Davit Maghradze, advisor at the international relations department at the government […]

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Georgia creates commission to handle election violations

By | April 7th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: |

Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani will head the commission. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has created an interagency commission to handle violations ahead of the local elections, slated for June. The commission will be led by Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani. Other members are the deputy interior minister, deputy foreign […]

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Minibus drivers in Rustavi on strike, claim tender was rigged

By | April 7th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Drivers claim the company Intertrans has ties to Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Drivers of minibuses on the route between Tbilisi and Rustavi have been on strike for the last few days, demonstrating outside the office of the Georgian Dream coalition. They accusing Rustavi city authorities and Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze […]

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Georgia denies reports of mass issuing of Russian passports

By | April 7th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

The Russian Interests Section. (Radio Voice of Abkhazia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia denies reports that the consular office for Russian interests in Tbilisi is issuing Russian passports. Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said this information is false. Georgia and Russia do not have diplomatic […]

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Autopsy report published in case of Data Akhalaia witness death

By | April 7th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has released the autopsy report in the case of a witness who died. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday published more material regarding the death of a witness who testified against a recently convicted Saakashvili ally. Shalva Tatukhashvili died March 23 in his home, after testifying against Data Akhalaia, […]

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Bullying in schools is a persistent problem in Georgia

By | April 6th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Bullying on religious grounds is a big problem in schools in Georgia, according to the human rights group EMC. (Ministry of Education.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A human rights group in Georgia warns of an alarming trend of intolerance of religious minorities in public schools. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) studied eight schools in Tbilisi and found that the Ministry of Education has not […]

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Opposition groups form coalition in Tbilisi

By | April 5th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , |

Dimitri Lortkipanidze, the United Opposition’s candidate for Tbilisi Mayor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A coalition of opposition parties not represented in parliament met on Friday to present their candidate for Tbilisi Mayor: former MP Dimitry Lortkipanidze. The coalition was created by Nino Burjanadze’s Democratic Movement together with three […]

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Close Saakashvili ally questioned about embezzlement

By | April 5th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Giga Bokeria claims he was called in for questioning for political reasons. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prosecutors in Georgia Friday questioned the former secretary of the country’s Security Council in an embezzlement case. Walking out after five hours inside the Prosecutor’s Office, Giga Bokeria said the interrogation was conducted in a peaceful […]

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Saakashvili wants to educate Ukrainians in reforms

By | April 4th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is to start a center for the study of reforms in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Saakashvili, who is currently in Kiev, said in an interview with a TV channel there that he wants to share his experiences […]

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Georgia had 8 percent increase in visitors in March

By | April 4th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

10% more tourists visited Georgia in January-March 2014, compared to the year before. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia had an 8 percent increase in number of visitors in March, 2014, compared to the same period last year. There came 392,725 visitors in the third month of 2014, according to new monthly figures published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. […]

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Georgian prosecutors proceed without Saakashvili’s help

By | April 4th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian prosecutors will not question ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. The investigation continues without his testimony. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze said on Thursday that Saakashvili failed to do his citizen duty and come for […]

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Georgian PM visits site of new air, sea and land transit hub

By | April 3rd, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: , |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia on Wednesday confirmed plans for a new airport in conjunction with a port in Anaklia, a small settlement on the Black Sea coast, on the border with Abkhazia. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who visited Anaklia with Infrastructure […]

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Lawyer group demands effective investigation of prisoner abuse

By | April 3rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Kakha Kojoridze from Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) demands that the government starts investigating several cases of possible mistreatment of prisoners. According to GYLA, 17 persons have contacted the organization the last 2 months, eight of them tell about […]

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NATO chief doesn’t exclude Georgian membership plan

By | April 3rd, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (NATO photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen does not rule out that the alliance might give Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the summit in Wales in September. At a press conference in Brussels yesterday, a journalist from Georgia’s […]

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Videos seem to rule out torture of Data Akhalaia witness

By | April 3rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

The office of Georgia’s chief prosecutor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has described more details surrounding the death of Shalva Tatukhashvili, which it says shows that he could not have been tortured during interrogation. Tatukhashvili, a former deputy department head […]

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Poland’s Komorowski urges Georgia to sign EU treaty

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili (left), and President of Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski. TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, on Wednesday met with his Polish counterpart Bronisław Komorowski. Margvelashvili spoke about Georgia’s integration with Europe and Poland’s experience in the same regard. The two also discussed security […]

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NATO chief reiterates support for Georgia’s borders

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (NATO photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels and discussed the Ukraine crisis, the alliance’s secretary general underlined that it supports Georgia’s borders. “At this time, it is more important than ever to stress that the breach of territorial […]

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Georgia expects visa free travel with Schengen by 2016

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: |

Georgia’s Minister for Euro-Integration Alexi Petriashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government hopes its country’s citizens will be able to travel to Schengen countries visa free from 2016 at the latest. Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili said on Monday that he hopes to see the first phase […]

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Georgian President Margvelashvili visiting Poland

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Wednesday began a two day visit to Poland. On the first day of his visit, Margvelashvili was to meet his Polish colleague, after which they were slated to hold a joint press conference. He will also meet with […]

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Poll shows Georgian Dream winning Tbilisi mayoral race

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , , |

Georgian Dream’s candidate for Tbilisi mayor, Davit Narmania, who currently is Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a new poll, 52 percent of Tbilisians say they would vote for the Georgian Dream candidate for mayor if the local elections were held tomorrow. Four percent say they won’t vote for anyone, and 18 percent haven’t decided yet. Another source […]

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Live interviews of 27 candidates for Public Broadcaster board

By | April 1st, 2014|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , |

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The 27 candidates for the Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will be interviewed live on GPB’s Channel 2 Wednesday and Thursday. After going through a round of interviews, a shortlist of 15 candidates will be sent to parliament, […]

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76 prisoners released by parole board

By | April 1st, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Gldani prison in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–76 prisoners were released before the end of their sentence term today; two minors and one woman. The Prison Ministry’s local board of parole discussed the cases of about 900 prisoners who have served more than half of their sentence in cases […]

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Death of a witness calls into question interrogation methods

By | April 1st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The lawyer and the family of a man who died after questioning claim the Prosecutor’s Office tortured him to produce false testimony and that he died as a result of torture. The results of the autopsy will be known by the end of the week. Meanwhile, […]

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Improved human rights in Georgia, but minorities are discriminated

By | April 1st, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: |

Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Discrimination of sexual, ethnic and religious minorities, child marriage, family violence, bullying in schools, people affected by hydro power development and mistreatment of prisoners. These are some of the human rights challenges in the Georgian […]

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Georgia expecting a ‘benificial decision’ at NATO summit

By | April 1st, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is expecting a ‘beneficial decision’ from the NATO summit in Newport, Wales in September. Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili said Monday that a statement made by US President Barack Obama last week was a lesson for him and other […]

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Tuvalu withdraws recognition of Georgian breakaway regions

By | March 31st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Taukelina Finikaso (left), Foreign Minister of Tuvalu, and Maia Panjikidze, Foreign Minister of Georgia. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tuvalu has withdrawn its recognition of the Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. A government delegation from Tuvalu is visiting Georgia these days to sign a protocol establishing diplomatic and consular relations between the two […]

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UNM parliamentarian attacked in Tbilisi by masked men

By | March 31st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Nugzar Tsiklauri received minor injuries, mostly to his face. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A close ally of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was attacked Sunday night in Tbilisi. Nugzar Tsiklauri, an outspoken member of parliament for the National Movement Party, recalls that at about 3 am Monday morning he was approached […]

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Are interruptions in Georgia’s wine export economic warfare?

By | March 31st, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: , |

Levan Davitashvili, head of Georgia’s National Wine Agency. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are interruptions in the export of wine from Georgia to Belarus, although formally the export is not stopped. The sale of wine to Ukraine and Russia is continuing without any restrictions, according to Levan Davitashvili, head […]

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Controversial preacher holds law lecture at Tbilisi City Court

By | March 30th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Father Teodore Gignadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the most prominent and famous representatives of Georgian clergy, Teodore Gignadze, Saturday held a lecture at Tbilisi City Court. Gignadze is head of Cross Ascension Monastery and has become famous for his controversial […]

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Georgia’s EU treaty will be signed by the prime minister

By | March 29th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When Georgia finally signs the Association Agreement with the EU by the end of June, it will be the prime minister who does the signing, not the president. Exactly who will sign the agreement – president or prime minister – has been a subject of […]

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Georgian PM wants constitutional block against same-sex marriage

By | March 28th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , , |

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister wants to define a family as a union between a man and a woman. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says he has asked the constitutional commission to look at his proposal. “Though according to the current legislation, […]

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EU criticizes Georgia for failing to protect human rights

By | March 28th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: |

Orthodox priests removing a police block May 17, 2013, that separated their supporters from the LGBT rights group. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU criticizes Georgia for not having done enough in 2013 to protect freedom of speech and prevent violent outbreaks of islamophobia and homophobia. The new report is published by the European Commission and is part of the implementation of the […]

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Georgians debate Obama’s comment on NATO expansion

By | March 28th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Obama’s comments regarding NATO expansion was eagerly debated in Tbilisi Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that there has not been any immediate plans for expansion of NATO’s membership, referring to Ukraine and Georgia. His statement caused protest and criticism among some in Georgia. On Thursday, […]

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Saakashvili refuses to be questioned via Skype

By | March 28th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has refused an offer from the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office to give witness testimony via Skype. Saakashvili was called to come and answer questions about ten criminal cases, with status as witness, but the […]

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Pro- and anti-Russia demonstrators clash in Tbilisi

By | March 27th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two people have been detained during a scuffle at a demonstration against the US sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. The non-governmental organization Earth is our Home held a rally on Pushkin Square in the center of Tbilisi to express support for eleven Russian […]

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Georgia to start funding religious minorities

By | March 27th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: |

A mosque in Chela, Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia will finance four traditional religious confessions besides the Orthodox Church. Non-traditional religions will not receive financing. Until now, the Orthodox Church has received financing from the state, the argument being […]

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Saakashvili did not show up, supporters and opponents clash

By | March 27th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Supporters and opponents of Mikheil Saakashvili fought each other outside the Chief Prosecutor’s office in Tbilisi, where the former Georgian president failed to show up for questioning today. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili was supposed to meet at the Prosecutor’s Office today at 13:00, but he didn’t come. Supporters and opponents had gathered at the office and clashed and two people were detained for hooliganism. “Today I am Misha […]

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LGBT group in Georgia cancels May 17 demonstration

By | March 27th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , |

Clerics led the charge against a small LGBT demonstration in Tbilisi May 17, 2013. This year there will be no such event. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Identoba, an organization which protects the rights of sexual minorities in Georgia, has decided to not mark the international day against homophobia May 17. Last year, the organization announced it would organize a demonstration for the rights […]

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Georgia without ambassador to the UK for more than a year

By | March 26th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , , , |

Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has been without an ambassador to the UK for more than a year. In recent days, a candidate who is being considered for the post became a subject of dispute among politicians. During the process of so-called co-habitation between ex-president […]

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Saakashvili refuses to come home for questioning, blames Putin

By | March 26th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Tuesday made his first comments regarding the news that he is asked to testify in ten serious criminal cases in his home country. Many of his closest associates have been put on trial in the last two […]

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Saakashvili wanted at home, party office sprayed with red paint

By | March 25th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Demonstrators called on former President Saakashvili to come home and answer questions about ten criminal cases. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Demonstrators in Georgia Tuesday demanded that former President Mikheil Saakashvili returns to his home country and answers questions from prosecutors. Two people were detained for throwing red paint at party symbols outside the National Movement […]

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Strike in Kazreti called off after agreement with RMG Gold

By | March 25th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Locals demonstrating in Kazreti in February, 2014. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A protest in the Georgian village Kazreti, where people protested the treatments of workers in the gold mines, ended on Monday. RMG Gold, the company which owns the mines in Kazreti, reached agreement with the demonstrators, who protest against […]

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Georgian anti-gay activists warn of tougher line

By | March 25th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , , |

May 17, 2013, thousands of anti-gay activists disrupted a small peaceful demonstration in Tbilisi to mark the international day against homophobia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Anti-gay activists and clerics want to be more tough toward LGBT rights activists if the latter demonstrate for their rights on May 17, on the one-year anniversary of a violent attacks on them organized by Orthodox priests. Pressed with multiple […]

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Supporters and opponents of NATO clash in Tbilisi

By | March 24th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

A group advocating the Russian-led Eurasian Union planned to demonstrate against NATO, but were interrupted by an angry crowd. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three people were detained in Tbilisi on Monday as supporters and opponents of NATO clashed outside the Cinema House. Tension was already high during the screening of a 30 minutes long film about NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia […]

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17% increase in Georgia’s foreign trade Jan-Feb confirmed

By | March 24th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

Georgia’s foreign trade was 17% higher in the two first months of 2014, compared to 2013, but most of the trade is import. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover January-February, 2014, was USD 1 567 million. This is a 17 percent increase, compared to the same period last year. Precise figures from Georgian National Statistics Department, GeoStat, show that export accounted […]

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Two detainees in Zhvania case placed in pre-trial detention

By | March 24th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two men detained for negligence in connection with the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania were Sunday placed in pre-trial detention by Tbilisi City Court. Levan Chachua, who participated in the autopsy on Zhvania’s body in 2005, and Mikheil […]

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West warns Georgia against prosecuting Saakashvili

By | March 24th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , |

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves warns that Georgia’s EU treaty may be stalled if the investigation of former officials continues. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Western partners are threatening that prosecuting former President Saakashvili may jeopardize an EU treaty and membership in NATO. Georgia has for years sought closer integration with the European Union and membership in NATO. In June, […]

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Georgian soldiers in NATO-Ukraine military exercise

By | March 24th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Ukrainian soldiers in the joint NATO exercise Saber Guardian, which was launched Friday in Bulgaria. (Photo by Brooks Fletcher/US Army.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian soldiers are participating in a two-week joint NATO-Ukraine military exercise in eastern Bulgaria, 400 km from Crimea. The exercise, which started Friday. is called Saber Guardian and has been planned for about a year. It involves 700 […]

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Saakashvili called in for questioning in numerous cases

By | March 22nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

May become a wanted person. Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili addressing the crowd at Independence Square in Kiev, December 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili will be declared a wanted person if he doesn’t come and answer questions in a long list of criminal cases. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said this today. “If he does not come, he will be declared […]

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SO field meeting highlights border problems and helicopter overflight

By | March 22nd, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , , |

Problems created by new border fences was brought up again at the regular field meeting between the parties in the 2008 war. (EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The parties in the 2008 war met again on Friday for a field meeting in a tent in Ergneti, a village on the border with South Ossetia. These field meetings are formally called Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and hosted by the EU’s […]

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One more detained in case about Georgian PM’s death

By | March 22nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained a second person in connection with the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania in 2005. The new detainee is Mikheil Dzadzamia, who was head of the shift of Zhvania’s security, and the charge is the same: negligence. […]

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EU speeds up signing of treaties with Georgia and Moldova

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , , , |

EU leaders will sign treaties with Georgia and Moldova no later than June 2014, Barroso wrote on Twitter. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Council accelerates the process of signing association agreements with two former Soviet republics, Georgia and Moldova. The move comes amid an escalating crisis in Ukraine, where there is a threat of unrest spreading in the eastern […]

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Georgia creates service center to assist exporters

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: , |

Grape harvest 2013. Wine if one of Georgia’s export products. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ministry of Economy Giorgi Kvirikashvili is creating a new service center to protect the interests of exporters. Kvirikashvili said on Thursday said that the new body will start working from Friday. “Along with positive trends in Georgia’s foreign trade turnover, […]

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UN helping Georgia improve disaster preparedness

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , , |

The coastal city Batumi was damaged by a storm in March, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United Nations will help Georgia strengthen its preparedness against natural disasters. “Georgia is often challenged by the risk of natural disasters, which seriously jeopardizes the country’s economy, as well as our citizens,” Environment […]

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Pathologist detained in case about death of Georgian PM

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has ordered the detention of pathologist Levan Chachua in relation with the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. Chachua was one of the experts who conducted an autopsy on Zhvania’s body in 2005, and […]

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Georgian PM horrified by Zhvania autopsy photos

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says it was horrible to see recently published photographs from 2005 of PM Zurab Zhvania’s dead body. Gharibashvili said he thinks the case doesn’t need ‘additional speculation.’ He also said that […]

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Debate: Minorities and local government reform in Georgia

By | March 20th, 2014|Categories: Minorities, News|Tags: , , |

Journalist Rusiko Machaidze, Zaur Khalilov from Civil Integration Fund and Levan Vepkhvadze of the Christian-Democratic Movement.  (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On March 14 , DFWatch.net organized a discussion about ethnic minorities’ participation problems in pre-election process. The non-parliamentary opposition and representatives of NGOs working with minority rights participated […]

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Saakashvili ideologue questioned about university privatization

By | March 20th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Kakha Bendukidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday questioned an influential Georgian economist in connection with an investigation into possible embezzlement when the Agricultural University was privatized. Kakha Bendukize, an influential businessman and free market […]

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Autopsy photos of deceased Georgian PM posted on Youtube

By | March 20th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

In the 2012 election campaign, the Georgian Dream coalition demanded a new investigation of Zhvania’s death. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For several days a video titled “Saakashvili murderer” has gone viral in social media in Georgia. The video, which was first uploaded on Youtube, shows photos of the dead bodies of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Raul Usupov, who died […]

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Georgians switching off phones one hour to protest wiretapping

By | March 20th, 2014|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , , |

Eka Gigauri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, campaigners are asking people to switch off their mobile phones for one hour on Friday to protest illegal wiretapping. The campaign ‘This Affects You Too – They Still Listen to Us’ envisages turning off mobile phones every Friday […]

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NATO parliamentarians coming to Georgia next week

By | March 19th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is coming to Georgia March 24-26. The NATO parliamentarians will be attending a round table discussion at the NATO office here. Another part of the visit is a meeting with their Georgian counterparts […]

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France’s Hollande visiting Georgia May 13

By | March 19th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

President of France François Hollande. (Photo by Remi Jouan.) TBILISI, DFWatch–French President François Hollande will visit Georgia on May 13, the foreign minister of the host country said on Wednesday. Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said the schedule and other details of the visit are still being put together. […]

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Ivanishvili dissatisfied with president he recommended

By | March 19th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is dissatisfied with the president that he selected as candidate. Ivanishvili selected Giorgi Margvelashvili as the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate before the presidential election in October […]

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Ten persons convicted in torture ring case in Georgia

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Ten persons have been convicted in the case about a secret weapons cache in Samegrelo, a region in eastern Georgia. In summer of last year, the government found weapons, video and audio recordings buried in barrels in the ground in Samegrelo. Apart […]

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Dead fish found on shores of recreational lake near Tbilisi

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: Environment, News|Tags: , |

Dead fish on the shores of Kumisi Lake. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A large number of dead fish has been discovered on the shores of Kumisi Lake. Specialists at the National Food Agency claim the fish died due to a lack of water and oxygen. Kumisi Lake is a popular place for anglers and lies about 20 km south […]

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Afghanistan and Georgia consider economic cooperation

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osman with Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s Foreign Minister. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Afghanistan is interested in Georgia’s location and prospects for cooperation in the fields of economy and transport, but nothing specific has yet been said about concrete project. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osman on Monday talked […]

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Former head of Georgia’s special police charged with fraud

By | March 17th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Erekle Kodua, former head of the Special Operations Department. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has charged former Interior Ministry official Erekle Kodua with abuse of power and fraud. Erekle Kodua is former head of the Interior Ministry’s Special Operative Department (SOD). Investigators found that on August […]

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Georgia’s foreign trade up 17% Jan-Feb

By | March 17th, 2014|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover was USD 1 567 million in January-February 2014, according to preliminary figures from Georgian National Statistics Department, GeoStat. The figures show that foreign trade turnover in the first two months of the year […]

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