TBILISI, DFWatch — The National Movement party of President Saakashvili is boycotting parliament. Its representatives have returned to Tbilisi, saying they are moving into ‘another regime of activity’. Vano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister and Secretary […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering launching an investigation into the war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008. The Justice Ministry of Georgia on Wednesday released a statement which says that in accordance with Georgia’s international […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The ex-energy minister in Georgia, Alexandre Khetaguri, has been detained, suspected of accepting bribes in connection with power stations only months ago. Also other former government officials have been detained in the case, suspected of having received […]
The example of one small country The reason behind this letter lies in critical comments made by western political circles and media concerning the government, which was elected by the majority of the citizens of Georgia in the October 2012 parliamentary election, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — In Georgia, the prime minster and the president have clashed over what to do with newly built and half finished buildings. During President Saakashvili’s rule, modern complexes have popped up around the capital Tbilisi and in other towns […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — EU is giving another €22 million to Georgia this year in recognition of its reform efforts. Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, on Wednesday attended the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council in Brussels. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Another former prime minister in Georgia was Tuesday called in for questioning. This time, Nika Gilauri spent five hours with the investigative service of the finance ministry, answering them about the sale of a park area in Tbilisi. The head […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili hopes to meet with the Russian leaders Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev in the future. Recently Georgia’s special representative for Russian relations met the deputy foreign minister of Russia in Geneva. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former defense minister who is in prison awaiting trial has gone on hunger strike. Irakli Okruashvili, who is charged with abuse of powers and extortion, says he is doing it to express solidarity with ten other prisoners who didn’t make […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has decided to finance media and non-government organizations and issued a special decree December 17, 2012. A program to contribute to the civil sector and development of free media will […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Lawmakers in Georgia want to make it illegal to use condoms that enhance sexual pleasure. Other condoms will be legal. On Monday, a disputes was brought to a calm in parliament after a debate about what specifically can be called a sexual […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court has ruled out that there will be criminal charges brought against the friends of Buta Robakidze, who was killed by police in 2004. November 24, 2004 Giorgi Kurdadze, Kakhaber Azariashvili and Akaki Bartaia, all friends of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian sailors who are stranded off the coast of Panama plan a lawsuit at the marine court in that country. The twelve Georgian sailors on a ship sailing under Nigerian flag plan to file the suit on Monday if their demands aren’t met. “The temperature is […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian police have seized a large amount of ammunition in an abandoned house in a town in the south of the country. According to Interior Ministry, the ammunition was hidden at an abandoned airport dormitory house in the town Akhalkalaki. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The season’s first snowfall has led to restrictions on traffic several places in Georgia. The snow is causing problems in the Kakheti region, in east Georgia. Local media also report that ice is making it difficult for people to move around […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Police have detained the uncle of a former interior minister for illegally cutting forest. Levan Tumanishvili the head of Tao LTD, was Saturday interrogated for violation of the conditions of a license for using the forest, after trees were […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Ministry plans to improve conditions for Georgian soldiers serving in NATO’s ISAF mission to Afghanistan. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Friday stated that the salary will be increased for Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia and Russia representatives on Friday agreed to continue the dialogue. Zurab Abashidze, the Prime Minister’s special representative for Russian relations, and Gregory Karasin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, on Friday met in Geneva. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — General Director of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster (GPB) Gia Chanturia has resigned. He handed in his resignation letter to the GPB’s supervisory board, which approved it today at a special session. Late Thursday night, there were unconfirmed […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The power company Telasi has brought back 73 out of 107 employees who were fired, according to the company’s director. Workers at Telasi, which distributes electricity in Tbilisi, have been out in the streets for two months. They were among the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Defense Ministry in Georgia has published details about flights made by the government with a Gulfstream G450 which was recently withdrawn from use due to budget cuts. The information used to be state secrets, but was published because of the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s direct foreign investments have significantly decreased in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, according to Georgia’s National Statistics Department, Geostat. According to the new report, the total amount […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Russian police have published new evidence which seems to strengthen the case that Georgian politicians tried to foment social unrest in Russia. The evidence relates to the connections between the Russian opposition and the Georgian […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The US supports Georgia’s decision to start direct talks with Russia, Thomas O. Melia, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, said Thursday. Melia, whose full title is U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The two countries fought a brief war in August 2008. Tomorrow they will meet face to face for the first time. The meeting will take place on neutral ground in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of periodic talks between the sides in that war. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The U.S. is closely monitoring the transition of power from President Saakashvili’s National Movement to Prime Minister Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition. Also subject to scrutiny is how well the two political blocs are working together, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili has lost one of his two business jets. The new government has decided not to allow the president to use it anymore. Alexandre Burchuladze, Deputy Defense Minister said in an interview with Rustavi 2 that the reason […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A member of parliament from Saakashvili’s National Movement party is being called in for questioning regarding the beating of a businessman. According to the prosecutor’s office, Paata Lezhava on September 23, 2012 beat businessman […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Two U.S. government officials arrived in Georgia Wednesday as part of a tour of the Caucasus. Thomas Melia from the State Department and Catherine Newcombe from the Department of Justice, will meet with Georgian government officials, media and […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The interior minister says the crime situation in Georgia now is under control, but remains difficult. Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says criminals have taken advantage of the process of handing over power. “We weren’t able to timely […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — South Ossetia – a breakaway region of Georgia – is ranked among the world’s most repressive regimes by Freedom House. Freedom House, a non-governmental organization, has published a new report called ‘The Worst of the Worst: The World’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A man who was recently released from prison has reportedly attacked someone with a knife. The interior ministry December 10 reported that a prisoner named Tengiz injured a 31-year old man called Tamaz with knife and escaped from the scene. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko says he is prepared to beg on his knees for the Georgian government to return the country to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Lukashenko said this in Minsk on Tuesday during a meeting […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court Tuesday heard two separate set of charges against former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, and determined that he must remain in pre-trial custody. The first set of charges pertain to negligence of duty while he as defense […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian sailors who have been stranded on an abandoned ship in Panama are still suffering from hunger and unable to leave. The crew of Maria Del Carmen, which is flying a Nigerian flag, released a letter on Monday which says that they still […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Georgian interior ministry official was Monday given 40 days preliminary detention in Ukraine by a court in Kiev. Ukraine is considering Oleg Melnikov’s extradition to Georgia during his detention, online media in Ukraine report. Melnikov has a background […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian government is in negotiations with President Saakashvili’s associates about releasing detained officials against replacing ambassadors appointed while he held government power. The unusual high level “prisoner exchange” has become […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia will have the chairmanship of GUAM in 2013. Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said at Monday’s regular briefing that Georgia was officially appointed in Dublin a few days ago, at a session of the GUAM foreign minister council. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — At last, Georgia and Russia will meet to start sorting out their differences. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations after the war in 2008. Zurab Abashidze, Georgia’s Special Representative for Russian relations, on Monday said that […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Russia and Georgia will soon meet to discuss allowing import of Georgian agricultural products and restoring regular flights between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is ready to start talks about the issue, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Prime Minister expects to see a rise in crime for a few days after a mass amnesty comes into force, and says the population should understand and get on with it. Bidzina Ivanishvili Saturday visited parliament in Kutaisi, and […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Police in Ukraine have detained a former Georgian interior ministry official, who was announced wanted by Interpol and is sentenced to preliminary detention. Oleg Melnikov was detained in Kiev on grounds of information provided by Interpol […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia has presented a 2013 budget of USD 5.3 billion. USD 4.4 billion of this is expenditure. The revised budget comes as a result of consultations after critical remarks by members of parliament, and the new […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Ucha Nanuashvili has been chosen as Georgia’s new ombudsman. The 38 year old lawyer has more than 15 years of experience as a human rights worker and is currently director of the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center. Mr Nanuashvili’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was Friday questioned a second time about his attempt to leave the country with a fake passport November 30. The interior ministry has made public several witness statements seeming to confirm that […]
Ahmed Chataev, who denies guilt, was released on bail Thursday. He lost a leg in the border shooting near Dagestan in August, 2012. According to Chataev this was the first attempt by boeviks to enter Chechnya from Georgia after the end of the second Chechen war. (IPN.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court on Thursday released a man detained after a firefight on the border with Russia in late August, 2012. Akhmed Chatayev was released on USD 3 000 bail, which he will have to pay within 30 days. August 28, Georgia started […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s interior ministry is investigating one more attempt to jump the border with a fake passport. The ministry says it discovered a suspicious passport issued in the name of Gocha Tsereteli, but the photo shows former Deputy Interior […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The revenues into Georgia’s state accounts have decreased by USD 50.5 million lari compared to the budget. For this reason, priorities will be shifted until next year. According to the 2012 budget, revenues should have been USD 5 billion […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says the meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission on Wednesday was not a step forward for the country. Saakashvili made the comment during a working visit to Poland. “Unfortunately, we didn’t see […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO will not interfere in the legal process in Georgia in regard to the recent detentions of former government officials, the alliance’s Secretary General says. After summing up a meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission in Brussels, Anders […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Dream, the party of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili which recently took over government power, has about five times more support than the National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The is the result of a poll […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Patriarch Ilia II hosted Israeli Ambassador Yuval Fuchs and his wife at the Patriarch’s residence in Mtskheta, close to the capital. Fuchs thanked Illia II for his merits in deepening relations between the two states in regards to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian authorities are continuing their investigation into former interior minister Vano Merabishvili for trying to leave the country with a forged passport. According to the interior ministry, Merabishvili gave them false information on purpose […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Germany’s foreign minister Guido Westerwelle says he hopes the change of government in Georgia won’t influence the country’s course towards NATO and the EU. Westerwelle said this ahead of a meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Russia wants to know how Georgia plans to improve relations with its neighbors. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said this while answering questions at a press conference in connection with the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The governing coalition in Georgia wants parliament back to the capital Tbilisi, but with an added option to meet at other places if necessary. Recent consultations among the Georgian Dream coalition, which came to power after the October 1, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO stands if Georgia fulfills necessary criteria, NATO Secretary General states. Anders Fogh Rasmussen was speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the NATO-Russia […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prosecutors in Georgia are preparing to press charges in several cases of prison abuse, based on a series of leaked videos which spurred a major scandal in September. Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said at a press conference on Tuesday […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Interior Ministry official has been sentenced to pre-trial detention in absentia. Data Akhalaia, former chair of the feared Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry, is charged, together with Soso Topuridze and Geronti […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Minister and President have agreed on a new candidate for Chair of the Joint Staff. Irakli Alasania, Defense Minister on Tuesday presented Colonel Irakli Dzneladze who will be filling this post. A day before, consultations […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Military Police in Georgia have seized about a hundred weapons of different types at an apartment in Tbilisi. Vako Avaliani, Advisor to the Defense Minister, on Monday said the weapons were not registered. The ministry learned about the location […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Seven persons died Monday evening in a car accident in Western Georgia, according to the Interior Ministry. In a statement the ministry writes that the accident took place at about 20:00 in the village Tseva, in the Imereti region. A truck […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO’s Foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels December 4 and 5. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, will chair the meeting. Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister arrived in Brussels Monday evening […]
Data Akhalaia, former chair of the Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry, Georgia’s domestic intelligence service, has been charged in absentia for abuse of powers and illegal deprivation of liberty. Akhalaia, the brother of the detained […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Another Interior Ministry official has been interrogated regarding the murder of Buta Robakidze, who was killed by police in 2004. This time Levan Gvazava, Former Deputy Interior Minister was interrogated. He was called in for questioning on […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The court released a former interior ministry official on bail until the trial, in the most controversial case among the recent detentions. Tengiz Gunava on Sunday was sentenced to pay USD 6 000 bail. First he was detained for illegal possession […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was Saturday interrogated. He did not comment except saying it’s a pity that the prime minister is using the interior ministry as a tool of repression against the opposition. The interior ministry […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Saturday evening around 30 local organizations marked World AIDS Day with an event on Freedom Square in Tbilisi. Volunteers and organizers of the event stood and formed of giant ribbon holding candles in red plastic glasses as a sign of solidarity […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — An editorial comment published by the Washington Post has caused great controversy in Georgia. “The magnate-turned-prime minister said last week that his first official visit to the United States had been postponed, which is a good thing. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Philanthropist George Soros on Saturday visited Georgia and met with Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. George Soros’ visit will last for two days ending December 2. Ketevan Kutsishvili, Chair of Open Society Georgia Foundation, which was founded […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The former interior minister Vano Merabishvili is under investigation for having tried to board a flight from Tbilisi go Yerevan Friday with a forged passport. Merabishvili was traveling together with President Saakashvili and others. According […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Four former officials from the Interior Ministry will be charged with illegal deprivation of freedom, torture and abuse of powers. Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said at a briefing Friday that former Deputy Defense Minister Data Akhalaia, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland gave more details about a meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Georgian foreign minister Maia Panjikidze Thursday. Nuland said the two discussed the recent detentions of several […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Ani Nadareishvili, wife of the detained former interior and defense minister Bacho Akhalaia, is founding a new non-governmental organization (NGO). The new NGO will request official statistics about the criminal cases recently from the interior […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s opposition National Movement party is reacting to statements made by U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit by Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze to the US. “We are very much supportive of the peaceful […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Interior Ministry official who was recently detained, but let out on bail, has again been detained. Tengiz Gunava, former chair of General Inspection at the Interior Ministry after Bacho Akhalaia was appointed as minister, was called […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A TV company affiliated with the governing Georgian Dream coalition is going to become a general broadcaster. Thursday morning it became known that TV 9 will become a general broadcaster, which means that it will have the right to broadcast […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s new government Thursday detained another official from the previous government. Kakha Getsadze, trustee of Zestaponi, a town in western Georgia, who is also president of the Wrestling Federation, was November 29 detained. He is accused […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, says there is need for further reforms of the justiciary in Georgia to create rule of law. Commenting on the recent detention of dozens of former government […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia has started amending the country’s labor code, which has been criticized by local groups and the international community. The parliamentary committee on health care and social issues initiated a draft amendment […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Interior Minister says he is not alarmed by a 50 percent increase in petty crime after the new government came to power, compared to previous months. After the Georgian Dream coalition took over in early October, the National Movement […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia spends nearly USD 85 000 per day on its president, while the minimum amount of pension is USD 60 a month. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said it on Wednesday as his government was discussing the 2013 draft budget, and the comment […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — An investigation may be launched against the former parliament speaker in Georgia. Koba Davitashvili, who represents the majority in parliament, demands an investigation against Davit Bakradze, the former parliament speaker in the previous period. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian investigators are preparing a massive check-up of seven departments in the Tbilisi City Hall system. The press office of City Hall says an investigation has been launched at three different bodies: the Finance Ministry, Interior Ministry […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — There were clashes between supporters of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and President Mikheil Saakaashvili in two Georgian villages on Tuesday. Locals in Martvili, a small town in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region in the west, demanded […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — EU-Georgia today opened the fourth round of negotiations of the proposed Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) in Brussels. In parallel, the twelfth session of negotiations of Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU was also […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for EU and Eurasian Affairs, held a meeting with Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Tuesday. At the meeting the parties spoke about US-Georgian relations, expressing hope to further […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Investigators in Georgia have reopened the case of the death of a former prime minister, according to his brother. Goga Zhvania, brother of Zurab Zhvania, who served as Saakashvili’s first prime minister from 2004 to 2005, yesterday evening […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in EU and Eurasian Affairs, is visiting Georgia. Rubin will have meetings during November 27-29. The US Embassy in Georgia informed DF Watch that Eric Rubin will meet representatives of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia increased its foreign trade turnover with 15 percent in the first ten months of 2012. In plain numbers it totaled USD 8 521 million. Out of this, export was USD 1 985 million, while import was USD 6 536 million. The country’s negative […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Monday met with Prime Minister and President. Briefing the media at Sheraton Metekhi Hotel, Catherine Ashton said she arrived to congratulate both Prime Minister and […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A statue of Joseph Stalin in a town east in Georgia which was dismantled in 2011 has been restored. According to Information Center of Kakheti, locals Sunday morning discovered the restored Stalin statue in Akhmeta. The monument of the Soviet […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — One of Georgia’s richest businessmen increased his share of ownership in one of the country’s largest chains of petrol stations. Davit Iakobashvili is the largest shareholder in Gulf Company. According to Gulf’s press office, he has now increased […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Catherine Ashton, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, visits Georgia. Her one day visit includes meetings with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanisvhili and Foreign Affairs […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Interior Minister who is accused of abuse of power says he is ready to answer all questions, but that the accusations against him can not be taken seriously. The case broke a few days ago, when the Interior Ministry provided the prosecutor’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Three Georgian citizens have been released from prison in occupied Tskhinvali region. The three were arrested for crossing the de facto border at the village Kirbali, near the town Gori. Georgia’s Interior Ministry informs that Gia and Akaki […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The interior ministry in Georgia has asked the prosecutors to investigate former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili. Ministry spokesperson Nino Giorgobiani Saturday morning explained at a press conference that the material submitted to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A friend of the Tbilisi Mayor suspected of money laundering was today released on a USD 90 000 bail for 30 days. Giorgi Kelbakiani, Georgia Director of the construction company NCC, and Archil Chigogava, Financial Director of the same company […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Prime Minister’s visit to the US has been postponed until next year. Bidzina Ivanishvili explains that too many problems arise when he leaves the country. At Thursday’s press conference, the Prime Minister spoke very little about […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Appeals Court released four out of ten employees of the Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry from pretrial detention on Thursday evening. All of them left prison at about 04:00 in the morning. November 15, ten employees […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prime Minister says that the planned law about amnesty may increase the level of crime for a certain time in the country, but society should understand this. At Thursday’s press conference at Radisson Blu Iveria with tens of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The well known Georgian mineral water Borjomi is ready to be brought back on the Russian market. November 19, Borjomi International Company officially appealed to the chair of Russia’s consumer protection agency CPS (Rospotrebnadzor) requesting […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The former government in Georgia accuses the new government of having illegally granted prisoners status as political prisoners, but new the government denies the accusation. After a parliamentary committee recognized 186 persons as political […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili will not impeach President Mikheil Saakashvili, as he previously had said he would do. “When we enter parliament as a majority we will immediately begin to discuss his impeachment if he doesn’t proceed to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A friend of the Tbilisi mayor who is co-owner and director of a large construction company was yesterday detained accused of money laundering. Giorgi Kelbakiani, who owns 70 percent of the shares in, and is director of NCC Ltd, was detained […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who recently became prime minister of Georgia, is considering going back on a promise to leave politics in a year and a half. During the election campaign, Ivanishvili claimed that he would leave politics […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Estonia has recognized so-called neutral passports as travel documents. The Reintegration Minister’s office November 12 received a note from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Estonia which said that the country approves the documents as valid […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian parliament has decided to study the expenses spent on constructing an entirely new building for the assembly in the city Kutaisi, in western Georgia. It was a controversial decision from the start to move parliament to the west, made […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The majority in parliament wants the government to take control over the Special State Protection Service (SSPS). Today, this security force answers directly to the president. Parliament’s committee on human rights today reviewed the issue. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia will continue its participation in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan also after 2014. Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said this while briefing David Lidington, the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, about the Georgian […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday has released the accused former head of the General Headquarters from detention for a third time as he awaits trial for beating and harassing his subordinates. The Prosecutor’s Office asked the court to detain […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — David Lidington, the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, will visit Georgia on November 21 and 22. Wednesday, he will meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Maia Panjikidze, Foreign Affairs Minister, Giga […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili calls on the new government to start fulfilling its election promises and stop vengeance, comparing Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili with the French revolutionary leader Maximilien de Robespierre. He drew attention […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The court hearing for former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was postponed till December 3 at the request of his lawyers. Okruashvili served as minister in Saakashvili’s government, but left in 2007 and has since been living in France, where he has […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Alexi Petriashvili, State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration, November 19 left for Brussels to attend the session. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is also on a working visit to Brussels, both participating in the NGC session on the level […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former Defense Minister who has lived the last years as a political refugee in France this morning returned to Georgia and was detained on arrival. He was brought to Gldani’s No 8 prison in Tbilisi, which is one of the most crowded prisons in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — While on Monday parliament discussed a draft bill about amnesty, the pardon commission reviewed 1 400 cases of prisoners, but made a decision to release less than half of them. The pardon commission studies cases of prisoners to prepare a list […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — “There is no official whose name is not present in the prosecutor’s office’s database,” says Georgia’s chief prosecutor, but he avoids revealing who might be detained next in the near future. Archil Kbilashvili made this statement after […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Presecutors in Georgia have charged the former head of the General Headquarter with a new accusation of illegal deprivation of freedom. Monday morning the accused, Giorgi Kalandadze, was once again […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s parliament on Monday started discussing a draft law on amnesty which will release thousands of prisoners and reduce the sentence of others to half. The ruling Georgian Dream coalition and the minority National Movement party hold […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Twelve Georgian sailors have asked for help from Panama as they are five km away from the nearest port and running out of food and electricity. The sailors are aboard the Maria Del Carmen sailing under Nigerian flag and have been out for […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The minimum wage has increased by about one dollar in October compared to September, 2012, according to Georgia’s National Statistics Department. According to GeoStat, the minimum wage for men of working age has increased from USD 89.7 to USD 90.7; […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Germany wants to play a positive role in the process of restoring relations between Georgia and Russia, says Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister after meeting with her German colleague in Germany. According to the foreign ministry, Foreign […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Former Deputy Interior Minister Shota Khizanishvili was on Sunday given pre-trial detention until the start of the court case on December 28. Khizanishvili, who is currently Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi, was detained November 15 for abuse of powers […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Prosecutor’s Office on Monday is expected to charge the former head of Georgia’s domestic intelligence service in absentia. Data Akhalaia was head of the Constitutional Security Department (CSD), locally known as ‘Kudi’, and former […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Ten of the intelligence officers who were detained Friday have been sentenced to preliminary detention by Tbilisi City Court and were denied bail. November 15, eleven employees of the constitutional security department (CSD) of the interior ministry […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s defense and foreign ministers on Saturday met the U.S. Philip Gordon, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State. Gordon, whose full title is U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, visited Georgia for a second day […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The U.S. diplomat Philip Gordon Friday met government and other officials in Georgia. Gordon, whose full title is U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, met with Davit Usupashvili, Speaker of Parliament; Davit Bakradze […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The long serving interior minister in Georgia has weighed in on the prosecution of his former deputy. Vano Merabishvili, the powerful and feared former interior minister who last summer became prime minister, and after losing the parliamentary […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prosecutors in Georgia have detained twelve former and current mostly intelligence officers and accused them of kidnapping, unjustified interrogations, abuse of powers, intrusion on privacy and intentional damage to property. Eleven out of the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The delayed visit by NATO’s Military Committee will take place in the first half of 2013. “The parties have decided that high military officials of the Alliance will visit Georgia in the first half of 2013,” the defense ministry informs, explaining […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Gordon, is visiting Georgia Friday. Gordon will meet with government officials. According to the U.S. embassy in Georgia, he will once again underline that the U.S. is […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A TV channel controlled by the former Saakashvili’s government on Wednesday got a new director, who used to be former government official. Rustavi 2 is considered to have played a major role during the Rose Revolution in 2003 and used to be […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The moving of former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia from one prison to another was done because other inmates had threatened to kill him, according to Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani. After Akhalaia was detained for abusing powers, illegal […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s Facebook page has seen an influx of traffic the last week from Georgian users responding to the NATO Secretary General’s recent statement about expressing concern over the detention of military and political officials in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The crisis at an energy company continued Wednesday as three employees went on hunger strike. The strike at Telasi, which supplies the capital with electricity, started weeks ago, after the election results became known. Current and former […]
A detained former government official has been moved from a prison scandalized by revelations of torture to another prison, which is known for holding so-called thieves in law. Former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia is in detention awaiting trial for abuse of power, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former editor of Forbes Georgia has been appointed as new director of Imedi TV, which used to be one of the government-controlled channels during the previous government. Shortly after the parliamentary election, the former owners of Imedi made […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The former head of Georgia’s general headquarters, who was taken in for further questioning, has been released. This time Giorgi Kalandadze was released against USD 6 000 bail. The former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia is still in preliminary […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly criticizes the new government for putting pressure on the public broadcaster and local government and asks it to refrain from politically motivated arrests. The resolution was passed Monday in Prague at the 58. annual […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Two Georgian leaders representing different political parties are continuing their visit to Brussels, holding meetings with EU and NATO officials. President Mikheil Saakashvili is Tuesday meeting Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s chief prosecutor on Tuesday revealed details about additional charges that were slapped on top of an already serious abuse case against former interior minister and Saakashvili faithful Bacho Akhalaia. The former prison minister, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says he can’t remember having heard such a critical tone before from NATO regarding Georgia. He was responding to a statement by NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who said he was […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The government in Georgia is planning to give amnesty to thousands of prisoners. Some of them will be released immediately, while the rest will have their sentence reduced to half. The Georgian Dream coalition has presented a draft law in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A jailed former minister was Monday handed additional charges under a section of the law which deals with torture. The torture charge against Bacho Akhalaia — a close personal ally of President Saakashvili and former prison minister, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The bus strike in Tbilisi Monday appeared to be heading for a solution, as drivers promised to return to work Tuesday if a commission is formed to study their problems. The conflict has lasted five days and encompassed more than 1300 drivers […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prime Minister today held meeting with the President of the European Commission in Brussels. José Manuel Barroso congratulated him on being appointed as prime minister and underlined the importance of his first visit to Brussels. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expresses concern about the detention of political and military officials in Georgia. ‘I’m extremely concerned about the development we have, not least related to recent arrests of political […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s prime minister and president are both in Brussels these days on separate working visits. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili left on Sunday. He has planned to meet November 12 and 13 with the president of the Euro Commission; with Stefan […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Two military officers who were detained together with a former interior minister for abuse of powers, were on Sunday suspended. Giorgi Kalandadze a month ago was appointed to the post of head of the general headquarters. November 7 he was detained […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The father of Bacho Akhalaia, the ex-minister who is jailed while awaiting trial for beating subordinates, demands an investigation of the defense minister. Bacho Akhalaia was detained November 7 for abuse of powers and illegal deprivation […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Sunday, Tbilisi bus drivers met representatives of city hall to try to solve the conflict which has brought bus transport to a standstill, but the meeting ended unsuccessfully. All drivers of yellow buses in Tbilisi are on strike for the fourth day. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The strike among port workers in Poti has ended, as workers were promised a 20 percent pay rise. A local correspondent for Interpressnews reports that what solved the crisis was when Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Irakli Petriashvili, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — After being arraigned for crimes carrying a penalty of up to eight years in prison, general Giorgi Kalandadze is returning to his duties as head of the general headquarters. November 7, he was detained together with the commander of the elite […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former minister and Saakashvili’s loyalist thought to have been engaged in prison abuse, will serve his seven week preliminary detention at Gldani prison, where most of the torture took place. Bacho Akhalaia was prison minister from 2005 to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A bus strike is making life difficult for the population in the capital. For a third day more than 1300 bus drivers have been on strike, as they joined a wave of workers’ protest that erupted after the parliamentary election in October. Together with […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A visit by NATO’s Military Commission to Georgia has been postponed because of the detention of the head of the general headquarters November 7. Alexi Petriashvili, State Minister for Euro and Euro Atlantic Integration, said this Friday. His source […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court has decided that Bacho Akhalaia is to be kept in pretrial detention until the next hearing in the case on December 25. Two military officers were released against a USD 12 000 bail each. The hearing started at 14:00 on Friday […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s first visit abroad after assuming office will be to Brussels on November 12 to 14. After Friday’s government session, Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said Ivanishvili will be meeting with […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — 29 members of parliament (MPs) have declared their support for a former government minister, claiming that the case is politically motivated and that testimonies presented by the prosecutor’s office are insufficient reason for detaining him. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S. resigned on Thursday. A new ambassador should be presented by the new government, he says. Temur Iakobashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to the U.S., posted a note about his decision on Facebook, where he writes that […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s NATO integration coordinating commission held its 39. session at the government office on Thursday. Chair of the commission is Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who chaired the session for the first time. The commission discussed NATO […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili Thursday visited the families of several officials who were arrested yesterday. He also had a phone conversation with another military official and the former interior minister’s wife. According to the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Agreement was achieved on Thursday between employees and management at the electric company Telasi. The management of Telasi, which supplies the capital with electricity, agreed to give 125 fired employees their jobs back and fire several in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former government official and Saakashvili’s loyalist was today officially charged with abusing his power and illegal deprivation of freedom. Georgia’s chief prosecutor’s office has charged Bacho Akhalaia, former prison, defense and interior […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Drivers of the capital’s yellow buses have joined a wave of strikes that has rocked Georgia since the election. Since Thursday morning they have refused to go to work as normal but protest in order to improve their work conditions and increase their salaries. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prime Minister says the opposition should not jump to conclusions about the recent events and call it a political game. Bidzina Ivanishvili told journalists that the detention of two military tops and a former defense minister […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The party of President Saakashvili has decided to boycott parliament because of the detention of a former minister and two top military officers. Minority leader Davit Bakradze said Wednesday that the reason his party is laying down work is […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is concerned by the latest events in the country and asks for respect for the rule of law and the state’s interests. The Georgian leader’s appeal comes the same day as his opponents who are in government […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The majority in parliament has picked a former employee of Transparency International as candidate for ombudsman. Nina Khatiskatsi was fired by TI Georgia shortly before the parliamentary election, allegedly for political reasons. Who will fill […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council says that the detention of the former interior minister and head of the General Headquarters is ‘an alarming signal’. The only legal move which can slightly simplify the situation […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — In Poti, a city on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, the port is paralyzed by a strike. The port is important not only because it connects South Caucasus to the outside world but also because it is an important transit hub for the flow of goods […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The head of the General Headquarters and the Commander of the Fourth Brigade were detained overnight. This follows after a former defense minister was detained hours before. All are accused of abusing their power. Giorgi Kalandadze, Head of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A strongman from the former government, associated with most of the torture cases in the prisons, was Tuesday night detained after four hours of interrogation at the prosecutor’s office. Bacho Akhalaia, a firm Saakashvili loyalist and former government official, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Energy Minister says Enguri hydro power station has not been sold but is the property of Georgia. He says there were negotiations regarding the facility but they were suspended. Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze does not comment about […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Bacho Akhalaia, a firm Saakashvili loyalist and former government official, has been ordered to appear at the prosecutor’s office for interrogation today at 20:30. Archil Kbilashvili, Georgia’s new Chief Prosecutor, said at a special […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A loud discussion broke out in parliament today while lawmakers were trying to agree on who should chair a commission which will investigate former government officials. The National Movement Party of President Saakashvili, which is now in minority, […]
Money donated to families affected by a severe hailstorm in July has been returned to the Prime Minister, who donated it while he was in opposition earlier this year. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former businessman and now prime minister, whose fortune is 6 billion dollars, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former government official seen by many as the main architect of the torture in Georgia’s prisons says he has returned after leaving the country shortly after the parliamentary election. Bacho Akhalaia, who served as prison minister for three years, then defense minister for three […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The unrest in Georgia’s prison system has spread to the most infamous facility in the country: Ksani prison north of Tbilisi. At No 15 Facility, as it is officially called, thousands of prisoners have gone on hunger strike demanding that the recently appointed […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia has decided that from now on the Prime Minister will appoint and present governors to the president for confirmation. Currently, this is the prerogative of the president. A governor is appointed for each region […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Protests have reignited to protect a historic square in the old part of the Georgian capital as the square’s fate is still uncertain. Saturday, groups once again gathered on Gudiashvili Square in downtown Tbilisi. The rally was directed at […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Hillary Cliton has had a phone conversation with President and Foreign Affairs Minister of Georgia. The press office of Mikheil Saakashvili informs that main topic of his conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State on Saturday was Georgia’s progress on […]
Georgia’s Defense Minister refuses to cover the expenses to keep the president’s plane, while the prime minister calls on Mikheil Saakashvili to move out of his president’s palace and instead go to work at the government office. Friday, Defense Minister Irakli […]
The director of Rustavi prison has been suspended while allegations against him of abuse are under review. But the general inspection will not fully study the situation in this prison. The prison in Rustavi, about 20 km south of the capital, started on Wednesday. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says there are signs of sabotage at No 16 prison in Rustavi. The prison minister says a criminal investigation may be launched against the director if there is proven that violence. People with loved ones inside […]
Prisoners in Rustavi prison have gone on hunger strike in protest against cruel treatment by staff. The new director at Rustavi Prison Number 16 has been implicated in cruel treatment of prisoners, as have some of his staff. Representatives of Georgian Young […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Six parliamentarians who left the former governing party of President Mikheil Saakashvili are officially recognized as a faction of independents. The National Movement Party’s vote weight in the assembly thus fell from 65 to 59. But the ruling […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The former owner of a telecommunication company accuses other companies of illegal eavesdropping. Mamia Sanadiradze, founder and former owner of Caucasus Online, said a few days ago that his company was subject to pressure. He said that the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Ivanishvili has established a new position as Georgia’s special representative for Russian relations and appointed Georgia’s former Russia ambassador to the post. Ivanishvili said at a press conference Thursday that the country […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The former ruling party accuses the new government of blackmailing and harassment, while the new government officials ask them to present evidence. The claims were described at a briefing in the National Movement party’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prisoners in a prison south of Tbilisi Wednesday protested, demanding the new director’s resignation. Prisoners claim that the director Levan Aburjania, a former policeman, threatened them with torture. Shortly before the new prison minister was approved by the new parliament, […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch — The new government wants to solve the problems for different groups in society that have broken into abandoned buildings recently. Davit Sergenko, new health minister, said Wednesday that the government is taking action to solve problems that socially vulnerable […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The current parliamentary minority, which is made up of a party that governed Georgia for the last eight years, demand to have the position as chair of parliament’s temporary investigative commission. The minority introduced a draft law in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian TV viewers will get a new channel in the near future, to be produced by the owners of the magazine Tabula. The new channel will be focused on news and will probably go on air in January 2013. The editor of the new channel will be Tabula […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Refugees in Georgia started to settle in abandoned buildings in the capital ever since the first results of parliamentary election became known. They hope the new government will grant them living quarters, which they claim they deserve. Among […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — There are more than 2 000 Georgian citizens living in the disaster zone created by a massive storm in the US, according to the Georgian consulate in New York City. The massive storm called Sandy slammed into the eastern United States Monday night […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Another National Movement MP has left the parliamentary minority to become independent members of parliament. A group of six independent MPs plan to set up a parliamentary faction. Six is the minimum number required to establish such a unit. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s new government on Monday started working. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili Monday arrived at the government building in Tbilisi for the government’s first normal work day. The government session started 15:00. Ivanishvili held separate […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The government in Georgia says it will move parliament back to the capital Tbilisi. October 21, parliamentarians met for their first regular session in Kutaisi, after President Mikheil Saakashvili as recently as 2011 decided to build an […]
