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 […]
The new leader of the Adjara region in southwestern Georgia is Archil Khabadze, former Adjara regional director of Cartu Bank, which is affiliated with the new prime minister. Three candidates were considered for the post: Jemal Putkaradze, member of the Supreme […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Up to 300 prisoners will be released before serving their term, Georgia’s new Prison Minister orders. Sozar Subari, former Public Defender who recently was appointed as Prison Minister, on Sunday visited prison hospital No 18. After seeing […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara on Sunday held its first session, with all 21 members attending. As a result of the parliamentary election on October 1, the Georgian Dream coalition received 57.6 percent of votes in Adjara, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s new defense minister says he will take immediate measures to bring the ministry out of a crisis after he discovered that it has a USD 68 million deficit. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Friday visited the ministry and said that his new […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The audit agency in Georgia wants the chair of the Public Broadcaster to be changed, while groups demand reforms in GPB to return it to people and free broadcaster from government control. Online newspaper Ambebi.ge conducted a […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Production has been restored at Georgia’s famous mineral water plant Bojomi, after several day strike has finished. There are two plants in Borjomi, which is located in the southern Georgia’s resort town with the same name. Employees of the company […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — New nine month figures from 2012 show a 16 percent increase in foreign trade turnover compared to last year, equal to USD 7 595 million in total. The numbers do not include informal trade. According to Georgia’s National Statistics Department […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The day after a new government was approved by parliament in Georgia, it is already clear that the case of one of the most controversial deaths in the country’s history will be reopened. The brother of the late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was recently […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Council has solved the issue of trash collection fee, which is calculated based on how much electricity a household consumes. On Thursday, the council decided to reduce the trash tariff to half for five months from November till May. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the intelligence service will be separated from the interior ministry and be set up as an independent state agency. “This service will have as function to find secret information, analyze, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The outgoing and new government disagree over the size of the state coffers. Former government members claim that there is more than two billion lari, nearly USD 1.2 billion, in the state coffers. But new Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri says there […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new parliamentary majority plans to study the case of Givi Targamadze. He is a member of the National Movement party who according to Russian media has been helping the opposition in Russia to organize revolution. A few days ago, Russian media […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The famous Georgian mineral water plant Borjomi is still paralyzed by strike, as railway workers and dockers are also warning of protest action. Workers at Georgian Railway yesterday warned that they would stop the trains for a couple of hours, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia wants to do away with administrative detention. This is a form of incarceration left over from the Soviet Union which allows authorities to put away citizens as a preventive measure without going through normal court procedures, and has […]
The future Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Wednesday visited parliament to meet with the minority and answer their critical questions about the future plans and goals of the government and the government’s plan. Most of the questions were about the time […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Bidzina Ivanishvivli, leader of the Georgian Dream coalition and future Prime Minister, says he will leave politics in a year and a half but continue to lead his coalition after that as a member of civil society. The coalition leader on Wednesday […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The results of the recent parliamentary election encouraged workers all over Georgia to protest against their harsh conditions and demand improvements. Next to join in are the workers at a plant in Borjomi processing the well-known mineral water […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia may reconsider the size of its contingent in Afghanistan after 2014. Candidate for new foreign minister Maia Panjikidze does not exclude that the new government will make changes to Georgia’s participation in the NATO-led ISAF operation […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — There have been sharp exchanges between the majority and minority just three days after the new parliament started a new season. The candidate for foreign minister today visited the parliamentary committees on euro integration and foreign affairs. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Negotiations are continuing Tuesday between Georgia and the EU about an association agreement. This is the eleventh session, and the talks are talking place at the government office. Currently Georgia is negotiating with the EU on three separate […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The worker protests are continuing in Georgia after the election. After a week they can note a slight progress. It is more than five days since workers at the energy company Telasi went on strike asking to bring back about 125 employees who were […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday officially presented the new government list to parliament together with a new government program entitled ‘For a Strong, Democratic and United Georgia’. In accordance with procedures, there will be […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Several powerful ministers in the Saakashvili government have not been seen in the country since the first results of the parliament election became known. Dimitry Sashkin, who lately served as defense minister, today posted an appeal on his […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Five members of parliament (MPs) who were elected as representing the National Movement party declined to join their party in the parliamentary minority on Sunday. This means that there will be less obstacles for the Bidzina Ivanishvili-led […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s eighth parliamentary assembly has three factions from the majority and three from the minority. 15 parliamentary committees were established. The Georgian Dream coalition, which is the new parliament majority, on Sunday set up three […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Groups in Georgia ask the new government to reconsider its candidate for refugee minister, after criticism for making racist statements. A week ago Bidzina Ivanishvili presented his list of names for the future government. One of them was Davit […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The candidate for prime minister in Georgia has presented his list of government ministers to the president. The Georgian Dream coalition won the right to form government after its victory in the parliamentary election. President Mikheil […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Groups of youth demonstrated today in front of the new parliament building where the eighth Georgian parliament assembly began its 2012-2013 season on Sunday. A number of students and youth came to Kutaisi joined by local students to protest […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The eighth Georgian parliament Sunday elected Republican Party leader Davit Usupashvili as speaker of parliament by 88 votes for, none against and 62 abstaining. Usupashvili represents the Georgian Dream coalition. Georgian Dream has 85 seats […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Parliamentarians in Georgia are gathering today in Kutaisi for their first session after the October 1 election. Their first session is taking place inside a new dome-shaped construction which though it’s still unfinished and leaks water from the ceiling when it rains, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Public Broadcaster has abolished its contract with the Russian language TV station PIK, which has been off the air since October 19. PIK, or First Informational Caucasian, was a channel belonging to Georgia’s Public Broadcaster. It […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has approved the final results of the October 1 parliamentary election. According to the summary protocol, the Georgian Dream coalition received 54.97 percent, while United National Movement […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Shortly after the preliminary results of the parliamentary election became known, workers all over th ecountry started demanding to improve their slave-like conditions. As 3 800 workers are still on strike in the mining town Chiatura, employees of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Civic groups in Georgia Friday presented an eight-point plan for how to improve the media environment in the country. Coalition for Media Advocacy, which unites twelve non-government organizations (NGOs), considers it important to make […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian president is strengthening the security around himself and his family. Mikheil Saakashvili has issued a decree according to which the Special State Protection Service will be given additional functions to protect the president and his family. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO will remain absolutely committed to Georgia, a NATO envoy said after meeting the future prime minister of Georgia. James Appathurai, who is on a visit to Georgia, on Thursday held a meeting with Bidzina Ivanishvili, congratulating him on his […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A business jet carrying President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, had to make an emergency landing at Bucharest airport Thursday night, the president’s administration informs. Saakashvili was returning home after attending a conference, but ten minutes after […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — After meeting with Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy on Thursday, Bidzina Ivanishvili talked about his planned visit to Europe. “We had a very interesting conversation,” he said, adding that this […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — New groups of workers have joined the miners on strike in Chiatura, and activists from Tbilisi have arrived to support them. All mines in Chiatura are still closed down as the miners’ strike continues for a fourth day. October 16 thousands of workers […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO envoy James Appathurai yesterday evening arrived in Georgia for a working visit to meet with former and future government members. The October 1 parliamentary was a test for Georgia, which it has passed. The government has changed through the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Another pro-government television station has been sold in the wake of the parliamentary election in Georgia: Real TV. Real TV, which was a competitor to Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV, and contained pro-government news, shortly after election […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A government-controlled TV channel is in the process of be transferred back to the family of its old owner, the deceased businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili. The return of Imedi TV to its fonder’s family has become the hottest topic on social networks […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili Tuesday presented Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream coalition leader, as a candidate for Prime Minister. Manana Manjgaladze, spokesperson for the president, said at today’s briefing that in accordance with the Georgian […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, evaluated the recent parliamentary election in Georgia on his visit to Tbilisi on Tuesday. He said the whole world can see that democracy is real in Georgia, which can become a model country for […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Mikheil Saakashvili Tuesday admitted his National Movement party had done too much talking instead of listening to people’s problems. The president was meeting with his party’s candidates for Adjara’s High Council. He said that during the election […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Thousands of miners are on strike in western Georgia, demanding to improve work conditions and have a normal salary. About 3500 workers from six mines in Chiatura, which is rich in manganese, went on strike on Monday. All the mines are closed down […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The director of a government-controlled TV channel and a key figure after the rose revolution has left his position. Control over Imedi TV was Tuesday evening handed over to the family of the deceased businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, who owned […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Journalists of TV channel PIK Monday evening expressed protest in an unusual way: When viewers tuned in to their news program at 22:20, they could watch the journalists live – in complete silence. PIK, or First News Caucasian, belongs to Georgian […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The National Movement party, which is now in opposition in Georgia, plans to set up several parliamentary factions in the future parliament. Davit Bakradze, current Parliament Speaker said Monday that all his party’s representatives in parliament […]
Changes are expected in the education system after the new government comes to power. The national exam system may return to its previous arrangement, although nothing is yet decided, while the identity of the new minister of education is still unknown. Entrants were […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — There were repeat elections at eleven precincts in three regions of Georgia on Sunday. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), voter turnout at the time voting ended was 32.9 percent. The repeat election was conducted peacefully without […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border at about 14:15 on Sunday. The epicenter was 10 km east of Lagodekhi, Georgia, and 10 km in depth. The seismic monitoring center of Ilia University in Georgia […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eleven precincts in three districts in Georgia are holding repeat elections Sunday, because of grave irregularities which led to results of the October 1 parliamentary election being canceled. All eleven are what’s called majoritarian or first-past-the-post […]
Georgian officials will, if they are fired, be able to use their diplomatic passports for one more year. This means that they will be able to cross borders without any problems, which is not possible for ordinary citizen. President Mikheil Saakashvili made this decision by issuing […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia played 1-1 against Finland Friday in the third qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The match was played in Helsinki. When the first half ended there were no goals, but in the 11. minute of the second half, the Georgian team scored. Finland […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Five members of the United National Movement party in Tbilisi City Council left their faction and set up a new faction, which will join the platform of the parliament election winner Georgian Dream. The faction had 38 members before it lost the five […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Many in Tbilisi had hoped that city hall would do away with an unpopular new system to make the garbage collection fee dependent on the electric bill, but at Friday’s session it emerged that despite the opposition’s election victory it is not certain […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili today had a phone conversation with NATO’s Secretary General, who told the president that today is a historical moment for Georgia’s democratic development. Mikheil Saakashvili and Anders Fogh […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Corporal Mindia Abashidze was the eighteenth Georgian soldier to die while serving in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan. Georgia’s defense ministry on Thursday reported that the corporal born October 27, 1989, […]
The current Georgian government has resigned but will continue carrying out its duties until a new government is approved by parliament. The president’s administration informed about the resignation in a short statement on its official website, which says that […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Several election districts in Georgia will have to vote again on October 14 because the results of the October 1 parliamentary election were annulled due to violations, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The commission decided on Wednesday […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Following the opposition victory in last week’s parliamentary election, people who have been deprived of their companies in recent years are now saying they want to get back what was taken from them during the rule of President Mikheil Saakashvili. […]
About 200 employees of the port of Poti are on strike, local media report. The workers refuse to carry on until the people making decisions at No 14 harbor speaks to them. They demand improved working conditions, appropriate salary for the work they do and to have contracts. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Hall has started a process that could lead to a controversial mechanism being abolished involving the garbage collection fee being tied to the electric bill. The system was introduced in late 2011, and is one of the most controversial […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The prisoner whom the government claimed orchestrated the prisoner abuse videos has been released. Tamaz Tamazashvili, the father-in-law of the likely candidate for new interior minister, was Wednesday released from prison. When leaving prison Tamazashvili […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The mayor of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has decided to set up a new security force. Mayor Gigi Ugulava has signed a protocol about setting up the service, which has already been published on Georgia’s legislative website Matsne, which means that […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Two financial agreements have been signed between Georgia and the EU. According to press office of the State Minister for EU and Euro Atlantic Integration, Minister Thornike Gordadze signed the two agreements. The agreements have a budget of 23 million […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Leaders of People’s Assembly and Democratic Movement demand the release of political prisoners and illegally arrested people as soon as possible. Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement, and Irakli Batiashvili from People’s Assembly today […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The prison minister in Georgia says he will put together a monitoring group to let human rights activists and the media into facilities to check the conditions. Apart from non-governmental organizations and the media, the monitoring group will also have […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — An extraordinary meeting took place in Tbilisi today, as President Mikheil Saakashvili received billionaire and election winner Bidzina Ivanishvili and his political partners at the presidential palace. After Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition won the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian Dream coalition leader and likely prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili today named his candidates for government ministers and other top positions. Head of Georgia’s National Bank will be Nodar Javakhishvili, chair of Cartu Bank, a bank affiliated […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Negotiators for the government and Georgian Dream Monday held another round of consultations regarding the ongoing process to transfer power. Participants said afterwards that Monday evening consultations will start between current ministers and Georgian […]
A new coalition called Georgian Dream won a clear victory in the parliamentary election last week. Georgia-expert Lincoln Mitchell interprets the result. Did you expect these results?I believe last time we spoke, and certainly last time I was here, I mentioned that the NDI […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Protests continue after a Georgian newspaper published the names of employees at a prison scandalized by revelations of torture. On Saturday evening, a well-known writer who has been engaging in the protests was attacked and beaten. Asaval-Dasavali, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — There is a crisis in pro-government TV in Georgia, after an opposition coalition won the parliamentary election. October 5, several well-known anchors and journalists at Imedi TV, which is controlled by Saakashvili’s government, each wrote on their […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili Friday told his acting interior minister and chief prosecutor to do everything to prevent the mafia from crossing the border into Georgia. After it became clear that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coalition was going to win the election, […]
The founders of Rustavi 2, a TV company are fighting to get back control which they claimed was forcefully deprived from them. Rustavi 2 played an important role in the rose revolution in 2003, which brought President Mikheil Saakashvili to power, but later became completely […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Friday, authorities in Georgia lifted the seizure of thousands of satellite dishes belonging to Maestro TV and Georgian Dream affiliated Global TV, a cable network operator. Both companies on Friday received a letter about the lifting of the seizure. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — About 200 local and foreign businesspeople Friday gathered to meet with the winner of the parliamentary election in Georgia. Bidzina Ivanishvili met them in order to talk about important issues and problems in their field, including the necessity of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s prison ministry informs that a suicide might have taken place at No 18 prison hospital. The body of a prisoner was found in the bathroom of the prison hospital September 5. The cause of death was hanging. The prisoner had been placed in the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Four days after the election, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said the counting of votes had been completed and announced the final results. After collating votes from 3 766 district, preliminary results show the Georgian Dream coalition received […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — US Secretary of State has had a phone conversation with President Mikheil Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili, who leads a coalition that won the parliamentary election. Both the president’s and the Georgian Dream’s press offices separately told […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A video was publishedThursday showing a person wearing a mask breaking into one of the election precincts in Khashuri, a small town in eastern Georgia. On election day Monday, there were reports about special units breaking into several precincts […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The government of President Mikheil Saakashvili has picked the Parliament Speaker, Tbilisi Mayor, Secretary of the Security Council and a member of parliament to represent it in negotiations with the Georgian Dream coalition. Soon after Election Day, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — The leader of a decade old party has said he is leaving politics, sticking to a promise to leave if his party did not make it into parliament. The New Rightists Party, which was established in 2001, gained only 0.43 percent of the votes in the parliamentary […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — A former body guard for the Georgian Dream coalition, who was reported missing, returned home today. In a ‘leak war’ shortly before the election, Beso Surmava, former security guard for Bidzina Ivanishvili, was one among those who released secret recordings […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Dream and others are protesting outside the election commission offices in nineteen one-past-the-post districts where the National Movement party is winning. According to the latest figures from the Central Election Commission, Georgian Dream […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party lost the election in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. This is his favorite region which he visits frequently. Georgian Dream coalition got 57.6 percent of the votes according to the most recent figures from the […]
The election winner in Georgia’s first visit abroad will be to the U.S., probably after the U.S. presidential election. Bidzina Ivanishvili told journalists Wednesday that the U.S. ambassador to Georgia had delivered him a formal invitation to the U.S. He met Ambassador […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Secretary of State responded to Monday’s election in Georgia congratulating Georgians on their peaceful and active participation in the election. A statement published on the State Department website says the election was a historic day for […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The counting of votes is almost finished in Georgia and results show that the opposition leads with 55.1 percent, against the ruling National Movement with 40.1 percent of votes. The other parties seem to not overcome the 5 percent barrier for getting […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of the coalition that won the Georgian election Monday says it would be best for President Mikheil Saakashvili to resign and appoint early presidential election. Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the victorious Georgian Dream coalition, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – A group carrying out parallel vote counting has estimated that Georgian Dream won by 54.6 to 40.7 percent over National Movement. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) published their results of parallel vote tabulation (PVT). […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – OSCE says Georgia made an important step in consolidating the conduct of democratic elections, but there are still some key issues left needing to address. The organization has the largest contingent of election observers here, under its Office for […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The winner in the Georgian parliamentary election says it would be wise of Mikheil Saakashvili to step down and announce early presidential election. The next presidential election is planned for late 2013. Bidzina Ivanishvili said this at a press […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The election result from several precincts in three districts of Georgia may be annulled, says the head of Central Election Commission (CEC). Due to tension at several precincts in Khashuri that were stormed by special police units yesterday, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The National Movement party moves into opposition, President Mikheil Saakashvili has told the Georgian people in a TV address. The president said preliminary vote counting clearly shows that the Georgian Dream coalition came in first in the […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Official results from the Central Election Commission at 06:20 am local time showed that the opposition Georgian Dream was leading with 54.61 percent ahead of the ruling National Movement party with 40.44 percent. Counting is still ongoing. These results […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Special police forces stormed several election precincts in Georgia, seized the ballot box and rewrote the protocol, in order to prevent an opposition victory. Special units of the police have entered several election precincts in Khashuri, a small […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – According to Maestro TV’s exit poll, the opposition Georgian Dream coalition is set to win also in districts with the majoritarian (first-past-the-post) system in the capital: Mtatsimnda, Tbilisi – National movement candidate has 23 percent; Georgian […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili concedes that his National Movement party has been defeated in the parliamentary election in districts with the proportional system, but won in districts with majoritarian candidates. Saakashvili thanked people […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – All the exit polls published after voting ended show that the opposition has won the election in Georgia. Also the pro-government TV channels show Georgian Dream winning. Rustavi 2’s exit poll show the following: Georgian Dream 51 percent, National […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of Georgia’s opposition coalition has not voted in Monday’s parliamentary election. Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Georgian Dream, says he refuses to use his new constitutional right to vote, thereby adhering to a statement he made […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Local non-governmental organizations are reporting about different kinds of violations in Monday’s election. Transparency International Georgia (TI) reports that one of the main problems is that there are not enough ballot-papers and envelopes in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia the most important election in recent history is underway. According to the Central Election Commission, there was a 25.5 voter turnout by 12:00. There have already been reports of violations. Many see the parliamentary election as a test […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The kidnapping and killing of a 10 months old girl from an opposition activists’ family has pushed a strained electoral atmosphere towards the boiling point. A ten-month old infant was today found dead in a pitcher full of water after declared […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – A day before the parliamentary election, the embattled prison ministry in Georgia made a push to explain it is doing something to improve health care for inmates. Since the abuse scandal broke, 107 prisoners have been transferred to prison hospital, 78 to civilian hospitals, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – An unprecedented 61 000 local observers will follow tomorrow’s parliamentary election, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) says. There are more than 33 000 representatives of election subjects and representatives of political parties in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of the largest opposition coalition says there will be set a new precedent in Georgia’s recent history, when the government is changed through election. Bidzina Ivanishvili appeared confident in front media after meeting […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian patriarch on Sunday stated that he expects Monday’s election to be without fraud and that people will vote for who they want. Numerous polls have shown Patriarch Illia II to be the most trusted person in Georgia, scoring higher than […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Russian soldiers have arrested a Georgian police employee inside the occupied territory. Georgia considers this an attempt by Russia to create tension in the current situation. Russian media first reported that Georgian law enforcers Saturday […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Dream coalition which is challenging President Saakashvili’s power in Monday’s parliamentary election, mobilized over a hundred thousand supporters in the center of Tbilisi Saturday. The coalition also held a rally in the country’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – 111 different organizations have been approved as election observers for the parliamentary election in Georgia on Monday October 1. 61 of them are from abroad, while 50 are local non-governmental organizations. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The party currently in power in Georgia Friday organized a rally counting thousands at the national football stadium in Tbilisi. Majoritarian candidates and other members of the United National Movement party, as well as government officials, held […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – According to Georgia’s public defender, yet another hunger strike has been launched, this time at Prison No 19, for prisoners suffering of tuberculosis. About 30 prisoners in the prison went on hunger strike on September 25. Their demand is to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – A former bodyguard for the Georgian opposition leader has been reported missing by his relatives, after a video was uploaded to Youtube yesterday, in which he says that Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili personally instructed him to make […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – A court in Georgia has ruled that the Central Election Commission’s decision to establish tight regulations for media on Election Day are legal. The rules in practice make it impossible to take photos and videos at election precincts. Under the current […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Thirteen prisoners from one of Georgia’s prisons went on hunger strike for five days until the election as way of showing their protest against torture and mistreatment of prisoners. Representatives of the public defender September 26 visited […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia a ‘leak war’ has broken out, fought by the uploading of compromising videos to Youtube and other sites, just days ahead of a decisive election. The government and the opposition are bombarding each other with alleged secret video and audio […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Interpol has declared Vladimer Bedukadze a wanted person. He is the former prison guard who recently released videos of prison torture filmed by himself at Gldani prison in Tbilisi in 2011. These videos spurred a massive public reaction which led to […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday reported that it had arrested the twelfth person so far for involvement in prison torture after a series of videos one week ago documented physical and sexual abuse by staff against inmates. Mamuka […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Youth continue to protest against prison abuse in Tbilisi. Thursday there was no large scale protest but different groups of students gathered at different places to express their protest to various government bodies. The seven people who were on […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – One of the leaders of the opposition Christian Democrats party today withdrew her candidacy as majoritarian candidate for parliament. Inga Grigolia, a well-known former journalist, is now a member of the Christian Democrats, which is considered by […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has established many prohibitions on the use of photographic equipment at election precincts, which in fact restricts and makes it impossible to take photos on Election Day. Use of photos may document […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili dedicated a long speech to recent events in the prison system in a speech while meeting with locals in the port city Batumi. He said it was a shock for him, meaning the footage aired on TV, which shows beating […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Seven students have been on hunger strike for two days, protesting against the justice minister. They demand the release of activists Davit Patsasia, Dachi Tsaguria and Beka Alodashvili, who were arrested while participating in the recent protests […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Many people have been detained in Georgia during the last few days. The majority of the arrested are members and activists of the Georgian Dream. About 20 members and supporters of the opposition coalition have been detained the last three days, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Public Council of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster demands from GPB to cover news about prisoner abuse properly, otherwise they will leave their posts. Members of the council expressed concern for what has been exposed about torture of prisoners […]
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s ombudsman says Dachi Tsaguria and Beka Aladoshvili, who were arrested on Saturday, were verbally and physically abused during pre-trial detention. Dachi Tsaguria and his friend Beka Alodashvili were arrested on Saturday. Tsaguria […]
