DFWatch staff 
TBILISI, August 24 – Georgia’s ruling party says it does not expect the European Union to suspend the country’s visa-free travel, but admits September could bring announcements from Brussels that stir public anger. The European Commission has set August 31 as a deadline for Georgia to comply with eight reform demands, ranging from judicial independence … Read more
TBILISI, August 24 – Eight Georgian opposition parties met Saturday to discuss a common vision on national security, with Russia’s presence on the country’s northern border looming large in the debate. The meeting was the initiative of the small pro-EU Federalists party, and dealt with what kind of defense strategy Georgia needs in light of … Read more
TBILISI, August 22 – Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s fifth president, has re-emerged in public life after a summer pause, appearing at an opposition rally in Tbilisi Friday. The former president hinted she might resume her political activity, but gave no further details. Zourabichvili has tried twice to rally Georgia’s fragmented opposition with joint action plans, first … Read more
TBILISI, August 22 – Opposition supporters again blocked Rustaveli Avenue on Friday, on the 268th day of continuous protest. Some of the participants marched from the old Public Broadcaster building and joined the rally in front of parliament. The demands are unchanged: a re-run election from last year’s parliamentary election, which the ruling GD won, … Read more
TBILISI, August 22 – Georgia’s upcoming local elections on October 4 may unfold with little outside oversight as OSCE is unlikely to deploy full team of observers this year. The governing Georgian Dream (GD) party has said it is “indifferent” as to whether the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is invited, breaking … Read more
TBILISI, August 21 – Georgia exported over seven times as much apples this year, compared to last. The growth is tied to poor harvests in neighboring countries. Apple exports between January and July rose an astonishing 654% compared to last year, with more than 10,700 tons shipped abroad worth USD 6.7 million. Almost all of … Read more
TBILISI, August 21 – Demonstrators once more blocked traffic in front of Georgia’s parliament on Wednesday on what has now become the 266th consecutive day of post-election protest. Earlier in the day, a rally was held at Freedom Square in support of poet Zviad Ratiani, who was recently detained. Protesters then marched toward parliament, joining … Read more
TBILISI, August 20 – Levan Gachechiladze, a Georgian businessman-turned-politician who once led a united opposition challenge for the presidency, has died at the age of 61. Gachechiladze first entered politics in 1999, winning a seat in parliament under the ruling Citizens’ Union of Georgia, then the party of President Eduard Shevardnadze. He soon broke away … Read more
TBILISI, August 20 – Tbilisi is planning to reintroduce trams to the city for the first time since the late Soviet era, in what officials describe as one of the capital’s biggest transport projects in decades. Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced that a new tram line will connect the rapidly growing residential district of Didi Dighomi … Read more
TBILISI, August 20 – Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says he is ready to challenge what he calls “biased” criticism from European officials, insisting that Georgia has achieved progress that surpasses even some EU and NATO member states. Some EU leaders have suggested sanctions against Georgia, such as withholding visa-free travel rights, if the government fails … Read more