Saturday, January 3, 2026

EU observers consider Russian border activity unacceptable

forest
The EU Monitoring Mission does not accept the moving of the de facto border around South Ossetia and installing of new barbed wire. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The recent installation of fences near Ditsi is unacceptable, EUMM says in a statement.

Staff from the EU Monitoring Mission arrived in the village Ditsi, where Russian soldiers have erected new barbed wire which moves the de facto border 300 meters

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Expanded charges against former interior minister

vano merabishvili --
Former Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili is held personally responsible for the violent dispersal of demonstrators two years ago which led to at least two deaths and was accompanied by a nationwide crackdown on opposition groups. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The charges against former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili concerning events on May 26, 2011 were Tuesday expanded.

The violent dispersal of peaceful anti-government protesters by police and regime loyal vigilantes two years ago resulted in at least

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EU's observer corps studying Russian border activity

EUMM_observers
The EU’s field observers are tracking Russian activity on the de facto border around South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers’ moving of the de facto border between Georgian- and Russian-controlled territory is being followed by European Union’s observers in the area.

Yesterday evening, the European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM)

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Saakashvili's UNM protests against detention of party secretary

vano merabishvili -
Vano Merabishvili, former interior minister and current party secretary of the National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili, appearing in Kutaisi City Court last week. Co-defendant Zurab Chiaberashvili on the right. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of parliament for President Saakashvili’s National Movement party have again taken leave from their duties as a sign of protest.

Party spokesman Giorgi Baramidze says they will not attend plenary sessions until all the ‘political

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In Georgia, online game which emulates gay rights clash goes viral

call of taburetka
‘Call of Taburetka’ lets the player be a priest who fends off gay rights activists using a stool.

TBILISI, DFWatch–A new Facebook game has become popular among Georgians. It emulates the violent incidents on May 17, when clerics took the lead in disrupting a demonstration against homophobia in Tbilisi.

The violence, which led to almost 30 persons being injured,

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1600 workers in Zestaponi now on strike

Zestaponi Ferro strike
The workers at the Ferro plant in Zestaponi demand group contracts, a pay rise, and generally better conditions. (gtuc.ge.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The week-old strike at Zestaponi’s ferro-alloy plant continues, as there is still no progress in the attempts to negotiate with management.

Meanwhile representatives of the Georgian Trade Unions claim that parliament is about to adopt amendments

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Russia moves de facto border around South Ossetia

Tskhinvali
A view of Tskhinvali, the only city in the breakaway region South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry in Georgia Monday confirmed that Russian soldiers have moved the de facto border with South Ossetia 200 to 300 meters and is planning to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM).

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