Tbilisi, DF Watch – President Mikheil Saakashvili says it was possible to avoid Russia-Georgian war of August 2008 only if Georgia would give up its statehood. He also remembered details of war saying that more than
DFWatch staff
Merabishvili claims criticism is the result of pressure

Tbilisi, DFWatch – Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili claims that a scathing attack on him by a former colleague was the result of pressure.
A message posted to Facebook and allegedly written by Data Akhalaia, the former head of the domestic
Soldiers terrorized village in hunt for non-Christians

TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in a village close to the Black Sea shore claim that a group of soldiers late at night verbally and physically abused seven locals based on religious views.
The locals say three military police department employees stopped Levan Meskhidze
Drivers on strike in Imereti

TBILISI, DFWatch–Problems are building for the local population as drivers on a minibus route between Zestaponi and Samtredia, two small towns in western Georgia, are on strike against a cut in their salaries.
The strike is especially causing problems for small scale
Ex intelligence head attacks former interior minister

TBILISI, DFWatch–A message posted on Facebook allegedly by a former official who fled from Georgia after the October elections has triggered a massive outcry in the country.
The message purports to be written by Data Akhalaia, former head of Georgia’s domestic
42% of Georgians think Russia is an exaggerated threat
TBILISI, DFWatch–42 percent of Georgians think that Russia is a threat to Georgia, but that the threat is exaggerated. 26 percent think Russia is a real threat to Georgia, while 23 percent think Russia is no threat to Georgia. 9 percent don’t know, while one percent refused to answer
Georgians support constitutional amendment
TBILISI, DFWatch–Most Georgians agree with a new constitutional amendment, which was recently passed and reduced the rights of the president.
People also support an initiative to reverse a decision to have parliament in the country’s second biggest city Kutaisi,
President Saakashvili won't get a military parade this year
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has not invited President Mikheil Saakashvili to the celebration of Independence Day May 26, which this year will not involve a military parade.
Vice Speaker of Parliament Manana Kobakhidze said the president still
Ugulava calls investigation 'betrayal'
TBILISI, DFWatch–Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava has threatened that any investigator involved in the planned new investigation of the 2008 Georgia-Russia war will be participating in ‘betrayal’ and will be ‘punished’ when the right time comes.
The government of
Hammarberg: Investigation will not ask who started '08 war

TBILISI, DFWatch–Thomas Hammarberg, the EU’s Special Representative in Georgia, says both sides of in the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 made mistakes and it is good if it will be investigated.
Finishing off a visit, Hammarberg said at a press conference Sunday
