Thursday, January 1, 2026

Ex minister charged with causing fatal prison riot

bacho akhalaia - tbilisi court iii - 2013-02-28
Bacho Akhalaia will be charged with setting off a prison riot in 2006 which claimed the lives of seven prisoners. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A former government minister and close Saakashvili ally will be charged with misconduct during the country’s largest prison riot in 2006 which caused seven deaths.

The Prosecutor’s Office today presented details of the prison riot and charged Bacho

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Saakashvili reaffirms Georgia's close ties with neighbor Azerbaijan

sandra roelofs - mikheil saakashvili - ilham aliyev - mehriban aliyeva - 2013-02-28
From left to right: Georgia’s first lady Sandra Roelofs, President Mikheil Saakashvili, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva. (President’s administration.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili says no matter who is in government, the country will continue the same foreign policy course, also in relations with neighboring Azerbaijan.

The Georgian leader visited Azerbaijan for two days and held meetings with his

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Georgia and Russia meet today in Prague

Gregory Karasin
Gregory Karasin represents Russia at today’s meeting in Prague. (Atlantic Council.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of Georgia and Russia meet in Prague today to discuss trade, cultural and transport issues. The countries still have no formal relations after fighting a war in 2008.

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili a few months ago appointed Zurab

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Georgia sees a shift toward processing industry

black-cars-interior-ministry
Used cars is no longer Georgia’s number one export article. (MIA.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s economy has shifted toward processing industry, after many years of basing its exports on used cars and scrap metal, according to an economy expert.

New figures show that the country’s economy is growing; and now, the export is no longer

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Akhalaia trial postponed because of new evidence

bacho-akhalaia-tbilisi-court-ii-2013-02-28
The case of former government member Bacho Akhalaia and six others is the most controversial of the current trials.(Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The trial of former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia and six others was rescheduled for today, because the judge had to make a decision about whether to allow evidence to be admitted.

The new evidence was presented by the Prosecutor’s Office.

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State health insurance becomes a reality for Georgians

davit sergeenko
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko presented the new health insurance program Thursday. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A new health insurance program became available to Georgians from Thursday. The program is open for citizens from the age of 6 to 60 who have not had health insurance before.

Health insurance for every Georgian citizen was a part of the Georgian

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