Sunday, April 12, 2026

Chlorine leak poisoned dozens in Tbilisi

During the chlorine leak, a bus passed by. Most of those inside were poisoned. The tanker shown in this photo is not the one that leaked chlorine. (Photo: Londa Beria.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – A chlorine leak in Tbilisi yesterday evening poinsoned more than 80 people. One person is in a comatose condition.

The leak happened around nine in the evening at a private industrial area in the Lilo district on the southern edge of the capital.

Read more

Government's newfound leftism considered suspicious

Critics say the new prime minister, Vano Merabishvili, is talking like a leftist, and consider his election promises suspicious. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – The government’s action plan ‘More Benefits to People’ is entirely based on social issues. This is now sparking criticism from experts and government opponents.

The first promise new Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili made was to give each family

Read more

Georgian Interior Ministry loses another top official

Shota Utiashvili leaves his post as head of the Department for Analysis. He has been the Georgian interior ministry's media spokesperson and representative at the EU's field meetings in the conflict zones in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Another central figure in Georgia’s Interior Ministry resigns, after recent changes in the government.

Shota Utiashvili, former head of the Ministry’s Department for Analysis, today announced his decision to leave.

He did not say who will be his

Read more

Georgia's new power ministers: Akhalaia and Shashkin

Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia is the new interior minister. His brother Data Akhalaia resigned as head of the domestic intelligence service in connection with Bacho's change of position. (Ministry of Defense photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s former defense minister has been appointed new interior minister. The former education minister will take his place, and the former rector of Police Academy will be new education minister.

Bachana (“Bacho”) Akhalaia will take the position

Read more

Georgia gets new minister for employment

Government reshuffle. Paata Trapaidze is to be employment minister, a new post. He was appointed by the new prime minister, Ivane Merabishvili, who himself was appointed Saturday by President Saakashvili. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s new prime minister Vano Merabishvili today presented his employment minister, which is a new post.

“I have initiative to set up specific Employment Ministry, which will take care to solve problems of employment. A database of unemployed

Read more

Georgia to host UEFA Super Cup in 2015

UEFA Super Cup will be player at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi August 14, 2015. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia will host UEFA Super Cup in August 2015. This will be the first time Georgia is host country for an UEFA event.

According to the Georgian Football Federation, the decision was made in Kiev on Saturday at a session of the executive committee.

Read more

Field meeting in Abkhazia breaks down again

For a second time, a field meeting across borderlines in the conflict region Abkhazia has broken down before it started. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Again, a field meeting meant to defuse tension in the conflict region Abkhazia has broken down before it even started.

The meeting should have been held June 27, and was to have brought together operative leaders from the warring parties of 2008

Read more