Saturday, April 11, 2026

DFWatch staff

Georgian Prosecutor’s Office questions two former officials about 2019 border incident

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday questioned two former officials as part of an investigation into a 2019 border incident near Russian-controlled South Ossetia. The case centers on the deployment of a border detachment under Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG), which reportedly entered the Chorchana area without proper coordination. A police checkpoint was established … Read more

Georgian opposition figure proposes new joint platform headed by ex-president Zourabichvili

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Jailed opposition figure Giorgi Vashadze has proposed a new political initiative aimed at unifying key opposition parties ahead of parliamentary elections. The plan involves the creation of a joint political platform headed by ex-President Salome Zourabichvili, joining together the “Resistance Platform” and eight parties currently boycotting the municipal elections. “This is not just a … Read more

Jailed editor offered plea deal as newspaper's bank accounts seized

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A jailed newspaper editor in Georgia has been offered a plea deal by prosecutors as her trial draws to an end. Founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is on trial for slapping a police officer during a January protest. Her trial has drawn widespread condemnation. As the court goes through the evidence, the … Read more

Jailed editor offered plea deal as newspaper’s bank accounts seized

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A jailed newspaper editor in Georgia has been offered a plea deal by prosecutors as her trial draws to an end. Founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is on trial for slapping a police officer during a January protest. Her trial has drawn widespread condemnation. As the court goes through the evidence, the … Read more

Georgian Orthodox Church raises concern over EU recommendations

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church has expressed serious concern about recent EU recommendations, warning they contradict verbal and written assurances made during earlier talks with Georgia’s religious leadership. According to a statement released by the Patriarchate, the Church is alarmed by proposed demands that Georgia repeal legislation “on the protection of the sanctity of the … Read more

Georgia demands justice for fatal 2023 incident at latest IPRM meeting

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TBILISI, DFWatch–At the latest IPRM meeting, Georgian officials “strongly demanded the punishment of the representative(s) of the Russian occupation forces” responsible for the 2023 killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi. According to Georgia’s State Security Service, Tbilisi also reiterated demands for “the release of all persons held in illegal detention” and condemned new “illegal borderization … Read more

Georgian PM likens EU pressure to the Inquisition

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has compared the EU’s recent criticism of his government’s policies to medieval persecution. According to Interpressnews, Kobakhidze said: “Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for affirming that the Earth revolves. Today, people are being ‘burned’ for believing that a man is a man and a woman is a … Read more

Suspected contract killing in Batumi leaves one dead

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A man was shot dead in broad daylight on Thursday at a restaurant in central Batumi, a popular seaside resort on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. The murder occurred around 3:00 pm local time at a grill restaurant near the Le Méridien hotel on Ninoshvili Street. Authorities say the victim was hit in the back … Read more

Georgia’s PM Kobakhidze rejects Brussels’ demands to strike down laws

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has declared that peace and stability take precedence over retaining visa-free travel to Europe, rejecting a demand to cancel several laws considered anti-European by Brussels. “If the choice is between peace and stability, or visa liberalization, we will choose peace and stability,” he said. “Going to Europe with or … Read more

Georgia's PM Kobakhidze rejects Brussels' demands to strike down laws

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has declared that peace and stability take precedence over retaining visa-free travel to Europe, rejecting a demand to cancel several laws considered anti-European by Brussels. “If the choice is between peace and stability, or visa liberalization, we will choose peace and stability,” he said. “Going to Europe with or … Read more