(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Registry in Georgia rejected an application to register the Autocephalous Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as a public legal entity. Journalist Lexo Machavarian’s April 19 application was rejected for two reasons. First, because […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eight flights were postponed yesterday at Tbilisi airport due to strong wind. All the affected flights were by Turkish Airlines. Interpressnews quoted an airport spokesperson saying that the decision was made by the airline. The delayed flights […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia has decided not to lift a ban on selling real estate to foreigners. The de facto parliament in Sukhumi has rejected a draft law that would have lifted the ban, which is written into the constitution. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is preparing an anti-smoking bill. It is not yet known when the law will come into force. Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the National Center for Disease Control, says he hopes that the new regulations will come into force from fall. […]
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s minister of healthcare says there is no plan to change the system of universal health insurance, but the government is considering a number of reforms. Appearing in parliament Wednesday to talk about last year’s achievements, […]
Darejan Tvaltvadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Academic staff at Tbilisi State University voted for a new acting rector on Wednesday. The winner was the vice rector, Darejan Tvaltvadze, who received 526 out of 967 votes cast. Other candidates were TSU professors Levan Gordeziani […]
Ban Ki-Moon will hold meetings with representatives of the legislative and executive branches (EPA) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon will pay an official visit to Georgia on 23–24 April on the invitation of Georgia’s Prime Minister. The Secretary General will hold meetings with representatives of the legislative and executive branches. […]
Georgia: 64th place, Armenia: 74th place, Russia: 148th place, Turkey: 151st place, Azerbaijan: 163rd place TBILISI, DFWatch–Despite the relative rise in the ranking to the 64th place, the highest place in the region, Georgia’s score slightly declined. Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF), a France-based international organization, issued the […]
Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli says compulsory military service may be abolished from 2017. “This is my decision as minister of defense,” she told Channel 1 on Tuesday. “If another leader comes to this office, naturally, that decision may be changed.” […]
Giuli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court ruled against the mother of former President Mikheil Saakashvili in her appeal against the seizing of her property. Giuli Alasania demanded that it be declared unconstitutional to seize property which might not […]
(Finance Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s investigative service arrested two Azerbaijani citizens on the so-called Red Bridge border crossing for attempting to illegally import 12 kg of gold to Georgia. The value of the gold bars is more than one million laris (USD 445,000). […]
Students at Tbilisi State University created a new movement in March. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The student movement Auditorium 115, which sprang up a during a protest at Tbilisi State University (TSU) in March, claims that law enforcement bodies are putting pressure on them and their families. The State Security Service denies this. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–EU may add a suspension clause to the text of the document about visa-free travel for citizens of Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia and Kosovo. The addendum will give Brussels the right to rapidly bring back visa requirements if it becomes necessary. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court decided Monday that the Georgian rock singer Giorgi Gachechiladze, also known as Utsnobi, will remain in control of the TV company Maestro. The city court’s ruling forms the conclusion of a several months long lawsuit […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have arrested six persons for attempting to sell radioactive uranium for USD 200 million. Savle Motiashvili, an investigator at the State Security Service, said at a briefing on Monday that they have arrested a three Armenian and […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the last week, several lecturers at Georgian Technical University (GTU) have been on hunger strike demanding the resignation of the rector, who has been elected three times in a row. Five lecturers, with the support of students, […]
Prayers in Batumi pray in the street outside of Orta Jame (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – On 15 April, after the weekly Friday prayer, Acharan Muslims organised a peaceful rally demanding construction permit for a new mosque in Batumi, Batumelebi (‘Batumians’) reported. The protesters marched to the government buildi […]
(Sputnik Abkhazia) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The official car of Almas Japua, MP in Abkhazia’s de facto parliament called the National Assembly, was hit by an explosion on Saturday evening, Sputnik Abkhazia reports. The car exploded on Sergei Bagapsh Square in […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–There are now no schools using Georgian as language of instruction in Gali, a part of the breakaway region Abkhazia where 97 percent of the population are ethnic Georgians (Megrelians). Georgian children have to study school subjects […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man was arrested a Tbilisi suburb Wednesday, suspected of slitting his wife’s throat with a knife. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an investigation has been launched under article 108 of the Criminal Code about premeditated murder. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court ruled Thursday to take the access keys to secret surveillance away from the State Security Service, which until now has had the technical means to access data that may identify people. Lika Sajaia, parliamentary […]
According to the report, arbitrary detentions by Russian and de facto [South Ossetian] authorities of Georgian citizens along the administrative boundary line remain one of Georgia’s significant human rights challenges. TBILISI, DFWatch–American Country Reports on Human Rights Practices points out shortcoming in Georgia’s democratic development, independence of the judiciary, minority rights protection, political persecution, and restrictions in media freedom. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2016 was USD 2.136 million. This is 7 percent less than in the same period last year. According to preliminary figures from Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The company Georgian Manganese, which owns manganese mines in Chiatura and a ferro-alloy plant in Zestaponi, lost a court case against the government on Tuesday and must pay a 200 million laris (USD over 88.2 million) tax penalty […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University (TSU) will resume their protests on Saturday, after negotiations with the Ministry of Education failed. After a meeting with Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze Wednesday evening, members of the group Auditorium 115, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Less than six months before the parliamentary election in Georgia, an opinion poll shows Georgian Dream in the lead with 15 percent and the National Movement second with 13 percent. But 38 percent don’t know who they would vote for. […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a TV interview Tuesday, Mikheil Saakashvili blamed former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili of a series of sex tapes posted online with threats against politicians. A fourth video was sent to a Georgian media outlet the same day as the former […]
Megis Kardava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has charged the former head of the military police Megis Kardava with the murder of general Roman Dumbadze. The decision was made on April 7, but published on Tuesday. According to the Chief […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia slightly improved its position on the Nations in Transit index published by the human rights organization Freedom House, and has the best result over the past nine years. Georgia’s score in the latest index is 4.61 points out of 7. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more Georgian sex video was posted on the Internet on Tuesday. The clip was sent to a media outlet; the same delivery method as the previous three times. This time, the website news.ge received an email with a video depicting […]
(National Democratic Institute.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A larger share of Georgians think the country is going in the wrong direction, according to new opinion poll published Monday by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). According to the poll, 39 percent of people think that Georgia is moving […]
Border with Azerbaijan (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–An increasing number of Azerbaijani citizens have been moving to Georgia in order to work and study. In addition to growing interest from tourists, one can already speak of a trend in which an increasing number of Azerbaijani choose […]
(National Democratic Institute.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The proportion of Georgians who think their country should join the Russian-led Eurasian Union has fallen by about ten percent since August, 2015. 20 percent of Georgians now agree that they should join the Eurasian Union, according […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–43-year-old Erosi Takadze was detained by Russian border police at South Ossetian administrative boundary line (ABL) on Saturday, 9 April. According to Mr Takadze’s relatives in the village of Kirbali, which is located in Gori region right next […]
(ipn) TBILISI, DFWatch–Vakha Bugiev, 39-year-old native of Chechnya became yet another Georgian citizen who died in Syria, Information Centre of Kakheti (ICK) reported. Mr Bugiev arrived to Georgia via Azerbaijan during the Second Chechen War in 2000 and was […]
Davit Kezerashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A newspaper report based on the leaked Panama documents shows how Davit Kezerashvili, who was defense minister during Saakashvili’s presidency, became an oligarch a few days after he resigned. The Swiss newspaper Tribune […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–12 more bodies have been identified from the Babushara airport disaster during the 1992-1993 Abkhazian war. The bodies were buried at Brothers’ Cemetery in Tbilisi on Saturday April 9, when Georgia commemorates the victims of the tragedy of 9 April 1989. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Pope Francis will visit Georgia in September as part of a tour of the Caucasus, by invitation of President GIorgi Margvelashvili. The president’s administration said Saturday that Margvelashvili invited the pope last year during his […]
Government members attend the ceremony at April 9 memorial (government.gov.ge) Members of the Georgian government gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi in order to commemorate victims of the tragedy of 9 April 1989. […]
Actress Tatia Samkharadze (Taso Barnova). (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The actress Tatia Samkharadze, or Taso Barnova as she is also known, claims that journalist and producer Shalva Ramishvili sexually harassed her. “I confirm that [my] former boss, Shalva Ramishvili, sexually harassed me, and it […]
Khatuna Samnidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican cabinet members will leave their posts in August, party leader Khatuna Samnidze said in an interview on Friday. The Republicans are part of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, but recently decided to run on an independent ticket […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A nationwide music festival titled Check-in-Georgia will kick off in Tbilisi on April 24. The 35 concerts and festivals around the country will feature Robbie Williams, Maroon 5 and José Carreras. The festival, […]
Location of Russian military facility (OpenStreetMap) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has declared readiness in helping to extinguish a forest fire in the vicinity of a Russian military facility in South Ossetia, Novosti-Gruziya reported. […]
Tamaz Mechiauri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A prominent member of parliament from the governing Georgian Dream coalition says Georgia should not seek membership in NATO if it is against the state interests. Tamaz Mechiauri, head of the finance and budget committee, also said he […]
Zarangul Akhmedova, mother of the murder victim. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia arrested a person Thursday accused of murdering 22 year old Pikrat Akhmedov on December 28 in Ponichala, a predominantly Azeri suburb of Tbilisi. The Ministry of Internal Affairs informed said police from Isani-Samgori […]
Mihnea Motoc (MApN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister of defense of Romania Mihnea Motoc hopes that during the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw a decision will be made regarding creation of NATO Black Sea fleet with participation of Georgia and Ukraine. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is introducing a new law from January 2017 which will lead to a 1,000 fine for any official who fails to file or files incorrect asset declarations. There is currently no mechanism for reacting to incorrect submissions of asset declarations. […]
Uk rejected Georgia to extradite Davit Kezerashvili (ipn) TBILISI, DFWatch–‘Political prosecution’ was used as the justification for the London court’s refusal to extradite former UNM official who served as Minister of Defense of Georgia during 2008 Russo-Georgian War and was charged with numerous crimes after his party […]
Shalva Ramishvili. TBILISI, DFWatch–Shalva Ramishvili, a talk show host and producer at Imedi TV, was fired on Tuesday. In an interview with DFWatch, the journalist ruled out the possibility that he was fired because of government pressure. There was no warning […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has renewed an agreement with Gazprom which means the country will continue to receive 10% of natural gas transiting through to Armenia. Gazprom has sent the text of the agreement to the Georgian Ministry of Energy, […]
Ruslan Pogosyan and Ali Mamedov. (parliament.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two parliamentarians from the governing Georgian Dream coalition – one of Armenian, the other of Azerbaijani origin – express concern over the military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after the recent escalation in hostilities. “We call […]
Usupashvili: We can’t speak seriously about a partnership with the United National Movement (2030) TBILISI, DFWatch–Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili flatly denied allegations that the Republican Party of Georgia, commonly known as the Republicans, was considering a partnership with the United National Movement (UNM) before the parliamentary […]
Investigative journalist Gulnur Kazimova from Azerbaijan Facebook) By Delilah Damanova TBILISI, DFWatch–Last week European House hosted another meeting of the Thinking Citizen Center, an alternative education initiative for Georgia’s ethnic Azerbaijanis. The Center’s vision is the intellectual and cultural transformation of ethnic […]
Tbilisi City Council decorated with the NATO member state flags (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Two-day NATO–Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum in Tbilisi opened NATO Week 2016, which will last from 4 to 19 April. ‘Georgia’s NATO and EU integration is our return to the European family with whom we are linked to by our common values of democracy, freedom and human rights protection. […]
Arnold Stepanyan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has complicated relations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Georgia. A small group of Georgian citizens plan to go to fight in case the conflict continues. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia on Tuesday announced that the parliamentary election in 2016 will be held on October 8. “I want to inform the public that the date of the parliamentary election is set for October 8. Tomorrow, the prime minister […]
Arina Tavakarashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A lecturer at the University of Gori, a town 80km west of the capital, claims that she was fired because of her anti-Stalinist opinions. Arina Tavakarashvili wrote on her Facebook page that the canceling of her lectures was related to the issue […]
Manana Kobakhidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A leading Georgian parliamentarian says she doubts the accuracy of a journalistic investigation published on Sunday which also included material about the Georgian billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili’s […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili addressing the Georgia-NATO forum in Tbilisi on April 5, 2016. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili called for a ‘peaceful end to the tensions’ in the recent outbreak of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh, Rustavi 2 reported. President made his remarks during the second day of the NATO–Georgia […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of visitors entering Georgia in March grew by 16.7 percent, compared to same period last year, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the new monthly report of MIA the number of visitors in March was 450,875. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizations that are members of the campaign This Affects You Too on Monday called on the government to take measures to rein in the use of secret surveillance and wiretapping. The groups also demand the resignation of Chief Prosecutor […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi State University (TSU) has scheduled the selection of a new rector for April 20. Vladimer Papava resigned as rector after a student rebellion and a nearly week-long sit-in. The TSU’s academic council decided on Monday that the […]
Vakhtang Kapanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is considering offering Azerbaijan and Armenia to negotiate about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, where at least 33 people have died and more than 200 have been injured during the last few days, according to the United Nations. […]
Gubaz Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Forum withdrew from the governing Georgian Dream coalition -on Sunday, and the following day party leaders said they are also withdrawing from the parliamentary majority. Leader of the party Kakha Shartava […]
Bidzina Ivanishvii showing his passport during president election of October, 2013 (DFWatch) By Nino Bakradze and Dave Bloss Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project TBILISI, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA — Bidzina Ivanishvili’s wealth is not all hidden away in vaults. His 108,000 square foot glass house perches on a hill above the capital city of the country he returned to rule as prime minister after leaving for neighboring Russia as a young man and accumulating billions of dollars before moving back to Georgia in 2004. […]
Dimitris Avramopoulos. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU’s commissioner for home affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said Saturday that he is confident that the EU Parliament will support the proposed visa liberalization for Georgia. After meeting with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the commissioner […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Hall has begun work on a new taxi regulation that will eliminate the discomfort of taking taxis in the capital. Mayor Davit Narmania said Friday that taking a taxi will become more secure and comfortable. The new regulation […]
Gubaz Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Forum, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, declared Thursday its intention to run as an independent party in the parliamentary election this fall. The Republican Party was the first of the parties in the […]
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Mamuka Vasadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Chief Prosecutor’s Office claims three sex tapes posted to the Internet in order to threaten politicians were not uploaded from Georgia. Mamuka Vasadze, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, said at a briefing on Friday that investigators are currently […]
Joseph Daul (Ipn) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Joseph Daul expressed his support for the United National Movement and made comments on EU visa liberalisation process. President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Joseph Daul paid a visit to Georgia in order to meet with representatives of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM) and express his support for the party. […]
Anti-Gazprom demonstration in Tbilisi in March, 2016. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has offered Gazprom to continue the transit of natural gas to Armenia. under the same conditions as before. The details of the offers are not known, but the negotiations between the Georgian government and Gazprom will finish […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two of the parties in the governing Georgian Dream coalition have decided to run as independent parties in the upcoming parliamentary election. The Republican Party declared Thursday that they plan to participate in the election independently, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more sex tape was uploaded to Youtube on Thursday, targeting a Georgian politician. The video was posted on the personal Facebook pages of a journalist and an actor and later removed. The police questioned actor Beso Zanguri. Journalist […]
Vladimer Papava. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Vladimer Papava, the rector of Tbilisi State University (TSU), resigned Wednesday, but denied that he had done so because of pressure. “A lot of things influenced this decision. Their hunger strike and your demands, but many other things,” Vladimer Papava said. […]
Levan Izoria. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A deputy head of the Georgian counterintelligence on Monday hinted that Russia could be behind leaked surveillance videos recently used to threaten government members, although he did not rule out any theory. The videos were uploaded […]
Levan Izoria said the practice of placing ODR agents at universities to spy on students ended in 2015. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The conflict at Tbilisi State University (TSU) seemed to be over a few weeks ago, but now Georgian intelligence has jumped into the fray, announcing that it hasn’t had agents at TSU since the beginning of this year. The presence […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Sakvarelidze, a former Georgian official, has been fired as deputy chief prosecutor of Ukraine. He was fired for violating the ethics of a prosecutor, and for interfering in the business of another prosecutor, according to the the website […]
Proportion of senior management roles held by women (Grant Thornton) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia scores high in international rankings of women’s participation in business management, although few Georgian women hold political office. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission (CEC) has approved a proposal to hold a referendum about whether to allow same sex marriage in Georgia. The proposal, which was submitted by a group of seven people, will not automatically […]
Mikhail Gutseriev. TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian media reported that Elton John, Sting, Jeniffer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Beyonce and others performed at the wedding of the son of Russian oligarch Mikhail Gutseriev March 26 in Moscow. It caught some attention in Georgia […]
A girl participates in a performance to protest early marriages in November, 2015 (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 1,440 minors became parents in 2015 and there were registered 611 marriages of people from 16 to 18 years, according to a report published Monday by Georgia’s ombudsman. In 2014, there were registered 665 marriages involving minors. […]
(freeintigamaliyev.com) TBILISI, DFWatch–Azerbaijani authorities released from prison Intigam Aliyev, a lawyer and human rights activist, on March 28, as the court in Baku commuted his 7.5 years-long term to a suspended 5 year sentence, Radio Liberty Azerbaijan reported. […]
Vice PM sees no tragedy if the coalition falls apart (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream — Democratic Georgia, a key political party within the Georgian Dream coalition, may opt for running independently in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Kakha Kaladze, Minister of Energy stated Saturday, thus adding fuel to the fire in the widespread […]
(Prime Minister’s press office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited the newly renovated Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi’s Old Town, in order to join Armenian Easter celebrations. Adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church are almost exclusively ethnic […]
(Ministry of Finance) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Hall announced its plans to sponsor restoration works at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, known colloquially as Sameba (‘Trinity’), which was damaged by fire earlier this month. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili asked the Minister […]
Rustavi car market. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Car dealers demonstrated in Rustavi on Friday against the government’s initiative to ban the registration of cars with right-hand drive from 2017. The protest took place at Georgia’s largest car market, located in Rustavi, […]
Erekle Kodua. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former government official was Thursday sentenced in absentia by Tbilisi City Court to two years in jail for exceeding official powers. The Prosecutor General’s Office says Erekle Kodua, who chaired the Special Operative Department (SOD) of the […]
Vice Speaker Manana Kobakhidze, one of the parliamentarians behind the bill. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A parliamentary commission has launched a public debate about a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The first meeting was held on Friday in Telavi, in the eastern Kakheti […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A construction company plans to build residential apartments on what according to locals is a cemetery for German prisoners of war from World War II. According to the environmentalist group Guerrilla Gardening Tbilisi, construction is planned […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Construction of wind a farm in Gori, 80km west of the capital, will be completed by the end of 2016, according to the Energy Ministry. Deputy Energy Minister Irakli Khmaladze said the power station […]
Rustavi used car market. (Rustavi.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first two months of 2016 was 2 percent less than last year, totaling USD 1,413 million. According to a new monthly report by the National Statistics Department (GeoStat), export was down 13 percent to USD 281 million, […]
From an earlier IPRM meeting in Abkhazia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The parties have agreed to resume talks aimed at solving problems in the border areas near the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia. Agreement to resume the talks, called Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), was reached […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia postpones banning on registration of cars with right-hand drive until January 1, 2017, to allow enough time to car importers to reshuffle their business and carry out commitments under the existing contracts, Deputy Minister of Interior said during […]
Workers in the coal mines in Tkibuli were on strike in February. (Tkibuli municipality/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Trade Unions warns that workers in the coal mines in Tkibuli may go on strike again. Workers were on strike for two weeks in February, but an agreement was reached a few weeks ago. The trade union says the the mining […]
Kakha Kaladze (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili will keep promise not to return to politics, Minister of Energy and the first vice Prime Minister, Kakha Kaladaze stated on Thursday, diffusing speculations in the media that the oligarch would be included […]
Data Akhalaia (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor states that former chief of security had Interpol’s red notice removed against him due to his refugee status, not ‘political persecution’, despite his family’s claims. Interpol removed an arrest warrant that was […]
(investigation Service) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two persons have been detained for allegedly stealing crude oil from Baku-Supsa Pipeline (BSP), which is used to transport Azerbaijani oil to Georgia’s Black Sea terminal and is operated by British Petroleum. The crime […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Netherlands on Tuesday extradited a former Georgian intelligence official known as ‘Mastera’. Giorgi Dgebuadze, a former official of the Constitutional Security Council (Kudi), was transferred by the request of Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church said in a statement Tuesday that the publishing of sex-tapes in the media is ‘deliberate malice.’ Two videos were recently published on Youtube, showing well-known Georgians engaging in sex. The tapes […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is strengthening security measures in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday. At least 34 people were killed in Brussels on Tuesday. Three bombs went off in the morning; two at Brussels airport and one at a metro station […]
PM: “express my condolences to the Government and people of Belgium and in this difficult time I wish them strength and endurance” (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia’s main political figures pay condolences and stress the importance of strong intelligence services in wake of today’s terrorist attacks in Brussels. At least 34 people died in today’s terror attacks that shook Brussels, Belgian public broadcaster VRT reported. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Agreement was reached on Monday between the owners of Maestro TV to allow the channel to continue using its logo, settling a several months long dispute. The agreement was announced in a statement by Gia Gachechiladze (‘Utsnobi’), who owns […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who is governor of Odessa in Ukraine, has advised his party home in Georgia to have 50 percent women on the election list for the upcoming parliamentary election, which will be held later this year. […]
Tarkhan Batirashvili TBILISI, DFWatch–Ten bodies of Islamic State fighters were found east of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, including the body of Tarkhan Batirashvili (Omar al-Shishani), the Iraqi TV channel Al Sumaria reported. General in the Iraqi army Islail Mahlawi told […]
Zurab Abashidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Diplomat Zurab Abashidze has expressed astonishment at a statement by President Giorgi Margvelashvili that he had not properly handled a critical remark by a Russian diplomat. Abashidze, whose full title is Prime Minister’s […]
(Prime Minister’s press office/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prayer service has been temporarily halted at Sameba Cathedral after a fire burned about 1,200 square meters on the ground floor of the building on Sunday. However, prayer will offer in four little churches on the territory of Sameba that are […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Monday criticized his country’s envoy for failing to respond adequately to criticism from a Russian diplomat during a bilateral meeting in Prague last week. President Margvelashvili […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Sunday praised the students at Tbilisi State University for their commitment to social issues after the end of a near week-long sit-in. President Giorgi Margvelashvili recalled sending advisers to the university during […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An area of more than 1,200 square meters was burnt at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi on Sunday after a fire started on the ground floor of the cathedral. More than a hundred firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which started at about 14:00 and lasted […]
worldhappiness.report TBILISI, DFwatch–According to the World Happiness Report 2016, published today, Georgia is in 126th place out of 157 countries included in the study. The result places Georgia as the ‘least happy’ country of the former Soviet Union, while Uzbekistan […]
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili (Official Photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President and Prime Minister expressed their condolences to the families of victims of a deadly plane crash in Rostov, Russia. “I express my deepest sympathy to the victims of Flydubai passenger plane crash in Rostov, where dozens […]
Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian ombudsman says the Ministry of Internal Affairs failed to compensate a man for using his house as a checkpoint in a village bordering South Ossetia. In a statement published Friday, the ombudsman writes that the […]
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As the parliamentary election draws nearer, Georgia’s Culture Ministry is planning a string of concerts, beginning in April, which will feature world famous musicians. Negotiations have been launched with Robbie Williams and Eros Rammazotti. […]
Grigory Karasin. (Atlantic Council.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Russian member of parliament will be allowed to attend a meeting of the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Tbilisi between July 1 and 5, although he has violated […]
Koba Gvenetadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president has appointed a new head of the National Bank (NBG). The appointment was signed by President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Thursday. Outgoing NBG head Giorgi Kadagidze will be replaced Koba Gvenetadze, a former politician […]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As representatives of Georgia and the breakaway region South Ossetia sat down on Tuesday for a regular field meeting, one of the major topics of discussion was the situation in the village Jariasheni, where construction work is in progress. […]
Grigory Karasin. (Atlantic Council.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Russian deputy foreign minister has criticized Georgian politicians for engaging in anti-Russian rhetoric, warning that patience has its limits. Gregory Karasin made the statement in Prague on Wednesday after meeting with Georgian […]
One of the leaders of Auditorium 115. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than a week, students have been protesting at Tbilisi State University and the tension continues to escalate. TSU is split in two, with the police and security guards protecting every entrance to the two-wing building occupied by students. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office Saturday evening arrested two persons for illegally storing and spreading videos depicting individuals in intimate settings. The office said that apart from the two who were arrested Saturday – Zurab Jamalashvili […]
TSU Rector Vladimer Papava. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the fifth day of protests, two opposing student groups continue to occupy a building at Tbilisi State University. Both groups grew increasingly frustrated with a decision by police not to allow anyone to enter the building except accredited journalists. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two people have been detained for allegedly collecting, storing and distributing videos depicting the private lives of people. The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed the detentions, and later issued a statement which said that the two are detained for […]
Undated photo of Tarkhan Batirashvili, Abu Omar Shishani TBILISI, DFWatch–Pentagon officials confirm the death of the Islamic State’s prominent field commander Tarkhan Batirashvili (Omar al-Shishani), CNN reported. On 9 March, major Western news outlets reported that Mr Batirashvili, 30, was ‘likely killed’ in […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NGOs in Georgia demand the creation of an investigative tool to combat the spreading of videos depicting people’s intimate lives and they want international experts to be involved in this. The initiative comes from organizations which are part […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Monday promised that the ‘dark forces’ attempting to blackmail free society will be defeated and fittingly punished. “I guarantee that the fight against those criminals will be won,” he said at a briefing […]
Lasha Berulava. TBILISI, DFWatch–Strangers Monday posted one more video online showing sex scenes involving a public person. The Youtube video was accompanied by a warning that more videos will be posted soon. Youtube was cut off for some time for Georgian users. […]
Counter-rallies separated by the police (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–After four days of students occupying a building at Tbilisi State University, Giorgi Gaprindashvili announced that he is withdrawing his candidacy for university chancellor. “I am ready to step [aside] considering the interests […]
Tarkhan Batirashvili, Abu Omar Shishani TBILISI, DFWatch–According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Islamic State’s field commander Tarkhan Batirashvili, mostly known under his nom de guerre Abu Omar Shishani, has been ‘clinically dead’ for several days, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russians are constructing a new road near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia, at the village Jariasheni. The State Security Service Sunday informed that the construction […]
Maia Mtsariashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former Tbilisi prosecutor claims that the military inspection at the Defense Ministry used to collect videos depicting intimate situations of gay men during Saakashvili’s presidency, to use for blackmail. Maia Mtsariashvili, a former prosecutor, […]
Tamar Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze is considering asking parliament to hold an inquest into the presence of intelligence agents at Tbilisi State University. Saturday evening, Sanikidze met students at TSU who for the last three days […]
(Finance Ministry, Investigative Service.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man was detained on Saturday, charged with appropriating a plot of land in Tbilisi which belongs to an Egyptian citizen. The investigation service of the Finance Ministry informed that a Georgian citizen called Giorgi fabricated documents in order […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Saturday warned people who uploaded a sex video of an opposition politician to the Internet that they will be harshly punished. In a statement issued on Saturday the PM explains that this will be an example […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A video depicting the sex life of a politician from the opposition was Friday posted on Youtube and privately sent to several Georgian journalists by e-mail. Some of the media outlets disclosed the name of the person in the video, but later apologized. […]
Salim Iskanderov (DFWatch) Tsitelubani, DFWatch – The Iskanderov family members tell the story of life on the move, Meskh activism in Georgia, and challenges of life at the ABL. When DF Watch first knocked on Salim Iskanderov’s door, he was suspicious. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students clashed with security guards and police at Tbilisi State University on Thursday while trying to prevent the election of a new chancellor of the university senate. The assembly of the senate had to be canceled. Students continue […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man attacked a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kutaisi, western Georgia, on Thursday. The inebriated attacker beat him and tore book and, leaflets and smashed the JW stand. The incident took place on Thursday morning near […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia exchanged prisoners with South Ossetia and Abkhazia at the Enguri on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civil Equality, agreement was reached with the de-facto governments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Direct foreign investments in Georgia went 23 down percent in 2015 compared to the previous year, according to preliminary figures from Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat. According to the report, the amount […]
Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The vast majority of Georgian school teachers have failed their professional exams. On Thursday, Businesscontact.ge published statistics which shows that the teachers in primary school had the worst exam results of all. Teachers […]
Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani called on her country’s citizens not to shame themselves after the visa liberalization comes into force and the borders of Schengen will be open for Georgians. Tsulukiani told journalists after […]
Undated photo of Abu Omar TBILISI, DFWatch–The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced that according to its sources military commander of the Islamic State, Tarkhan Batirashvili, was seriously injured in an American airstrike on 4 March, yet not killed, Reuters reported. […]
Viktor Dolidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Free Democrats, an opposition party which until 2014 was a member of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, supports a Constitutional amendment that will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Four members […]
Dimitris Avramopoulos. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission on Wednesday proposed to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens. If approved by the Union’s legislative bodies, Georgians may be able to visit the Schengen area without a visa from this summer. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission is expected to announce its proposal for visa-free travel for Georgians today at a press conference in Brussels. The press conference is scheduled for today at 20:30 Tbilisi time. There is a three hour difference between […]
Beslan Mukhtarov TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian member of Jabhat an-Nusra is confirmed dead after spending one month alongside Syrian Turkmen in Syria’s Latakia region. 30-years-old Beslan Mukhtarov was confirmed as the 17th Georgian citizen who was […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli says the U.S. government has informed that there is an assumption that Tarkhan Batirashvili, known as Omar al-Shishani or Omar the Chechen, was killed on Friday, but they are studying the situation. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Labour rights and women’s political participation were the central issues during the International Women’s Day rally in Tbilisi. The rally included speeches and performances organised by a coalition of various feminist, LGBT, […]
Undated photo of Abu Omar TBILISI, DFWatch–Several media reported Tuesday that Georgian-born militant Omar al-Shishani, one of the Islamic State’s top commanders, has been killed by U.S. forces. CNN, Reuters and other media reported that Shishani, whose birth name is Tarkhan […]
Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the International Women’s Day, Georgia’s Public Defender highlighted problems related to protection of women’s labor rights, supporting women’s participation in decision-making and elimination of violence against women. Ucha Nanuashvili […]
Alexi Petriashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An opposition politician who was shot last week left the hospital on Tuesday and made his first statements to the press. Alexi Petriashvili, former member of government and party secretary of the opposition Free Democrats, said he didn’t know […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The SH-7 road in northwest of Georgia is closed after a rockslide near the village Tsitskhvari. A large mass of rock and soil slid onto the SH-7, which runs between Zugdidi in Samegrelo and Mestia in the Svaneti region. […]
(Identoba.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A public lecture about homophobia was called off at the Free University in Tbilisi as result of a protest by a radical religious group that claimed the lecture was propaganda. Identoba, an organization working to defend the rights of sexual and […]
Prime MInister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition on Monday agreed to support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The constitutional amendment was discussed at a session […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian police announced Friday that a man has been detained suspected of the brutal assault on Alexi Petriashvili, former member of government and prominent member of the opposition Free Democrats. At a special briefing at the MIA, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Air Arabia, Scat, El Al Israel Airlines, ARKIA and Dniproavia are considering flights to Batumi airport on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Guram Jalaghonia, head of the Civil Aviation Agency, told Business and Political Insight (BPI) on Monday […]
Levan Gachechiladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Registry on Monday registered Levan Gachechiladze as director of Studio Maestro. The registry said in a statement that Gachechiladze was appointed director of Maestro as a result of a decision made by the Appeals Court on March 1. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several thousand people joined the National Movement on Sunday in a protest against the Georgian government’s negotiations with Gazprom. People formed a 7 km long human chain from the government office to the former Russian embassy […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are restrictions on heavy vehicles on a section of the S-3 road north of Tbilisi leading to the Russian border. Due to heavy snowfall, it is prohibited for trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30 seats to drive between […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A strike at a glass factory in Ksani near Tbilisi has ended after 29 days. Workers demanded increased salaries, collective contract and office space for the local trade union. They achieved a 7.5 percent pay raise and from January 1, 2017 will […]
Batumi Mosque (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Batumi Muslims continue to rally for permission to build a new mosque in the city. The only existing mosque, called Ortajame, is not large enough and people have to pray on the street. Several hundred Muslims gathered outside […]
airport of Mestia (Air Navigation of Georgia) TBILISI, DFWatch–From March 10, there will be two flights per week between Natakhtari airport near the capital and Kutaisi. Flights will be carried out every Tuesday and Thursday between Natakhtari and Kutaisi, Georgia’s third largest city, about […]
Davit Usupashvili (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican Party will remain in the Georgian Dream coalition, Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Thursday after meeting Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The reason for the meeting was a recent statement by the prime minister […]
The letter is addressed to Federica Mogherini. (EU Commission.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eight non-governmental organizations in the Georgian capital ask the EU to specify exactly how to measure the reforms the country is carrying out after signing an association agreement with the EU in 2014. The association agreement involves […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister sought to calm down a feud within his coalition on Thursday, detailing his views in a statement posted on Facebook. Gogi Topadze, leader of the coalition partner the Industrialists, accused the defense minister of having […]
May 17, 2015 (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report published by the Council of Europe (CoE) highlights persisting issues of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, direct violence, and systemic discrimination in Georgia. On Tuesday, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance […]
Vake Park protests in 2014 (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Wednesday, after a two-year-long legal dispute, Tbilisi City Court revoked the construction permit for Budapest Hotel, which is planned to be built in Vake Park in Tbilisi, journal Liberali reported. Wednesday’s ruling concerned a lawsuit […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Muslims and Christians have reached agreement about a cemetery in a village Adigeni, in the south of Georgia, after a tense standoff. The communities agreed to have one common cemetery, which will be separated by a line. Jambul Abuladze, […]
(Azot.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Azot chemical plant in Rustavi with more than 2,000 employees has shut down for a month due to economic factors. The plant, which lies in Rustavi, a town 20km south of the capital, expected Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar to reduce […]
Zviad Koridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president pardoned 155 prisoners on Wednesday. 105 of them will leave jail today. The commission met on February 21-22, and considered 1,178 cases. 105 were completely pardoned, while the rest had their sentences […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Some of the employees of Tbilisi’s metro demonstrated at Didube on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions and higher salaries, following a drop in the value of the national currency lari. Metro workers warn that they may go on strike […]
Kakha Gogolashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Platform, an umbrella organization for more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has a new chairman: Kakha Gogolashvili, director of European Research Center. He replaces Lasha Tughushi, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission will publish legal document on Wednesday about visa free travel for Georgians to Schengen countries, according to Zviad Kvachantiradze, leader of the parliamentary majority. “Tomorrow, Brussels will finally officially publish […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli is prepared to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of fraud in the by-election in Sagarejo last October, which was won by her fellow party member. “Anyone who wishes […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has launched an investigation into the religious conflict in Adigeni in southern Georgia, where Muslims and Christians disagree about whether to have a separate graveyard for Muslims. The investigation […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United Nations will have traditional Georgian wine making vessel on display outside its building in Geneva from March 1 in connection with the organization’s 70th anniversary. Georgia gifted UN’s Geneva office a kvevri; a large earthenware […]
A government representative visiting Tkibuli on Friday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A solution was reached Monday evening in the labor dispute in Tkibuli after more than four hours of negotiations. Mine workers in the western Georgian town went on strike more than two weeks ago, demanding a pay raise. The negotiations […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Disagreement over a cemetery led to exchange of insults between Muslims and Christians in a village in southern Georgia on Monday. Samkhretis Karibche, a local online newspaper, reported that the locals verbally insulted each other. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The regional Court in Sighnaghi in eastern Georgia is considering the case of a 25 year old man who married a 15 year old girl who is pregnant. A few weeks ago, the couple showed up at a talk show on Imedi TV called the Gia Jajanidze Show. The man told of how he and the girl found […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian citizens who barely avoided being hanged in Malaysia for drug-related crimes returned to Georgia on Sunday. Babutsa Gordadze, who was arrested in Malaysia along with Darejan Kokhtashvili, was convicted of illegally […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office in Georgia has launched an investigation two weeks after allegations were put forth by a member of parliament about election fraud in last year’s by-election in Sagarejo in eastern Georgia. Gogi Topadze, leader […]
(DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists demand putting halt a large construction project amidst environmental, urban, social, and conflict-of-interest controversies. Up to 400 activists gathered on Tbilisi’s Freedom Square on 27 February in order to protest against the construction […]
(DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Azerbaijani activists marked the anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy and called for its recognition as a genocide. On 25 February, a conference on the Khojaly (Xocalı) genocide was held in Tbilisi. The event was organised […]
Avtandil Imedadze. TBILISI, DFWatch–Doctors say former government official and now opposition member Alexi Petriashvili is in a stable condition. He was shot in the legs and abdominal area on Friday at a cemetery in Tbilisi. The director of the Republican Hospital […]
Nino Ananiashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Ananiashvili, a former prima ballerina at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater, was criticized in Georgia for performing at the theater in the Russian capital on February 25, because in her home country, the day is observed as the Day of Soviet Occupation. […]
Aiug Borchashvili (ICK.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Aiup Borchashvili admits links to Umar ash-Shishani, but denies direct involvement in recruiting people to fight in Syria and Iraq. Telavi District Court heard Aiup Borchashvili in the case of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A former member of government and secretary of an opposition party was shot by unknown attackers on Saburtalo cemetery on Friday afternoon. His injuries are not life-threatening. Aleksi Petriashvili with his wife, journalist Eka Mishveladze (Facebook) Aleksi Petriashvili was shot at and wounded at the Saburtalo […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border police detained a 31-years-old inhabitant of Tbilisi in the vicinity of the South Ossetian boundary line, Sputnik Ossetia reported. The man was detained on 24 February near the village of Akhmaji (Akhmadz in Ossetian) in Akhalgori (Leningor) […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Coal miners on strike in a small mining town in the west of Georgia broke into the offices of the company that owns the mines Thursday evening. Workers came in through the windows of the offices of Saknakhshiri GIG in Tkibuli, with the support of locals. […]
Exhibition at parliament (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Pictures and documents from the period of Bolshevik terror in Georgia marked the anniversary the tragic events of 1921. A photo exhibition in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi marked the Soviet Occupation Day, […]
(Tkibuli Municipality/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than ten days, miners have been on strike in Tkibuli, a town in western Georgia, demanding increased pay to compensate for their community’s loss of favorable tax conditions. The Ministry of Labor and Health […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more person was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the suspected ‘bridenapping’ in Tbilisi’s southern Ponichala district. Earlier on Tuesday, police in the capital arrested a Russian teenager, who is suspected of abducting […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man of about 50 years was murdered on Wednesday in the village Vardisubani near Telavi. A suspect was apprehended the same day. The victim, Vepkhia Glurjidze, had a disagreement with the suspect, who then stabbed him. Glurjidze took […]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The field meeting on the perimeter of the South Ossetia region went ahead as planned on Wednesday, and some of the topics discussed were irrigation water and detention of people for border violations. The meeting was held in Ergneti, a village […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Tbilisi detained a teenager on Wednesday who is suspected of abducting a 17 year old girl and keeping her for four days. The detainee is a citizen of Russia, and like the victim also a minor. He was arrested by officers from the central Tbilisi […]
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement. TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Georgian opposition party Democratic Movement, recently visited Moscow and met with Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. The parties did not disclose the topic of the meeting. Her party’s press […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia still struggles with issues connected to its justice system, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, rights of LGBTI people, and cases of torture and other ill-treatment. Amnesty International (AI) has released the […]
Badri Iremadze, a still from the video TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian fighters affiliated with the Islamic State commemorate three men who died earlier this year in Syria. A new Georgian-language video produced by Furat, a media company affiliated with the Islamic State, has been circulated […]
Mamuka Akhvlediani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The chief judge at Tbilisi City Court was fired on Tuesday, sparking speculation that it might have something to do with his recent statements about corruption in the court and other controversial topics. Twelve members of the High […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili promises that the motorway through Georgia currently under construction will be completed by 2020. The transit road east-west through Georgia, connecting the border with Azerbaijan with the Turkish […]
Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court ruled in favor of former Mayor Gigi Ugulava on Tuesday, lifting a 50,000 lari bail imposed on him and a freezing order on the house of his mother-in-law. But the lifting of Mr Ugulava’s bail won’t mean that he can walk free. He is currently serving a four and a half year prison sentence in another case. […]
