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. […]
(OSGF.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government representatives Monday discussed the possibility of creating an independent body to investigative crimes committed by law enforcement. The discussion revealed disagreement […]
Temur Kobalia, director of the NGO Georgian-Russian Forum. TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia last week detained two American members of non-governmental organizations (NGO) for violating visa rules and holding ‘non-tourist meetings.’ DF Watch spoke to Temur Kobalia, director of the NGO Georgian-Russian Forum, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A 17 year old girl who was abducted several days ago was returned to her family on Monday and questioned by police. Relatives say the kidnapper left Samira Bayramova at a supermarket near her home in Ponichala, a settlement […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A conference about sexual minorities had to be moved to another location after Tbilisi State University (TSU) refused to let it be held on February 22 following protests by extreme traditionalists. The protest was staged by a group which has often […]
Davit Vanishvili. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Things did not change for the better when Davit Vanishvili’s house ended up on the other side of the border with Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia several years ago. DFWatch recently visited some of the villages on the administrative boundary […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Relatives of a 17 year old girl who was abducted three days ago protested outside a police station in Tbilisi on Sunday, demanding that something is done to find the kidnap victim. Samira Bairamova (17) from the predominantly ethnic […]
The Ferro factory in Zestaponi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January was USD 528 million, a 24 percent drop compared to the same month last year. According to the new monthly report by the National Statistics Department, GeoStat, export was USD 122 million; […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Coal miners in Tkibuli in western Georgia are continuing their strike, which began more than a week ago. They demand increased pay and better working conditions, particularly warm working clothes in winter. Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines are affected by the strike. […]
Bianka filmed in the Gospel of Anasyrma Tbilisi, DFWatch – Film starring late transgender activist Bianka Shigurova is a powerful social commentary on transphobia in Georgia. Short film The Gospel of Anasyrma was screened yesterday in headquarters of […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Irish budget airline Ryanair is interested in entering the Georgian market. The news comes a few days after another budget airline, Wizz Air, announced its new routes out of Kutaisi. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met Thursday […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is suing Credit Suisse for losing 100 million Swiss francs, according to reports in Swiss press. Ivanishvili has filed a lawsuit at Geneva court against the financial manager of Credit Suisse Group AG, for embezzling […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Plans to open a high-end luxury casino in downtown Tbilisi have been aborted because the Hong Kong based operator, Melco International Development, was unable to reach an agreement with UAE Dhabi Group about leasing of space. The casino […]
Azerbaijan and Armenia are technically still at war over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An ethnic Armenian member of the Georgian parliament criticized some of his colleagues on Wednesday for voting for a controversial Council of Europe resolution regarding access to water in Nagorno-Karabakh. Samvel Petrosyan, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-3 road was closed in a mountainous area north of Tbilisi on Thursday because of strong wind and poor visibility. According to the Road Department, the road is closed for all traffic between Gudauri and Kobi. On the same road, trailers, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The prison minister in Georgia supports a proposal by the head of the National Bank to merge the Prison Ministry with the Justice Ministry to save money. “The more we reduce government offices, the more effective the system will be,” […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Intermittent power supply ended two days ago in the breakaway region Abkhazia. The reason for the recent power cuts is low water level in the Inguri reservoir. Georgia is now importing electricity from Russia in order to compensate […]
Kutaisi Airport (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – As of September, Kutaisi will be connected with cities in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, and Italy. Wizzair, a Hungarian cheap airline, announced seven new flight destinations operating from the David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport to Berlin, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of the National Bank suggests reducing the number of ministries in Georgia in order to save public money. In an interview with Rustavi 2, Giorgi Kadagidze drew attention to Switzerland, a developed country which has eight ministries, […]
(Investigative Service, Ministry of Finance.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s investigative service Tuesday detained three people for selling counterfeit salt. The three made profit by systematically selling salt, according to a short statement put out by the service. The statement said they packed […]
Dimitri Khundadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament is considering introducing a ban on children accessing porn websites. Dimitri Khundadze, head of the parliamentary committee on healthcare and social issues, suggests creating a commission to craft a draft law. […]
MP Soso Jachvliani has withdrawn a bill to make it a crime to insult religious feelings. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian member of parliament has unexpectedly withdrawn a draft law that would make it a crime to insult religious feelings. In a short explanatory note, MP Soso Jachvliani explained that the issue is so important that more consultations are necessary to refine […]
(airliners.net) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three Iranian airlines will enter the Georgian market in February and March, according to the airport operator TAV Georgia. The company announced that regular flights between Tbilisi and Tehran will be launched in the end of February. TAV Georgia, […]
Abandoned South Ossetian checkpoint at the village of Ergneti from Georgian-controlled side (DFWatch, May, 2014) South Ossetian KGB detained a 42-years-old Georgian following citizen's arrest by a local man near Tskhinvali. An uneditified Georgian man was detained in South Ossetia for crossing ‘the border’ (administrative borderline), South Ossetian news agency Res reported. The agency [...]
Andrey Makarvich wearing ribbon with colors of Ukraine's flag during Peace March in Moscow, 2014 (Bogomolov.PL) Andrey Makarevich, leader of a Russian cult rock band Mashina Vremeni, and a vocal critic of the Kremlin will play a concert in the Tbilisi Concert Hall on March 9. Mashina Vremeni was founded in 1969 and is [...]
Georgian citizens can enter Iran visa-free for up to 90 days, while most foreign nationals can obtain 30-days visas at Iran’s airports. Iran has reintroduced visa-free regime for Georgian citizens, Iran’s deputy ambassador to Georgia Mohsen Kebriaizadeh told journalists on Monday. The decision follows a phone conversation between Georgian Prime Pinister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Iranian President [...]
Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili faced National Movement activists in Tsikhisdziri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili halted work at Tsikhisdziri on Saturday, where three giant trees are being prepared to be carried by ship and replanted in a garden further north on the Black Sea coast. An environmental group joined […]
The Enguri dam. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia may have its electricity supply cut off because of low water level at the Enguri Dam, which straddles the de facto border. Since January 25, Abkhazia’s electricity supply has been […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man was arrested Friday in the west of Georgia accused of triple murder. Three men who had been missing for several days were found dead in a river in Zugdidi with gun shot wounds to their head and chest region. The killing took place […]
Valery Bganba. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Abkhazia is introducing a new exception from its own ‘visa’ rules. Citizens of countries that have recognized the Georgian breakaway region may freely visit. In practical terms, this means for Russian citizens. The current law, adopted in 2005, says […]
Rainbow Europe TBILISI, DFWatch–Rainbow Europe’s LGBTI rights ranking praises positive developments in Georgia despite major setbacks. Georgia was placed in the middle of a ranking of European countries which assessed each country’s legislation regarding […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were killed in a car crash in eastern Georgia Thursday evening. Several people are injured, two of them are in a serious condition. The accident took place in the village Badiauri, near Sagarejo. A minibus smashed into a small […]
(Guerilla Gardening.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were detained Wednesday during a rally in Tsikhisdziri on the Black Sea coast near Kobuleti. They were protesting against the removal of three giant old trees which they suspect will be hauled by boat 40km up the coast […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report suggests that a number of rights are violated when people are detained. They are not read their rights and have problems getting an interpreter and a lawyer during their first questioning. These are the findings in a new […]
Eka Mishveladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A TV host on the Georgian Public Broadcaster says she was fired without explanation and plans to sue her employer. Eka Mishveladze, one of the hosts on Channel 1, says her open-ended contract was terminated with no explanation and she […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday explained a proposal to place video cameras in unmarked police cars, which was criticized the day before. “Recently, the media have purposely replicated the opinions of the so-called […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A picture of a young man hangs in the yard of the Shia mosque in Ponichala, a suburb of Tbilisi known as Soghanlughi, or Soğanlıq in Azeri language. A note is attached to it, saying: ‘Your blood will annihilate Wahhabism and wash it off this land’. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A proposal to put cameras in unmarked police cars and use video recordings to fine drivers for traffic violations is met with suspicion in Georgia. According to the bill, police will be entitled to install secret video cameras in unmarked patrol […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – LGBT rights organisations condemn Giorgi Tatishvili’s initiative for same-sex marriages as a provocation and accuse pro-Russian political and radical religious forces of interference. On 27 January, Giorgi Tatishvili, an activist […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia exported 13 percent more wine in January, compared to the same period last year. According to the National Wine Agency, Georgia exported wine to 19 countries around the world. 1,521,802 bottles were exported, worth USD 2.62 million. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Iran are considering reopening mutual visa-free travel for each other’s citizens, according to the Georgian prime minister. Such an arrangement existed between January 2011 and summer of 2013, until Georgia cancelled […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new terminal building will be built at Tbilisi Airport, due to an increase in passenger numbers. The new terminal will be finished within an year. Giorgi Molodinashvili, Deputy Director of the Georgia’s Airports Union, told DF Watch that in spring, […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian defense minister says there has been too much focus on her country being approved for a formalized plan toward NATO membership, called a MAP, since the alliance can accept Georgia as a member directly, she argues. NATO […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 36 year old man died in Georgia on Saturday after having contracted the H1N1 virus. He became the tenth victim of the swine flu outbreak. The deceased was from Gali in Abkhazia, and had come to Zugdidi to receive medical treatment. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi international will be closed during daytime for four months, starting from March 1, 2016, due to maintenance work on the runway. During dayttime, scheduled flights will either be cancelled or delayed. According to preliminary […]
Staff are not letting the new Maestro director and owner into the TV building. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian TV company Maestro has been taken over by two brothers, one a rock singer and the other a former presidential candidate, but staff won’t let them into the building. Maestro’s majority owner is now Giorgi Gachechiladze, a rock singer […]
Aslan Tsutsashvili (ick.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – 24-years-old Aslan Tsutsashvili from Pankisi valley accuses Akhmeta police of physical assault on ethnic grounds. The incident allegedly […]
(DF Watch.) BATUMI, DFWatch–Muslims gathered at the Orta Jame mosque in Batumi on Thursday and presented over 12,000 signatures in support of constructing a new mosque. Orta Jame is the only mosque in Batumi, Georgia’s second largest city, and it has been overcrowded […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian military police is preparing to send a team to the Central African Republic to investigate alleged sexual crimes committed there by Georgian soldiers. Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said Wednesday that investigators require some […]
Bianka Shigurova can be seen in the center of this photo (wearing a hat) from November, 2015. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A transgender woman was found dead in her apartment in Tbilisi on Thursday. She had apparently suffocated due to a gas leak. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) confirmed the death of Bianka Shigurova and said an investigation has been […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The director of a construction company was detained on Thursday accused of embezzlement of more than 1.5 million laris. According to the Finance Ministry’s investigation service, the company Construction-Commercial Corporation […]
Protest at Parliament (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Gogi Topadze’s use of handicapist language provoked reaction from Georgia’s top politicians and a demonstration in Tbilisi’s center. MP Gogi Topadze’s use of Down’s syndrome as a term of abuse provoked a variety of reactions […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Swine flu has claimed its ninth death in Georgia, according to National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). A young woman died two days ago in the Adjara region in the southwest of Georgia, and laboratory tests confirmed that she […]
Gogi Topadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian parliament member Wednesday used Down’s syndrome as a term of abuse. Gogi Topadze, previously known for his praise of Stalin a few months ago, claimed that the president in his national address compared the Georgian […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-3 road between the winter resort Gudauri and the village Kobi is closed due to high winds and poor visibility. Between Aragvispiri and Gudauri, and between Kobi and the Russian border at Larsi, trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with […]
Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of NCDC. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s eighth swine flu victim was a young man who had an accompanying disease. Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of the National Center of the Disease Control (NCDC), said the man died because he received treatment too late. […]
Eka Beselia, head of the human rights committee. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia might bring in a new law that makes it a crime to offend ‘religious feelings’. A member of parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition has submitted a bill in parliament which was supported by the human rights committee. The bill […]
Minister Tina Khidasheli meets National Assembly (Mod.gov.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Minister of Defence conducted a series of meetings with Armenia’s prominent politicians and commented on issues linked to Armenian–Georgian cooperation. Minister of Defense of Georgia Tinatin Khidasheli concluded her three-day […]
Zviad Tomaradze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A controversy is brewing in Georgia over whether it should be written into the Constitution that a marriage is union between a man and a woman. The idea has been around at least since former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili suggested it in March […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president’s annual state of the nation address will be delivered at the opening of the spring session of parliament on February 3. Giorgi Kverenchkhiadze, who is parliamentary secretary for President Giorgi Margvelashvili, […]
Gocha Jamarauli received 70% of votes in the Gardabani by-election, according to CEC. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The ruling Georgian Dream coalition won the by-local election in Gardabani on Thursday. The election was necessary to find a replacement for Garsevan Nioradze, the recently deceased gamgebeli or head of municipality of Gardabani, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man who died of swine in Georgia on Saturday did not suffer from any other disease. But there is no reason to panic, authorities say. “Unfortunately, we had one case when the virus resulted in the death of an almost healthy person, […]
(Ministry of Culture/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Tbilisi Opera House was reopened Sunday after more than five years of rehabilitation works, protesters decried that the first performance was invitation-only. Protesters who had gathered at the entrance did not like the policy to not have tickets […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Defense Ministry has suspended six of its staff, including the deputy head of the joint military staff, pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Georgian soldiers in the Central African Republic. Three girls in the Central […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili met locals in Duisi, a village in the Pankisi valley. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president visited the Pankisi valley on Saturday, a few days after Russia’s foreign minister claimed that Islamic State militants are being trained there. Locals in Duisi, one of the villages in Pankisi in the northeast of Georgia, welcomed […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people died and six were seriously injured in a car crash in northwestern Georgia on Friday. Two cars, a Ford and an Opel, crashed between the villages Lia and Jvari near Tsalenjikha in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The accident happened […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In its latest world report, Human Rights Watch draws attention to a number of alleged violations in Georgia, including political persecution, pressure on the media and ill treatment. The first chapter on Georgia in the World Report 2016 […]
All kindergartens in the capital have suspended classes until February 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–468 schools are closed in Georgia on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Education. 267 schools are closed because of the swine flu outbreak and 201 are closed due to bad weather, mostly problems related to snow. “In order to prevent the spreading of the virus, […]
Fatou Bensouda. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved an investigation into alleged war crimes in the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008. The decision was made by the judges Joyce Aluoch, Cuno Tarfusser and Peter Kovacs. Prosecutor […]
(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will supply Saudi Arabia with about 100 armored medical evacuation vehicles. Tuesday, the company Delta announced that it had won a tender announced by the Defense Ministry of Saudi Arabia, and the total value of the vehicles […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are 111 laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1, which causes swine flu. Four cases of the H3N2 virus have also been confirmed, the National Center of Disease Control said on Wednesday. Last week, the estimated infection […]
(Kremlin photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Islamic State fighters are being trained in the Pankisi valley in northern Georgia which was one of the reasons why Russia introduced stricter visa rules for Georgians. On Tuesday, Tbilisi […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Schools are closed in several municipalities in Georgia from Tuesday due to heavy snowfall. The Adjara region in the southwest of Georgia is particularly affected. According to Deputy Education Minister Lia Gigauri, all schools are closed […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian national currency on Monday reached a new historic low of 2.4923 lari for one US dollar. The price of dollars in exchange booths and banks was more than 2.53 laris. On January 23, one US dollar was 2.4694. Since the lari was introduced […]
(Telavi municipality.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 900 years old plane tree next to the palace of King Erekle II (1762-98) is slowly dying, and the local municipality of Telavi is calling on the assistance of a German expert to help save it. In Telavi, seat of the 18th century king of Kartli […]
Khvicha Gobadze and Mikhad Turkoshvili. (ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian citizen from Adjara who theratened his home country in an online video in November has died in Syria. The militant Khvicha Gobadze’s death was confirmed by his family, as well as the State Security Service. The Security Service did not offer […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the SH-38 between Verona and Shuamta, the shortest way between Tbilisi and Telavi, vehicles without four-wheel drive are required to use snow chains due to ice and snow. Heavy vehicles must be equipped with snow chains on the Tbilisi […]
The Ferro plant in Zestaponi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in 2015 was 13 percent less than in 2014, excluding the unofficial economy. The trade with other countries amounted to USD 9.928 million, according to preliminary figures from the Georgian National Statistics Office (GeoStat). […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The E-60 is closed for heavy vehicles between Chumateleti and Khevi due to ice and heavy snowfall but other vehicles may pass freely. On the S-3 betwen Gudauri and Kobi near the Russian border, traffic is prohibited for all types of vehicles. […]
Head of Georgia’s NCDC, Amiran Gamkrelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man died of swine flu in Georgia on Thursday. He became the fourth victim of the disease in the last ten days. The middle aged man was suffering from a chronic lung disease. He was infected with the H3N2 virus, while the previous […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–3,800 people in Tbilisi called the emergency number 112 only on Thursday as fear spread about the swine flu outbreak which has infected 9,000 people so far. Three people have died after being infected with the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30 seats are now allowed to drive between Gudauri and Kobi on the S-7 road near Russian border. But due to snow and ice, large vehicles must be equipped with snow chains. According […]
(Ministry of Internal Affairs/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The police in Georgia has a new pilot project: ski patrol. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the ski patrol will observe people who are skiing at winter resorts and make sure they are following the rules. The policemen on skis will pay attention […]
(Tamaz Dolaberidze/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mine workers in Chiatura, a town in western Georgia, are protesting against a decision by their employer, Georgian Manganese, to halt mining work for four months due to failing demand. The workers have been temporarily laid off for […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A third person has died of swine flu in Georgia. The 68 year old patient suffered from a chronic disease, like the previous two victims of the H1N1 virus, and died in a hospital in Zugdidi on Thursday. The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said Thursday that are currently about 9,000 people [...]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of Georgia and the breakaway republic South Ossetia will hold talks about missing persons under the auspices of the International Red Cross. David Sanakoyev, who represents the de facto republic, announced […]
The middle aged man spent one day at Kutaisi hospital before succumbing to the H1N1 virus. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One more person died of swine flu in Georgia on Wednesday. The middle aged man spent one day at the hospital before passing away. He was suffering from a separate illness which exacerbated his condition. There are nearly 3,000 people infected […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-7 road is closed in the north of Georgia near the Russian border. The section between Gudauri and Kobi is closed due to snow, ice, wind and poor visibility. Between Aragvispiri and Gudauri, and between Kobi and the border crossing at Larsi, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi Opera House is reopening on January 30 after a five year closure, but some are not pleased that tickets for the opening night are not available to the general public. The first work to be performed since the building was closed […]
The South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion is one of the projects that will receive support. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU countries Tuesday approved 217 million euros in support for energy infrastructure in the south and southeast of the European continent, including a study of a gas pipeline to Europe from Turkmenistan, via Georgia. The 15 projects were selected […]
(National Bank of Georgia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of money sent home by Georgian emigres in December, 2015, was 12.2 percent lower than in the same period the year before. The total amount of so-called remittances was USD 101.9 million, according to the National Bank. […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two militants from Pankisi in Georgia have reportedly died in the Syrian war. Information Center of Kakheti (ick.ge) names the two as Ramzan Pareulidze (24) and Mukhmad Turkoshvili (22). They were both from Pankisi Gorge, a valley […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A patient in Tbilisi who was infected with the H1N1 or swine flu virus died a few days ago, the National Center of Disease Control said. There were 2,928 persons infected with swine flu in Georgia as of January 18. This is the only fatal case so far. The virus has spread […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The top prosecutor in Georgia’s western region Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti was found dead in Tbilisi Saturday evening. The murder suspect has allegedly committed suicide. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) named the suspect in the murder […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze said on Friday that a handful of Iraqi students had their residency permits revoked because they didn’t comply with the legal requirements. The students, who are attending Akaki Tsereteli […]
PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A day after assuming office, Georgia’s new prime minister gave the Orthodox Church half a million laris from the government’s emergency reserve fund, it emerged on Friday. The Patriarchate of Georgia received 450,000 laris (more than USD 185,000) […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A meeting between Georgian Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze and director of Gazprom Export Elena Burmistrova in Switzerland on December 27 has reignited a debate about Russian influence. It became known in late September […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Road restrictions on four roads in Georgia remained unchanged Thursday and Friday. In the south of Georgia, the S-11 is closed between Ninotsminda and the border with Armenia due to strong wind and poor visibility. Nearby, […]
Mayor Davit Narmania (left) and Giorgi Liluashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of Cartu Bank was appointed deputy mayor of Tbilisi on Thursday. Presenting his new deputy, Mayor Davit Narmania said that Giorgi Liluashvili has the experience and skills necessary to be a good manager. He listed Liluashvili’s past positions, […]
Batumi. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students raised flags at the local administration buildings in many parts of Georgia today to mark Flag Day. Flags were be raised in Batumi, Akhaltsikhe, Kazbegi, Akhmeta, Lagodekhi, Shindisi, Bolnisi and Marneuli, as well as on Enguri bridge, […]
Kutaisi airport. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian airports served 12 percent more passengers in 2015 than the previous year, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Aviation Agency of the Ministry of Economy. Airports in Georgia served a record 2,261,006 passengers in 2015, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The investigation service of the Finance Ministry has launched an investigation into a Van Dyck painting which according to Turkish media was on sale after being illegally imported from Georgia. The investigation is being carried […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto government of the breakaway republic South Ossetia Tuesday evening released Lasha Glurjidze, 21, after nine days in detention. Glurjidze was released after paying a 2,000 Ruble (USD 26) fine for ‘crossing the border’ […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic was restored Tuesday for heavy vehicles on the SH-17 between Tkibuli and Ambrolauri, according to the Roads Department. Road restrictions remain in place on three road sections in Georgia. Vehicles must use snow chains on the S-3 […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three journalists with an opposition-leaning television statin were attacked Tuesday evening in Tbilisi. Levan Sutidze, journalist of Tabula, wrote on his Facebook page that three people attacked three journalists of Tabula. In addition to himself, […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Manganese is temporarily shutting down its mines western Georgia for four months due to a low demand for manganese. GM owns the mines in Chiatura, a mountain town in the western Imereti province. According to a statement issued […]
(Mega TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Iraqi students protested in Kutaisi on Monday after having their residency permits revoked. The protest at Akaki Tsereteli State University involved up to ten Iraqi students, who asked the university to help them after the Ministry of Justice revoked […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–From Monday morning, heavy vehicles were again allowed to drive the S-3 road which runs from Mtskheta north of Tbilisi, into the Caucasus mountains and to the Russian border. But between Gudauri and Kobi, only vehicles fitted with […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The E-60 was reopened for all traffic on Sunday, after having been closed for several days near Zestaponi due to flooding of a river. During the closure, smaller vehicles were rerouted via Baghdati on the section of the E-60 between Zestaponi and Kutaisi. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 12-year-old girl died Sunday in Gudauri, a winter resort in northern Georgia, when a 18-year-old man lost control of his skis and crashed into her. The girl died on the spot, while the young man was injured and taken to the hospital in Gudauri. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two men were detained Friday in Turkey as they were attempting to sell a Van Dyck painting that had been allegedly illegally imported from Georgia. Turkish media reported that the painting was on sale for USD 14 million but had allegedly […]
The problem roads. Some roads remain completely closed (red), while others have restrictions (blue) on certain types of vehicles. (Source: Roads Department January 9, 2016 update.) (Source: Roads Department January 9, 2016 update.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are still several roads in Georgia that remain closed to all traffic due to the weather. We bring you the latest information from the Roads Department. The road from Tbilisi to the winter resort Gudauri was reopened on Saturday […]
Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Friday as expected appointed Davit Zalkaliani as deputy foreign minister, the same position he held before resigning in November 2014. Zalkaliani was deputy foreign minister from 2012 to 2014, but resigned when his party […]
Four road sections are completely closed (red), while there are restrictions in other sections (blue). (Source: Roads Department.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several roads in Georgia are now closed or have traffic restrictions due to the weather conditions, according to the Roads Department’s January 8 update. S-3 The S-3 (Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi) is closed for all vehicles between […]
Tamaz Mechiauri, head of the finance budget committee, believes that the agency’s demand is reasonable but that legal experts should decide. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The newly created Finance Supervisory Agency is still not operational because the National Bank refuses to fund it. The agency has now asked parliament to provide direct financing. The agency was split from the National Bank […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Three hunters who were missing for almost ten days near Lagodekhi in the northeastern corner of Georgia have been detained by border guards in Dagestan for illegal border crossing. The four men went hunting on December 28, but only […]
Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former deputy foreign minister from the opposition Free Democrats Party is to return to his post following a proposal by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The Free Democrats party, which came to power in 2012 as part of the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Road Department of the Infrastructure Ministry informs that trailers and semi-trailers from today are allowed to drive between Igoeti and Khevi on the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road. Restrictions have been lifted for all types of vehicles […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The export of Georgian wine went down by 39 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year. Georgia exported more than 36 million bottles (0.75l) of wine to 46 countries, worth more than USD 98.1 million, according to a report published […]
(Kutaisi international airport.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Bad weather in western Georgia has led to Wizz Air’s flights to and from Kutaisi airport being redirected to Tbilisi on Tuesday. According to United Airports of Georgia, the following flights have been scheduled on January 5: A flight from Tbilisi to Warsaw […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgians were detained by Russian border guards on Monday at the delineation line around the breakaway territory South Ossetia. Saba Sekhniashvili and Lasha Glurjidze were trying to go to the Trinity Church, which lies in the village Bershueti. […]
Batumi’s palm trees are covered in snow. (Faecbook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Intense snowfall and strong wind is causing trouble for drivers on the E60 highway through Georgia and Batumi’s palm trees are covered in white. The Road Department now calls on everyone to avoid the Zestaponi-Senaki section of the E60 […]
A helicopter is searching along the River Kabali (red). TBILISI, DFWatch–A search is continuing by ground crews and helicopter for three people who have been missing for eight days in the Lagodekhi area in eastern Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan (see map). Information about the missing people […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Part of the waste collectors in the capital resumed their strike on Monday, demanding a full payment of their holiday bonus. The workers went on a strike last week, demanding increase of the pay and receiving the so-called 13th salary. Their demands remain the same. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several flights were cancelled due to bad weather on Monday at Kutaisi airport in the west of Georgia. Interpressnews reports that heavy snowfall resulted in the cancelling of the flight from Warsaw to Kutaisi and the return flight from Kutaisi to Warsaw due […]
Bakuriani skiing resort. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The steady increase in visitors continued in December, with seven percent more people arriving last month, compared to the same period in 2014. In the year as a whole, there was also a seven percent increase, according to a new monthly report […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A search is on for three men who went missing in Lagodekhi, in the eastern part of Georgia, three days ago. Rustavi 2 reports that four men went hiking in the village Mskhalgori four days ago, but they were separated in the strong wind and snowfall. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Snow and ice has made several roads unsafe for large vehicles. Here is the list of traffic restrictions published by the Road Department. On a section of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road stretching from the 138 km mark to the 157 km mark, […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In his New Year’s speech, Georgia’s new prime minister promised a better future for families in 2016. PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili wished everyone peace, good health and well-being. “Happy New Year to all of you who work […]
(Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There is a need for new people in the Georgian Dream government, businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili said Wednesday evening, in his first public comments on the change of prime minister and other recent developments in the coalition […]
Maia Javakhishvili. TBILISI, DFWatch–A female police officer who was injured in a shooting on Wednesday in Telavi died later the same day. Maia Javakhishvili was injured during a shooting in front of a police station, while her partner, Captain Gela Lamazoshvili, died on the spot. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A policeman was shot and killed on Wednesday outside the police station in Telavi, a town in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region. The officer, Gela Lamazoshvili, died on the spot. A female police officer was also injured in the shooting […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Part of the capital’s waste collectors and street sweepers went on strike on Wednesday morning, demanding a 50 percent pay increase. Employees showed up today at the office of Tbilservice, the company responsible for keep Tbilisi clean. […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament approved the new government on Tuesday by 86 votes against 28. Lawmakers debated the government program all day, sparring with new Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili into late night hours. Both the two […]
Leonid Tibilov. (RES.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of the breakaway region South Ossetia has ordered a proposal to be put before the elected assembly about changing the entity’s name to South Ossetia – Alania. Along with the proposed name change, a referendum […]
Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A citizens’ appeal to pardon former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava has been rejected by President Giorgi Margvelashvili. Ugulava has been in detention since July 2014. His supporters argue that there have been committed several violations […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s prime minister in waiting defended his handling of the economic crisis as he answered questions from parliamentarians on Monday ahead of a confirmation vote today, Tuesday. As expected, Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s tenure as economy minister […]
Undated photo of Abu Omar TBILISI, DFWatch–The Pentagon has denied the capture of Islamic State commander Omar Al-Shishani, a citizen of Georgia whose birth name is Tarkhan Batirashvili. A spokesperson for the U.S. Defense Department told Ria Novosti that the information […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tarkhan Batirashvili, a.k.a. Abu Omar al-Shishani, a notorious IS field commander from Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge, was reportedly seized by Kurdish and American commandos in Northern Iraq on Friday. Undated photo of Abu Omar Abu Omar’s arrest was reported by the Russian […]
Levan Murusidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s High Council of Justice on Friday appointed a new judge to the Appeals Court who was criticized as one of the court officials who decided to go easy on of those involved in the murder of a bank employee in 2006. The murder of Sandro Girgvliani […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the designated new prime minister of Georgia, plans to present his cabinet tomorrow. The list is expected to be almost identical to the current government, but he does not rule out changes in the future. The former vice prime minister […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters of a second mosque in Batumi began collecting signatures Friday. The city on Georgia’s Black Sea coast is largely Muslim but the only mosque has been overcrowded for decades. Signatures were collected at a corner of the Orta Jame […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s investigation service have detained a group of ten people for manufacturing fake credit cards and stealing more than 1.5 million laris. Investigators describe the case as ‘a large-scale international crime.’ The ten are suspected of illegally […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili supports Giorgi Kvirikashvili (inset) as new prime minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili Friday supported the ruling coalition’s nominee, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as candidate for new prime minister and asked parliament to approve him. The president’s administration supported Kvirikashvili’s candidacy […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president pardoned 238 prisoners on Friday, 18 of whom were women and three minors. According to Zviad Koridze, head of the president’s pardon commission, 172 prisoners will leave jail today. 11 of them are women and two are minors. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into an incident where a man was allegedly beaten by police officers. The Public Defender wrote on Thursday that a person had surgery at the central hospital in Tbilisi on November 10, […]
Irakli Garibashvili asked Belgium to speed up the ratification process. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Belgium became the last member country to add its consent to Georgia’s association agreement with the European Union on Thursday. The agreement has now been ratified by all 28 member states as well as EU’s own institutions […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition has agreed on Giorgi Kvirikashvili as their candidate for new prime minister, as replacement for Irakli Garibashvili, who resigned Wednesday evening. Kvirikashvili is former vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The deadline for parliament to approve a new government is 14 or 15 January, 2016, but the procedure may finish before New Year, Georgia’s speaker of parliament said Thursday. Irakli Garibashvili announced his resignation last night […]
Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The candidate for new prime minister will be discussed at a session of the Georgian Dream coalition on Friday, the speaker of parliament said Wednesday evening after the PM announced his resignation. Speaker Davit Usupashvili […]
Irakli Garibashvili announcing his resignation. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced his resignation in a brief TV address on Wednesday, after more than two years in the post. He did not state any specific reasons for leaving, nor offer advice on who his successor should be, which ultimately […]
Garibashvili is expected to resign on Wednesday (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili may announce his resignation at a special briefing planned at his office on Wednesday, at 8pm Tbilisi time. The PM’s resignation was reported earlier by Georgian news agencies, and although […]
Teona Kolbaia. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A woman who has twice been convicted of robbery is a participant in the talent show Voice of Georgia. Tuesday, she was told live during the show that she has been pardoned and given a car. The Voice accepted Teona Kolbaia during casting […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have identified a taxi driver in Tbilisi who allegedly beat a woman who rejected his attempts at physical contact. The suspect has not yet been apprehended, but an investigation has been launched based on article 125 […]
Guram Girgvliani (right) receiving the Order of Queen Tamar on behalf of his late wife, Irine Enukidze, from President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left). (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Monday declared 2016 as the Year of the European State. He made the announcement at a ceremony to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of founding of the National Guard. The president said […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia is beginning a process of simplifying visa rules for Georgian citizens, a few days after the EU published a positive final report about fulfillment of a visa liberalization action plan. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that […]
Emiko Peikrishvili. (Maestro TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A local politician in Georgia bit off part of the ear of a colleague during a fight on Monday. Emiko Peikrishvili, the former head of Kareli municipality in the Shida Kartli region, bit off a small part of the ear of Ilia Kelekhsashvili, assistant to the current municipal […]
Davit Petriashvili. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian football official died in a car accident Tuesday morning. Davit Petriashvili (46) was hit by a police car in the center of Tbilisi and died on the spot. Petriashvili who used to manage relations between the Georgian Football Federation […]
Shalva Abuladze was found guilty of murdering a policeman and attempting to murder four other police officers. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man in Georgia was Monday sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a policeman and trying to murder four other police officers. According to Shalva Khachapuridze, a lawyer representing the murder convict Shalva Abuladze, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A woman suspected of murdering her husband and son denies committing the crime, claiming that she doesn’t know what happened but was trying to save her husband when she found him. The woman was questioned about the case and the court […]
The water level in River Chkhara was still too high for repair work to begin on Monday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A section of the E60, the main highway east-west through Georgia, has once more been cut off because a river spilled over its banks near Kutaisi. The damaged section is the 206th km of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road, the same section which […]
The share of people who wouldn’t vote for any party or don’t know which one is down to 38% (yellow line), after reaching almost 50% in August. (National Democratic Institute.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A poll published on Monday shows the ruling Georgian Dream coalition back in the lead, and a surge in voters’ apathy slightly abating. The latest National Democratic Institute (NDI) poll, carried out in late November, early December, shows that if there […]
Levan Vasadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian businessman has proposed to create a commission to prevent media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from insulting the country’s traditional values. Levan Vasadze, who formally has status as ‘knight’ […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A woman was arrested in Tbilisi on Sunday suspected of murdering her husband and five-year-old son. According to investigators, the woman, who is about 26 years old, injured her two year older husband by hitting him in the head with […]
Police arrested the suspect in this monastery in Kvareli. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have arrested a man accused of robbing four churches in Kakheti, a province in the eastern part of Georgia, a few days ago. Investigators say the man, who is about 21 years old, was arrested at night while attempting to rob […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Non-governmental organizations on Friday presented a report about how Georgia is doing in fulfilling its requirements under an association agreement signed with EU in 2014. The report outlines progress in some fields, but also problems […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Defense Ministry this week announced vacancies for joining the military on a contractual basis. The contracts offered have a four year term and are available for persons between 18 and 35 year, and youth who have served compulsory military […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission announced Friday that Georgia has fulfilled a stepwise plan toward visa liberalization. This could mean that as early as in mid 2016, Georgian citizens will be able to travel without a visa to countries in the Schengen area, which apart […]
Mikheil Saakashvili (right) got up and left the meeting of the Reform Council after a shouting match with Arsen Avakov (left), who threw a glass of water at him. TBILISI, DFWatch–Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov Wednesday published a video showing a quarrel between him and Mikheil Saakashvili, Governor of Odessa, and former President of Georgia. The video shows them bickering and Avakov […]
A Russian helicopter of this type flew over Georgian-controlled territory on December 10. (U.S. Department of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An alleged New Year’s terror plot by Islamic State and an airspace violation by a Russian helicopter were some one of the topics at a regular field meeting about the conflict over the breakaway territory South Ossetia on Wednesday. The meeting […]
Aleko Elisashvili, city council member and former head of the president’s pardon commission. TBILISI, DFWatch–The question of whether politicians tried to use their influence to fast-track the pardoning of certain prisoners was no closer to being settled Wednesday, after prosecutors had questioned at least 30 people. Prosecutor Koka Katsitadze said he doesn’t […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–High winds destroyed the roof of a house in Tbilisi on Wednesday, leaving three families homeless. The wind also tore down a tree on Dadiani Street, which damaged electricity transmission lines, as a result of which households living on the street were left […]
Iashvili Hospital. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Food Agency calls on parents to be careful during the Christmas period after a two-year old accidentally swallowed a firecracker hidden inside a package of sweet corn chips. The boy didn’t notice the firecracker among the chips and swallowed it. […]
Aleko Elisashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The the former head of the president’s pardon commission was questioned at the Prosecutor General’s Office on Monday. Aleko Elisashvili claims he was pressured by authorities to give a favorable decision in the cases of specific prisoners, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first eleven months of 2015 was 14 percent less than in the same period last year, according to preliminary figures published by the National Statistics Department. The total turnover amounted to USD 8,892 million, […]
Manana Kobakhidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The vice speaker of the Georgian parliament confirms that she approached the president’s pardon commission and requested to have certain prisoners pardoned. The admission came after a newspaper published information based on […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The first train along a new route from China to Turkey, bypassing Russia, arrived in Tbilisi Sunday morning. The arrival of the 21 wagon train, whose final destination is Istanbul, marks the official opening of the Silk Road, the Georgian […]
Vladimer Gogidze found the bodies while he was out hunting with a friend. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four dead bodies were discovered in Khelvachauri in southwestern Georgia on Saturday, four kilometers from the border with Turkey. The four bodies were frozen and almost covered in snow, and allegedly belong to citizens of Bangladesh. […]
Giorgi Kldiashvili (left), IDFI, and Keti Khutsishvili, OSGF. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Economic Development is the most closed public institution in Georgia, in terms of providing public information. This is one of the findings in a new report published Friday by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI). […]
Aleko Elisashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Government officials tried to pressure the president’s pardon commission into releasing certain prisoners, former commission head Aleko Elisashvili claims. The current head of the pardon commission, Zviad Koridze, says he can confirm Elisashvili’s […]
Photo: Irakli Kutelia (mariupolnews.com.ua) Two Ukrainian militiamen, including Irakli Kutelia, an ethnic Georgian volunteer, were killed on Wednesday afternoon and seven others were injured as their infantry fighting vehicle ran over a mine near Donetsk, Ukrainian and Georgian media report. […]
A new mineral water factory under construction in the Guria region with EBRD financing. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Direct foreign investments in Georgia was 33 percent lower in the third quarter of 2015 than in the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the National Statistics Department. Direct foreign investments amounted to USD 489 million […]
From a recent street performance by school children to highlight the problem of child marriage. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man who married a 13 year old girl and now has two children by her will not face trial for sexual relations with a minor, prosecutors have decided. Nadim Paksadze, who is now 21, was under investigation for marrying a minor, which has become […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A construction worker died on Tuesday during work on a bypass road near Kobuleti in western Georgia. The 40-year-old man is said to have fallen from a 20-meter tall bridge and died from multiple injuries. An investigation has been launched […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is in negotiations with Turkey about locating all 274 Georgian prisoners in that country in the same jail. The Georgian prison minister visited Turkey’s justice minister Tuesday and discussed conditions of Georgian prisoners, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–By October, 995 persons had applied for asylum in Georgia, while 1,192 people were living here under protection of international law, according to a new report by the Public Defender. The report, which was published on Monday, shows that […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church issued a short statement Sunday evening explaining that Patiarch Ilia II never meant to ask for legislative amendments to grant him the right to pardon prisoners. December 5, the patriarch attended a performance by women prisoners at Rustaveli Theatre, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A strike among workers on the BP South Caucasus pipeline expansion has ended without drama as management fulfilled the main demand, but workers who were fired have not been given their jobs back. Three days ago, nearly 200 workers […]
Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church has asked for the power to pardon prisoners. Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II said Saturday that he thinks a patriarch should be able to pardon prisoners and added that he has spoken with the prime minister […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The current president of Georgia on Friday revoked the citizenship of his predecessor, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is now governor of Odessa in Ukraine. Georgian legislation doesn’t allow dual citizenship. Since Saakashvili became a citizen of Ukraine […]
The theft took place in this Tbilisi mosque. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police Friday detained a suspect who allegedly robbed a mosque in Tbilisi. The suspect, a 22 year old man, secretly snuck into a mosque in the old part of Tbilisi and stole a computer from a room used by Mullahs, and then went into hiding, according to the Interior Ministry. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–For a second time in one week, gunshots have been fired at a congregation hall used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tbilisi. Monday morning, someone fired shots at the Kingdom Hall building in Vazisubani, a suburb in the Georgian capital. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 200 workers went on strike Wednesday morning at BP’s South Caucasus gas pipeline expansion project in southern Georgia. Their demands are to increase their reduced working hours and reduced salaries, and to get paid for working on weekends […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There were 6.9 percent more visitors to Georgia during the last eleven months, compared to the same period last year, according to the Interior Ministry. There is no official data about how many of visitors are tourists, but the MIA counts the number […]
Levan Izoria. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian intelligence service Tuesday confirmed the arrest of four persons for links to Islamic State. Levan Izoria, Deputy Head of the State Security Service, said at a briefing that the four openly support the ideology of the terrorist organization known as ISIS. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Road Department in Georgia warns that there are traffic restrictions in mountainous areas. Due to frost, trailers, semi-trailers and other vehicles with more than 30 seats are asked to use snow chains from the 80km to 136km section […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV channel reported Sunday that special forces had arrested a person in the west of the country for allegedly being affiliated with Islamic State. The TV channel also reported that a further three persons were arrested a day before the special […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Hall has begun clean-up work on the Tskneti-Betania road close to the capital, which was the origin of a landslide that caused a flood wave in Tbilisi in June, 2015. City Hall said on Saturday that experts have finished examining […]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of Georgia and the breakaway region South Ossetia met on Thursday for a regular field meeting, ending it with a feast. The meetings of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms have been held regularly since […]
The Georgia-Turkey border crossing at Sarpi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian border police arrested nine Bangladeshi and two Turkish citizens on Thursday for illegally trying to cross the border with Turkey. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the group was attempting to cross the border in an area near Akhaltsikhe, […]
