Rusiko Machaidze 
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government calls for political parties to commit to not use or incite violence during this year’s election process.
The declaration submitted for parties to sign commits them to not use violence, nor call for violence or voice
TBILISI – Authorities in Georgia have issued a 2 million dollar fine to one of opposition financier Bidzina Ivanishvili’s companies, and at the same time seized all its assets.
The reason for both decisions is that according to the State Audit Service,
TBILISI, DFWatch – There is a significant drop in support among Georgians for their country being integrated in NATO. In six months, the level of support has fallen from 70 to 62 percent.
Also the support for Georgia being integrated with the EU has dropped since
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Russian military presence in Georgia’s breakaway regions are increasingly being called an occupation.
The first to use the term was U.S. representatives. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used the term during a visit to Tbilisi in 2010.
TBILISI, DFWatch – At a time when Vano Merbaishvili was not yet confirmed as Prime Minister, a bill was brought to parliament to increase the authority of the prime minister. Parliament passed it at the first hearing.
According to the bill, which was proposed by the
President Mikheil Saakashvili Saturday appointed interior minister Vano Merabishvili as prime minister. DF Watch spoke to Petre Tsiskarishvili about the surprise announcement.
Tsiskarishvili is parliamentary leader of the majority National Movement party. He says that
TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili’s appointment of a former interior minister as prime minister may have been in violation of the constitution, and therefore invalid.
One of Georgia’s most experienced constitutional experts, Vakhtang Khmaladze, says
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian parliament on Friday approved the country’s strategy on relations with North Caucasus people. At the beginning, the strategy had status as a concept, but when it finally was passed its status had been raised and it needed a
TBILISI, DFWatch – An opposion party in Georgia warns that a law meant to create diversity in media will lead to social turmoil after the election in October.
Levan Vepkhvadze, one of the leaders of the opposition Christian Democrats, says introducing so-called must-carry
TBILISI, DFWatch – National Bureau of Enforcement has seized Bidzina Ivanishvili’s 100 percent share in Cartu Group and Cartu Bank and a 21.7 percent share he has in Progress Bank because of failure to pay a USD 45 million fine.
The businessman claims that he only