Gori city assembly votes against re-erecting Stalin statue

    By | October 2nd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

    (Radio Free Europe.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The city assembly in Joseph Stalin’s hometown Gori on Friday voted against the idea of re-erecting a six-meter high statue of the dictator. The statue was unveiled in 1952 on the central square in Gori. After the end of the Soviet Union […]

      13% more visitors to Georgia in September

      By | October 2nd, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

      Lake Sioni outside of Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of visitors to Georgia increased 12.6 percent in September, compared to the year before, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ department for analysis. The total number of visitors in September was 568,663. Out of this, 227,130 […]

        Sukhumi and Tbilisi commemorate war-related anniversaries

        By | October 2nd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

        Commemoration of the 22 year anniversary from the Abkhazian War. Heroes Square, Tbilisi (Defense Ministry) As the question of political status of Abkhazia remains a major challenge to peace and security in the region, the two societies commemorate the events of 1993 in radically different manners. As twenty-two years have passed since the end of the war in Abkhazia, […]

          Rustavi 2 director asks for donations after another setback in court

          By | October 1st, 2015|Categories: Media|Tags: |

          Nika Gvaramia and Rustavi 2 employees outside the studio building. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Thursday ordered the seizure of the shares in the company that owns the television channel Rustavi 2. The court ordered the seizure of all shares in TV Sakartvelo, which holds 51 percent of the shares in Rustavi 2. The latter […]

            23 million bottles of wine exported so far in 2015

            By | October 1st, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

            (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–By September 28, Georgia had exported 23.3 million bottles of wine so far in 2015. 3.5 million bottles were exported in September, according to the Agriculture Ministry; the highest monthly rate in 2015. The export of wine has tripled, compared […]

              DF Talk: Being transgender in Georgia

              By | October 1st, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

              Natia Gvianishvili, director of NGO Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group and Nika Ghviniashvili, manager of NGO LGBT Georgia Resource Centre talk about transgenderness and the issues faced by transgender people in Georgia. What is transgenderness? Natia Gvianishvili: […]

                Georgian police let friends of govt tops violate traffic rules since 2009

                By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A TV channel in Georgia has published footage apparently proving that the Georgian police allows friends of government officials to violate traffic rules if they can show a special permit. The licences to drive dangerously were introduced […]

                  Georgian president rejects politically motivated pardons

                  By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

                  President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has rejected a call by his predecessor Mikheil Saakashvili that it is a test of ‘decency’ to pardon three former top government officials who are convicted of crimes committed while in office. Saakashvili, who is now […]

                    Another body found after Tbilisi flood, pushing number of deaths to 20

                    By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                    (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A dead body has been found in the river Mtkvari, increasing the number of confirmed deaths after the June flood to 20. Two people are still missing. Moambe, the news program on Channel 1, reported that Elizbar Baghashvili, 56, has been found. […]

                      Council of Europe report criticizes Georgia for misusing pre-trial detention

                      By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

                      Pedro Agramunt. (Council of Europe.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A European human rights observer claims Georgia is using excessive pre-trial detention for political reasons against former government officials. The new report is written by Pedro Agramunt from the Spanish People’s Party, and published by […]

                        Georgia considers scrapping compulsory military service

                        By | September 29th, 2015|Categories: Security|Tags: |

                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on Tuesday started reviewing a proposal to abolish compulsory military service and move to a professional military based on contracts. The goal of the bill is to redirect finances spent for compulsory military service […]

                          Pankisi village appoints its first ever woman gamgebeli

                          By | September 29th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                          Tamara Margoshvili, newly appointed head of Duisi municipality. (ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A small, male-dominated village in the northeast of Georgia has for the first time appointed a woman as a head of municipality. Monday, Tamar Margoshvili, 55, took the post as gamgebeli in Duisi, a village in Pankisi Gorge, Georgia, […]

                            Two Nigerians beaten in Tbilisi, two suspects detained

                            By | September 29th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: |

                            (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Sunday detained two Georgian for beating two Nigerians in Tbilisi. The attacked happened on September 19 when one Georgian citizen and his two Nigerian friends were walking on Rustaveli Avenue in the capital. […]

                              Gori city council to discuss restoring Stalin statue

                              By | September 29th, 2015|Categories: News|

                              The statue of Stalin has been stored outdoors in a yard since its dismantling in 2010. (Radio Tavisupleba.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A statue of Joseph Stalin may be put back up in his hometown Gori, where positive sentiments towards the late Soviet ruler are still high. The city council is to discuss the issue on Friday, October 2. If the council approves the decision, the statue will be erected in the small park in central Gori, near the Stalin museum. The overall cost of the project is up to 2 million laris, or about USD 840,000.  […]

                                Georgia’s National Bank issues 20 year anniversary coin

                                By | September 27th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                (National Bank of Georgia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Bank of Georgia has issued a new anniversary coin in connection with the national currency’s 20 years of existence. The nominal value of the new collector’s item is 20 laris, and it was manufactured by Mennica Polska in Poland. […]

                                  Minister: Nothing is being built in Abkhazia

                                  By | September 27th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                  Paata Zakareishvili (Official Photo) Tbilisi, DFWatch – “After all contacts were broken, nothing is being built in Abkhazia,” Paata Zakareishvili, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, stated at the parliament library on Sunday. […]

                                    Georgian clinic discriminating against fathers, ombudsman says

                                    By | September 27th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                    Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ombudsman has called attention to discrimination against fathers at the Children’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital. Fathers are not allowed to stay at the clinic at night to supervise their kids. The ombudsman Wednesday described […]

                                      Georgia’s parliament may consider mandatory gender quotas

                                      By | September 25th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                      Eka Beselia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The human rights committee in Georgia’s parliament Thursday favored a law that would guarantee that at least 25% of representatives are women. The law concerns those representatives who are elected […]

                                        Leader of parliamentary majority quits to head investment fund

                                        By | September 24th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                        Davit Saganelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A leading member of parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition is leaving in order to take the helm of the government’s Partnership Fund. It is not yet known who will replace Davit Saganelidze as member of parliament. According […]

                                          Georgia’s National Bank intervenes for sixth time since start of lari crisis

                                          By | September 23rd, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                          Giorgi Kadagidze, head of Georgia’s National Bank. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Bank intervened to bolster the flagging currency lari on Tuesday, causing its value to rise four tetris against the US dollar. The Bank put USD 40 million up for auction, out of which USD 27 million has been sold so far. The lari currently […]

                                            One Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

                                            By | September 23rd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                            The grave of Mikheil Narindoshvili, one of Georgia’s two dozen Afghan war casualties. He died in the June, 2013 attack. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian soldier has died in Afghanistan while taking part in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Private Vasil Kuljanishvili was from the 43rd battalion of the IV Mechanized Brigade. Sergeant Paata Rostobaia from the same […]

                                              Threats to the Russian NGOs: Institute of ‘foreign agent’

                                              By | September 23rd, 2015|Categories: Opinion|

                                              Maria Kanevskaya Campaign of the Russian authorities to ‘reveal’ and include in the special ‘foreign agents’ registry of non-governmental (NGOs) organizations, has been accelerating exponentially. After two and a half years of introducing the law, there are […]

                                                Georgian PM says lari has bottomed out as it near historic low

                                                By | September 22nd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s national currency is four cents away from reaching its lowest point ever against the US dollar. When the lari began to drop rapidly in November, 2014, one USD was about 1.75 laris. Today, the Georgian National Bank’s official exchange […]

                                                  დეპუტატი ანტიდისკრიმინაციული კანონიდან „სექსუალური ორიენტაციის“ ამოღებას ითხოვს

                                                  By | September 22nd, 2015|Categories: უმცირესობები|

                                                  პარლამენტის კონსერვატორი წევრი „ქართული ოცნებიდან“ იმ კანონში მოითხოვს რადიკალური ცვლილების შეტანას, რომელსაც თავად დაუჭირა მხარი სამივე მოსმენაზე. საუბარია ანტიდისკრიმინაციულ კანონზე, რომელიც პარლამენტმა შარშან დაამტკიცა. მკლავჭიდელმა, მსახიობმა და კინორეჟისორმა სოსო ჯაჭვლიანმა, რომელიც პარლამენტში 2012 წლის არჩევნების შედეგად მოხვდა, საკანონმდებლო ორგანოში შეიტანა ინიციატივა, რომელიც ანტიდისკრიმინაციული კანონიდან სექსუალური ორიენტაციისა და სქესობრივი იდენტობის ამოღებას ითვალისწინებს. ეს გულისხმობს კანონის იმ ნაწილის შეცვლას, სადაც საუბარია დისკრიმინაციის ყველა ფორმის აღმოფხვრაზე, რომელიც დაკავშირებულია ადამიანის კანის ფერთან, ენასთან, სქესთან, მოქალაქეობასთან, წარმომავლობასთან, სექსუალურ ორიენტაციასთან და სქესობრივ იდენტობასთან. საკანონმდებლო ინიციატივის განმარტებით ბარათში ჯაჭვლიანი აღნიშნავს, რომ კანონში ამ ტერმინების არსებობა აზიანებს ოჯახისა და საზოგადოებისზნეობრივ სტანდარტებს. ანტიდისკრიმინაციული კანონი, რომელიც ევროკავშირთან გაფორმებულ ასოცირების შეთანხმებასთან არის კავშირში, პარლამენტმა მაისში დაამტკიცა. კანონში სექსუალური ორიენტაციის ასახვას აქტიურად ეწინააღმდეგებოდნენ რადიკალური რელიგიური შეხედულებების მქონე ადამიანები და სასულიერო პირები. გასულ წლებში საქართველოში სექსუალური უმცირესობების მიმართ არატოლერანტული დამოკიდებულების ბევრი შემთხვევა მოხდა. 2013 წლის 17 მაისს 30-მდე აქტივისმა თბილისის ცენტრში ჰომოფობიის საწინააღმდეგო აქციის მოწყობა სცადა. მაშინ პარალელურად რადიკალურმა ძალებმა, სასულიერო პირების წაქეზებითა და მონაწილეობით, კონტრაქცია მოაწყვეს და აქტივისტებს აგრესიულად დაუპირისპირდნენ. ამ უკანასკნელთ პირდაპირი ძალადობის საფრთხე დაემუქრათ, და სამართალდამცველები იძულებულნი გახდნენ ისინი ქალაქის ცენტრიდან ავტობუსებით გაეყვანათ. აგრესიული ბრბო რამდენიმე ავტობუსს თავს დაესხა. მაშინ რამდენიმე ადამიანი დაშავდა, მათ შორის ჟურნალისტები. მოგვიანებით, საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქმა 17 მაისი ოჯახური სიმტკიცისა და მშობლების პატივისცემის დღედ გამოაცხადა. 2014 წლის 17 მაისს სექსუალური უმცირესობების უფლებადამცველმა აქტივისტებმა მასობრივი აქციებისგან თავი შეიკავეს. წლეულს 17 მაისს ამ მხრივ მცირეოდენი გაუმჯობესება აღინიშნებოდა. რამდენიმე მცირე აქცია მნიშვნელოვანი ინციდენტების გარეშე ჩატარდა. […]

                                                    Georgian MP wants ‘sexual orientation’ deleted from anti-discrimination law

                                                    By | September 22nd, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , |

                                                    Soso Jachvliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A conservative MP from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition wants to make changes to the anti-discrimination law passed by parliament last year which he himself voted for at every hearing. Soso Jachvliani, an armwrestler, actor and film director, […]

                                                      North Caucasus Watch (5–18 September 2015)

                                                      By | September 22nd, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region, News|

                                                      DFWatch (5–18 September 2015) Daghestan On September 13 local elections took place in the republic. The Party of Russia’s Veterans earned 69% of votes in the city of Buynaksk, while United Russia earned 66% […]

                                                        Police officer stabbed in Tbilisi

                                                        By | September 21st, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A police officer is in hospital in a serious condition after being stabbed Sunday night in a Tbilisi suburb. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the policeman was stabbed with a knife. An investigation has been launched for attacking a policeman. […]

                                                          Four detained at Georgia-Turkey border with baby in the trunk

                                                          By | September 21st, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                          The border crossing between Georgia and Turkey at Sarpi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Border police in Georgia Sunday detained four people for illegally trying to cross the border with a infant in the trunk of their car. According to the Interior Ministry, the four were trying to go to Turkey, avoiding the official border crossing. One of the grownups […]

                                                            Georgia sends two delegations to UN general assembly

                                                            By | September 21st, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                            (UN.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will send two separate delegations to the upcoming UN general assembly in New York, one headed by the prime minister and the other by the president. Similar to what happened last year, there was a debate that lasted for several months […]

                                                              Activists demand investigation into woman’s tragic death

                                                              By | September 20th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                              (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Demonstrators Friday called for a proper investigation into an Azerbaijani woman’s suicide last year. The demonstrators outside the Prosecutor’s Office were raising awareness about the case of Khanum Jeiranova (30), an ethnic Azeri […]

                                                                Radio Liberty criticized for publishing homophobic letter

                                                                By | September 19th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: |

                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Groups rallied outside the office of Radio Liberty in Tbilisi Friday evening against a homophobic and xenophobic letter written by a sexologist and published on the radio station’s website. The controversial letter was written by Archil Bakradze, […]

                                                                  Former Tbilisi mayor back in jail, sentenced to four and a half years

                                                                  By | September 18th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                  Gigi Ugulava was Friday sentenced to four and a half year in prison. He has already served 440 days. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After one day in freedom, Tbilisi’s former mayor was Friday sentenced to four and a half years in jail. Although the city court in Tbilisi sentenced Gigi Ugulava to nine years, the sentence was reduced to four years and six months in compliance […]

                                                                    TeliaSonera leaves Georgia and five other Eurasian countries

                                                                    By | September 18th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                    TeliaSonera owns 58.55% of shares in the holding company that controls Geocell. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Swedish telecommunications giant TeliaSonera is pulling out of several countries, including Georgia. All subsidiaries will be put up for sale in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan it was announced Thursday. […]

                                                                      Anti-hail rocket crashes into house in Georgia

                                                                      By | September 18th, 2015|Categories: Environment|Tags: |

                                                                      (Delta.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An anti-hail shell fell on a house in Kakheti Wednesday night, damaging the roof and wall. Delta, a defense company run by the government, installed the anti-hail system in Kakheti earlier this year to protect the harvest. Hail has long […]

                                                                        Freed fmr Tbilisi mayor vows to challenge Ivanishvili’s “grip on power”

                                                                        By | September 17th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                        Gigi Ugulava greeted by Giga Bokeria (back, left) and others. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court released former Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava from detention Thursday night. Upon his release, the most prominent leader of the Georgian opposition vowed to challenge “Ivanishvili’s grip on power”. He said the National […]

                                                                          Georgia’s Constitutional Court rules ex-mayor’s detention unlawful

                                                                          By | September 17th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                          Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court Wednesday evening announced a ruling that the detention of former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava is unconstitutional. He is awaiting trial for numerous charges including corruption. The ruling sets aside a provision in the […]

                                                                            Report shows gender imbalance in public administration

                                                                            By | September 17th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                            (IDFI.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are twice as many men as women running public bodies in Georgia, according to a new report. The report by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), published on Wednesday, indicates that among 773 employees in higher […]

                                                                              Miss China semifinal to be held in Georgia

                                                                              By | September 16th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                              (Georgia’s Tourism Administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The semifinal of Miss China will be held in Georgia. According to the National Tourism Administration, a team from Phoenix TV arrived in Tbilisi September 12 along with the girls from China and will be staying until September 22. There are 16 participants […]

                                                                                Georgia’s Constitutional Court fails to issue ruling in ex-mayor’s case

                                                                                By | September 16th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday failed to announce a ruling concerning the pre-trial detention of the former Tbilisi mayor, claiming that the judge feels ill and he cannot be present to sign the ruling. Ex-Mayor Gigi Ugulava, an ally of former […]

                                                                                  Remittances to Georgia down 35% in August

                                                                                  By | September 15th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                  (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Remittances to Georgia fell by 35.1 percent in August 2015, compared to the same period last year, according to new figures published Tuesday by Georgia’s National Bank. The new monthly report shows that the total amount of remittances […]

                                                                                    New ethics school subject postponed after criticism by conservatives

                                                                                    By | September 15th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                    (Ministry of Education.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s education ministry has postponed the start of a new school subject as conservatives criticize it for eroding traditional values. Some were expecting the subject called ‘society and me’ to be taught in schools from the beginning of the 2015 fall semester. ‘Society and me’ will […]

                                                                                      Grape farmer continue to protest in Georgia’s wine region Kakheti

                                                                                      By | September 15th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                      (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Farmers continued their protest in the Georgian wine region Kakheti on Monday and clashed with police as they blocked the main highway. Several people were detained by police as they cleared the road. One member of parliament was attacked. […]

                                                                                        Tbilisi Zoo reopens, three months after devastating flood

                                                                                        By | September 14th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                        (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Exactly three months after a devastating flood, Tbilisi Zoo reopened on Sunday with surviving animals on display. The zoo’s management held an opening exhibition with pictures of the animals that either drowned or were killed, and presented […]

                                                                                          Georgia’s foreign trade turnover down 14% Jan-Aug ’15

                                                                                          By | September 14th, 2015|Categories: Economy|

                                                                                          Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first eight months of 2015 was 14 percent less than the year before, according to figures published Monday by the National Statistics Department, Geostat. […]

                                                                                            Most stranded tourists brought back from Antalya, but 130 remain

                                                                                            By | September 13th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                            (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 130 tourists from Georgia are still stuck in Antalya, Turkey, several days after a tour operator failed to pay the airline for their flights. Initially, about 400 passengers were stranded in Turkey. The Georgian airline Airzena […]

                                                                                              Farmers in eastern Georgia block road in protest against low grape prices

                                                                                              By | September 12th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                              From a farmer’s protest in Sighnaghi in 2011. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, farmers have been protesting for several days because of low price of grapes, which is their only source of income. Four people were detained during a protest Thursday in Gurjaani, as farmers blocked the […]

                                                                                                400 Georgian tourists stranded in Turkey

                                                                                                By | September 12th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Around 400 Georgian passengers are currently stuck in Antalya, Turkey, as the airline Airzena refuses to carry out a flight because a tour company didn’t pay for the tickets. For more than a day, passengers have been waiting to return to Georgia. The […]

                                                                                                  ჩინური კომპანია ტყიბულში ქვანახშირზე მომუშავე სადგურის აშენებას გეგმავს

                                                                                                  By | September 11th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                  ღარიბაშვილმა ჩინელ კოლეგასთასთან ორ სახელმწიფოს შორის თავისუფალი ვაჭრობის შეთანხმებაზე იმსჯელა (პრესსამსახური) ჩინური კომპანია “დონგფანგ ელექტრიკი” ტყიბულში 150 მეგავატის სიმძლავრის თბოელექტროსადგურის აშენებას გეგმავს. ამის შესახებ განცხადება ჩინეთის სახალხო რესპუბლიკაში პრემიერ ირაკლი ღარიბაშვილის ვიზიტის დროს გაკეთდა, რომელიც ამ ქვეყანაში ეკონომიკური კავშირების განსამტკიცებლად იყო ჩასული. […]

                                                                                                    New Chinese thermal power station and train factory planned in Georgia

                                                                                                    By | September 11th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                    Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed the agreements during a visit to Chine. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Chinese company Dongfang Electric plans to construct a 150 MW thermal power station in Tkibuli, a mining town in western Georgia. The announcement came during a China visit by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and is further […]

                                                                                                      President signs into law controversial bank supervision bill

                                                                                                      By | September 11th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                      Had no choice: Even if I had refused to sign, the speaker would have signed the bill, Margvelashvili explained. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Thursday signed a bill into law that will take away responsibility for supervising private banks from the National Bank and hand it to a new agency controlled by the government. President Giorgi Margvelashvili, the […]

                                                                                                        Foreign investment up 81% in Q2 of 2015

                                                                                                        By | September 10th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                        A section of the E60 motorway under construction at Agara. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Direct foreign investments in Georgia went up 81 percent in the second quarter, compared to the same period in 2014. The jump in foreign investment became known Wednesday as Georgia’s National Statistics Department presented […]

                                                                                                          UK ambassador: due to poor translation speech was partially misrepresented

                                                                                                          By | September 10th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                          Ambassador Alexandra Hall Hall )Embassy photo) The UK ambassador attributes the recent criticism over her speech at the international conference to the poor translation, stating that some parts of it were misrepresented. Salome Zourabishvili, a French-Georgian politician and former Minister […]

                                                                                                            UK ambassador accused of being ‘neocolonial’

                                                                                                            By | September 10th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                            Alexandra Hall Hall is the UK Ambassador to Georgia. (Embassy photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian politician lashed out at a British diplomat on Facebook Tuesday, accusing her of being ‘neocolonial’. UK Ambassador to Georgia Alexandra Hall Hall’s remarks at a conference in Tbilisi, organized by McCain Institute, […]

                                                                                                              NGO slams Khulo officials’ Armenophobic document

                                                                                                              By | September 9th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                              Local fraction of Georgian Dream alleges Mr Saakashvili’s “Armenian origin” in a fresh display of anti-Armenian sentiment. NGO platform No to Phobia issued a statement condemning the use of Armenophobic […]

                                                                                                                RMG Gold suffers partial loss in lawsuit by fired miners

                                                                                                                By | September 9th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                The miners have strong support in their community. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Trade Union has won a lawsuit against RMG Gold, the mining company which destroyed an ancient gold mine at Sakdrisi in December, 2014. Many locals have been employed in the company, and the jobs sustain families in surrounding villages. […]

                                                                                                                  Ukraine to sign free trade agreement with EU, despite Russia’s concerns

                                                                                                                  By | September 8th, 2015|Categories: Europe|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                  Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. (European Council.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ukraine intends to sign a free trade pact with the EU without further postponement, despite warnings from Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in Brussels on Monday. Ukraine’s foreign minister met with the EU Commissioner […]

                                                                                                                    What was lost when a mining company destroyed the ancient Sakdrisi site?

                                                                                                                    By | September 8th, 2015|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                    (Interpressnews.) In December, 2014, an archaeological site in southern Georgia was destroyed by the Russian mining company RMG Gold. What was lost in the blasts at Sakdrisi? Professor Thomas Stöllner at the University of Bochum in Germany is one of the people […]

                                                                                                                      Moldova issues entry ban against two Abkhazian politicians

                                                                                                                      By | September 8th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Two politicians from Abkhazia have been banned from entering Moldova for ten years after they celebrated the 25 year anniversary of the breakaway region Transnistria. On the way back from the celebration, Sukhumi’s vice president Vitaly Gabniya […]

                                                                                                                        National Movement registers for by-election without candidates

                                                                                                                        By | September 7th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement, former ruling party, does not plan to put up candidates in the by-elections for two vacant seats in the Georgian parliament. Instead, the former ruling party plans to use its legally guaranteed free commercial time on TV. The governing […]

                                                                                                                          სააკაშვილისა და უკრაინელი ოლიგარქის კონფლიქტი მწვავდება

                                                                                                                          By | September 7th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                          იგორ კოლომოისკი სააკაშვილი საქართველოში გადაგზავნას ითხოვს საქართველოს ყოფილი პრეზიდენტი და სტრატეგიულად მნიშვნელოვანი ოდესის ოლქის მოქმედი გუბერნატორი, მიხეილ სააკაშვილი, ადგილობრივ ოლიგარქებს უკრაინის სახელმწიფოს მშენებლობის მთავარ შემაფერხებლებს უწოდებს. […]

                                                                                                                            Saakashvili, Kolomoisky exchange bitter remarks

                                                                                                                            By | September 7th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                            Igor Kolomoisky proposes sending Saakashvili by “cash on delivery” to Georgia TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who now serves as a governor of the Odessa region, says oligarchs are the foremost obstacle for Ukraine’s nascent statehood. “Ukrainian oligarchs, […]

                                                                                                                              North Caucasus Watch (29 August–4 September 2015)

                                                                                                                              By | September 7th, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                              DFWatch (29 August–4 September 2015) Daghestan Two suspected militants were killed in Magaramkent district of Daghestan on August 29. According to the law enforcement officials, […]

                                                                                                                                Man arrested in Samegrelo for growing marijuana

                                                                                                                                By | September 6th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                (police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 38 year man was arrested on Saturday for growing marijuana in the northwest of Georgia. The man is charged with illegal purchase and possession of a large amount of drugs. Police searched the man’s house in the village […]

                                                                                                                                  Public Broadcaster talk show faces cancellation in Georgia

                                                                                                                                  By | September 5th, 2015|Categories: Media|

                                                                                                                                  Eka Mishveladze at Pirveli Studia (pia.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The fourth weekly political TV programme may be cancelled on Georgia, as the Public Broadcaster (GPB) may suspend Pirveli Studia (“First Studio”), soon after announcement of marriage of its hostess with the Secretary General of opposition political party.   […]

                                                                                                                                    Electricity price hike in Georgia

                                                                                                                                    By | September 4th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                    (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Electricity prices have gone up in the Georgian capital. Utility company Telasi explains the decision with a drop in the national currency lari, as well as increased prices for purchasing electricity and increased transmission taxes. There are three […]

                                                                                                                                      Woman shop attendant murdered in western Georgia

                                                                                                                                      By | September 4th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                      (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man killed a 39 year old woman working in a shop in western Georgia on Thursday for not letting him borrow a beer. The murder took place in Khelvachauri, in the Adjara region. The suspect has been detained, according to the Ministry […]

                                                                                                                                        Georgian PM: Government’s media policies should be properly appreciated

                                                                                                                                        By | September 4th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                        Georgian Prime Minister distances himself from the recent cancelation of two popular political talk-shows on Imedi TV, stating that it is a separate decision of the TV company's management. Irakli Garibashvili: "If a TV company cancels a talk-show, this is a separate decision by its top management, which I'm not going to comment" "If [...]

                                                                                                                                          Comment about the president and knitting pins rattles parliament

                                                                                                                                          By | September 3rd, 2015|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                          Undated photo of Giorgi Margvelashvili knitting socks, published in 2013, before he became president. TBILISI, DFWatch–A statement by a leading parliamentarian about the president and knitting pins has caused puzzlement in Georgia. A spokesman for the president’s administration called it insulting and unethical. “I blame Ivanishvili for taking the knitting pins out of the hands of the NGO and Soros guys (“ენჯეოელი სოროსელი”) […]

                                                                                                                                            პარლამენტარის განცხადებას პრეზიდენტის ადმინისტრაცია შეურაცხმყოფელად მიიჩნევს

                                                                                                                                            By | September 3rd, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                            გიორგი მარგველაშვილი (Facebook) “ქართული ოცნების” წევრისა და პარლამენტის საფინანსო-საბიუჯეტო კომიტეტის თავმჯდომარის მიერ პრეზიდენტის მისამართით გაკეთებული, რბილად რომ ვთქვათ, ექსცენტრიული განცხადება საზოგადოების განხილვის ეპიცენტრში მოექცა და სოციალური ქსელების ჰიტი გახდა, პრეზიდენტის მრჩეველმა კი მას “შეურაცხმყოფელი” უწოდა. […]

                                                                                                                                              One more talk show goes off air in Georgia

                                                                                                                                              By | September 2nd, 2015|Categories: Media|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                              Archil Gamzardia said the show was cancelled to silence him. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One more talk show has been taken off air in Georgia. The Sunday evening program ‘Kviris 2030’, which has been a venue for views close to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, will end in September, producer Vasil Maglapheridze said on Tuesday. […]

                                                                                                                                                Host of cancelled talk-shows: Politics was behind the decision

                                                                                                                                                By | September 1st, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                Tbilisi, DFWatch – Inga Grigolia, a popular TV host, wrote on her Facebook that politicians, presumably from the ruling Georgian Dream, didn’t want her on air before the elections, referring to the parliamentary elections planned in 2016. […]

                                                                                                                                                  Cabinet reshuffle in Georgia: Minister of economy appointed as a head of MFA

                                                                                                                                                  By | September 1st, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                  Giorgi Kvirikashvili (Ipn) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Tamar Beruchashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was replaced by Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who served as Minister of Economy. The government reshuffle was […]

                                                                                                                                                    Participatory budgeting gathers momentum in Marneuli

                                                                                                                                                    By | September 1st, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                    Marneuli (Dominik K. Cagara) Tserakvi, DFWatch – A pilot project on participatory budgeting brings the population of Marneuli district closer to the decision-making process and brings democratic participation to a new level. One Caucasus Festival ended on Saturday, but the organizers took steps to secure its pro-democratic overtone in the long run. […]

                                                                                                                                                      ინგა გრიგოლია: ესაა პოლიტიკური გადაწყვეტილება, რომ არ ვყოფილიყავი ეკრანზე არჩევნების წინ

                                                                                                                                                      By | August 31st, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                      ტელეკომპანია “იმედის” მიერ ორი პოპულარული პოლიტიკური თოქ-შოუს დახურვას საზოგადოების დიდი ნაწილის ნეგატიური რეაქცია მოჰყვა. მათი წამყვანი კი აცხადებს, რომ ამ გადაწყვეტილებას პოლიტიკური სარჩული უდევს და მომავალი წლის საპარლამენტო არჩევნებთანაა კავშირში. […]

                                                                                                                                                        Georgian TV company cancels two talk shows

                                                                                                                                                        By | August 31st, 2015|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                        Imedi host Inga Grigolia claims the Sunday show’s cancellation is a result of political interference. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV company on Sunday announced that it will suspend two popular political talk shows ‘temporarily’ until 2016, promising to change their format and offer viewers ‘a new product.’ Imedi’s decision was met with a negative response from viewers. […]

                                                                                                                                                          Animal rights activists storm Batumi Dolphinarium, using tear gas

                                                                                                                                                          By | August 31st, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                          (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Six men broke into a dolphinarium in Batumi on Sunday, and demanded that the dolphins be set free. The six activists were all detained and questioned. According to Batumi Dolphinarium’s management, the group broke […]

                                                                                                                                                            North Caucasus Watch (22–28 August 2015)

                                                                                                                                                            By | August 31st, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                            DFWatch (22–28 August 2015) Daghestan Former mayor of Makhachkala, Said Amirov, was sentenced to life by a court in Rostov-on-Don on 27 August. His relative Yusup Dzhaparov was sentenced to 18 years in penal colony. […]

                                                                                                                                                              Former police officer shot and killed in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                              By | August 29th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                              (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former police officer was shot and killed outside Tbilisi Friday night. A former deputy interior minister was seriously injured. The deceased is Revaz Kalomletsavi, a cousin of the injured, Levan Gvazava, who is in hospital with bullet-inflicted […]

                                                                                                                                                                Russia sees NATO’s new training facility in Georgia as a provocation

                                                                                                                                                                By | August 29th, 2015|Categories: Security|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia sees the opening of NATO’s new training facility in Georgia as a ‘continuation of the provocative policy of the alliance aimed at expanding its geopolitical influence.’ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday opened […]

                                                                                                                                                                  Former President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko is visiting Batumi

                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 29th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                  (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is visiting Batumi, a seaside city on the Black Sea coast. Yushchenko, who became famous as one of the leaders of the Orange Revolution in 2004, is accompanied by his wife and not visiting […]

                                                                                                                                                                    One Caucasus Festival kicks off near Marneuli

                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 28th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                                    One Caucasus in Tserakvi (Dominik K. Cagara) Tserakvi, DFWatch - Festival brings south Georgia’s multi-ethnic community together with visitors from Armenia and Azerbaijan for music, art, sport, and activism. One Caucasus Festival kicked off yesterday in Tserakvi in Marneuli district, turning the tiny village into a lively melting pot of local and international guests. [...]

                                                                                                                                                                      Joint NATO-Georgian training facility inaugurated near Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 27th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                      Photo: Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General; Tina Khidasheli, Minister of Defense of Georgia, and Irakli Garibashvili, PM, unveiling the Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (nato.int) Tbilisi, DFWatch – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Thursday unveiled new Joint Training and Evaluation Centre in Georgia during his first visit to the country. The centre is located inside the functioning military facility at Krtsanisi settlement, […]

                                                                                                                                                                        Youth of multiple ethnic backgrounds join forces for One Caucasus Festival

                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 27th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                                        One Caucasus Festival Tbilisi, DFWatch – Ethnic Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian activists from Marneuli district take part in preparations for the One Caucasus Festival to be held on 27–29 August in the village of Tserakvi. […]

                                                                                                                                                                          Two Georgians detained on disputed South Ossetia border

                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 27th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                          About a hundred Georgians are detained every year for crossing the disputed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards on Tuesday detained two Georgian citizens who were out attending cattle in Bershueti, which borders with the breakaway region South Ossetia. The detainees are Muraz Javakhishvili (75) and Ivane Sekhniashvili (41). […]

                                                                                                                                                                            Batumi’s 7 meter tall ‘Nino and Ali’ sculpture damaged during moving

                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 26th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                            (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A seven meter tall steel statue which is one of the coastal city’s most important tourist attractions was damaged while being moved. The Nino and Ali statue stands on the seafront and portrays a man and a woman. It is lit up by colored […]

                                                                                                                                                                              PM urges calm as Georgian lari reaches lowest level since 1999

                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 26th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                              Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s currency lari has reached its lowest level since 1999, but the government is optimistic and blames media and analysts of being incompetent and engaging in speculating. The lari is now at 2.416 against the US dollar, near the all-time low […]

                                                                                                                                                                                Power cut and flooded streets in Batumi

                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 26th, 2015|Categories: Environment|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Heavy rain battered the Black Sea port of Batumi on Tuesday, causing flooding. Several streets including the entrance to the city were blocked by the flood, while rescue workers tried to help with the first floors of buildings that were full of water. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                  Tbilisi’s House of Justice has cracks in one of its “petals”

                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 25th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                  (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi’s futuristic House of Justice has once again run into difficulties, this time because cracks appeared on one of its trademark “petals”. People will be restricted from walking under the damaged area from August 25 because of the danger, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                    Dangerous Listeria bacteria found in “Saojakho” ice cream

                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 25th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                    (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Food Agency on Monday said there has been found Listeria bacteria in ice cream of the brand “Saojakho”. The contaminated products originate from the Mkinvari factory in Samtredia, a town in the western Imereti region of Georgia. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                      Tbilisi super cup heats up an old debate in Abkhazia

                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 25th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                      People crowding in order to buy tickets for UEFA Super Cup (DFWatch) A group of Abkhaz football fans faced harsh criticism in Abkhazia for travelling to Tbilisi for  the UEFA Super Cup. The UEFA Super Cup football match between Spanish teams, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                        Minister: Final decision, PM will head the delegation

                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 25th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                        Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili (ipn) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Last year, rivalry between Georgia’s top two men over who would represent the country at the UN climate conference led to weeks of uncertainty and squabbling. That time, the president had to back down. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                          იაროშევიჩი: უვიზო რეჟიმის გადადების საფუძველს ვერ ვხედავ

                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 24th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                          ბორის იაროშევიჩი (DF Watch) საქართველოს ვიზა ლიბერალიზაციის სამოქმედო გეგმა თითქმის შესრულებული აქვს, აცხადებს ევროკავშირის წარმომადგენლობის დელეგაციის ხელმძღვანელის მოადგილე, ბორის იაროშევიჩი და ამატებს, რომ ახლა შესაბამისი გადაწყვეტილების მიღების ჯერი ევროკავშირის წევრ ქვეყნებზეა. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                            Boris Iarochevitch: Georgia’s on track

                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 24th, 2015|Categories: Interviews, News|

                                                                                                                                                                                            “For me as a part of the community here for four years, I think, it is very important for Georgia to do more in the field of environment, because I see that the situation in Tbilisi is very bad in terms of air pollution” (DF Watch) “I think that Georgia is almost there when it comes to fulfilling the visa liberalization action plan. Now it is up to the member states of the EU to decide. I think that people in Georgia deserve visa-free regime. I see no reason now to delay it further,” says Boris Iarochevitch, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union since 2011, said. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                              Three parking attendants detained after moving car with sleeping child

                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 24th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Tbilisi on Sunday detained three employees of CT Park for illegal deprivation of liberty. CT Park is the company responsible for parking in the capital. Earlier that day, the three detainees moved a car parked near Eliava market […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                Tourists evacuated by helicopter from Tusheti

                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 24th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Many tourists were airlifted by helicopter on Sunday after being stuck in Tusheti in the northeast of Georgia due to bad weather. Emergency crews evacuated more than 350 people by helicopter from the disaster zone, and brought […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                  North Caucasus Watch (15–21 August 2015)

                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 24th, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                                                                  DFWatch (15–21 August 2015) Dagestan According to National Antiterrorist Committee of Russia, the leader of the Vilayyat Daghestan Mountainous Sector of the Caucasian Emirate, Gadzhi Abdullayev (known as Abu Dujana), was killed in course of the […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Eleven people injured as minibus full of tourists overturns

                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 23rd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Odishi TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A minibus overturned in western Georgia on Saturday, injuring 11 people, three of whom are in a serious condition. The minibus, a Ford Sprinter, was carrying tourists from Russia, Serbia and Poland when it ran into a utility pole, near the village […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgian professional NBA player signs contract to train youth in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 22nd, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                      (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Sports Ministry has handed a property in Tbilisi to a Georgian who is a professional NBA player in the United States, playing for Dallas Mavericks. Zaza Pachulia, who is also captain of Georgia’s national team, plans to establish […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                        საერთო ემბრიონზე დავა ცოლის სასარგებლოდ გადაწყდა

                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 22nd, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                        თბილისის საქალაქო სასამართლოს გაყინული ემბრიონის თაობაზე დავა მომჩივანი ცოლის სასარგებლოდ გადაწყვიტა. მიუხედავად ქმრის წინააღმდეგობისა, ქალს სუროგაციის უფლება მიენიჭა. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tbilisi court gives woman control of frozen embryo after couple split

                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 22nd, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–The Civil Litigation Chamber at Tbilisi City Court ruled in favor of a female claimant and decided to leave a frozen embryo at her disposal. Her husband was against surrogacy. At a press release published on its website, Tbilisi City Court states that the […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Hailstorm devastates 2,000 hectares of Kakheti vineyards

                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 21st, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Hailstorm devastated vineyards in Kakheti (Kvareli Municipality) TBILISI, DFWatch–Over a dozen wine-producing villages in Kvareli, in the Kakheti region, were hit by a strong hailstorm overnight on Thursday that almost totally devastated the harvest, damaged houses and vehicles and tore down trees. According to Kvareli […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Activist: Russia stepping up anti-EU, pro-Eurasian Union efforts in Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 21st, 2015|Categories: Interviews|

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Temur Kobalia says criticism against Georgian-Russian Forum has been intensified since it overtly declared its support to Georgia’s European ambitions (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has stepped up efforts to use ‘soft power’ in Georgia through state-sponsored non-governmental organizations and it would be difficult for the Caucasus nation to fend off pretensions of its assertive neighbor, the head of a Russian NGO says. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Europe’s largest dam granted cultural heritage status by Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 21st, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Enguri Dam (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Culture Ministry on Thursday granted cultural heritage status to the Enguri hydro power dam, one of the world’s tallest concrete arch dams. The dam is 271 meters tall and is located partially on the territory of breakaway Abkhazia. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Search for second suspect in Yuri Vazagashvili murder case

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 20th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Yuri Vazagashvili was murdered on January 20, 2015. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prosecutors in Georgia are searching for another suspect in the investigation into the murder of a human rights activists seven months ago. As the trial of a man suspected of murdering Iuri Vazagashvili continued Thursday, a lawyer representing […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Prominent Georgian ballet dancer drowns in Pankisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 20th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Giorgi Mshvenieradze on stage (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – A principal dancer at Tbilisi ballet company drowned Wednesday in a lake in Pankisi Gorge, Eastern Georgia. According to the Emergency Management Agency at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, accident occurred when Giorgi Mshvenieradze, 25, a prominent ballet […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Russian helicopter flies over Georgian-controlled territory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 20th, 2015|Categories: Security|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The helicopter was of the type MI-8. (Photo by U.S. Department of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Foreign Ministry calls on Russia to respect international law after a Russian helicopter overflew Georgian-controlled territory. According to the ministry, the incident took place at 10:57am on August 19. A Russian military helicopter […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Georgia’s PM blames private business for causing lari’s instability

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 20th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s prime minister blames business leaders for causing the instability of the national currency lari by keeping their money in US dollars. Irakli Garibashvili explained Wednesday during a visit to Batumi, a city on Black Sea coast, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          თბილისის აეროპორტში 5 კგ-ზე მეტი კოკაინი ამოიღეს

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 19th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          police.ge საქართველოს საზღვრის გადმოკვეთისას პოლიციამ და საბაჟო სამსახურმა, ერთობლივი ოპერაციის ფარგლებში, თბილისის საერთაშორისო აეროპორტში ბრაზილიის, ეკვადორისა და სამხრეთ აფრიკის რესპუბლიკის მოქალაქეები დააკავეს, რომლებსაც საქართველოში 5,2 კილოგრამზე მეტი კოკაინი შემოჰქონდათ. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Large cocaine bust indicates new drugs transit route: Interior Ministry

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 19th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police Wednesday seized more than 5kg of cocaine at Tbilisi airport and detained four people. The large drugs bust indicates a new transit route, the Ministry of Internal Affairs says. The detainees are two citizens of Brazil born in 1979 […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Four detained after alleged ethnic street fight in Kobuleti

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 19th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–Four were detained Wednesday, after a street fight a few days ago in Kobuleti, a town on the Black Sea coast. A video posted in social media indicates that the fight was between ethnic Georgians and Dagestanis. The video, which is about […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tbilisi City Hall meets developer of controversial hotel in old district

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 19th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Hall on Wednesday met with the company that won the tender to construct a hotel complex on Mirza Shafi Street in the old part of the capital. Apart from Vice Mayor Dimitri Kumsishvili and members of the commission […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rustavi 2 owners say seizure may cause bankruptcy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 18th, 2015|Categories: Media|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–The owners of Rustavi 2 fear that the seizure of the TV company’s property may cause it to go bankrupt. The court ordered the seizure of Rustavi 2’s property more than a week ago on the grounds of a lawsuit by its former owner Kibar Khalvashi. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Man arrested for murder after tree-felling accident

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 18th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man has been charged with murder after one person died during tree-felling. The incident happened a few days ago in Ananuri, in the Dusheti region. Three people were out cutting trees when a tree fell on a passer-by, killing him on the spot. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Flood-hit Tbilisi Zoo will reopen in September

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 18th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi Zoo will reopen in September, after being closed for several months following a flood that partly destroyed it on June 14. It’s a much reduced compound visitors are welcomed back to, with less than half of the animals and […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Traffic restrictions in Dariali Valley

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 18th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are traffic restrictions on the road through Dariali Valley, in the the north of Georgia, an area which was last year hit by several devastating landslides. The Road Department says the restrictions will be in force until August 30. The decision was made on recommendation from Georgia’s […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Foreign investments in Georgia increased 87% in 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 17th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A new road under construction in Kobuleti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Direct foreign investments in Georgia increased 87 percent in 2014, compared to the year before, according to precise data published by the National Statistics Department. The report, which was published on Monday, says investments […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            23 year old dies as car hits motorcycle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 17th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A traffic accident in Khobi in the western part of Georgia claimed the life of a 23 year old man Sunday evening. The accident happened in the village Khamiskuri when an Opel car crashed into a motorcycle with two persons on it. One of […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Georgia’s two top leaders both want to attend UN meeting, again

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 17th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Irakli Garibashvili shake hands during a meeting of the National Security Council in October, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republic of Georgia is faced with a dilemma: which of the country’s two top people shall attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in six weeks? Both the president and prime minister are invited and want to attend. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ტრანსფობიასთან ბრძოლა სამოქალაქო აქტივიზმის გზით

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 17th, 2015|Categories: უმცირესობები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                DF Watch ტრანსფობია საქართველოში კვლავ რჩება სოციალურ და სამართლებრივ პრობლემად, უფლებადამცველები კი ამ კუთხით ცნობიერების ამაღლებასა და ხელისუფლებაზე  ზემოქმედებას ცდილობენ. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Combating transphobia through grassroots activism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 17th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Poster from ‘Anonymous’ exhibition organised by Eteri Chkadua in collaboration with Identoba and Europe House as displayed in Identoba’s office. (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–While transphobia remains a societal and legal issue in Georgia, NGO activists try to raise awareness of the problem and exercise pressure on the authorities. As some in Georgia are still […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    North Caucasus Watch (8–14 August 2015)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 16th, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    DFWatch (8–14 August 2015) Daghestan According to the Russian Investigative Committee, leader of the Caucasian Emirate, Magomed Suleymanov (A.K.A. Abu Usman Gimrinskiy), […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Russia expands sanctions list, but Georgia not included

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 15th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has expanded the list of countries subject to trade embargo, but Georgia is not on the list. The move comes as a response to new sanctions by Western countries against Russia and includes Albania, Montenegro, Iceland […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ტრანსგენდერის მკვლელის დასჯის მოთხოვნით ხელმოწერების შეგროვება დაიწყო

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 15th, 2015|Categories: უმცირესობები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (DF Watch) საქართველოში ტრანსგენდერი საბი ბერიანის მკვლელის დასჯის მოთხოვნით ხელმოწერების შეგროვება დაიწყო. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Petition calls for tougher punishment in transgender murder case

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 15th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Groups in Georgia on Friday launched a petition demanding to punish the person who was recently acquitted of murdering a transgender woman in Tbilisi on the grounds that he was acting in self-defense. The organization Women’s […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Two former guards found guilty of negligence in Zurab Zhvania’s death

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 15th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Tbilisi City Court (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–The jury on Friday found two members of the personal security detail of Zurab Zhvania guilty of negligence leading to the PM’s death in 2005. Ten members of the jury agreed with the charges laid out by the prosecutors, while two were against. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              თბილისის საკრებულომ აბანოთუბანში სადავო მშენებლობას მხარი დაუჭირა

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 14th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              თბილისის საკრებულომ  ოთხშაბათს მხარი დაუჭირა ქალაქის ძველ უბანში სადავო მშენებლობას, რომლის წინააღმდეგაც გამოდის როგორ არქიტექტორებისა და გარემოსდამცველების დიდი ნაწილი, ასევე ოპოზიცია და მმართველი კოალიციის წევრი რესპუბლიკური პარტიაც. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Controversial new hotel complex approved by Tbilisi City Council

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 14th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Council on Wednesday approved a controversial construction project in the old part of the capital. The decision is bound to further enrage activists, who have been campaigning against the project. The plans for Mirza […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Georgia saw 32% drop in remittances in July

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 14th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Remittances to Georgia in July went down by 31.8 percent compared to last year, according to the latest monthly report by National Bank of Georgia (NBG). In total, USD 93.4 million was sent to Georgia in July, 2015. Money transfers […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgia’s National Bank adjusts refinancing rate up to 6%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 14th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (National Bank.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Bank of Georgia further increased the refinancing rate to 6.0 percent on Wednesday. The Bank’s president, Giorgi Kadagidze, said at a briefing that increasing the refinancing rate by half a percent is a response to an increased […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgia not in a hurry to cancel Saakashvili’s citizenship

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 14th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is not rushing to suspend the citizenship of its ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili. The justice ministry is awaiting an official notice from Ukraine. The former president, who is now governor of Odessa, received Ukrainian citizenship a few months […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        One Georgian detained on South Ossetia border

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 13th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers a few days ago detained another Georgian for violating the border with breakaway South Ossetia. Mamuka Samkharadze (36) was out collecting firewood near the village Kirbala, which borders on the breakaway region. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Foreign trade down 14%, exports 24%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 13th, 2015|Categories: Economy|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first half of 2015 was 14 percent less than last year, according to preliminary figures from Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat. According to the short monthly report, Georgia’s foreign […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Two defense officials accused of corruption given their jobs back

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 13th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Defense Ministry employees who are awaiting trial for embezzlement of state money have been given their jobs back. Giorgi Lobzanidze and Archil Alavidze were released in June along with three colleagues after spending about […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Russian soldiers praying at Georgian monastery

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 12th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Lomisi monastery. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian priest at a mountain monastery on the border with South Ossetia says Russian soldiers often come there to pray. Abbot Mate Julakidze says he was compelled to provide an explanation after some people wrote on the Internet […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                UEFA Super Cup: Barcelona-Sevilla ends 5-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 12th, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lionel Messi was declared best player of the match. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Barcelona won last night’s UEFA Super Cup 5-4 against Sevilla, which was played at Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi. It was the team’s fifth Super Cup win in a row. Sevilla scored the first goal, but Barcelona scored three goals, ending the first half 3-1. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Two policemen wounded in shooting in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 12th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two policemen were wounded during a special operation in Tbilisi on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, two employees of the central criminal police were wounded in Ponichala, a suburb in the eastern part of the capital […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Embattled president of Georgian Football Federation resigns

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 12th, 2015|Categories: Sport|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Photo: “I am the person who ruined Georgian football,” Zviad Sichinava said sarcastically of his resignation (Pia.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the Georgian Football Federation resigns after an epic UEFA Super Cup in which Barcelona beat Sevilla during extra time with a final score 5-4. “As it is in Big Football, a person should leave on his peak,” Zviad Sichinava, Georgian […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      დაჭრილ პოლიციელს ტომოგრაფიამ თავში საფანტის 9 ტყვია უპოვა

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 11th, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      კახეთში, ზემო ალვანში დაჭრილი პოლიციელის მდგომარეობა მძიმედ რჩება. კახეთის საინფორმაციო ცენტრი, თელავის რეფერალური საავადმყოფოს დირექტორზე დაყრდნობით, აცხადებს, რომ კომპიუტერული ტომოგრაფიით პოლიციელის თავში საფანტის 9 ტყვია აღმოაჩინეს. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Policeman shot during house call in eastern Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 11th, 2015|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A policeman was shot on duty in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region on Monday, during a house call about domestic violence. Police received a call about family violence in the village Zemo Alvani, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When police […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tbilisi gearing up for UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 11th, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barcelona players preparing for today’s match. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Everything is set for this year’s UEFA Super Cup final between Barcelona and Sevilla. It begins at 22:45pm at Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi. Before the match there will be a display of Georgian folk dances and a rendition of the UEFA Super Cup anthem. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            National Movement MP claims he was kidnapped by police

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 11th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A member of parliament from the National Movement claims he had was illegally detained by the police last night. The Interior Ministry denies this and has published a video of the detention. Giorgi Karbelashvili Monday said he was stopped […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tbilisi court allows lawsuit against Rustavi 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 10th, 2015|Categories: Media|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Kibar Khalvashi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Monday allowed a lawsuit against the TV company Rustavi 2 to proceed. Rustavi 2’s lawyer claims that the lawsuit has no legal basis. The case was filed by the businessman Kibar Khalvashi, who was once […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                One more Georgian volunteer fighter dies in Ukraine war

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 10th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian TV channels reported Monday that one more of the country’s volunteer fighters had died in the war in southeastern Ukraine. 24 year old Giorgi Barateli’s death was reported by the Ukrainian website Tsenzor, which quoted Georgian […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Original owners claim Rustavi 2 still controlled by Saakashvili party

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 10th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The original owners of a Georgian TV company whose property was seized a few days ago by a court, claimed on Sunday that it is controlled by the opposition party National Movement and that it ‘has nothing to do with independent media.’ […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Abkhazia’s Georgians still a hostage of regional tensions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 10th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gali, Abkhazia (Dominik K. Cagara) Gali, DFWatch – As the Abkhazian de facto government fails to adopt constructive integration policies, many ethnic Georgians living in the eastern districts of Abkhazia complain about prejudice as well as political, economic, and cultural discrimination. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      North Caucasus Watch 1–7 August 2015

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 10th, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      DFWatch – (1–7 August 2015) Daghestan Two men were killed by security forces in Suleyman Stalskiy region in the south of Daghestan on 6 August. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Georgia’s two main Internet providers plan merger

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 9th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s two main internet providers have decided to merge, but need permission from the National Communication’s Commission (GNCC). Currently Silknet and Caucasus Online are the only two companies offering internet connection […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ტრანსგენდერის მკვლელობაში ბრალდებული გაამართლეს, ცემისთვის 4 წელი მიუსაჯეს

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 8th, 2015|Categories: უმცირესობები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          საბის ხსოვნისადმი მიძღვნილი აქცია იუსტიციის სახლთან. 2014 წლის 14 ნოემბერი (DFWatch) 23 წლის ტრანსგენდერის მკვლელობაში ბრალდებულს სასამართლომ პარასკევს მოულოდნელად მსუბუქი განაჩენი გამოუტანა. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Court rules murderer of transgender woman acted in self-defense

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 8th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sabi was remembered with a minute’s silence at the House of Justice on Nov. 21, 2014. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Friday unexpectedly acquitted a man of premeditated murder and sentenced him instead to four years in prison for beating another victim the same evening. Levan Kochlashvili was on trial for having physically […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tbilisi court orders seizure of all Rustavi 2’s property

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 7th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi on Friday ordered the seizure of all property owned by Georgia’s biggest independent TV company, Rustavi 2 reported on its website. According to the statement, the decision was passed on Wednesday, August 5, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Responsibility, not informal influence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 7th, 2015|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (DF Watch.) Georgia’s greatest obstacle to becoming a European democracy is the persistence of an informal system of political governance. Though most welcomed the change of government in 2012, the signs were there early on: When then Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Vehicles of Georgian opposition TV company seized

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 7th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “This will be a full-scale legal war,” Rustavi 2 director Nika Gvaramia warned. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Bureau of Enforcement late Thursday evening seized vehicles belonging to the Georgian opposition-leaning TV company Rustavi 2. The seizure came as result of a court plea submitted by Kibar Khalvashi, a Georgian businessman […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgia not planning to join new sanctions on Russia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 6th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is not planning to join another round of sanctions against Russia, Prime Minister Garibashvili said on Thursday. The sanctions were imposed by European countries as punishment for Russia’s annexation of Crimea last year. Garibashvili […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Two dead in car crash in eastern Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 6th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two people died and one was seriously injured in a car crash in eastern Georgian Wednesday. Local media report that a Toyota SUV and a BMW crashed on a road near the village Shroma in Lagodekhi region. Five people were injured […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Tbilisi minibus drivers on strike

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 5th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Part of Tbilisi’s minibus drivers went on strike Wednesday morning, demanding a reduction in the daily fee they pay to the company. The company, Tbilisi Minibus, demands 55 laris (USD 24) a day from each driver, which they have to pay at the end […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fire at Tbilisi bazaar claimed two lives

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 5th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (Palitra TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A massive fire at a Tbilisi bazaar on Tuesday claimed the lives of two people. The bodies were found at night at Eliava, in the center of the capital. The bodies could not be immediately identified, as they had been burned almost to ashes, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Russia weighing new ban on import of Georgian wine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 5th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian wine producers may be hit by another Russian embargo as the Kremlin draws up plans to retaliate against the extension of European sanctions. The Russian consumer safety bureau Rospotrebnadzor apparently is preparing […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Georgian Dream ramping up for the parliamentary election

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Eka Beselia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Bidzina Ivanishvili’s party is ramping up for the 2016 parliamentary election, it is still unknown whether Georgian Dream will run as a coalition, as in previous elections. The political council of Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Over a dozen firetrucks scrambled to combat blaze at Tbilisi market

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A huge plume of smoke seen over Tbilisi Tuesday afternoon turned out to be a fire in a warehouse selling paint at a bazaar in the city center. Rescue workers evacuated people from the warehouse at Eliava bazaar on the left bank of the Mtkvari river and […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Explosion hits South Caucasus gas pipeline

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–An explosion in eastern Turkey on Monday damaged part of the Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum pipeline, which carries gas from the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan and runs through Georgia. The cause of the explosion, which happened in Kars province, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgia’s Yazidis honour the victims of the Sinjar Massacre

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Yezidis of Georgia fathered in a temple in Tbilisi (Facebook)   Georgia’s Yazidi community marked the first anniversary of the Sinjar massacre and prayed for peace in the Yazidi temple in Tbilisi. Georgia’s Yazidi community gathered on 3 August in the Yazidi temple in the Varketili […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Drop in Georgian wine export explained by problems in Russia and Ukraine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: Economy|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s wine export in the first seven months fell by 46 percent, compared to last year, according to the National Wine Agency. The agency explains the drop as a result of ‘unstable political economic situation’ in two of the most important […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Three dead after pickup truck plunged off mountain road

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A car accident claimed the lives of one man and two children in the mountainous Adjara region in the southwestern part of Georgia on Tuesday. A pickup truck was driving along a mountain road in Keda as it veered off the road and plunged down. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Search continues for three still missing after Tbilisi flood

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 4th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The search is still ongoing for three persons who went missing in a massive flood in Tbilisi in the night of June 13-14. 19 persons have been confirmed dead. Employees of the Interior Ministry’s emergency service have been looking […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Eka Beselia calls for more leniency for Georgia’s women inmates

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Eka Beselia is head of parliament’s human rights committee. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A leading parliamentarian from Georgia’s ruling coalition asks the president to consider pardoning or easing the sentences of more women. Eka Beselia, head of the human rights committee in parliament, said in a speech […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nino Burjanadze declared ‘persona non grata’ by Ukraine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nino Burjanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Burjanadze, former speaker of the Georgian parliament who twice served as acting president, has been declared ‘persona non grata’ by Ukraine, according to a Tbilisi-based radio station. The reason is Burjanadze’s statements about Crimea […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Number of visitors to Georgia in July up 9.5% from 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of visitors to Georgia in the month of July was 9.5 percent higher than in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). According to the MIA’s monthly report, 737,696 people visited Georgia in July. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Nuclear deal opens up business opportunities for Iran and Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mohammad Reza Noruzi is PhD in Public Policy and Assistant Professor at Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, and a policy adviser for the private sector in Iran. After a landmark deal with the P5+1 group in Vienna, a window to the world will open up for Iran. Iranians are set to start a new era of cooperation with important global businesses in many fields. This is bound to affect many of Iran’s economic sectors positively, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gali women still suffer from conflict-related gender inequality

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A child’s drawing on the wall inside a school in a village in Tqvarcheli region (Dominik K. Cagara) Maia Kvarachelia from Gali-based NGO Avangard tells DF Watch about the gender-related issues the region has been facing since the end of the war in Abkhazia. The conflict in Abkhazia has left its mark on the population of the […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgian PM names Giorgi Mgebrishvili as new interior minister

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Giorgi Mgebrishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili wants Prison Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili to become new interior minister. The position is vacant after a reform that splits the interior ministry, creating a new Security Service. Mgebrishvili […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Alleged Moscow mobster murdered in Akhalkalaki

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | August 3rd, 2015|Categories: In brief|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Akhalkalaki (Ipn) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Akhalkalaki-based news agency Jnews reports new details about a murder of an alleged mobster one week ago. Sargis Hakobyan was found dead in his car near the village Aragva on 26 July. It is believed that his car was ambushed […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Two road accidents kill seven in Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | August 2nd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two car crashes caused the death of seven people late on Saturday, including two minors. Four people were hospitalized. First, a Mercedes car and a minibus crashed in Grigoleti, a small town on the Black Sea. The Mercedes caught fire and exploded, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Host country Georgia takes ten medals in Jr Olympics

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | August 2nd, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (Tbilisi 2015.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia won ten medals in the European junior Olympics, which ended in Tbilisi on Saturday. Four gold and six bronze went to the home nation in this year’s European Youth Olympic Festival. Nine of the Georgian medals were in judo, while one […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              North Caucasus Watch 25–31 July 2015

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | August 1st, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              DFWatch – 25-31 July, 2015 Daghestan The head of the Daghestani branch of the Russian Pension Fund Sagid Murtazaliyev is suspected of involvement in assassinations and financing terrorism. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Czech climber falls and dies in Caucasus Mountains

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | August 1st, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mount Kazbegi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Czech climber died on Mount Kazbegi, one of the major peaks of the Caucasus Mountain Range, in the northern part of Georgia on July 30. According to the Emergency Service, the girl fell down and suffered severe head trauma. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Georgian president vetoes National Bank bill

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | July 31st, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Friday vetoed a controversial National Bank bill which would mean that the government takes charge of the supervision of private banks. The president made his reasons for blocking the bill, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgian released from South Ossetian prison after talks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | July 31st, 2015|Categories: Security|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian citizen who was arrested for spying in the breakaway region South Ossetia has been set free after a meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRM) held on July 30 in Ergneti. IPRM is a series of meetings […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ინტერპოლი სააკაშვილის ძებნაზე უარს ამბობს, კეზერაშვილის წითელი ცირკულარით ძებნას წყვეტს

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | July 31st, 2015|Categories: ამბები|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ინტერპოლი წითელი ცირკულარით თავდაცვის ყოფილი მინისტრის, დავით კეზერაშვილის ძებნას წყვეტს. ყოფილი პრეზიდენტის და ოდესის დღევანდელი გუბერნატორის, მიხეილ  სააკაშვილის ძებნაზე კი უარს ამბობს.   […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Interpol calls off search for former Georgian defense minister

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | July 31st, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Davit Kezerashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Interpol has called off its search for former Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili, because the case is believed to be politically motivated. Also an application by Georgia to declare former President Mikheil Saakashvili wanted has been rejected […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tbilisi 2015: Georgia takes two more gold medals in Jr Olympics

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | July 31st, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mzia Beboshvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch-Georgia took two more gold on Thursday in the European junior Olympics which are currently being held in Tbilisi. Mzia Beboshvili won in 52kg women’s judo category, defeating her opponent Ilse Buren from the Netherlands. “Everyone […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Defense minister tries out life of a solder and discovers food is bad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | July 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s woman defense minister decided to live the life of a soldier and discovered that the food they are being served is not good enough. The last few days, Tina Khidasheli has been living as a soldier. At a presentation of a new diner […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              GEM Fest kicks off in Anaklia, Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | July 30th, 2015|Categories: Youth|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (GEM Fest.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Gem Fest starts Thursday in Anaklia, a beach resort on the Black Sea coast close to the border with Abkhazia. Georgian Electronic Music Festival will last from July 30 to August 7 and is carried out with the support of the Georgian […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Youth Olympics: Georgia takes five medals in judo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | July 30th, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Irakli Garibashvili congratulated Robinzon Beglarashvili on his gold medal. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has won five medals so far in the European Youth Olympic Festival, which is being held in Tbilisi. All medals, one gold and four bronze, were won in judo. Robinzon Beglasrishvili Wednesday won gold in men’s 60kg category, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ivanishvili donates one million dollars to treat wounded soldiers

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | July 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is donating one million dollars to support wounded soldiers, according to Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. She told journalists on Wednesday that Ivanishivli had to finance the treatment […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Public Defender criticizes TV exposé about virginity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | July 29th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Defender has criticized a TV report concerning a family conflict which for openly reporting about the personal life of a young couple. The report was aired Sunday on Imedi TV and describes a newlywed couple living in the northwest […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgian released by South Ossetia after paying USD 33 fine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | July 29th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–A man who was detained by Russian border guards Saturday was freed on Tuesday, after paying a fine. Davit Khuroshvili, from the village Khurvaleti, bordering breakaway South Ossetia, was detained for violating the border. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Daily life in the shadow of South Ossetia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | July 29th, 2015|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A banner installed in Koda at the administrative border (Dominik K. Cagara) An inhabitant of Chvrinisi, a Georgian village located right at the administrative boundary line with South Ossetia, tells about his daily life in the conflict zone. ‘There is no fence at the border in our village’, Vakhtang, an inhabitant of Chvrinisi tells DF Watch. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Exposé about young bride’s virginity causes outrage in Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | July 29th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The question of whether a bride must be a virgin has become a hotly debated topic in Georgia after a man beat his new young wife after the wedding. The report shown on Imedi TV on Sunday also revived a discussion of how journalist go about […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            British band Placebo donates USD 40,000 to Tbilisi flood victims

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | July 28th, 2015|Categories: Youth|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The flood took the lives of at least 19 people and many animals in a zoo. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Placebo, a British band which recently played at Tbilisi Open Air festival, has donated about USD 40,000 to the victims of the flood on June 13-14. The website Indiegogo, which raises funds for charity, said it had received USD 39,974 from Placebo […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              U.S. State Dep: Georgia shows progress in fight against human trafficking

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | July 28th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a new report, the U.S. Department of State says Georgia has had progress in fighting human trafficking. The 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report report, which was published Tuesday, says the Georgian government does not fully comply with the minimum […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                EU representative’s car hits and kills 15 year old in Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | July 28th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A car belonging to the European Union Delegation to Georgia ran into a 15 year old boy on Sunday causing his death. The accident happened 30km away from the capital Tbilisi. An EU delegation spokesperson confirmed to DF Watch […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tbilisi Olympic festival not prepared for people with special needs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | July 27th, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Tbilisi 2015.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Youth Olympic Festival does not have proper infrastructure for people with special needs, according to Georgia’s ombudsman. Rustavi 2 reported Sunday that wheelchair users and others with special needs who wanted […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgian murder suspect detained in Bulgaria

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | July 27th, 2015|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian murder suspect who was wanted by Interpol was Monday detained in Bulgaria. According to Georgia’s Interior Ministry, the 43 year old was detained in Silistra. He has been wanted by Georgian law enforcement since 2009 […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Tbilisi flood was preceded by more than 100mm of rainfall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | July 27th, 2015|Categories: Environment|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new study shows that there was more than 100 mm of precipitation the night of June 13-14, when a disastrous flood killed at least 19 people in Tbilisi. Three are still missing after the flood, which destroyed many houses and cars […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        European Youth Olympic Festival opened in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | July 27th, 2015|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Zurab Zviadauri lit the Olympic the torch. (Tbilisi 2015.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Youth Olympic Festival opened in Tbilisi Sunday evening. About 1,500 people attending the opening ceremony at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. The ceremony lasted about two hours and included Georgian national dances […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Georgian man detained at South Ossetia border

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | July 26th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The new fences run through farm land. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards Saturday detained a man in a village bordering with Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia. Davit Khuroshvili, 48, from Khurvaleti was detained for violating the border. Locals claim he was detained in his own garden. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Europe Needs a New Narrative

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | July 25th, 2015|Categories: Interviews|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            John Kornblum, American diplomat, businessman and former US ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (New Eastern Europe) New Eastern Europe A Bimonthly Dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe An interview with John Kornblum, American diplomat, businessman and former US ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. Interviewer: Matthew Luxmoore. Interview was […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Georgian defense minister asks Ukraine to explain Saakashvili’s statements

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | July 25th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli has asked Ukraine’s government to explain whether they take responsibility for statements made by former Georgian President Mikheil Saaksahvili, who is now governor of Odessa. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                North Caucasus Watch 18–24 July 2015

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | July 25th, 2015|Categories: Caucasus region|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                DFWatch (18–24 July 2015) Daghestan A policeman and a suspected militant were killed in a shootout in the Tabasaran district on 19 July. A group of unidentified people opened fire to a group of policemen in the forest near the village of Akka. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  PM accuses president of promoting Saakashvili’s party

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | July 24th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili practiced sarcasm on Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday accused President Giorgi Margvelashvili of being pro-National Movement, after the latter pardoned the brother of a member of that party, which is opposed to the government. Among 98 prisoners […]