Lapamkuri, 2012 (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – An ethnic Kist (Chechen) from Pankisi, who is believed as being a mediator during controversial Lapankuri special operation in August, 2012, was wounded Thursday noon in Tbilisi when an unknown assailant opened fire from a car at the doorsteps […]
Goga Khachidze. Text on the screen: ‘Don’t Detain’ (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – MP Goga Khachidze, former National Movement member, who defected former ruling party few days ago with three other fellow MPs, submitted a draft bill to the parliament about decriminalization of marijuana usage on Thursday. The third year in a row a large […]
Nika Rurua (from the left), Grigol Vashadze (Iveria photo) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The State Audit Office (SAO) auditors may set about scrutinizing finances of the recently established movement of Iveria, which consists of former prominent members of the past government, among them are former foreign affairs minister Grigol Vashadze, his former deputy Nika Vakashidze, ex-minister of culture Nika Rurua, and former ambassadors to France and China, Mamuka Kudava and Mamuka Gamkrelidze respectively. […]
(DFWatch) მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ქვეყანაში არსებულ ეკონომიკურ მდგომარეობასთან დაკავშირებით სულ უფრო მეტი უკმაყოფილება ისმის, ოფიციალური მონაცემებით, 2014 წელს უმუშევრობა ქვეყანაში წინა წელთან შედარებით 2,2%-ით შემცირდა და ბოლო 11 წლის განმავლობაში უმუშევრობის ყველაზე დაბალი დონე დაფიქსირებულა. ასეთი მონაცემები გამოაქვეყნა სტატისტიკის ეროვნულმა სამსახურმა. […]
(EaP Civil Society Forum.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Civil society activists who rallied in Riga during the EU summit caught the attention of Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, who saw the rally from his car and walked over to them to express his support. Members of the non-governmental organizations […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ten Georgian citizens were released by authorities in the breakaway region South Ossetia Tuesday evening. They had been detained for ‘violating the border’. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the released are: Nugzar Gelashvili, from the village […]
Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four former members of the National Movement say they left the party to save the country from ‘pro-Russian forces’ which may come to power in the 2016 parliamentary election. Zurab Japaridze, Goga Khachidze, Pavle Kublashvili and Giorgi Meladze […]
The victim is in a serious condition, according to doctors. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Doctors had to amputate one arm on a woman who was attacked by a tiger in Tbilisi Zoo. The victim, Guliko Chitadze, is a 25 year veteran of the zoo. The tiger attacked her on Tuesday at about 5pm. According to the [...]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia marks Independence Day on May 26 in most of the cities and towns all over the country by organizing different events. There is no military parade, but many military elements are visible in the capital. At 13:00, 200 recruits swore an oath […]
Mikheil Machavariani (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four prominent members of Saakashvili’s National Movement who recently left the party are planning to start a new movement. DF Watch spoke with Mikheil Machavariani, who is one of the most high profile members […]
Mikheil Machavariani (IPN) „ნაციონალური მოძრაობის“ ერთ-ერთი ლიდერი „დფვოჩთან“ საუბრისას ამბობს, რომ ის ოთხი ადამიანი, რომლებმაც პარტია დატოვეს, „ახალი მოძრაობის შექმნას აპირებენ“. რატომ გადაწყვიტეს მათ პარტიიდან წასვლა, რა ინფორმაცია ჰქონდათ ამაზე თავად პარტიის შიგნით და როგორი იქნება მათი სამომავლო თანამშრომლობა, ამ საკითხთან დაკავშირებით „დფვოჩი“ მიხეილ მაჭავარიანს ესაუბრა, […]
Georgia celebrated its Independence Day on May 26. U.S. soldiers participated in a oath taking ceremony for Georgian soldiers at Freedom Square in the center of Tbilisi. Rustaveli Avenue was closed off and a street fair offered entertainment for visitors. See our […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Everyone who wishes so may today sign the declaration of protection of personal information and respect toward others. This is an initiative by the Personal Data Protection Inspectorate, which was created nearly two years ago and are out on the street […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in Uplistsikhe, in Georgia’s Kartli region, threaten that they will block the central highway near Gori because sheep that was returned from Jordan is dying from an unknown disease. Teo Tlashadze, member of the local council in Gori, […]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two more people were detained on the disputed border with one of Georgia’s breakaway regions on Monday. The incident took place the same day as the parties were gathered in a border village for EU- and OSCE-hosted negotiations. The […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Socially disadvantaged groups protested in Batumi on Monday, some demanding government help to handle their bank loans, others to get back land property taken from them. Some of them demanded to get back land property that they were given […]
Pavel Kublashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The party secretary and three prominent members abandoned the National Movement on Monday. There has not yet been official confirmation that the four have left Georgia’s former ruling party, but party members have confirmed it in private […]
პავლე კუბლაშვილი. (Interpressnews.) “ნაციონალური მოძრაობა“ პარტიის აღმასრულებელმა მდივანმა და მასთან ერთად კიდევ სამმა აქტიურმა წევრმა დატოვა. ამის შესახებ ინფორმაცია ჯერჯერობით ოფიციალურად არ გაკეთებულა. თუმცა, „ნაციონალური მოძრაობის“ წევრები პირად საუბრებში […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has presented a new unmanned attack and reconnaissance helicopter produced by the state research and development center Delta. The new helicopter is on a display now for the first time on Roses Square in Tbilisi, in connection with […]
(police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Monday detained a man for attempting to distribute more than USD 194,000 in fake dollar bills. The suspect, who was born in 1994, was detained at the Red Bridge border crossing with Azerbaijan. The fake money, which was […]
Head of Supreme Court Nino Gvenetadze doesn’t see any threats in the new bill. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is planning a new court reform, which will involve creating a new body to conduct oversight over the judges. Georgia already has an control mechanism over the court system. It is called the High Council of Justice, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 42 year old man was detained by Russian border guards at the funeral of his mother-in-law, which was held on a cemetery close to the border with South Ossetia. The detainee, Gia Solashvili, comes from the village Karkusaani. Since the cemetery […]
(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–U.S. soldiers will be present during Georgia’s Independent Day celebration on May 26. The American soldiers will be together with Georgian soldiers as they conduct an oath taking ceremony on Freedom Square. Having U.S. soldiers present will […]
Roman Gotsiridze from Economic Development Center. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has decided to strip the National Bank of responsibility for supervising banks and transfer this mechanism to the prime minister. The decision follows months of criticism by the government against the head of the National […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is preparing to celebrate Independence Day, May 26. Roses Square, where there usually are held exhibitions and organized different activities on this day, will be closed off to traffic this year from May 22 until May 26. President Mikheil Saakashvili […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A massive construction project in the old part of Tbilisi has enraged the city’s inhabitants. This time, it is a construction project on Mirza Shafi Street, right behind Abanotubani, one of the oldest parts of the capital. There was a tender announced for projects […]
Members of the EaP Civil Society Forum From Georgia and Ukraine rallied in Riga demanding including in the Declaration European perspective for their countries and a visa-free travel to the EU. The Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Riga did not bring unexpectedly good news to Georgia. The EU restated their support for Georgia’s European path and congratulated it on achieved progress. But Georgians will have to wait visa-free travels at least […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian government officials remain optimistic about visa liberalization with the EU, while EU officials say Georgia is not yet ready for visa free rules. The Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga opened yesterday, and even though there were hopes earlier, […]
Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s public defender demands an investigation into ‘selective justice’ toward former government officials, but the government is still not planning to do this. Parliament has now started going through the public defender’s recently published report […]
საქართველოს ეროვნული ბანკის მონაცემებით, ერთი დოლარის ოფიციალური ღირებულება 2.3234 ლარი გახდა. ქვეყანაში არსებული მცურავი კურსის გამო კომერციულ ბანკებსა და ვალუტის გადამცვლელ პუნქტებში კურსი შედარებით მაღალია. თუმცა, ოფიციალურ კურსად ეროვნული ბანკის მიერ განსაზღვრული კურსი ითვლება, რომელსაც ყოველი სამუშაო დღის ბოლოს ბანკთაშორისი ვაჭრობის საფუძველზე ადგენს. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–After a period of depreciation, Georgia’s national currency, lari, has started to stablize. The government has cancelled plans to drastically cut the budget. According to data from the National Bank, one USD is today worth 2.3234 laris. Due to the […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – This week’s Riga summit for Georgians will not result in the visa-free travel to the EU. Moreover, the final summit declaration, according to the media reports, is even more vague about the possibility of the EU membership than the 2013 Vilnius declaration. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A movement demanding to decriminalize marijuana in Georgia plans to rally on June 2, in front of the government office. Campaigners have two demands: to stop jailing people for personal use of marijuana and to stop the use of forced random drug tests. […]
(1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Workers on a highway south of Tbilisi are still on strike, demanding a USD 4 per day pay rise, because of the rapid devaluation of the national currency over the half year. Efforts are now underway to try to negotiate with the Chinese company […]
Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The discovery of 25 tons of hazardous waste in the roof of the House of Justice in Tbilisi may lead to new charges against ex-Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili or his deputy. According to current Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani, the construction waste […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has further reduced its economic growth outlook for Georgia. According to the new IMF forecast for 2015 and 2016, Georgia will have 2 percent economic growth in 2015 and 3 percent in 2016, while […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–2,117 Georgians have been detained by Russian border guards accused of crossing the border with Abkhazia or South Ossetia since 2009. The new figures were presented by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and are based on data […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Defender warns that children are victims of domestic violence in Georgia, after a 25 year old man allegedly severely beat three children. The children, one of whom was his own and two were step-children, were taken to hospital. According […]
Anatoly Khrulyov (Rossiya 1) რუსეთის არმიის გადამდგარი გენერალი, ანატოლი ხრულიოვი, რომელიც 2008 წლის აგვისტოს ომში საქართველოს წინააღმდეგ იბრძოდა და მძიმედ დაიჭრა კიდეც, ოკუპირებული აფხაზეთის შეიარაღებული ძალების გენშტაბის უფროსად დაინიშნა. […]
Anatoly Khrulyov (Rossiya 1) Tbilisi, DFWatch – One of commanders of Russian forces invading Georgia during August War in 2008, has been appointed as a Chief of the General Staff of the breakaway Abkhazia’s army. […]
Davit Saganelidze during an earlier visit to China. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is seeking closer relations with China. After a recent visit by a Chinese delegation to Georgia, a parliamentary delegation with government members plan to visit China in about a week. Head of the delegation is Davit Saganelidze, MP from […]
Deputy Energy Minister Mariam Valishvili said it is difficult for a woman in Georgia to concentrate fully on her career due to culture. (EBRD publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Only 3.9% of CEOs around the world are women. And only 14% of the richest 500 companies in the world have female executives. What can be done to include more women to predominantly male world of business? May 14-15 the European Bank […]
Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is preparing to drastically cut the state budget to deal with a 30 percent reduction in value of the national currency. Presenting the plans Monday, members of the ruling coalition said the budget will be cut by 500 […]
The 67 year old was out looking after cattle near Adzvi when Russian border guards approached. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards on Monday detained one more person near the village Adzvi, which borders with South Ossetia. The detainee is Grisha Balamtsarashvili (67), who was out in the field looking after cattle at the edge of the village, together with […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A strike has broken out among workers on a new highway connecting Tbilisi with Rustavi, a town 20km to the south. Workers demand a ten lari (USD 4) pay rise from their current 20 lari (USD 8) per day. Their demand comes as a result of a 30 percent […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more Georgian from Pankisi has died in the war in Syria. Ibrahim Tsatiashvili, 33, left his home village Tsinubani two months ago. His relatives knew he was in Turkey. On Friday, they learned that he had died. It is not yet known whether […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has drawn up a plan to split the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) into two units, with counterintelligence kept separately and under parliamentary control. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced the revived […]
ადამიანების ჯგუფს, რომელსაც 17 მაისს თბილისში ჰომოფობიის წინააღმდეგ საერთაშორისო დღის აღნიშვნა სურდა, მოუხდა აქციის კონსპირაციულად, საიდუმლო ადგილას დაგეგმვა, რომელიც პოლიციის მიერ იყო კონტროლირებული. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When groups in Tbilisi wanted to mark the international day against homophobia May 17, they had to organize it in tightly-controlled secrecy and gather in silence. Time and location was secret, and everyone who showed up, including journalists […]
Georgia’s National Bank. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Money transfers to and from Georgia fell by 24.4 percent in April 2015, compared to same month in the year before. According to the National Bank, the amount of money transfers last month was USD 91.1 million, which was USD 29.4 million less than […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgians were detained by Russian border guards on Friday near the village Adzvi, near the delineation line around South Ossetia. The detainees were two young men, Lasha Tanashvili, 15 and Levan Kokoriani, 18, who were out looking […]
(Interpressnews) ევროპის რეკონსტრუქციისა და განვითარების ბანკმა (EBRD) მიმდინარე წელს საქართველოს ეკონომიკური ზრდის პროგნოზი შეამცირა. როგორც EBRD-ის მიერ გამოქვეყნებულ “რეგიონული ეკონომიკური პერსპექტივების” ანგარიშშია აღნიშნული, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) predicts only 2.5 percent economic growth in Georgia in 2015. In January, the bank predicted 4.2 percent growth this year. The low growth prediction for Georgia […]
Kakhi Kaladze. (Interpressnews) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s vice prime minister claims the National Bank could have helped stabilize the lari by monitoring large bank transactions in and out of the country. Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze said this during an appearance on the talk show 2030 […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Heavy rain caused problems for villagers and farmers in eastern Georgia, destroying their harvest and killing livestock. More than 6,000 people are without electricity. Among the affected areas are Pankisi, Akhmeta and Lagodekhi. The river Alazani […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A ten-day strike among port workers has ended in Poti, in western Georgia. More than 600 workers demanded a 14 percent pay rise. In addition, they demanded an annual award, called a ‘13th paycheck,’ and to review the content of their collective […]
Grigory Karasin. TBILISI, DFWatch–Informal talks between Georgia and Russia may be expanded from today’s one-on-one format, according to Russia’s deputy foreign minister. Georgian officials say the details of the proposal are being processed. Ria Novosti on Thursday quoted Russian […]
Tornike Sharashenidze (IPN) ხელისუფლების მიმართ იმედგაცრუება, ოპოზიციური პარტიების მიმართ უიმედობა და ზოგადად ვითარებაში გაურკვევლობა – ასეთია NDI-ის მიერ საქართველოში ჩატარებული სოციოლოგიური კვლევის პოლიტიკური ნაწილის შედეგი, რომელიც ოფიციალურად ოთხშაბათს გამოქვეყნდა. […]
If the government can’t acknowledge that their popularity is dropping then we are dealing with an even worse situation, says Tornike Sharashenidze, Professor at GIPA. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians are disappointed with the government, lack confidence in the opposition and are worried about the situation in the country – these are the main findings of a recent poll published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Judging […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia on Wednesday decided that a mining company must allow experts access to a site so they can inspect an ancient gold mine which was destroyed last December. Tbilisi City Court ruled that the parties in the conflict, experts and witnesses […]
Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new defense minister in Georgia promises to sign a disputed military deal with France about air defense. Her predecessor Irakli Alasania claims the reason he was dismissed last November was that he wanted to go ahead with the same deal. […]
Used cars (12%) and copper ore (12%) are two of the categories of goods Georgia exports most of. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first four months of 2014 was 13 percent less than in the same period last year, according to preliminary figures published by the National Statistics Department, GeoStat. The turnover totaled USD 3,015 […]
A cafe caught fire in Batumi Wednesday morning. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is facing another challenge – fire safety in buildings – after three boys died in a hotel fire in Kobuleti, a town on the Black Sea coast, a few days ago. Wednesday morning there was a fire at a café in Batumi. No-one […]
ndiTBILISI, DFWatch–A new poll shows that the ruling coalition has lost almost half of its support since last year, while the National Movement has slightly increased its support. For other parties there is no significant change. If there were held a parliamentary […]
China’s Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–China has gifted 245 units of tractors and other machinery to Georgia. The hardware, which also includes bulldozers, excavators, trucks and off-road vehicles, is worth about USD 10 million. Accepting this gift from one of Georgia’s top trading […]
EBRD-ის პრეზიდენტი სუმა ჩაკრაბარტი საქართველოს „ეროვნული ბანკის“ საქმიანობას დადებითად აფასებს საქართველოს ეროვნული ვალუტის კურსი დოლართან მიმართებაში ისევ უფასურდება და იმის მიუხედავად, რომ ხელისუფლება ამ საკითხს მნიშვნელოვან პრობლემად არ მიიჩნევს, მაინც „ეროვნული ბანკის“ პრეზიდენტს ადანაშაულებს არასწორი პოლიტიკის გატარებაში. […]
Suma Chakrabarti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) commends the head of the National Bank for conducting an exemplary monetary policy. The Georgian lari has tanked in recent months. The lari has gone down […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU is allocating 150,000 euros for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili learned about this decision during his visit to Brussels during a meeting with EU’s neighborhood commissioner Johannes Hahn. […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–“This street is taken – there’s no place for homophobia and transphobia here!” This is the slogan of another online campaign to prepare for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), May 17. Behind the campaign stands […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in a village in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region installed a bust of Joseph Stalin on Victory Day, May 9. This was the third time someone put up a bust of the dictator in Akura since Victory Day, May 9, 2012. On the previous two occasions […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies reports in Abkhazian media that representatives of a German company visited the region. Media outlets in Sukhumi reported that representatives of an unspecified German company met with the de facto leaders […]
Presentation of the poll (NDI) საქართველოს მოსახლეობა ყველაზე მნიშვნელოვან ეროვნულ საკითხებად სამუშაო ადგილებს, ფასების ზრდას და სიღარიბეს ასახელებს, – ასეთია NDI-ის ბოლო სოციოლოგიური კვლევის შედეგი. აქამდე კი მოსახლეობა ყველა კვლევაში ნომერ პირველ ეროვნულ საკითხად ტერიტორიული მთლიანობის აღდგენის საკითხს ასახელებდა და ეს პირველი შემთხვევაა, როდესაც ტერიტორიული მთლიანობის საკითხი ეკონომიკურმა და სოციალურმა პრობლემებმა დაძლია. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians think jobs, higher prices and poverty are the three most important issues, according to a new opinion poll published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Monday. Earlier, territorial integrity was the most important issue […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s wine export was reduced by 58 percent in the first four months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. The reason is less sales to Russia (-76 percent) and Ukraine (-57 percent). From January through April, Georgia exported wine […]
Vashlovani national park. (DFWatch) VASHLOVANI, DFWatch–A few hours east from Tbilisi lies a magical place, where lonely pistachio trees give shade to rear birds and rolling hills slowly turn into sharp limestone cliffs, which once were deep under a sea. Vashlovani National Park was established […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is shaken by the death of three boys in a hotel fire Sunday morning. 45 people were rescued from Hotel Armazi in Kobuleti, a town on the Black Sea. Among the hotel’s inhabitants were 31 minors. The three boys who died were were 10 and 11 years […]
(DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It was 70 years since Nazi-Germany was defeated Saturday, but in Tbilisi, people had difficulty to decide whether or how to celebrate it. In the end of the day, seven people were detained for hooliganism and resisting the police. Like in most […]
Primie Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a week of political speculation, the ruling coalition declared confidence in the new government and its plan. The vote took place late at night on Friday, after MPs had been asking questions to cabinet members the whole day. There was some […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The economy minister in Georgia has finally admitted that people’s conditions have worsened in recent weeks and months. But Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili follows his predecessor and godfather of this government in blaming the devaluation […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–On the background of rumors that Georgia, like other aspirant states Ukraine and Moldova will be disappointed on the upcoming Eastern Partnership Riga Summit the three highest officials of Georgia sent common letter to Donald Tusk […]
Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government plans to change the procedure for appointing a chief prosecutor. Instead of letting the prime minister do the selection, parliament will have the power to do this. According to Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani, this will […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Two years after a violent mob attacked them, gay rights activists in Georgia are confining their protest to the Internet as they observe the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). No-one has been prosecuted for the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second time this year, the National Bank has increased the refinancing rate by half a percentage point. The rate now stands at 5 percent. About 8,000 people will have higher interest rate on their loans because of the change. Economic […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament will hold a vote of confidence about the new government May 8 at 13:00, by request of the speaker of parliament, who asked the president to schedule a special session at that time. The government has been pretending […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Unloading of containers and some other operations have been halted in the port in Poti due to a strike among workers. Most other types of operations are not affected by the strike, according to the company that runs the port. The strike began […]
საქართველოს ოჯახების 46 პროცენტი ისურვებდა, რომ გოგოს ნაცვლად ბიჭი ჰყოლოდათ (9 პროცენტს, პირიქით, გოგონა ურჩევნია), ხოლო ბევრი ქალი აღიარებს, რომ სქესის შერჩევის მიზნით აბორტი ერთხელ მაინც გაუკეთებია. გაეროს მოსახლეობის ფონდის წარმომადგენლობის (UNFPA) […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–46 percent of Georgian families would like to have a son instead of a daughter. Nine percent have the opposite preference, while women with partners or husbands admit they have had an abortion because of the sex of child. These are some […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Friday is the last day for the president to present parliament with his candidates for a new government. Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili Tuesday evening warned President Giorgi Margvelashvili about the terms of the procedure by saying […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Workers at the port in Poti went on strike Sunday, demanding a 14 percent pay rise. The workers gave their bosses ten days to comply with their demand, otherwise they threatened to completely paralyze the functioning of the port. On Tuesday, the term expired, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi decided Tuesday that the former mayor and Saakashvili confidante Gigi Ugulava must remain in detention. Tuesday’s decision by Tbilisi City Court regarding Ugulava is strongly challenged by the National Movement, the former ruling […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia detained eight persons on Tuesday for match-fixing. Some of the detainees are football (soccer) players. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the detainees include the president of the football club Stu Tbilisi, […]
Anatoly Bibilov, speaker of the South Ossetian de facto parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A diplomatic row is brewing between Georgia and Armenia after the speaker of Armenian parliament met with the de facto parliament speaker of South Ossetia. Yesterday, Russian media reported that there had been a meeting between the speaker […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Georgia’s national currency lari is continues to fall in value, the economy minister assures the public that the fall will not continue and calls on journalists not to speculate. Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Monday that there […]
Tina Khidasheli began work as defense minister Monday, without approval from parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three new ministers Monday started working, even though they haven’t been approved by parliament yet. Constitutional experts say it is unlikely that they have a right to function as ministers. The three new appointees arrived at their respective […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (GDS.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili again criticized the president and leading NGOs on Sunday, on the talk show 2030, aired on his son Bera’s TV channel GDS. The program was first broadcast a few weeks ago. Ivanishvili has since used […]
Rezo Chkheidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The famous Georgian film director Revaz (Rezo) Chkheidze has died in Tbilisi at age 88. Rezo Chkheidze rose to fame in the Soviet Union for his iconic 1964 World War 2 black-and-white drama Father of a Soldier, with a powerful performance by Sergo […]
(Facebook) საქართველოს ხელისუფლება ექსპრეზიდენტ სააკაშვილის სამართლებრივ დევნას ყოველგვარი ენთუზიაზმის გარეშე აგრძელებს და მხოლოდ ერთჯერადი განცხადებებით შემოიფარგლება. […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office told DF Watch that they still haven’t received a response from Azerbaijan to a request to extradite former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Last week, Saakashvili visited Baku to participate in a political […]
A branch of ProCredit Bank was robbed Saturday morning. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An armed man robbed a bank in Tbilisi on Saturday. The crime took place at about 10:45 in the morning at a branch of ProCredit Bank at 54 Chavchavadze Avenue in the Vake district. No-one was injured. According to witnesses, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth activists marched through the streets of the Georgian capital on Friday to mark the International Workers’ Day and protest against intolerable work conditions. (DF Watch.) There were demonstrations and gatherings several places in Tbilisi on May 1, separately organized […]
ASURETI, DFWatch–In the 1940s, there were over 20,000 Germans living in Georgia. Today almost none are left. Stalin deported them in 1941-42, and barely anyone came back. Now, Germans are rediscovering this part of their past. Luiza and Manfred. (DF Watch.) Manfred Tikhonov (67) moved to Asureti […]
(DF Watch.) (DF Watch) (DF Watch.) (DF Watch.) (DF Watch.)
PM Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili named three new ministers on Friday, two of whom are members of the Republican Party, which is regarded as a more western-oriented coalition member. The nominations are made against the backdrop […]
The Moduli building, where Georgia’s counterintelligence used to interrogate political opponents of Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has announced the start of long-awaited reform of the powerful Interior Ministry. It is formally known as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and was created during Saakashvili when the counterintelligence […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Businessman and retired politician Bidzina Ivanishvili has again blamed the National Bank for not helping to prevent a drop in the Georgian lari. “I suspect that the National Bank is still acting inadequately,” he told journalists on Thursday. […]
Deep Purple at Tbilisi Open Air 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The two English bands Placebo and Archive are headliners at this year’s Tbilisi Open Air festival, to be held by a lake near the capital July 3 to 7. Tickets sales have started for the festival, which has been organized every year since 2009 by the AlterVision Group. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) has announced a new 45 million euros program to support women entrepreneurs in eastern European countries including Georgia. The program is called ‘Women in Business’ and will involve ERBD […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2015 was won by Georgia, with Russia and China in second and third place, respectively. The Georgian team consisted of Bela Khotenashvili, Meri Arabidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Lela Javakhishvili […]
Mikheil Saakashvili (left) and Ilham Aliyev. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has asked Azerbaijan to detain ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili during a visit to the neighbor country. Saakashvili has had a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to local media, Azerbaijan’s […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili says the resignations of two ministers, triggering a new vote of confidence, is a ‘healthy political process.’ There will be no more replacements, he added. A third of the ministers have now been changed since […]
Levan Kipiani (Official photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Seventh minister of Irakli Garibashvili government left on Wednesday that means the PM have to seek approval of the entire cabinet from the parliament. Levan Kipiani, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, announced his resignation at a press […]
Elguja Khokrishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The environment minister resigned in Georgia on Tuesday. Elguja Khokrishvili explained that he needs to spend time with his family, which is living abroad. Khokrishvili is the second minister to resign this month, after the minister of regional development […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The crime level want down by more than 15 percent in the first three months of 2015 compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The share of crimes that were solved improved to more than 52 percent. According […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili claims the president he handpicked has in fact become part of the opposition to the government coalition. He said this on his own show 2030 on GDS, a TV channel belonging to his rapper son Bera. […]
Photo from the campaign დასავლეთ ევროპის ქალაქებში სამოძრაოდ ხალხი პატარა, ეკონომ-კლასის მანქანებს ირჩევს, თბილისი კი სავსეა უზარმაზარი ჯიპებით, რომლებიც ქალაქგარეთ, უგზოობაზე გადაადგილებისთვის უფრო გამოდგება, ვიდრე დედაქალაქის აუტანელი საცობების გავლით სამსახურში სასიარულოდ. […]
Photo from the young environmentalists’ social campaign against big cars In western Europe, people in cities opt for small, economy class cars. But Tbilisi is clogged with huge SUVs, which are more suitable for off-road travels than for daily home-work-home commute. […]
Jehova’s Witnesses are building a new Kingdom Hall in Terjola. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Jehovah’s Witnesses in Georgia claim that they are being discriminated against on religious grounds in Terjola, western Georgia. The conflict started about a year ago. Locals Orthodox Christians are against the construction of a new Kingdom Hall […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili Tbilisi, DFWatch – During his TV talk show, former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, once again slammed the head of a local NGO and the president’s adviser, accusing them of following the political agenda of the United National Movement. […]
Zurab Tkemaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia is calling on the group of economy ministers to explain themselves again about the falling currency rate, but the finance minister claims the drop in the lari’s value is only temporary. The value of the Georgian lari started […]
Data Akhalaia (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The Greek Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a lower court to reject an extradition request for Data Akhalaia, a former head of Georgia’s domestic intelligence agency. The Supreme Court […]
Sakdrisi mining site. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) Tbilisi, DFWatch – An advocacy group in Georgia has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to launch an investigation into an explosion which destroyed an ancient gold mine on December 13. […]
Independence Day, 2014 (DFWatch)independence ininde Tbilisi, DFwatch – The Georgian government continues distancing itself from its predesessors’ military bravade as it announces, third year in a row, that Independence Day celebrations will go on without a military parade. […]
Ethnic Armenians demand from Turkey and the government of Georgia to recognize Armenian genocide (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Ethnic Armenians in Georgia on Friday gathered at the embassy of Turkey in Tbilisi demanding to recognize almost all-out extermination of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire in early 20th century as a Genocide. […]
Georgia signed agreement with Gilead Sciences (Health Ministry Photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has launched a project aimed at assisting people with hepatitis C after signing an agreement with the American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences on April 21. The government claims […]
Alexander Lukashenko (left) and Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Thursday called on Georgia to live in a ‘common family’ with Belarus and Russia. “Europe’s last dictator” said he has never been to Georgia before, except Abkhazia, one of two Georgian regions […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Belarus, who is on a first visit to Georgia, arrived in Tbilisi the day before official meetings, which are planned for April 23-24. Even though the flight between Minsk and Tbilisi is over four hours, he arrived a day before with his […]
Medea Kuzanashvili is suing her former employer for forcing her out of her job. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is illegal to fire anyone on maternity or paternity leave. It is also illegal to harass someone into quitting their job. But it is not uncommon for a woman to come back to work after a maternity leave, and realise that the employer will do anything […]
Zestaponi players on a practice trip to Spain in 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) has banned one of the country’s top teams from taking party in national championships after it stayed away from a match due to financial problems. GFF decided this after Zestaponi FC violated the rules […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Several low cost airlines are looking to enter the Georgian market, according to the Ministry of Economy. Prospective new carriers include Ryanair, EasyJet, Air Berlin, and the Greek company Ellinair. According to the ministry, Ellinair applied to the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili scolded the media on Tuesday for their coverage of Pankisi youth who become radicalized and join Islamic State in Syria. The media have shown an ‘unnatural hysteria’ about this problem, which […]
12 % of Georgia’s export in the first quarter of 2015 was used cars. (Rustavi.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2015 was 10 percent less than in the same period last year. The foreign trade turnover in January-March, 2015 was USD 2,279 million, according to the new report of Georgia’s National […]
Atoneli Palace (Pia.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Refurbishment work in a building intended as a new presidential palace is now finished and this has sparked a new round of bickering between the president and the government. The minister of regional development and infrastructure stated during […]
Davit Shavliashvili (center) has resigned as minister for regional development. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A minister in the Georgian government resigned on Tuesday. Not much is known about why Davit Shavliashvili decided to resign as regional development and infrastructure, but a notice from the ministry said it was for health reasons. […]
“When a man beats a woman for the hundredth time, something happens to him. He starts jonesing for it,” says Lali, who has fled Abkhazia to hide from her abusive husband. I met Lali (her name has been changed) in a shelter for victims of domestic violence. […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Georgia’s speaker of parliament visits Kiev, political analysts in Tbilisi are watching for signs of how strong the bond is between the two governments. Speaker Davit Usupashvili is accompanied by parliament members Tedo Japaridze and Tinatin […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A protest against terrorism was held on Sunday in Tbilisi and several other towns in Georgia to show support for the refugees persecuted by Islamic State. (DF Watch.) A call went out on Facebook a few days in advance for people to meet outside the old parliament […]
(Adjara TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two persons died and one is in hospital with injuries after an accident at a construction site for a hydropower facility in Khulo, southwest in Georgia Friday night. The two who died are Paata Iakobadze, a Georgian citizen, and Ahmed Chakmak, […]
Giorgi Janelidze. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian volunteer soldier was killed in Ukraine on April 18, fighting for the extreme right wing Azov battalion. Giorgi Janelidze died during mine clearance work near the coastal town Shirokine. The other fighters came under fire as they […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is to make it a crime to be a member of a terrorist organization or take part in a paramilitary group in another country. The law was drafted after calls for the government to do more to stop the flow of youth joining the war in Syria. […]
Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of Mikheil Saakashvili’s party deliberately disrupted Friday’s parliamentary session because of a former official’s suicide attempt the day before. The former special unit’s representative who attempted to commit suicide is detained […]
Vano Merabishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Interior Minister and ally of Mikheil Saakashvil promises to take revenge for every official involved in the detention of former government officials. “I will personally punish them. I will hold each of them responsible personally.” Vano Merabishvili, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of money transfers to Georgia in March fell by 23.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a report by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The amount of money transfers in March was USD 92.2 million, which is USD […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Austrian climbers were found dead on Thursday in a mountain region in Georgia. The two apparently froze to death. The two tourists, a man and a woman, camped near the hill for several days. They left the camp on Wednesday to head […]
Samvel Petrosyan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An ethnic Armenian parliamentarian in the Georgian parliament calls the assembly to formally recognize the Armenian genocide, which began a century ago in Turkey. Ethnic Azerbaijani MPs are against, arguing that it is not a matter for the Georgian […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says the government is not capable of preventing Pankisi youth from joining the war in Syria. There have been many reports lately that young men from the Pankisi Gorge in the north of Georgia have left […]
Zurab Adeishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Interpol did not ask Georgian prosecutors for additional information before deciding to call off the search for a former justice minister. Yesterday, the story broke that Interpol no longer has a so-called red notice on its webpage seeking the arrest […]
Shalva Abuladze in court on Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian man suspected of killing two policemen denies guilt after first having pleaded guilty. Shalva Abuladze was booked for two encounters with police, one in January and the last one on April 4, which left two policemen dead and two wounded. […]
Illustration photo. (Interpressnews.) A country in which the Church is a powerful presence, which strongly advocates for traditional values, probably would not be the first place of choice for LGBTQ people. But what if it is your homeland? […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Interpol has revoked a red notice seeking the arrest and extradition of Georgia’s former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili. Last year, the organization announced an international search for Adeishvili, along with former Defense Minister […]
(კახეთის საინფორმაციო ცენტრი) პანკისიდან სირიაში საბრძოლველად გაპარული ორი ბიჭი მშობლებს პირველად დაუკავშირდა და თავიანთი პირველი ფოტოც გამოგზავნეს. 16 წლის მუსლიმ კუშტანაშვილი და 18 წლის რამზან ბაღაკაშვილი ამბობენ, რომ თავს კარგად გრძნობენ და საბრძოლო მოქმედებებში მონაწილეობა ჯერ არ მიუღიათ. მათ საქართველო 2 აპრილს დატოვეს და თურქეთში გაფრინდნენ, საიდანაც სირიაში გადავიდნენ. სანამ მოულოდნელად გაუჩინარდებოდნენ, მუსლიმი და [...]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Tuesday pardoned 78 prisoners in connection with Easter. Zviad Koridze, Head of the President’s Pardon Commission, said at a press conference that 57 prisoners will be released from jail today. The remaining 21 had their […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian boys who recently went to Syria to join Islamic State have called their parents in Pankisi Gorge and sent home their first picture. Muslim Kushtanashvili (16) and Ramzan Baghakashvili (18) said they are fine and haven’t seen any fighting […]
წალკა (DFWatch) წალკა, რომელიც სამხრეთ საქართველოში მდებარეობს, დასახლებულია ეთნიკური სომხებით, ბერძნებით, აზერბაიჯანელებითა და ქართველებით, მეტწილად აჭარიდან გადმოსახლებული ეკო-მიგრანტებით. […]
(DF Watch.) TSALKA, DFWatch–Tsalka is a cluster of villages in the south of Georgia. It is home to ethnic Armenians, Greeks, Azerbaijani and Georgians; most of whom are eco-migrants from the Adjara region. Levon Akopian, an employee of the local government […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Easter was celebrated in Tbilisi as usual this year, despite bad weather. People visit the graves of their relatives on the first or second day of Easter. Christianity was declared state religion in Georgia in 4th century and as the eastern […]
(1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man died during a traditional Easter ball game in a small village in Georgia’s Guria region on Sunday. The victim was Gocha Pirtskhalaishvili, of about 50 years. Doctors believe the cause of death was shortness of breath. He died while participating […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An explosion allegedly caused by a gas leak killed a 65 year old woman in Tbilisi Sunday morning. The explosion demolished the eighth floor of a building in Gldani, a district in northern part of the capital, and killed Zoia Kalandarishvili, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Saturday placed a man suspected of murdering two policemen in pre-trial detention. The defense did not object to the Prosecutor General’s Office request for detention. The suspect Shalva Abuladze and his lawyer said […]
Giorgi Margvelashvili and Pope Francis. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Friday met with Pope Francis in Rome. President Giorgi Margvelashvili afterward summed up the meeting as a ‘very important’ one for Georgia. He said he told the pontiff about security issues, the situation in the Caucasus […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a man suspected of killing two policemen evaded arrest for almost a week, Georgia’s prime minister says that government will be ‘ruthless toward crime’. The announcement came after several law-enforcement ministers have talked about tougher […]
(police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The suspect in the murder of two policemen, who was subject to a search by not only the police, but also counterintelligence, was apprehended near his hometown in an abandoned house on Friday. The Interior Ministry confirmed this on Friday. […]
A private clinic in Kharagauli. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has signed an agreement with a British consultancy firm to reform the country’s healthcare system. The goal of the agreement with Global Alliance for Health and Social Compact Ltd is to bring Georgia’s health system in line with European […]
PM Irakli Garibashvili at the 9 April monument in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia today marks the restoration of independence in 1991. It is also a day of commemoration of an independence rally two years prior which was violently dispersed, resulting in twenty deaths. After becoming independent in 1918, Georgia […]
(Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four Nigerian students were found dead in a Tbilisi apartment Wednesday night, apparently from gas poisoning due to a faulty water heater. Three of them were students at Tbilisi State Medical University and one at Georgia’s University. Their bodies were found […]
(DF Watch) Tbilisi, DFWatch–NGOs in Georgia have revived their campaign This Affects You Too, and are launching a lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs for having direct access to communication operators’ networks and, thus, having ability to eavesdrop on citizens unchecked. […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze explained in parliament Wednesday that a defense deal with France has not been put on hold. His predecessor Irakli Alasania accused the government of halting the planned installation of new air […]
President Lukashenko (Press office) Tbilisi, DFWatch – President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is visiting Georgia for the first time ever on April 23-24 to meet his Georgian counterpart, Giorgi Margvelashvili, as well as the prime minister and other officials. Mr Lukashenko’s visit to Georgia was planned back in February, when he first […]
Actress Nato Vachnadze (1904-1953) already has a street named after her in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi is making an effort to correct the gender imbalance in its street names, by changing the names of ten streets, naming them after famous women. There are about 1,200 streets in the capital, 1,120 of which are named after men, according […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–High winds injured two people in Batumi and left 4,000 households in the Adjara region without power on Tuesday. In Batumi, strong wind blew down a tree which fell onto a nearby building with three people inside, two of whom were slightly injured. […]
(Ministry of Internal Affairs.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A village was evacuated in Imereti in western Georgia Monday night, after a leak of liquid oxygen from an overturned truck. The truck overturned in a sharp bend, according to the Interior Ministry. It was carrying a large amount of liquid oxygen. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s government has decided not to sell a stately building in the center of Tbilisi that was meant to be a presidential residence and once served as the US embassy. The building on Atoneli Street near Freedom Square was on a list […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government is considering expanding police powers after a former convict killed a policeman and evaded capture. It is not known in what way the powers of the police might be increased. The Saakashvili regime started increasing […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is installing a monitoring system in Dariali Valley in the northern part of Georgia, which will provide a few minutes’ warning in case of landslide. Last summer, the valley was hit by several massive landslides that […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The man suspected of killing two police officers was pardoned in November, 2013, because the parole board thought he had put hid criminal past behind him. Gedevan Popkhadze from the parole board said the members were sure that the suspect […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in Pankisi Gorge in northeast Georgia demand the return of two boys who allegedly went to Syria to join Islamc State. The Council of Elders, an informal mediation body in Pankisi, on Monday met to discuss what to do after Muslim […]
The suspect (Prosecutor’s Office photo) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Law enforcement bodies in Georgia are engaged in a large-scale hunt for a man suspected of murdering one policeman and wounding several others. On Sunday, the Prosecutor General’s Office released a photo of the suspect asking for the public’s assistance in locating him, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian boys, one 18 and the other younger, have allegedly left the country to become fighers for Islamic State in Syria, acording to locals. The two were attending tenth and eleventh grade at a school in the village Omalo, in Pankisi Gorge. […]
Activists for saving Sakdrisi made an exhibition that was on display in parliament in Kutaisi. TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday defended the destruction of an ancient gold mine, arguing that locals need the jobs. Appearing with employees of RMG Gold at the municipal building in Marneuli, a town south of the capital, […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s defense minister denies allegations by his predecessor that negotiations with France about a defense deal have ended. But the French ambassador to Georgia claims Georgia has not signed any air defense deal with France. […]
Giorgi Muskhelishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania’s party have withdrawn as a faction in the city council. The reason, they explain, is ‘incompatibility’ with his party, the Free Democrats. The Free Democrats Party was a member […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania accuses the government of having failed to implement an air defense treaty with France and proposes setting up a parliamentary investigation commission to look into it. Alasania Friday […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Friday detained a Moldovan citizen for using an ATM skimmer to illegally obtain money. The suspect installed a so-called ATM skimmer, a barely noticeable device installed in the card reading slot of the machine which copies information […]
From left to right: Levan Berianidze, Tamta Mikeladze, Ana Lobzhanidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians like to talk about tolerance as a part of the national psyche. But the ability to accept and live alongside people who are different from yourself seems to end when it comes to gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities. According to NDI, […]
Photo: ლევან ბერიანიძე (მარჯვნიდან), თამთა მიქელაძე, ანა ლობჟანიძე საქართველოში უყვართ ტოლერანტობაზე, როგორც ეროვნული ცნობიერების ნაწილზე საუბარი, თუმცა უნარი იმისა, რომ მიიღონ და იცხოვრონ მათგან განსხავებულ ადამიანებთან ერთად მთავრდება იქ, სადაც გეი, ლესბოსელი და სხვა სექსუალური უმცირესობების წარმომადგენლები არიან. […]
Bidzina Iivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Thursday spoke in the funeral of businessman Besik Khardziani, who was murdered at his house a few days ago. He promised that those responsible will be held to account in accordance […]
Deserters market, where the unchecked meat was sold. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s Investigative Service on Thursday detained two veterinarians in Tbilisi for fraud that allowed potentially dangerous meat to get through to consumers. Veterinarians Khvicha Bichiashvili and Mamuka Mzhavanadze are charged with […]
წალკა, DFWatch – წალკაში ადრე 20,000 ბერძენი ცხოვრობდა, დღეს კი მხოლოდ 1,500-მდე მათგანია შემორჩენილი. […]
TSALKA, DFWatch–Tsalka in southern Georgia used to be home to more than twenty thousand Greeks, but today there are only 1,500 left. ”My parents, grandparents and great grandparents, they all were born in Georgia. This is our home. Sadly, […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze has confirmed after five months that he talked on the phone with his predecessor Irakli Alasania, who was then visiting France. But he denies what Alasania claims he told him on phone in that conversation. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s governing coalition has lost support, while the former ruling party has gained, according to the latest poll by International Republican Institute (IRI), published Wednesday. If there were held parliamentary elections next Sunday, […]
Anti-gay demonstrators in Tbilisi on May 17, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has taken no real steps toward protecting the rights of sexual minorities, according to a new report by the Ombudsman. The report, which was published on April 1, says there is an increase not only in homophobic attitudes but also crimes motivated […]
The natural growth of Georgia’s population. (GeoStat.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New figures show that Georgia’s increase in population continued an upward trend in 2014, but the growth rate is still barely above zero. The number of live births minus the number of deaths, which scientists call the natural increase, was 11,548 in 2014. […]
Irakli Kovzanadze, director of the Georgian government’s Partnership Fund. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An Israeli company plans to build a new factory in Georgia with the goal of producing parts for Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier passenger planes. The construction of the ‘high tech and modern’ aviation plant will begin in three months, Economy […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When the Georgian president held his state of the nation speech in parliament on Tuesday, the government and the prime minister were absent – again. This is the second time the government has snubbed President Giorgi Margvelashvili. The same […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Monday marked the appointment of one more ‘rebel judge’ to a top level position the country’s court system. Merab Turava was sworn in as a new member of the Constitutional Court at a ceremony in Batumi attended […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–High winds damaged several villages in the northwestern part of Georgia on Monday. A reporter for Interpressnews said there are houses without roof in six villages Kveda Chkhorotsku, Lesichine, Akhuti, Nakiani, Kirtskhi and Zumi; totalling […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained four fake priests who apparently falsified documents in order to get visa for the Schengen area. The young men are accused of forging documents that make them out to be clerics in the influential Georgian Church. […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has declined an invitation to participate in the traditional May 9 celebration in Moscow of the 70th anniversary of victory in World War 2. The reason is that Russia signed ‘integration agreements’ with South Ossetia […]
The victim owned property at Turtle Lake, a popular lake resort right outside Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A businessman who accused the National Movement government of seizing his property at Turtle Lake was shot to death Saturday morning. Besik Khardziani was hit by several gunshots, also to his head, near his house in Tbilisi. He was taken to hospital […]
Givi Targamadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–MP Givi Targamadze was Saturday questioned for nine hours in a case related to the leaking of information from the Interior Ministry. More than a week ago, a Georgian Interior Ministry employee was fired for allegedly handing over secret information […]
