TBILISI, November 9 – Anti-government protesters returned to Georgia’s parliament building late Sunday following a march through central Tbilisi that saw brief confrontations with police over access to the main avenue. Demonstrators, many chanting “No to Russia,” “Georgia, rise up,” and “Freedom for political prisoners,” demanded new parliamentary elections and the release of people detained … Read more
TBILISI, November 8 – Protesters gathered outside Georgia’s parliament Friday for another night of anti-government demonstrations, over a year since the disputed parliamentary elections. Police blocked both sides of Rustaveli Avenue, forming tight cordons to prevent marchers from spilling onto the main road. Chanting “Down with the Russian regime” and “Slaves, slaves,” demonstrators circled the … Read more
TBILISI, November 6 – Protesters again gathered in central Tbilisi on Thursday evening, marching between parliament and the government building amid heavy police presence. Demonstrators demanded new elections and the release of detainees but were prevented from blocking Rustaveli Avenue and nearby streets by the intervention of law enforcement. Police detained one participant after protesters … Read more
TBILISI, November 4 – A Georgian court has released 19-year-old British national Bella May Culley, who was convicted of smuggling large quantities of marijuana and hashish into the country, after she reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, was sentenced to five months and 24 days in prison, time she … Read more
TBILISI, November 4 – Georgia’s Constitutional Court has begun reviewing a petition filed by 88 members of parliament that seeks to outlaw three major opposition political parties, accusing them of acting against the country’s constitutional order. The case, announced Monday and published on the court’s official website, will be handled by the court’s First Collegium. … Read more
TBILISI, November 3 – Swiss-based trading company Gunvor has agreed to purchase the foreign assets of Russian oil major Lukoil, according to Reuters via BPN. The deal comes just days after the United States imposed sweeping sanctions on Lukoil, Rosneft, and dozens of their subsidiaries. Lukoil said in a statement that it had received and … Read more
TBILISI, November 2 – The lawyer for Georgia’s former deputy minister of regional development and infrastructure, Koba Gabunia, has accused prosecutors of relying on witness statements allegedly made in exchange for freedom. Gabunia was arrested earlier this week on charges of abuse of power connected to a public infrastructure fund. In comments to Georgian media … Read more
TBILISI, October 30 – Police in Tbilisi detained several protesters Thursday night after demonstrators blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue during ongoing anti-government rallies demanding new elections. The protest began around 8pm, when demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building where a protest camp has been standing for months. After rallying on the sidewalk, some … Read more
TBILISI, October 30 – Georgia’s former deputy minister for regional development and infrastructure, Koba Gabunia, has been arrested on charges of abuse of power and corruption. The arrest was carried out jointly by Georgia’s Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance and the State Security Service, the ministry announced Thursday. Gabunia, who oversaw the country’s … Read more
TBILISI, October 29 – Georgian teacher Nino Datashvili, who was charged with assaulting a public official, has been released from prison on bail after more than four months in custody. Datashvili walked free from Rustavi Women’s Prison No. 5 on Wednesday afternoon, greeted by a small group of supporters who had gathered outside. Visibly exhausted, … Read more