Sunday, December 28, 2025

Debate: Minorities and local government reform in Georgia

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Journalist Rusiko Machaidze, Zaur Khalilov from Civil Integration Fund and Levan Vepkhvadze of the Christian-Democratic Movement.  (DF Watch.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–On March 14 , DFWatch.net organized a discussion about ethnic minorities’ participation problems in pre-election process.

The non-parliamentary opposition and representatives of NGOs working with minority rights participated

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Jehova's Witnesses accused of stoking separatism in Georgia

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Locals in Khobi, Georgia, accuse Jehova’s Witnesses of stoking separatism because they are using the minority language Megrelian. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Friday, about 100 Orthodox Christians demonstrated in Georgia against Jehovah’s Witnesses constructing a congregation center in their town.

The Witnesses began building a Kingdom Hall in the western town of Khobi about a week ago. Today, opponents were

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Georgian receives Women of Courage Award

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Michelle Obama and Rusudan Gotsiridze. (Photo published by the US Embassy.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Rusudan Gotsiridze, Bishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, has been given the International Women of Courage Award 2014.

The award ceremony was held in Washington DC. Gotsiridze received the award because of her merits in promoting

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Glimpses of daily life in Iormughanlo, Georgia

Iormughanlo is a village at the river Iori and lies in the Kakheti region in the south eastern part of Georgia. The village has a population of not more than 2 000, according to the most recent census data, predominantly ethic Azeris. The majority of families in Iormughanlo have sheep as a livelihood. While walking … Read more

How can minority women get into politics in Georgia?

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Sabina Talibova. (Photo: Newcaucasus.com.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Sabina Talibova is an ethnic Azerbaijanian living in Marneuli. Some time ago, she became involved in several non-governmental organizations which are working to engage women more in employment and politics.

DF Watch talked to her about problems

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Georgia creates new agency for religious issues

paata zakareishvili
Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is planning to create a new agency that will work on religious issues.

Minister of Reconciliation and Equality Paata Zakareishvili on Tuesday explained that the new body will implement a recent initiative by the government

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Constitutional Court in Georgia lifts ban on homosexuals giving blood

sisxlis banki - blood bank
(Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The constitutional court in Georgia has struck down a thirteen year old ban on homosexual men becoming blood donors.

The court agreed with a complaint from five Georgian citizens and recognized several articles of an order issued by the labor, health

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January 1 not the first attack on Jehova's Witnesses in Ozurgeti

Giorgi Arbolishvili
Giorgi Arbolishvili, spokesperson for Jehova’s Witnesses in Ozurgeti. (DF Watch.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–When strangers attacked a car and a house where Jehova’s Witnesses are meeting in Ozurgeti, Georgia, on January 1, it was not the first such attack.

Two years ago, strangers broke the windows of Kingdom Hall in Ozurgeti. The perpetrators were

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Chechen refugees feel harassed by Georgian counterintelligence

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Saikhan Muzayev. (Georgian Public Broadcaster.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Some of the Chechens in Pankisi Gorge close to the Russian border say they are blackmailed and harassed by Georgian counterintelligence.

Saikhan Muzayev, a former Russian and Arabic translator for the Refugee Ministry, said at a press

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