DFWatch is launching Georgia Week, a weekly email briefing with news, background, opinion and archive content from Georgia. The aim is to give readers an unbiased picture of what is happening, without relying on donor-funded narratives, government messaging or opposition slogans. Each week, Georgia Week will collect some of our main stories and explain why … Read more
TBILISI, May 27 – Georgia is bringing back an electricity barter scheme with Turkey, using surplus hydropower in summer to cover expected shortages later in the year. The change was approved by Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, and will mean that Georgia will export electricity to Turkey from May to July 2026 through the Electricity System … Read more
TBILISI, May 27 – Georgia’s opposition used Independence Day to launch a new anti-government campaign, but Tuesday’s rally failed to show broad popular support. Supporters of the Opposition Alliance began gathering outside the first building of Tbilisi State University at 7pm on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the second half of Georgia’s national day events. … Read more
TBILISI, May 26 – Opposition supporters marched toward parliament in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening, the second stage of Independence Day events, after the government’s official ceremonies earlier in the day. The protest began outside the first building of Tbilisi State University, where supporters of the Opposition Alliance gathered from around 7pm. Party leaders, members, supporters … Read more
TBILISI, May 26 – A Georgian politician has revived one of the darkest cases from the violent May 26, 2011 protest dispersal in Tbilisi, claiming that one of the dead showed signs of torture after the crackdown. David Lortkipanidze spoke to the program “Anatomy of the Regime” about Suliko Asatiani, who died after the police … Read more
TBILISI, May 26 – Georgia’s leaders used Independence Day to highlight the importance of sovereignty. The main ceremony was held on Freedom Square in central Tbilisi, where President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, cabinet members and MPs attended. Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III and other clergy were also present, along with diplomats, … Read more
TBILISI, May 25 – Georgia’s Independence Day is turning into a political standoff, with the government preparing official celebrations and the opposition planning a protest march that may end in a clash over whether a stage can be set up near parliament. The opposition says it will gather at 7pm on Tuesday, May 26, outside … Read more
TBILISI, May 25 – Georgia’s government is again talking about possible pardons for people detained during anti-government protests. But its condition has not changed: prisoners must admit guilt and show remorse first. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Monday that the government had already made its position public and had also shared it several times with … Read more
TBILISI, May 25 – The European Union is keeping its ambassador in Georgia in place, despite repeated clashes with the country’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party. EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński was due to finish his four-year term in September 2026, which would have marked the end of a turbulent posting during which he frequently drew … Read more
TBILISI, May 24 – The government’s and opposition’s plans for Independence Day show how divided the country is politically. The government is preparing official celebrations for May 26, the day Georgia marks the declaration of its first republic in 1918. Opposition groups and civic activists are preparing a protest march the same evening, saying the … Read more