TBILISI, October 11 – Georgia’s remote mountain regions are seeing a solid tourism comeback this year, with nearly all visitors coming from abroad, according to local operators. “The season was quite good,” said Nino Barnabishvili, co-owner of the Khakhabo agro-tourism guesthouse in Khevsureti, one of Georgia’s most rugged and scenic highland areas bordering Chechnya. Speaking … Read more
TBILISI, October 10 – Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili criticizes the ongoing arrests linked to the October 4 unrest outside the presidential residence, calling the situation a sign that “everyone” is now at risk of imprisonment regardless of background or profession. In a lengthy post published Friday on his official Facebook page, Saakashvili reacted to … Read more
TBILISI, October 9 – Former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been summoned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation, the ministry confirmed Wednesday. Officials did not specify which case Akhalaia has been called to testify in. According to a statement by his wife, Ani Nadareishvili, he is … Read more
TBILISI, October 9 – Georgia’s ruling party says the idea of revolution is over, and it no longer expects large-scale protests after the failed October 4 rally in Tbilisi that ended with clashes outside the presidential residence. Government officials and analysts close to the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party now argue that the political momentum … Read more
TBILISI, October 8 – The Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday held a hearing for four people detained during the unrest that followed the October 4 rally in the Georgian capital. The defendants, Tornike Mchedlishvili, Abo Naveriani, Eva Shashviashvili, and Davit Sturua, appeared before Judge Lela Maridashvili, who will decide whether to keep them in pre-trial … Read more
TBILISI, October 6 – Five opposition figures accused of orchestrating Saturday’s failed “peaceful revolution” in Georgia were formally charged Monday, as their defense lawyers pushed back against what they called politically motivated accusations. The opera singer and activist Paata Burchuladze, former prosecutor Murtaz Zodelava, National Movement politician Irakli Nadiradze, Strategy Aghmashenebeli leader Paata Manjgaladze, and … Read more
TBILISI, October 5 – Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has secured a decisive victory in Georgia’s local elections, winning 71.6% of the vote according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC). With 581 out of 584 polling stations counted, covering 99.5% of the city’s precincts, Kaladze, the candidate of the ruling Georgian Dream … Read more
TBILISI, October 5 – Georgia’s prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned harsh consequences after last night’s violent protest, branding it as an “attempted coup,” and said it could give grounds for banning the largest opposition party. The night saw chaos and confrontation after precincts had closed in an election that gave the ruling Georgian Dream party … Read more
TBILISI, October 4 – A large opposition rally in Tbilisi called for the arrest of the prime minister and other government members in the evening of local elections, as protesters tore down barriers and tried to enter the presidential residence. The protest was organized by the movement Rustaveli Avenue, led by opera star Paata Burchuladze … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Police in Georgia have provided new details about a violent clash that took place near Tbilisi’s Metekhi Bridge late Wednesday evening, leaving the youth opposition leader Igor Narmania injured. The incident occurred less than 24 hours before the country’s local elections, which are taking place on the background of a tense … Read more