TBILISI, September 22 – The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid an official visit to Georgia over the weekend, and was hosted at the private residence of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The event marked Ivanishvili’s first public appearance in a political … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – The joint Lelo and For Georgia candidate for mayor in landslide hit Kharagauli surveyed affected villages today, as the elections are only weeks away. Inga Maghradze was joined by Aleko Elisashvili, who is running for deputy mayor of the capital for the same two party ticket, although he is leader of … Read more
TBILISI, September 15 – Tensions in Georgia’s capital flared this weekend after police detained a prominent opposition leader over an act of vandalism targeting the ruling party’s mayoral campaign. Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change, was taken into custody outside her home, according to local media. Authorities said her … Read more
TBILISI, September 15 – The lawyer of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder and honorary chairman of Georgia’s ruling party, has accused foreign journalists of trying to discredit his client while covering an ongoing case involving alleged misappropriation of Ivanishvili’s bitcoin holdings. In a statement released this week, lawyer Temo Tsikvadze said he had been contacted … Read more
TBILISI, September 12 – Georgia’s security services say they have foiled an attempt to smuggle powerful explosives into the country, detaining two Ukrainian citizens in an operation near the Turkish border. The State Security Service (SUS) announced that on September 10, a truck with Ukrainian license plates crossed into Georgia from Turkey through the Sarpi … Read more
TBILISI, September 11 – A senior Georgian official has welcomed news that a controversial U.S. bill targeting the country’s government is unlikely to pass in the Senate, while fiercely criticizing opposition figures who testified against Georgia in Washington. The stalled MEGOBARI Act would increase U.S. sanctions on Georgia if democratic backsliding continued, while offering defense … Read more
TBILISI, September 10 – Aleko Elisashvili, a leader of the opposition party “Strong Georgia,” says a planned Sports Academy in Tbilisi’s Vake district will not be built and claims City Hall has agreed to a much taller office tower instead. Speaking at a briefing, he said the current plan replaces a previously announced project that … Read more
TBILISI, September 9 – Tensions are rising in Georgia’s capital as protesters march through Tbilisi’s streets targeting the campaign headquarters of mayor and ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze, where a mob violently attacked protesters yesterday. Crowds gathered near the Philharmonic building before moving to Melikishvili Street, where they dismantled metal barricades and blocked the entrance … Read more
TBILISI, September 9 – Clashes last night outside the campaign office of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, was political violence, a rights group said. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association reported that GD supporters armed with iron rods attacked peaceful protesters and journalists near Hotel Georgia. Videos showed demonstrators beaten, … Read more
TBILISI, September 9 – A protest outside the campaign headquarters of ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze erupted into violence last night, leaving at least 10 people injured. The clash broke out on Melikishvili Avenue in Tbilisi, where demonstrators gathered to denounce the Georgian Dream (GD) government. Protesters claim they were attacked by GD supporters, including … Read more