News
National Movement offensive against govt’s ‘loyal attitude to Russia’
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Movement delegates left the suit and tie at home Wednesday and instead showed up in parliament wearing white t-shirts with the slogan ‘no to annexation’ to protest the government’s ‘loyal attitude to Russia’. The party has accused the new […]
Ex-official makes plea agreement to testify against Saakashvili ally
Oleg Melnikov. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former officer in Georgia’s Interior Minister has made another plea agreement in return for testifying against one of the allies of Mikheil Saakashvili. Oleg Melnikov used to be an officer in the previous government’s possibly most […]
Suspect detained in murder of trans woman
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Wednesday detained a suspect in the murder of a transgender woman in Tbilisi the day before. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the 26 year old, who lives in Tbilisi, killed the transgender woman because […]
Students demand decision about Kobuleti madrasa
The house in Kobuleti where a Muslim boarding school is planned. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at a Muslim school demonstrated outside the government house in Batumi a few days ago, demanding that the the Kobuleti Boarding School issue be solved soon. Also university students joined the rally. They claim that the local government […]
Face slapping in Tbilisi City Council over dog shelter
Elizbarashvili Dog Shelter in Tbilisi holds more than four hundred dogs. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Fighting broke out Tuesday at Tbilisi City Council over a proposal to shut down a large private dog shelter in the capital. Neighbors of the shelter showed up at the council session to demand that it be shut down because they consider it a nuisance. […]
Georgia’s new foreign minister is an experienced insider
New Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday appointed Tamar Beruchashvili as new foreign minister. Beruchashvili was a deputy to Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze, who resigned in protest against the dismissal of Defense Minister Irakli Alasania […]
Transwoman killed and flat set on fire in Tbilisi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A young transgender person was killed in her apartment last night on Pekini street, Tbilisi. The victim’s apartment was set on fire, apparently in order to destroy the evidence. Local media report that the victim was a 23 year old transwoman, who has appeared […]
Pankisi women challenge traditional law
Duisi. (DF Watch.) DUISI. DFWatch–Centuries-old mountain traditions and customs still regulate daily life in Pankisi, a valley in the northeast of Georgia populated by Kists and Chechens. Now the old ways are challenged by a new women’s council. Traditionally, the highest decision […]
Students demonstrated against ‘nepotism’ at Tbilisi State University
Students say Tbilisi State University is run by clans. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University on Monday demonstrated against what they say is a clan-run education system which doesn’t encourage scientific activities. The march started from the central branch of the university and ended outside the […]
Ethnic clash in Akhmeta, eastern Georgia
Jokola Achishvili. (Photo posted on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A street fight with ethnic overtones in eastern Georgia on Sunday led to people being hospitalized and several people were detained. The scuffle took place in the town Akhmeta, between local Georgians and Kist, who are a subgroup of Chechens […]
Margvelashvili will address parliament on Friday
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will address parliament on November 14 at noon. The address will be held at the beginning at a plenary session and be followed by an address of the speaker of parliament. November 5, right after the prime minister […]
New forensic report prompts tougher charges against Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is now also charged with organizing deliberate severe damage to someone’s health. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new forensic report concluding that the victim of a beating in 2005 had life-threatening injuries has led to tougher charges being introduced against Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili. The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office announced […]
Government bloc in parliament grows to 87
TBILISI, DFWatch–The governing Georgian Dream coalition on Monday increased the number of seats it controls in parliament to 87, as twelve majoritarians agreed to support the bloc. The same day as the twelve decided to join the majority, the Free Democrats officially […]
Roki tunnel reopened
Roki tunnel before the repair work. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has reopened a strategically important tunnel through the Caucasus mountain range after a full-scale overhaul that has taken two and a half years and cost USD 400 million. According to Russian officials, equipment had been moved from the […]
Justice minister leaves Free Democrats Party
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani decided to finally leave the Free Democrats, the party led by the dismissed defense minister Irakli Alasania. Tsulukiani recently withdrew from the Georgian Dream coalition due to political crisis following the sacking […]
Ivanishvili’s new talk show will fill information vacuum
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (TV1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The father of Georgia’s government coalition, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, presented his plans for a new talk show Saturday. Ivanishvili, who was prime minister the first year of the Georgian Dream coalition’s government, will appear on the […]
Georgia’s ex-foreign minister: ‘Let them arrest us’
Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s recently resigned foreign minister believes herself and the recently dismissed defense minister might be arrested soon. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania was dismissed last week because he according to the prime minister was trying to turn […]
TI Georgia says Georgia’s new visa rules are harming the economy
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Transparency International said on Friday that Georgia’s new visa rules have created serious problems for investments and tourism. TI Georgia’s new report, which was presented at Holiday Inn Hotel in Tbilisi, contains recommendations which […]
Ivanishvili criticizes dismissed defense minister in lengthy TV interview
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The billionaire behind the government coalition in Georgia on Saturday made his first public comments about the political crisis. Bidzina Ivanishvili had critical things to say about several of the people who have been at center stage these last days, […]
Ex-defense minister’s party aims for victory in 2016 election
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s dismissed defense minister, Irakli Alasania, feels optimistic that his party which recently left the governing coalition will win in the parliamentary election of 2016. The Free Democrats on Saturday held a party conference, which with […]
Georgia’s ruling coalition loses one more parliament member
Shalva Shavgulidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream coalition received another unexpected blow Friday when one of its active members switched sides and joined the dismissed defense minister’s political party. Nevertheless, GD says the loss of Shalva Shavgulidze […]
Dismissed defense minister met Ivanishvili
Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, who was dismissed a few days ago, Thursday evening met Bidzina Ivanishvili, the businessman who brought together the Georgian Dream coalition. Ivanishvili has avoided public statements since he left […]
PM: Coalition’s split will strengthen Georgia’s democracy
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After sacking and reprimanding his once ally, Prime Minister Garibashvili says if Alasania’s party goes into opposition, this will make the country’s democracy even stronger. Alasania on his part says he thinks the PM has lost face. Garibashvili […]
Georgia’s ruling coalition struggling to maintain majority in parliament
Davit Saganelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the party of the recently dismissed defense minister is rushing to try to deprive Georgian Dream of its majority, while the coalition is trying to retain it. If all ten members of the Free Democrats faction leave the coalition, this will […]
Foreign minister’s deputies return to work, after resigning yesterday
“The PM instructed me that the system must function,’ said Davit Japahjania, one of the deputies to the foreign minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–At least two of the deputies of the Georgian foreign minister will remain on their posts despite saying yesterday that they would resign in the wake of the dismissal of the defense minister. Tamar Beruchashvili and Davit Jalaghania told journalists […]
Georgian PM castigates dismissed defense minister
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili castigated former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Thursday, calling him ‘a traitor’ and ‘an opportunist’. “What Alasania did, is a betrayal of the victory of 2012 and an attempt to deceive the Georgian […]
President: Georgia’s European course is unchangeable
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili rules out the possibility of a change in Georgia’s foreign policy orientation. The government coalition is split with both sides accusing the other of endangering the policy of seeking integration with NATO […]
Georgia’s ruling coalition may keep majority in parliament
TBILISI, DFWatch–According to the latest available information, the ruling Georgian Dream coalition may keep its majority of seats in the parliament. Three MPs from the ten strong Free Democrats – Georgian Dream faction might choose to side with Georgian […]
One party leaves Georgia’s govt coalition in midst of political crisis
Irakli Alasania announced Wednesday evening that the Free Democrats Party is leaving the government coalition. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition in Georgia is in its worst crisis till now, as one party leaves and questions are raised about its western oriented course. Two ministers resigned in protest against the dismissal of the defense minister the day before, but the crisis […]
Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister resigns, saying European choice under threat
TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of Alasania’s political team are stepping down one by one as Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze and four of her deputies resigned on Wednesday in the wake of the political turmoil that has brought Georgia’s ruling coalition on the verge of collapse. […]
Georgian PM fires defense minister over corruption case
Irakli Alasania said he believes his dismissal was political. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili dismissed his defense minister Tuesday evening, hours after the Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against six more Defense Ministry officials. The sacked minister, Irakli Alasania, was one of the most […]
Deputy defense minister protests against unfair questioning
Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandre Batiashvili. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A deputy defense minister in Georgia protested against ‘a number of violations’ on Monday after spending about ten hours in questioning about a corruption case involving defense officials. Alexi Batiashvili has status as witness in the case […]
Six more defense officials charged in Georgia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–While Georgia’s western backed defense minister struggles to prove the innocence of his ‘brothers-in-arms’, the Prosecutor’s Office dealt the beleaguered minister another blow. The Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday brought a new case about food […]
Prosecutors and MoD quarrel: who is keeping corruption case secret?
Prosecutor’s Office. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As five defense officials remain in pre-trial detention on corruption charges, the Defense Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office are quarreling over whose fault it is that the case documents remain classified. The five, who were detained October 28, […]
Snow blocks roads in Georgia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic is currently rerouted from Chakvi-Makhinjauri highway in western Georgia after a landslide on Sunday blocked the road. According to the Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry, about 20-30 thousand cubic meters of land collapsed […]
Two Chechen travelers deported from Georgia
Kutaisi airport. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia on Sunday deported two Russian citizens who were planning to go to Chechnya. The two were held at Kutaisi airport and eventually sent to Moscow. The Interior Ministry claims the reason they were deported was that they couldn’t answer […]
60% of Tbilisi City Hall employees fail tests
TBILISI, DFWatch–290 out of 486 employees of Tbilisi City Hall have failed a test on Saturday. The former ruling party claims it is political, as many of the workers are from the previous government. 563 employees were expected to show up for Saturday’s test. […]
Alasania vouches for the innocence of his ‘brothers-in-arms’
Irakli Alasania says there are signs of bias against the five detainees.(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The detention of Defense Ministry officials is a severe blow to the country’s security, says Irakli Alasania, head of the MoD, who vouches for his fellow colleagues’ innocence, calling them ‘my brothers-in-arms and team-mates’. Meanwhile a corruption […]
Georgian parliament accepts president’s veto
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament grudgingly abandoned its plan to overturn the president’s veto against a decision to postpone legislation that would quickly curb the Interior Ministry’s ability to carry out secret surveillance. Georgia has introduced […]
Georgian president vetoes postponement of surveillance reform
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili Friday vetoed a decision by the Georgian parliament to postpone a decision about reining in the use secret surveillance by the state. The veto is a highly confrontational move that could be a precursor of a major rift […]
Five defense officials placed in pre-trial detention
Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Thursday placed five Defense Ministry officials in pre-trial detention. The five are charged with embezzling more than four million lari in connection with a tender for building high speed Internet. The hearing was […]
Changes in Georgia’s immigration law expected in December
Georgia’s new immigration law will be amended. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The criticism of the new immigration law in Georgia seems to have yielded some results: lawmakers are contemplating amendments to existing legislation concerning visa and residency permit. The parliament of Georgia has already received […]
Georgian ombudsman against use of video in children’s psychology sessions
Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s public defender recommends that the Ministry of Education reconsiders a decision to allow the use of photo and video recordings of children during psychologist consultations. A psychology center for school children was opened in spring […]
NATO chief Stoltenberg to meet Georgian PM November 17
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (NATO.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will meet Georgia’s prime minister on November 17. Secretary General Stoltenberg said this in a speech at the German Marshall Fund in Brussels on Wednesday. The stated purpose of the meeting with Georgian PM Irakli […]
Abkhazia rejects offer of status as autonomous region
TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto government of Abkhazia considers inadequate a proposal by the Georgian prime minister to make Abkhazia an autonomous republic inside Georgia. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made the proposal […]
Parliament speaker says corruption case has harmed Georgia’s defense ability
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s parliament speaker says the detention of five defense ministry officials accused of corruption has seriously harmed the country’s defense ability, even if the charges turn out to be false. Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili […]
Saakashvili supporters plan rally on November 15
National Movement spokesperson Irma Nadirashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister claims the party associated with former President Mikheil Saakashvili is planning to destabilize the country in connection with a demonstration planned on November 15. The National Movement announced the rally a few days […]
Georgian parliament postpones decision on secret surveillance
Interior Minister Alexandre Chikaidze destroying the ‘dirty archive’ in February, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The question of who should hold the access keys to the ‘black boxes’ containing secret surveillance material in Georgia has been postponed six more months. As other former Soviet countries, Georgia has experienced widespread use of phone tapping […]
Smiling faces, little substance after security council session
President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili shaking hands Tuesday. (Photo published on Facebook by the president’s office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president and prime minister laid their differences to rest on Tuesday and put on big smiles for a session of the National Security Council. The session was called by President Giorgi Margvelashvili to come up with ideas for how to respond […]
One man dead in building collapse in Zugdidi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One man died as a result of a building collapse in western Georgia Monday night. A water reservior burst in the office of the State Security Agency in the town Zugdidi, near the Abkhazian region. The victim is head of department Zviad Lagvilava. […]
Five Defense Ministry officials detained, accused of embezzlement
The Defense Ministry issued a statement after one former and four current officials were detained. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia on Tuesday detained five officials at the Defense Ministry and accused them of embezzlement of about USD 2.3 million of the state’s money. The office accuses them of granting advantages to the communication […]
Georgian PM to attend security council meeting
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister unexpectedly announced that he will attend a meeting today of the National Security Council, which was called by the president to respond to a proposed new pact between Russia and breakaway Abkhazia. Despite […]
Georgia’s security council will meet, though many members absent
Irina Imerlishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has called a meeting of the National Security Council tomorrow to discuss an issue that may influence the country’s territorial integrity, but several central figures in the government are unlikely to show up. President Giorgi […]
Former Georgian economy minister becomes Tymoshenko adviser
Yulia Tynoshenko (left) presented Giorgi Arveladze (right) as one of her new advisers on Ukrainian channel Inter TV. TBILISI, DFWatch–Right before Ukrainians went to the polls in Sunday’s parliamentary election, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko named a former Georgian economy minister as one of her advisers. Tymoshenko is leader of Batkivshchyna (Fatherland), a small […]
Georgia may make ‘civic equality’ part of university entrance exam
Maia Miminoshvili, head of the National Exam Center. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The exam authority in Georgia has suggested introducing a new test in ‘civic equality’ as part of the entrance exams for university studies. The new test has been proposed by the National Exam Center against the background of a recent discussion […]
Georgian bishop says the Mokhe building was never a mosque
14 people were detained in the clashes in Mokhe. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An archbishop in Georgia claims the disputed building in Mokhe was formerly a church, and that allowing it to be used by Muslims is unacceptable. The conflict in the village Mokhe near Adigeni started last week when workers came to start dismantling […]
Suspect detained in journalist’s beating
Journalist Zaza Davitaia had a broken rib and a concussion after being beaten on October 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police two days ago detained a man who is suspected of beating a journalist working for a conservative newspaper. According to the Interior Ministry, the suspect insulted and beat Zaza Davitaia on October 22 in the center of Tbilisi. Davitaia […]
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover up 10% Jan-Sept ’14
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first nine months of 2014 was ten percent more than the year before, according to figures published Friday by the National Statistics Department, Geostat. The total turnover was USD 8,376 million, out […]
Foreign experts say evidence against Saakashvili is sound
Former President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three foreign prosecutors visiting Georgia have concluded that there is enough evidence to continue the criminal prosecution of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and three of his associates. Georgia’s chief prosecutor’s office announced this on Thursday. […]
School children stay home in Mokhe as politicians explain conflict
Shura Mikeladze. (Photo published by Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Politicians Thursday began making sense of the conflict in Mokhe the day before, while local Muslims spent the whole night at the police station where people are being held who were detained. The scuffle began as Muslims tried to stop the […]
Mosque conflict continues in southern Georgian town
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Conflict continued Wednesday in the small Georgian village Mokhe, as an old mosque was dismantled from morning. Muslims tried to protest, but the Orthodox Christians opposed them and there came to a scuffle, during which 14 people were detained. […]
Ukraine support rallies in three Georgian cities
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ukraine support rallies were held in three different Georgian cities on Wednesday. They were organized by the National Platform, which is an umbrella organization uniting more than a hundred non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Rallies were held […]
Bacho Akhalaia sentenced to seven years in jail
Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the strongmen in Saakashvili’s government was Wednesday sentenced to seven years and six months in jail in a case concerning beating of prisoners and a fatal shooting in 2006. As the judge announced the verdict there was noise […]
Activists detained – want Saakashvili’s party banned
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of people from the organization Free Generation Tuesday evening demonstrated outside the office of the National Movement, Georgia’s former ruling party, demanding that it is declared illegal. In the ensuing scuffle, six person were detained […]
Russian drones threaten stability, Georgia says
Tuesday’s meeting was facilitated by EUMM’s head, Toivo Klaar, and Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger from the OSCE. (Photo published by EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian drones are endangering the security and stability in the region, Georgia’s representatives said at a meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) Tuesday. As DF Watch reported earlier, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle […]
Violence against women highlighted at demonstration in Tbilisi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Demonstrators gathered outside the government office on Tuesday to demand better protection of women after what they claim is 23 killings of women this year in incidents of domestic violence. It is not known who organized the demonstration, but it […]
Muslims in south of Georgia plan petition to dismiss mufti
People in Mokhe are unhappy about the mufti’s performance in a conflict about a mosque. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Muslims in south Georgia are planning to start a petition to dismiss the country’s mufti, who they claim is illegitimate and gave them false promises. A few days ago, there was a conflict in the village Mokhe, where an old mosque is going […]
Tbilisi students demonstrate against gas station on university area
(Photo: Irakli Kupradze.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students demonstrated Monday against the construction of a new petrol station on an area that is part of Tbilisi State University. The company claims it owns all rights to the land and is not violating any law by building the gas station. Led by […]
Supporters of controversial ex-official rally outside PM’s residence
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters of Georgia’s former regime demonstrated outside the house of the prime minister on Sunday. Outraged passers-by confronted them, and several people were detained in the scuffle. The protesters demanded that the courts are freed from […]
Merabishvili gets three years in jail for Girgvliani murder
Vano Merabishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian interior minister Vano Merabishvili was Monday sentenced to three years in jail for involvement in the cover-up of the murder of a bank employee in 2006. Tbilisi City Court found the former minister guilty and also prohibited him from […]
Locals demonstrate for and against turning mosque into culture center
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Muslims in Mokhe, a village in the south of Georgia, protested on Saturday, because they don’t want to give up an old mosque and turn it into a culture center. The Orthodox population rallied against them demanding to construct a new culture center […]
Bad weather causes flooding in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch–Bad weather continued to cause problems in many parts of Georgia on Sunday. A storm was raging on the Black Sea coast while rivers were flooded, damaging roads and houses in villages. The river Khobistskali spilled over its banks, paralyzing the road […]
String of violent incidents fuels crime debate in Georgia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a lecturer was murdered in the corridor of a Tbilisi university on Friday, there have been more reports of domestic violence across Georgia, leaving one woman dead and one man in a critical condition in a separate incident. In Tbilisi, a patrol police […]
Man shoots ex-wife, then kills himself at Tbilisi university
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A lecturer was shot dead by her former husband at Ilia State University (ISU) in Tbilisi on Friday. The murderer committed suicide on the spot. Maka Tsivtsivadze was holding an English lecture, when she was visited by her former husband. He called […]
Greece refuses to extradite Data Akhalaia to Georgia
Data Akhalaia now plans to apply for political asylum in Greece. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Greece has refused to extradite a former Georgian official who is charged with involvement in the murder of a bank employee and several other crimes, including abuse of power. Data Akhalaia is seen as a close ally of ex-President Mikheil […]
Georgia’s parliament speaker defends Ivanishvili in newspaper ad
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili admires Ivanishvili’s philanthropism. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The speaker of the Georgian parliament went on the offensive Thursday against former President Mikheil Saakashvili and in defense of the billionaire who brought together the current government coalition, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Speaker of Parliament […]
Update: Two teens captured for vandalizing a church in Tbilisi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The police on Thursday arrested two youngsters for suspicion of vandalizing a church just during a religious holiday. The detainees are two teens of 17 and 15 years old. The latter has a prior conviction. While searching the homes of the suspects, […]
Georgia’s Russia-envoy does not plan to cancel Prague meeting
Zurab Abashidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s envoy for talks with Russia says he will meet his Russian counterpart in Prague on Thursday, despite criticism from his coalition fellow party members. But Zurab Abashidze says he will inevitably touch a very contentious issue during […]
Georgia’s new immigration law criticized for flaws
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new immigration law has created a lot of problems for foreigners who already live, study or work in the country. People DF Watch spoke to say their applications are being rejected for unclear reasons. They also question why it is required to file […]
Georgia investigating coup plans by the former ruling party
Deputy Interior Minister Levan Izoria. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian law enforcers are investigating alleged plans by the former ruling party, the National Movement, to destabilize the country and overthrow its government, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Levan Izoria told opposition-leaning TV channel Rustavi 2. […]
Georgian diplomats clash over proposed Russia-Abkhazia pact
Tedo Japaridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A proposed new comprehensive agreement between Russia and Abkhazia has triggered a quarrel between two veterans of the Georgian diplomacy who both belong to the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. The text of the draft proposes ‘a common space […]
Former members of Georgian elite forces accused of kidnapping
Photo published on the kidnap victim Ioseb Giorkhelidze’s Facebook page. TBILISI, DFWatch–The police on Monday arrested four persons for alleged kidnapping, two of whom are former members of special forces units in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). MIA states that the four kidnapped a 19 year old man, Ioseb Giorkhelidze. Two members […]
Georgia eyes with suspicion Russian plans for new road through Caucasus
The Roki tunnel, one of the roads through Caucasus that is virtually not operational due to the political situation. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia views with caution the construction by Russia of yet another trans-Caucasus road, while the opposition sees a direct threat for a country whose territory’s 18 percent is occupied by its northern neighbor. In North Caucasus, authorities […]
Seventh jihadi from Pankisi Gorge, Georgia, dies in Syrian war
The mosque in Duisi, Pankisi Gorge. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One more Georgian jihadist from Pankisi Gorge has been killed in Syria fighting alongside the Islamic State. 22 year old Guram Gumashvili is the seventh rebel fighter from Pankisi to be killed in the Syrian war, according to the Kakheti […]
Human rights court faults Georgia for its treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses
The house where Jehovah’s Witnesses meet in Ozurgeti was attacked January 1, 2014. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Court of Human Rights last week found that Georgia has violated the human rights of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community in the country. The violations the court looked at date 14 years back in time, but the group is still being attacked […]
Brother of deceased PM Zurab Zhvania expects results soon
A new investigation of Zhvania’s death was one of the promises made by the Georgian Dream coalition in the 2012 election campaign. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The investigation into the death of the Georgian prime minister Zurab Zhvania in 2005 will soon enter its final stage, according to the brother of the deceased. Goga Zhvania said Friday that it’s still unclear whether the investigators […]
Georgia’s president pardons 88 prisoners
President Giorgi Margvelashvili has pardoned 463 prisoners so far this year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Wednesday was probably the happiest day in the lives of 88 prisoners in Georgia, as they were allowed to walk free following a presidential pardon. Another 27 got their sentences reduced by half or one third. The decree by President Giorgi […]
3.7 magnitude earthquake rattles southern Caucasus
The earthquake caused debris to fall down in the Mindeli coal mine in Tkibuli, injuring one miner. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 3.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the south central slopes of the Caucasus mountains Wednesday. The earthquake occurred at 4:36 pm Tbilisi time and had its epicenter near the mining town Tkibuli, in western Georgia. According to Tamaz Dolaberidze, […]
Deadly ‘bridenapping’ in Kakheti
Few girls finish secondary school in Sagarejo, because they get married at a young age. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When a young man was murdered last weekend in Kazlar, an Azeri village 40km east of Tbilisi, it could have been one among many stories of violence and homicides in rural Georgia, but the circumstances of this case makes it stand out. 21 year […]
Two Georgians detained by Russian border guards
Locals say there isn’t any physical barrier marking the disputed border near Kvemo Ikorta. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards on Tuesday detained a husband and wife in a village bordering breakaway South Ossetia. The two, Kakha Kazishvili and Zina Natriashvili, were detained in the village Kvemo Ikorta as they were trying to cross the ‘border’ to visit relatives. […]
PM’s relative appointed party secretary
Zviad Jankarashvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A relative of the Georgian prime minister has been appointed as executive secretary of the Georgian Dream Party, the largest member of the government coalition by the same name. It was a unanimous decision by the political council of the Georgian […]
Ivanishvili plans to host TV show
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says he wants to host a weekly talk show. This comes after Ivanishvili many times has criticized Georgian media for bias and lack of professionalism. The new talk show is one of two projects presented […]
Murder charges against police officer who fatally shot 21 year old
The police officer suspected of fatally shooting a young man in Kutaisi on Friday has been charged with murder. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The police officer who shot to death a young man in Kutaisi has been charged with purposeful murder and exceeding his power using a firearm and faces up to 15 years in jail. The police officer pleaded not guilty. His lawyer told journalists […]
Georgia’s controversial new immigration law may be changed
Irakli Garibashvili made the comment while inspecting the grape harvesting in Kakheti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government may change a new controversial law on immigration that has caused a wave of confusion and irritation in the country’s expat community. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said this during a visit to the eastern Kakheti region […]
Policeman arrested after fatally shooting 21 year old
21 year old Mirza Gochuadze died after being shot by police during a car chase in Kutaisi Friday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A police officer who shot to death a 21 year old man in Kutaisi on Friday has been arrested. The Ministry on Internal Affairs has not released the name of the officer, who is suspected of exceeding his power. Details about the shooting are sketchy, […]
Kobuleti, where Muslims are not welcome
Locals in Kobuleti have set up barricades and keep guard 24/7 to prevent Muslims from entering a planned madrasa. (DF Watch.) KOBULETI, DFWatch–In the past couple of years, Muslims in Georgia have experienced more and more animosity directed toward them. In 2012, Muslims were opposed when they tried to open a mosque in Nigvziani; in 2013 villagers in Samtatskharo were not allowed to perform […]
21-year old dies after being shot by police
21-year old Mirza Gochuadze died after being shot by police in a car chase. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 21 year old man was shot by police during a car chase Friday in Kutaisi. The man later died from his injuries. The police shooting sent shockwaves through the local community in this Georgia’s second largest city, where people remember how police […]
More Georgian students to get scholarships for UK
Six Georgian students will be able to go to the UK to complete their Master’s degrees this year with Chevening scholarships. (Photo published by the UK embassy on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In 2014-2014, six Georgian students will continue their Masters degrees at British universities with support from the Chevening program. The scholarships are mainly given for studies within economy and politics. The UK government […]
Abkhaz leader plans to close all but one checkpoint
Only the main checkpoint on the Enguri river will be operational. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The newly elected de facto president of the breakaway region Abkhazia wants to close five out of a total of six ’official’ checkpoints that divide Abkhazia from Georgia proper. According to Russian news agency Ria Novosti, Abkhazia’s new president, […]
Saakashvili supporters and opponents clash again
Youth activists who want Saakashvili back in power clashed with his opponents Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Opponents and supporters of former President Saakashvili clashed again in Tbilisi on Thursday, two days after their first showdown. The two rival political youth groups stood against each other on Pekini Street, cursing opponents and throwing bottles, […]
Investigators find no proof Kitsmarishvili was murdered
Zurab Kitsmarishvili believes that his brother was murdered. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Investigators haven’t found any evidence that Georgia’s former ambassador to Russia and founder of Rustavi 2 TV company was murdered. “On the basis of testimonies by hundreds of witnesses, appropriate documents, videotapes, evidence […]
Religious minorities in Georgia shortchanged due to prejudice
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been subject to a wave of violent attacks in Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In the last few years, Georgia has had a surge in discrimination against religious minorities. A new report reveals that also a silent, invisible day-to-day form of discrimination is prevalent within government institutions and among public servants. […]
Georgian man stabs sister for not wearing hijab
The mosque in Duisi, Pankisi Gorge. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man from Pankisi Gorge stabbed his sister in the chest with a knife for refusing to wear a hijab. The brother, 35, inflicted 7 wounds on his 33 year old sister, a former police officer. Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge is located in the northeast […]
Georgian president presents candidates for head of Supreme Court
Outgoing head of Georgia’s Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili was a key player in the controversial justice reforms. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Tuesday presented parliament with his two candidates to take over as head of Supreme Court. This was the second time President Giorgi Margvelashvili presented Nino Bakakuri and Zurab Dzlierishvili as candidates to take over […]
Two activist groups clash in Tbilisi
Journalist Zaza Davitaia threatened retaliation after being injured in the clash. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two groups of politically motivated youth clashed on Tuesday, inflicting injuries on each other. The conflict started after activists from the pro-National Movement youth group Tavisupali Zona (Free Zone) severely beat a journalist from a conservative […]
Remains of dead Georgian PM may be exhumed
The death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania (pictured) in February 2005 is still troubling Georgians. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The body of a former Georgian prime minister may be exhumed in order to determine the cause of death. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, one of the architects of the rose revolution, died in 2005, officially of gas poisoning due to a faulty heater. […]
Margvelashvili calls for peaceful resolution of frozen conflicts
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (TRT.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili appeared on the Turkish TV Monday, explaining his country’s policy toward two breakaway regions that have been controlled by Russia since the war in 2008. Georgian territorial integrity will be restored, […]
Georgia to help Kyrgyzstan get access to the EU market
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Istanbul on Monday. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the free trade treaty Georgia signed with the EU earlier this year opens opportunities also for other countries to reach the EU market. He said this while discussing bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan […]
Georgian authorities issue warning about new storm in southwest
A magnitude four storm battered the Batumi beach Monday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Heavy rain hit Georgia’s southwestern parts on Monday, but so far without causing the amount of damage which was feared after meteorologists issued a dire forecast the day before. Last night, there was strong wind and a constant downpour […]
Pathologist in Zhvania’s death must remain in detention
Levan Chachua is on trial for negligence while performing the autopsy on Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania in 2006. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the body of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania denies that he harassed a witness. The trial about the prime minister’s death in 2006 continued Thursday with questioning of the pathologist Levan Chachua. […]
Schools in Turkey to start teaching Georgian language
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Turkish Ministry of Education has adopted a plan to teach Georgian in the schools, according to a Facebook post by the Georgian embassy in Turkey. In its post, the embassy writes that if there are 10 or more students at a given school who want […]
Sixth Georgian from Pankisi Gorge dies in Syrian war
Muslim Shishani, from Pankisi Gorge in Georgia. TBILISI, DFWatch–An 18 year old Georgian has died in the Syrian civil war. He is the sixth fighter to die in the war who is a native of Pankisi Gorge. Pankisi Gorge in the northeast of Georgia was used as a jihadist base during both Chechen wars, and this was where […]
Georgia to join arms trade treaty
Georgia joins the UN Arms Trade Treaty. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Friday, Georgia will join a new treaty which restricts the international trade in small arms. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on April 2, 2013, and is a first of its kind. It will regulate the sale […]
Western Georgia flooded by heavy rain
Unusually high water levels caused damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure in the southwest of Georgia Wednesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A storm of strength five hit western Georgia early in the morning on September 24 and caused damage to infrastructure, floods and landslides in the Adjara and Guria regions. In Guria, a river flooded a school in Shemokmedi, students and staff were evacuated by the […]
Tbilisi denies that it offered US to host training camp for Syrian rebels
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (left) and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government denies that it has offered the US to host a training facility for Syrian rebels fighting both the Assad government and the ISIS, against whom the US and some of its allies wage a military operation. Foreign Policy […]
Decision in Girgvliani trial expected in two weeks
Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili is one of the defendants in the trial. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A verdict in one Georgia’s most controversial murder cases is expected two weeks from now, with a former interior minister as one of the defendants. The defense made its closing remarks in Tbilisi City Court Wednesday in the trial about the murder […]
Georgian MP: three out of five pregnant women opt for an abortion
Dimitri Khundadze, head of the healthcare committee in the Georgian parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the healthcare committee in the Georgian parliament wants tougher punishment for illegal abortions. In 2012, there were about forty thousand registered legal abortions in Georgia. But committee head Dimitri Khundadze stressed that […]
Saakashvili’s former head of security also subject to asset freeze
Temur Janashia (left) and his lawyer Beka Basilaia. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After slapping an asset freeze on former President Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office got court approval to do the same with the property of his almost inseparable head of security, Temur Janashia. Sitting next to his attorney […]
Court hearing into 2005 death of Georgian PM focuses on autopsy
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania died in 2005, apparently from gas poisoning. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The trial into the circumstances surrounding the death of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania in 2005 continued in Tbilisi on Monday. The investigation into Zhvania’s death was reopened after the change of government in 2012. During today’s hearing […]
Storm causes landslides and power cuts in western Georgia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A storm Sunday night left about 7,000 households without electricity in Batumi, a city on the Black Sea coast. According to local media, a further 1,800 families are without electricity in Khelvachauri municipality. There has been heavy rain in Batumi […]
Saakashvili’s Georgian bank accounts also seized, lawyer claims
Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has seized the bank accounts of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, his attorney wrote in a Facebook update on Sunday. This comes only days after the a ruling in the Appeals Court which confirmed the seizure […]
Georgian president says he may resign
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has said he may dissolve parliament or step down if this is needed to avert a political crisis. After months of simmering conflict between him and the government, both part of the same coalition, there was […]
Slight increase in money transfers to Georgia
(Graphic published by the National Bank of Georgia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Bank noted a one percent increase in money transfers into the country in August 2014, compared to the same period last year. The amount of money transferred from abroad in August was 225.1 million lari (130.1 million USD); 0.9 percent […]
New US-trained judge candidates taking exams in Georgia
The High Council of Justice is the highest authority in Georgia’s legal system, not the Supreme Court. TBILISI, DFWatch–A new cohort of judge candidates are taking qualification exams September 20 and 27, under the auspices of the High Council of Justice. The exams are held at the Technical University’s first building and for the first time conducted electronically. […]
Groups sound final alarm for threatened landscape in Georgia
Locals in Svaneti blocked a road earlier this year in protest against the plans. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Opponents of the Khudoni hydropower project met in Mestia on Thursday to sound the final alarm before a massive dam floods parts of the unique Svaneti region, threatening an age-old cultural landscape. The Svaneti region is a rare landscape […]
Court in Georgia orders seizure of ex-President Saakashvili’s property
Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia Friday upheld a decision to seize the property of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, along with the property of his spouse, sons, parents and grandmother. To most Georgians, it has been unknown until today that there even was […]
Georgian president denies that he plans to split from coalition
President Giorgi Margvelashvili during the swearing-in ceremony in November 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president has rejected suggestions that he is planning to set up his own political party, despite an apparent widening split between him and the government coalition. Speculations of a possible new opposition party seeing the light of day […]
Council member in Adjara accuses local official of corruption
Medea Vasadze, member of the Adjara regional council. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There was further infighting in Georgia’s government coalition on Thursday as a member of the council in the Adjara region accused a local finance official of corruption. The accusation was put forth as the official, Davit Baladze, September 18 briefed […]
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover Jan-Aug up 12%
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first eight months of 2014 was 12 percent more than in the same period last year. Preliminary data from Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, published on Tuesday show that the total amount […]
Students at TSU protest against ‘low level of education’
Art students protested two weeks ago. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students protested on Tuesday against the level of education at Tbilisi State University. Some of the students left the hall whistling after meeting the rector and the administration of the department for social and political studies. They say that every time such […]
Split widened between Georgia’s president and government
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The conflict between the Georgian president and the government soured even more on Wednesday after the TV company Rustavi 2 exposed private correspondence between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the president’s administration. […]
Tbilisi’s ‘gypsy market’ destroyed by fire
TBILISI, DFWatch–A fire destroyed the ‘gypsy market’ in Tbilisi on Tuesday. Vendors claim the fire was started deliberately. About 2500 square meters was burned. Vendors say they think the fire was started in order to get rid of them and build […]
Georgian lawmakers plan to introduce language tests in public sector
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament has begun discussing a draft bill which will require all public employees to pass a language test to prove that they know either the Georgian or Abkhazian language. The latter is also an official language in Georgia, […]
German tourist hospitalized after roadside robbery in Georgia
Mestia is one of the most important tourist destinations in Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of German tourists were robbed in Mestia Monday night, several Georgian news outlets reported. The reports differ on important details, but most say three German tourists were robbed along the road from Zugdidi to Mestia, one of […]
Tbilisi mayor says former government squandered city’s money
Mayor of Tbilisi Davit Narmania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Tbilisi mayor says the city must tighten its belt, because the National Movement, which ruled the city for a decade, left ‘the worst budget ever’. Newly elected Mayor Davit Narmania from the Georgian Dream Coalition said on Tuesday that […]
Fired Georgian tourism official says he was pressured by the Church
Giorgi Sigua. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The former head of Georgia’s National Tourism Administration has said that the Georgian Orthodox Church demanded that he cancel a music festival shortly before he was sacked. Giorgi Sigua was one of those who helped organize the festival, but was […]
Discussion: Reasons for instances of religious intolerance
From left to right: Zaur Khalilov, executive director of Civic Integration Fund, theologian Beka Mindiashvili, and lawyer Giorgi Gotsiridze. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A few days ago, in a town on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, local Orthodox Christians hung a pig’s head on the entrance to a Muslim madrasa school which was to be opened in few days, insulting the religious feelings of Muslims. What are the reasons […]
Vatican official is visiting Georgia
Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, is visiting Georgia September 13-16. The Vatican’s Section for Relations with States corresponds to the foreign ministry of civil governments. […]
Turkish religious official visiting Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch–A Turkish public official who is visiting Georgia says he hopes there will be built new mosques in Batumi and Akhaltsikhe. Mehmet Görmez,President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, arrived on Friday on his first visit to Georgia […]
U.S. to strengthen its military cooperation with Georgia
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuch Hagel. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United States is strengthening its military cooperation with Georgia and several non NATO-member states on the background of events in Ukraine. US is a strategic partner of Georgia and supports its North-Atlantic integration, US Secretary […]
Georgian Orthodox Church issues statement on madrasa incident
(TV-25.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Patriarchate of Georgia claims that a boarding school for Muslim kids was built against the will of a majority of the local population in Kobuleti, a small town on Black Sea coast. For the last few days, locals have tried to oppose the opening of the […]
Music festival KaZantip to be held in Georgia in 2015
KaZantip is planned held in Georgia also in 2015. TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizers of KaZantip are determined to hold the electronic music festival in Georgia next year too, despite low visitor numbers last month. But the condition is that the government allows the festival site in Anaklia to be used. KaZantip was held […]
Georgian president cancels New York trip due to resistance
President Giorgi Margvelashvili says there was ‘very serious organized work’ against his planned visit to the US. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili has canceled a planned trip to New York to attend the UN climate change summit, after weeks of squabbling with the government about who should represent the country. The decision comes after the businessman […]
Georgian PM visiting Azerbaijan
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili met Thursday with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to discuss strategic cooperation and bilateral relations. The meeting took place at the president’s palace, and Gharibashvili was accompanied by members […]
Georgian businessman Ivanishvili criticizes president
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Palitra TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a rare interview, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has criticized President Giorgi Margvelashvili for harming the country’s image. Ivanishvili left politics after the presidential election in October, 2013. He said in an interview […]
Investigation into protest against Muslim school
(TV-25) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into an incident in a small town about a pig head being placed on the door of a Muslim religious school called a madrasa. The incident happened in Kobuleti as locals were protesting against […]
Locals slaughtered pig outside planned madrasa in Georgia
Locals in Kobuleti demonstrated against a planned madrasa on Monday. (TV-25.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in the small Georgian town Kobuleti on the Black Sea coast are protesting against the construction of a madrasa, a religious educational facility for Muslims. As a sign of protest people killed a pig and placed its head at the entrance […]
Georgia sees sharp drop in foreign investments
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of direct foreign investments in Georgia in the second quarter of 2014 was USD 151 million; significantly lower than in the same period last year. This is down 27% compared to in the second quarter of 2013, when there was USD 208 million […]
Yazidi refugees in Georgia awaiting decision
Irakli Lomidze (left), head of Asylum Department at the Refugee Ministry. Dimitry Pirbar, head of the Religious Council of Yazidis in Georgia. (Click to activate video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 50 Yazidis have fled from Iraq to Georgia and applied for political asylum here. DF Watch September 3 organized a discussion about the situation. Dimitry Pirbar, head of the Religious Council of Yazidis in Georgia, said he had been to Iraq […]
Building of gigantic hydro power dam may be postponed
There has been strong resistance to Trans-Elektrica’s plans for a hydro power dam in Khudoni. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The building of a controversial hydropower dam in a mountainous region of Georgia may be further postponed, if the company behind it fails to submit the required documents in time. The planned Khudoni hydropower project is located […]
New wave of frequent police searches in Georgia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Over a year after a wave of complaints about frequent police searches in the streets, new reports are coming in of the same problem. People are being stopped and searched by the police in the streets. During one such raid, a reporter for media.ge […]
Georgian victim of Ukraine war brought home
The body of Arsen Beridze was brought home to Georgia from Ukraine Monday. (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–The body of a Georgian who died a few days ago in a bomb explosion in Ukraine’s Donetsk region arrived in Georgia on Monday. Arsen Beridze, 23, from Adjara region, had been living in Ukraine with his family for the past 12 years. He was killed when […]
Georgia sending two delegations to UN
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will attend the UN Climate Summit 2014 despite the express wishes of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. The president has said many times that he will go to the US and his plan about the visit hasn’t changed. […]
Georgian president no longer to oversee student scholarships
President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government wants to strip the president of the power to set terms for student scholarships and studies abroad. A new draft law about higher education will if passed let the it be up to the government to confirm the use of student advantages, […]
Discussion: Youth unemployment in Georgia – causes and solutions
From left to right: Mariam Gogosashvili, student at GIPA, Temo Kakhidze, student at University of Patriarchate and Elene Beriashvili, student at Tbilisi State University. (Click to watch video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On September 6, DF Watch organized a discussion about the difficulties youth are having finding employment. We invited students from three different universities to share their views on youth unemployment. They agree that there are problems, […]
Art students in Tbilisi protesting against new government decree
Students at the Academy of Art in Tbilisi are opposed to new rules for electing a rector. (Imedi TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students demonstrated Friday outside the Culture Ministry against a decision to only allow professors at accredited universities to become rector of the Academy of Art. The decree was signed by Culture Minister Mikheil Giorgadze on September 1. […]
What NATO’s Wales declaration said about Georgia
Heads of state of NATO and partner countries at the Wales summit. TBILISI, DFWatch–A 113 point declaration passed by leaders of NATO countries at the summit in Wales has two points about Georgia. Apart from support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a commitment that it will become a member of NATO someday […]
Boy’s torture sparks crime debate in Georgia
A four-year old boy was tortured with an iron in a village in western Georgia Wednesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The torture of a 4-year old boy in a village in western Georgia has shocked Georgians and made many question official statistics indicating a significant decrease in crime. Two days ago, Ketevan Arveladze was at home alone with her 4-year old when […]
Georgia warns of possible new landslide in Dariali Valley
Eight people have so far been killed this year in landslides in Dariali Valley. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Geologists in Georgia say heavy rainfall would cause another landslide in Dariali Valley, where eight people have already been killed this year in two natural disasters. Six people were killed in a landslide in Dariali Valley May 17, and two more […]
Georgian president compares Ukraine events with 2008 war
From left to right: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Giorgi Margvelashvili, David Cameron. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said in a speech at the NATO summit in Wales that the events in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine in 2014 demonstrate that stability and peaceful development of young democracies is a significant challenge […]
Georgian soldiers to take part in military exercise in Ukraine
(Photo published by the Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian platoon is taking part in the annual exercise Rapid Trident in Ukraine September 13-27. The multinational exercise will be conducted at the training ground Yavoriv, nearby the western Ukrainian city Lviv, and include participants […]
NATO chief meets Georgian president
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Photo published by NATO.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Thursday met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in preparation for the NATO summit in Wales. The two talked about the importance of the summit on the background of the Ukraine crisis and the significance […]
Georgian wine export up 69% Jan-Aug ’14
Export of Georgian wine continues to increase. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia increased its wine export by 69 percent in the first eight months of 2014, compared to last year. According to the the National Wine Agency, the country exported 36,585,769 bottles (0.75 liters) of wine in the period. The agency on Wednesday […]
Georgian parliament calls for end to violence in Ukraine
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on Wednesday asked the international community to use every kind of means to stop the military actions and aggression in Ukraine, to deescalate the situation and handle humanitarian concerns. This is the third […]
Less visitors to Georgia in August than last year
Georgia had less visitors this August. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–772,216 people visited Georgia in August, which is 0.5 percent less than in August 2013. The new statistics published by the Interior Ministry shows that 3,685,834 people visited Georgia in the first eight months of 2014. This is a 3 percent drop […]
Wales Summit: NATO discusses setting up new mission in Georgia
Tbilisi, DFWatch – Against the backdrop of tragic events going on in Ukraine, Georgian delegation left optimistic to Wales to take part in the NATO Summit on Sept. 4-5, while NATO states that it expects establishing new defense capacity building mission in Georgia. Although […]
Georgia offers rehabilitation for Ukrainian children
Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze on Tuesday offered her Ukrainian colleague to bring children to Georgia for vacation and rehabilitation course. Panjikidze made the offer during a phone conversation with Pavlo Klimkin. She said that the […]
NATO plans to hold more military exercises in Georgia
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO is ramping up its defense of Eastern Europe with a new expeditionary force that will be able to “travel light but strike hard if needed”. Also planned are five new bases in the Baltic states, Poland and Romania, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine […]
Police chief investigated for beating detective
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the police department and his deputy at one of the regions in Georgia on Sunday beat investigator Roman Korshia. He required medical assistance. The participants in the incidents are not commenting. An investigation was launched […]
53,067 were granted Georgian citizenship during Saakashvili
Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–53,067 foreigners were granted Georgian citizenship from 2005 to 2013, and in 2013 the president granted citizenship to most of them – 9,626 people. According to the report of Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the […]
Georgia begins free trade with EU
Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A free trade agreement between Georgia and the European Union came into force today, September 1. This means that Georgian product may be exported to Europe without customs fee. Free trade was part of an association agreement Georgia signed with […]
Georgia preparing to send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Children and injured people will be brought from Ukraine to Georgia for treatment, and Georgia will offer humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said on Saturday. “We are also thinking of bringing children, injured, […]
50 Yazidis from Iraq ask for asylum in Georgia
Agit Mirzoev, head of House of Yazidis in Georgia. TBILISI, DFWatch–Kurdish Yazidis who fled from Iraq are seeking asylum in Georgia. Agit Mirzoev, the head of House of Yazidis in Georgia, told DF Watch that about 50 Yazidis have come to Georgia and asked the government for asylum. He said another group is expected […]
Saakashvili makes appearance on Turkish border
Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former President Mikheil Saakashvili on Saturday appeared at Sarpi checkpoint’s Turkish side, on the border between Georgia and Turkey and met with members and supporters of his National Movement party. After his appearance was reported, the Prosecutor’s Office started […]
Russia-Georgia border reopened after landslide
(Photo published by Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The road through Dariali Valley in Georgia is reopened for traffic with some restrictions, ten days after it was hit by a landslide. The road itself, and Larsi border crossing, will be opened from 07:00 to 18:00 without restrictions, but the rest of the time, […]
Georgia to ask Interpol help detain Saakashvili
Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia is preparing to ask Interpol to issue a red alert for ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and declare him internationally wanted. In mid-August, Georgia announced a domestic search for Saakashvili, which means that […]
Ukraine support rally demands more forceful response from Tbilisi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–People demonstrated in front of the old parliament building in Tbilisi Friday in support of Ukraine and against Russian aggression. Demonstrators called on the international community to make more efforts to help Ukraine in the ongoing crisis. […]
Georgia’s growth up 7.2% in July
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s estimated real GDP growth in July 2014 was 7.2 percent more than in the same period last year, according to preliminary results from Georgia’s Statistics Department, GeoStat. Estimated GDP growth in the second quarter of 2014 was 5.1 […]
Azerbaijan fires four customs guards after record heroin seizure
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four employees of Azerbaijan’s customs service have been fired following the seizure in Georgia of 2.8 tons of liquid heroin in July. According to the Azerbaijani newspaper Eni Musavat, the four fired employees were working at the custom’s check-point […]
Grand Mufti of Caucasus visits Georgia
Grand Mufti of Caucasus, Haji Allahshükür Hummat Pashazade. (Photo published by trend.az.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Grand Mufti of Caucasus, Haji Allahshükür Hummat Pashazade, arrived this morning for a two day visit to Georgia. Pashazade, who is based in Baku, Azerbaijan, was greeted at the airport by Georgian Patriarch Ilia II, who hosted him at the main […]
Three men shot dead in Georgian village
(Photo published by sknews.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three men were killed Thursday night near Adigeni in southern Georgia. The suspect is a local public registry official. A brother of one of the three murder victims was also injured. The killing took place in the village Karatubani, where there was […]
Georgian takes gold medal in World Judo Championship
Avtandil Chrikashvili won gold in men’s half middleweight in the World Judo Championship. (Photo published by the Georgian Judo Federation.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Avtandil Chrikashvili, 23, won a gold medal in the 2014 World Judo Championship on Thursday in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Chrikashvili won six fights and in the end defeated Antoine Valois-Fortier from Canada in the men’s half middleweight […]
Georgia’s government coalition has lost popularity
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is the most popular politician, if we are to believe the American NDI’s newest survey. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition and its leading figures have lost popularity, according to a new poll by National Democratic Institute (NDI). 42 percent of the questioned say the Georgian Dream coalition is closer to them, while 11 percent say they feel […]
Religious summer camp brings children together across confessions
The camp in Vartsikhe brought together children of different religious background. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A ten-day summer camp was organized in mid-August for about one hundred Georgian Muslim and Christian children. The camp is aimed at making friends, train and educate, as well as breaking down prejudices about religion. Giorgi Jaiani, 15, came […]
Georgia qualifies for EuroBasket with 71-59 win against Portugal
Georgia’s basketball team is qualified for the European championship next year, after winning against Portugal. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s basketball team won 71-59 against Portugal on Wednesday and is qualified for FIBA 2015. The Georgian team is now on top of Group E with four wins and two losses, followed by Czech Republic, Hungary and Portugal. Georgia’s […]
Georgian health minister in Ukraine developing aid plan
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Health Minister Davit Sergeenko started his visit to Ukraine by making several agreements about offering assistance to Ukraine as result of the crisis there. A bilateral working group is being created to coordinate the assistance. Sergeenko Wednesday […]
Georgia ends visa free rules for 24 countries
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is ending visa free rules for citizens of 24 countries from September 1. But people from 94 countries can still visit the country without a visa. However, those who are allowed to stay in Georgia without a visa, may now only stay for 90 days, […]
Second body found after Dariali landslide
(Photo published by Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A second person has been found dead on Wednesday, after the massive landslide in Dariali Valley on August 21. Two people died in the disaster, one was a citizen of Turkey and one a Georgian citizen. Both were working in a tunnel when a landslide hit […]
Georgia’s health minister to visit Ukraine, offer assistance
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian health minister Davit Sergeenko will go to Ukraine on Wednesday in order to learn what kind of assistance Ukraine needs and how Georgia can help. After a government session on Tuesday, he said that Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili […]
Less Georgians think Russia is a threat
Russian soldiers in the 2008 war. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–42 percent of Georgians think Russia is a real and existing threat to Georgia, according to a new survey. The survey by National Democratic Institute (NDI) shows that 36 percent think Russia is a threat to Georgia, but an exaggerated one. 15 percent […]
KaZantip festival in Georgia a failure, may be cancelled
KaZantip visitors are making the most of it, but some are disappointed. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The long-awaited music festival KaZantip turned out a disappointment for some visitors and the head organizer. The electronic music festival, which has been held for the last decade in Crimea, was moved to Georgia’s Black Sea coast after Russia’s […]
Suspect in Girgvliani murder avoids jail time after plea deal
Oleg Melnikov may soon leave jail as a result of a plea deal. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi has offered one of the suspects in the Girgvliani murder a plea bargain, after he pleaded guilty more than a week ago. Oleg Melnikov, former Interior Ministry official, recently admitted guilt in the murder of Sandro Girgvliani in 2006. […]
NDI survey looks at Georgians’ views on Church’s influence
Bishop Iakob called on people not to vote for the National Movement. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Jobs, poverty and territorial integrity are the most important national issues, as Georgians see it. 3 percent of those questioned in a new survey say that the number of jobs in Georgia increased after the parliamentary election in 2012. […]
How Georgians view minorities: Protect minority groups but not gays
One of the injured in the anti-gay rally on May 17, 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–63 percent of Georgians think it is important to protect the rights of minorities, but they don’t want such protection extended to sexual minorities. National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Monday published the results of its newest survey of public […]
Khajimba won disputed election in Abkhazia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Sunday, there was held de facto presidential election in the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia. Preliminary results show that Raul Khajimba won with 50.57 percent of the votes, according to Batal Tabaghua, head of the region’s election […]
Three Georgians detained near South Ossetia
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers last week detained three Georgian citizens at a village bordering with the breakaway region South Ossetia. According to Channel 1, Russians detained a father and son, Avtandil and Shota Atskarunashvili, and later also Ilia […]
Georgia’s basketball team won 79-59 against Hungary
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s national basketball team won 79-59 against Hungary on Sunday, in a qualification match for the 2015 FIBA EuroBasket. The Georgian team was only losing for one quarter of Sunday’s match. Tornike Shengelia played best among the teammates […]
26,000 passed university entrance exams in Georgia
Maia Miminoshvili, head of the National Exam Center. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 26,000 candidates have been accepted as students this year, according to the head of Georgia’s National Exam Center. Maia Miminoshvili told journalists that about 35,500 entrants took their test exams this year, but 9,000 failed to pass. […]
Human chain outside Ukrainian embassy in Tbilisi
(Photo published by Free Zone, a youth group which supports the National Movement.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement demonstrated outside the Ukrainian embassy in Tbilisi on Saturday, to mark the 25 year anniversary of Freedom Chain, an anti-Soviet protest, and to express solidarity with Ukraine. Demonstrators called on the government […]
Abkhazia to hold presidential election August 24
Raul Khajimba. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–August 24, there will be held presidential election in the breakaway region Abkhazia. Four candidates are standing in the election, all of whom have general’s rank. Raul Khajimba, the key figure in the toppling of former de facto president […]