Category: News - Page 174

7 dead in Tbilisi flood, as tigers, lions and bears escape from zoo

June 14, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The death toll after last night’s flood in Tbilisi has risen to seven, as police urge people to stay off the streets and beware of tigers, lions and bears that escaped from a zoo. At least seven died and an unidentified number are still missing after a heavy rain triggered flooding of Vere river … Read more

Six people injured as most parts of Tbilisi are hit by heavy rain

June 14, 2015 by DFWatch staff

tbilisi_zoo_flooded — Tbilisi zoo was flooded Saturday night. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–At least six people were injured as heavy rain hit the Georgian capital Saturday night at 10pm, Interpressnews reported.

The city’s zoo was also hit by flood, and animals have escaped, the news agency reported.

The exact extent

Former Georgian official presents new Ukrainian police force

June 13, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–A former Georgian government official during Saakashvili on Saturday presented the new reformed police force in Kiev.

Eka Zghuladze is one of several former Georgian government officials who served under President Mikheil Saakashvili,

Alexander Rondeli dies at age 73

June 13, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The well-known Georgian scholar Alexander Rondeli died on Friday.

Rondeli, who was head of the Caucasus Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development, died at the age of 73.

He was a doctor of geography. In 1991-1996, he headed the department

Khidasheli: Defense deal with France will be signed by end of June

June 12, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new defense minister has sided with her predecessor Mindia Janelidze in an argument with former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania about an agreement with France about buying air defense systems.

Tina Khidasheli said in a recent interview

Saudi crown prince visits Georgia

June 11, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The crown prince of Saudi Arabia is looking forward to investing in Georgia.

Crown Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said this during a visit here.

After meeting the prime minister, he said that he feels honored arriving in Georgia and discussing

Georgia's fugitive justice minister finally speaks out

June 11, 2015 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the most influential members of government during Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency, Zurab Adeishvili, has finally given an interview.

Adeishvili, who was sometimes called a ‘grey cardinal’, told Saakashvili-friendly Rustavi 2 about his own and

Citizens of 94 countries can stay for a year in Georgia

June 10, 2015 by DFWatch staff

Tbilisi, DFWatch – After almost a year-long struggle with the new immigration requirements, the government of Georgia made a U-turn and granted visa-free stay for citizens of 94 countries, as well as British/French dependant/overseas territories, on June 8 ‘for full 1 year‘.

Music festival KaZantip returns to Crimea

June 10, 2015 by DFWatch staff

kazantip__12__Crop — Last year, KaZantip was held in Anaklia, Georgia. (DF Watch.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The popular Ukrainian festival KaZantip, which took place in Georgia last year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, may this year return to Ukraine but with a different name. An alternative music festival will take place in Anaklia, where the festival was held in 2014.

The dark past of Saakashvili's appointee in Odessa

June 9, 2015 by DFWatch staff

Gia Lortkipanidze (Ipn) — Gia Lortkipanidze (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A former Georgian deputy interior minister who is affiliated with a violent police operation in August, 2012, is to be appointed head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s branch in Odessa.

Gia Lortkipanidze served under President Mikheil Saakashvili when he