TBILISI, DFWatch–The former head of the government of Georgia’s autonomous Adjara region remains in a serious but stable condition after being hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. Tornike Rizhvadze’s shooting has triggered a political firestorm in Georgia, with speculation centering on whether it was a suicide attempt. Meanwhile, authorities are awaiting forensic results … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has been summoned a second time to testify before Georgia’s parliamentary investigative commission. The commission is examining decisions surrounding the establishment of a Georgian police outpost near the village of Chorchana in 2019, close to the administrative boundary line with the Russian-backed breakaway region of South Ossetia. According to … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili met with Wyatt Toehlke, senior advisor to the U.S. State Department, in what observers see as a clear step toward improved relations. The meeting, which was confirmed by Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covered U.S.-Georgia relations, regional security challenges, and Georgia’s role in promoting stability in the South Caucasus. … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Three oppsition figures are currently in pre-trial detention, raising concerns about the political situation ahead of the local elections scheduled for October 4. The three jailed opposition politicians are Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia, and Nika Gvaramia. All three are from the opposition coalition “For Change” – one of four election alliances that took part … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, prosecutors have reopened case about a 2019 border incident involving former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who is the leader of one of the few opposition parties planning to participate in this year’s local elections in October. The investigation centers on events in the village of Chorchana, near the de facto boundary with … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Students protested in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on June 14, expressing both anger over instances of injustice domestically as well as how the country has become a target of international criticism. Outside Tbilisi State University, demonstrators condemned the recent sentencing of student activist Mate Devadze, who received four and a half years in prison for … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) met again on June 11 in Ergneti to discuss issues along the administrative border line. Participants reviewed recent incidents, including restrictions on movement, illegal detentions, and so-called “borderization” by Russian-backed forces. Georgia’s state security demanded accountability for the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi and pressed for … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Opposition figure and TV director Nika Gvaramia was detained in Tbilisi today, sparking an outcry among supporters. The arrest followed shortly after a court session, where it was decided to revoke Gvaramia’s bail and converting it into imprisonment. The judge justified this as a response to his alleged violation of bail conditions. Prosecutors argued … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Opera singer and political figure Paata Burchuladze has suggestwd convening a ‘national congress’ to form a ‘Third Republic’, as a way of pushing back against what he calls an illegitimate government. Drawing parallels to Georgia’s first (1918–1921) and second (1991) republics, Burchuladze argues that the current administration is no longer acting in the public’s … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Another push is underway to convince European Union member states to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian citizens. Leading the charge is Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has emerged as a hardliner among EU leaders seeking to pressure the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) government using Brussels’ institutional tools. “I apologize to Georgians if this … Read more