Wednesday, July 31, 2025

Georgia's domestic intelligence service SUS warns May 9 rally organizers not to use Communist symbols

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s counter-intelligence service SUS on Tuesday warned the organizers of a May 9 rally to commemorate Soviet victory in World War 2 that they may not use Communist symbols. Such symbols are prohibited by a law Georgia introduced eight years ago called the Freedom Charter. But the organizers of the rally “Immortal Regiment” still … Read more

New lawsuit against opposition TV channel Rustavi 2 may 'kill its editorial policy'

TBILISI, DFWatch–The director of Georgia main opposition TV company said Monday that the government has launched a new attack against it, and claimed the goal is to kill its editorial policy. Rustavi 2 director Nika Gvaramia also accused billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili of personal involvement in a new lawsuit filed by one of the company’s shareholders, … Read more

13km line of cars at Russia-Georgia border crossing as tourism season kicks off

TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of visitors from Russia to Georgia has skyrocketed, triggering several kilometer long lines at Zemo Larsi border crossing. Most of the queue is on the Russian side, where at least 600 cars were standing still Saturday, waiting to enter Georgia from North Ossetia – Alania; one of the constituent republics of the … Read more

Georgian woman weightlifter sues coach of national team for sexual harassment

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian weightlifter Tatia Lortkipanidze is suing the coach of the national team for sexual harassment. Lortkipanidze, who won a bronze medal in the 2018 European Championship, is also suing the weightlifting federation for discrimination, she said at a press conference on Thursday. At the press conference, she accused the federation of discrimination by taking her out … Read more

Georgia's president denies retweeting Donald Trump's 'Sleepy Joe' comment

TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia has become a target of criticism after re-tweeting Donald Trump’s viral tweet in which he derides his possible opponent in the 2020 presidential elections, former Vice President Joe Biden, calling him “sleepy Joe”. President Salome Zurabishvili’s administration had to hold an urgent press conference in which her spokeswoman flatly denied … Read more

Russian bikers denied entry to Georgia

TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Russian bikers were denied entry to Georgia on Sunday, in an incident resembling the 2017 denial of entry of the infamous Night Wolves. The official reason for denying the bikers entry to the country is that they failed to provide information, or provided false information, about their identity and purpose of … Read more

Growing suspicion that Abkhazia's main opposition candidate was poisoned after security guards also fall ill

TBILISI, DFWatch–Suspicions grew Monday that a key opposition figure in Abkhazia has been poisoned, after two of his bodyguards were hospitalized in a serious condition, at least one of them with similar symptoms. Although officially, Aslan Bzhania, the main opponent of the incumbent de facto president, and his two guards are being treated for “pneumonia”, … Read more

President of Georgia asks CBS to correct script of 'NCIS: New Orleans' in which South Ossetia is called part of Russia

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Salome Zurabishvili calls on CBS to “make the necessary changes” to clear an “irresponsible mistake” in the synopsis of an upcoming episode of the TV series NCIS: New Orleans in which Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia is referred as a Russian province. In the episode “The River Styx, Part II” which will … Read more

40 injured as Pankisi residents clash with police over hydropower

TBILISI, DFWatch–Up to 40 people were injured in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge Sunday as locals clashed with riot police over a hydropower plant. The confrontation started in the village Birkiani after police units entered the gorge to protect company employees who are working on the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the river Alazani. Locals have … Read more

Three workers seriously injured at construction site of Panorama Tbilisi

TBILISI, DFWatch–Three workers were seriously injured on Tuesday in central Tbilisi after falling from a building during construction work on a new luxury complex owned by the billionaire and former Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. The three injured construction workers, who are aged 19 to 21, have all been hospitalized with fractures and other injuries. … Read more