33rd ISIS fighter from Georgia's Pankisi Gorge dead in Syrian war

TBILISI, DFWatch–A man from Pankisi valley in Georgia have been killed in Syria. Ruslan Tokhosashvili, 35, was the 33rd Kist militant from Pankisi killed in Syria, local-based radio station, Radioway, reports. Tokhosashvili reportedly left his native village of Birkiani for Syria in 2014 and joined the terror group Islamic State. Birkiani is the home village … Read more

TBC Bank accuses Georgian government of blackmail

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government’s reputation for interfering in business was further strengthened on Monday as the founder of the country’s largest bank accused several named officials of trying to force the bank to help in the election campaign. Mamuka Khazaradze, the founder of Georgia’s largest bank, TBC, has accused the authorities of trying to threaten … Read more

Georgia's ruling party loses constitutional majority in parliament

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party has lost its constitutional majority after three of its members of parliament left the party on Friday. Ever since the party seized power from Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement in October 2012, Georgian Dream has controlled at least two thirds of seats in the national assembly – until now. But although … Read more

Georgia considers ban on making maps of the country without its breakaway regions

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia may make it a criminal offense to make maps of the country without the two breakaway republics Abkhazia and South Ossetia as constituent parts. Parliament is to review a draft bill that, if passed, will impose criminal sanctions, including up to two years imprisonment, for producing and distributing a map which doesn’t include … Read more

Georgia's National Bank sanctions two of TBC Bank's top people

TBILISI, DFWatch–The confrontation between Georgia’s biggest private financial institution and the government grew worse on Thursday as the National Bank sanctioned two of the key persons in TBC Bank. The National Bank of Georgia issued a statement on Thursday which orders to suspend the signature rights of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, Chairman and Deputy … Read more

South Ossetia honors Russian journalists who covered 2008 war

TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatist leader Anatoly Bibilov from the breakaway region South Ossetia presented awards to Russian journalists for ‘objectively’ covering the 2008 war. The event in Moscow on Tuesday honored a number of journalists with medals dedicated to “the 10th anniversary of the Victory of South Ossetians in the Patriotic War” in August. Among the recipients … Read more

Russia picks woman from Georgian breakaway region to head national tourism agency

TBILISI, DFWatch–A woman originally from the Georgian breakaway territory of South Ossetia was Thursday appointed head of Russia’s federal tourism agency Rosturizm, TASS reports. Prior to her new job, Zarina Doguzova, 33, worked at the communications department at the administration of President Vladimir Putin, where she supervised the division responsible for information and analytical support … Read more

Abkhazia reopens Enguri bridge after nearly month long 'flu quarantine'

TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic resumed Tuesday across the Enguri bridge, the only crossing between the breakaway region Abkhazia and Georgia proper, locals told DFWatch. However, the bureaucratic hurdles bar most of Gali residents from crossing the conflict line. January 11, breakaway authorities declared a quarantine and unilaterally blocked passage on Enguri bridge due to outbreak of swine … Read more

Wizzair to launch six new destinations out of Kutaisi from August

TBILISI, DFWatch–From August, 2019, several new flight destinations will connect Kutaisi with cities in Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Estonia, Netherlands and Italy. The new flights to Basel, Copenhagen, Brussels, Tallinn, Eindhoven and Bari will be offered by Wizzair, the Hungarian budget airline, operating out of David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport. The new routes will become … Read more

16 detained in Georgia for spreading compromising video of ruling party politician on social media

TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia detained 16 persons on Friday after compromising videos were spread on social media showing a well-known politician from the ruling Georgian Dream party. The detainees, who include two opposition activists and a popular singer, are charged with keeping and distributing videos depicting someone’s private life. The opposition immediately criticized the government, … Read more