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News

    Georgia revokes decision to freeze Gulen-linked university’s student intake

    By | December 9th, 2018|Categories: Education|Tags: , , |

    Rally by IBSU students and professors outside the Ministry of Education. August 23, 2018. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The Georgian regulatory body for quality in education on Saturday revoked a controversial decision to bar a Tbilisi university from accepting new students for a period of one year. Black Sea International University, one of Georgia’s leading higher [...]

      Seven jailed Donbass Battalion members plead not guilty, go on hunger strike in Tbilisi

      By | December 4th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

      The seven pleaded not guilty during the hearing in Tbilisi City Court. (IPN.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Seven jailed members of the Donbass Battalion have gone on hunger strike in Tbilisi, protesting their detention and claiming that the police planted illegal items. The six Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen are charged with illegal possession of firearms and [...]

        Seven members of Ukraine’s Donbass Battalion detained in Tbilisi

        By | December 3rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

        Semen Semenchenko wearing the Donbas Battalion uniform. Photo dated 2017. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgian police have detained six Ukrainian and one Georgia citizen who are members of the Donbass Battalion, a volunteer detachment of Ukraine’s National Guard. The seven are suspected of 'illegal purchase and possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive devices', the Ministry of [...]

          ‘Georgia has no president’: Georgian opposition demands snap parliamentary elections

          By | December 2nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

          Grigol Vashadze addressing the rally. (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch--Several thousand people attended a rally in Tbilisi Sunday to support the United Opposition and its demand to dissolve parliament and hold snap parliamentary elections. The opposition repeated its claim that the presidential election was falsified and therefore illegitimate, demanded snap elections and offered the government an [...]

            Chidaoba, Georgian traditional wrestling, listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage

            By | November 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

            Boys contest in Georgian Chidaoba. (Georgian National Wrestling Federation.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Chidaoba has been added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The traditional Georgian style of wrestling has bred dozens of Olympic and world champions in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling as well as judo. "The practice is a complex [...]

              Georgian opposition rejects election result, plans massive rallies

              By | November 29th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , |

              TBILISI, DFWatch--After suffering a crushing defeat in the runoff election for president, the leaders of the UNM-led United Opposition have decided to reject the results and  launch protest rallies similar to those in 2003, which culminated in the Rose Revolution. Grigol Vashadze, the UO candidate for president, and Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's exiled ex-president, have called upon [...]

                Exit polls show Salome Zurabishvili clear winner in Georgia’s presidential election

                By | November 29th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , , |

                Two exit polls published Wednesday night predicted that Salome Zurabishvili won by at least ten percent. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The results of both the 'pro-government' and the 'pro-opposition' exit polls suggest that Salome Zurabishvili, who is backed by the ruling party, has decisively won Georgia's last direct presidential elections. However, the opposition is not eager [...]

                  Ambassadors of US, UK, NL spending election day in Marneuli, hotbed of manipulation and violence

                  By | November 28th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , |

                  From left to right, ambassadors Jos Douma (Netherlands), Justin McKenzie Smith (UK) and Ross Wilson (US), addressing journalists in Marneuli. (Twitter.) TBILISI, DFWatch--American, British and Dutch ambassadors are visiting southern Georgia today to observe the runoff presidential election in the region which has a long history of manipulation and violence during elections. Ross Wilson, [...]

                    Polls show a close race in Georgia’s run-off election for president

                    By | November 27th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , , |

                    Salome Zurabishvili at a rugby match between Georgian and Tonga in Tbilisi. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgia’s runoff election for president on Wednesday gained an unexpected drama after the opposition candidate’s strong showing in the first round. One day ahead of the vote, polls indicate a close race. Although the constitution adopted by Georgian parliament in [...]

                      Regional opposition politician stabbed five days before Georgia’s presidential election

                      By | November 23rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                      Nodar Burdiladze at a UNM rally in Tbilisi in 2017. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A regional official in the United Opposition is in a critical condition after being stabbed outside his house, five days ahead of the runoff election for president. Two persons implicated in the murder attempt are 'associated with Georgian Dream', the opposition claims. [...]

                        Breakaway authorities in Abkhazia pressuring Georgian schools to teach in Russian language

                        By | November 20th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                        A part Georgian school in the village of Sida. (DFWatch.) GALI, DFWatch--Breakaway Abkhazia is fastening its grip on Georgian schools in Gali, local teachers told DFWatch. Sokhumi suspects that the schools in this southern district with a predominantly ethnic Georgian population are violating a relatively recent policy to only allow Russian as the instructional [...]

                          Georgian government allows cigarette smuggling from Abkhazia, Gali residents say

                          By | November 19th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                          GALI, DFWatch--The Georgian government has unofficially given Gali residents a green light for smuggling cigarettes, likely as part of the election campaign, according to locals DFWatch spoke to. They have received explicit messages from Georgian law enforcers, they said. "Everybody knows each other here, almost all law enforcement knows who smuggle cigarettes. For the past week, [...]

                            Gas explosion claims the lives of mother and 9 month old son in Tbilisi

                            By | November 15th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                            TBILISI, DFWatch--A 30 year old woman and her 9 months old son died in an explosion in an apartment block in Tbilisi Thursday morning, the emergency management service reports. The explosion occurred at around 11am in the eastern Ponichala district and was reportedly caused by a gas leak. Several other people were also injured, including an [...]

                              Russian soldiers observed installing barbed wire in Dzukaantkari, 24km east of Atotsi

                              By | November 14th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                              (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Russian border forces have begun installing reinforced barbed wire fence through the village Dzukaantkari (Dzukata) near Gori, as part of a gradual demarcation around the breakaway region South Ossetia. The new and ‘more solid’ type of fences are replacing the old fences that were installed in 2009 and run right through the [...]

                                Death threats against Salome Zurabishvili came from Georgian volunteer fighter in Ukraine war, lawyer claims

                                By | November 14th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , , |

                                Salome Zurabishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--One of the persons reportedly sending presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili and her family members death threats has been identified and the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a criminal investigation into the case. "The person who threatened Salome Zurabisvhili and her family members is a member of a military unit which [...]

                                  Candidate for president Salome Zurabishvili received death threats from ‘ex-military servicemen linked to UNM’

                                  By | November 12th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , |

                                  Salome Zurabishvili called on police to respond to several death threats against herself and her son and daughter. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Salome Zurabishvili, the presidential candidate supported by Georgia Dream, calls on the police to respond after reportedly receiving deaths threats from ex-soldiers with links to the opposition National Movement. The threats were also directed [...]

                                    None of Georgia’s political parties campaigned in Gali in first round of presidential election

                                    By | November 9th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                    (DFWatch.) GALI, DFWatch--None of the political parties in Georgia’s presidential election campaigned in the conflict zone, according to locals DFWatch spoke to in Gali, the southern district of breakaway Abkhazia. This is unlike previous elections, when the ruling party had local campaign workers out among the population promising various benefits, a resident of the [...]

                                      South Ossetia resumes installation of barbed wire along de facto border

                                      By | November 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                      (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Tskhinvali has resumed installation of barbed wire fence along the administrative borderline between Georgia proper and the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. The de facto security committee plans to install one km long fence in the vicinity of the villages of Balta and Atotsi in the Kareli district. The reason for the [...]

                                        Abkhazia halts issuing of residence permits because ‘printer ran out of ink’

                                        By | November 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                        (DFWatch.) GALI, DFWatch--Abkhazia has temporarily suspended the issuing of residence permits, an essential document needed by Gali residents in order to travel to Georgia proper. Breakaway authorities in Gali claim the reason is a technical problem with a printing machine, locals DFWatch spoke to explained. They were told that the printer had run out [...]

                                          Georgian opposition candidate for president vows to call snap election if he wins

                                          By | November 5th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: |

                                          Grigol Vashadze at a meeting with supporters in Tskaltubo. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The opposition candidate in Georgia’s run-off election for president pledges to eliminate the 'political police' if he wins. Grigol Vashadze from the National Movement also promised to release everyone from prison who is serving time for use or possession of soft drugs and [...]

                                            South Ossetia celebrated 100 years since Komsomol’s founding

                                            By | November 3rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                            (presidentruo.org) TBILISI, DFWatch--South Ossetia on Saturday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Komsomol, the infamous political youth organization during the Soviet Union. Central in the celebrations were various events with participation by school pupils dressed in pioneer uniforms including the classic red scarves. Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization was the children’s political [...]

                                              Four UNM activists hospitalized after party office in Akhalkalaki attacked by GD supporters

                                              By | October 30th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                              Grigol Vashadze in Akhalkalaki hospital. (Sknews.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch--Four opposition activists were hospitalized Tuesday after supporters of the ruling GD party burst into a local branch office of the UNM in the predominantly ethnic Armenian town Akhalkalaki. Among the attackers were the brother of a member of parliament for GD, UNM claims. One of the [...]

                                                Exit polls differ wildly after Georgia’s presidential election, opposition preparing protest to ‘defend votes’

                                                By | October 28th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: |

                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Exit poll after Georgia's presidential election on Sunday show dramatically different results and all sides are bracing for a long and fierce standoff to ‘defend votes'. The situation is tense in Tbilisi and the opposition is even talking about launching a wave of protest rallies if the government 'rigs the results'. Three [...]

                                                  Georgians go to the polls to elect a president for the last time

                                                  By | October 27th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , , , |

                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch--On Sunday, Georgians go to the polls for the last time to elect a president. Even though the role of the president in recent years is largely ceremonial, the contest has turned into a fierce political showdown. Although the powers of the president have been gradually reduced since the split between Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader [...]

                                                    South Ossetia increases fines for ‘border violations’ 250%

                                                    By | October 25th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch--Authorities in the breakaway region South Ossetia have increased the fines for 'illegal crossing of the state border' by two and a half times; from 2,000 (USD 30) to 5,000 Russian rubles (USD 75). This change in the size of fines is one of the reasons for why it took longer time than usual for [...]

                                                      Tbilisi City Court holds second hearing in Igor Giorgadze’s lawsuit against DFWatch

                                                      By | October 23rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                      Igor Giorgadze. TBILISI, DFWatch--Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday held its second hearing in a lawsuit filed by a former Georgian politician turned Kremlin ally against DFWatch for an article published in 2016. The claimant, Igor Giorgadze, served as Minister of State Security in 1993-1995, until he fled to Russia in the wake of the [...]

                                                        Audio recording of ex-prosecutor details government corruption, sparks call for snap election

                                                        By | October 16th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                        Mirza Subeliani. (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch--A one and a half hour long secret audio recording aired by an opposition TV channel has caused an outcry in Georgia, two weeks ahead of the presidential election. The situation has gone so far that the opposition has started talking about snap elections for parliament. "In the first round [...]

                                                          Gali residents take up cigarette smuggling after failed harvest

                                                          By | October 14th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                          Enguri Bridge. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The spread of the deadly brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has caused such devastation of orchards that locals have been forced to return to illegal businesses, such as smuggling of goods, particularly cigarettes, from breakaway Abkhazia to Georgia proper. This illegal trade was rife a decade and half ago but [...]

                                                            Groups say 25-year old’s fatal stabbing in Tbilisi was motivated by xenophobia

                                                            By | October 12th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , , , |

                                                            Vitali Safarov (Facebook). TBILISI, DFWatch--A young human rights activist who was stabbed to death in Tbilisi nearly two weeks ago was murdered by members of a neo-Nazi group, Georgian civic activists say. Vitali Safarov, a 25 year old employee of a Georgian non-governmental organization (NGO) advocating minority rights, was severely beaten and stabbed several [...]

                                                              37 y/o woman released by South Ossetia, says she was mistreated during apprehension

                                                              By | October 9th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                              Maia Otinashvili is being met by relatives and family members at the village of Ergneti. (Sputnik Ossetia.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A Georgian woman released Tuesday by Tskhinvali says he was physically abused when she was apprehended but was treated better during her 10 day long captivity. Maia Otinashvili, a 37 year old mother of three minors, [...]

                                                                ‘Traitor!’ ‘Fascist!’ Accusations fly in Georgian election campaign

                                                                By | October 9th, 2018|Categories: Elections|Tags: , , |

                                                                Speaker of Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Nika Gvaramia, head of the opposition TV channel Rustavi 2, calls the ruling party-backed presidential contender a ‘traitor’. GD party secretary Irakli Kobakhidze responds by calling Gvaramia a ‘fascist’. Kobakhidze, who is the speaker of Georgia's parliament, slammed the Rustavi 2 director Monday morning at a press [...]

                                                                  Russia does not rule out ‘military measures’ against Georgia in new threats over Tbilisi biolab

                                                                  By | October 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                  The Lugar Center in Tbilisi. (NCDC.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Russia launched new threats and accusation against Georgia on Thursday over a US-funded laboratory in Tbilisi, warning that even ‘military measures’ are not ruled out. The move was ostensibly triggered by a former KGB general who served as Georgia's security chief in the 1990s but fled the [...]

                                                                    South Ossetia presents video to show Georgian woman detainee is treated well after family says she was beaten

                                                                    By | October 4th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch--Breakaway authorities in Tskhinvali have released a video supposed to show that a Georgian woman is being treated well in detention. Maia Otinashvili (37) was seized by armed, masked men on September 29 in her orchard in the village Khurvaleti, right on the border to the disputed territory. Meanwhile, the Georgia's Public Defenders states that [...]

                                                                      Owner of Georgian opposition TV channel Iberia claims ex-PM Ivanishvili extorted him for USD 4 mill

                                                                      By | October 1st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                      Zaza Okuashvili sparked a public outcry by accusing former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili of extortion. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--The owner of the Georgian opposition-leaning TV channel Iberia blames the billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili of extorting him for four million dollars. Zaza Okuashvili, who owns one of Georgia’s largest tobacco manufacturing and importing companies, [...]

                                                                        Georgian schools ordered to take part in Abkhazia’s ‘Victory Day’

                                                                        By | September 27th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                        (Gal Info.) GALI, DFWatch--On September 30, the de facto government of Abkhazia celebrates Victory Day, commemorating victory in the 1992-93 war. Among the planned events will be a procession by the initiative group "Our Heros' Way", which is mainly made up of Abkhaz youth. However, Georgian schools operating in the Gali district have also [...]

                                                                          Georgia’s former PM joins EBRD as consultant

                                                                          By | September 25th, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

                                                                          Giorgi Kvirikashvili, former Georgian prime minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgia’s former prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has embarked on a  new job as a consultant at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The contract which was signed ‘a few weeks’ ago one of the former PM’s responsibilities will be offering advice to Uzbekistan’s government [...]

                                                                            School pupils in Gali prohibited from attending NGO events

                                                                            By | September 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                            GALI, DFWatch–The deputy head of administration in Gali district has carried out an inspection of the schools in this predominantly Georgian district of breakaway Abkhazia and ordered principals not to let […]

                                                                              Editor violently attacked by half dozen men in Tbilisi

                                                                              By | September 18th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                              Zurab Vardiashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An editor of a popular Georgian magazine was assaulted and beaten by half a dozen men Saturday evening. The attack on Zurab Vardiashvili, editor of Liberali magazine, took place in the southern Varketili district of Tbilisi. Two SUVs stopped […]

                                                                                Young men are leaving Gali en masse to seek work abroad

                                                                                By | September 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                (DFWatch.) GALI, DFWatch–Young people are leaving their homes here in Gali, Abkhazia, to seek work opportunities abroad. In the last month, about 50 young people, most of them men, have left for Poland from one of the villages in the district, DFWatch was told by locals. […]

                                                                                  German MEP voices solidarity to Georgia’s embattled university

                                                                                  By | September 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                  Rebecca Harms (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.) German politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany has expressed her solidarity to an embattled university in Georgia, which is under fire for its alleged links to U.S.-based Turkish cleric and a personal foe of President Erdogan. […]

                                                                                    Saakashvili, Ivanishvili Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in Trump-Related Case

                                                                                    By | September 2nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                    An American lobbyist who worked in Georgia for Mikheil Saakashvili, Irakli Alasania and Bidzina Ivanishvili pleaded guilty on Friday in a case related to investigations of US president Donald Trump. Sam Patten admitted he used an unnamed American to pay $US50,000 for four tickets to one of the parties at Trump’s inauguration in 2017. The tickets were for [...]

                                                                                      Margvelashvili won’t run for president again, slams GD for animosity

                                                                                      By | August 31st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                      (Facebook.) President Giorgi Margvelashvili has announced his decision not to run for the presidential seat in the fall and slammed Georgia’s ruling party for attempts to ‘discredit’ him. […]

                                                                                        Prosecutor suspended after alleged armed assault

                                                                                        By | August 28th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–A prosecutor at the west Georgia branch of the Prosecutor’s Office has been suspended and is being evaluated following an alleged armed assault, the POG said in a statement released Monday evening. […]

                                                                                          Georgia bows to Turkey’s Erdogan again, cracks down on Gulen-linked university in Tbilisi

                                                                                          By | August 21st, 2018|Categories: Education, News|Tags: , |

                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia keeps on cracking down on educational institutions linked to the Turkish Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara has accused of masterminding the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. […]

                                                                                            New Russian surveillance position spotted at Koda as South Ossetia prepares to redraw de facto border

                                                                                            By | August 13th, 2018|Categories: News|

                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals have discovered a new surveillance post near Koda, a village along the perimeter of South Ossetia, where Georgia and Russia fought a brief war ten years ago. The observation post near the village of Koda, which likely includes […]

                                                                                              Russian bases in Abkhazia have mushroomed since 2008 war

                                                                                              By | August 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                              The Russian military base in Tagolon, a village in the ethnic Georgian Gali region of Abkhazia. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Since the 2008 war, Russia has expanded its military infrastructure in the breakaway republic Abkhazia dramatically. There are currently Russian military facilities in Sokhumi, Ochamchire, Gudauta and Gali, as well as the villages Tagiloni, Nabakevi, Pichori, Otobaia, […]

                                                                                                Strong rain and flooding of houses and streets in Gali, Abkhazia

                                                                                                By | August 10th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–Strong rain caused flooding of streets and houses in the southern Gali district of Abkhazia on Friday. The exact scale of the damage is not yet known, but the head of the local de facto administration claims the consequences would have been worse […]

                                                                                                  Fire breaks out in South Ossetian de facto president’s building

                                                                                                  By | August 8th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–The building of de facto president’s administration in South Ossetia caught fire on Wednesday, destroying about 140 square meters. The fire took place on August 8, on the 10th anniversary of the five day Russo-Georgian war, which claimed hundreds of lives from both sides. […]

                                                                                                    Separatist politician claims US strong-armed Latin American countries to not recognize Abkhazia

                                                                                                    By | August 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                    Maxim Gvinjia. (Sputnik.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several Latin American countries that considered recognizing Abkhazia as an independent country refrained from doing so after the personal intervention by US and UK leaders, a former Sokhumi politician has claimed in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti. […]

                                                                                                      Former Georgian foreign minister Zourabichvili declares presidential run

                                                                                                      By | August 7th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili has declared her intention to run for president of Georgia, and the ruling GD party appears to be ready to back her candidacy. Zourabichvili, who is of of Georgian origin but was born in France, served as French ambassador […]

                                                                                                        Officials from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine expected in Georgia for 10th anniversary of August War

                                                                                                        By | August 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and the deputy prime minister of Ukraine are among the foreign officials who will visit Georgia on Monday and Tuesday for the 10th anniversary of the Russo-Georgian war. During their visit, […]

                                                                                                          Georgia triple murder suspect placed under psychiatric evaluation

                                                                                                          By | August 4th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–A 19 year old shepherd charged with murdering an American family of three is undergoing psychiatric evaluation, his lawyer said on Monday. Malkhaz Kobauri, who faces life sentence for the savage killing of Ryan and Lora Smith and their 4 year old son Caleb, is being examined […]

                                                                                                            1,137 students from breakaway region enrolled at universities since 2005

                                                                                                            By | August 3rd, 2018|Categories: News|

                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–4,237 students have graduated from the schools in Abkhazia since 2005, out of which 2,458 registered for the National Assessment and Examinations Center exams. According to Gali Educational Resource Center, […]

                                                                                                              Three Georgian soldiers in hospital after knife fight at military training center

                                                                                                              By | August 2nd, 2018|Categories: News|

                                                                                                              (The Kojori training center.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three members of the Georgian military were wounded, and two slightly injured after a physical confrontation at the Kojori military base in the vicinity of Tbilisi overnight. The three received stab wounds with knives that were not military issue, MoD said. […]

                                                                                                                Georgia’s ruling party vows to fill ‘legal vacuum’ after Constitutional Court abolished punishment for cannabis use

                                                                                                                By | July 31st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                One of the plaintiffs, Zurab Japaridze, at the marijuana planting event on New Year’s Eve 2017. (Pirveli TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The ruling GD party in Georgia rejects a decision by the Constitutional Court to abolish punishment for marijuana use, arguing that the ruling creates a ‘legal vacuum’ that the government pledges to fill. The Constitutional Court on Monday […]

                                                                                                                  Abkhazia steps up fight against drug crimes with draconian measures

                                                                                                                  By | July 28th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–Sokhumi responds to the mass outcry over the growing problem of drug addiction by introducing draconian new measures, including capital punishment. Abkhazia’s de facto parliament has adopted […]

                                                                                                                    Villagers clash with riot police over illegal logging in Svaneti, Georgia

                                                                                                                    By | July 27th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                    Riot police in Svaneti (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Villagers clashed with police in the highland Svaneti region of Georgia on Thursday. The unrest was triggered by the arrival of the finance police. The confrontation lasted throughout the day during which locals blocked the only road connecting […]

                                                                                                                      South Ossetia’s leader visits Bashar al-Assad in Damascus

                                                                                                                      By | July 24th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                      De facto president of the breakaway republic South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov (left) and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of South Ossetia, a breakaway republic within Georgian territory, visited Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Monday. During the meeting, South Ossetia’s de facto president Anatoly Bibilov pledged to help the Syrian regime ‘fight terrorism’, […]

                                                                                                                        Gali residents urged to renounced Georgian ethnicity to acquire Abkhazian passport

                                                                                                                        By | July 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                        Awarding ‘Abkhaz passport’. In the center Temur Nadaraia, the head of Gali de facto administration. GALI, DFWatch–July 19, a ceremony was held here in Gali to award ‘Abkhaz passports’ to 139 residents who listened to an appeal by something called the Mirzakan Abkhaz Council. This was was only the latest event organized by the Council in an effort backed by Sokhumi […]

                                                                                                                          Abkhazia resumes issuing of ‘visas’ as FIFA World Cup ends

                                                                                                                          By | July 18th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                          GALI, DFWatch–Sokhumi has resumed the issuing of ‘visas’ used by many Georgians to visit family and do business here in the Gali region in the southeast of the breakaway republic Abkhazia. The issuing of ‘visas’ was suspended about two months ago and locals in this predominantly […]

                                                                                                                            Four die in coal mine explosion in Tkibuli, Georgia

                                                                                                                            By | July 16th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                            The accident happened in one of these mines in Tkibuli. (primenewsgeorgia.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four miners died after a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in Tkibuli, Georgia, Monday morning, prompting the temporary closure of the mine. A further six were injured and brought to hospital. Two of them are still in a serious condition, […]

                                                                                                                              After years of crime rule, number of robberies finally drops in Gali

                                                                                                                              By | July 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                              Gali center. GALI, DFWatch–In the past, robberies were rife here in Abkhazia’s easternmost region Gali, which is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Georgians. But recently, the crime situation has noticeably improved. DFWatch talked to people in Gali about how their situation has changed the last few years. […]

                                                                                                                                New Georgian PM unveils cabinet with three new names

                                                                                                                                By | July 12th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

                                                                                                                                Ivane Machavariani is proposed as new finance minister, one of the three new faces in the government. (PIA.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze unveiled his cabinet on Thursday. The list contains three new names, among them proposed Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani (pictured), while the embattled justice minister gets to keep her seat. […]

                                                                                                                                  Five injured as helicopter crash lands in eastern Georgia

                                                                                                                                  By | July 12th, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                  A helicopter of Georgia’s Border Police. (RFE/RL.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were injured as a helicopter crash landed in eastern Georgia on Thursday. Three pilots, a border guard and a police officer were injured as the helicopter belonging to the Border Police had a hard touchdown near the village of Artana in Kakheti. […]

                                                                                                                                    New hurdles for Gali residents as breakaway Abkhazia ends use of ‘passports’

                                                                                                                                    By | July 9th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                    (Newscaucasus.com) GALI, DFWatch–As Abkhazia’s breakaway authorities are planning to end the use of specially issued ‘passports’ by the end of 2018, the Georgian minority here are facing new bureaucratic hurdles and further discrimination. […]

                                                                                                                                      19 y/o shepherd charged with murdering American family of three in Dusheti

                                                                                                                                      By | July 9th, 2018|Categories: Crime|Tags: , , , , , , |

                                                                                                                                      The murder victims Lora (42), Caleb (4) and Ryan Smith (43). TBILISI, DFWatch–A 19 year old shepherd from Georgia’s mountain region Dusheti was charged Monday with the cold blooded murder of an American family of three. The shepherd, whose identity is being withheld by authorities, has confessed to the killing of Ryan Smith, 43, an entrepreneur, […]

                                                                                                                                        More people detained for trying to leave South Ossetia than for trying to enter

                                                                                                                                        By | July 8th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia’s KGB has published data which reveals that more people have been punished for trying to leave the breakaway region than for crossing into the territory. As DFWatch reported early on, people living near the de facto border are frequently being detained […]

                                                                                                                                          Georgian PM Kvirikashvili stricken from GD political council member list

                                                                                                                                          By | July 6th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                          Former Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has mysteriously been removed from the political council of Georgia’s ruling party. As PM, Kvirikashvili had a leading role in the advisory body of the ruling party. But he resigned his position abruptly on June 13, […]

                                                                                                                                            Georgia charges one person with terrorism for posting threat on Facebook

                                                                                                                                            By | July 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–One person has been charged with terrorism in Georgia for allegedly using social media to advocate the hostage taking of the Armenian ambassador. […]

                                                                                                                                              Landslide triggers flooding, evacuation in Svaneti

                                                                                                                                              By | July 6th, 2018|Categories: Environment|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRVhSBLGGc TBILISI, DFWatch–A landslide triggered a flood wave carrying large amounts of mud and debris down the Nenskra river in Svaneti, western Georgia on Thursday. Dozens of people fled their homes or were evacuated, as at least four bridges […]

                                                                                                                                                Georgia’s ruling party to strip president of powers to grant citizenship

                                                                                                                                                By | July 4th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                Presidential spokesperson Ana Natsvlishvili said the bill is the outcome of a long running ‘feud’ between President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party prepares to take away the president’s power to grant people citizenship. According to a bill presented Tuesday, the president will no longer be entitled to appoint the head of the commission which reviews applications for citizenship. […]

                                                                                                                                                  Saakashvili convicted of ordering parliamentarian’s beating in 2005

                                                                                                                                                  By | June 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                  The doctors said MP Valeri Gelashvili barely survived after being beaten by masked men in 2005. (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Thursday found former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of ordering the beating of a parliamentarian in 2005. Saakashvili was sentenced to six years in prison and stripped of his right to hold government […]

                                                                                                                                                    Two women arrested, suspected of stabbing Georgian singer

                                                                                                                                                    By | June 27th, 2018|Categories: Crime|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                    Tamta Janjgava (left) and Natia Topuria. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have arrested two young women implicated in the near fatal stabbing of a popular crooner. Irakli Nozadze, nicknamed ‘Picasso’, was in a critical condition after major loss of blood after being stabbed multiple times in the chest and neck on Monday. […]

                                                                                                                                                      Popular Georgian crooner ‘stabbed by two girls’ in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                      By | June 26th, 2018|Categories: Crime|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                      Irakli Nozadze. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of Georgia’s most popular singers was stabbed in Tbilisi Monday evening. Two girls are suspected of carrying out the crime. Irakli “Picasso” Nozadze of the popular quartet Street Boys (“ქუჩის ბიჭები”) is in a critical condition after being stabbed in the chest. […]

                                                                                                                                                        Breakaway South Ossetia asks Georgia for 11th Century icon

                                                                                                                                                        By | June 22nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                        The 11th Century ivory icon Okon is estimated to be worth 1.6 million euro. (cominf.org) TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatists in South Ossetia have repeated a call to Georgia to hand over an 11th Century icon currently being kept in the National Museum in Tbilisi. Representatives of the breakaway republic raised the issue during […]

                                                                                                                                                          US to sell Stinger missiles to Russia’s neighbor Georgia

                                                                                                                                                          By | June 21st, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                          Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria. (mod.gov.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will probably receive American-made Stinger MANPADs, the defense minister has revealed. Defense Minister Levan Izoria mentioned the new weapons acquisition during a confirmation hearing in parliament on Tuesday. “Georgia will get, along with the Javelins, […]

                                                                                                                                                            Georgian asylum seekers to Europe down 13% in April

                                                                                                                                                            By | June 20th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                              Asylum applications by Georgian nationals between April 2016 and April 2018. (www.easo.europa.eu) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of Georgians who sought asylum in Schengen countries dropped 13 percent in April, compared to the month before, but the small Caucasus nation is still over-represented. Despite a modest population of 3.7 million, Georgia still ranks among […]

                                                                                                                                                              Abkhazia halts issuing of ‘visas’ during FIFA World Cup

                                                                                                                                                              By | June 16th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                              GALI, DFWatch–Sokhumi has suspended the issuing of ‘visas’ which is needed by many Georgians to visit family and do business here in the southern Gali region of the breakaway republic. […]

                                                                                                                                                                Georgia indicts two South Ossetian officials for Tatunashvili’s torture and murder

                                                                                                                                                                By | June 15th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has indicted two South Ossetian officials for involvement in the abduction and torture of a Georgian former soldier in Akhalgori, an enclave under control of the breakaway region. Davit Gurtsiev, the head of de facto security body in Akhalgori, […]

                                                                                                                                                                  Breakaway Sokhumi plans to import Abkhazians from Middle East to shift demographics

                                                                                                                                                                  By | June 14th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                  Abkhazia’s de facto president Raul Khajimba and Beslan Dbar (presidentofabkhazia.org) GALI, DFWatch–Breakaway authorities in Sokhumi plan to invite ethnic Abkhazians in the Middle East to come and settle in the southern Gali and northern Gagra districts. The scheme will shift the demographics in parts of the disputed territory where the Abkhazians are not […]

                                                                                                                                                                    Georgian PM Kvirikashvili resigns, citing disagreement with Ivanishvili

                                                                                                                                                                    By | June 13th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili resigned on Wednesday, citing disagreement with the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to the Constitution, the PM’s resignation also means that the entire government resigns. […]

                                                                                                                                                                      19 detained in Tbilisi as protests resume in wake of controversial teen murder investigation

                                                                                                                                                                      By | June 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of Georgia’s largest opposition party UNM was among 19 people detained on Monday as street protests resumed against a murder investigation. Authorities came down hard on organizers as the rallies resumed Monday as a deadline set by protesters […]

                                                                                                                                                                        Outrage in Georgia over Ossetian officer’s hospital treatment

                                                                                                                                                                        By | June 10th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                        AKHALGORI, DFWatch–Georgians took to social media to express their outrage on Friday after it emerged that a South Ossetian officer was receiving treatment at a Tbilisi hospital. It is being speculated that he might be implicated in the murder of Archil Tatunashvili, […]

                                                                                                                                                                          Four killed as minivan full of schoolchildren plunges into ravine

                                                                                                                                                                          By | June 9th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Four died, and 21 were reportedly injured when a minivan full of schoolchildren rolled into a ravine near Tbilisi Saturday. One child and three adults were killed, the latter reportedly parents of schoolchildren. 21 people were injured, including 12 children. […]

                                                                                                                                                                            One man arrested for witness tampering in Tbilisi school murder case

                                                                                                                                                                            By | June 8th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–One person was arrested for witness tampering on Friday in connection with the new investigation into the Khorava Street murders. Merab Morchadze, 45, was detained under Article 372 of the Criminal Code on the basis of new evidence obtained in the course of the new […]

                                                                                                                                                                              Tbilisi City Court hears Igor Giorgadze’s lawsuit against DFWatch

                                                                                                                                                                              By | June 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has started reviewing a lawsuit against DFWatch filed by Igor Giorgadze, a former head of Georgia’s State Security Ministry who is wanted by Georgia for a failed assassination attempt […]

                                                                                                                                                                                Forensic examination shows that Archil Tatunashvili was tortured before he died

                                                                                                                                                                                By | June 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                Photos: Giorgi Tatunashvili, kissing the forehead of his deceased son Archil at the funeral. March 24. (RFE/RL.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new forensic examination carried out in Georgia concludes that Archil Tatunashvili, a former soldier who died in a prison in South Ossetia February 23, was most likely killed. The body had nearly a hundred different injuries and signs that indicate he was tortured. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                  Father of murdered teenager rejects government’s offer of protection

                                                                                                                                                                                  By | June 2nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday offered the father of a murdered teenager who is leading a street protest to enroll in a witness protection program, claiming his life may be in danger. Zaza Saralidze has been at the front of an ongoing street protest […]

                                                                                                                                                                                    Suspicion that the murderers of two teenagers are protected sparks outrage in Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                    By | May 31st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                    First Lady Maka Chichua hugging Zaza Saralidze, father of one of the murder victims, outside the office of the Chief Prosecutor on Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A furious crowd of demonstrators converged on parliament Thursday evening in response to the controversial verdict in the trial of two slayed teenagers. Many in Georgia believe law enforcers granted impunity to one or more persons implicated in the crime and that the real murderers still haven’t been charged. The murder of high schoolers Levan Dadunashvili and Davit Saralidze shocked Georgia and the trial has attracted intense public interest. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                      Feeling of insecurity grows among Azerbaijani activists in Georgia – the story of Khayal Azizov

                                                                                                                                                                                      By | May 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                      Khayal Azizov (Facebook). Azerbaijani journalist Khayal Azizov, who has fled from his country, blames the Azerbaijani authorities in illegal persecution and psychological oppression in Georgia. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                        Syria recognizes two Russia-backed Georgian breakaway regions as independent states

                                                                                                                                                                                        By | May 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The Syrian government on Tuesday recognized the two Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. In response, Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Damascus. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                          Georgia’s Orthodox Church asks priests to stay away from ‘blasphemous’ Rustavi 2

                                                                                                                                                                                          By | May 25th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Orthodox Church on Thursday denounced the largest private TV channel in the country, and asked its clergy to stop giving interviews to or participate in any of its programs. The reason for the unprecedented step was that Rustavi 2 has engaged in ‘blasphemy’ […]

                                                                                                                                                                                            In Gali, Abkhazia, people wait in vain for a new border crossing to open

                                                                                                                                                                                            By | May 24th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                            GALI, DFWatch–For almost a year and a half, people in Gali, in the south of breakaway Abkhazia, have been waiting for a new checkpoint to open on the administrative border line to Georgia proper, so far in vain. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                              Moscow approves Abkhazia, South Ossetia cargo monitoring scheme by Swiss company SGS

                                                                                                                                                                                              By | May 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–After seven years of delay, Russia has finally inked an agreement with the Swiss company SGS to carry out monitoring of goods passing through the border with Georgia. SGS will carry out customs monitoring […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                New flights connect Kutaisi to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Athens and Prague

                                                                                                                                                                                                By | May 17th, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatcch–Kutaisi in central Georgia will be connected by direct flights to some of Europe’s biggest cities this week for as little as 25 euros. Hungarian budget airline Wizzair is launching new flights out of Kutaisi International Airport. Already from Thursday, there are new connections […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Gay rights rally canceled in Tbilisi following pressure from far-right groups

                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | May 17th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                  In 2017, activist in Tbilisi met under strict security to observe the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizers have called off a gay rights rally in Tbilisi out of security concerns. The rally should have been held in front of the government building in Tbilisi to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). “Considering all existing […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgian clubbers call off protest after interior minister promises investigation of police brutality

                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | May 14th, 2018|Categories: Youth|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Beka Tsikarishvili, one of the spokespersons for the clubbers who protested. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi youth outraged by police raids of two night clubs called off their two day long protest Sunday night after the interior minister publicly apologized for police brutality and promised an investigation. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgia raises bar for obtaining residency permit

                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | May 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is bringing in stricter rules for acquiring permanent residency, in order to stem the tide of irregular immigration, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has said. According to the amendments submitted by the government, foreign nationals […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ivanishvili elected leader of Georgia’s ruling party at grandiose meeting

                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | May 12th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili was formally elected head of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Friday, at a grandiose party convention resembling those held by the Communist party during the Soviet Union. Ivanishvili retired from politics in 2013, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                          South Ossetia blocks Georgian bishop from entering border chapel on St George’s Day

                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | May 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Andria Gvazava, Archbishop of Gori and Ateni. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatists prevented a Georgian bishop from conducting St George’s Day mass on Sunday in a chapel on the administrative border line between the disputed territory South Ossetia and Georgia proper. Guards have allowed archbishop Andria to conduct the important mass […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Massive delays on Enguri bridge

                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | May 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–Long queues on the Enguri bridge has caused major interruptions for people wanting to cross the de facto border between Abkhazia and Georgia proper. Locals told DFWatch the immediate reason for the traffic jam is that only one out of four passport counters is operational on the Abkhaz side, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Georgian court bans condoms depicting Queen Tamar

                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | May 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia has banned three types of condoms because the packaging was found to be unethical. Human rights groups see the ruling as an attack on freedom of expression. Tbilisi City Court’s decision bans the sale and promotion of three types of condoms sold by the company Aiisa. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ivanishvili to make political comeback, will head Georgia’s ruling GD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | April 26th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is making a comeback in politics and will head Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream. The move comes amid ongoing tension within the party’s ranks. “On behalf of myself and my team, I personally asked the party’s founder to lead the party. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lawmaker in Georgia suggests making it a crime to cause offense to religious feelings

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | April 26th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Emzar Kvitsiani. TBILISI, DFWatch–A conservative MP in Georgia has presented a bill that would prescribe punishment of up to one year in jail for ‘offending someone’s religious feelings’. The human rights committee in parliament agrees with the bill ‘in principle’. “I’m ready to take part in and make […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Alania diocese facing uncertain future as South Ossetia confiscates bishop’s ‘passport’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | April 20th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bishop Ambrosi. (osinform.org) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Alania diocese, which covers the area of the separatist region South Ossetia, is facing an uncertain future after law enforcers for the breakaway republic confiscated the ‘passport’ of the head of the diocese. The ‘passport’, which is required […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Seven Georgian schools may be closed in the southern part of Abkhazia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | April 16th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Georgian school in the village Tagiloni was closed recently. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Abkhazia’s breakaway authorities are planning to close seven Georgian schools in Gali, according to locals, who fear that such a decision, if taken, will cause the district to be depopulated. The school closures are being considered as part of an ‘optimization’ plan for the public schools in Abkhazia. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Georgian parliament speaker slams Freedom House report

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | April 12th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The speaker of Georgia’s parliament on Thursday slammed a report by the US based organization Freedom House, accusing its local contributors of being hostile to the Georgian government and the Trump administration. Using extraordinarily strong language […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Violent attack on Nigerian students sparks racism debate in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | April 10th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch-A group of Nigerian students were physically assaulted in the Dighomi neighborhood of Tbilisi Sunday evening. They claim the attack was unprovoked and motivated by racism. The incident, which took place on a playground as the students were playing football, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Six killed as coal mine collapses in Tkibuli, Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | April 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–Six miners died when a coal mine collapsed in Tkibuli, Georgia Thursday morning. A further three were injured and brought to hospital, where they remained at press time. The immediate cause of the incident is still to be determined. According to a statement […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              GEM Fest 2018 thrown into doubt after application for permit rejected

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | April 4th, 2018|Categories: Youth|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–GEM Fest may be canceled this year, after an agency of the Georgian government denied the festival a permit to rent a land plot. The fate of the annual electronic music festival, which is popular among youth in Georgia and neighboring countries, was thrown into doubt because the The National Agency of State Property (NASP) […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Russia bans fruit and vegetables from Abkhazia, which in turn blocks same products from Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | April 1st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Breakaway vice premier Aslan Kobakhia finds it strange that Russia has imposed a blockade only on Abkhazia, not Georgia. (aiaaira.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–From April 2, Moscow will prohibit the import of fruit, vegetables and herbs from breakaway Abkhazia, which heavily relies on selling agricultural commodities to Russia. Sokhumi responded by imposing an embargo […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A shopping mall near the Abkhazian border offers services to people on both sides

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | March 31st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The hypermarket. (DFWatch.) ZUGDIDI, DFWatch–A five hectare shopping mall in Rukhi, only meters from the administrative border line (ABL) with breakaway Abkhazia, is doing good business, says its director David Machavariani, speaking to DFWatch. “Of course, the idea has justified itself, as [the mall] allows people to have more access to the services closer to their homes. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgia expels one Russian diplomat over UK spy poisoning

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | March 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi is expelling a Russian diplomat in solidarity with its western allies over the poisoning of the ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK. The decision was taken on Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after strong pressure from the opposition. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Two women accuse the head of Georgia’s Public Registry of sexual harassment

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | March 27th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of Georgia’s Public Registry has been accused of discrimination and sexual harassment by at least two of the agency’s former female employees. Papuna Ugrekhelidze, the 43 year old chairman of the NAPR, who is currently on a business trip to the US, flatly denied the accusations […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Integration of ethnic Azeris starts with language

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | March 24th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Constitution of Georgia stipulates that the state language of country is Georgian. The status of the official language creates grounds for, on the one hand, the social isolation and exclusion from economic and political spheres of people who do not speak Georgian and, on the other hand, the banning on the use of a minority language in administrative domains. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Georgia number two in Europe in incarceration rate, only surpassed by Russia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | March 23rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Only Russia has a higher percentage of its population behind bars among European countries. 256.3 persons per 100,000 inhabitants were incarcerated in Georgia in 2016, according to a new report by the Council of Europe. This means the small Caucasus nation […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            South Ossetia beginning strict control of ‘citizenship’ procedures

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | March 22nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            AKHALGORI, DFWatch–South Ossetia is creating a new body that will examine whether its ‘nationals’ comply with the procedures for obtaining ‘citizenship’ of the breakaway region. A civic activist from Akhalgori might become the first victim of the novelty. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              South Ossetia hands over body of deceased detainee

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | March 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The car with the body of Archil Tatinashvili crossing into Georgia proper near Akhalgori. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetian de facto authorities late Tuesday evening handed over to Georgian law enforcers the body of a Georgian war veteran who died in Tskhinvali under suspicious circumstances. The release of Archil Tatunashvili’s body was facilitated by the Red Cross. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Putin received the highest percentage of votes in Georgia’s two breakaway regions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | March 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Abkhazia’s de facto president Raul Khajimba at a precinct opened in the breakaway region for voting the Russian presidential election. (Ekhokavkaza.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In two enclaves carved out of neighboring Georgia, Vladimir Putin received the highest percentage of votes in the Russian presidential election: 94 percent of votes in Abkhazia and 93 percent in South Ossetia. The two regions which both have a heavy Russian […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Far-right activists violently assault TV journalists in Tbilisi, six detained

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | March 20th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Giorgi Gabunia. TBILISI, DFWatch–Six men were detained after a group of nationalists assaulted reporters working for the opposition leaning TV channel Rustavi 2 in Tbilisi on Monday. At least one journalist was injured. The TV channel’s sports reporter Davit Eradze was hospitalized […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    At least eight injured as ski lift fails in Gudauri, Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | March 16th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch--At least eight people were injured in an accident in Georgia’s ski resort Gudauri Friday as after a ski lift failed. Two people - a Swedish and Ukrainian national - are in a serious but not life threatening condition, while the others suffered minor injuries, Minister of Health Davit Sergeenko said, speaking to Imedi TV. [...]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sokhumi’s lack of a heart clinic leads many to seek treatment in Georgia proper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | March 13th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      GALI, DFWatch–Abkhazia’s de facto authorities have not managed to open a much needed heart clinic in Sokhumi due to the lack of qualified medical staff, a Georgian cardiologist who was involved in the process told DFWatch. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        South Ossetia lets two Georgians go but still refuses to hand over body of deceased prisoner

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | March 11th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ketevan Tsikhelashvili and Sozar Subari meet with newly released Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili. (Photo courtesy of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatist authorities in control of the South Ossetia region Sunday released two Georgian men who were detained about three weeks ago, but still refused to hand over the body of a third detainee who died in detention. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Rally for transgender rights thwarted by egg-throwing ‘family values’ activists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | March 9th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Guram Palavandishvili was detained for throwing a raw egg. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Anti-gay activists thwarted a demonstration for transgender rights in Tbilisi Thursday. Police detained one person for throwing a raw egg at the group of LGBTQ protesters who had gathered outside the House of Justice to demand smoother procedures […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Far right group has patrolled Tbilisi streets for the last week

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | March 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The insignia worn by the street patrols are seen here in this photo from a protest in July, 2017, with organizer Sandro Bregadze (right) holding an icon of King Davit IV. (Facebook/Nini Ketelauri.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A far right group in Georgia has been patrolling the streets of Tbilisi for ‘over a week’, wearing armbands and T-shirts with its insignia, the group’s leader confirmed on Monday. Georgian March’s patrols covered an area in the city center including Leselidze Street, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Georgia’s ruling party allegedly preparing to pick justice minister as candidate for president

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | March 4th, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party is going to pick Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani as a candidate for president, an opposition TV station claims. Rustavi 2 TV claimed Tsulukiani’s candidacy has been approved by former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                South Ossetia deploys security force to Akhalgori, conducting stop and search

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | March 4th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tskhinvali OMON. 2016. (Osinform.) TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia has imposed strict security measures in Akhalgori, the only part of the breakaway republic inhabited predominantly by ethnic Georgians. Units of the region’s riot police have been deployed to the town of Akhalgori and its surroundings. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  South Ossetia launches ‘genocide’ accusations as pressure builds to transfer deceased prisoner’s body

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | March 3rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia’s de facto authorities still refuse to hand over the body of a former Georgian soldier who died after what appears to have been physical abuse by prison guards, and has instead repeated allegations that the 2008 war was a ‘genocide’ against Ossetians. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gülen school manager offered state protection

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | March 1st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–The manager of a private school linked to the exiled Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen was included in the state protection program, his lawyer confirmed Thursday. Mustafa Emre Cabuk, quality manager at Demirel College, was released on bail on February 19 […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Integration of ethnic Azeris starts with language: challenges in quality education and employment

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | February 27th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      In Soviet times, the great majority of the population of Georgia spoke Russian, which served as the language of inter-ethnic communication. 66 year old Bayram Abbasov, resident of Telaveri village of Bolnisi district, describes that since Russian was the common language, they had little or no knowledge of Georgian. “We did not feel disenfranchised if we [...]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Abkhazian ‘residency permit’ enforced by threat of cutting off pensions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | February 25th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        GALI, DFWatch–After requiring people to obtain a residency permit which costs almost USD 200, breakaway Abkhazia now threatens to cut off pensions and teachers’ salaries of those who don’t comply. Locals in the Gali region consider the new regulation a form of blackmail. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Georgia demands investigation into death of war veteran in South Ossetia prison

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | February 23rd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch--A former Georgian military serviceman died Friday morning in South Ossetia after what appears to have been physical abuse by prison guards. Georgia demands an immediate and impartial investigation of the incident and access to the corpse for Georgian forensic experts. The breakaway region’s Security Ministry announced the death of Archil Tatunashvili Friday morning. According [...]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            South Ossetia hit by population crisis as birth rate drops 20% in five years

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | February 22nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia’s population is dwindling, and the de facto authorities will have to do something to address the problem, local media report. In 2017, there were born 513 babies in the breakaway region, which has experienced a 20% drop in its birth rate […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Minibuses replacing horse carts at Enguri Bridge

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | February 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              GALI, DFWatch–Four-wheel horse carts (‘tachkas’) are still the main means of transport for crossing the Enguri Bridge, which separates breakaway Abkhazia from Georgia proper. However, recently three ‘marshrutkas’ have started competing for this profitable business, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Georgian president accuses Russia of running smear campaign in Europe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | February 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia has hinted that Russia may have manipulated media in Europe and made them focus on crime committed by Georgian nationals. “It may be the result of Russian propaganda when in the capitals of some European countries […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Gulen-linked school manager released on bail by Tbilisi court

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | February 19th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Emre Cabuk (left). (Twitter/ISFED.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The manager of a private school linked to the exiled Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen was released on bail by a Tbilisi court on Monday. Mustafa Emre Cabuk, quality manager at Demirel College, was arrested in May, 2017 in what appeared to be a case of pressure […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Police in Georgia warn far-right activists against forming vigilante groups

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | February 17th, 2018|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia on Friday warned far-right activists against forming vigilante groups to patrol Tbilisi streets. Any attempt by Georgian March to set up vigilante groups will be met with a ‘strict response’, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was quoted as saying […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Renowned Abkhazian composer charged with sexual abuse of a minor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | February 15th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ვალერი ჭკადუა (http://apsnyteka.org/). TBILISI, DFWatch–A renowned Abkhaz musician who wrote the anthem of the breakaway republic was arrested Wednesday in Sokhumi and charged with sexual abuse of a minor. The criminal prosecution against Valeri Chkadua, 70, was initiated after a complaint […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Georgian far-right group plans to form new political party

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | February 15th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–A far right group in Georgia that is forming vigilante groups to patrol Tbilisi’s streets looking for ‘suspicious foreigners’ is also planning to establish a new political party. Leaders of Georgian March confirmed this to different media outlets. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ukraine detains Saakashvili and deports him to Poland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | February 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          An eyewitness caught this video of Saakashvili’s detention, according to an update on the ex-president’s Facebook page. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili has been deported from Ukraine. Saakashvili was detained in central Kyiv and deported to Poland by the border guard service. A statement on the service’s website says supporters of Saakashvili […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            CEO of Tbilisi clinic claims government of Azerbaijan intervened in his trial

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | February 10th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–The director of a Tbilisi hospital claims he was sentenced to prison on orders of the Azerbaijani government. Ferman Ceyranli, the director of Lancet Clinic, was sentenced to six years in jail by Tbilisi city court on Friday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ‘Anti-oligarchy’ revolution ‘imminent’ in Georgia: Saakashvili

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | February 9th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian president and ex-governor of Odessa Mikheil Saakashvili thinks an ‘anti-oligarchy revolution’ is ‘imminent’ in Georgia. “This post-Soviet quagmire will be swept away, because it is contrary to human instincts,” Saakashvili said […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Former high-ranking ‘Mkhedrioni’ paramilitary shot in Tbilisi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | February 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A woman who served in a banned paramilitary force in the 1990s and her son was shot in Tbilisi Wednesday morning. Dodo Gugeshashvili (59), a former high-ranking member of the Mkhedrioni paramilitary group, sustained a wound to her chest and was hospitalized. Her son, 32 year old Nodar Gusgeshashvili, was also shot in [...]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rare Georgian language memorial discovered in Abkhazia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | February 2nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–A World War II memorial in Abkhazia has been found to bear an inscription in the Georgian language; a rarity after a recent wave of cultural cleansing. DFWatch’s reporter unexpectedly stumbled upon the memorial stone in Merkheuli, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    How much do teachers in Gali actually earn?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | January 30th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    სოფელ სიდას სკოლა. GALI, DFWatch–Here in Gali, southeastern Abkhazia, the school teachers are the only group of ethnic Georgians that the breakaway authorities don’t demand formal documents from in order to be allowed to work, several teachers told DFWatch. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgian wins sumo wrestling championship in Japan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | January 28th, 2018|Categories: Sport|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Levan Gorgadze (Tochinoshin) is the third European in history to win the highest division of sumo wrestling. TBILISI, DFWatch–A 30-year-old Georgian unexpectedly won a sumo wrestling championship in Japan. Levan Gorgadze clinched his first ever victory in the highest division, Makuuchi. Gorgadze, who competes under the ring name (shikona) Tochinoshin, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Russia’s Duma approves merging South Ossetia militia with Russian army

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | January 26th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        რუსული სამხედრო ბაზა ცხინვალის რეგიონში. (osinform.ru) TBILISI, DFWatch–Official Tbilisi condemns a decision by Russia to merge the armed forces in the breakaway territory South Ossetia with the Russian army. Russia’s State Duma ratified the move on Wednesday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Abkhazia demands Georgians renounce citizenship before issuing passport

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | January 24th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (Newscaucasus.com) GALI, DFWatch–The breakaway region Abkhazia demands an official document issued by the Georgian Ministry of Justice proving that someone has renounced their Georgian citizenship in order to grant them an Abkhazian passport, Gali residents told DFWatch. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Georgian opera singer to perform in breakaway Abkhazia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | January 22nd, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Photo: Giorgi Todua (left) and Alexander Tikhomirov at Gali Culture House. GALI, DFWatch–Georgian opera singer Giorgi Todua will hold a concert in the breakaway region Abkhazia on Wednesday, for the first time after the bloody war in 1991-92, which killed tens and  displaced hundreds of thousands of people. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Local strongman assassinated in South Ossetia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | January 17th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Marek Dudaev in court in Tbilisi, 2005. (Imedinews.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former militiaman was assassinated in South Ossetia on Tuesday. Breakaway   authorities claim the suspect fled to Georgian-controlled territory. Marek Dudayev was shot three times in Artsevi, his native village near the breakaway capital Tskhinvali, local media reports. His body was found in a building […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Groups demand investigation into how anti-terror forces killed 19-year-old

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | January 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Groups rallied outside the government building. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The death of a young Chechen man who was shot in an anti-terror operation last month has sparked an outcry among locals in the Muslim-inhabited region he came from, while activists in Tbilisi rallied outside the government building. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Georgian volunteers in Ukraine war quit military unit after ‘provocations’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | January 10th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Georgian Legion. (Facebook.) Georgian Legion’s commander Mamuka Mamulashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian volunteers who have been fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 accuse their commander of betrayal and have abandoned the brigade they belonged to in the Ukrainian military. All but three of the around 40 Georgian volunteers […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Former President Saakashvili convicted of ‘abuse of power’ by Tbilisi court

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | January 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia on Friday found the country’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of abuse of power and sentenced him to three years in jail. The sentence, which was passed in absentia, was initially four years, but the term was curtailed due to an amnesty law. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ukraine detains ship carrying cigarettes from Abkhazia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | January 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–On December 31, Ukrainian border guards fired warning shots at a ship off the coast of Odessa and took it into custody. The ship, which was flying a Tanzanian flag, was found to be carrying counterfeit cigarettes from Abkhazia, destined for Bulgaria. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Abkhazia demands extradition of Russian diplomat’s murderer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | January 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        იუსუპ ლაკაევი. TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities in breakaway Abkhazia demand the extradition of a Georgian prisoner suspected of assassinating a Russian diplomat and his wife in Abkhazia in 2013. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Obstacles hold South Ossetia residents back from seeking medical treatment in Georgia proper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | December 29th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia blames a drop in the number medical visits from South Ossetia on obstacles imposed by Tskhinvali justified by claim Ossetians are being ‘humiliated’. In 2017, there was a sharp drop in the number of people traveling from South Ossetia to Georgia proper to get medical treatment. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Five detained in Georgia for links to ISIS terror plot

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | December 27th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–Five men were detained in a counter-terrorism operation in Georgia Tuesday morning accused of links to a terror plot involving a senior ISIS operative who was killed in Tbilisi a month ago. The five, Zurab Gornakashvili, Ruslan Aldamov, Ramaz Margoshvili, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Killed ISIS operative Chatayev was planning attacks in Georgia and Turkey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | December 26th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Akhmed Chatayev. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A notorious ISIS fighter who was killed in Tbilisi a month ago was planning terror attacks against diplomatic missions in Georgia and Turkey, Georgian authorities said on Tuesday. The security police made the claim based on information […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Georgian ex-soldier released by Abkhazia after 7 years imprisonment

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | December 25th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Dranda prison near Sokhumi. TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities in breakaway Abkhazia released a Georgian ex-soldier on Monday after serving seven years of a 20 year sentence. Giorgi Lukava, who was seized by Sokhumi in 2011, was handed over to Georgian authorities at Enguri bridge, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Abkhazian “visas” to be issued at Enguri border crossing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | December 22nd, 2017|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Newscaucasus.com) GALI, DFWatch–Breakaway Abkhazia will start issuing “visas” at the Enguri border crossing. Until now, these travel documents have only been issued in Sokhumi and Gali. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Georgia absent during UN vote to annul US recognition of Jerusalem

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | December 22nd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia was among 21 countries that were absent during a vote in the UN General Assembly on Thursday to annul the US’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “We […] have had consultations with our partners and our delegation […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The moment Georgia’s PM told the opposition leader ‘f— you’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | December 21st, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili. TBILISI, DFWatch–PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili swore several times at his counterpart during a debate with the acting head of the largest opposition party UNM on Wednesday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Al-Qaeda commander from Pankisi reported dead in Syria

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | December 18th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Salahuddin al-Shishani, whose real name was Giorgi Margoshvili, was reportedly killed in Syria’s northern Hama province. TBILISI, DFWatch–A high-profile al-Qaeda affiliated field commander of Georgian-Kist origin has been killed in the Syrian civil war. Reports by Syrian and Lebanese news agencies said Salahuddin al-Shishani, was killed during a Russian air raid near Hama province, in northern Syria. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Abkhazia plans to charge customs tax at checkpoint with Georgia proper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | December 15th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          GALI, DWatch–Abkhazia plans to begin charging import tax at a checkpoint with Georgia proper and impose stricter regulations on what goods are allowed to bring across. The plans were aired by the head of Abkhazia’s de facto customs service, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2,000 Russian troops conducting military drills in Georgian breakaway regions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | December 15th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Russian troops near the village of Dzartsemi, South Ossetia. (Sputnik-Ossetia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Russian soldiers are participating in military exercises in both Georgian breakaway territories, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Troops from all of Russia’s four military districts are taking part in the drills. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Man suspected of 2012 Abkhazia assassination attempt killed in shooting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | December 14th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Mercedez-Benz Ardzinba and Khagba were in was riddled with bullets on the road connecting Sokhumi with Gudauta. (Ekhokavkaza.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The man accused of attempting to assassinate Abkhazia’s former de facto president in 2012 was shot dead by strangers on Wednesday. Also his driver died in the attack. Pavel Ardzinba and his chauffeur were driving along the road connecting Sokhumi with Gudauta when their Mercedes-Benz was literally […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Catastrophic mandarin harvest deals heavy blow to Abkhazia’s exports

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | December 6th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–Abkhazia’s export of mandarins and other produce has plummeted by 2.7 times, dealing a heavy blow to the breakaway republic’s economy. Local media blame the bad harvest on the spread of brown marmorated stink bug, which has devastated crops also in Georgia. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Complex prisoner exchange between Georgia and breakaway territories

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | December 5th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Upon his release, Giorgi Giunashvili (center) was met by Georgian representatives at the defunct Ergneti checkpoint. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–At the 42nd round of the Geneva talks, 12-13 December, Abkhazia will probably demand that Tbilisi must release an Abkhazian militant from a Georgian prison, and in return, Giorgi Giunashvili will be released from a Tskhinvali prison. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gang fight at Tbilisi school leaves two 16 year old boys dead

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | December 4th, 2017|Categories: Crime|Tags: , , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–Crowds gathered outside a school in the center of Tbilisi Sunday evening to pay tribute to two teenage boys who were brutally murdered by their peers two days earlier. School students and teachers, as well as relatives of the victims, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Georgian authorities confirm Akhmed Chatayev died in Nov 22 Tbilisi siege

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | December 3rd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s State Security Service (SUS) acknowledged Friday that one of the suspects killed in a counterterrorism operation Nov 22 was Akhmed Chatayev. Local media have speculated that the Chechnya-born ISIS member was among the dead. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Georgia moves toward legalizing marijuana with Constitutional Court ruling

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | November 30th, 2017|Categories: Youth|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down a law requiring a doctor’s prescription to use marijuana, scoring another victory for campaigners who want the soft drug fully decriminalized. An individual’s right “to choose the desired kind of the relaxation […] including marijuana, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mastermind of Ataturk Airport attack may be among 3 suspects killed in Tbilisi siege

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | November 26th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the three terrorism suspects killed in a shootout with police on November 22 might be a Chechen who oversaw the Ataturk Airport bombings in 2016 which claimed 45 lives. Vakhtang Gomelauri, head of the State Security Agency (SUS), […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11 people dead in hotel fire in Batumi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | November 25th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–11 people are confirmed dead, and an unknown number injured in a massive fire Friday night at a five-star hotel in Batumi which is hosting the Miss Georgia contest. More than a hundred firefighters and other personnel scrambled to the Leogrand Hotel & Casino […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tskhinvali regime closes single checkpoint with Georgia proper for two days

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | November 23rd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Razdakhan checkpoint near Akhalgori (cominf.org). De facto authorities of South Ossetia shut down the single checkpoint connecting the breakaway republic with Georgia proper due to the recently introduced public holiday, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                One policeman, three suspects killed in Tbilisi anti-terror operation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | November 22nd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three suspects and one police officer have been killed in a massive anti-terror operation in a Tbilisi suburb against suspected Chechens. Four police were also wounded in the standoff, which lasted over 20 hours, a spokesperson for the State Security Service of Georgia (SUS) said at a briefing Wednesday evening. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Memorial dedicated to the Abkhazian war to be restored in Scottish town

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | November 17th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  მემორიალური ქვა შოტლანდიის ქალაქ კილმანროკში. (rferl.org) TBILISI, DFWatch–A memorial stone dedicated to victims of a separatist war in Georgia 1992-93 will be restored, the deputy the foreign minister of Georgia has said. The stone in the town of Kilmarnock was recently taken down […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    South Ossetia bars ambulances from leaving at night and during weekends

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | November 14th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (cominf.org). TBILISI, DFWatch–Breakaway South Ossetia is preventing ambulances from crossing the de facto border with Georgia proper on weekends and at nights from 8 pm till  8 am. Echo Kavkaza reports that the informal restrictions were introduced about a month ago, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Faced with new bureaucratic hurdles, Georgians in Abkhazia ponder leaving

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | November 11th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      აფხაზური “ვიზა” (DFWatch). Gali, DFWatch–The de facto authorities in Abkhazia are developing new ways to discriminate against the ethnic Georgian population in the region’s southeast Gali district. “We are absolutely deprived of any civil rights. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Burjanadze: Georgia needs a president like Vladimir Putin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | November 10th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Nino Burjanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian opposition politician Nino Burjanadze expressed admiration for the Russian president in a new interview with German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle. “He brought Russia from its knees to its feet. You look at Russia, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Scottish town removes Abkhazian war memorial out of respect for Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | November 10th, 2017|Categories: News|

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock have decided to dismantle a memorial stone dedicated to victims in separatist-held Sohumi during the 1992-93 Abkhazian war. The problem was that the memorial not only commemorated […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            One of 17 detained Saudi princes is honorary citizen of Georgia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | November 7th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Prince Alwaleed bin Talal meets with PM Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi, 2015. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One member the Saudi royal family who was arrested on Saturday night holds a title of honorary citizen of Georgia. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was arrested along with 16 other princes, four ministers and tens of other former or current high ranking officials. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              South Ossetia plans to impose customs tax at checkpoint near Akhalgori

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | November 3rd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (cominf.org) TBILISI, DFWatch–Breakaway South Ossetia plans to charge customs tax for goods to the region’s lower east corner, to the detriment of the Georgians living there who depend on the trade. A customs point will be opened at the Razdakhan checkpoint near Akhalgori, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Abkhazia calls Georgian PM’s language initiative ‘hypocritical’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | November 1st, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                PM Kvirikashvili’s initiative to protect Abkhaz language was met with a cold shoulder by the separatists in Sokhumi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An initiative by the prime minister of Georgia to protect the Abkhaz language has been rejected by Abkhazia’s de facto authorities as ‘Georgian populism’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘cynicism’. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Georgians in Abkhazia cancel harvest, claim pesticide withheld by regime

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | November 1st, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Photo by Dominik K. Cagara.) GALI, DFWatch–Georgian hazelnut farmer in Abkhazia canceled this year’s harvest after de facto authorities failed to hand out vital pesticide to battle a bug. The bug has already ravaged farms in Western Georgia but the damage is even worse in the breakaway region […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Six far right activists arrested during anti-gay protest at football federation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | November 1st, 2017|Categories: Sport|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TBILISI, DFWatch–Six far right activists were arrested Tuesday night at the office of the Georgian Football Federation’s (GFF) in Tbilisi, as they protested the wearing of a rainbow colored LGBT armband by one of the national team members. The right wing nationalists demand that the federation […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rally in Sokhumi to demand action against drug abuse epidemic

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | October 29th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (Abkhazinform.com) TBILISI, DFWatch–A campaign to demand action against drug addiction brought a large crowd out in the streets of Sokhumi on Thursday, under the slogan “Abkhazia without Drugs”. The people who had gathered on Sergey Bagapsh […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        President Margvelashvili questions the benefits of total GD victory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | October 26th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TBILISI, DFWatch–The will of the Georgian people was expressed in the local elections, but it is questionable whether a total win by one political party will be beneficial for the country, President Giorgi Margvelashvili said in his first comments on the local elections, which were held on Saturday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Georgia denies South Ossetia’s claim to have opened representation in Catalonia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | October 25th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dimitri Medoev (center) meets with members of Italy’s “Northern League”, Eliseo Bertolasi and Palmarino Zoccatelli. (South Ossetia foreign ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian breakaway region claims it opened an official representation in Catalonia during a visit by its unofficial foreign minister. Georgia rejects the claim and says the visit was purely private in nature. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Former AC Milan player elected Tbilisi mayor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | October 22nd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Former professional football player Kakha Kaladze has been elected mayor of Tbilisi, representing the ruling party Georgian Dream. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former AC Milan football player and Georgia’s current vice Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze has won a decisive victory in the election for Tbilisi mayor with 54 percent of the votes, according to an exit poll at 6pm. The exit polls was carried out by Edison Media Research. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Abkhazia shuts down elementary school in Georgian populated region

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | October 21st, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Georgian school in the village Tagiloni, 9 km from Gali, which was closed recently. (DFWatch.) GALI, DFWatch–Breakaway authorities in Abkhazia have closed a public school in the region’s southern district which has a predominantly ethnic Georgian population. De facto authorities told school principals in Gali on Wednesday that the school in Tagiloni, a the village near Gali, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Gunman wounds four ahead of Georgia’s local elections

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | October 20th, 2017|Categories: Crime|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                People gathered outside the hospical in Marneuli, where the wounded Georgian Dream members were being treated. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A gunman opened fire at a local office of Georgia’s ruling party Thursday night, wounding four people, two days before nationwide local elections that will gage the government’s hold on power. The attack, which wounded a candidate for Georgian Dream, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Georgian schools in Akhalgori facing a language dilemma

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | October 20th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Anatoly Bibilov, de facto president of South Ossetia. AKHALGORI, DFWatch–As eight Georgian schools in Akhalgori, South Ossetia have fully switched to Russian as the language of instruction, teachers find it hard to teach and are afraid of losing their jobs. As most pupils don’t know Russian, this may make their families leave Akhalgori and settle […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Either school or hijab – “my daughters will not go to school without hijab!”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By | October 18th, 2017|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    According to official statistics 10,7% of the Georgian population – about 399,000 persons – are Muslims. 333,000 of them are ethnic Azerbaijani. Part of them thinks that in accordance to the Muslim tradition, a girl shall wear a hijab over 14. “I want to learn and become a teacher. If I do not study, I know in future I will have hard life. I was not allowed into the school because I am wearing a hijab. I do not know what will happen now. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Circassians prevented from attending jailed activist’s court hearing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By | October 16th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBILISI, DFWatch–The regional court in Russia’s Krasnodar region upheld the decision made by the lower court to imprison a popular 67-year-old Circassian civic activist, while his supporters were barred from attending the trial on Monday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        South Ossetia declares Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘extremists’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By | October 16th, 2017|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sonya Khubaeva. TBILISI, DFWatch–The supreme court in the breakaway region South Ossetia has ruled that Jehovah’s Witnesses is an extremist organization and banned its activities. When the ruling comes into force in a few days, Jehovah’s Witnesses members will face up to 10 years […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          UNM mobilizes thousands against ‘oligarch’ Ivanishvili’s property takeover

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By | October 16th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TBILISI, DFWatch–Several thousand supporters of Georgia’s opposition National Movement party demonstrated Sunday outside the home of a former prime minister whom they call an oligarch and accuse of taking over valuable properties. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Opposition clash with police as Tbilisi assembly OKs Ivanishvili land deals

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By | October 11th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TBILISI, DFWatch–The city assembly in Tbilisi, the Sakrebulo, on Tuesday approved the handover of two land lots to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili for the symbolic price of one Georgian lari. While the vote went ahead, a ruckus of shouting and pushing took place outside, […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Circassians protesting against jailing of remembrance day organizer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By | October 10th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Abkhazians hold a rally in solidarity with Ruslan Gvashev in Sokhumi. (Anaid Gogoryan/RFE/RL.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, Circassians, Abkhaz, Adyghe, Kabardians and Shapsughs continue to protest against the persecution of a 67-year-old activist regarded as a national hero and the most prominent civil rights worker. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                PACE president resigns amid controversy about Syria trip

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                By | October 10th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TBILISI, DFWatch–A Council of Europe official resigned on Monday after a controversial visit to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. Pedro Agramunt announced his resignation as president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a letter on Monday. […]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Wizz Air launches flights from Kutaisi to Rome, Paris, Barcelona and Prague

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  By | October 6th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TBILISI, DFWatch–The Hungarian low-cost airline which is already very popular in Georgia may see its popularity rise to new heights after it announced new routes to Paris, Barcelona, Rome and Prague. “We are truly delighted to announce that starting […]