News

News

Georgia’s Independence Day moves to Kutaisi, sort of

By | May 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – For the first time in Georgia’s history, the main celebration on Independence Day took place not in Tbilisi, the formal capital, but in Kutaisi, where a new parliament building was opened with a symbolic first session of lawmakers and a military […]

Georgia marks independence day with new parliament

By | May 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia celebrates Independence Day today on May 26. The day is a celebration of restoration of independence from the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. May 26 1918, the first Georgia republic was established. The country became independent […]

Hillary Clinton to visit Georgia on June 5

By | May 26th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch –The U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will visit Georgia June 5. Clinton starts her South Caucasus tour on June 4 in Armenia. After visiting Georgia, she will leave for Azerbaijan June 6, according to the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi. During the […]

Journalists rallied outside justice ministry in Tbilisi

By | May 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Groups organized rally in front of Justice Ministry on Friday to protest against a number of incidents of violation of journalist rights, and verbal and physical abuse. They demand to launch an objective investigation of each incident. For the […]

Georgian opposition without stage on its big day

By | May 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – City authorities in Tbilisi have decided to not allow the opposition Georgian Dream movement to erect a stage on the freedom square to be used during a mass rally. The opposition movement led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has been running […]

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia assesses the situation

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Lasha Tugushi (left) interviews John R. Bass (right), Ambassador of the United States to Georgia. (Embassy photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch – DF Watch sat down with U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, John Bass, for a conversation about the situation in the country. For the latest two months about twenty cases were observed, when government representatives interrupted media activity and in some […]

Georgia falls on ranking of trade enabling

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia fell one place in the Global Enabling Trade Report 2012. The list is published by the World Economic Forum (weforum.org). It contains 132 countries and ranks them according to how well they perform in market access, border administration […]

Four Georgians detained in South Ossetia

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Four Georgians have been detained after having crossed into the breakaway region South Ossetia. The four were detained on May 21 and 22 after going on a trip to pick staphylea, a plant which is used for common sour dish in Georgia. Shota Utiashvili, […]

Campaign accuses Saakashvili regime of gas price fixing

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia, rising fuel prices has spurred a new movement that is questioning the cozy connection between the Saakashvili regime and the fuel companies. As people are feeling the impact of high gas prices, the new movement says the reason is price […]

Election observers in Georgia report early violations

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The first interim report of one of several extraordinary election monitoring teams says that this spring has been marked by numerous cases of political intimidation. The report covers the period between April 1 and May 4 and is written by […]

Russia regrets NATO’s stance on Georgia

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia regrets that NATO was unable to make findings regarding the events of August 2008. The Russian Foreign Ministry says Russia accepts with regret NATO’s decision regarding Georgia. “One of these complex issues is the situation in the South […]

Georgia postpones LSE listing for state railways

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia once again has postponed placing shares of the state-owned Georgian Railway on London Stock Exchange. The debut should have been on May 24, but the government has again decided to postpone it. Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri said that […]

Amnesty: Georgia is not investigating police brutality

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Amnesty International criticizes Georgia for not having investigated police brutality. The Saakashvili regime has renewed the country’s law enforcement personnel since seizing power in 2003, and is touting the reform as a model for other countries. […]

Dzhioyeva appointed vice premier in South Ossetia

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – An opposition leader in South Ossetia who refused to acknowledge the last election has been appointed Vice Prime Minister in the breakaway republic. Alla Dzhioyeva boycotted the elections in March and April, but that didn’t stop the winner, […]

Georgian blogosphere angry over same-sex marriage ban proposal

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A new initiative by the moderate opposition Christian Democrats to ban same-sex marriage and write Christianity into the constitution is being discussed in the Georgian blogosphere. The initiative has been criticized by the government, […]

Another sportsman goes into politics in Georgia

By | May 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Another Olympic champion has been added to the list of Georgian sportsmen taking part in the political life of Georgia, as an Olympic judo champion joined Bidzina Ivanishvili’s opposition Georgian Dream movement. After a brief break, the issue of […]

Saakashvili regime surprised by Ivanishvili’s cold shoulder

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – One of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s top officials says he was taken by surprise by an open letter from opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili yesterday, in which he said that he will not make use of a new tailor-made constitutional change […]

Journalists in Georgia want to talk to President Saakashvili

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Journalists in Georgia demand to meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili and ask him about a series of cases of harassment and violation of their rights. The appeal is backed by 24 media units. On May 25, journalists are planning to hold a protest […]

Christian Democrats in Georgia want ban on gay marriage

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The parliamentary faction Christian Democrats Movement is demanding a ban on ‘immoral persons’ holding public office and wants a constitutional guarantees on prohibition of same sex marriage. The government, non-governmental organizations and the […]

Ivanishvili rejects having to run as a foreigner

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian parliament today passed constitutional changes meant to let opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili participate in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest, decided to go into politics […]

Another TV channel taken over in Georgia

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A small TV station in Georgia has been taken over, in the latest of a series of disputes within media in the country. A few days ago, Davit Zilpimian reported that the property of Pirveli Stereo and Stereo Plus, a TV channel he established, had […]

NATO chief reaffirms membership commitment for Georgia

By | May 22nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Georgia will become a member of the alliance sometime. There has been progress in the reforms and NATO will continue to support the country in that regard. Fogh Rasmussen said this at a joint […]

Don’t hesitate, says democracy campaign in Georgia

By | May 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A pro-democracy campaign in Georgia calls on the Saakashvili regime to not stall a negotiated deal intended to secure a more fair election in October. The campaign sent a letter appealing to the president and speaker of parliament to start […]

Former Georgian general murdered in Moscow

By | May 22nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A former Georgian general who was convicted of treason and lived in Russia was killed Monday in Moscow. Russian media report that Roman Dumbadze was hit by bullets from two attackers passing by on motorcycles near his home. Dumbadze died on the […]

Georgia and Azerbaijan will solve monastery issue

By | May 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia and Azerbaijan are working on delineating their border, in order to solve the problem regarding Davit Gareja monastery complex, which is a source for concern. Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Vashakidze said Monday that the […]

Georgia expecting new border monitoring soon

By | May 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Vashakidze says he hopes that Switzerland will finish selecting the company which will conduct monitoring of goods passing the Russia-Georgia border. Georgia agreed to accept Russia as a WTO member in November […]

NATO’s Chicago declaration

By | May 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

There are several points on Georgia in NATO’s declaration in Chicago published on Monday, 21. DF Watch publishes part of the declaration unchanged:   «At the 2008 Bucharest Summit we agreed that Georgia will become a member of NATO and we reaffirm all […]

Protesting the destruction of an old square in Tbilisi

By | May 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The protest continues against the construction work on a historic square in Tbilisi, after workers Saturday started demolishing an old building, apparently without a permit. Witnesses called police, and the work stopped for a while. Several months […]

Saakashvili promotes his reforms ahead of NATO summit

By | May 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – NATO countries are meeting in Chicago with aspirant countries and countries which participate in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili is attending the summit, after having spent several days in the U.S. […]

How pro-government TV sees Georgia’s weak labor code

By | May 21st, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The labor code should contribute to employment, faster investments and motivate investors, and only after this may it possible to think about how to improve the rights and conditions of workers in Georgia. This is the position of the country’s […]

Georgian Railway soon goes live on LSE

By | May 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Railway is nearer to going live on London Stock Exchange. Georgia’s Economy Ministry confirms the listing, previously reported by DF Watch, and says the government currently is studying the situation on stock exchanges to make sure that […]

German business eyes investing in Georgia’s regions

By | May 20th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is attractive in regards to ease of doing business and freedom of the economy, says Martin Wansleben, head of the German Chamber of Commerce. He hopes that this will contribute to an influx of German investments to Georgia. Wansleben said […]

Ivanishvili’s assets in Russia to be sold for $1 bill

By | May 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili sells his development assets in Russia for USD 982.5 million. Ivanishvili, who leads the Georgian Dream coalition, says that he has already sold part of his property in Russia, and the rest […]

Prisoner tells of sexual abuse and threatened silence

By | May 19th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A prisoner in Georgia says he was sexually abused by prison staff and later told he would be killed if he told the outside world about it. In a letter dated February 24, the prisoner asks for help and wants to be transferred to another prison. […]

Saakashvili asks Georgian doctors in U.S. to come home

By | May 19th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili suggests to bring Georgian doctors currently working in the U.S. back to Georgia. It is unknown how many doctors will accept the proposal. Saakashvili said it while meeting with doctors in the U.S. The leader used the […]

Still unknown when Hillary Clinton will visit Georgia

By | May 19th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – John Bass, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, says that Hillary Clinton will visit Georgia. In late 2011, it was reported that the US Secretary of State’s was going to visit Georgia, and February was mentioned as a probable date for her arrival. But the […]

Georgian and Azerbaijani FM to try to solve monastery dispute

By | May 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s foreign minister and his Azeri colleague have decided to find a solution to the situation at the Davit Gareja Monastery complex while the two meet at the NATO summit in Chicago May 20 and 21. Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes […]

Pro-democracy campaign wants equal access to media

By | May 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A pro-democracy campaign in Georgia Thursday presented their latest package of modifications to various aspects of the election system, as there are four months left until the parliamentary elections. Among issues they presented to an audience of […]

Saakashvili says NATO must not hesitate this time

By | May 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says 2012 has many parallels to 2008, and that NATO needs to show decisiveness to avoid a new war between Georgia and Russia. He says NATO hesitated in 2008, and must show more decisiveness at a summit in Chicago […]

Border guards inside David Gareja monastery

By | May 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government says it will solve the problems with the David Gareja monastery complex on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. The government raised the issue after witnesses reported that Georgian citizens and tourists aren’t allowed into a […]

Georgia’s labor code allows firing someone for political views

By | May 18th, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – There are two articles in Georgia’s Labor Code which entitles employers to terminate a labor contract without giving any explanations or preliminary warnings. A teacher from a village in the Gori region was fired because of her husband’s political […]

Anti-homophobia demonstrators were beaten

By | May 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A celebration of the international day for the fight against homophobia Thursday turned violent as demonstrators were beaten and posters torn. Members of the two organizations LGBT Georgia and Identoba and their supporters held the event in front of […]

More money is transferred in and out of Georgia

By | May 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Money transfers from foreign countries to Georgia increased 6.4 percent in April, compared to the same period in 2011. There was also an increase in money transferred abroad in April, compared to last year, according to Georgia’s National Bank. […]

Man sets himself on fire at parliament

By | May 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A man Thursday set himself on fire at the parliament building because the government hasn’t helped him. Parliament employees managed to put out the fire. Then police and firemen arrived and arrested Giorgi Chikhladze. He did not resist arrest. […]

Channel 9 buys stake in local TV

By | May 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The recently founded Channel 9 TV, which is affiliated with Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party, has bought a ten percent share in a popular regional television station, TV Trialeti, for one million dollars. Channel 9 Director Kakha Bekauri […]

EU criticizes police brutality in Georgia

By | May 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – In a new report, the EU Commission criticizes Georgia’s government for the police brutality on May 26, 2011. The criticism comes as the Commission is taking stock of how well each country has performed in 2011 under a democracy building […]

Georgia makes the income of officials secret

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is doing away with a law which guaranteed the public access to information about public officials. This means that details about the income, expenses and social benefits of public persons will remain unknown to the public. Openness in this […]

Per Eklund studying Georgia’s election campaign

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Giorgi Targamadze (pictured) is one of the sources for a new report former EU Ambassador to Georgia Per Eklund is writing about the election environment ahead of the parliamentary elections in October. Eklund met with the Christian Democrats parliamentary […]

Georgia boosts foreign trade by 18%

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first four months of 2012 grew 18 percent compared to the same period in 2011. Georgian National Statistics Department, GeoStat, reported on Wednesday that preliminary figures for January-April 2012 show that […]

Anger in Tbilisi over reasons for deadly flood

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Opposition representatives in Georgia say the flood that took five lives Sunday could have been prevented. The discussion led to a street scuffle between a district governor and an opposition party representative. Besik Gazdeliani, Deputy Governor […]

Georgian agency denies having misinformed about flood

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – As Georgia’s capital was drenched in rain water, and a stream flooded a district, killing five, reports went out from the national emergency agency that what caused the disaster was that the river Mtkvari had burst its banks. Mtkvari is the largest […]

New doubt about Ivanishvili’s political rights

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The parliament in Georgia Tuesday once more modified a set of constitutional changes which were meant to let Saakashvili’s main competitor participate in elections. At the second hearing, Vakhtang Khmaladze, legal expert and representative of the […]

Georgia’s ruling party allows Ivanishvili to run

By | May 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Lawmakers in Georgia have finally achieved consensus for constitutional changes which will give opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili the right to participate in elections, without being a Georgian citizen. The amendment was originally proposed […]

Teacher in Georgia fired for not loving Saakashvili

By | May 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Teachers are suffering political discrimination in Georgia ahead of an important election. Only in Shida Kartli, a region bordering on South Ossetia, 21 teachers were fired because their family members supported or were member of the largest […]

Georgia’s parliament finally gets a price tag: $82.5 mill

By | May 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Saakashvili regime has finally revealed how much it is spending on building a new parliament building: USD 82.5 million. Finance minister Dimitry Gvindadze says the whole process with building a new parliament is completely transparent. […]

Georgia’s gas and oil company is on LSE

By | May 14th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has obtained a listing on London Stock Exchange for obligations in Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation. Securities valued USD 250 million were placed on one of the world’s most famous stock exchanges on May 9. According to Kommersant, the lowest […]

Ivanishvili sells off his assets in Russia

By | May 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main political opponent Bidzina Ivanishvili will sell all his property in Russia by the end of May. The billionaire said this after it became public that his shares in companies in Russia were already sold. According to Forbes magazine, […]

What caused the flood in Tbilisi?

By | May 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Residents in the disaster struck district of Tbilisi speak about different reasons causing damage during heavy flooding Saturday night. Heavy rain caused mud slide from ravines down towards residential houses and streets. Ortachala is an old district […]

Kalmakhelidze orders more crowded prisons in Georgia

By | May 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Prisons in Georgia are to become more crowded, as the maximum limit on number of inmates is raised, and two prisons are closed down. It’s the controversial Minister for Corrections and Legal Assistance, Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, who has ordered the […]

Renewed Georgia Party organized refugee protest

By | May 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

BILISI, DFWatch – On Saint Andrew’s Day May 12, refugees from Abkhazia gathered at the parliament building in Tbilisi to demand attention from the government and that it gets back the lost territories. Refugees claim this is their first large meeting for the last 20 […]

Journalists’ rights are still under pressure in Georgia

By | May 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – After a series of incidents with security and police, journalists gathered in Tbilisi to share their stories and inform foreign diplomats. Association of Regional Broadcasters had prepared a documentary based on material from regional reporters. […]

Heavy flood killed five in Tbilisi

By | May 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia was hit by heavy rain overnight, causing flash flooding many places. Five deaths are reported in the capital Tbilisi as a reservoir burst in a hill above the city and flooded one district. The Emergency Department in Tbilisi says five people have died from flooding […]

Tree-cutting in Tbilisi demonstrated against

By | May 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, Dfwatch – Groups in Tbilisi today held a small symbolic protest against the mass cutting of trees in the capital. Transparency International Georgia and the organization Green Alternative joined other young activists and local residents on the Deda Ena (Mother […]

Georgia needs more democratic political parties

By | May 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Political parties in Georgia need to strengthen their internal democracy. This is the conclusion of a new report by Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). In the report Internal Party Democracy and Local Government NIMD names three […]

Saakashvili to create holographic government

By | May 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili has a new initiative to turn the whole government into a digital world, where citizens will be able to speak with 3D images of the ministers. Saakashvili says all citizens should have the opportunity to talk […]

Putin visited border with Georgian breakaway republic

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The newly inaugurated Russian president Vladimir Putin Friday paid a visit to the border between Russia and the disputed region Abkhazia, signing a new treaty about railways. Mr Putin turned up at Psou, a border crossing which Georgia considers […]

Tbilisi’s old trees are being razed to the ground

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – One hundred year old trees are being cut down in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi and are replaced with new saplings, which will need decades to reach mature height. A few days ago workers started cutting trees in Tbilisi’s old district at the end […]

Georgia notes growth in construction business

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Demand is growing within the construction business in Georgia. According to the National Statistics Department, GeoStat, the number of permits for constructions and reconstructions has increased by 43.3 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010. The […]

Georgia offers tax break for investors

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is to create a new 15-year tax privilege for people who invest at least one million USD. An appropriate bill is already initiated in parliament. The government’s parliamentary secretary Gia Khuroshvili explains that the government decided […]

Georgia stopped publishing statistics on work place deaths

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – According to unofficial information, 13 people died in the work place in 2011 in Georgia. No official numbers exist for 2012 either, but media reported about a number of fatal incidents in the mining and construction sector. These fatal accidents are […]

Georgia postpones population census

By | May 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has said it is unable to conduct a general population census in 2012. Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, says even though there was expected to be conducted a census this year, it is not feasible. The statement says that […]

Russia accuses Georgia of supporting terrorism

By | May 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia’s national antiterrorism committee says it has foiled a terrorist plot planned against the Olympics Games in Sochi in 2014. The committee also says a significant arsenal of weapons was seized. “The ringleader of an international terrorist […]

Liberal politicians come to Georgia to give advice on democracy

By | May 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – European liberal politicians visited an opposition billionaire in Tbilisi Thursday to contribute their views on how democracy can progress in Georgia. Representatives of the Liberal International, which is an international federation of liberal […]

What can Georgia learn from African conflicts?

By | May 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A series of discussion was held in Tbilisi on Tuesday to review conflict problems in Georgia. Comparisons were made between “good” and “bad” conflict case studies in various African countries with those in Georgia. The main topic of discussion […]

Swedish mobile giant Teliasonera may be breaking the law

By | May 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Swedish TV recently revealed that Teliasonera has opened their doors for an Orwellian level of surveillance in former Soviet countries. A group of lawyers in Georgia now says that indiscriminate wiretapping is illegal. Georgian Young Lawyer’s […]

Saakashvili says Putin is imitating Georgian reforms

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Mikheil Saakashvili did not miss out on another chance to mention his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin while giving a speech in Batumi at an international conference about world tourism. Saakashvili said Putin is a person who signed Georgia’s […]

Confusion over whether Ivanishvili will be allowed election rights

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Lawmakers in Georgia have temporarily given EU citizens political rights in the country for the next three years. The rights will expire on January 1, 2014. The constitutional amendment is widely seen as a measure to allow opposition billionaire […]

Heavy rain in Georgia, but so far no flooding

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Rivers in Georgia’s Eastern region Kakheti swelled Tuesday after heavy rain and melting snow, but so far there has not been a repeat ot the disaster year 2011. Deputy Governor of the region told Interpressnews that the rivers feeding Alazani, one of […]

“Facebook City” to be written into Georgia’s constitution

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A hypothetical city of half a million which still only exists as a Facebook page will be written into the constitution of Georgia. The initiative comes from president Mikheil Saakashvili, who in a televised speech December 4, 2011 said the new city […]

Georgian billionaire Ivanishvili goes back to court

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is going back to court, in a further effort to be recognized as a Georgian citizen. Authorities annulled Ivanishvili’s citizenship shortly after he revealed his plans to become a politician in October […]

Private U.S. observers announce arrival for Georgian election

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. organization Committee for Open Democracy (COD) is to send log term election observers to monitor the parliamentary election in Georgia in October. “We’ll be focusing on the processes of democracy and people’s confidence in these […]

Georgia’s 2012 budget expanded after influx of EU funding

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s budget is to be increased by 200 million lari by increasing the licensing fees for use of natural resources. Another source for the increase is grants from the EU to finance reforms in different areas, according to Gia Khuroshvili, […]

Putin congratulates the Georgian people, not its leader

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – On the 67th anniversary of VE Day, victory in Europe in World War Two, Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to the leaders of the countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as to the two […]

Ivanishvili citizenship quick fix to only last three years

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The constitutional changes Georgia recently passed which gives EU citizens the right to stand for election will be restricted to only last for three years. The Christian Democrats party recently suggested constitutional amendments according to […]

Further changes in laws are needed, say media and groups

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Media and law organizations in Georgia suggest another package of legislative amendments for the electoral environment in the country. The bill will regulate issues like the definition of hidden political advertisement, paid and free political commercials, […]

Two minor earthquakes in South Caucasus

By | May 7th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Caucasus region experienced two minor earthquakes Monday, the strongest of 5.6 magnitude. The 5.6 magnitude earthquake occurred at 08:40 in the morning with epicenter in the border region between Azerbaijan and Georgia, 17 kilometers from Zagatala, […]

Russia copied Georgian police reform, says Saakashvili

By | May 7th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president claims Russia tried to copy the Georgian police reforms, but could not get them to work. Sunday, Saakashvili marked a recently created national holiday called Police Day, held on the same day as St George’s Day, May 6, […]

Uncertain stalemate between EU and Abkhazia

By | May 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The crisis in the EU’s dealings with a disputed region that broke away from Georgia and is heavily militarized by Russia continues as neither side is willing to give in. Abkhazia said before the weekend that it is not going to change its position. The […]

Ruling party in Georgia gave voters sheep for Easter

By | May 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Two organizations in Georgia have published information which shows that the party of President Mikheil Saakashvili bribed voters. The groups calls for the Chamber of Control and the Prosecutor’s office to react. As only five months are left until […]

Police in Georgia censored independent reporters

By | May 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Police in Georgia Friday intervened in the work of several independent journalists, but let the government-controlled TV work freely. The victims were covering the discovery of an explosive device in the center of Zugdidi, a town in western Georgia. […]

Georgian Party has broken off relations with Kitsmarishvili

By | May 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Party has broken off relations with Erosi Kitsmarisvhili, a well known politician and former manager of Maestro TV. The party has released a statement saying that for four months, the Georgian party has not had any relations with him, and […]

Georgian pro-government TV disses the church

By | May 5th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Three national TV channels in Georgia selectively left out parts of a new survey. The survey was done by the International Republican Institute, which is affiliated with the Republican party in the United States and is in Georgia to develop democracy. […]

Media diversity will be important in ’12 election

By | May 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Groups gathered Thursday to mark World Press Freedom Day with a day-long discussion about how well suited the media environment is to fulfill its public role ahead of the parliamentary election in October. The roundtable discussion was held at Courtyard […]

Saakashvili’s guards kicked journalist in the head

By | May 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – For three days, journalists from Kutaisi in the west of Georgia have been complaining about harassment by the President and Interior Minister’s guards. On May 2, president Mikheil Saakashvili was giving a speech at the city’s theatre. Nodar Jojua, […]

Georgia’s prison minister lied to get rid of protesters

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A spokesperson for the prison minister in Georgia Friday lied about her whereabouts to divert a crowd of protesters who were angry over a dead prisoner. A spokeswoman for prison minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, claimed that she was not in Tbilisi, […]

Prison death was caused by illness, not torture

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBLISI, DFWatch – An independent medical expert says the injuries seen on photos of a prisoner’s dead body were caused by a disease which was not properly treated. Zurab Delianidze died at Gldani prison hospital in Tbilisi. Media learned about his death from family […]

Bomb suspect arrested in western Georgia

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Interior Ministry says one person has been arrested for smuggling explosive material to Zugdidi, after crossing the administrative border line with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia. “Explosive material was seized by the Sappers Division […]

How one man tried to save Moscow cemetery

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgiy Ramazashvili, a Moscow-based archival researcher, in July 2011 discovered that there was new construction work on a historic cemetery in Moscow where many Georgian royals, nobles and historic persons are buried. After Georgian and Russian media […]

Georgia ignored call to stop destruction of Moscow cemetery

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian foreign ministry ignored calls from an activist in Moscow to help stop the destruction of a historic cemetery where royals, nobles and famous persons are buried. All Saints Cemetery contains the graves of Russian and Georgian nobles and […]

Stop the harassment of journalists, say Tbilisi protesters

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – ‘I am a reporter, not a spy’; ‘we want free media’ – these were some of the slogans seen during a demonstration in Tbilisi Thursday to mark World Press Freedom Day. The first rally started at 12:00 noon. Protesters symbolically tied their eyes, […]

Georgian opposition launches its own TV

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|

TBILISI, DFWatch – A Georgian billionaire’s opposition movement has launched its own TV channel. Channel 9 started broadcasting April 30 and has been given a license by the National Communication Commission to broadcast via satellite. The broadcasting permit is for […]

Tbilisians protested suspicious prison death

By | May 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – People gathered in front of parliament Thursday to protest against mistreatment of prisoners, spurred by the news of another death of a prisoner who bore signs of having been beaten. Police reported that the prisoner died of a heart attack, but […]

Another suspicious death in police custody

By | May 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – There are suspicions that a prisoner may have died as a result of torture. The family of Zurab Delianidze (39) claims that he was violently tortured and demand an inquest, according to TSPress.ge, a website run by the newspaper Tavisupali Sitkva. […]

Saakashvili’s successor will win: new poll

By | May 3rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A new poll shows that no matter who is nominated to suceed Mikheil Saakashvili, his party will win the next Georgian presidential election. A poll by the International Republican Institute shows that Saakashvili’s National Movement party still has […]

Georgian president plans details of his own cremation

By | May 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president says that after he has passed away, he wants his ashes to be spread over a holiday resort on the shores of the Black Sea. President Mikheil Saakashvili said this during a visit to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, where he is to […]

Conflicting statements about Georgian church in Jerusalem

By | May 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The issue about returning management of Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem to Georgia has no connection with the government of Israel, says Yitzhak Gerber, Israel’s Ambassador to Georgia. On May 1, before an event Sheraton Metekhi Palace Hotel in […]

Georgia’s parliament will be opened before it’s finished

By | May 3rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The new parliament building in Georgia will be only partly completed by the time of the opening session on May 26. In 2011, Mikheil Saakashvili announced that he would move parliament to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second biggest city. He also said that […]

Georgian authorities violated rights, ombudsman says

By | May 2nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch -The Georgian ombudsman criticizes a control body overseeing the financing of political parties for having violated civil rights. Earlier this year, there began to come reports about a wave of interrogations in parts of the country outside of Tbilisi. […]

Trump lauds Saakashvili on Fox & Friends

By | May 2nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The American investor Donald Trump praised Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on the morning talk show Fox & Friends recently, calling him “one of the great leaders of the world”. The billionaire and TV personality had just returned from a trip […]

Weak worker protection drew thousands for May 1 rally

By | May 2nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Thousands gathered Tuesday in central Tbilisi to celebrate the International Worker’s Day, May 1 and demonstrate in front of the parliament building. Protesters adopted an appeal to the president, government and parliament. They call on authorities […]

Trouble in EU-Abkhazia relations does not affect South Ossetia talks

By | May 2nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Breakaway Abkhazia refuses to cooperate with a Polish general who represents the EU, and the EU refuses to replace him, leading to breakdown in talks, but the dispute has had no effect on similar talks about South Ossetia. On April 30 parties gathered […]

Visa-free Georgia records flood of visitors

By | May 1st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – In first four months of 2012, 61 per cent more people came to Georgia, compared to the same period the previous year. 978 521 person visited Georgia between January and April this year, according to the Interior Ministry. Over three hundred thousand […]

Georgia criticizes European embassies for being bureaucratic

By | May 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s vice prime minister criticizes foreign embassies in Tbilisi of not following up a new agreement meant to simplify visa application procedures. Giorgi Baramidze was reacting to a new report by Liberal Academy Tbilisi, adding that […]

Georgian spring without calls for Saakashvili’s resignation

By | May 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – For the first time in more than five years, spring in the Georgian capital will not be marked by crowds demanding the resignation of President Saakashvili. At least the largest opposition party won’t be demanding that he steps down. Georgian Dream doesn’t […]

Lithuanian PM advocates Georgian NATO membership

By | April 30th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The prime ministers of Georgia and Lithuania today signed a memorandum of understanding. The MoU deals with cooperation within local government between Lithuania’s national assembly, the Seimas’s Committee on State Administration and Local Government […]

OSCE sends extra election observers to Georgia

By | April 30th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A team of election experts from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will visit Georgia June 11-16. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is sending a mission in connection with Georgia’s […]

Lithuanians arrive to talk about local government

By | April 30th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A delegation from Lithuania’s Seimas will visit Georgia on Monday. In the morning, the delegation which are members of the Seimas’ Committee on State Administration and Local Government, will participate in a Georgian-Lithuanian forum about local […]

Abkhazia opens embassy in Nicaragua

By | April 29th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia has opened an embassy in Nicaragua. According to Apsnypress, Abkhazia’s ambassador to Venezuela, Zaur Gvajava, will also take on the function as ambassador to Nicaragua. Nicaragua will help Abkhazians in their relations […]

McCain asks Clinton to lead on Georgia’s NATO membership

By | April 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – In a letter to Hilary Clinton, U.S. Senator John McCain expresses concern about Georgia’s occupied territories and calls for the Secretary of the State to support Georgia. “The upcoming NATO summit in Chicago presents an excellent opportunity to […]

‘We’ll reunite breakaway regions through negotiations’

By | April 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The main opposition bloc in Georgia says if it wins October’s election, it will get back the breakaway republics Abkhazia and South Ossetia through negotiations, with Germany as mediator. Irakli Alasania, an ex-diplomat and opposition politician who […]

Russian businessman’s beating tells of systematic violence in Abkhazia

By | April 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A Russian businessman was severely beaten at his office in Abkhazia by local business partners. A video was posted to Youtube showing footage taken from a surveillance camera. Igor Varov was taken to the hospital on April 6, due to injuries suffered […]

Georgia’s interior minister: No-one has been shot by police for years

By | April 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Interior Minister says Georgia is the only country in the world where police haven’t used weapons against a criminal for three years. “For the last three-four years no person has died from policemen’s weapon in Georgia, no policeman died […]

The background for Tuesday’s scuffle in parliament

By | April 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Armenian community asks parliament to recognize the events of 1915-1923 in Turkey as genocide and also asks Tbilisi City Hall to build a memorial dedicated to victims of the genocide. Two years ago, the community received a positive answer […]

Opposition leader blamed for inspiring Abkhazian hostility

By | April 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Giga Bokeria, Georgia’s Secretary of Security Council blames opposition leader Irakli Alasania of having caused the announcement by Abkhazia which declared the head of the EU monitoring mission (EUMM) to Georgia an undesirable person. He expressed […]

Russian President Medvedev calls Georgia’s Saakashvili ‘a zero’

By | April 27th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russian President calls his Georgian counterpart clueless and says that sooner or later there will be a new leader in Georgia, with whom Russia can cooperate. Dmitry Medvedev made this statement during an interview broadcast on a Russian TV channel. […]

Breakdown in talks between Georgia and breakaway region

By | April 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

The head of the EU observers in Georgia is a persona non grata in Abkhazia. The breakaway region’s leadership thinks he should have investigated an alleged build-up of paramilitaries in Western Georgia. (Illustration photo. EU.) TBILISI, DFWatch – The de facto foreign ministry of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia has declared the head of the EU observers a persona non grata. As a consequence, the ministry canceled the 36th planned meeting of the incident prevention mechanisms on Tuesday. […]

Georgia’s interior minister must explain warning against 2008 war

By | April 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s interior minister, Vano Merabishvili, must today answer a question in parliament about a warning he received a year and a half before the war with Russia in August 2008. The billionaire who says he made the warning is now building an opposition […]

Georgia’s National Bank lowers interest rate

By | April 26th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The National Bank of Georgia Wednesday decided to lower the main refinancing rate by a quarter point to 6.25%. Lowering the rate now is an indication that the bank has an optimistic view of the country’s economy. In a statement, the bank notes that the […]

Secrecy law criticized by groups in Georgia

By | April 26th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Two groups in Georgia want to change a new secrecy law which they say restricts access to public information. Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), Transparency International Georgia and Institute for Development of Freedom of Information […]

Georgian media to be scrutinized ahead of important election

By | April 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The European Union and United Nations Development Program is starting a new round of media monitoring in Georgia for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012 and 2013. All kinds of media outlets will be monitored, including TV, radio, […]

Sixteenth Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | April 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Defense Ministry informs that another soldier has died in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of servicemen lost there to sixteen. Valerian Khujadze was serving in the 31st Battalion in the volatile Helmand province. The incident happened on […]

Scuffle in Georgian parliament over Armenian genocide

By | April 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A scuffle broke out Tuesday in the Georgian parliament during a debate about the Armenian genocide. Jondi Baghaturia, member of parliament (MP) for the opposition Georgian Troupe party, asked in a speech what the government is going to do regarding a […]

New 210 MW hydro power station to be built in Georgia

By | April 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili Monday marked the start of construction work for a new hydro power station in a mountainous region in Western Georgia. The Nenskra power station in the village Chuberi will deliver 210 megawatt when finished. According to […]

EU Commissioner Štefan Füle encourages civic groups in Georgia

By | April 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Štefan Füle, the EU’s commissioner for enlargement, promises that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia will remain a high priority on the EU’s agenda. He says they are paying particular attention to the newly adopted law on political unions […]

Tax incentive near breakaway regions

By | April 24th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The tax pressure will be relieved, sanctions liberalized and the administration will be simplified, the government has decided. Rusudan Kemularia, Deputy Finance Minister, held a briefing on Monday regarding the plan. She presented amendments to the tax […]

Negotiations in May for U.S.-Georgia trade plan

By | April 24th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Negotiations will start between Georgia and the U.S. at the end of May aimed at intensifying trade relations. Georgia’s Prime Minister Nika Gilauri announced this after returning from a visit to the U.S. Gilauri met the heads of the Millennium Challenge […]

CoE criticizes Russian passports in Georgian breakaway regions

By | April 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly again says Russia’s practice of issuing passport in territories it occupies in Georgia is a violation of international rules. According to the Georgian parliament’s press office, relating information […]

More sites may be added to Georgia-Turkey monuments deal

By | April 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia and Turkey have still not reached agreement over the exact text of a treaty about protection of historic sites. Deputy foreign minister Nino Kalandadze said Monday that additional sites may be included as the talks progress. The treaty concerns […]

ODIHR positive to strengthened monitoring of Georgian election

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights expresses readiness to take part in observing the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze adds that Georgia is not waiting for an official response […]

Construction of new Georgian parliament still engulfed in secrecy

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – An advocacy group of young lawyers says the construction of a new parliament building in western Georgia is so opaque that there could well be corruption without anyone noticing. Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA) has researched the […]

South Africans arrive to learn secrets of Georgian soil

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A delegation of South African farmers have arrived in Georgia to check the prospects of taking root here. Papuna Davitaia, State Minister for Diaspora Issues, opened the conference, which is held at Radisson Hotel, by underlining that business relations […]

As Elit Electronics takeover is completed, ex-owner fights on

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: , |

Anzor Kokoladze believes the takeover of Elit Electronics was a conspiracy. (Photo: Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch – One of the largest electronics chains in Georgia has been taken away from its founder, as the remaining 15 per cent of shares were sold at an auction. Anzor Kokoladze, who built the chain from scratch, is serving an eight year prison term after a tax […]

Georgian opposition: Zero tax for those with low income

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Saturday, the opposition party everybody expects to challenge Mikheil Saakashvili in October’s parliamentary election gathered for a founding congress in Tbilisi. Its unofficial leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, promised to revive agriculture […]

Georgian ambassador protests country’s portrayal as Orwellian

By | April 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s ambassador to Sweden protests against the portrayal of his country as an Orwellian society where everybody is under surveillance by the secret police. Ambassador Konstantin Kavtaradze sent a letter to SVT, the Swedish public broadcaster, […]

Trump spoke about planned high rise, left Georgia

By | April 22nd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – American billionaire Donald Trump has left Georgia, after a two day visit. Trump arrived Saturday in Tbilisi, and Sunday held a press conference in Batumi, where he plans to cooperate with local investors on building a 47-storey residential high rise […]

Global weapons trade may be brought under control

By | April 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The international trade in weapons which fuels conflicts around the world may be brought under control, if talks in New York in July bear fruit. If successful, the talks will lead to the world’s first Arms Trade Treaty, aimed at preventing weapons from reaching the […]

Georgian opposition movement chooses woman to front party

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBLISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s main opposition party today chose a female lawyer as its temporary leader. As there is less than six months left until the parliamentary elections, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili today formally established his Georgian Dream party. Due to […]

Bankruptcy frees companies of all debt

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A new law lets companies escape all debt if they go bankrupt, freeing the owners of all responsibilities. Following a decision by the government, companies in Georgia will be able to liquidate without paying debts. Creditors won’t be able to ask […]

Donald Trump arrives in Tbilisi for 2-day visit

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The American billionaire Donald Trump arrived at Tbilisi international airport noon Saturday for a two day visit to Georgia. Meeting him at the airport were Minister for Economic Development Vera Kobalia and head of Silk Road Group Giorgi Ramishvili. […]

Uncertain who will front Georgian opposition movement

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – It is still unknown who will be the formal leader of the main opposition movement in Georgia, less than six months before the parliamentary elections. But there is little doubt that the real leader will be billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who Saturday […]

Why do many Georgians give their property to the state?

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

Anzor Kokoladze, the founder of one of Georgia’s most successful electronics chains, Elit Electronics, accuses the authorities of having conspired to take it over. He claims a bank, the prosecutor, the Tbilisi mayor, and a court cooperated on the scheme. Kikodze is currently in jail serving an eigth year term for failure to service a debt, a sentence upheld by the Supreme Court. (Photo: Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch – There are many reports in Georgia these days of deprivation of property rights. People abandon their property or donate it to the government right after registering it at the Public Registry, and later refuse to speak about their reasons. The founder […]

Georgians victim of human trafficking in Turkey

By | April 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – An organization in Georgia has revealed video footage showing the working conditions of Georgians in Turkey. Merab Ghoghoberidze, head of Information Center for Georgia’s Fight against Corruption in Batumi, told Interpressnews that Georgians contacted […]

Saakashvili’s apparatus accused of bribing voters

By | April 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration is accused of bribing voters, after several closed meetings with the population in different cities in Georgia, Maestro TV reports. The meetings were held to introduce the ruling National […]

Russia concerned over Georgia’s NATO aspirations

By | April 20th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says it causes confusion and apprehension for his country that Georgia continues to be a candidate for NATO membership. Lavrov said this after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council Thursday. “Now, NATO […]

Tax incentive for Georgians living near the conflict zone

By | April 20th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Property close to the occupied territories of Georgia are to be exempted from property tax. The government proposes to amend the tax code so that land which is owned by a person or property lands that are located near the occupied territories, […]

Seeds of prosperity between Georgia and Armenia?

By | April 20th, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – How can Armenia and Georgia create more growth – literally – in their border region? Agriculture was the topic of a conference Thursday at Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi. The goal was to exchange information on local planning and […]

Tougher sentences for family violence

By | April 19th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Family violence may become a crime in Georgia. Systematic physical, psychological violence or force by one family member against another, which causes physical, psychological or moral pain or suffering for the victim, will be punished by a fine or […]

New leader inaugurated in Tskhinvali

By | April 19th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – South Ossetia Thursday inaugurated its newly elected de facto president, former local KGB head Leonid Tibilov. The second round of president elections in the Georgian breakaway region was held on April 8. Tibilov competed against David Sanakoyev, […]

Political pressure on opposition activists in Eastern Georgia

By | April 19th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The pressure group Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association says supporters of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition are regularly subject to pressure in the eastern Kakheti region of Georgia. Spokesperson for GYLA’s Kakheti office told Interpressnews […]

German-Georgian relations reaffirmed in Tbilisi

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Germany is satisfied with how the negotiations between Georgia and the EU are going, to work out an association agreement. Cornelia Pieper, Germany’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, said this after a meeting with her Georgian colleague. Pieper […]

The trouble with American military laboratories

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

The U.S. has been subject to criticism for several covert projects which some claim are in breach of the ban on biological weapons. But there is no reason to suspect that such research would be done at this laboratory in Tbilisi. TBILISI, DFWatch – A new U.S. financed biological laboratory opened in March 2011 near Tbilisi. It will have American military researchers working there. Is it a problem? According to the website of the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory, it “will belong to an international […]

Another suicide reported in case of Abkhazian attackers

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Another suspect in the attack on de facto Abkhazian president is reported to have committed suicide. Ria Novosti reports that Temur Khutaba hanged himself. He was one of the men suspected in the failed assassination attempt on Alexander Ankvab on […]

Suspect in Ankvab assassination attempt commits suicide

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A former Interior minister suspected of participating in the attack on the de facto president of Abkhazia on February 22, committed suicide on Tuesday. Abkhazian news agency Apsnypress reports that operational units of the co-called Interior Ministry […]

Roki tunnel to be closed the next three years

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

The Roki tunnel is closing. (Photo: Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch – The tunnel carrying the only road connecting Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia will be partly closed for the next three years, starting April 24, Russian media reports. The Roki tunnel runs through the greater Caucasus mountain range […]

Georgian Railways is to be listed on London stock exchange

By | April 18th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Railways is set to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), becoming the second Georgian companies to achieve a listing, after Bank of Georgia. Prime Minister Nika Gilauri said April 12 that the government was planning to place several […]

German foreign affairs official visits Georgia

By | April 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Germany’s Minister of State under Foreign Minister Cornelia Pieper visits Georgia. Announcing the visit Tuesday, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said that Pieper will arrive today on April 17 and have meetings here April 18 and 19. […]

Clinton visit is certain, but date not set

By | April 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – That Hillary Clinton is coming to Georgia is now certain, as the two countries have completed agreeing on formalities around the visit. But the exact date for the U.S. Secretary of State’s trip still has to be decided, says Nino Kalandadze, Deputy […]

Georgian interior ministry in the dark about cesium traffickers

By | April 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has no detailed information about the three Turkish citizens who were arrested for smuggling radioactive material to Turkey. The three had driven by car from Russia, transiting through Georgia, and were arrested on April 11, carrying […]

Democracy topic of U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership talks

By | April 17th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The fifth meeting of the working group on democracy within the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter was held on April 16 in Washington. The Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry informs that parties discussed ongoing and already implemented […]

Russia protests Georgia’s withdrawal from treaty

By | April 17th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia considers Georgia’s decision to terminate its obligations under the Open Skies treaty with respect to Russia a flagrant violation of the treaty. “The Treaty does not provide any discriminatory restrictions on the rights of any state party. […]

Taxi drivers in Tbilisi hit by rising fuel price

By | April 14th, 2012|Categories: Economy, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Givi Maisuradze (41) is one of many independent taxi drivers in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. He works day and night and has been a driver since the 1990s, a period he calls ‘the dark times’, because the whole city was in darkness at night. Today, […]

Azerbaijan warns against visiting Georgia’s breakaway regions

By | April 14th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Azerbaijani government warns its citizens about visiting Georgia’s occupied territories. The warning is more matter-of-fact than a previous warning from the Kremlin to Russians who might be tempted to go to Georgia after a visa is no longer needed […]

Slovakian visas to be issued in Georgia

By | April 14th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Foreign Minister met his Slovakian colleague on Thursday during a visit to Bratislava. The ministers discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including important issues for both countries ahead of the NATO summit in Chicago […]

Ivanishvili reluctantly agrees to run as a French candidate

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili continues his struggle to be allowed to stand for election for parliament in October. His lawyers say a recently proposed constitutional change to allow non-Georgians to hold office has not made the […]

Georgia calls Russian travel warning a made up danger

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia warns its citizens of going to Georgia, while Georgia responds that the dangers are made up. Russian travel advice for those of its citizens who plan to vacation in Georgia is not the usual notes about vaccines and visas; it warns that […]

Six detained for assassination attempt on Abkhazian leader

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The de facto authorities in Abkhazia yesterday detained six suspects in the case about the assassination attempt on the president in February. On February 22, Alexander Ankvab’s car was fired on with machine guns and a […]

Allegations of a plot against Ivanishvili not taken seriously

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia does not take seriously allegations about the existence of a plan to kill President Saakashvili’s main competitor, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Full transcript here But one of the politicians in Ivanishvili’s coalition says that […]

Opposition party in Georgia says EU is not distrusting them

By | April 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A comment by the EU’s Ambassador to Georgia was interpreted as casting doubt on claims by the opposition Georgian Dream bloc about the government secretly building a paramilitary force. But now Georgian Dream blames a Georgian […]

Media regulatory body denies harassment

By | April 12th, 2012|Categories: Media, News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The media regulatory body in Georgia Thursday said a cable station was trying to politicize the situation in order to divert attention from its own violations. The body has fined Trialeti TV 5 000 lari (about USD 3 000) for broadcasting on a […]

Media alliance in Georgia protests against harassment

By | April 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A group in Georgia asks the media regulatory body to stop putting pressure on independent media outlets in the country. The alliance behind the appeal is called Solidarity for Freedom of Media and was formed in early February in the wake of the takeover of […]

Court removes licence requirement for cable broadcasters

By | April 12th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Constitutional Court made a decision in favor of canceling the requirement of a license for cable broadcasting. But a license is still needed for satellite broadcasting. The court partly satisfied an appeal by the Public Defender, who […]

Georgia protests destruction of royal grave in Moscow

By | April 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, a prince and writer who lived in the 18th century, is buried at Vsesvyatsky Cemetery in Moscow. TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Foreign Ministry has formally protested against how Russia is treating a royal cemetary in Moscow. Tbilisi believes that authorities in Moscow are going ahead with construction work on the cemetary, which contains the graves of the […]

Arab Spring negotiator comes to Tbilisi for talks

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Frank Wisner, former US Ambassador to the UN, who last year negotiated with Hosni Mubarak to defuse the Egyptian crisis, is in Georgia to hold meetings. Wisner arrived on invitation of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian president’s main political […]

Youth protested against the fining of a TV station

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: Media, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Around ten youth activists today protested outside the Georgian National Communication Commission against the fining of a regional television station. Irakli Beraia, one of the activists, says the fine is an attempt by the government to suppress […]

Ivanishvili will not apply for double citizenship

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s richest is not going to apply to the president for double citizenship. Bidzina Ivanishvili’s citizenship issue is still unresolved. Six months has passed since the president revoked it, which happened four days after the businessman released […]

U.S. brings mine-resistant vehicles to Georgia for training

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Department of Defense has brought 28 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAP) to Georgia to train Georgian troops. The U.S. embassy in Tbilisi released a statement saying that the vehicles will be transfered from the […]

New South Ossetian leader to seek a union with Russia

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The newly elected leader of South Ossetia, a former local KGB head, promises to continue the course of closer relations with Russia, on a course towards uniting South and North Ossetia. South Ossetia, or the Tskhinvali region, which was occupied […]

Bust honoring Lech Kaczynski unveiled in Tbilisi

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A bust of Poland’s late president Lech Kaczynski was opened Tuesday here in Tbilisi. The square where it is located is near the street named after him by Tbilisi City Council to honor him after his tragic death two years ago. Zaal Samadashvili, […]

Saakashvili defends reservist plan opposition labeled paramilitaries

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili Monday defended a new network of voluntary reservists which the main opposition bloc has warned are paramilitaries meant for starting a civil war. Saakashvili, speaking at an event to mark 23 years since […]

Georgia enforces ban on entering breakaway reps the wrong way

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court has sentenced a Russian businessman to pay a fine of about USD 1 200 because he had visited Abkhazia before coming to Georgia. The court found that the businessman had violated a law which bans travel across the borders […]

70% increase in Russian visitors to Georgia

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – About 30 000 Russians have entered Georgia since visa restrictions were lifted February 28. This is seventy per cent higher than the same period last year. Before President Mikheil Saakashvili the liberalized visa rules for Russians, there was visa […]

Cleared away mourners and needy to make room for Saakashvili

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – They came holding candles to commemorate the twenty people who died here twenty three years ago. But police cleared them away to make room for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s April 9 event. Just before Saakashvili was to hold his speech, police […]

Saakashvili warns against the enemy within

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Speaking on April 9, officially known as The Day of National Unity, President Mikheil Saakashvili warned against his country’s enemy within. Addressing soldiers in the yard of the parliament building on the important public holiday dedicated to unity, […]

Georgia tests new domestically produced drone

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili announced the test flight in a speech April 9. The date is symbolically significant as a peaceful demonstration for independence was attacked by Soviet troops here in Tbilisi in 1989. Saakashvili made reference to […]

April 9 remembered in Tbilisi, 23 years later

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – April 9 is 21 year anniversary for the restoration of Georgia’s independence and 23 years since the Soviet Union used soldiers to disperse a peaceful protest in Tbilisi. Georgian society, government and opposition remembered this day on Rustaveli […]

Russian sanitary official concerned about Tbilisi laboratory

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia’s chief sanitary inspector is concerned about the deployment of U.S. military laboratories at former Soviet medical institutions in Ukraine and Georgia. According to NEWSru, a Russian news website owned by Gazprom, Gennady Onishchenko […]

Georgia to amend constitution in Ivanishvili case

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili’s main competitor will be allowed to participate in the parliamentary elections in October, after the government agreed to amend the constitution. Following the amendment, EU citizens can run in elections in Georgia. […]

Museum in Stalin’s hometown to focus on history of stalinism

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The museum dedicated to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in his hometown of Gori in Georgia will change name to the Museum of Stalinism. The Ministry of Culture is behind the idea that the museum will offer visitors a historical account of stalinism, […]

Dzhioyeva forms opposition party in South Ossetia

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – In South Ossetia, the opposition leader Alla Dzhioyeva has decided to set up a new political party. April 7, an organizing committee for the new party called ‘Iriston – Freedom Square’ met at Dzhioyeva’s headquarters, Ekho Kavkaza reports. “We […]

Ex-KGB officer wins in South Ossetia

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A former local head of the KGB in South Ossetia has won the presidential elections in the breakaway region. Leonid Tibilov received about 55 percent of the votes beating competitor David Sanakoyev, presidential human rights commissioner. The […]