Sunday, February 22, 2026

News

Saakashvili was inappropriately given strong "anti-psychotic drugs" in prison, a group of medics says

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, was given “anti-psychotic drugs” while in custody without a medical need, according to an organization involved in his defense, while his lawyer adds “suspicions grow” this might be done deliberately to impair his mental health. The Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture “Empathy”, which is actively involved in the … Read more

Georgia's former president Saakashvili to be moved from prison to military hospital after deteriorating health 50 days into hunger strike

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TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the government Friday agreed to transfer the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili to a military hospital, after a sudden deterioration of his health. The ex-president’s fifty day long hunger strike has caused a public outrage and a growing pressure from the West. Saakashvili and his lawyers demanded to transfer him to a … Read more

Saakashvili rushed to prison hospital as supporters rally around the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili was rushed to a prison hospital in Tbilisi Monday evening, reportedly due to a deteriorating health condition after being on a hunger strike for 39 days. Saakashvili had been held in Rustavi penitentiary since October 1, when he was arrested after returning to his home country for the … Read more

Saakashvili receives emergency treatment as health seriously deteriorates after 25 days on hunger strike

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition deteriorated critically Monday, after 25 days of hunger strike. His condition was so serious that he required emergency treatment by doctors. After a while his condition improved, said the former president’s defense lawyer Dimitri Sadzaglishvili. “Saakashvili is now entering such a phase of starvation that his health … Read more

Georgia's GD government holds off on tougher Covid-19 restrictions until after second round of local elections

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Officials in Georgia are considering a return to tougher Covid-19 restrictions after a sharp rise in new cases, but are likely to wait until after the second round of the local elections on October 30. Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the National Center for Disease Control, the key person in managing the pandemic response in … Read more

Georgia mourns nine victims of building collapse

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is mourning the victims of the collapse of a 7-storey building  in Batumi, while investigators are working to identify the causes of the tragedy, which killed nine people, including three children. People bring dolls, flowers and candles to the rubble of the collapsed apartment building. Out of the 9 people who were killed … Read more

Former president Saakashvili returns to Georgia and is arrested a day before local elections

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili allegedly returned on Friday to his home country on Friday after eight and a half years’ absence. Law enforcement authorities arrested the former leader the same evening. The news about the ex-president’s arrest sparked celebrations among the opposition and frustration within the government, and threatened to overshadow preparations for … Read more

Georgia halts public transport in biggest cities amid new deadly wave of Covid-19

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government is tightening regulations due to the worsening epidemiological situation, but still refrains from reintroducing curfew and lockdown, measures that are wildly unpopular among the population. The government was originally expected to announce a new tightening of measures on Tuesday after news of hospitals buckling under the stress of skyrocketing Covid-19 numbers, … Read more

Covid-19 surge reaching crisis point in Georgia as hospitals struggle

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The recent surge in Covid-19 is causing a steadily deteriorating situation in Georgia and approaching crisis level. Hospitals are reporting  an acute shortage of free beds and medical staff, while the government is considering more restrictions, something it did not intend to do before the October 2 local elections. “We will meet again at … Read more

Georgia brings back some stricter regulations amid skyrocketing number of new Covid-19 cases

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Against the backdrop of a skyrocketing number of new cases of Covid-19 and a steady increase in the number of deaths, authorities in Georgia decided Monday to bring back stricter regulations, but stopped short of using another round of lockdown or curfews to battle the virus. The Interagency Coordinating Council met on Monday and … Read more