TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament has finally passed the bill about common courts after months of discussions. But the law still requires the president’s signature in order to come into force, which it is expected that President Mikheil Saakashvili will refuse to provide.
News
Six Georgians released by South Ossetia
TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto government of Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia has released six Georgians who were detained for ‘illegally crossing the border.’ Two of them have been detained since September 19, 2012.
Malkhaz Titvelashvili and Givi
Georgia defends Ivanishvili's Virgin Islands assets
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government on Friday defended Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili after he was listed in an article in the Guardian as one of the people who own secret companies registered on the British Virgin Islands.
The reason he didn’t disclose
Number of prisoners halved in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of prisoners in Georgia was reduced by 56.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, according to the Ministry of Corrections.
The number of prisoners has been a cause of alarm during the last years.
Agreement about not changing the course of Mtkvari
TBILISI, DFWatch–The course of one of the main rivers in Georgia will not be changed, the energy minister said at a meeting with members of President Saakashvili’s party on Thursday.
Mtkvari is the longest river in Georgia, and crosses the whole country from west
Georgian villagers want to stop land sale to Indians
TBILISI, DFWatch–The population in the village Ditsi, which is located close to Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region, are protesting against the sale of their land to Indians and refuse to let them cultivate it.
Even though the farmers in the village are left without pasture,
Saakashvili loses control of Kutaisi
TBILISI, DFWatch–Saakashvili’s National Movement party has lost its majority in Kutaisi city assembly.
This is the second largest city in Georgia, and where the parliament currently is located. A nearby air field also newly connected the city by international
Turkey confirms Rabati castle agreement
Turkey’s ambassador to Georgia confirms that experts from Turkey have visited Rabati castle and requested certain ‘changes and improvements’ for the complex.
Two days ago, a spokesperson for President Mikheil Saakashvili presented a draft of an agreement
Saakashvili's party criticizes easing of A, SO travel rules
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party is critical to a process to amend the law on the occupied territories.
The amendment deals with rules for how to travel to the breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia and punishment for breaking the rules.
Government prepares to move parliament back to the capital
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government has announced a USD 3 million tender for the rehabilitation reconstruction of the old parliament building in Tbilisi.
On Mikheil Saakashvili’s initiative, a new parliament was built in Kutaisi, the second largest city in the country.