Sunday, February 22, 2026

Political crisis deepens in Georgia following violent police raid and arrest of opposition leader

TBILISI, DFWatch–A police raid of the headquarters of Georgia’s largest opposition party and the arrest of its leader Tuesday morning has further deepened the political crisis in the country. Nika Melia, leader of the United National Movement, was dragged out of the party building by riot police following a violent raid where they also used … Read more

Abkhazia village appeals to Tbilisi for help after massive disease outbreak, suspected to be Covid-19

GALI, DFwatch–In the village of Tagiloni in the Gali district of breakaway Abkhazia, there has been an explosion of cases of an illness locals suspect to be Covid-19, following a burial feast held ten days ago. Locals reached out to DFWatch, to appeal for help from Tbilisi, saying there is a severe shortage of medical … Read more

Resignation of PM fails to defuse Georgia's political crisis, as incoming PM vows to 'restore order', hinting that UNM leader Melia may still be arrested

TBILISI, DFWatch–The opposition in Georgia breathed a sigh of relief Thursday, as Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation and the MInistry of Internal Affairs postponed the arrest of Nika Melia, leader of the largest opposition party in the country, UNM. Opposition leaders had spent the night at the UNM headquarters  to protect Melia from … Read more

Georgia on the verge of fierce escalation: opposition prepares to resist arrest of UNM leader after controversial court ruling

TBILISI, DFWatch–Five out of eight opposition parties and blocks which passed one percent barrier in 2020 parliamentary election – UNM, European Georgia, Lelo, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Labour Party – voice their support for and pledge to defend UNM’s Nika Melia in the face of his impending arrest after the Wednesday’s court ruling. Several smaller political groups … Read more

Georgia lifts some coronavirus restrictions after week of protests

TBILISI, DFWatch–Amid growing discontent and irritation among the population, the Georgian government is lifting some of the most painful restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. From Monday, February 8, public transport in major cities will be allowed to operate, while from February 15, the government will lift restrictions on markets, reopen cafes and restaurants, and … Read more

Georgia's Public Defender says representatives are threatened by Soviet-style inmate leaders

TBILISI, DFWatch–Penitentiary authorities in Georgia have unleashed “prisoners managed by the administration” to systematically carry out “verbal attacks, threats and aggression” against representatives of the Public Defender’s Office, Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria said on Wednesday. The PDO earlier released a report claiming the management model of semi-open prisons was based on an informal hierarchy of prisoners, … Read more

Georgia to lift some Covid-19 restrictions after drop in number of infections

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia plans to gradually lift Covid-19 related restrictions as the most recent statistics show a reduction both in new cases and the number of deaths, the country’s chief epidemiologist Amiran Gamkrelidze said on Monday.  This process will be accompanied by an increase in the total number of tests and the start of vaccinations in … Read more

Novosibirsk Opera terminates contract with wife of former leader of Georgian opposition party UNM

TBILISI, DFWatch–A Russian theater in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, which was supposed to be headed by the wife of a prominent Georgian opposition politician, has terminated its contract with her. Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater said the decision was provoked by the fact that former Bolshoi prima ballerina Nino Ananiashvili made a premature public … Read more