Tuesday, December 16, 2025

News

Georgian parliament staffs Supreme Court amid opposition boycott, “chemical attack” and roaring protests

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Parliament of Georgia approved 14 candidates as Supreme Court judges amid a cascade of confrontations on Thursday, which included even physical conflict between two MPs. The list of judges includes several controversial individuals which, many civic activists argue, will eventually help ruling Georgian Dream party to tighten its grip to the country’s judiciary. Prosecutor General … Read more

“The ice has started to melt” – Georgian government, opposition agree to discuss electoral reform

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The second round of negotiations between the Georgian government and opposition was concluded Sunday late evening with a slight progress amid growing pressure from western politicians and diplomats. The ruling party Georgian Dream has grudgingly agreed to discuss establishment of multi-mandate majoritarian electoral districts instead of single-member ones. “The ice has started to melt,” Giorgi … Read more

Georgian government accused of utilizing street violence to check opposition protests

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The Georgia Dream has employed a new tactic to check anti-government protests throughout Georgia, which includes unleashing violent gangs of their supporters to confront activists verbally and physically, opposition claims. This invokes a parallel with Euromaidan when the government of pro-Russian leader Victor Yanukovych unleashed gangs of unidentified young men to attack and beat opposition … Read more

Political crisis in Georgia reaches point of no return, opposition starts “permanent” rallies

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TBILISI, DFWatch–The confrontation between the Georgian Dream (GD) government and the opposition appears to have reached a point of no return, as the former on Monday flatly ruled out any chance of changing the electoral system. Kakha Kaladze, the Tbilisi mayor who has been front man for the GD the last few days, said at … Read more

Infighting between criminal clans named as possible motive of Sokhumi restaurant shooting

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The perpetrators of deadly shooting in Sokhumi center are still at large despite efforts by the regime law enforcers who have blocked almost all roads and checkpoints in Georgia’s breakaway republic of Abkhazia. At the same time, the de facto officials reveal the identity and possible motives of the crime. Two men, both 38 years … Read more

37 detained after police disperses opposition rally in Tbilisi

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TBILISI, DFWatch–37 people were detained in Tbilisi on Monday after riot police dispersed a group of opposition activists blocking the parliament to protest its failure to amend the electoral law. Four people, including two police officers, have sustained injuries, the police said. The police and protesters clashed at the entrance of parliament after the latter … Read more

Georgian Dream’s alleged electoral deceit urged thousands to rally

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Thousands of people rallied onTbilisi’s Rustaveli Ave on Thursday, after parliament failed to adopt a bill to use a proportional system during the 2020 general elections. The switch to proportional system, a long-standing demand by almost the entire opposition spectrum, was a promise by the ruling Georgian Dream party in the wake of “Gavrilov Night” protests … Read more

Cleric 'forcefully removed' from Holy Synod after 'indecent' accusation against Georgia's Patriarch

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TBILISI, DFWatch–A session of the Holy Synod in Tbilisi has shocked the entire nation, as one of its members accused the spiritual leader and most popular person in the country, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, of “pederasty”. The accusation was so obscene and sudden that the dozens of journalists awaiting the results of the meeting outside of … Read more

Cleric’s shocking claim in TV interview triggers political crisis in Georgia

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TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the government is embroiled in a scandal involving the Orthodox Church, after a bishop claimed the government tried to depose the highly respected Patriarch Ilia II. Iakob, Archbishop of Bodbe Diocese, made the incendiary claim during an appearance on Pirveli TV on Saturday. During the interview, the bishop, who is reportedly a … Read more

Trial of TBC Bank founders begins at Tbilisi court

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TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Friday began hearing a high-profile criminal case against the founders of Georgia’s biggest private bank. The Prosecutor’s Office accuses Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze of money laundering. The two pleaded not guilty and accused the government and Bidzina Ivanishvili personally of engaging in political persecution. The charges against Khazaradze and … Read more