TBILISI, DFWatch–Three members of the Georgian parliament are to visit Moscow and meet the Russian Duma member whose recent visit to Tbilisi led to the country’s worst political crisis for years. The three Georgian MPs represent the Alliance of Patriots and plan to meet Duma member Sergey Gavrilov, who sparked outrage last month when he … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of angry men assaulted a small protest rally at the residence of Georgian Dream leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili on Wednesday, according to the opposition United National Movement. The residence is situated at Shekvetili, a Black Sea coastal resort in Ozurgeti Municipality in western Georgia. The group of attackers consisted of 50 men, … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has granted citizens of South Ossetia the right to stay in Russia indefinitely, in a move seen as yet another step toward annexation of the tiny breakaway territory. Under the current bilateral agreement between Moscow and Tskhinvali, citizens of the breakaway republic are allowed to stay in Russia for up to 90 days … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The founder of Georgia’s largest bank has announced his intention to establish a “public movement”, a step seen by many as a bid to enter politics. Mamuka Khazaradze, the founder of TBC Bank, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the June 20 events were a “watershed” that moved him to act. “I … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizers of Tbilisi Pride called off the queer rights march after the location was revealed online, but opponents were suspicious and mobilized anyway. The first gay rights march in the Caucasus was originally planned for June but postponed due to anti-government protests that turned violent. Monday was set as new date for Tbilisi Pride, … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The first ever Pride march in the Caucasus region is scheduled to take place on Monday in Tbilisi, amid pressure and threats from conservatives. Both the organizers and supporters of Pride on the one hand, and socially conservative groups on the other, have announced full mobilization. Tbilisi Pride first was planned more than two … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities are pursuing criminal charges against several high-profile opposition figures after the June 21-22 uprising in the center of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Spokespersons for two major opposition parties, United National Movement (UNM) and European Georgia, claim they are being targeted for political reasons, while the government accuses the opposition of having attempted to … Read more
ZUGDIDI, DFWatch–Most of the school graduates from Abkhazia who were stuck at Enguri bridge on their way to exams eventually managed to get through on Monday, DFWatch was told by several of them. However, some teenagers are still stranded at the only point of crossing between the breakaway republic and Georgia proper. Due to the … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of teenagers from Gali district are stuck on the breakaway Abkhazia side of Enguri bridge after Sokhumi closed the sole passage in the wake of anti-Russian, anti-government rallies in Tbilisi. The students are trying to get to Georgia proper in order to take part in the Unified National Entrance Exams, which are … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of the separatist parliament in Sokhumi are demanding criminal action against Georgian MP Akaki Bobokhidze for an angry outburst during a brawl last week during an inter-parliamentary assembly. Bobokhidze, who represents European Georgia, scolded a member of the Russian Duma who was chairing the assembly. “We were killing you in Abkhazia and will … Read more