-The absence of a free media makes any kind of meaningful democracy impossible. Saakashvili’s givernment is using legalistic and legislative pyrotechnics to ensure an unfair political system, says Lincoln Mitchell, Associate at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute and Georgia-expert.
TBILISI, DFWatch – Recent sports events in Georgia are mainly connected to politics. After the Olympic judo champion Zurab Zviadauri joined the opposition Georgian Dream movement, two others within the same sport have joined him: Olympic bronze medalist Nestor
TBILISI, DFWatch – The number of visitors to Georgia is increasing.
The latest figures from the Interior Ministry show that the number of foreigners who visited Georgia in the first five months of 2012 was half of what it was during all of 2011.
2 822 363 persons
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Interior Ministry is looking into a foreign trace in the search for those responsible for placing a bomb in front of Israel’s Embassy in Tbilisi in February.
There are no further details about the investigation.
On February 13, police
TBILISI, DFWatch – Dirk Niebel, Germany’s Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, will visit Batumi on June 2.
The German embassy informs that Niebel is planning to meet with Georgian government representatives. He will also study bilateral projects
TBILISI, DFWatch – Former employees at Georgia’s education ministry are reporting about harassment and threats after they resigned in protest against the ministry’s decision to fire the head of the National Examinations Center.
Almost half the employees at the exam
TBILISI, DFWatch – A government commission set up to monitor usage of administrative resources during the elections is calling for a halt in the dismissal of ministry employees before the elections are over with.
Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zghuladze released a
TBILISI, DFWatch – Ahead of a visit to Georgia by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, democracy campaigners are appealing to her for support in providing a fair election environment.
The campaign This Affects You Too was started in February 2012, after the
TBILISI, DFWatch – U.S. Senator Richard Durbin says after familiarizing with the situation in Georgia that it was an unfortunate day for him, as he has seen a country split in two.
After arriviong yesterday, Durbin had meetings with organizations, as well as the
TBILISI, DFWatch – An investigation has been launched in Italy regarding 33 rigged football games, and Georgia’s most famous football player is implicated in the case.
Kakhi Kaladze, a former professional who played Genoa during 2010-2011, denies being involved.