Monday, December 22, 2025

Arab Spring negotiator comes to Tbilisi for talks

Frank Wisner (left) came on invitation by Bidzina Ivanishvili (right), and the two answered questions from journalists outside Ivanishvili's futuristic complex in Tbilisi. In January 2011, Wisner was sent by Obama to defuse the Egyptian crisis. (Photo: Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Frank Wisner, former US Ambassador to the UN, who last year negotiated with Hosni Mubarak to defuse the Egyptian crisis, is in Georgia to hold meetings.

Wisner arrived on invitation of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian president’s main political

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Youth protested against the fining of a TV station

About ten activists stood outside the Georgian National Communication Commission to show support for Trialeti, a regional TV station, which the commission fined USD 3 000. (Photo: Mari Nikuradze.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Around ten youth activists today protested outside the Georgian National Communication Commission against the fining of a regional television station.

Irakli Beraia, one of the activists, says the fine is an attempt by the government to suppress

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U.S. brings mine-resistant vehicles to Georgia for training

An MRAP vehicle in Afghanistan. (Polish Ministry of National Defence.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Department of Defense has brought 28 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAP) to Georgia to train Georgian troops.

The U.S. embassy in Tbilisi released a statement saying that the vehicles will be transfered from the

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New South Ossetian leader to seek a union with Russia

Newly elected leader Leonid Tibilov says he will continue the course towards a union between North and South Ossetia. (RES.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – The newly elected leader of South Ossetia, a former local KGB head, promises to continue the course of closer relations with Russia, on a course towards uniting South and North Ossetia.

South Ossetia, or the Tskhinvali region, which was occupied

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Bust honoring Lech Kaczynski unveiled in Tbilisi

The bust honoring Lech Kaczynski is near a street also named after him. (Photo: Mari Nikuradze.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – A bust of Poland’s late president Lech Kaczynski was opened Tuesday here in Tbilisi.

The square where it is located is near the street named after him by Tbilisi City Council to honor him after his tragic death two years ago.

Zaal Samadashvili,

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Saakashvili defends reservist plan opposition labeled paramilitaries

Mikheil Saakashvili didn't mention Irakli Alasania by name, but said anyone who questions the idea behind the voluntary reservists are serving the enemy. Alasania said the newly created forces are set up in preparation for social unreast and a possible civil war after the election in October. (Photo: Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili Monday defended a new network of voluntary reservists which the main opposition bloc has warned are paramilitaries meant for starting a civil war.

Saakashvili, speaking at an event to mark 23 years since

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Georgia enforces ban on entering breakaway reps the wrong way

To see the waterfront in Sukhumi the legal way, Russians must first go to Georgia, and then enter Abkhazia. Otherwise, they risk four years in jail.

TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court has sentenced a Russian businessman to pay a fine of about USD 1 200 because he had visited Abkhazia before coming to Georgia.

The court found that the businessman had violated a law which bans travel across the borders

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70% increase in Russian visitors to Georgia

Larsi, one of the ways Russians can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, which 30 000 have done since Saakashvili announced the new rules February 28.

TBILISI, DFWatch – About 30 000 Russians have entered Georgia since visa restrictions were lifted February 28.

This is seventy per cent higher than the same period last year.

Before President Mikheil Saakashvili the liberalized visa rules for Russians, there was visa

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Cleared away mourners and needy to make room for Saakashvili

People who came to commemorate the deaths of peaceful pro-independence demonstrators in 1989 were forcibly removed by police right before Mikheil Saakashvili arrived. Some were driven to other parts of Tbilisi. (Photo: Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – They came holding candles to commemorate the twenty people who died here twenty three years ago. But police cleared them away to make room for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s April 9 event.

Just before Saakashvili was to hold his speech, police

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