TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s former UN ambassador, now an opposition leader, says that President Mikheil Saakashvili’s apparatus is organizing paramilitary groups and handing out weapons in preparation for a civil war in the power struggle ahead of the election this October.
News
European Council to examine pre-election moves by Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Council of Europe is to examine moves by the government of Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili made ahead of a crucial parliamentary election in October.
The Advisory Board of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has put it on the agenda of
Israel contradicts Georgia's account of visa negotiations
TBILISI, DFWatch – A report from an Israeli news agency contradicts what the Georgian government is saying about negotiations over visa rules between the two countries.
New agency Izrus writes that Israeli officials acknowledge that there are going to be negotiations
Georgian security official chimes in on Russian visa move
TBILISI, DFWatch – After a top Georgian lawmaker and the foreign ministry came out with critical remarks about a statement by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov about visa rules, Georgia’s security council chief also added his comments.
Security Council Secretary Giga
Georgia answers Lavrov about canceling law
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday responded to a request by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov the day before that Georgia should cancel a law that targets some Russians as criminals for having visited Georgia’s breakaway regions.
Germany wants extra election observers to Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Germany wants to send in extra long-term election observers to Georgia ahead of an important parliamentary election which sees two political blocs for the first time competing against each other.
The extra observers will be working for the European Union,
US Ambassador criticizes interrogations in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, John Bass, has expressed concern about the wave of interrogations carried out by the Georgian Chamber of Control.
“Concerned about the controversy surrounding the Chamber of Control’s recent
Two students beaten in Tbilisi, say it was because of blog
TBILISI, DFWatch – Representatives of Tbilisi State University’s student’s union Wednesday beat two students.
The students who were beaten believe the reason was a recently started blog which contains criticism of the student’s union and its actions, as well as the university.
Georgian lawmaker answers Lavrov
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is not going to abolish the law on occupied territories before Russia starts pulling back its occupying troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
This was the response Georgia’s ruling party had to a statement by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov
Georgia's patriarch congratulates Putin with election
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Patriarch congratules Vladimir Putin with having been elected as president of Russia.
Polls have shown Patriarch Ilia II to be the most respected person among the Georgian population.
His administration has published the text of the