Youth related topics
Another music festival in Georgia canceled after threats from priests
Orthodox priests demanded that the ruins must be protected from 'amoral' behavior. TBILISI, DFWatch--One more electronic music festival in Georgia has been canceled due to threats from clergy, this time in Kobuleti on the Black Sea coast. Organizers of GR Fest wrote on Facebook that the youth festival, which is scheduled to start on [...]
Tbilisi ‘rave-olution’ protesters mark one year anniversary of night club raids that sparked movement
(Radiotavisupleba.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A satirical bust of Georgia’s interior minister was placed in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi on Sunday, on the anniversary of the controversial police raids of two nightclubs. The statue’s pedestal was equipped with a red button, which if pressed made a voice say: "Let's start with an apology." This [...]
Georgian and Indian youth clash in Mtatsminda Park
(Youtube.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Groups of Georgian and Indian youth clashed last Thursday in Mtatsminda Park, one of Tbilisi's main tourist destinations. A video has surfaced showing a fight between groups of young men, with several young women watching. In the video, one of the brawlers, presumably a Georgian, is seen hitting another man violently with [...]
Number of foreign students in Georgia doubles in four years
Foreign medical students in Georgia. (Commersant.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Nearly 29,000 foreign students are enrolled at universities and other higher educational institutions in Georgia; most of them come from Turkey, Iraq and India, as well as other Asian countries. The number of foreign students has doubled during the last four years, from 4,812 in 2015 to [...]
Georgian clubbers call off protest after interior minister promises investigation of police brutality
Beka Tsikarishvili, one of the spokespersons for the clubbers who protested. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi youth outraged by police raids of two night clubs called off their two day long protest Sunday night after the interior minister publicly apologized for police brutality and promised an investigation. […]
GEM Fest 2018 thrown into doubt after application for permit rejected
TBILISI, DFWatch–GEM Fest may be canceled this year, after an agency of the Georgian government denied the festival a permit to rent a land plot. The fate of the annual electronic music festival, which is popular among youth in Georgia and neighboring countries, was thrown into doubt because the The National Agency of State Property (NASP) […]
Georgia moves toward legalizing marijuana with Constitutional Court ruling
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down a law requiring a doctor’s prescription to use marijuana, scoring another victory for campaigners who want the soft drug fully decriminalized. An individual’s right “to choose the desired kind of the relaxation […] including marijuana, […]
22-year-old woman dies from suspected drug use at music festival
(GEM Fest/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have brought in stricter anti-drug measures at a youth festival after a 22 year old woman tragically died. The female bank employee became ill Friday after allegedly ingesting the drug ‘bio’. She was rushed to hospital but died 8 hours later. […]
Rappers whose arrest sparked review of drug policy released on bail
Mishka Mgaloblishvili. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia released on bail two rappers whose controversial arrest on drug charges may have hastened a review of the drug policy. The court released the two on bail Monday after their arrest June 10 for possession of between 1.5 and 2.3 grams […]
PM responds to groundswell of support for Georgia’s jailed rappers
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s prime minister promised to soften the country’s drug policy Saturday evening as a large crowd gathered in the capital Tbilisi in support of two detained rappers who claim drugs were planted on them by police as revenge for a music video. […]
Constitutional Court decides prison is too harsh punishment for marijuana use
(DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court has struck down a law which sent many young people to prison for using marijuana. Being charged with possession and consumption of marijuana will no longer land you in jail in Georgia, after the Constitutional Court […]
Protest for drug liberalization leads to detentions in Tbilisi
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A protest against Georgia’s strict drug policy led to clashes with police and two people being detained in Tbilisi on Saturday. Protesters gathered in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Ave in Tbilisi to demand a softer drug policy. […]
TSU students begin new sit-in, demand election cancelled
TBILISI, DFWatch–Student at Tbilisi’s largest university began another round of protest this week, breaking into building number 6 of TSU and refusing to leave until there are reforms of the education system. Using the same name as the ad hoc group during a wave of protests […]
Georgia’s Constitutional Court strikes down tough marijuana law
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down a law that has landed many young people in jail for years for using marijuana. The court abolished part of article 273 of the Criminal code, which mandated jail sentence for anyone caught […]
TSU students threaten to resume protest after rector’s election
Students at Tbilisi State University held sit-ins in March and April, 2016. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University threaten to resume their sit-ins and blockades after a former deputy education minister Friday became new rector in what they claim was rigged a election. Gia Sharvashidze was backed by 21 members of TSU’s academic council. […]
Protesters blame Georgia’s drug policy for young man’s suicide
(Photo by Tornike Shevardnadze / Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists clashed with police in a town in western Georgia on Saturday. The protesters blame the government’s drug policy for driving a 22-year-old man to take his own life. Protesters gathered in front of the Samtredia […]
New cafe offers youth a place to meet in Pankisi
(DFWatch.) (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new café in Pankisi Gorge will offer young people a place to gather. Locals say they cannot remember ever having had a place for young people to get together. The café opened Wednesday in the village Duisi, the central village in Pankisi Gorge, […]
Auditorium 115 to ask court’s help to break student union’s ‘monopoly’
Auditorium 115 was formed during the student protests at Tbilisi State University in March. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The student movement Auditorium 115 plans to file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court demanding to amend several regulations in the law about higher education. Members of the organization which was created during protests […]
Pro student union rally draws people who don’t know why they’re there
(Imedi TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Groups from different universities in Georgia demonstrated in the streets of Tbilisi on Tuesday, mainly demanding education reform, but local media wrote that many of the students didn’t know what the goal of the event was. The […]
Tbilisi students object against Soviet style surveillance methods
TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University (TSU) protested on Monday against what they call a ‘police regime’, demanding that law enforcement bodies stop threatening their families and that the so-called ODRs are removed from publicly owned universities. […]
Darejan Tvaltvadze elected acting rector of Tbilisi State University
Darejan Tvaltvadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Academic staff at Tbilisi State University voted for a new acting rector on Wednesday. The winner was the vice rector, Darejan Tvaltvadze, who received 526 out of 967 votes cast. Other candidates were TSU professors Levan Gordeziani […]
Student activists say police threatened their families
Students at Tbilisi State University created a new movement in March. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The student movement Auditorium 115, which sprang up a during a protest at Tbilisi State University (TSU) in March, claims that law enforcement bodies are putting pressure on them and their families. The State Security Service denies this. […]
Students and lecturers in joint protest at Georgian Technical University
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the last week, several lecturers at Georgian Technical University (GTU) have been on hunger strike demanding the resignation of the rector, who has been elected three times in a row. Five lecturers, with the support of students, […]
Revived TSU student protest called off after talks with PM
PM meeting with students at Auditorium 115 (Tornike Shevardnadze/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After two days of blocking the journalists’ campus at Tbilisi State University, the Auditorium 115 movement Sunday evening left the building after meeting several hours with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. Students of Tbilisi […]
TSU students reject reform proposal, relaunch protests Saturday
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University (TSU) will resume their protests on Saturday, after negotiations with the Ministry of Education failed. After a meeting with Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze Wednesday evening, members of the group Auditorium 115, […]
TSU rector resigns after weeks of protests
Vladimer Papava. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Vladimer Papava, the rector of Tbilisi State University (TSU), resigned Wednesday, but denied that he had done so because of pressure. “A lot of things influenced this decision. Their hunger strike and your demands, but many other things,” Vladimer Papava said. […]
Intelligence official denies the presence of agents at TSU
Levan Izoria said the practice of placing ODR agents at universities to spy on students ended in 2015. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The conflict at Tbilisi State University (TSU) seemed to be over a few weeks ago, but now Georgian intelligence has jumped into the fray, announcing that it hasn’t had agents at TSU since the beginning of this year. The presence […]
Tbilisi State University initiates impeachment procedures
TSU Rector Vladimer Papava. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The academic council at Tbilisi State University (TSU) has started impeachment procedures against the rector after a meeting with members of the student’s union (Tvitmmartveloba). Classes were resumed Friday at TSU after more than a week of conflict […]
Classes resume at TSU, but conflict still simmers
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a week-long student sit-in, teaching has resumed at the main building of Tbilisi State University (TSU), while the opposing groups continue to fight for their demands. Friday, Professor Gogi Gogsadze at the Social and Political Studies Faculty […]
Students leave Tbilisi State University after nearly a week’s sit-in
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The protests at Tbilisi State University are over. Auditorium No 115 and members of student government (Tvitmmartveloba) have left the main building after occupying it for about a week. Police, security guards and journalists also left the building. The student […]
Negotiation attempts fail to solve TSU student protest
One of the leaders of Auditorium 115. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than a week, students have been protesting at Tbilisi State University and the tension continues to escalate. TSU is split in two, with the police and security guards protecting every entrance to the two-wing building occupied by students. […]
Student conflict escalates as rector refuses to resign
TSU Rector Vladimer Papava. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the fifth day of protests, two opposing student groups continue to occupy a building at Tbilisi State University. Both groups grew increasingly frustrated with a decision by police not to allow anyone to enter the building except accredited journalists. […]
Opposing sides clash in corridors of TSU as student protest continues
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After several clashes during the day, the tension at Tbilisi State University continued on Monday, between the student government, called tvitmmartveloba, and another group of students calling themselves Auditorium 115. Even though […]
Gaprindashvili withdraws candidacy after student protests
Counter-rallies separated by the police (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–After four days of students occupying a building at Tbilisi State University, Giorgi Gaprindashvili announced that he is withdrawing his candidacy for university chancellor. “I am ready to step [aside] considering the interests […]
Sanikidze calls for inquest into intel agents at TSU
Tamar Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze is considering asking parliament to hold an inquest into the presence of intelligence agents at Tbilisi State University. Saturday evening, Sanikidze met students at TSU who for the last three days […]
Students occupying university building in Tbilisi
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Protesters continue to occupy a building at Tbilisi State University, demanding a transparent process for electing the university’s management amid allegations of interference by the State Security Agency. On the second day of protest, […]
Students clash with police over candidate for university assembly
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students clashed with security guards and police at Tbilisi State University on Thursday while trying to prevent the election of a new chancellor of the university senate. The assembly of the senate had to be canceled. Students continue […]
Protest in Tbilisi University against ‘student government privileges’
Protest at TSU (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists demand transparent funding mechanisms for student government’s projects over allegations of misspending. On Monday, 7 March, approximately 300 activists gathered in front of the administrative building […]
Iraqi students didn’t comply with residency requirements: Minister
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze said on Friday that a handful of Iraqi students had their residency permits revoked because they didn’t comply with the legal requirements. The students, who are attending Akaki Tsereteli […]
Iraqi students protested against revoked residency permits
(Mega TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Iraqi students protested in Kutaisi on Monday after having their residency permits revoked. The protest at Akaki Tsereteli State University involved up to ten Iraqi students, who asked the university to help them after the Ministry of Justice revoked […]
Possession of marijuana decriminalized after Constitutional Court ruling
June 2 has become the rallying day for supporters of legalization. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Possession of up to 70 grams of marijuana is no longer a crime in Georgia, following a ruling in the Constitutional Court. The Court on Saturday struck down as unconstitutional a passage in the law that made it punishable by from 7 to 14 years […]
GEM Fest kicks off in Anaklia, Georgia
(GEM Fest.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Gem Fest starts Thursday in Anaklia, a beach resort on the Black Sea coast close to the border with Abkhazia. Georgian Electronic Music Festival will last from July 30 to August 7 and is carried out with the support of the Georgian […]
British band Placebo donates USD 40,000 to Tbilisi flood victims
The flood took the lives of at least 19 people and many animals in a zoo. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Placebo, a British band which recently played at Tbilisi Open Air festival, has donated about USD 40,000 to the victims of the flood on June 13-14. The website Indiegogo, which raises funds for charity, said it had received USD 39,974 from Placebo […]
KaZantip manager calls Georgians ‘ridiculous’ for removing sculpture
From an anti-KaZantip demonstration in Tbilisi in 2014. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The manager of KaZantip has called Georgians ‘ridiculous, poor and wild’ people after learning that someone demolished a sculpture built by the music festival’s organizers in Anaklia last summer. KaZantip is an electronic music […]
Anaklia hosts GEM Fest, instead of KaZantip, in July
Armin Van Buuren (Gem Fest) Tbilisi, DFWatch – A western Georgian Black Sea resort Anaklia is going to host one of the largest electronic music festivals this summer. GEM Fest features popular electronic music stars, such as world renowned Dutch DJ and trance guru Armin van Buuren, […]
Music festival KaZantip returns to Crimea
Last year, KaZantip was held in Anaklia, Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The popular Ukrainian festival KaZantip, which took place in Georgia last year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, may this year return to Ukraine but with a different name. An alternative music festival will take place in Anaklia, where the festival was held in 2014. […]
Legalize pot rally in Tbilisi gathers hundreds
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of mostly young people gathered outside the government office in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday to demand the decriminalization of marijuana. The annual protest brought together youth, politicians, journalists, non-governmental organizations and others. […]
May Day rally in Tbilisi focused on dangerous work conditions
TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth activists marched through the streets of the Georgian capital on Friday to mark the International Workers’ Day and protest against intolerable work conditions. (DF Watch.) There were demonstrations and gatherings several places in Tbilisi on May 1, separately organized […]
Youth activists mark International Workers’ Day in Tbilisi
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Placebo and Archive will play at Tbilisi Open Air festival
Deep Purple at Tbilisi Open Air 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The two English bands Placebo and Archive are headliners at this year’s Tbilisi Open Air festival, to be held by a lake near the capital July 3 to 7. Tickets sales have started for the festival, which has been organized every year since 2009 by the AlterVision Group. […]
40,000 have registered for entrance exams to study in Georgia
(National Assessment and Examinations Center.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 40,000 candidates will try to pass the national exams this summer, in order to enter universities in Georgia. According to the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC), registration for exams in 2015 finished on Tuesday. […]
Six detained in clashes outside parliament in Tbilisi
Lado Sadghobelashvili from Free Generation. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Six people were detained during clashes at a rally against the government’s economic policy outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi on Thursday. Free Zone, an activists group which supports the National Movement, demonstrated […]
Red paint bombs thrown at Saakashvili Library in Tbilisi
Lado Sadgobelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were detained during tumults outside the Saakashvili Presidential Library in Tbilisi on Friday. Inside the building, activists for the National Movement held an exhibition dedicated to the one year anniversary of the revolution in […]
Youth activists rally outside PM’s residence
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth activists continued to protest against the destruction of an ancient mine in the south of Georgia on Sunday and gathered outside the house of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The reason was a comment by Garibashvili in a speech […]
Brain behind Georgian charity success shares his secrets
Boris Kiknadze. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–According to the official data, one out of three young Georgians (20-29 years old) is unemployed. But a senior student at the University of Georgia Boris Kiknadze is not one of them. Less than one year ago he established a crowd-funded […]
Foreign students facing bureaucracy and complex visa procedures
Regina Jegorova-Askerova. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–How attractive is Georgia as a country for young students looking for a career path? At the moment, there are 19 public and 47 private higher education institutions in Georgia. According to the National Statistics Office, there were 2,297 foreign students […]
Pankisi youth choose radical Islam over grim reality
(DF Watch.) DUISI, DFWatch–The people in Pankisi Gorge have been under increasing scrutiny for the last few months, as fighters from this region have become high-ranking commanders in the forces of the Islamic State. Pankisi is merely a 34 square kilometers cut into the Greater […]
Students demand decision about Kobuleti madrasa
The house in Kobuleti where a Muslim boarding school is planned. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at a Muslim school demonstrated outside the government house in Batumi a few days ago, demanding that the the Kobuleti Boarding School issue be solved soon. Also university students joined the rally. They claim that the local government […]
Students demonstrated against ‘nepotism’ at Tbilisi State University
Students say Tbilisi State University is run by clans. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students at Tbilisi State University on Monday demonstrated against what they say is a clan-run education system which doesn’t encourage scientific activities. The march started from the central branch of the university and ended outside the […]
Georgian ombudsman against use of video in children’s psychology sessions
Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s public defender recommends that the Ministry of Education reconsiders a decision to allow the use of photo and video recordings of children during psychologist consultations. A psychology center for school children was opened in spring […]
Georgia may make ‘civic equality’ part of university entrance exam
Maia Miminoshvili, head of the National Exam Center. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The exam authority in Georgia has suggested introducing a new test in ‘civic equality’ as part of the entrance exams for university studies. The new test has been proposed by the National Exam Center against the background of a recent discussion […]
Tbilisi students demonstrate against gas station on university area
(Photo: Irakli Kupradze.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students demonstrated Monday against the construction of a new petrol station on an area that is part of Tbilisi State University. The company claims it owns all rights to the land and is not violating any law by building the gas station. Led by […]
Update: Two teens captured for vandalizing a church in Tbilisi
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The police on Thursday arrested two youngsters for suspicion of vandalizing a church just during a religious holiday. The detainees are two teens of 17 and 15 years old. The latter has a prior conviction. While searching the homes of the suspects, […]
Deadly ‘bridenapping’ in Kakheti
Few girls finish secondary school in Sagarejo, because they get married at a young age. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When a young man was murdered last weekend in Kazlar, an Azeri village 40km east of Tbilisi, it could have been one among many stories of violence and homicides in rural Georgia, but the circumstances of this case makes it stand out. 21 year […]
More Georgian students to get scholarships for UK
Six Georgian students will be able to go to the UK to complete their Master’s degrees this year with Chevening scholarships. (Photo published by the UK embassy on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In 2014-2014, six Georgian students will continue their Masters degrees at British universities with support from the Chevening program. The scholarships are mainly given for studies within economy and politics. The UK government […]
Saakashvili supporters and opponents clash again
Youth activists who want Saakashvili back in power clashed with his opponents Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Opponents and supporters of former President Saakashvili clashed again in Tbilisi on Thursday, two days after their first showdown. The two rival political youth groups stood against each other on Pekini Street, cursing opponents and throwing bottles, […]
Students at TSU protest against ‘low level of education’
Art students protested two weeks ago. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students protested on Tuesday against the level of education at Tbilisi State University. Some of the students left the hall whistling after meeting the rector and the administration of the department for social and political studies. They say that every time such […]
Music festival KaZantip to be held in Georgia in 2015
KaZantip is planned held in Georgia also in 2015. TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizers of KaZantip are determined to hold the electronic music festival in Georgia next year too, despite low visitor numbers last month. But the condition is that the government allows the festival site in Anaklia to be used. KaZantip was held […]
Discussion: Youth unemployment in Georgia – causes and solutions
From left to right: Mariam Gogosashvili, student at GIPA, Temo Kakhidze, student at University of Patriarchate and Elene Beriashvili, student at Tbilisi State University. (Click to watch video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On September 6, DF Watch organized a discussion about the difficulties youth are having finding employment. We invited students from three different universities to share their views on youth unemployment. They agree that there are problems, […]
Art students in Tbilisi protesting against new government decree
Students at the Academy of Art in Tbilisi are opposed to new rules for electing a rector. (Imedi TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students demonstrated Friday outside the Culture Ministry against a decision to only allow professors at accredited universities to become rector of the Academy of Art. The decree was signed by Culture Minister Mikheil Giorgadze on September 1. […]
KaZantip festival in Georgia a failure, may be cancelled
KaZantip visitors are making the most of it, but some are disappointed. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The long-awaited music festival KaZantip turned out a disappointment for some visitors and the head organizer. The electronic music festival, which has been held for the last decade in Crimea, was moved to Georgia’s Black Sea coast after Russia’s […]
26,000 passed university entrance exams in Georgia
Maia Miminoshvili, head of the National Exam Center. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 26,000 candidates have been accepted as students this year, according to the head of Georgia’s National Exam Center. Maia Miminoshvili told journalists that about 35,500 entrants took their test exams this year, but 9,000 failed to pass. […]
KaZantip opens as conservatives protest
Conservatives protested outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Conservative groups continued protesting against KaZantip Wednesday as the music festival opened at 9 pm in the evening. Those opposed to the festival are radical Orthodox Christians and small opposition parties. On Wednesday one such group held a protest […]
KaZantip organizer to priests: ‘We have a no drugs policy’
KaZantip is planned held in Anaklia, a beach resort in Georgia near the border with Abkhazia. (Palitra.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The manager of KaZantip has offered to meet priests and conservative activists to discuss the music festival, claiming that they are misinformed. Orthodox activists demonstrated near the festival site Thursday using biblical slogans warning […]
Discussion: Georgian youth and higher education
Tako Kakabadze (left) and Temo Kakhidze. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DF Watch last week organized a discussion about education and the problem of self-realization among youth. The discussion included representatives of the youth wings of political parties. Tako Kakabadze, chair of the youth wing […]
Georgian Church plans big demonstration against KaZantip
Archimandrite Antimoz. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Clerics in Georgia plan a big demonstration against the music festival KaZantip, and have started information work and preparing the Church and clerics. Archimandrite Antimoz on Sunday told Interpressnews that the rally is going to be peaceful […]
Waiting for new school building in Lambalo
Only the foundation of the new school has been built so far. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For seven years, children in the small predominantly Azeri village Lambalo in Georgia have had to attend school classes in old barns. In 2006, a group of experts announced that the old school in Lambalo had been sold and it was closed. The school […]
Traditionalists are against holding music festival KaZantip in Georgia
National Front and People’s Assembly are against holding a festival like KaZantip in a country with ancient traditions. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of religious radicals protested in Tbilisi on Saturday against the music festival KaZantip, which is planned in the end of August in Anaklia, a sea resort in western Georgia. The same day, locals in Anaklia demonstrated in support of the […]
Georgian Church wants music festival called off
KaZantip will be organized in Anaklia from August 20 to August 30. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Orthodox Church is against holding the electronic music festival KaZantip in Georgia, claiming that it will ‘harm’ Georgians. The ten-day music festival used to be held in Crimea, but due to the Russian annexation it will this year be held in Anaklia, on the Black […]
Georgian team won medals at young scientist competition
The Georgian team won one gold and two bronze medals. (Photo published by the Education Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A team of Georgian school pupils won one gold and two bronze medals at the 26th International Olympiad in Informatics, which was held in Taiwan July 13-20. The Georgian team consisted of four pupils and two of their leaders. This year, more than 80 […]
Cramped student houses in Tbilisi
In one of the student houses on Kekelidze Street in Tbilisi, thirty students are sharing one bathroom. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–At the end of Kekelidze Street, in Vake, one of Tbilisi’s most prestigious districts, there is a lane with small houses with tiny rooms. Mostly students are living here, usually those who were born outside the capital. They had to come here […]
Georgian students: the generation of ‘three nos’
Beka Dadeshkeliani (left), head of the student union for social and political studies, and Beka Bekauri, head of the natural sciences students union. (Click to watch video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DF Watch on July 18 organized a discussion about the situation of students today. What problems are students facing? How can they be let to realize their skills and knowledge? In what way can the government or educational institutions help them, […]
Green concert against maximum resource extraction
The concert was held at Mziuri Park. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–What connects the Khudoni hydro power project, a prehistoric gold mine, shrinking green areas in Tbilisi and human rights abuses in the mining industry? They are all problems caused by the government’s economic policy, according to the youth group […]
Indian medical students in Tbilisi
Medical students Nirmal and Aravinoha Samy. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of Indians come to Georgia every year to study medicine at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU). The two Indian friends Nirmal and Samy have been studying at the university for three years and are quite happy about their choice. […]
Tbilisi beer festival held at Roses Square
Beer brands on offer included Natakhtari, Kozel, Mtieli and Efes. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi beer festival was held July 12-13 for the fifth year. It brought together thousands of people to drink beer, play games, listen to live performances and watch the World Cup final on a big screen. As usual, people could buy tokens as they entered […]
Bicycle marathon in Tbilisi to promote a healthy lifestyle
Lika Baghashvili, 24, supports the goal of the marathon; to take a stand against drugs and promote a healthy lifestyle. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bicycle marathon Sunday brought together youth from many countries in Tbilisi. “Live with sport” was the slogan of the marathon, which started from the Sports Ministry at 11:00 in the morning and ended at Freedom Square in downtown Tbilisi. […]
Women used as percussion instruments on TV show
The TV show Bina 18 had a musical performance involving two women’s bottoms. TBILISI, DFWatch–A TV show on Thursday has stirred controversy for showing a man performing music by slapping his hands on the bottoms of two women. Human rights activists as well as the ombudsman say […]
Candidates for Tbilisi mayor face off in TV debate
Davit Narmania, Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The candidates for Tbilisi mayor are facing off in a televised debate now at 8 PM local time. Davit Narmania from the government coalition has as his main election promise to build a youth center in Tbilisi, while his competitor Nikanor Melia […]
Art students in Tbilisi protest ‘Russian, socialist’ teaching methods
Art students say the academy is still teaching by ‘Russian, socialist’ methodology. (1tv.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Art students in Tbilisi protested Monday against what they see as a backward teaching style and an outdated understanding of art. Students at the Academy of Arts demand transparency and changes in the procedure for electing a rector. […]
Georgia holds national exams
National exams began all over Georgia on Thursday. TBILISI, DFWatch–National exams started Thursday morning all over Georgia, on three different levels of education. About 36,000 school graduates will take exams from June 26 until July 16, while 4,500 students will try to pass an ability test which will improve […]
Language exams prepare Azeri-Georgian youth for university
Youth in the predominantly ethnic Azeri town Marneuli can take a one year course in Georgian language to prepare them for university. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tural is a 19 years old high school graduate who plans to go on to university and study IT. The problem is, the teaching language at university is Georgian, which he doesn’t know well enough. Like many of his peers, Tiral chose to study […]
Georgian wins European junior wrestling championship
Tarzan Maisuradze won the European junior wrestling championship in Katowice. (Photo by Sport Zone.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian wrestler Tarzan Maisuradze on Tuesday won the European junior wrestling championships in Katowice, Poland. Maisuradze won in Men’s Junior Freestyle 74 kg, defeating Konstantin Gkontsis from Greece, Murat Erturk from Turkey, […]
Music festival KaZantip defends against splinter group
Photo published by the Anaklia organizing group. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republic of KaZantip, until now residing in Crimea, seems to be experiencing its own share of separatism, but it’s hard to figure out who is breaking away from whom. Perhaps it is more fitting to call the music festival uprooted […]
Georgia to change its policy toward softer drugs
Demonstrators, mostly youth, demanded decriminalization of marijuana yesterday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of people, mostly youth, gathered Monday outside the government office in Tbilisi to demand decriminalization of marijuana. The rally started at 18:00 in the evening. There were no speeches or appeals. People were dressed in green colors […]
Parties in Georgia don’t pay enough attention to youth
Tako Kakabadze (left), Ako Goguadze and David Uchadze. (Click to watch video.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three youth politicians told DF Watch in a recent discussion that political parties in Georgia do not pay much attention to youth problems. On May 31, Tako Kakabadze from New Rightists Party’s youth wing, Ako Goguadze from the youth wing of the […]
Demonstration in Tbilisi for decriminalization of marijuana
‘End the brutal drug policy’. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mostly young demonstrators marched through Tbilisi on Saturday, against what they see as a too tough drug policy. Their slogan, ‘Beka is not a criminal’, is in support of a man who may be sentenced to up to 14 years in jail for possession […]
Youth for legalizing marijuana plan demonstration
From last year’s demonstration. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth in Georgia also this year plan to demonstrate for decriminalizing marijuana. On June 2 last year, there was a large rally outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi for legalizing pot, and this year’s rally is planned at the government […]
Youth Parliament – learning to put words into action
Teona Lavrelashvili, founder of Georgian Youth Parliament. TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, a group of young students have created their own parliament. It has 100 MPs and prepares real draft laws which are sent to the real parliament. A few weeks ago, this youth parliament held its 2014 opening session in the parliament […]
KaZantip festival will go ahead in Crimea after all
An offshoot of the KaZantip festival is being organized in Georgia, but it will also be held in its original location in Crimea. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The electronic dance music festival KaZantip will be held in Crimea after all. Earlier it was announced it had moved to Georgia. For the last 22 years, KaZantip has been held in Crimea. But this year, it was first announced it had moved to Georgia, […]
School closure in Georgia extended four days due to virus
Kindergartens and schools will remain closed at least until the end of the week, due to an outbreak of viral meningitis. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian kindergartens and schools up to sixth grade will remain closed until the end of the week to deal with an outbreak of viral meningitis. The schools should have been opened today, but Health Minister Davit Sergeenko announced Monday that they […]
Music festival KaZantip moved from Crimea to Georgia
It is common to bring yellow suitcases to KaZantip. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time, the electronic dance music festival KaZantip will take place in Georgia, due to recent events in Ukraine. The festival has been held annually in Crimea since 1992. Now, following the Russian annexation of the peninsula, it is […]
Young inventors from 37 countries met in Tbilisi
This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. TBILISI, DFWatch–International Young Inventors Project Olympiad (IYIPO) for scientists and inventors was organized in Tbilisi from May 3 to May 5. This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. Last year, there were 25 countries […]
Youth groups in Georgia plan several rallies on May 1
Green Fist, one of the youth groups organizing rallies May 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Young people in Georgia plan to mark the International Worker’s Day, May 1, with rallies different places in the country. A rally will be held at Tbilisi State University at 14:00 by Young Social-Democrats, Georgia’s Young Greens, Georgia’s […]
Georgian and South Ossetian youth kick off Balkan tour
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bus with Georgian and South Ossetian youth was to start a tour of Turkey and the Balkans Saturday morning, Interpressnews reports. The trip, called Georgian – South Ossetian Youth Peace Express, will last 17 days and bring the youth by bus through […]
The economy isn’t everything, say Georgia’s green activists
Mariam Gurgenidze, 23, and Irakli Ghutidze, 26. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new movement has sprung up in Georgia in response to the government forcing through a gigantic hydro power project against strong popular resistance. The movement is called Green Fist and began as a group of twenty youth who travelled […]
School children in Tbilisi harassed due to teacher neglect
School children in Tbilisi are being harassed because of their religion, ethnicity, appearance or other reasons, a new study shows. (Ministry of Education.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new study has found that children in Georgian schools are verbally and physically harassed because of their ethnicity, belief, appearance or for other reasons. The study is based on interviews with all pupils from 8th to 11th grade at six public […]
Why do so few girls finish school in Duzagrama?
Most girls in Duzagrama get married and drop out of school before ninth grade. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Pariz Alakhverdiani, 17, is in 12th grade at the public school in Duzagrama, a small village in southeast Georgia populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis. Alakhverdiani wants to study at the Medical University in Tbilisi and has decided to become a dentist. […]
Campaigners launch protest camp to defend ancient Georgian site
The Sakdrisi site. (Photo by Georgia’s Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A campaign to save an ancient gold mine in southern Georgia is planning to start a protest camp on Monday. The Public Committee to Save Sakdrisi, which consists of students, scientists and an initiative group of non-governmental organizations, plans […]
Third day of Batumi Summer Set canceled due to bad weather
Most visitors on Friday had come to see Sleep Party People. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The third day of Batumi Summer Set electronic music festival had to be canceled due to bad weather as water flooded the festival area and destroyed equipment. The festival in Georgia’s largest Black Sea beach resort started on August 22 with Danish […]
Batumi Summer Set Festival kicks off Thursday
Batumi is getting ready for three days of electronic music. (Festival handout photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s sea resort Batumi is hosting a three-day summer festival of electronic music starting Thursday. Batumi Summer Set Festival runs from August 22 to 24 and will host many well-known names in the genre. Among the headliners are Denmark’s […]