Category: Opinion - Page 4

Evolution of clan based governance in Georgian judiciary since 2007

April 19, 2019 by Kakha Tsikarishvili

Since the declaration of independence Georgia could never manage to create a truly independent judiciary. Low level of judicial independence was conditioned by several reasons, including the absence of political will. Since 2004, Georgian judiciary could overcome systemic corruption, however, found itself under strict control of executive power. A small group of persons, the clan, … Read more

How Bush placed Georgia on the map

December 18, 2018 by Tedo Japaridze

President George H.W. Bush will be missed not only as a historical leader but also for the style of leadership he brought to Washington: calculated, diligent, often bipartisan, driven by conviction, guided by humility, and resolute. Georgia owes him a great debt.

My time in the official service is over

September 14, 2018 by DFW-admin

Dear friends and colleagues, as of today, September 13, my time in the official service of the Georgian government will be over. I wish to thank the people of Georgia, whose support and advice has empowered me to work for every Georgian administration since 1989.

In Memoriam of Sen. John McCain

August 29, 2018 by DFW-admin

I had the great honor of meeting Senator McCain in early November of 1994 when I was Ambassador to the United States from Georgia. He quickly and organically understood the challenges of a young democracy like ours trying to overcome seven decades of Soviet communism. Senator McCain was a constant champion for Georgia in the … Read more

Drug control: time to right the wrong policies

July 31, 2018 by Michel Kazatchkine

Michel Kazatchkine is former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The Parliament of Georgia is currently engaged in a promising debate to reform its drug laws, possibly by ending the criminalization of drug use and possession, and seeking alternatives for low-level actors in the drug trade. This would go a long way to enacting an effective drug control framework that puts individuals first, with great benefits for communities in terms of security and public health.

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili: “We are making open and determined peace statement”

April 4, 2018 by Ketevan Tsikhelashvili

Today the Government of Georgia adopted a package of draft legislative amendments by that making a new, proactive and important step in the frames of peace policy of reconciliation and engagement.

Leaving behind “post-Soviet” politics in Georgia

February 13, 2026October 12, 2017 by Ilia Roubanis

For years democratization is seen as a top down process of constitutional engineering, nation-building, and market reforms. Until the early 2000s, states in former Eastern Europe saw their membership of NATO and the European Union as the final stage of consolidating their democracy.

Abduction of Mukhtarli Abated Trust of Ethnic Azerbaijani Population towards Georgian Authorities

October 11, 2017 by Khayal Azizov

Ethnic Azerbaijani people make up 6.3% of the Georgian population that is 233,000 persons. It is the biggest ethnic minority community in the country though their voice is least heard here.

Abduction of Mukhtarli Reduces Trust in Georgian Authorities among Ethnic Azerbaijani Population

September 27, 2017 by Khayal Azizov

Ethnic Azerbaijani people make up 6.3% of the Georgian population, or 233,000 persons. It is the biggest ethnic minority community in the country, though their voice is least heard here. The main reason is that ethnic Azerbaijani people do not trust the Government of Georgia. Moreover, they are afraid of the government.

Helmut Kohl was a great friend of Georgia

June 20, 2017 by Tedo Japaridze

Helmut Kohl, in hand with Edward Shevardnadze, Michael Gorbachev, and George H.W. Bush, convinced Europe to rise to the occasion and believe that history can progress, that unity and national sovereignty can go hand-in-hand, and that conflict is not inevitable when Germany is united.