TBILISI, August 12 – A late-night operation to collect stray dogs under Georgia’s new animal control program has triggered protests from local activists, who claim the animals were already cared for. Animal rights activists claim the stray dogs had already been vaccinated, sterilized, and were under community care, warning that repeated vaccination could be harmful. … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–New analyses reveal that prosperity remains unevenly distributed across the country. Experts and local economists say Georgia’s rapid economic growth—often in double digits in recent years—has not been felt equally across regions. Tbilisi and Batumi are economic outliers, enjoying significantly higher wages, employment opportunities, and quality of life than most other regions. “Compared to … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s official statistics agency has reported a continued decline in poverty, with the national absolute poverty rate dropping to 9.4% in 2024, down from 11.8% in 2023. The improvements span every demographic. Child poverty fell the most sharply (by 4.0 percentage points), and rural areas saw a notable 3.7-point decrease. Urban and gender gaps … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A video allegedly depicting the forced engagement of an underage girl has sparked public outrage in Georgia and even in neighboring Azerbaijan, where the ombudsman asked her Georgian counterpart to get involved. The case gained country-wide recognition after a video was posted on social media February 8 allegedly depicting the engagement party of a … Read more
Two commissioners visiting Tbilisi urge the government of Georgia to go ahead with bold reform of drug policies, insisting that ending punishment does not mean encouraging or condoning the use of drugs, but rather it empowers individuals and communities
TBILISI, DFWatch–A blanket ban on smoking indoors came into power in Georgia on Tuesday. People caught smoking on public transport now risk a fine of 50 lari (20 USD) or twice as much for repeated violations.
Smoking is now banned inside all kinds of buildings,
People still actively request to determine the gender of the future child in advance during first trimester of the pregnancy in the municipalities inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijani people. 31-years-old Sakina Alieva from Marneuli has 5-years-old boy. Before having the boy she got two abortions because she was expecting girls.
“My elder daughter has thalassemia. When doctors diagnosed her, we learned that it is a genetic disease and mostly it happens with children when they are born as a result of cousin-marriages. I’m married with my cousin. If I were aware of the risk, I would not have married him;
Georgia is the most ethnically diverse state in the South Caucasus, with Azeri ethnic minorities constituting 6.3% of its population. They are present especially in the border province of Kvemo-Kartli, the region where unemployment and poverty that has spread over, pushing many ethnic Azeris to leave their place of origin.
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia plans to ban unhealthy food in public schools, particularly sugary beverages and salty products, in an effort to promote healthier lifestyle among school children.
“When children come to school in September they will see a different buffet,” Alexandre Jejelava,