Sunday, January 11, 2026

200 locals gathered to prevent Friday prayers

Samtatskharo
200 locals in Samtatskharo gathered outside the prayer house, determined to prevent Friday prayers. (Georgian Public Broadcaster.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Friday prayers were disrupted by locals yesterday in a village in eastern Georgia.

About 200 locals had gathered in the village Samtatskharo in the Kakheti region in order to prevent Muslims from praying in a house that has been purchased for this

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Thousands came for open air music festival in Tbilisi

The Subways - in Tbilisi 2013-06-05
English indie rock band The Subways performing in Tbilisi Wednesday. (DFWatch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi Open Air 2013 brought thousands of people to Dinamo Arena on Wednesday.

The one-day festival started an hour late, which resulted in the Berlin-group Modeselektor having to leave without playing in order to catch the plane.

Georgian band Kid Jesus

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Deep Purple arrives in Tbilisi to play festival gig at Dinamo Arena

Deep Purple in Tbilisi 2013-06-04
Fans greeted Deep Purple as the band arrived at Tbilisi international airport. (DF Watch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians are getting ready for the next Tbilisi Open Air musical event, which this time will include world famous stars like Deep Purple, Tricky, Infected Mushrooms and Modeselektor.

Tbilisi Open Air Festival, which has been held every year since

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Decriminalize marijuana rally in Tbilisi

marijuana
Organizers say it is not right to punish marijuana use tougher than rape. (DFWatch.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–More than a thousand people gathered in front of the old parliament building in Tbilisi on Sunday to demand the decriminalization of marijuana.

Under current legislation it is illegal to use or sell marijuana and other soft drugs.

Organizers of the rally

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1600 workers in Zestaponi now on strike

Zestaponi Ferro strike
The workers at the Ferro plant in Zestaponi demand group contracts, a pay rise, and generally better conditions. (gtuc.ge.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The week-old strike at Zestaponi’s ferro-alloy plant continues, as there is still no progress in the attempts to negotiate with management.

Meanwhile representatives of the Georgian Trade Unions claim that parliament is about to adopt amendments

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Again the sides meet in Georgia's most touchy debate

law is supreme
These protesters want to ban ‘gay propaganda’. (DFWatch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Two small counter-rallies were held at the Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday in Tbilisi.

The organizers of one rally, ‘The law is supreme’, were the same as those who organized ‘No to Theocracy‘ on Friday.

Meanwhile members of the National Front

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Georgian Church explains its position on the May 17 events

mikael botkoveli
Spokesman for the Georgian Orthodox Church, Mikael Brotkoveli. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church separates itself from the violent incidents of May 17, when clerics disrupted LGBT activists from holding a peaceful rally, resulting in 28 injured.

Church spokesman Mikael Botkoveli on Wednesday evening said at a briefing

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Four arrested for May 17 violence, attacks continuing

bruised arm
The attacks are continuing, according to Identoba. Two women were beaten in the street. One of them had bite marks on her arm afterwards. (Identoba.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Police have detained four persons suspected of resisting police and petty hooliganism on May 17, when Orthodox Christians held a counter-rally against an attempt at marking the International Day Against Homophobia.

There is one minor among

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Day after violence, LGBT campaigners call for accountability

no to violence 2013-05-18
Repulsed by Friday’s violence, campaigners demand a proper investigation of every incident. (DFWatch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A peaceful rally to protest Friday’s violent clashes went ahead without serious incidents outside the government office on Saturday.

In the afternoon, LGBT activists and their supporters started gathering in front of the government’s office,

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