The de facto border in Ditsi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers have detained two more Georgian villagers for illegally crossing the so-called administrative border around breakaway South Ossetia. The detainees are Avtandil and Kakha Khaduri. They were detained two days ago and taken to Tskhinvali. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court placed Vano Merabishvili in pre-trial detention; the second time such a measures is imposed on the former interior minister. This time additional charged were added since his hearing in Kutaisi City Court last week, dealing with […]
This is the kind of razor wire being erected by Russian soldiers in the Georgian-controlled village Ditsi. (Radio Liberty.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Russian Federation has not yet reacted to a diplomatic note of protest from Georgia regarding the moving of the so-called administrative border into Georgian-controlled territory near breakaway South Ossetia. But the Deputy Foreign Affairs […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Six policemen who are in prison awaiting trial are not in any danger, according to the Prison Ministry in Georgia. The six are being held at Gldani prison in northern Tbilisi, a large facility which became infamous last year in connection […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has confirmed for DF Watch that a Lithuanian businessman has been detained. According to the office, Saulius Vaitkevičius, owner of supermarket chain Populi, is charged with appropriation of another company’s […]
President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili has again blocked a bill. This time it was a set of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. The president has remarks about two aspects of the draft: First about the dates when certain regulations will come into force. […]
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition is considering making it possible for a person with dual citizenship to hold three top posts in the country: president, prime minister and speaker of parliament. The amendments will only apply to the constitution, which […]
A view of the village Ditsi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border soldiers have again been seen in the village Ditsi, on Georgia controlled territory close to the de facto border with Russian-controlled South Ossetia. On Monday, the first reports came about Russian soldiers in the villages Ditsi and […]
The EU Monitoring Mission does not accept the moving of the de facto border around South Ossetia and installing of new barbed wire. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The recent installation of fences near Ditsi is unacceptable, EUMM says in a statement. Staff from the EU Monitoring Mission arrived in the village Ditsi, where Russian soldiers have erected new barbed wire which moves the de facto border 300 meters […]
Maka Kvaratskhelia, spokesperson for the company that owns the plant in Zestaponi. TBILISI, DFWatch–At Zestaponi’s ferroalloy factory workers are still on strike. The week-long strike is paralyzing the one of the largest companies in the country, which accounts for 12 percent of the exported product. Two of the workers are on hunger strike, while […]
People demonstrated against Russia moving the border. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A rally was held outside the former Russian embassy in Tbilisi on Tuesday to protest against Russian soldiers moving the so-called administrative border 300 meters into Georgian controlled territory on Monday. Members of non-government organizations, […]
Former Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili is held personally responsible for the violent dispersal of demonstrators two years ago which led to at least two deaths and was accompanied by a nationwide crackdown on opposition groups. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The charges against former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili concerning events on May 26, 2011 were Tuesday expanded. The violent dispersal of peaceful anti-government protesters by police and regime loyal vigilantes two years ago resulted in at least […]
The EU’s field observers are tracking Russian activity on the de facto border around South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers’ moving of the de facto border between Georgian- and Russian-controlled territory is being followed by European Union’s observers in the area. Yesterday evening, the European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM) […]
Vano Merabishvili, former interior minister and current party secretary of the National Movement party of President Mikheil Saakashvili, appearing in Kutaisi City Court last week. Co-defendant Zurab Chiaberashvili on the right. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of parliament for President Saakashvili’s National Movement party have again taken leave from their duties as a sign of protest. Party spokesman Giorgi Baramidze says they will not attend plenary sessions until all the ‘political […]
‘Call of Taburetka’ lets the player be a priest who fends off gay rights activists using a stool. TBILISI, DFWatch–A new Facebook game has become popular among Georgians. It emulates the violent incidents on May 17, when clerics took the lead in disrupting a demonstration against homophobia in Tbilisi. The violence, which led to almost 30 persons being injured, […]
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 […]
A view of Tskhinvali, the only city in the breakaway region South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry in Georgia Monday confirmed that Russian soldiers have moved the de facto border with South Ossetia 200 to 300 meters and is planning to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM). […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-April 2013 fell by 4 percent compared to the same period in 2012. The trade turnover with EU was reduced by 13 percent, while the negative net trade balance with CIS countries went down 57 percent. […]
Independence Day was celebrated in 26 towns and cities. Here a scene from Tbilisi. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Sunday May 26, Georgia marked its Independence Day in 26 cities and towns all over the country. The celebration included folklore ensembles and choir concerts, military and police equipment exhibitions, theatrical performances and other events. […]
Controversy continues over what really happened in Tbilisi on May 17, 2013, and who is to blame. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava criticizes President Mikheil Saakashvili for having ‘incorrectly ordered’ his facts while commenting on a gay rights rally last week. Saakashvili criticized the LGBT activists for having planned a rally the same day […]
The metal works plant in Zestaponi accounts for 12 percent of Georgia’s export. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the largest factories in Georgia is still paralyzed by a now week-long strike by hundreds of workers who demand higher salaries, better social conditions, collective contracts and compensation for night shifts. A group of students have joined […]
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 […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of PACE will arrive in Georgia May 28 for a two-day visit. Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is on a regional tour and comes to Georgia after finishing his visit to Azerbaijan. He […]
From last year’s celebration at Roses Square, Tbilisi. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Preparations are ongoing in Georgia for the Independence Day celebration Sunday, May 26. Government officials say there will not be a military parade through the capital as there has been in the past. Instead, there will be held different events […]
Police line on May 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two more persons have been charged with violence on May 17, when a rally against homophobia was disrupted by a crowd of thousands of people encouraged by Orthodox clerics. The clashes led to almost 30 people being injured. The Interior Ministry […]
‘No to theocracy’ said one part of the demonstrators. The other part wanted a ban on ‘homosexual propaganda’. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two opposing rallies about very sensitive social issues went ahead peacefully in downtown Tbilisi Friday. People gathered at 18:00 to protest against ‘propaganda of homosexuality’, while the other rally was ‘no to theocracy’ – a protest […]
Rita Rudusa, regional editor of Mapping Digital Media. (mediaconference.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A conference on digital media was held in Tbilisi May 23-24 to discuss the transition to digital TV, good and bad examples from other countries and positive and negative sides of the process. Media experts from Estonia, Lithuania, UK, Moldova, Russia, […]
President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, visiting Georgian troops in Afghanistan February, 2012. TBILISI, DFWatch–Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia, has approved the main directions of development of the ministry and Georgia’s armed forces until 2016. The goal of the Strategic Review of Defense 2013-2016, which is a manual for the Defense Ministry, […]
A counter-demonstrator on May 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The two opposing sides in Georgia’s gay rights debate are to hold demonstrations at the same spot in Tbilisi today. But Prime Minister Ivanishvili reassures the public that people will be able to express their views peacefully. The first one is in support of the LGBT people […]
The petition asks for punishment of perpetrators of violence May 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 15 000 persons have signed a petition that asks to punish those who committed violence on May 17. After clerics and parishioners attacked a peaceful demonstration by LGBT persons and their supporters on May 17 to mark the International Day […]
Metal workers in Zestaponi are keeping up their strike. (Zestaponi.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Workers at the Chiatura Mining and Enrichment Plant will May 25 join the strike at the Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant, which started four days ago, while three persons Thursday went back on hunger strike in the same conflict. The workers who are […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A session of the NATO Georgia commission was held May 22 in Brussels. Ambassadors discussed the planned visit to Georgia of the North Atlantic Council this summer. Zurab Abashidze, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Russian Relations, […]
Kakhi Kaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former AC Milan player Kakhi Kaladze’s farewell match on May 31 is getting closer and people are already queuing to buy tickets. Davit Mujiri, who coordinates the organizing of the match, on Wednesday held a press conference to give more details […]
A scene from May 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry in Georgia says it is charging two high-ranking clerics who work for the country’s Orthodox church. (Article has been corrected.) The police is pressing charges against the archimandrite of Sameba cathedral, Father […]
Vano Merabishvili in Kutaisi City Court yesterday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili on Thursday was moved from Kutaisi, in western Georgia, to the capital, and placed in the so-called Matrosov prison, where former government officials and others are offered slightly better conditions […]
Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili (left) at his first court hearing. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI–Kutaisi City Court Wednesday placed former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili in pretrial detention. Zurab Chiaberashvili was released on bail. The hearing lasted five hours. Both Merabishvili, Secretary General of Saakashvili’s United National […]
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 […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The unit to combat financial fraud in Georgia has charged Irakli Ezugbaia, the former head of Georgian Railway, of appropriation and embezzlement of state money. He is not in Georgia but has been sentenced in absentia to pretrial detention. His […]
Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili says the charges are ridiculous. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The City Court in Kutaisi will this afternoon decide whether to place Saakashvili ally Vano Merabishvili and National Movement party member Zurab Chiaberashvili in pretrial detention. Meanwhile their supporters and other UNM members are gathered […]
Steel workers in Zestaponi are still on strike. (Info9.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds workers of Georgia’s large ferroalloy plant in Zestaponi are continuing their strike and do not plan to give up until their demands are met. Three workers have decided to end their hunger strike after consultations with the head […]
President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says that church prayer isn’t an excuse for anyone to violate the law. The PM on Tuesday met with a club of experts and after the meeting he commented on the May 17 events, when Orthodox Christians and clerics […]
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 […]
Beka Natsvlishvili is Research Associate at the Centre For Social Studies. The May 17 events revealed confrontation between church and secularism as one of the main public conflicts in any political system. Public conflict is a matter of public concern. Public opinion on this issue is divided into opposite positions, various social groups […]
Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili during his first interrogation December 1, 2012. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained former Interior Minister and Saakashvili faithful Vano Merabishvili. He is charged with sabotaging the investigation of the murder of a bank employee, Sandro Girgvliani, in 2006, appropriation and embezzlement in connection with […]
President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and former US President Bill Clinton meeting recently. (Photo published on Saakashvili’s Facebook page.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The foreign ministry and the president’s administration in Georgia are embroiled in a quarrel over who is to blame for the bad coordination of foreign visits. The ministry accuses the president’s administration of not coordinating visits abroad […]
The ferroalloy plant in Zestaponi produces 12 percent of Georgia’s national export. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Metal workers in Zestaponi in western Georgia are on strike and have paralyzed the functioning of a plant which is responsible for 12 percent of Georgia’s export. The operation of the Zestaponi ferroalloy plant was suspended almost all of Monday. […]
Thomas Hammarberg. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Thomas Hammarberg says it will be difficult to explain to Europe how the May 17 violence could occur in a democratic country such as Georgia. Christian Orthodox activists last Friday used violence to disrupt a planned peaceful event to mark […]
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Shota Rekhviashvili said the Prosecutor’s Office in 2012 asked the court 1 063 times for permission to conduct phone surveillance and as far as he remembers, in all cases the request was granted. (Ministry of Justice.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to partially destroy illegally recorded secret surveillance material in one week. Deputy Interior Minister Levan Izoria said on Monday that this process will be conducted with the participation of society. […]
Tornike Sharashenidze is professor and head of MA Program of International Affairs at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. These shameful events posed new questions (or rather question marks) for the Georgian democracy. The country has achieved a lot since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has effectively fought crime and corruption; it has managed to change its government through peaceful […]
Nona Kurdovanidze Project Coordinator at the Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association. There are no accurate statistics about the number of homeless families living in Georgia. The homeless people have been particularly active in reminding the state of their existence following the October 2012 elections, when they occupied a number of buildings in Tbilisi, staged […]
President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, is visiting Thailand. (Photo posted on the president’s Facebook page.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili again asks members of the Georgian Dream coalition to go on visits abroad together with him. The president on Sunday left for Thailand in order to participate in the second Asia-Pacific Water Summit, as well as to hold […]
Victims and activists ask parliament to create a commission to study the crimes of the Saakashvili regime. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former political prisoners on Sunday held people’s congress at Sport’s Palace in Tbilisi in order to demand the restoration of justice and put the Saakashvili regime on trial. The congress decided to set up a people’s movement with the same […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili speaking at Police Day. (Photo published by Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police Day was marked in Georgia May 19. It was supposed to have been held on May 6, but the event was rescheduled due to the Easter celebration. The Interior Ministry used the occasion to present a new uniform, a shoulder-mounted video […]
Police in Georgia failed to protect gay rights activists, according to Amnesty International. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Amnesty International says the police in Georgia failed to protect demonstrators from aggression on May 17. The human rights group which has more than 3 million supporters worldwide believes that the police failed to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, […]
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, […]
Priests removing the police barricades Friday. (Click to enlarge.) (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After the violence yesterday, a gathering is planned today Saturday outside the government building on Ingorokva Street 7 at 15:00 to condemn what happened. Organizers say the goal is to condemn the violence by clerics and others who confronted the LGBT […]
Clerics addressing the anti-gay demonstrators with megaphone Friday. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian church is distancing itself from the violence on May 17, but maintains that LGBT propaganda is not acceptable. Patriarch Ilia II commented on the violent clashes between his parishioners and LGBT campaigners in Tbilisi. Ilia II called […]
The Georgian Orthodox Church mobilized thousands of people in Tbilisi to prevent activists for the rights of sexual minorities to peacefully mark the International Day Against Homophobia. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Thousands of parishioners and clerics from the Georgian Orthodox Church May 17 prevented LGBT rights activists from carrying through a peaceful rally against homophobia in downtown Tbilisi. According to the health minister, the day ended with 28 […]
Orthodox Christian activists successfully prevented a peaceful demonstration against homophobia in Tbilisi Friday. Twenty eight people were injured. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Orthodox Christian activists Friday successfully prevented a peaceful demonstration to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Tbilisi. After numerous violent incidents throughout the day which led to more than twenty people being […]
From last year’s demonstration. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Rallies are planned in Tbilisi today to prevent a gathering of activists who want to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. The two organizations Identoba and Women’s Initiative Support Group announced about a month ago that they were […]
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover fell in the first four months of 2013. (GeoStat.) TBILISI, DFWatch–According to preliminary data, Georgia’s foreign trade turnover has decreased by four percent in the months January through April of 2013, compared to the same period in the preceding year. The total foreign trade turnover in this period totaled […]
Salam Zaurbekov, Aslan Margoshvili and Bajaudi Baghakashvili were reburied in Duisi, Pankisi Gorge, Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The bodies of three militants who died in a border shooting in August 2012 were Thursday reburied in Duisi, in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia. An autopsy has been carried out on the bodies of Salam Zaurbekov, Aslan Margoshvili and Bajaudi Baghakashvili, […]
The three ISAF soldiers killed in a May 13 attack were Thursday brought back to Georgia. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The three Georgian soldiers who May 13 died in Afghanistan were today brought back to Georgia. The bodies of Corporal Alexandre Kvitsinidze, Corporal Vladmier Shanava and Sergeant Zviad Davitadze, arrived at Tbilisi airport on Thursday morning. […]
The three who died will be buried on May 16. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia, has declared May 16 a day of mourning as a tribute to those Georgian soldiers who have lost lives while serving in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The presidential order says that May 16 will be announced […]
Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office and the Prison Ministry have discovered a secret archive of prison videos. At a meeting with journalists, Prison Minister Sozar Subari said that when the government came to power these kinds of archives were put away, but […]
Deputy Interior Minister Gela Khvedelidze is free on bail. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Gela Khvedelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister accused of leaking a sex tape, is free on USD 3 000 bail and has been removed from his position. Khvedelidze was detained a few days ago for publishing a video with intimate scenes between three people. Wednesday Tbilisi […]
President Mikheil Saakashvili (left) talking to Marco Rubio, the junior US Senator from Florida (R). (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After touring the United States for several days in the beginning of May, President Mikheil Saakashvili is back on an other visit to the country. He has already had a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, one of the Republican party’s presidential […]
The three soldiers who died in Afghanistan will soon be brought home to Georgia. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ten of the 27 wounded Georgian soldiers in an insurgent attack have returned to duty in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, while the remaining 17 are still undergoing medical treatment. Part of the wounded may be taken to Germany or brought to […]
The storm destroyed crops and fruit in five villages. TBILISI, DFWatch–A strong hailstorm hit Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region Monday, almost completely destroying fruits and crops in five villages. Giorgi Sibashvili, former Deputy Governor of Kakheti, told Interpressnews that hail has destroyed agricultural lands […]
Master Sergeant Zviad Davitadze (left), Corporal Aleksandre Kvitsinadze and Corporal Vladimer Shanava lost their lives in the attack. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian soldiers who were wounded in yesterday’s attack in Afghanistan are in a satisfactory health condition and have been moved to the main hospital at Base Bastion, according to the Ministry of Defense. Three Georgian soldiers in the 42nd battalion […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of eight persons will study crimes commited during and after the Russia-Georgia war in August, 2008. Following a decision by Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili, representatives of three bodies will sit in the investigative group and study […]
Last year’s demonstration in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An announced gay rights rally is causing outrage among different groups in Georgia who plan to interrupt the rally May 17 and organize parallel rallies against LGBT people in the country. Non-governmental organizations which work with defending […]
The City Court in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA) claims that former government officials are being subject to pressure while in prison. Representative of GYLA visited seven former employees of the Ministry of Agriculture just after they were arrested […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Still from a Ministry of Defense video announcement.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three Georgian soldiers died on Monday in Afghanistan in a large attack by insurgents. There are wounded soldiers as well, Defense Minsiter informs. Georgia’s Defense Minsiter Irakli Aalasania said Monday that the insurgent attack took place […]
President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili has vetoed two bills passed by parliament. One of the bills is about amendments to the Civil Code of Georgia, which allows to change the status of non-profit legal entities and change the status of a a private law entity […]
Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs has agreed with the Prosecutor’s Office to immediately destroy a ‘dirty archive’ of compromising material created during President Saakashvili’s various governments. Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said […]
Deputy Interior Minister Gela Khvedelidze (left) was detained for releasing the sex tape. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The deputy interior minister has been detained for posting a sex video on the Internet allegedly involving a journalist who had criticized him. Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili Sunday evening held a press conference to talk about the investigation into […]
Giorgi Margvelashvili speaking as Georgian Dream’s candidate for president. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishivli calls on President Mikheil Saakashvili to set a date for the presidential election. Representatives of the president’s administration told DF Watch that the president’s opinion about this issue is still unknown. […]
The scuffle at La Truffe involved throwing of cups, plates and ashtrays. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili left a restaurant in Tbilisi before there broke out a scuffle between several well-known politicians. Three members of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM), including two parliamentarians, […]
Tbilisi international airport. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–21 percent more foreigners visited Georgia in April 2013 than in the same month the year before. In the first five months of the year as a whole, 32 percent more foreigners visited the country, compared to the preceding year. These figures […]
Giorgi Margvelashvili looks likely to become Georgia’s next president, if the latest poll is correct. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition has chosen Minister of Education Giorgi Margvelashvili as its candidate for president in the upcoming election. “Giorgi Margvelashvili has all good skills to be a president,” Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at […]
Irina Guruli is Program Manager at the Economic Policy Research Center. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to Georgia fell significantly from the second quarter of 2012, closing the year 23% down from 2011. After several years of steady recovery, this is a serious concern for policy makers. Georgia’s domestic capital market is […]
Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Patriarch’s Easter epistle has caused a debate about abortion in Georgia. Ilia II in his recent sermon called on the government to introduce a prohibition on abortion, but the government does not yet plan any changes in this field. The […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The ruling Georgian Dream coalition is preparing a bill to decriminalize the use of marihuana. Head of parliament’s human rights committee Eka Besealia said the coalition plans to introduce certain measures regarding marihuana, because certain […]
The laboratory building lies near the international airport in Tbilisi. TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has decided to change the ownership of the Richard G Lugar Public Health Research Center in Tbilisi. The liquidation process is to take three months and the center’s property will be handed over to the National Center […]
The city authorities in Tbilisi celebrated EU Day Thursday. (Photo published by Mayor Gigi Ugulava.) TBILISI, DFWatch–May 9, “EU Day” was observed in its member countries. Also in Georgia, which is not a member, the day was celebrated with cultural events. A concert was held in Tbilisi by the initiative of the mayor. Diplomats and national minorities, as […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says he knows ‘almost for certain’ who the Georgian Dream coalition will pick for presidential candidate. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of the two main political blocs in Georgia are discussing who might be their candidate for the presidential election in October, 2013. Both plan to hold a ballot to select their candidate. In a recent survey conducted by the National […]
The eleven had been detained for crossing the border into South Ossetia, a Georgian breakaway region which Russia has propped up for over twenty years. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eleven more Georgia citizens have been released from their detention by Russian soldiers. They were detained earlier in May for crossing the border with South Ossetia. The release on Wednesday came after the Ministry of Interior had held […]
A demonstration to support labor rights May 1 was violently dispersed by police. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has fined five participants at a May Day rally in Tbilisi with 400 GEL (USD 240). About two dozen other participants are awaiting sentencing in two months. The five were fined for petty hooliganism and for disobeying police orders. […]
Dark shiny SUVs were among the valuable items “given” to the state by individuals and businesses under President Saakashvili’s governments. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Transparency International suspects that gifts worth more than USD 111 million that were received by the Georgian government during the last 8 years may actually have been robbery conducted by the state. This is the conclusion Transparency […]
Natia Mogeladze has not commented on why she resigned as head of the body that monitors the financing of political parties. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Natia Mogeladze, head of the Financial Monitoring Service for political parties, resigned on Wednesday. According to the State Audit Office, a body subordinate to the Financial Monitoring Service, it was Mogeladze’s own decision to resign. […]
Activists plan to gather outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Human right organizations and gay rights activists plan a flash mob event May 17 outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi. The flash mob will last half hour and the purpose is to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, which is marked in […]
FBI Director Robert Mueller (left) and Georgia’s Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Robert Mueller, director of the US federal police FBI, has paid a visit to Georgia in connection with the Olympic winter games in Sochi in 2014. This is Mueller’s second visit to Georgia. The first time was in May, 2010, when he discussed deepening […]
Georgian police in Lapankuri, August 29, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Authorities in Georgia Wednesday conducted a somewhat belated autopsy of the bodies of some of the dead in a special operation along the border with Russia in August, 2012. The shooting in a forested hillside in Lapankuri, near the border between Georgia […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliamentarians from the coalition of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and the National Movement (UNM) party of President Saakashvili on Tuesday met with a delegation from the OSCE to discuss current events in Georgia, foreign policy and other […]
Five of the detainees were minors from the village Korbouli. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Twelve Georgian citizens were Tuesday released after having been detained by Russian soldiers for crossing the border of South Ossetia. May 1 to 4, Russian soldiers detained 22 people living in villages near to the breakaway region. According […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coalition is searching for a candidate for president. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) has been mentioned as a strong contender. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition will name its candidate for president next week. At the end of the week, the coalition’s council will decide who will represent it in the upcoming presidential election. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Tuesday […]
Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili (center left) and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili discussed the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway with President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Azerbaijan. The heads of state of the two neighboring countries underlined that the construction of […]
Gigi Tevzadze, Rector of Ilia State University in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The rectors of two large universities in Georgia ask President Mikheil Saakashvili to use his right to veto a law amendment which in their opinion will restrict the autonomy of universities. Gigi Tevzadze, Rector of Ilia State University, also known as Iliauni, said on Tuesday […]
The Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, where some of the OSCE delegation’s meetings will take place. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A delegation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chaired by Wolfgang Grossruck, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, arrives in Georgia today Tuesday for a three day visit. In the delegation are also […]
Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Defender says the eleven Chechen fighters who died in a shooting incident at the border between Georgia and Russia in August 2012, were part of an operation by the then Georgian government to train and equip fighters and send […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and his wife Eka Khvedelidze celebrated Easter in his home region Sachkhere in the middle of the country. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Orthodox Church celebrated Easter May Day 5, as the parish attended traditional prayers at churches around the country and the Patriarch conducted midnight mass at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi. The liturgy started at 11:00 pm Saturday […]
Tinatin Avaliani is Project Analyst at Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association. On April 2, 2012 GYLA held a presentation of trial monitoring results focused on criminal cases in the city courts of Tbilisi and Kutaisi. The trial monitoring was conducted within the framework of the USAID funded Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project […]
Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association writes that the police used disproportionate force as it dispersed a May Day rally in Tbilisi. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA) claims that the police used disproportionate force against participants of a peaceful demonstration on May 1. The demonstration, organized by the youth group Laboratoria 1918 to mark the […]
Former AC Milan player Kahki Kaladze, is energy minister in his native country Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Andriy Shevchenko, Demetrio Albertini, Alessandro Nesta, these are among the confirmed names for football players who will take part in the farewell match of former AC Milan player and current Minister […]
A woman waiting for the bus in Sokhumi, Abkhazia. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Romania has recognized Georgia’s so-called neutral travel documents, which are issued to people living in the breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry received word of the decision Friday in a note from the […]
Students acknowledge that they painted slogans on the walls of several buildings, but say the police also committed violations. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police on Thursday published footage from street surveillance cameras which shows how participants in a May Day rally damaged private property by spray painting slogans on city walls and damaging police cars and private cars. The students who […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia climbs 15 places on Freedom House’s latest list of press freedom around the world. On the list Freedom of the Press 2013, Georgia is listed as partly free in 96th place with 49 points, up from 111th place and 52 points the year before. […]
Minister of Agriculture Davit Kirvalidze has resigned after ten of his staff were detained in a corruption scandal. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Minister of Agriculture, Davit Kirvalidze, resigned on Thursday taking responsibility for a fraudulent scheme uncovered in his ministry which recently led to ten people being detained. Police on Wednesday detained ten employees suspected […]
Deputy Justice Minister Sandro Baramidze, one of the people behind the bill, says it will free the courts from political influence. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia has overturned President Saakashvili’s veto against legislative amendments about judicial reform. Those behind the amendments claim that they serve to depolarize the court system. According to the draft, which has been passed […]
US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili Wednesday continued his tour of the US and held meetings with Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden. “We applaud the democratic transition that has been taking place in Georgia,” Kerry said in […]
Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said on Wednesday that in the past, there have been exceeded expectations about Germany’s support for Georgia’s aspirations to become a NATO member. He said this as he opened a forum to discuss strategic […]
Twenty people were detained during a May Day rally in Tbilisi Wednesday. Several people were slightly injured. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Wednesday dispersed a peaceful protest organized by students and youth groups that wanted to mark the International Workers’ Day, May 1. About twenty persons, including a journalist, were detained by police and later released. […]
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili (left), Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and Minister of Internal Affairs Irakli Gharibashvili. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia the Ivanishvili government will consider halting the prosecution of former government officials as part of an initiative by the prime minister to bring about reconciliation. But Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili made it clear […]
Prime Minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili (right), expects NATO to commit to making Georgia a member through a Membership Action Plan in 2014. On the left, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Georgia, Guenther Baechler. (Official Photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new government expects Georgia to receive a membership action plan (MAP) next year. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said this Tuesday at the 22. anniversary of the Georgian army. The head of government has often had to defend himself against […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Rose Roth Seminar in Tbilisi this week. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The plan to reopen a railway through breakaway Abkhazia came up during a NATO seminar in Tbilisi. Lawrence Scott Sheets, South Caucasus Project Director for the International Crisis Group, said during the 83rd Rose Roth Seminar of NATO’s […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament is ready to listen to the president’s annual address to the nation, but the president may not show up. Pavle Kublashvili from President Saakashvili’s United National Movement party says that the annual address has not been scheduled. […]
