Russian soldiers at Dvani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers have taken two more Georgian villagers to a detention facility in Tskhinvali inside the breakaway region South Ossetia. Ambrosi Kapanadze and Genad Baisikovi were taken from the villages Tsagveli and Kobi Saturday morning. Their […]
Paata Zakareishvili changes title to Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality from January 1, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has decided to change the name of the Reintegration Ministry into the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civil Equality. The name change will come into force on January 1, 2014. The minister who heads the renamed ministry, […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Video grab.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In his less than two minutes long address at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius Summit President Giorgi Margvelashvili spoke briefly about the country’s past, present and future on the way to Euro-Atlantic integration. After recalling the democratic election […]
Sign at Ergneti. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The last few days, Russian soldiers have begun installing signs in the villages bordering with South Ossetia that warn locals not to pass, and are continuing installing fences and barbed wire. The EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) on Friday expressed concern over […]
Georgian Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s budget for next year will be about 9 billion lari (USD 5.3 billion), Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri says. After the government session on Friday, Khaduri told journalists that a draft budget has been sent to parliament for further review […]
Georgian foreign minister Maia Panjikidze (left) and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton sealing the agreement with a kiss. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU and Georgia on Friday finished the first signing of the Association Agreement. The proceedings took place in Vilnius during the summit there of the EU’s Eastern Partnership. The agreement was signed by the Union’s foreign policy spokesperson […]
Sopho Chareli is a Project Lawyer at Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association. The issue of procuring vehicles by public agencies has frequently been discussed by the public and the media for the past several years. Procurement of luxurious cars by high state officials with state money has also been criticized. State procurement which is linked […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili will be given three minutes to address the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius today. He is expected to talk about the importance of Georgia being integrated with Europe, and that a certain resistance […]
Orthodox activists are against the re-erecting of a minaret in the village Chela. (Photo: Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Orthodox clerics and members of a radical religious group Thursday demonstrated in the Georgian village Chela against the restoration of a minaret on the night of November 27. The day ended without incident, and the rally was dissolved peacefully. […]
Deputy Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaniani signing each of the one thousand pages. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The technical part of the initialization of Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU is finished, and tomorrow is the official part of the proceedings. Attending Thursday’s event in Vilnius were, from Georgia, Deputy Foreign Minister Davit […]
A used Mercedes for sale at Rustavi car market. (gancxadebebi.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-October 2013 was USD 8 591 million, according to precise data from Georgian National Statistics Department (Geostat). This is one percent more than in the same period last year. The export was USD 2 306 […]
A roadblock at the de facto border at Ergneti. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian man has been released from a holding facility in South Ossetia after first being detained two days ago for trespassing. Malkhaz Vanishvili, 24, from the village Khurvaleti near the de facto border, was detained together with Gocha Makishvili. […]
National Movement MP Sergo Ratiani with Ukrainian national colors. (First Channel.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Movement MPs on Wednesday came to parliament wearing Ukrainian flags as tie and with Ukrainian flags on their desks. They did it to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The speaker of parliament liked the idea and asked to give him one too. […]
The minaret in Chela was put up at the mosque Wednesday. (Photo: Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The minaret that was taken down in a Georgian village was put back up at the mosque Wednesday night. According to the local newspaper Samkhretis Karibche (Sknews.ge), the local government in Adigeni issued a permission to restore the minaret in Chela […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A ship Wednesday arrived in Batumi to take aboard 300 000 boxes, or 120 tons, of Georgian citrus fruits and bring the goods to Novorossiysk. The citrus fruit originated in the two municipalities Khelvachauri and Kobuleti. According to Zaur Putkaradze, […]
Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said the Association Agreement will be signed in Vilnius November 29 at 09:00 am. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will initialize its Association Agreement with the EU on November 29 as leaders of the EU and countries in the Eastern Partnership meet in Vilnius. Davit Zalkaliani, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, will initialize the agreement by signing […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A new agreement between Georgia and Switzerland about simplified visa rules will come into force on January 1, 2014. According to the Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry, the two countries have completed all the procedures related to the agreement […]
Encumbent Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A dispute has developed between the current Tbilisi mayor and the likely new mayor. The dispute has to do with infrastructure projects in Tbilisi which the encumbent mayor claims the candidate for new mayor, who is now infrastructure minister, has […]
The lack of formal registration makes it difficult to know the exact number of Romas who live in Georgia. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Meliasanovs, a Roma family of nine, did not participate in the last presidential elections, because they are registered far from where they actually live. However, they don’t believe that the elections would improve their hard social and financial […]
Sign at Ergneti. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers have detained two Georgian citizens at the de facto border with the breakaway region South Ossetia. The detainees – Malkhaz Vanishvili, 28, and Gocha Makishvili, 28, from the village Khurvaleti – have been taken to a detention […]
Aleksandre Elisashvili, a well-known TV journalist, is new head of the president’s pardon commission; one of two such bodies. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili has replaced some of the members of the presidential pardon commission, one of two commissions which review applications from prisoners for reduced sentence or early release. Aleksandre Elisashvili, a well-known […]
Zviad Dzidziguri from the Conservative Party wearing the Chokha with sword in parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament is considering banning the carrying of swords of the type belonging to the Georgian national costume Chokha. A few days ago, two teenage boys were injured when two others dressed in Chokha drew swords on them at Pushkin Square in Tbilisi. […]
Georgian Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian justice minister has replaced her first deputy after the new government was approved by parliament. Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani explained on Monday that she has known Davit Jandieri since the time when he was her intern for three […]
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s office. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is not known why two deputies to the Georgian chief prosecutor have resigned, and the Tbilisi prosecutor was replaced a few days ago. Lasha Natsvlishvili resigned November 21, just as a new chief prosecutor was appointed. In his letter of […]
Lincoln Mitchell is Associate Professor at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute. DF Watch talked with Georgia-analyst Lincoln Mitchell, Associate Professor at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute. DFW: What has changed since July, when we last talked?L.M: The euphoria of winning an election, of unseating Saakashvili, of getting rid of […]
Alexandra Kalatozishvili (center) from Multinational Georgia, and Zaur Khalilov (right) from Civic Integration Foundation. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of two non-governmental organizations told DF Watch about problems which remain in involving minorities in the election processes and political parties not been actively interested in having contact with minorities. Alexandra […]
Coastal freighter Stella. (MaritimeTraffic.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Economy will finance a renewed search operation for the missing captain of the freighter Stella, which went down in the Aegean Sea on November 3. A search was conducted after the accident, but the captain, Levan Tebidze, was not found, […]
Georgian wine will be served to guests at the EU summit in Vilnius this weekend. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian wine will be served during the summit of the EU’s Eastern Partnership in Vilnius November 28-29, the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirms. The event will be held at the exhibition hall Litexpo in Vilnius and will be attended by representatives […]
Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says he will announce his future plans in two or three months. Ivanishvili said this during the Georgian Dream party’s congress on Sunday. He said he has to think before he decides how he will continue […]
From left to right: Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, his wife Nunuka Tamazashvili and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was Sunday elected as new leader of the Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia Party. Gharibashvili took over as leader after Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded Georgian Dream two years ago. Delegates also voted for […]
The pardon commission meeting Saturday. (Prison Ministry photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–151 prisoners were let out of jail on Saturday, after a session of the prison ministry’s pardon commission held at the women’s facility in Rustavi, 20 km away from the capital. The commission discussed 700 applications for reduced sentence or […]
Davit Narmania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition has chosen Davit Narmania, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, as its candidate for mayor of Tbilisi. Narmania is thought to be one of the best ministers in the new government. The decision was made by […]
From left to right: Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Chairman of the Joint Staff Vakhtang Kapanadze. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Vakhtang Kapanadze has been appointed as chairman of the Joint Staff of Georgia’s armed forces, replacing Irakli Dzneladze. Who should take over as head of the Joint Staff was subject of a conflict between ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and […]
A view of the Khevsureti mountains. (Photo by mtskheta-mtianeti.gov.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The mountainous Pshav-Khevsureti region in the northeast of Georgia is to be made a protected area. This is a historical region and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The environment committee in parliament has proposed […]
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili (left) and U.S. Senator John McCain. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The first week after leaving office, former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili remained abroad and Thursday met members of the U.S. Congress in Washington. Among the around twenty politicians Saakashvili met on the Hill was Republican Senator John […]
Ex Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (right) received the Supreme Order of Justice. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili has been awarded the Supreme Order of Justice. The award is given once a year by the World Jurist Association (WJA) to a person and one cleric for their work for peace and justice. WJA President […]
Akaki Tsereteli. TBILISI, DFWatch–UNESCO has placed the 100 year anniversary of the death of Georgian poet Akaki Tsereteli on a list of important events in 2014-2015. Tsereteli was born in 1840 and died in 1915 and is considered the best Georgian poet in this period. He also was […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Commission is satisfied with how Georgia has completed first phase of a visa action plan which might lead to visa free travel with the EU. The evaluation is particularly important because compliance with the action plan is expected to be […]
Narikala Castle in Tbilisi. (Photo published by Tbilisi.gov.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia is discussing a draft law about cultural heritage which may remove the protected status of 6 319 historic sites. Among the sites are Borjomi Park in southern Georgia and Romanov Palace in Abastumani, as well as Narikala Castle, […]
Zurab Abashidze and Grigory Karasin, negotiators for Georgia and Russia, respectively. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Russia met for the fifth time Thursday in Prague within the diplomatic channel established by the government that came to power a year ago. After the meeting, Georgia’s representative Zurab Abashidze said discussions dealt with practical […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Residents of ‘Dream Town’ – a settlement of homeless families in Adjara – ask the region’s authorities to give them shelter. The shantytown residents rallied against the government’s decision to give only 15 families shelter, while there are a few […]
Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–At the end of his two year run as a politician, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has published an open letter that rebuts speculations about his future plans. In the letter, titled ‘Postscript’, Ivanishvili writes that he only wants to answer one […]
Aditti’s hospital in Kharagauli as it looked when DF Watch visited last July. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–All the Georgian hospitals which were owned by the Israeli company Aditti have now become government property. Aditti owned hospitals in nine regions of Georgia. Most of them are in a difficult condition and doctors at those hospitals have protested […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--EU's Foreign Affairs Council has agreed to sign and conclude an agreement establishing a framework for the participation of Georgia in EU's crisis management operations. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia document called Framework Agreement on the Participation of Georgia in EU Crisis Management [...]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Photo posted on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili has signed a document which appoints former interior minister Irakli Gharibsahvili as prime minister. The new president also has been asked to sign a document by which parliament declares its trust in the new […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The acting Georgian finance minister on Wednesday met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss priorities in next year’s budget and the country’s macroeconomic indicators. Mark Griffiths, head of the IMF mission, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–40 000 households in Georgia are without electricity due to bad weather. According to Energo-Pro Georgia, which distributes electricity to consumers, 50 000 households have been without electricity since morning, but power supply to 10 000 of them has now been restored. […]
Deputy Prison Minister Giga Giorgadze. (Ministry photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prison Ministry in Georgia is considering closing the women’s prison, where new figures showed that 17 % of inmates are hepatitis C positive. The prisoners in Rustavi women’s facility will be transferred to another facility, but it is still […]
Irakli Gharibashvili in parliament Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament plans to confirm the new government on Wednesday. On Tuesday, parliamentary committees listened to speeches by the minister candidates and asked them questions. A sharp exchange developed between Prime Minister candidate Irakli […]
Chairman of the Georgian Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s High Council of Justice on Tuesday elected 12 new judges. There were 59 candidates present at the session. Each candidate needed at least ten votes out of the 13 members of the council in order to be elected. 41 out of the 59 candidates […]
New Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Acting Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili promises that those who ordered and organized the so-called Khurcha incident in 2008 will be identified and punished. A few weeks ago, police detained two former government officials on suspicion of having organized […]
Acting Prison Minister Sozar Subari. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The acting prison minister in Georgia says screening procedures have revealed a very high level of hepatitis C infections in prisons. Sozar Subari said Tuesday at a session with parliamentary committees that the ratio of infected inmates at the […]
Irakli Gharibashvili presented a government with the same people as before, except for new Interior Minister Alexandre Chikaidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister in waiting Irakli Gharibashvili on Monday named his new cabinet. It lists the same people as before the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili, with the exception of Gharibashvili’s post as interior minister which will be […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–With the inauguration of the new president in Georgia, many things will be different. We give you a rundown of the main changes. After the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili as the new president, the new Constitution came into force. These amendments […]
Eka Khutsishvili. I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.-Thomas JeffersonThe judiciary is in permanent need of control from the side of an impartial and quality observer with a view to ensuring its existence. We are still on […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Israel have formed an agreement which allows Georgian citizens to stay in Israel for 90 days without a visa. Acting Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Israel’s Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirshenbaum on Monday signed an […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-October 2013 was one percent more than in the same period the year before. According to preliminary data from the National Statistics Department, the total amount of foreign trade turnover in the first ten […]
Photo published by EUMM. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRM) met for the 39th time on Friday. According to the Interior Ministry, Georgia raised the issue of the installation of barbed wire and fences by Russian soldiers in the villages Ergneti, Ditsi and […]
Activists demand a stop in large hydro power dams that threaten villages and the environment. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two separate demonstrations went on on the street outside during the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi on Sunday. Labor party leader Shalva Natelashvili rallied supporters and said that the […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili has instructed the majority in parliament to form a new government. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–With the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili as president on Sunday, the government is now suspended, but continues as an acting government until parliament has confirmed a new government that will be presented by the president. Parliament will […]
After the swearing in ceremony, President Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed guests in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Giorgi Margvelashvili was Sunday sworn in as the fourth president of Georgia at a ceremony held in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. The text of the oath says he swears to protect Georgia’s Constitution, independence of the state, […]
New Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed guests in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili was held today in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. The schedule of the day’s events is the following: at 13:00, the inauguration started and was expected to last for 45 minutes. The new […]
Guards began letting in people in groups of 30, but later let visitors enter the presidential palace freely. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili has awarded former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the Golden Fleece award. Saakashvili is leaving office on Sunday, and in a flurry of activity handed out awards and distinctions to more than a thousand people. […]
The railway workers achieved a signed deal with Georgian Railway and have called off the strike. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two thousand railway workers in Georgia ended their strike yesterday, after successful negotiations with the company. Talks between workers and the Georgian Railway management board lasted for six hours and all three demands the workers brought with […]
Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s justice minister has asked her French colleague to extradite a former defense minister who faces two separate criminal cases at home. Former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili left Georgia for France after the National Movement lost the […]
Photo published on Mikheil Saakashvili’s Facebook page. TBILISI, DFWatch–Outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili says he will ‘temporarily’ leave politics and may go on to work within science. In an open letter posted on Facebook on Friday, Saakashvili explained why he will not attend the inauguration of Giorgi […]
Fourteen people were arrested as police broke up brothels in Batumi and Gonio. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained owners and administrators of fourteen hotels and clubs in Batumi and Gonio for allocating space for prostitution. Police in Adjara conducted a coordinated operation in the coast cities of Batumi and Gonio which led to […]
Giga Bokeria has resigned as Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, Giga Bokeria, has resigned a few days before the inauguration of the new president. Bokeria’s letter of resignation is dated November 15 and addressed to the president’s administration, which says […]
Mikheil Saakashvili is in Europe and does not plan to come home for the inauguration of Georgia’s new president. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili and other top people in the National Movement party will not attend the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili as new president on Sunday. In a statement, the UNM says their people have acted in line with ‘civil standards’ […]
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has sent outgoing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili a thank you letter. In the letter, which was published by Saakashvili’s administration, Rasmussen thanks the Georgian leader for his ‘good […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Two thousand railway workers went on strike in Georgia Thursday, demanding overtime pay, bonus system and entitlements. The workers on strike have three main demands: compensation for overtime, a transparent system for award payments and to have […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A man suspected of injuring a policeman in Zugdidi, a town in western Georgia, was released on Thursday on a 2 000 lari (USD 1200) bail. Zugdidi City Court satisfied the appeal by the Prosecutor’s Office to release the suspect on bail. The suspect will have […]
The planned homeless shelter. (Channel One.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Church, the Patriarchate, is against the opening of a shelter for homeless people. The plan has been proposed by the organization Identoba, which protects the rights of LGBT people in Georgia. A private individual donated a building […]
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A protest was held Wednesday in Zugdidi, in western Georgia, by relatives of a man detained for injuring a policeman a few days ago. Their demand was to have him released. But the suspect surrendered to the police and admitted having injured […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – Lithuanian President, President of Federal Council of Austria, Vice Speaker of Parliament of Czech Republic, also Secretary General of OSCE and NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative in South Caucasus and Central Asia […]
Five of the Public Defender’s staff are out in a dispute about the conditions of former government officials in jail. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three employees at the Public Defender’s office in Georgia have resigned, and two have been fired, after disagreement over a visit to former prison minister Bacho Akhalaia in jail. Marina Gigineishvili, Amiran Nikolaishvili and Guram Bendiashvili, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has downgraded its prognosis for Georgia’s economic growth in 2013 from 3 to 2 percent. EBRD said a few days ago that the GDP growth will also be reduced from 5 to 4 percent and the level of […]
CEC spokeswoman Eka Azarashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The final results of the presidential election on October 27 show that Giorgi Margvelashvili of the Georgian Dream coalition received 62.12 percent of votes, Davit Bakradze from the National Movement received 21.72 percent and Nino Burjanadze, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A policeman was brutally attacked in western Georgia Tuesday, after locals accused him of having raped a woman. Local media reported that the policeman was found naked, with a broken leg, and in a pool of blood near the presidential residence in […]
President-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The newly elected president of Georgia is considering showing up at the winter Olympics in Sochi, despite his country’s strained relationship with Russia. A few days ago, president-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili said in an interview with Russia’s […]
Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU will be initiated by Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius November 28-29. Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said this on Monday. The text of the agreement, […]
USS Mount Whitney. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five days before the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili as new president, he and other members of the current government will join outgoing president Mikheil Saakashvili for an event aboard a U.S. naval ship docked in Batumi. Also outgoing Prime […]
The minaret is still in storage outside Chela, while locals hope the government will solve the conflict. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The conflict over a minaret that was dismantled in a small Georgian village is far from over. Locals are continuing their fight to have the minaret restored, and claim that the guarantee of freedom of religion in the Georgian Constitution supports […]
Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is expecting representatives of 30 countries to attend the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili as new president on November 17. Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said Monday that among the guests will be two or three presidents, speakers […]
A typical gas heater. (Tbilisi City Hall Website.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, natural gas is cheaper than electricity, so more and more people use it for heating in winter. But the safety of the devices is far below any acceptable level. A young married couple and their 4 year old daughter died after a gas leak […]
The National Movement’s new party banner was taken down from the palace flagpole Sunday at noon. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Sunday at noon, the Georgian national flag was back up on the presidential residence in Tbilisi. On Saturday, the National Movement party banner with four hearts and a cross was flying above the building. The government accused the president […]
Refugees demonstrating in 2012. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Refugees will provide 85 refugee families with apartments on Monday. The apartments, which are located on Kvareli Street in Tbilisi, were distributed to families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by use of secret ballot, […]
Stella went down after hitting a reef near the Greek island Karpathos. (MaritimeTraffic.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The captain of the sunken freighter Stella has been declared lost as the rescue work ended November 5, according to Georgia’s Foreign Ministry. In a statement, the ministry says yacht clubs, harbors and ships sailing near the site of the accident […]
The National Movement party’s banner flying above the presidential residence in Avlabari, Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president’s administration Saturday raised the National Movement party banner atop the presidential palace in Tbilisi. The flag has four hearts and a cross, instead of five crosses, as is on the Georgian national flag. The government […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Friday met with his French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian at the French Defense Ministry. They discussed military-industrial cooperation between Georgia and France and future plans. Alasania said they discussed […]
Georgia’s new Interior Minister Alexandre Chikaidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police Colonel Alexandre Chikaidze will replace Irakli Gharibashvili and become new Georgian Interior Minister. Chikaidze was presented by Prime Minister Gharibashvili on Saturday. The 28 year-old Chikaidze graduated from Tbilisi State […]
Georgian Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili (left) and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili yesterday finished a one week visit to Lithuania and Latvia. He said Georgia’s friends are ready to support its integration with Europe at the summit of the Eastern Partnership’s in Vilnius November 28-29, […]
The Georgian National Bank. TBILISI, DFWatch–The exchange rate of Georgian lari against the US dollar and the euro has fallen. November 8, the exchange rate of lari against USD was 1.6793. November 7 it was 1.6737. The rate has been falling for one week. October 29 it was 1.6675. The Georgian lari […]
Zeev Elkin, the Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The deputy foreign minister of Israel says relations with Georgia have warmed during the last year. Zeev Elkin, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, also says that the agreement about visa free travel between the two states will soon […]
The likely new chief prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili resigned on Thursday. His replacement, Otar Partskhaladze, was presented Friday. It has not been officially confirmed, but unofficially known that Partskhaladze will leave his job as chairman […]
Sulkhan Saladze is project coordinator at Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association. Since some days after the 2013 presidential elections, much has been said about the millions spent from the President’s Reserve Fund. Representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream Coalition allege that funds from the President’s Reserve Fund were spent for party […]
Davit Chaginava. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Austria has extradited a Georgian citizen who is charged with torture and was being searched for by Interpol. According to the Interior Ministry, Davit Chaginava, who was detained in Austria September 30, has been extradited to Georgia. Interpol has […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Police are investigating an attack on the head of the campaign office for Georgian Dream candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili in Sagarejo, in eastern Georgia, in the evening of Election Day. Ivane Kvrivishvili was attacked by members of the Georgian Dream […]
Former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili held a speech in court about his police reforms. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The trial against former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili for the violent dispersal of an anti-government protest in 2011 will begin November 19. It was on May 26, 2011, that an anti-government protest in front of parliament was brutally dispersed […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili assures foreign diplomats that he is hoping the new government and president will succeed and make the economy boom. Meeting with foreign diplomats at the president’s palace in Tbilisi on Wednesday to sum up the […]
Vyacheslav Chirikba. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has ruled out that there will be signed a non-use of force treaty with Abkhazia, because the country does not sign treaties with the breakaway regions. Vyacheslav Chirikba, de facto Foreign Minister of the breakaway region Abkhazia, said after […]
Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president’s reserve fund will be cut from USD 30 million to 15 million for next year. Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri said Wednesday that two months before the end of the year, the president’s reserve fund is empty. He said the president spent […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili has pardoned one more person convicted in the so-called prison riot case and awarded him with Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali of the first class. Revaz Charbadze, a former chairman of the purchasing department of the Defense […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili is planning to grant Georgian citizenship to more people before he leaves office. In a statement on Tuesday, the president’s administration invites anyone who wants Georgian citizenship to apply now. Many people have […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) has confirmed that Russian mobile operator MTC is providing network coverage in villages that border on the breakaway region South Ossetia. GNCC has repeatedly monitored the radiofrequency […]
Sukhumi, the main town in breakaway Abkhazia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Russia has asked Georgia to extradite a man suspected of murdering a Russian diplomat in Abkhazia two months ago. Russian media write that the Russian Prosecutor’s Office has sent an official request to Georgia asking […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–There were 14.1 percent more visitors to Georgia in October, compared to last year, according to the Interior Ministry’s monthly report. The number of visitors in October was 480 510. In the entire first ten months of this year, there were 4 556 […]
Georgian wine. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia wants to hold a presentation of wine during the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius later this month. Representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry explain that Georgia is in negotiations with the organizers about holding a […]
Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and Mikheil Saakashvili. (President’s administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday met with ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. According to the president’s press office, the main topic of their conversation was Georgia’s integration with Europe and the importance of the […]
President-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili and ex-president Eduard Shevardnadze are invited to the inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili, the newly elected president. Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, who is a member of the government commission for the […]
Coastal freighter Stella. (MaritimeTraffic.com.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A ship with Georgian crew Saturday went down in the Aegean Sea. Five of the crew members were rescued, but the captain is missing and a search is underway. According to Maritime Bulletin, the small freighter Stella had a crew of six when it sank for […]
The presidential palace in Avlabari, Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new government plans to open a Georgian-American technical university in the building in Avlabari, Tbilisi, which today is used as presidential palace. The palace which lies on a cliff above the capital was built a few years ago, and still […]
Khatuna Samnidze (left) and Davit Usupashvili (right). (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican Party, which is member of the Georgian Dream coalition, Sunday elected a new leader at a party congress. The party elected Khatuna Samnidze as new leader. She has been a party member since 2005 and has served as organizational […]
New barbed wire in Dvani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new round of Geneva talks will be held November 5-6. It is the 25th time the warring parties of the 2008 Russia-Georgian war meet, and one of the main topics of discussion will be freedom of movement and the installation of barbed wire and fences. […]
Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili will pardon former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, who was recently sentenced to three years and nine months in jail. Saakashvili explains his decision in a long open letter, recalling the time when his government was […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has been accepted as member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the country is elected as member for a period from 2014 to 2016. The election for new ECOSOC members was held […]
Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new prime minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, will select his own replacement as interior minister. It was earlier thought that outgoing Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili would decide who will take over as Interior Minister. Ivanishvili explained that now […]
Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Bidzina Ivanishvili on Saturday announced Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili as candidate for new prime minister. Ivanishvili presented the new PM at a press conference at the Georgian Dream coalition headquarters at 15:15. “According to the new […]
Georgia is looking into what Russian telecom company MTC is doing in the breakaway region South Ossetia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) has started monitoring of the radio frequency spectrum in order to learn the activity of MTC, a Russian mobile company. The monitoring is done to find out what MTC is doing on the territory of Georgia, […]
Irina Imerlishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Irina Imerlishvili, a member of parliament from the Georgian Dream coalition, will be new secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council. She confirmed to journalists that she has received such an offer and accepted, which means that as soon as […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili will today name his successor. The Georgian Dream political council will first discuss this issue after which Prime Minister will present the candidate to the parliament majority. Ivanishvili will meet with Georgian […]
Bacho Akhalaia will send an appeal to President Saakashvili, asking him for a pardon. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia will send an appeal to the president asking to pardon him as soon as possible. Akhalaia, who faced a number of charges after the change of government, was acquitted in two of the cases, and sentenced to three […]
Voting on election day. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Democratic Institute (NDI) says after observing the election campaign and the October 27 election that a multiparty and competitive election is becoming routine in Georgian politics. NDI’s observer mission consisted of a 20-member group, who […]
The new parliament building in Kutaisi was opened in 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Judiciary Committee in parliament supports a constitutional amendment to move parliament back to the capital Tbilisi. For the last year and a half, parliament has been located in Kutaisi, in western Georgia. Thursday, the […]
Davit Kezerashvili was defense minister during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in France has confirmed the detention of former Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili. Kezerashvili is charged with abuse of powers while he was defense minister and was detained at Nice airport on October 15. A court placed him in 40 […]
Stalin monument in Akura, Kakheti. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is planning to fine the use of communist symbols with 1 000 lari (USD 600). The use of communist symbols was prohibited by the previous government, but it failed to define the sanctions that apply, and the law has remained inactive. Now, the […]
