“A historical moment for our country’s relation with NATO,” says Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government is unable to say specifically what Barack Obama’s initiative to boost the military capacity of non-NATO partner countries will mean and how the US will assist Georgia, but they welcome the initiative. Georgia’s defense […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promises that Georgia’s progress will be assessed at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales, but stops short of saying what the outcome might be. Many Georgians had reckoned that their country would […]
Conservative Orthodox Christians in Georgia have gathered 30,000 signatures to remove a phrase in a new law which specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–30 000 people in Georgia have signed a document demanding changes in a newly adopted anti-discrimination law. The Union of Genus Leaders has been gathering signatures since May 17, International Day Against Homophobia, and asked […]
Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Georgia before spring 2015, by invitation of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. The PM on Monday met Merkel in Berlin and invited her to Georgia. She accepted the invitation and expressed her desire […]
Tbilisi, Dfwatch – Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili hopes that a progress done by Georgia will be ‘adequately assessed’ on the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales, but he also thinks it is not advisable to speak of this issue in advance, as it raises false expectations among his fellow counterparts. […]
(TV9) Tbilisi, DFWatch – A 25-year-old man has drowned in a river Sakirula, near resort town Borjomi, in southern Georgia on Tuesday after heavy rains caused floods across the area. Murman Lomsadze has virtually been washed away from his own yard and drowned […]
Wine export grew 147 percent in the first five months of 2014, compared to the year before. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia increased its export of wine by 147 percent in the first five months of 2014, compared to last year. 22,779,153 bottles of wine was exported to 32 countries worldwide, which amounted to USD 73,795,849. Revenues from wine export in January […]
Sakdrisi mining site. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has suspended a decree by the Ministry of Culture that gave a green light to begin mining at the site of an alleged ancient gold mine in south east Georgia. RMG Gold, a gold mining company that was prohibited from carrying on work in Sakdrisi, […]
Nino Evgenidze is Executive Director of the Economic Policy Research Center. In comparison with 2013, current year began with better economic indicators. In particular, high growth rate was observed in January, February and March – with 7,4 percent quarter average. However, April saw a decrease to 2,7 percent. One of the factors that ensured […]
Clean-up work is progressing 24 hours a day, and a new temporary road will be opened in a few days. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For over two weeks, the only road through the Caucasus mountain range has been closed due to a massive landslide May 17. Now, Georgian authorities say a new temporary road will be opened in few days, after intense work to dig a new path […]
Demonstrators, mostly youth, demanded decriminalization of marijuana yesterday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Hundreds of people, mostly youth, gathered Monday outside the government office in Tbilisi to demand decriminalization of marijuana. The rally started at 18:00 in the evening. There were no speeches or appeals. People were dressed in green colors […]
Didier Burkhalter arriving at Tbilisi airport Monday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Swiss President Didier Burkhalter arrived in Georgia Monday evening as part of a round trip in the South Caucasus. Lasha Abashidze, head of Georgia’s Presidential Administration, and Davit Zalkaliani, First Deputy Foreign Minister, met him […]
German Chancellor Angela Merkal and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel says NATO will not offer Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the upcoming summit in Wales in September. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Monday met Merkel during a visit to Germany. At a joint […]
A local says the violence in Gardabani had an ethnic background and may be repeated if the responsible are not held to account. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A recent street fight last week in the eastern Georgian town Gardabani appears to have background in ethnic tensions. Some fear there may be more violence if the responsible are not held to account. Wednesday night’s streets clashes in Gardabani, […]
Alexander Ankvab. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, resigned on Sunday. Ankvab said he resigned in order to ‘maintain the stability of the country’, according to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass. “In accordance with […]
Tako Kakabadze (left), Ako Goguadze and David Uchadze. (Click to watch video.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three youth politicians told DF Watch in a recent discussion that political parties in Georgia do not pay much attention to youth problems. On May 31, Tako Kakabadze from New Rightists Party’s youth wing, Ako Goguadze from the youth wing of the […]
‘End the brutal drug policy’. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mostly young demonstrators marched through Tbilisi on Saturday, against what they see as a too tough drug policy. Their slogan, ‘Beka is not a criminal’, is in support of a man who may be sentenced to up to 14 years in jail for possession […]
Also at Kutaisi hospital, the number of cases is falling. 63 people were infected in Georgia’s second largest city. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 200 viral meningitis patients out of 400 have left hospital, according to Georgia’s Health Minister, Davit Sergeenko. He says the number of cases of viral meningitis has gone down in the large cities, after the outbreak peaked on May 23. […]
From last year’s demonstration. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth in Georgia also this year plan to demonstrate for decriminalizing marijuana. On June 2 last year, there was a large rally outside the old parliament building in Tbilisi for legalizing pot, and this year’s rally is planned at the government […]
Publicity photo of former President Mikheil Saakashvili published on the eve of his leaving office in November, 2013. TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili spent GEL 1,533,222 (USD 866,000) of public money on official visits during his last year in office. According to the report published by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) […]
Teona Lavrelashvili, founder of Georgian Youth Parliament. TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, a group of young students have created their own parliament. It has 100 MPs and prepares real draft laws which are sent to the real parliament. A few weeks ago, this youth parliament held its 2014 opening session in the parliament […]
Tedo Japaridze is Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Parliament of Georgia. Recently, I made a discovery of the kind that spices up historians’ books. In my archive, I discovered a draft of a letter by Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the first Georgian President, directed to Secretary James Baker. The date was 1991. These were devastating but hopeful […]
The mud from the May 17 landslide in Dariali clogged the river Tergi and may have killed up to seven people. TBILISI, DFWatch–Nearly two weeks after a catastrophic landslide hit Dariali Valley in the Caucasus mountains, the search is continuing for four people who are still missing. Three have been found dead. The Road Department in Georgia is working in two shifts to clean […]
Prison No 8 in Gldani, Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The parole commission decided at a session Tuesday to release 79 prisoners. According to the Prison Ministry, 69 of those up for release are men, 10 are women. Two of the women had their sentence converted to community work. During the session, […]
Kakha Bendukidze, a former economy minister for Saakashvili, will be adviser for Petro Poroshenko’s new economy council. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is not to advise the new Ukrainian government, but his economy minister, Kakha Bendukidze, confirms that he has been appointed as an adviser to Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko. […]
The clashes involved some 200 people of Azerbaijani and Georgian ethnic origin. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Wednesday night there was a street fight in a town south east in Georgia involving hundreds of youth. The fight took place in Gardabani, a town with a mixed Azerbaijani and Georgian population. Claims vary about what started the scuffle. Some […]
Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili (left), German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Ukraine’s PM Arseniy Yatseniuk. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The prime ministers of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on Wednesday met with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in Germany. “We would like people to know that which road to choose, and our meeting today is held exactly for this [purpose],” […]
An offshoot of the KaZantip festival is being organized in Georgia, but it will also be held in its original location in Crimea. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The electronic dance music festival KaZantip will be held in Crimea after all. Earlier it was announced it had moved to Georgia. For the last 22 years, KaZantip has been held in Crimea. But this year, it was first announced it had moved to Georgia, […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze is visiting the U.S. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze on Tuesday began an official visit to the United States which will last until May 30. According to the Foreign Ministry’s press office, Panjikidze will hold meetings with representatives of different […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The opposition in Abkhazia Tuesday night took over the presidential administration in Sukhumi and demanded the resignation of President Alexander Ankvab. A new caretaker government claims to be in control of the breakaway region, led by Raul Khajimba, […]
Zurab Chiaberashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Mayor of Tbilisi and National Movement member Zurab Chiaberashvili was attacked in the cafe in Tbilisi on Tuesday. The attackers allegedly were Rezo Tabukashvili and director Giorgi Mgeladze. Chiaberashvili told journalists at the hospital […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has transferred the right to sign an Association Agreement with EU to the prime minister for him to sign. Who will sign the AA has been a subject of debate the last few weeks. Government officials have […]
Davit Kezerashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday acquitted former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili of cognac fraud. Kezerashvili, who is under house arrest and electronic surveillance in France after being detained at Nice airport last year and then released in February, was charged by Georgian authorities in February, 2013, with assisting […]
Soldiers took an oath and were greeted by their commander-in-chief, President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Thousands of people came to downtown Tbilisi to mark Independence Day on Monday. The day was celebrated in 12 cities and towns all over the country. There was no military parade, which used to be a tradition during the Saakashvili government, but the new […]
Kindergartens and schools will remain closed at least until the end of the week, due to an outbreak of viral meningitis. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian kindergartens and schools up to sixth grade will remain closed until the end of the week to deal with an outbreak of viral meningitis. The schools should have been opened today, but Health Minister Davit Sergeenko announced Monday that they […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Speculation that the new Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, might hire former Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili as an advisor, is cheered by the latter’s supporters in Tbilisi. It has not been possible for DF Watch to confirm a claim […]
The group Identoba claims violence against women is on the rise in Georgia, and that legislation meant to protect women is ignored. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The rights group Identoba held a demonstration Saturday outside the government office to highlight the problem of violence against women. The organization, which is most known for having organized a gay rights rally in May 2013 which was attacked […]
Iashvili Hospital in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of confirmed cases of viral meningitis in the last two months in Georgia has jumped to 306. According to Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), 169 of the cases were in Tbilisi, 51 in Kutaisi, 18 in […]
Although generally a people’s day, there will be a little military element to Georgia’s national day this year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second year in a row, Georgia will mark Independence Day without a military parade. The government has decided that Independence Day will be a people’s celebration and aimed at letting people take part. But even though there is no military […]
Georgian Dream and National Movement activists clashed in Rustavi Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A scuffle developed Saturday as supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition demonstrated outside the National Movement’s party office in Rustavi, a city 20 km south of the capital. Mamuka Chikovani, the UNM candidate for Rustavi mayor, […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili could delegate signing power to Prime Minister Gharibashvili when Georgia signs an association agreement with the EU June 27, an expert on the constitution suggests. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili maintains that he should sign Georgia’s association agreement with the EU, but says he wants to avoid a dispute about the issue. Shalva Tadumadze, parliamentary secretary of the government, said Friday […]
The third victim of the Dariali landslide was also found inside a hydro power tunnel. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A dead body was found Friday night during the ongoing search and rescue operation following the landslide in Dariali Valley on May 17. This third casualty of the disaster was also found inside a tunnel that is part of a hydro power development […]
Gigi Ugulava in court in March, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Constitutional Court on Friday revoked a decision to suspend Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava pending a corruption trial, and he now plans to go back to work only weeks before the local election. Tbilisi City Court suspended Ugulava […]
(DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first four months of 2014 was USD 3,441 million, which is 14 percent more than in the same period last year. According to precise figures published by the National Statistics Department on Friday, export was […]
Georgia’s treaty with the EU will be signed by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, although he is not head of state. Will that make the treaty invalid? (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When Georgia signs an association agreement with the European Union in late June, it will be Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili who will do the signing. This is despite it clearly being stated in the constitution that the president is the one who signs […]
A second person has been found dead after the catastrophic landslide in Georgia on May 17. (police.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the victims in the May 17 Dariali landslide has been found dead inside a tunnel that was dug out in connection with an ongoing hydro power development in the valley. The body most likely belongs to a truck driver, according to rescue workers, […]
Around sixty refugee families are living in unbearable conditions in Metalurg Sanatorium in Tskaltubo, Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than 20 years, Eter, 74, has been living in Metalurg Sanatorium in Tskaltubo, a town in western Georgia. Apart from her, there are 60 families there; all refugees from the breakaway region Abkhazia. After Eter’s husband passed away, she […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A family tragedy has shocked Georgia and brought attention to the problem of violence against women. It appears that a Georgian man first killed his pregnant wife and then took his own life. The tragic incident unfolded in the village Ochkhamuri, […]
A hydro power tunnel that was flooded after a landslide on May 17 was searched for the first time Thursday. This is how the site looked in 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time after the catastrophic landslide in Dariali on May 17, rescue crew made their way into a tunnel in search of survivors, Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 reported Thursday. The tunnel, which is part of a hydro power plant under construction, […]
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of confirmed cases of viral meningitis in Georgia increased from 142 to 161 Thursday, as the health minister calmed people’s fears and assured them that the virus is not spreading through the drinking water. A rumor that the virus […]
It is common to bring yellow suitcases to KaZantip. (Publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the first time, the electronic dance music festival KaZantip will take place in Georgia, due to recent events in Ukraine. The festival has been held annually in Crimea since 1992. Now, following the Russian annexation of the peninsula, it is […]
Some of the people rescued were workers at the Dariali hydro power plant. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The rescue operation in Dariali Valley is continuing, though officials at the Emergency Management Department say there is now almost no hope of finding anyone alive. Seven people, Turkish and Ukrainian nationals and one Georgian, are still missing. […]
Health Minister Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An outbreak of viral meningitis has spread in schools and kindergartens in Georgia the last few weeks, with 142 confirmed cases so far. Kindergartens and schools up to 6th grade will be closed until May 27, while sanitary measures are being […]
Program host Vakho Sanaia on Maestro TV. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has criticized a TV program for being biased, after it turned the spotlight on promises made by the government in the 2012 election campaign. The target of the government’s criticism is a program on Maestro TV called […]
Aerial shot from the day of the accident, published on Facebook. TBILISI, DFWatch–Six people are still missing after the landslide in Dariali Valley on May 17, among them Georgians, Ukrainians and Turkish citizens, according to the Georgian interior minister. 12 Turkish citizens were rescued out of a tunnel, while two drivers […]
Nino Chalisuli, 37, has four children and runs a small shop in Tserovani called ‘Everything for one lari’. (DF Watch.) TSEROVANI, DFWatch– Tserovani is a settlement of refugees from the breakaway region South Ossetia. People settled here in small cottages after the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008. More than 2,000 cottages were built in Tserovani after the war, housing many […]
President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso. (Europe Diplomatic Magazine.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government will meet with EU commissioners in Brussels on May 21. First Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani says this is the first time such a meeting is being held. “This is an unprecedented format in EU-Georgia relations, which […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) has elected Vakhtang Abashidze as new chairman. This is the first time a head of GNCC has been elected. Abshidze, the only candidate, received the support of all five commission members. During […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of conservatives demonstrated outside the Georgian Public Broadcaster on Monday, demanding that the TV program Red Zone is closed down, after it dedicated its Saturday show to homophobia. May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, […]
Campaigners object to parliament postponing the ‘secret key’ issue. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The ‘This Affects You Too’ campaign demands that parliament appoints a special session to review a package of amendments to better regulate secret surveillance and considers it ‘shameful’ that the assembly failed to reach a quorum last […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi has been hit by a new wave of fake bomb threats. Law enforcers are conducting fruitless searches for bombs in public and private facilities. Ilia University was twice inspected on Monday and twice evacuated after there was a call made to the […]
Several protests were held in Tbilisi in support of the ‘invisible’. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several protest events were organized in the streets of Tbilisi on Sunday to express support for gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities. This followed Saturday’s massive rallies by conservative groups, who marked the newly announced […]
The government says three trucks were caught under the rock masses. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI,DFWatch–Seven people are reported missing and one dead, according to the latest information from Dariali Valley, where a massive landslide struck Saturday morning. The government’s security and crisis management council on Sunday published a statement […]
One of the signs warning about the disputed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers on Sunday detained Otar Kokoshvili, 54, from the village Tamarasheni, near Kareli. He was taken to a detention facility in Tskhinvali, a central town in the breakaway region South Ossetia. According to his relatives, Kokoshvili […]
From left to right: Zviad Devdariani, Giorgi Gotsiridze, Lina Ghvinianidze and Rusiko Machaidze. (Click to watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of NGOs say a new law recently introduced by Georgia to eliminate all forms of discrimination lacks an enforcement mechanism, and question whether it will be effective. DF Watch recently brought together Lina Ghvinianidze, […]
The Georgian Orthodox Church organized many events to mark its non-acceptance of homosexual lifestyle, which it considers a sin. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Day Against Homophobia was in Georgia transformed into a day of family values, which was the initiative of the country’s most influential person, the Patriarch. A number of rallies and events were held on May 17 against LGBT […]
An environmental group in Georgia says the hydro power project Larsi may have caused the massive landslide which struck Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An environmental group in Georgia warned two years ago that constructing a hydro power station in Dariali Valley would increase the risk of landslides. Five people are missing and a hundred and fifty have been rescued out of the disaster area […]
The massive landslide may have killed three Turkish construction workers working on the Dariali hydro power project. (Photo posted to Facebook by Iago Kazalikashvili.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A landslide in Dariali Valley in northern Georgia has severed the only road across the Caucasus Mountain Range. Five people are still missing. Locals say three Turkish construction workers died who were working on the Dariali hydro power station. […]
Last year’s conservative demonstrators against the LGBT event May 17, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will be no gathering in Georgia today to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Instead, the Church and conservative groups plan a number of demonstrations to celebrate the recently announced day of family values. At […]
Georgia’s foreign trade in the first four months of 2014 was 14% higher than the same period last year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January-April of 2014 was 14 percent more than the same period last year, according to preliminary data from Georgian National Statistics Department. According to the short preliminary report published on Friday, […]
Secret surveillance is to be regulated better in Georgia with a new legislative package. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia Friday postponed the review of a much-debated bill proposed by civil rights groups aimed at preventing illegal surveillance, a practice still rife in the country. The review was postponed because parliament was unable to reach a quorum. […]
This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. TBILISI, DFWatch–International Young Inventors Project Olympiad (IYIPO) for scientists and inventors was organized in Tbilisi from May 3 to May 5. This was the eighth Olympiad, and 120 inventors from 37 countries participated. Last year, there were 25 countries […]
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO. TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will address its open-door policy at the Wales summit later this year, but it’s too early to say exactly how. He said this in response to a question about whether it’s possible […]
Andrea Keerbs is Country Director of International Republican Institute, Georgia. When the Sarkozy Agreement was brokered after the brief war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008 it was expected that Russia would adhere to its terms. Six years on Georgians are still waiting for Russia to return back to the “boundaries” of August 7, 2008. […]
Gela Khvedelidze plans to appeal the one year suspended jail sentence. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has found a former Georgian official guilty and given him a one year suspended sentence. Gela Khvedelidze was found guilty of having published a video of a private nature by posting it on the Internet one year ago, while he was […]
Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking which may be harvested and sold in the market. (Ministry of Environment Protection.) TBILISI, DFWatch–17 Georgians were released by South Ossetia on Wednesday. They had all been detained on the border when they were out picking jonjoli, or bladdernut, a shrub used for cooking which may be sold in the markets. Now is the season for picking […]
Saikhan Muzayev fears he will be secretly handed over to Russian counterintelligence. (Georgian Public Broadcaster.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Chechen refugee with Georgian citizenship told parliament on Wednesday that he is being pressured by authorities. Speaking at a plenary session, Saikhan Muzayev said he has tried to leave Georgia ten times but was denied leaving every time. Tomorrow, […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili will sign Georgia’s association agreement with the EU, although he is not the head of state. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU will be signed by the prime minister, although he is not the head of state. In all of EU’s 28 member states, the Association Agreement with Georgia will be signed by the head of state, which usually […]
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. (Interpressnews.) TBILILSI, DFWatch–Georgia will sign an association agreement with the EU on June 27. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili announced the date at a meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. “We received confirmation that Georgia will sign the […]
Giorgi Vashakmadze is Director of W-Stream Ltd, a company which promotes the Trans-Caspian and White Stream gas pipeline projects. The EU is advocating stable and transparent regulatory rules for energy production and trade in countries that play an important role as energy suppliers, and especially in countries that are interested in closer ties with the EU. Transparent and stable regulatory […]
Poster of the comedy ‘We are Mad’ TBILISI, DFWatch–A film director and producer in Georgia has postponed the first screening of the new comedy about a gay couple because of the threats and fear that it might be seen as an attempt to destabilize the country. Otar Mikeladze and David Bezhitaishvili […]
Herman Van Rompuy first visited Tbilisi in July, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After French president Francois Hollande’s plane landed at Tbilisi airport Tuesday afternoon, the same day Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, is arriving for a two-day stay. It will be Rompuy’s second trip to Georgia, […]
French President François Hollande arrived at Tbilisi airport Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–French President Francois Hollande arrived in Tbilisi Tuesday at midday. Hollande’s visit is the last stop of a tour of the South Caucasus. He was arriving from Armenia where he spent Monday, and before that Azerbaijan on Sunday. Arriving […]
Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking in Georgia. (Photo by Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM) calls on South Ossetia to release all Georgians detained for picking the plant jonjoli. Jonjoli, or bladdernut, is a shrub used for cooking in Georgia. It grows in the wild in areas adjacent […]
Georgian Dream activists in Tskaltubo clashed with another group of campaigners who they claim are actually from the National Movement. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two groups of Georgian Dream coalition activists clashed during a campaign event Monday in Tskhaltubo, a town in western Georgia. One faction of activists asked the government for help, claiming that the coalition has two headquarters in Tskhaltubo, […]
Head of Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has launched an investigation into surveillance recordings published by Rustavi 2. The case is based on suspicion that the recordings were illegally obtained and published, which if true means that the TV company […]
The website calls on people to find creative ways to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, May 17. TBILISI, DFWatch–A website has been created in Georgia to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, May 17. The website is the creation of Identoba, an organization working to promote the rights of lesbians, gays and other sexual minorities. It was Identoba […]
Four Georgians were released by South Ossetia, but seven more detained. This leaves nearly twenty people in detention in Tskhinvali. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards Monday detained seven more Georgians in villages bordering South Ossetia. The same day, four Georgians were released. This leaves nearly 20 Georgians who still remain in detention in Tskhinvali. The seven Georgians were detained […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and French President François Hollande. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–French President François Hollande arrives in Georgia on Tuesday as part of his tour of the South Caucasus. Hollande’s trip takes place amid a crisis in Ukraine and is aimed at boosting the EU’s ties with the region, the French news agency AFP […]
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church wants to declare May 17 a day to celebrate strength of family, respect for parents and a memorial day. Last year, there were fierce street clashes on May 17 last year, as the gay and lesbian community sought to mark […]
Five out of eighteen Georgians detained in South Ossetia were released on Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia on Saturday released five out of 18 Georgians detained for allegedly crossing the disputed border. 18 Georgians have been detained by Russian soldiers in the last two weeks in villages on the disputed border. According to the five […]
Patriarch Ilia II (seated, left) remains highly liked in Georgia, while former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has had a drop in popularity. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new poll published by National Democratic Institute (NDI) shows that Patriarch Ilia II remains the most liked person in Georgia. 96 percent of those asked say the like the patriarch. 61 percent say they like Davit Usupashvili, Speaker of Parliament; […]
Roses Square, Tbilisi, May 26, 2012. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second year in a row, Georgia will not hold a military parade on its national day of independence May 26. Columns of military personnel and hardware filing past and saluting their commander in chief became a tradition while Mikheil […]
Nika Gvaramia (center), head of Rustavi 2. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Spokespersons for the Georgian Dream coalition say a claim by a TV station head that he and his staff are under police surveillance is staged and part of the National Movement’s election campaign. Head of Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia, claimed […]
The bust of Stalin did not remain long, and is now kept inside the municipality building in Gori. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bust of Joseph Stalin was Friday erected and taken down again the same day in the Soviet dictator’s hometown Gori, close to the Georgian capital. The bust was brought there by car and installed by members of a group called Eurasian Institute, […]
A sign warning about the Russia-imposed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry has confirmed that 8 more Georgians have been detained today on the disputed South Ossetia border. Russian soldiers arrested 7 persons from the village Korbouli and one from the village Chala in the Imereti region, in western […]
Davit Narmania from Georgian Dream can be reasonably confident he will become Tbilisi mayor. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–48 percent of Georgians would vote for the Georgian Dream coalition if there were local elections tomorrow, a new polls shows. This the second part of a wider survey published by National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Thursday, contains the party […]
Davit Kezerashvili, former Georgian defense minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has brought in new charges against former Defense Minister Davit Kezerasvili, who was detained in France last year. Davit Kezerashvili, who was announced wanted through Interpol, was detained in October, 2013, […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has signed a new anti-discrimination law, and it has therefore come into force. The Georgian Orthodox Church was against the law because it in their opinion ‘legalizes homosexuality’, and wanted to remove ‘sexual […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two workers died after the dome of a half-finished church collapsed in a small village in the Adjara region in the south western part of Georgia. The accident happened as five construction workers under the age of 30 were working on a new church […]
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül (left) and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey met in Tbilisi on Tuesday and celebrated the cooperation between their countries. The summit was initiated by the Turkish president and the main topic was three joint projects. Two of them are already […]
The number 5 has been the National Movement’s symbol in all recent elections. Here from a campaign rally in Tbilisi, August, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission has rejected the National Movement’s request to use the number 5 on the ballot-papers in the local elections in June. UNM, which is running alongside the Christian Conservative Party, said in a statement May 5 that […]
Head of Rustavi 2 TV Nika Gvaramia claims he is under surveillance. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV company accuses the government of wiretapping and spying on its management and journalists. The accusations were put forth on Tuesday by Nika Gvaramia, director of Rustavi 2, the last major TV channel that remains faithful to former […]
Ioseb Giuradze in Erisimedi says they have little contact with people on the other side of the border, but the situation is peaceful. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Erisimedi is a small village right on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border with a population of not more than a few hundred. It belongs to the Georgian municipality Sighnagi, but lacks a clear demarcation of the border with Azerbaijan, which has caused […]
Demonstrators against accepting homosexuality, Tbilisi, May 17, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The latest survey of public attitudes, published by National Democratic Institute (NDI), shows that Georgians are split in their views on the need to protect minorities. When it comes to protection of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities, […]
Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man suspected of beating the brother of a former government official was Monday placed in pre-trial detention by Tbilisi City Court. Businessman Davit Kodia, brother of former police official Erekle Todua, was beaten a few days ago in Tbilisi while […]
Does ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili pull the strings in government after he left office, is one the issues people were asked about in NDI’s poll. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–36 percent of Georgians think the country is definitely or mainly going in the right direction. This is significantly lower than in November 2013, when 53 percent were of the same opinion. This is one of the results presented Monday in the latest […]
46 percent of Georgians are satisfied with the government’s response to the installation of barbed wire and fences by Russian soldiers, the NDI survey shows. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of people who think Russia is a real and existing threat to Georgia has increased by 14 percent compared to November. This is one of the findings in the latest survey of public attitudes by the National Democratic Institute, […]
The National Library in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Turkey and two South Caucasus countries will meet at the National Library in Tbilisi on Tuesday, to attend the 2014 Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey Summit. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is host for Turkey’s Abdullah Gül […]
Also the number of tourists to Georgia is increasing. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New figures published by the Georgian Interior Ministry show that 390,685 people visited the country in April. This is 7.4 percent more than in the same period last year. In the first four months of the current year, 1,396,952 people visited […]
Transsexuals demonstrated outside a TV studio in Gori Saturday, after being excluded from a debate about a new anti-discrimination law. (Trialeti.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Transsexuals demonstrated outside a TV studio in Georgia on Saturday because they were not allowed to take part in a debate about a new anti-discrimination law. Locals in Gori, a town close to the capital, came to the studio building of Trialeti TV […]
Davit Kodua, brother of wanted ex-official Erekle Kodua, was brutally beaten in Tbilisi Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The brother of a wanted former official in the Saakashvili regime was brutally beaten in Tbilisi on Saturday. The victim of the attack was Davit Kodua, brother of Erekle Kodua, a former top police official who is currently outside the country and internationally […]
Sakdrisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Saturday, there was a scuffle between a journalist and guards working for RMG Gold, a Russian mining company digging in a prehistoric cave complex in the south of Georgia. RMG Gold issued a statement saying that their guards were confronted by a […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili claims a campaign to reign in illegal surveillance is an attempt to undermine the government. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili says demands by influential NGOs to refine legislation to prevent illegal wiretapping is an attack against the government. After the Saakashvili regime lost power in Georgia, several Tbilisi-based […]
Priests organized several demonstrations against the bill, here outside parliament in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Lawmakers in Georgia on Thursday passed an anti-discrimination bill after being pressured from the European Union. The bill was slightly modified after criticism from the Orthodox Church. The Georgian Orthodoc Church was opposed to the bill because […]
Youth groups took the lead in marking International Worker’s Day in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the younger generation took charge in organizing demonstrations on the International Worker’s Day yesterday. Young Social-Democrats, Georgia’s Young Greens, Georgia’s Youth Trade Union Organization, Young Socialists and other groups […]
Former Ambassador to Switzerland, Levan Mikeladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The family of a deceased diplomat claims that he did not die from natural causes. Levan Mikeladze was Georgian Ambassador to Switzerland. He died on April 26, 2009; officially from a heart attack. Mikeladze resigned in protest after President […]
US Vice President Joe Biden and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania asks NATO to install air defenses and other military systems in Georgia. He made the call in a speech at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, on Wednesday. “Now the West has to seize the […]
James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai will visit Georgia on Thursday. Appathurai, whose full title is NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, will meet with government members and the parliament, the Ministry […]
Green Fist, one of the youth groups organizing rallies May 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Young people in Georgia plan to mark the International Worker’s Day, May 1, with rallies different places in the country. A rally will be held at Tbilisi State University at 14:00 by Young Social-Democrats, Georgia’s Young Greens, Georgia’s […]
Germany offers to restore books kept at Tbilisi State University. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has decided to return books currently at Tbilisi State University that were brought here from Germany during World War II. Shalva Tadumadze, the government’s parliamentary secretary, explained […]
Priests demonstrated outside parliament Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Clerics in Georgia don’t want a Europe where ‘homosexuality is legalized,’ and call on parliament to not pass an anti-discrimination law required for the signing of an association agreement with the EU. The Georgian parliament has two more […]
Military type weapons including anti-tank missiles were voluntarily handed over to the police by a 44 year old Georgian man. (Police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian citizen has voluntarily handed over a large collection of military type weapons to the police department in Tbilisi. The impressive weapons collection included an RPG-26 anti-tank grenade launcher, four prefabricated PG-9 […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained three Iraqi citizens who are suspected of rape of a minor in Tbilisi. They are suspected of attempting to rape a fifteen year old boy on Tuesday at an apartment on Zandukeli Street in the center of the capital, but […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is to meet Chuck Hagel, US Secretary of Defense. Alasania is on a working visit to the US and plans bilateral meetings at the Pentagon. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry’s press office, […]
It’s the fifth time wolves attack livestock in the area west of Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A pack of wolves has attacked livestock in a village near Tbilisi, Interpressnews reports. The wolf attack took place in the village Kodistskaro, near the town Kaspi, and only 60 km from the center of the Georgian capital. The news agency reports […]
The campaign ‘This Affects You Too’ suspects that the government wants to delay a law to protect against illegal surveillance. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Campaigners fighting to stop secret surveillance in Georgia are asking parliament to pass amendments to prohibit secret phone surveillance before the local election on June 15. Non-governmental organizations in the ‘This Affects You Too’ campaign […]
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church is opposed to a draft anti-discrimination bill, which is currently making its way through parliament. Clerics there want to remove ‘sexual orientation’ from the text. But human rights activists and Tbilisi-based NGOs […]
Sakdrisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Work has been halted at the ancient Sakdrisi gold mine in southern Georgia, Interpressnews reports. The news agency quotes Irakli Lomidze, spokesperson for the Sakdrisi Survival Committee, who said the heavy machinery stopped Sunday night and did not […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers Monday detained two more Georgians on the border with South Ossetia. The incident took place in the village Kldistskharo, and on the same day as a meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, that are used to solve […]
At Friday prayer, the street outside is used for additional prayer space. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than a decade, Muslims in Batumi have failed to get permission to build a second mosque in the city. The one they have is not big enough to meet demand. Every Friday, several thousands of Muslims come to Orta Jame Mosque in Batumi, […]
RMG Gold says it intends to dig in the area as long as it has a right to do so. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students, youth and environmental activists are still camped near a prehistoric gold mine in south Georgia, weary that a mining company might begin digging at the still sparsely surveyed archaological site. About a week ago, […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili (left) and Georgian Dream candidate for Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream coalition on Saturday launched its election campaign and presented candidates for mayors in 12 cities. The main event at Sports Palace in Tbilisi gathered up to 12,000 people and included MPs, government members, […]
Rusudan Khuroshvili, one of the three women who were detained by Russian soldiers for allegedly crossing the disputed border. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three women who were detained by Russian soldiers on the South Ossetian border on Friday have been released. The three were detained in the village Khurvaleti, which lies right on the disputed border. Georgian news agency Interpressnews reports that […]
Data Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former head of Georgia’s domestic intelligence service has been detained in Greece as he tried to cross the border into Italy using a fake passport. Data Akhalaia, the former head of the Constitutional Security Department, among Georgians known […]
Ditsi, another village where people have been detained on the disputed border. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One Georgian was detained Saturday by Russian soldiers near the border with South Ossetia. This is the fourth Georgian this happens to this week. Merab Kapanadze, 70, from the village Tseronisi, was detained while tending to his cattle […]
The newly built prayer house in Mughanlo which was burnt on April 18. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a Muslim village near Tbilisi, a man was recently stabbed to death, and three days later a prayer house was put on fire. Is there a connection? DF Watch went there to investigate. The village is called Mughanlo and lies about 30 minutes’ drive east […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A bus with Georgian and South Ossetian youth was to start a tour of Turkey and the Balkans Saturday morning, Interpressnews reports. The trip, called Georgian – South Ossetian Youth Peace Express, will last 17 days and bring the youth by bus through […]
Sarah Delys is a criminologist working for Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre in Tbilisi. The Ministry of Justice of Georgia has been working on a draft anti-discrimination law since early 2013. In December last year it was passed on to the government for review and this government-proposed bill was sent to the Parliament for approval on March 28. Several […]
The detainees are believed to be held in a Tskhinvali prison. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian soldiers have detained three Georgian citizens in the village Khurvaleti for violating the border with South Ossetia. All three detainees – Rusudan Khuroshvili, Zeinab Kharkheli and Lali Khuroshvili – were taken to South Ossetia. […]
More than a fifth of Georgia’s export is used cars. (Rustavi.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2014 was USD 2,523 million, according to precise data from the National Statistics Department, GeoStat, published on Thursday. This is 18 percent more than it was in same period last […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Czech President Miloš Zeman. (Photo by Georgian president’s office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Thursday met with his Czech colleague Milos Zeman during a visit to Prague. Mergvelashvili came to take part in the five year summit of the Eastern Partnership, a political effort by the EU to reform six former […]
Republican Valeri Gelashvili is convinced his beating in 2005 was ordered by Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation against former Interior Ministry officials Erekle Kodua and Gia Siradze for the beating of MP Valeri Gelashvili in 2005. The Prosecutor’s Office made a statement about this issue on Thursday. […]
Tbilisi City Court. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three former Interior Ministry officials were in court yesterday. They are on trial accused of having blackmailed a bodyguard of businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012, shortly before the parliamentary election. At Thursday’s hearing witnesses said […]
Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU is not a threat to Russia-Georgia relations. Steinmeier, who is visiting Georgia with his French colleague Laurent Fabius, said at a press […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has left for Prague to participate in the five year anniversary summit of the Eastern Partnership. According to president administration, Giorgi Margvelashvili will hold a speech at the summit on April 25. […]
Mikheil Saakashvili during an interview with Ukrainian TV in December, 2013. (112.ua) TBILISI, DFWatch–A government spokesman in Georgia rejects a claim by ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili that US Vice President Joe Biden called and threatened sanctions. Saakashvili claimed Biden threatened that the West would seize ex-Prime Minister Bidzina […]
Data Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former Georgian counterintelligence chief in exile has applied for political asylum in Greece. Data Akhalaia, the former head of the Constitutional Security Department (Kudi) during the Saakashvili regime, is brother of the imprisoned former […]
Mariam Gurgenidze, 23, and Irakli Ghutidze, 26. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new movement has sprung up in Georgia in response to the government forcing through a gigantic hydro power project against strong popular resistance. The movement is called Green Fist and began as a group of twenty youth who travelled […]
The Russian Interests Section in Tbilisi, where Georgians can apply for Russian citizenship. (Voice of Abkhazia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian diplomat says Georgia must be on guard after the Russian Duma passed a bill which simplifies the rules for getting Russian citizenship. The legislative amendment has been a cause of concern for groups in Georgia the last few weeks, with […]
Scientists say the Sakdrisi site is 5,400 years old. (Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s culture minister promises to halt excavation work at an ancient a gold mine in the south of the country after protesters camped near the site raised the alarm that it was being damaged by RMG Gold. Culture Minister Guram Odisharia […]
The memorial is a stone Khachkari with a cross and ornaments engraved. (Photo published by the Armenian community.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A memorial to the Armenian genocide was unveiled in Tbilisi on Monday. The memorial is made of stone and stands in the yard of Surb Etchmiadzin Church in the capital. Levon Isakhanian, representative of the Armenian community in Georgia, […]
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The foreign ministers of Germany and France will visit Georgia on April 23-24. Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and France’s Laurent Fabius were originally to have visited Georgia on March 3, but they both postponed due to events in Ukraine. […]
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the proposal by Russia’s Vladimir Putin for a meeting has had no actual follow-up or preparations. At the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Russian president said that there is a possibility […]
12% of visa applications by Georgian citizens to Schengen countries were rejected in 2013, according to Liberal Academy Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is on top of a list of former Soviet countries from where the highest number of people get their visa application rejected by the EU. For each country in EU’s Eastern Partnership plus Russia, the Schengen visa rejection rate in 2013 was: […]
Voting in the Nadzaladevi by-election a year ago in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are 3.49 million registered voters for Georgia’s June 15 local elections. This marks a gradual reduction in the Georgian electorate. In the presidential election in October 2013, 3.54 million people were eligible to vote, while a year before […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) attending mass in a church in Dusheti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Where and how to observe Easter is important for politicians in Georgia, and this year was no exception. This Easter, the prime minister and other government members attended Easter Eve service in the recently constructed Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral in Tbilisi, […]
Protesters outside the studios of Georgian Public Broadcaster waiting for the culture minister to arrive to take part in a talk show. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Protesters who are camped near an ancient gold mine in southern Georgia say the mining company RMG Gold started excavation work on a section of the mine on Tuesday afternoon, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied this. The tent camp at Sakdrisi […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–69 prisoners were released from jail on Saturday, following a decision by local prison boards and the Prison Ministry’s pardon commission. Altogether, the bodies have reviewed the cases of about 770 prisoners in three days, according to the Prison […]
School children in Tbilisi are being harassed because of their religion, ethnicity, appearance or other reasons, a new study shows. (Ministry of Education.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new study has found that children in Georgian schools are verbally and physically harassed because of their ethnicity, belief, appearance or for other reasons. The study is based on interviews with all pupils from 8th to 11th grade at six public […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After the government Monday announced a ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting politicians, the National Movement criticizes it for misleading people by not fulfilling its promise. On Monday, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili in a statement called on […]
Used cars is Georgia’s most important export item. Here Rustavi car market near Tbilisi. (rustavi.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2014 was USD 2,523 million. This is 18 percent more than in the same period last year. Preliminary data published by Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, show that export […]
Van Baiburt (left), Deputy Head of Armenian Union of Georgia, and Manana Nachkebia from the New Rightists Party. (Click on image to watch video.) (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DFWatch organized a discussion about the problem minorities are experiencing with getting involved in politics and state affairs. A representative of a minority diaspora and a spokesperson for an opposition party participated in our discussion. […]
A Georgian TV crew of three was released by South Ossetia Wednesday evening, after being detained the day before. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV crew of three was released by South Ossetia Wednesday evening. Bela Zakaidze, Vakho Lekiashvili and Mikheil Mikhoev were detained Tuesday as they crossed the de facto border near Adzvi. They were taken by Russian border guards to […]
Vakho Lekiashvili (left) and Bela Zakaidze, two of the TV3 employees who are in detention in South Ossetia. (Interepressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is still unknown whether three Georgian journalists detained by South Ossetia will be released today. Neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor EUs Monitoring Mission have been informed about when they will be released. The Foreign Ministry […]
Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, the National Movement is crying foul over the trial against one of their top people, suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. The reason is that the prime minister recently announced a ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting any member of the National […]
Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was pelted with eggs as he left the Constitutional Court Friday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s minister of justice calls on everyone to allow political parties to conduct their election campaign in a normal environment, after eggs were thrown at National Movement activists last weekend. People threw eggs at former Mayor of Tbilisi […]
Vakho Lekiashvili (left) and Bela Zakaidze from TV3. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian TV crew of three was detained by Russian soldiers Tuesday on the de facto border with South Ossetia. RES, the official news agency of the breakaway region confirmed that three Georgians had been detained, but failed to name the detainees. […]
Zurab Abashidze, Georgia’s negotiator. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Negotiatiors for Russia and Georgia are meeting April 16 in Prague, after postponing several times. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin and Georgia’s PM’s Special Representative for Russian Relations Zurab Abashidze should have met on March […]
Razor wire in Dvani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A human rights organization in Georgia has taken Russia to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of 19 people living on the border with the breakaway territory South Ossetia. The case concerns people living in the village Dvani, southwest […]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has introduced a ‘moratorium’ on prosecuting former officials from the National Movement party of Mikheil Saakashvili, out of fear that it may restrict democratic rights. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said […]
From left to right: Davit Narmania, Irakli Gharibashvili and Elhuja Khokrishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Elguja Khokrishvili was Monday appointed as Georgia’s new minister for regional development and infrastructure. He will take over from Davit Narmania, who is stepping down in order to run for Tbilisi mayor in the local elections on June 15. Announcing […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The 2014 local elections in Georgia will be held on June 15. This is decided in a decree by President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed April 10. The decree has been sent to the government for approval and will come into force as soon as it is published […]
The anti-Russia demonstrators want to ban organizations cooperating with Russia and to make it a crime to publicly deny Russian aggression against Georgia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An anti-Russia rally outside the government office in Tbilisi Sunday demanded a ban on organizations cooperating with Russia and making it a crime to publicly deny that Russia is an aggressor. The rally was called ‘No to collaboration! No to […]
The concert was titled ‘We Want Europe’ and brought messages through speeches and music about why Georgia should become a member of the EU. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A concert was held in Tbilisi on Sunday to rally support for Georgia’s integration with the EU. The concert was called We Want Europe. Among the speakers was President Giorgi Margvelashvili who addressed the crowd in the beginning of the concert. […]
Most girls in Duzagrama get married and drop out of school before ninth grade. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Pariz Alakhverdiani, 17, is in 12th grade at the public school in Duzagrama, a small village in southeast Georgia populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis. Alakhverdiani wants to study at the Medical University in Tbilisi and has decided to become a dentist. […]
Roland Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has officially charged National Movement parliamentarian Roland Akhalaia. Akhalaia is charged with abusing his power as prosecutor by demanding money from the family of a defendant for entering into a plea bargain […]
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani wants guidelines for criminal investigations involving people running in the local election in June. Tsulukiani did not explain more specifically what kind of rules it will be beyond calling for ‘recommendations’. She said […]
David Lidington, Britain’s Minister for Europe. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–We sat down with David Lidington, UK Minister for Europe, who visited on April 1-2, and asked him about Georgia’s association agreement with the EU and whether NATO should set it on course for membership. Is it possible that Russia will bring pressure […]
The Sakdrisi site. (Photo by Georgia’s Culture Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A campaign to save an ancient gold mine in southern Georgia is planning to start a protest camp on Monday. The Public Committee to Save Sakdrisi, which consists of students, scientists and an initiative group of non-governmental organizations, plans […]
Georgian Public Broadcaster. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Constitutional Court has decided that the Public Broadcaster cannot fire members of its board before the end of their term. Meanwhile, parliament has still not selected new board members, a process which has been dragged out over […]
Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Photo by SPD.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit Georgia in about ten days. Steinmeier announced the trip after a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze who visited him in Germany on Thursday. One of the topics they […]
Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze today begins a working visit to Germany. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Panjikidze’s delegation will hold meetings with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Chancellor […]
A plane of the type Antonov An-2. TBILISI, DFWatch–A Russian plane overflew Georgian-controlled territory briefly on Thursday, Georgia’s Interior Ministry confirmed. The plane, of the model Antonov An-2, flew over the village Khurcha near the de facto border with the breakaway region […]
Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is opening a new treatment center for tuberculosis in Tbilisi. The government is discussing the new clinic today. Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs , David Sergeenko, told reporters Thursday that the clinic, which will be located […]
Tina Khidasheli called for a “return” of four territories under Russian control: Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestr. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A spokeswoman for Georgia’s coalition government Wednesday told European countries to be tougher against Russia and said four disputed territories currently under Russian control will be “returned”. Member of Parliament Tina Khidasheli drew on the fact […]
Gia Tsagareishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is preparing to conduct impact assessments for many large factories and other facilities, built during the Soviet Union. Gia Tsagareishvili, head of parliament’s environmental committee, says many big installations have Soviet-era standards […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s speaker of parliament says his country could disappear from the world map if abandoned by NATO. “If Georgia takes step towards NATO, this will cause another aggression from Russia,” Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Tuesday […]
Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili rules out that there will be a repetition in Georgia of what took place in Ukraine. Three months of protests in the center of Kiev turned violent, ending in President […]
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani took part in planting of saplings in remembrance of the 21 who died during a demonstration for Georgian independence April 9, 1989. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of the Georgian government today planted saplings in the Ninth of April Garden in Tbilisi, comemmorating the deadly dispersal of protesters by Soviet troops 25 years ago today. In remembrance of the tragedy, cabinet members planted […]
Muslims praying outside the Orta Jame Mosque in Batumi. (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia’s southwestern Adjara region, authorities have changed their decision to allow the Muslim population to build a new mosque in Batumi, a city on the shores of the Black Sea. Tens of thousands of Muslims live in different villages and […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has appointed new ambassadors to India, Slovenia, Vatican and Kuwait. From May 1, Georgia’s ambassador to Slovenia will be Zurab Bekaia, Tamar Grdzelidze will be ambassador to Vatican from June 1, 2014, Roland Beridze will be ambassador […]
Kakha Kojoridze from Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association, one of the groups in the campaign. (Promotion video.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Campaigners in Georgia suspect law enforcement agencies are intentionally prolonging a legislative hearing about illegal wiretapping. The campaign ‘This Affects You Too’, which includes several of the most influential NGOs in Tbilisi, was started […]
Sarah Delys is a Criminologist working at Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center. Late January the Government of Georgia adopted a resolution which enables the financing of four traditional religious confessions: the Roman Catholic Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Muslim and Jewish groups. Until now, the Georgian Orthodox Church was the […]
Interior Minister Aleksandre Chikaidze said the National Movement is preparing for a Kiev-style protest camp in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Interior Minister says the National Movement is preparing a Euromaidan scenario in Georgia and that he has information that they have already started collecting tires. Interior Minister Alexandre Chikaidze said in an interview with the […]
Angela Merkel. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany’s Angela Merkel has invited Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili to Germany. Gharibashvili will visit Germany in the beginning of June. According to Davit Maghradze, advisor at the international relations department at the government […]
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani will head the commission. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has created an interagency commission to handle violations ahead of the local elections, slated for June. The commission will be led by Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani. Other members are the deputy interior minister, deputy foreign […]
Drivers claim the company Intertrans has ties to Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Drivers of minibuses on the route between Tbilisi and Rustavi have been on strike for the last few days, demonstrating outside the office of the Georgian Dream coalition. They accusing Rustavi city authorities and Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze […]
The Russian Interests Section. (Radio Voice of Abkhazia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia denies reports that the consular office for Russian interests in Tbilisi is issuing Russian passports. Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said this information is false. Georgia and Russia do not have diplomatic […]
The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has released the autopsy report in the case of a witness who died. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday published more material regarding the death of a witness who testified against a recently convicted Saakashvili ally. Shalva Tatukhashvili died March 23 in his home, after testifying against Data Akhalaia, […]
