(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–2,117 Georgians have been detained by Russian border guards accused of crossing the border with Abkhazia or South Ossetia since 2009. The new figures were presented by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and are based on data […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Defender warns that children are victims of domestic violence in Georgia, after a 25 year old man allegedly severely beat three children. The children, one of whom was his own and two were step-children, were taken to hospital. According […]
Anatoly Khrulyov (Rossiya 1) Tbilisi, DFWatch – One of commanders of Russian forces invading Georgia during August War in 2008, has been appointed as a Chief of the General Staff of the breakaway Abkhazia’s army. […]
Davit Saganelidze during an earlier visit to China. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is seeking closer relations with China. After a recent visit by a Chinese delegation to Georgia, a parliamentary delegation with government members plan to visit China in about a week. Head of the delegation is Davit Saganelidze, MP from […]
Deputy Energy Minister Mariam Valishvili said it is difficult for a woman in Georgia to concentrate fully on her career due to culture. (EBRD publicity photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Only 3.9% of CEOs around the world are women. And only 14% of the richest 500 companies in the world have female executives. What can be done to include more women to predominantly male world of business? May 14-15 the European Bank […]
Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is preparing to drastically cut the state budget to deal with a 30 percent reduction in value of the national currency. Presenting the plans Monday, members of the ruling coalition said the budget will be cut by 500 […]
The 67 year old was out looking after cattle near Adzvi when Russian border guards approached. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border guards on Monday detained one more person near the village Adzvi, which borders with South Ossetia. The detainee is Grisha Balamtsarashvili (67), who was out in the field looking after cattle at the edge of the village, together with […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A strike has broken out among workers on a new highway connecting Tbilisi with Rustavi, a town 20km to the south. Workers demand a ten lari (USD 4) pay rise from their current 20 lari (USD 8) per day. Their demand comes as a result of a 30 percent […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more Georgian from Pankisi has died in the war in Syria. Ibrahim Tsatiashvili, 33, left his home village Tsinubani two months ago. His relatives knew he was in Turkey. On Friday, they learned that he had died. It is not yet known whether […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has drawn up a plan to split the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) into two units, with counterintelligence kept separately and under parliamentary control. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced the revived […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When groups in Tbilisi wanted to mark the international day against homophobia May 17, they had to organize it in tightly-controlled secrecy and gather in silence. Time and location was secret, and everyone who showed up, including journalists […]
Georgia’s National Bank. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Money transfers to and from Georgia fell by 24.4 percent in April 2015, compared to same month in the year before. According to the National Bank, the amount of money transfers last month was USD 91.1 million, which was USD 29.4 million less than […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgians were detained by Russian border guards on Friday near the village Adzvi, near the delineation line around South Ossetia. The detainees were two young men, Lasha Tanashvili, 15 and Levan Kokoriani, 18, who were out looking […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) predicts only 2.5 percent economic growth in Georgia in 2015. In January, the bank predicted 4.2 percent growth this year. The low growth prediction for Georgia […]
Kakhi Kaladze. (Interpressnews) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s vice prime minister claims the National Bank could have helped stabilize the lari by monitoring large bank transactions in and out of the country. Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze said this during an appearance on the talk show 2030 […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Heavy rain caused problems for villagers and farmers in eastern Georgia, destroying their harvest and killing livestock. More than 6,000 people are without electricity. Among the affected areas are Pankisi, Akhmeta and Lagodekhi. The river Alazani […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A ten-day strike among port workers has ended in Poti, in western Georgia. More than 600 workers demanded a 14 percent pay rise. In addition, they demanded an annual award, called a ‘13th paycheck,’ and to review the content of their collective […]
Grigory Karasin. TBILISI, DFWatch–Informal talks between Georgia and Russia may be expanded from today’s one-on-one format, according to Russia’s deputy foreign minister. Georgian officials say the details of the proposal are being processed. Ria Novosti on Thursday quoted Russian […]
If the government can’t acknowledge that their popularity is dropping then we are dealing with an even worse situation, says Tornike Sharashenidze, Professor at GIPA. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians are disappointed with the government, lack confidence in the opposition and are worried about the situation in the country – these are the main findings of a recent poll published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Judging […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia on Wednesday decided that a mining company must allow experts access to a site so they can inspect an ancient gold mine which was destroyed last December. Tbilisi City Court ruled that the parties in the conflict, experts and witnesses […]
Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new defense minister in Georgia promises to sign a disputed military deal with France about air defense. Her predecessor Irakli Alasania claims the reason he was dismissed last November was that he wanted to go ahead with the same deal. […]
Used cars (12%) and copper ore (12%) are two of the categories of goods Georgia exports most of. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first four months of 2014 was 13 percent less than in the same period last year, according to preliminary figures published by the National Statistics Department, GeoStat. The turnover totaled USD 3,015 […]
A cafe caught fire in Batumi Wednesday morning. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is facing another challenge – fire safety in buildings – after three boys died in a hotel fire in Kobuleti, a town on the Black Sea coast, a few days ago. Wednesday morning there was a fire at a café in Batumi. No-one […]
ndiTBILISI, DFWatch–A new poll shows that the ruling coalition has lost almost half of its support since last year, while the National Movement has slightly increased its support. For other parties there is no significant change. If there were held a parliamentary […]
China’s Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–China has gifted 245 units of tractors and other machinery to Georgia. The hardware, which also includes bulldozers, excavators, trucks and off-road vehicles, is worth about USD 10 million. Accepting this gift from one of Georgia’s top trading […]
Suma Chakrabarti. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) commends the head of the National Bank for conducting an exemplary monetary policy. The Georgian lari has tanked in recent months. The lari has gone down […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU is allocating 150,000 euros for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili learned about this decision during his visit to Brussels during a meeting with EU’s neighborhood commissioner Johannes Hahn. […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–“This street is taken – there’s no place for homophobia and transphobia here!” This is the slogan of another online campaign to prepare for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), May 17. Behind the campaign stands […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in a village in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region installed a bust of Joseph Stalin on Victory Day, May 9. This was the third time someone put up a bust of the dictator in Akura since Victory Day, May 9, 2012. On the previous two occasions […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies reports in Abkhazian media that representatives of a German company visited the region. Media outlets in Sukhumi reported that representatives of an unspecified German company met with the de facto leaders […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians think jobs, higher prices and poverty are the three most important issues, according to a new opinion poll published by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Monday. Earlier, territorial integrity was the most important issue […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s wine export was reduced by 58 percent in the first four months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. The reason is less sales to Russia (-76 percent) and Ukraine (-57 percent). From January through April, Georgia exported wine […]
Vashlovani national park. (DFWatch) VASHLOVANI, DFWatch–A few hours east from Tbilisi lies a magical place, where lonely pistachio trees give shade to rear birds and rolling hills slowly turn into sharp limestone cliffs, which once were deep under a sea. Vashlovani National Park was established […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is shaken by the death of three boys in a hotel fire Sunday morning. 45 people were rescued from Hotel Armazi in Kobuleti, a town on the Black Sea. Among the hotel’s inhabitants were 31 minors. The three boys who died were were 10 and 11 years […]
(DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It was 70 years since Nazi-Germany was defeated Saturday, but in Tbilisi, people had difficulty to decide whether or how to celebrate it. In the end of the day, seven people were detained for hooliganism and resisting the police. Like in most […]
Primie Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a week of political speculation, the ruling coalition declared confidence in the new government and its plan. The vote took place late at night on Friday, after MPs had been asking questions to cabinet members the whole day. There was some […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The economy minister in Georgia has finally admitted that people’s conditions have worsened in recent weeks and months. But Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili follows his predecessor and godfather of this government in blaming the devaluation […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–On the background of rumors that Georgia, like other aspirant states Ukraine and Moldova will be disappointed on the upcoming Eastern Partnership Riga Summit the three highest officials of Georgia sent common letter to Donald Tusk […]
Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government plans to change the procedure for appointing a chief prosecutor. Instead of letting the prime minister do the selection, parliament will have the power to do this. According to Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani, this will […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Two years after a violent mob attacked them, gay rights activists in Georgia are confining their protest to the Internet as they observe the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). No-one has been prosecuted for the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the second time this year, the National Bank has increased the refinancing rate by half a percentage point. The rate now stands at 5 percent. About 8,000 people will have higher interest rate on their loans because of the change. Economic […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament will hold a vote of confidence about the new government May 8 at 13:00, by request of the speaker of parliament, who asked the president to schedule a special session at that time. The government has been pretending […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Unloading of containers and some other operations have been halted in the port in Poti due to a strike among workers. Most other types of operations are not affected by the strike, according to the company that runs the port. The strike began […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–46 percent of Georgian families would like to have a son instead of a daughter. Nine percent have the opposite preference, while women with partners or husbands admit they have had an abortion because of the sex of child. These are some […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Friday is the last day for the president to present parliament with his candidates for a new government. Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili Tuesday evening warned President Giorgi Margvelashvili about the terms of the procedure by saying […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Workers at the port in Poti went on strike Sunday, demanding a 14 percent pay rise. The workers gave their bosses ten days to comply with their demand, otherwise they threatened to completely paralyze the functioning of the port. On Tuesday, the term expired, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi decided Tuesday that the former mayor and Saakashvili confidante Gigi Ugulava must remain in detention. Tuesday’s decision by Tbilisi City Court regarding Ugulava is strongly challenged by the National Movement, the former ruling […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia detained eight persons on Tuesday for match-fixing. Some of the detainees are football (soccer) players. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the detainees include the president of the football club Stu Tbilisi, […]
Anatoly Bibilov, speaker of the South Ossetian de facto parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A diplomatic row is brewing between Georgia and Armenia after the speaker of Armenian parliament met with the de facto parliament speaker of South Ossetia. Yesterday, Russian media reported that there had been a meeting between the speaker […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Georgia’s national currency lari is continues to fall in value, the economy minister assures the public that the fall will not continue and calls on journalists not to speculate. Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Monday that there […]
Tina Khidasheli began work as defense minister Monday, without approval from parliament. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three new ministers Monday started working, even though they haven’t been approved by parliament yet. Constitutional experts say it is unlikely that they have a right to function as ministers. The three new appointees arrived at their respective […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (GDS.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili again criticized the president and leading NGOs on Sunday, on the talk show 2030, aired on his son Bera’s TV channel GDS. The program was first broadcast a few weeks ago. Ivanishvili has since used […]
Rezo Chkheidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The famous Georgian film director Revaz (Rezo) Chkheidze has died in Tbilisi at age 88. Rezo Chkheidze rose to fame in the Soviet Union for his iconic 1964 World War 2 black-and-white drama Father of a Soldier, with a powerful performance by Sergo […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office told DF Watch that they still haven’t received a response from Azerbaijan to a request to extradite former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Last week, Saakashvili visited Baku to participate in a political […]
A branch of ProCredit Bank was robbed Saturday morning. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An armed man robbed a bank in Tbilisi on Saturday. The crime took place at about 10:45 in the morning at a branch of ProCredit Bank at 54 Chavchavadze Avenue in the Vake district. No-one was injured. According to witnesses, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Youth activists marched through the streets of the Georgian capital on Friday to mark the International Workers’ Day and protest against intolerable work conditions. (DF Watch.) There were demonstrations and gatherings several places in Tbilisi on May 1, separately organized […]
ASURETI, DFWatch–In the 1940s, there were over 20,000 Germans living in Georgia. Today almost none are left. Stalin deported them in 1941-42, and barely anyone came back. Now, Germans are rediscovering this part of their past. Luiza and Manfred. (DF Watch.) Manfred Tikhonov (67) moved to Asureti […]
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PM Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili named three new ministers on Friday, two of whom are members of the Republican Party, which is regarded as a more western-oriented coalition member. The nominations are made against the backdrop […]
The Moduli building, where Georgia’s counterintelligence used to interrogate political opponents of Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has announced the start of long-awaited reform of the powerful Interior Ministry. It is formally known as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and was created during Saakashvili when the counterintelligence […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Businessman and retired politician Bidzina Ivanishvili has again blamed the National Bank for not helping to prevent a drop in the Georgian lari. “I suspect that the National Bank is still acting inadequately,” he told journalists on Thursday. […]
Deep Purple at Tbilisi Open Air 2013. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The two English bands Placebo and Archive are headliners at this year’s Tbilisi Open Air festival, to be held by a lake near the capital July 3 to 7. Tickets sales have started for the festival, which has been organized every year since 2009 by the AlterVision Group. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) has announced a new 45 million euros program to support women entrepreneurs in eastern European countries including Georgia. The program is called ‘Women in Business’ and will involve ERBD […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2015 was won by Georgia, with Russia and China in second and third place, respectively. The Georgian team consisted of Bela Khotenashvili, Meri Arabidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Lela Javakhishvili […]
Mikheil Saakashvili (left) and Ilham Aliyev. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has asked Azerbaijan to detain ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili during a visit to the neighbor country. Saakashvili has had a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to local media, Azerbaijan’s […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili says the resignations of two ministers, triggering a new vote of confidence, is a ‘healthy political process.’ There will be no more replacements, he added. A third of the ministers have now been changed since […]
Levan Kipiani (Official photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Seventh minister of Irakli Garibashvili government left on Wednesday that means the PM have to seek approval of the entire cabinet from the parliament. Levan Kipiani, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, announced his resignation at a press […]
Elguja Khokrishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The environment minister resigned in Georgia on Tuesday. Elguja Khokrishvili explained that he needs to spend time with his family, which is living abroad. Khokrishvili is the second minister to resign this month, after the minister of regional development […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The crime level want down by more than 15 percent in the first three months of 2015 compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The share of crimes that were solved improved to more than 52 percent. According […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Imedi.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili claims the president he handpicked has in fact become part of the opposition to the government coalition. He said this on his own show 2030 on GDS, a TV channel belonging to his rapper son Bera. […]
Photo from the young environmentalists’ social campaign against big cars In western Europe, people in cities opt for small, economy class cars. But Tbilisi is clogged with huge SUVs, which are more suitable for off-road travels than for daily home-work-home commute. […]
Jehova’s Witnesses are building a new Kingdom Hall in Terjola. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Jehovah’s Witnesses in Georgia claim that they are being discriminated against on religious grounds in Terjola, western Georgia. The conflict started about a year ago. Locals Orthodox Christians are against the construction of a new Kingdom Hall […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili Tbilisi, DFWatch – During his TV talk show, former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, once again slammed the head of a local NGO and the president’s adviser, accusing them of following the political agenda of the United National Movement. […]
Zurab Tkemaladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia is calling on the group of economy ministers to explain themselves again about the falling currency rate, but the finance minister claims the drop in the lari’s value is only temporary. The value of the Georgian lari started […]
Data Akhalaia (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The Greek Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a lower court to reject an extradition request for Data Akhalaia, a former head of Georgia’s domestic intelligence agency. The Supreme Court […]
Sakdrisi mining site. (Photo taken by Green Fist.) Tbilisi, DFWatch – An advocacy group in Georgia has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to launch an investigation into an explosion which destroyed an ancient gold mine on December 13. […]
Independence Day, 2014 (DFWatch)independence ininde Tbilisi, DFwatch – The Georgian government continues distancing itself from its predesessors’ military bravade as it announces, third year in a row, that Independence Day celebrations will go on without a military parade. […]
Ethnic Armenians demand from Turkey and the government of Georgia to recognize Armenian genocide (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Ethnic Armenians in Georgia on Friday gathered at the embassy of Turkey in Tbilisi demanding to recognize almost all-out extermination of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire in early 20th century as a Genocide. […]
Georgia signed agreement with Gilead Sciences (Health Ministry Photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has launched a project aimed at assisting people with hepatitis C after signing an agreement with the American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences on April 21. The government claims […]
Alexander Lukashenko (left) and Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Thursday called on Georgia to live in a ‘common family’ with Belarus and Russia. “Europe’s last dictator” said he has never been to Georgia before, except Abkhazia, one of two Georgian regions […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Belarus, who is on a first visit to Georgia, arrived in Tbilisi the day before official meetings, which are planned for April 23-24. Even though the flight between Minsk and Tbilisi is over four hours, he arrived a day before with his […]
Medea Kuzanashvili is suing her former employer for forcing her out of her job. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is illegal to fire anyone on maternity or paternity leave. It is also illegal to harass someone into quitting their job. But it is not uncommon for a woman to come back to work after a maternity leave, and realise that the employer will do anything […]
Zestaponi players on a practice trip to Spain in 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) has banned one of the country’s top teams from taking party in national championships after it stayed away from a match due to financial problems. GFF decided this after Zestaponi FC violated the rules […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Several low cost airlines are looking to enter the Georgian market, according to the Ministry of Economy. Prospective new carriers include Ryanair, EasyJet, Air Berlin, and the Greek company Ellinair. According to the ministry, Ellinair applied to the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili scolded the media on Tuesday for their coverage of Pankisi youth who become radicalized and join Islamic State in Syria. The media have shown an ‘unnatural hysteria’ about this problem, which […]
12 % of Georgia’s export in the first quarter of 2015 was used cars. (Rustavi.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first three months of 2015 was 10 percent less than in the same period last year. The foreign trade turnover in January-March, 2015 was USD 2,279 million, according to the new report of Georgia’s National […]
Atoneli Palace (Pia.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Refurbishment work in a building intended as a new presidential palace is now finished and this has sparked a new round of bickering between the president and the government. The minister of regional development and infrastructure stated during […]
Davit Shavliashvili (center) has resigned as minister for regional development. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A minister in the Georgian government resigned on Tuesday. Not much is known about why Davit Shavliashvili decided to resign as regional development and infrastructure, but a notice from the ministry said it was for health reasons. […]
“When a man beats a woman for the hundredth time, something happens to him. He starts jonesing for it,” says Lali, who has fled Abkhazia to hide from her abusive husband. I met Lali (her name has been changed) in a shelter for victims of domestic violence. […]
Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Georgia’s speaker of parliament visits Kiev, political analysts in Tbilisi are watching for signs of how strong the bond is between the two governments. Speaker Davit Usupashvili is accompanied by parliament members Tedo Japaridze and Tinatin […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A protest against terrorism was held on Sunday in Tbilisi and several other towns in Georgia to show support for the refugees persecuted by Islamic State. (DF Watch.) A call went out on Facebook a few days in advance for people to meet outside the old parliament […]
(Adjara TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two persons died and one is in hospital with injuries after an accident at a construction site for a hydropower facility in Khulo, southwest in Georgia Friday night. The two who died are Paata Iakobadze, a Georgian citizen, and Ahmed Chakmak, […]
Giorgi Janelidze. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian volunteer soldier was killed in Ukraine on April 18, fighting for the extreme right wing Azov battalion. Giorgi Janelidze died during mine clearance work near the coastal town Shirokine. The other fighters came under fire as they […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is to make it a crime to be a member of a terrorist organization or take part in a paramilitary group in another country. The law was drafted after calls for the government to do more to stop the flow of youth joining the war in Syria. […]
Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of Mikheil Saakashvili’s party deliberately disrupted Friday’s parliamentary session because of a former official’s suicide attempt the day before. The former special unit’s representative who attempted to commit suicide is detained […]
Vano Merabishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Interior Minister and ally of Mikheil Saakashvil promises to take revenge for every official involved in the detention of former government officials. “I will personally punish them. I will hold each of them responsible personally.” Vano Merabishvili, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of money transfers to Georgia in March fell by 23.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a report by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The amount of money transfers in March was USD 92.2 million, which is USD […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Austrian climbers were found dead on Thursday in a mountain region in Georgia. The two apparently froze to death. The two tourists, a man and a woman, camped near the hill for several days. They left the camp on Wednesday to head […]
Samvel Petrosyan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An ethnic Armenian parliamentarian in the Georgian parliament calls the assembly to formally recognize the Armenian genocide, which began a century ago in Turkey. Ethnic Azerbaijani MPs are against, arguing that it is not a matter for the Georgian […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says the government is not capable of preventing Pankisi youth from joining the war in Syria. There have been many reports lately that young men from the Pankisi Gorge in the north of Georgia have left […]
Zurab Adeishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Interpol did not ask Georgian prosecutors for additional information before deciding to call off the search for a former justice minister. Yesterday, the story broke that Interpol no longer has a so-called red notice on its webpage seeking the arrest […]
Shalva Abuladze in court on Saturday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian man suspected of killing two policemen denies guilt after first having pleaded guilty. Shalva Abuladze was booked for two encounters with police, one in January and the last one on April 4, which left two policemen dead and two wounded. […]
Illustration photo. (Interpressnews.) A country in which the Church is a powerful presence, which strongly advocates for traditional values, probably would not be the first place of choice for LGBTQ people. But what if it is your homeland? […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Interpol has revoked a red notice seeking the arrest and extradition of Georgia’s former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili. Last year, the organization announced an international search for Adeishvili, along with former Defense Minister […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Tuesday pardoned 78 prisoners in connection with Easter. Zviad Koridze, Head of the President’s Pardon Commission, said at a press conference that 57 prisoners will be released from jail today. The remaining 21 had their […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian boys who recently went to Syria to join Islamic State have called their parents in Pankisi Gorge and sent home their first picture. Muslim Kushtanashvili (16) and Ramzan Baghakashvili (18) said they are fine and haven’t seen any fighting […]
(DF Watch.) TSALKA, DFWatch–Tsalka is a cluster of villages in the south of Georgia. It is home to ethnic Armenians, Greeks, Azerbaijani and Georgians; most of whom are eco-migrants from the Adjara region. Levon Akopian, an employee of the local government […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Easter was celebrated in Tbilisi as usual this year, despite bad weather. People visit the graves of their relatives on the first or second day of Easter. Christianity was declared state religion in Georgia in 4th century and as the eastern […]
(1tv.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man died during a traditional Easter ball game in a small village in Georgia’s Guria region on Sunday. The victim was Gocha Pirtskhalaishvili, of about 50 years. Doctors believe the cause of death was shortness of breath. He died while participating […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An explosion allegedly caused by a gas leak killed a 65 year old woman in Tbilisi Sunday morning. The explosion demolished the eighth floor of a building in Gldani, a district in northern part of the capital, and killed Zoia Kalandarishvili, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Saturday placed a man suspected of murdering two policemen in pre-trial detention. The defense did not object to the Prosecutor General’s Office request for detention. The suspect Shalva Abuladze and his lawyer said […]
Giorgi Margvelashvili and Pope Francis. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Friday met with Pope Francis in Rome. President Giorgi Margvelashvili afterward summed up the meeting as a ‘very important’ one for Georgia. He said he told the pontiff about security issues, the situation in the Caucasus […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a man suspected of killing two policemen evaded arrest for almost a week, Georgia’s prime minister says that government will be ‘ruthless toward crime’. The announcement came after several law-enforcement ministers have talked about tougher […]
(police.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The suspect in the murder of two policemen, who was subject to a search by not only the police, but also counterintelligence, was apprehended near his hometown in an abandoned house on Friday. The Interior Ministry confirmed this on Friday. […]
A private clinic in Kharagauli. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has signed an agreement with a British consultancy firm to reform the country’s healthcare system. The goal of the agreement with Global Alliance for Health and Social Compact Ltd is to bring Georgia’s health system in line with European […]
PM Irakli Garibashvili at the 9 April monument in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia today marks the restoration of independence in 1991. It is also a day of commemoration of an independence rally two years prior which was violently dispersed, resulting in twenty deaths. After becoming independent in 1918, Georgia […]
(Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Four Nigerian students were found dead in a Tbilisi apartment Wednesday night, apparently from gas poisoning due to a faulty water heater. Three of them were students at Tbilisi State Medical University and one at Georgia’s University. Their bodies were found […]
(DF Watch) Tbilisi, DFWatch–NGOs in Georgia have revived their campaign This Affects You Too, and are launching a lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs for having direct access to communication operators’ networks and, thus, having ability to eavesdrop on citizens unchecked. […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze explained in parliament Wednesday that a defense deal with France has not been put on hold. His predecessor Irakli Alasania accused the government of halting the planned installation of new air […]
President Lukashenko (Press office) Tbilisi, DFWatch – President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is visiting Georgia for the first time ever on April 23-24 to meet his Georgian counterpart, Giorgi Margvelashvili, as well as the prime minister and other officials. Mr Lukashenko’s visit to Georgia was planned back in February, when he first […]
Actress Nato Vachnadze (1904-1953) already has a street named after her in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi is making an effort to correct the gender imbalance in its street names, by changing the names of ten streets, naming them after famous women. There are about 1,200 streets in the capital, 1,120 of which are named after men, according […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–High winds injured two people in Batumi and left 4,000 households in the Adjara region without power on Tuesday. In Batumi, strong wind blew down a tree which fell onto a nearby building with three people inside, two of whom were slightly injured. […]
(Ministry of Internal Affairs.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A village was evacuated in Imereti in western Georgia Monday night, after a leak of liquid oxygen from an overturned truck. The truck overturned in a sharp bend, according to the Interior Ministry. It was carrying a large amount of liquid oxygen. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s government has decided not to sell a stately building in the center of Tbilisi that was meant to be a presidential residence and once served as the US embassy. The building on Atoneli Street near Freedom Square was on a list […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government is considering expanding police powers after a former convict killed a policeman and evaded capture. It is not known in what way the powers of the police might be increased. The Saakashvili regime started increasing […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is installing a monitoring system in Dariali Valley in the northern part of Georgia, which will provide a few minutes’ warning in case of landslide. Last summer, the valley was hit by several massive landslides that […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The man suspected of killing two police officers was pardoned in November, 2013, because the parole board thought he had put hid criminal past behind him. Gedevan Popkhadze from the parole board said the members were sure that the suspect […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Locals in Pankisi Gorge in northeast Georgia demand the return of two boys who allegedly went to Syria to join Islamc State. The Council of Elders, an informal mediation body in Pankisi, on Monday met to discuss what to do after Muslim […]
The suspect (Prosecutor’s Office photo) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Law enforcement bodies in Georgia are engaged in a large-scale hunt for a man suspected of murdering one policeman and wounding several others. On Sunday, the Prosecutor General’s Office released a photo of the suspect asking for the public’s assistance in locating him, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian boys, one 18 and the other younger, have allegedly left the country to become fighers for Islamic State in Syria, acording to locals. The two were attending tenth and eleventh grade at a school in the village Omalo, in Pankisi Gorge. […]
Activists for saving Sakdrisi made an exhibition that was on display in parliament in Kutaisi. TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday defended the destruction of an ancient gold mine, arguing that locals need the jobs. Appearing with employees of RMG Gold at the municipal building in Marneuli, a town south of the capital, […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s defense minister denies allegations by his predecessor that negotiations with France about a defense deal have ended. But the French ambassador to Georgia claims Georgia has not signed any air defense deal with France. […]
Giorgi Muskhelishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania’s party have withdrawn as a faction in the city council. The reason, they explain, is ‘incompatibility’ with his party, the Free Democrats. The Free Democrats Party was a member […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania accuses the government of having failed to implement an air defense treaty with France and proposes setting up a parliamentary investigation commission to look into it. Alasania Friday […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia Friday detained a Moldovan citizen for using an ATM skimmer to illegally obtain money. The suspect installed a so-called ATM skimmer, a barely noticeable device installed in the card reading slot of the machine which copies information […]
From left to right: Levan Berianidze, Tamta Mikeladze, Ana Lobzhanidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians like to talk about tolerance as a part of the national psyche. But the ability to accept and live alongside people who are different from yourself seems to end when it comes to gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities. According to NDI, […]
Bidzina Iivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Thursday spoke in the funeral of businessman Besik Khardziani, who was murdered at his house a few days ago. He promised that those responsible will be held to account in accordance […]
Deserters market, where the unchecked meat was sold. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s Investigative Service on Thursday detained two veterinarians in Tbilisi for fraud that allowed potentially dangerous meat to get through to consumers. Veterinarians Khvicha Bichiashvili and Mamuka Mzhavanadze are charged with […]
TSALKA, DFWatch–Tsalka in southern Georgia used to be home to more than twenty thousand Greeks, but today there are only 1,500 left. ”My parents, grandparents and great grandparents, they all were born in Georgia. This is our home. Sadly, […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze has confirmed after five months that he talked on the phone with his predecessor Irakli Alasania, who was then visiting France. But he denies what Alasania claims he told him on phone in that conversation. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s governing coalition has lost support, while the former ruling party has gained, according to the latest poll by International Republican Institute (IRI), published Wednesday. If there were held parliamentary elections next Sunday, […]
Anti-gay demonstrators in Tbilisi on May 17, 2014. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has taken no real steps toward protecting the rights of sexual minorities, according to a new report by the Ombudsman. The report, which was published on April 1, says there is an increase not only in homophobic attitudes but also crimes motivated […]
The natural growth of Georgia’s population. (GeoStat.) TBILISI, DFWatch–New figures show that Georgia’s increase in population continued an upward trend in 2014, but the growth rate is still barely above zero. The number of live births minus the number of deaths, which scientists call the natural increase, was 11,548 in 2014. […]
Irakli Kovzanadze, director of the Georgian government’s Partnership Fund. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An Israeli company plans to build a new factory in Georgia with the goal of producing parts for Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier passenger planes. The construction of the ‘high tech and modern’ aviation plant will begin in three months, Economy […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When the Georgian president held his state of the nation speech in parliament on Tuesday, the government and the prime minister were absent – again. This is the second time the government has snubbed President Giorgi Margvelashvili. The same […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Monday marked the appointment of one more ‘rebel judge’ to a top level position the country’s court system. Merab Turava was sworn in as a new member of the Constitutional Court at a ceremony in Batumi attended […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–High winds damaged several villages in the northwestern part of Georgia on Monday. A reporter for Interpressnews said there are houses without roof in six villages Kveda Chkhorotsku, Lesichine, Akhuti, Nakiani, Kirtskhi and Zumi; totalling […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Georgia have detained four fake priests who apparently falsified documents in order to get visa for the Schengen area. The young men are accused of forging documents that make them out to be clerics in the influential Georgian Church. […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has declined an invitation to participate in the traditional May 9 celebration in Moscow of the 70th anniversary of victory in World War 2. The reason is that Russia signed ‘integration agreements’ with South Ossetia […]
The victim owned property at Turtle Lake, a popular lake resort right outside Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A businessman who accused the National Movement government of seizing his property at Turtle Lake was shot to death Saturday morning. Besik Khardziani was hit by several gunshots, also to his head, near his house in Tbilisi. He was taken to hospital […]
Givi Targamadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–MP Givi Targamadze was Saturday questioned for nine hours in a case related to the leaking of information from the Interior Ministry. More than a week ago, a Georgian Interior Ministry employee was fired for allegedly handing over secret information […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO organized a two-day international conference in Tbilisi on Thursday and Friday, hosting Georgian, Armenian and Turkish politicians, and U.S. political and economic analysts. The local US embassy and Open Society also helped organize the conference, […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–According to global data from the UN, women spend at least twice as much time as men doing unpaid domestic work. All across the world, women on average work more, but earn less than men, as their domestic chores are not paid for. In 2008, Eka […]
(Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s State Agency on Religious Issues on Thursday decided to transfer ownership of the Batumi synagogue to the Jewish community. The Jewish community has been requesting ownership and usage rights to the oldest synagogue in the city, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Wizz Air is ending flights between Georgia and Ukraine from April 20 because the company Wizz Air Ukraine is being dissolved. “This decision was made, with regret, due to the ongoing instability in Eastern Ukraine, the devaluation and volatility […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and his successor Mindia Janelidze on Wednesday accused each other of lying about a treaty Alasania signed in France in 2014 shortly before his dismissal. The treaty […]
Inga Grigolia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two hosts on the TV channel Imedi accuse the government of trying to put pressure on them, while the company’s management distances themselves from the statements made by their own journalists. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday questioned former Deputy Defense Minister Zaza Broladze for nine hours in connection with the ‘cables case’, for which the Defense Minister Irakli Alasania was sacked last year. As he left the building after […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Relatives of a pregnant woman died in childbirth rallied outside the hospital in Batumi on Wednesday. Another pregnant woman died at the same hospital about a month ago. Relatives of Maia Verdzadze (29) blame the doctor for her death. […]
Samira Bayramova. (DF Watch.) Marneuli, DFWatch–“The man thinks that she is still a child, she doesn’t know anything, and that is a good thing for her,” says Samira Bayramova, a women’s rights activist in Marneuli working to prevent young girls from becoming child brides. “Mothers-in-law […]
Davit Sergeenko. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One month from now, Georgia begins an ambitious government program to treat 5,000 hepatitis C patients. The program starts on April 21, and is focused on those patients who need treatment the most. Health Minister Davit Sergeenko said […]
Orta Jame (DFWatch) BATUMI, DFWatch–The local government in Batumi, Georgia, is buying two buildings for local Muslims, to try to solve the decades-long problem with an overcrowded mosque. There is only one mosque in Batumi, and it is unable to accommodate all the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A dangerous parasite of the type sarcoysistis has been found in meat at a kindergarten in Tbilisi. The parasite was found by the National Food Agency, which is doing checks following the recent discovery of dangerous semi-prepared food. Sarcocystis – […]
Irakli Garibashvili is preparing a trip to Kiev. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian PM’s visit to Ukraine is being delayed for unknown reasons. Early this year, government members indicated that such a visit would take place soon. Officials only say that they are preparing for the visit, but offer no information […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The use of home-made drugs and import of new psychotropic substances has decreased by over 90 percent since 2013, according to the latest annual report by the US State Department. The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2015 […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia wants to use its free trade access to the EU to become a springboard for Chinese trade with Europe. Last year, Georgia signed an association agreement with the EU. Included was what’s called a deep and comprehensive free […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (GDS.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians don’t want Saakashvili’s party back, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili predicted Sunday. He appeared as one of the guests in the talk show ‘2030’ on his son’s TV channel GDS. Saturday, the National Movement […]
The square at the government office being ‘disinfected’. (Maestro.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists Sunday ‘disinfected’ a square in Tbilisi where the National Movement had rallied the day before. “We think they left behind bits of their unhealthy ideological views. Therefore we decided to conduct a disinfection,” Irakli Kipiani told […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After a few days of restrictions, Gudauri-Kobi road in northern Georgia is now open for traffic. But all kinds of vehicles must use snow chains on the Gudauri-Kobi road due to snow and ice, according to the Roads Department. Vehicles […]
Nika Melia. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tens of thousands of people rallied in Tbilisi on Saturday, demanding the government’s resignation. People came to Tbilisi from faraway Samegrelo, Adjara and other regions. Many arrived by bus. Organizers also […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement, Georgia’s former ruling party, is preparing an anti-government rally in Tbilisi today. The party, which was voted out of power in 2012, is demonstrating against the government’s economic policy, and calling on the government to step down. […]
Gogi Topadze, the target of the NGOs’ criticism. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Some of the most influential non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Georgia on Friday launched a petition against anti-western statements recently made by members of the ruling coalition. A few days ago, a businessman who is leader […]
Roland Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Friday acquitted a close ally of former president Saakashviili for abuse of powers while serving as a chief prosecutor of a region in the west of Georgia. Parliament member Roland Akhalaia used to be chief prosecutor […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili next to new Supreme Court chief justice Nino Gvenetadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on Friday approved Nino Gvenetadze as new head of the Supreme Court by 88 votes against 0. President Giorgi Margvelashvili selected Gvenetadze from 28 prospective candidates. Gvenetadze was a Supreme Court […]
One of the policemen sent information to National Movement politician Givi Targamadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An employee of the Georgian Interior Ministry was sacked Thursday because he allegedly had been handing over secret information to parliament member Givi Targamadze from the National Movement. Nine other police employees were also fired […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 36 year old man shot and killed a 27 year old woman and afterward took his own life in the village Bodbiskhevi in eastern Georgia, International Center of Kakheti (ICK) reports. The news service does not specify when the murder happened. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Margvelashvili on Thursday converted the sentence of a man so he will no longer need to spend the rest of his life behind bars. The head of the president’s pardon commission Zviad Koridze said the most serious crime the prisoner […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is to allow teenagers between 14 and 18 years to test themselves for HIV without permission from their parents or guardian. This is an initiative by the health committee in parliament, which will amend the law on patient rights. […]
From left to right: Inga Popovaite, Nana Chabukiani and Salome Chagelishvili. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Every third woman in Georgian has been victim of domestic abuse, but it is not socially accepted to discuss it outside the family. We sat down to talk about the problem with Salome Chagelishvili from Anti-Violence Network of Georgia (AVNG), an […]
Davit Dondua. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian and Georgian diplomats meeting in Geneva for regular talks clashed over a new treaty Russia signed yesterday with the breakaway region South Ossetia. At the latest round of talks, which ended on Wednesday, Georgia brought up the […]
Leonid Tibilov (left) and Vladimir Putin. (kremlin.ru) TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, was in Moscow on Wednesday and signed a new treaty on alliance and integration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgia, EU, NATO and the United States protested against […]
Ilham Aliyev, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have agreed to start construction of a natural gas pipeline which will bypass Russia and reduce Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. The ceremony was held in Kars, a Turkish city near […]
(National Assessment and Examinations Center.) TBILISI, DFWatch–More than 40,000 candidates will try to pass the national exams this summer, in order to enter universities in Georgia. According to the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC), registration for exams in 2015 finished on Tuesday. […]
(National Food Agency.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Food Agency warns against buying and eating many semi-processed food products after finding that they are contaminated by listeria and salmonella. The agency warns against semi-processed food products from the following companies: […]
(Facsimile from Hurriyet.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian consul in Istanbul denies a report in a Turkish newspaper that he beat a woman working for him as a stylist. The Turkish daily Hurriyet reported Monday that Consul Irakli Asashvili beat the Moldavian stylist Larisa Berezina at her house, […]
Nauli Janashia. (UNM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will be this a by-election in one election district in Georgia to elect a replacement for a majoritarian member of parliament who passed away. Nauli Janashia, 68, represented Martvili, a town in the western Samegrelo region, […]
Levan Chachua. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia has acquitted a forensic expert who was on trial for negligence in connection with the death of a prime minister in 2005. Levan Chachua sat almost nine months in detention, accused of not noticing marks of violence on the body […]
(DF Watch.) PANKISI, DFWatch–About a month ago, a 13 year old girl was married to a 23 year old man in Pankisi Gorge with approval from the girl’s parents. This has caused concern in the Council of Women and the Council of Elders, two mediation bodies which play an important […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic is prohibited for all kinds of vehicles along the Gudauri-Kobi road section in northern Georgia due to intense snow and wind. The Roads Department also warns that it is not allowed to stop on 134km-135km of the Stepantsminda-Larsi […]
The National Bank of Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of money transfers to Georgia in February fell by 21.7 percent compared to same period last year, according to a new report by the National Bank. The total amount of incoming transfers in February was USD 82.0 million laris; […]
Gogi Topadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of a party that is member of the ruling coalition says that joining NATO doesn’t have to be a priority for Georgia, because the alliance doesn’t plan to accept Georgia and it may also bring problems for the country to join NATO now. […]
(GDS.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Sunday appeared on his new political commentary show ‘2030’ on GDS, a TV channel run by his son Bera. The businessmen quit politics a year ago and started the non-governmental organization […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi ruled Sunday that a former mayor and close ally of Mikheil Saakashvili must stay in prison on aggravated charges recently presented by prosecutors. The ruling in Tbilisi City Court came not long before ex-Mayor Gigi […]
Women from Chiatura (Photo: Mari Nikuradze) Tbilisi, DFWatch – In Georgia, a woman make less than ⅔ of a man’s salary due to segregation in labor market and prevailing traditional gender roles. Gender pay gap Washington-based Institute […]
Clashes resulted number of injured (Maestro) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement (UNM) and the ruling Georgian Dream coalition clashed in Zugdidi, western Georgia, resulted in injuries and bitter mutual accusations less than a week before the former plans […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are traffic restrictions on the Ninotsminda road, which leads to the border with Armenia. Restrictions are in effect along the 94km-100km section of the road, where trailers, half-trailers and vehicles with more than 30 seats are […]
Mikheil Saakashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office on Saturday modified the charges against five former high officials, including ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. In Saakashvili’s and former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili’s cases, the charges […]
Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Defender in Georgia has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate an instance of alleged mistreatment by police. A prisoner at Kutaisi (“No 2”) prison told Public Defender’s staff about the incident, which took place […]
Ian C. Kelly. (University of Chicago.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ian C. Kelly has been nominated as new U.S. Ambassador to Georgia. Kelly is the U.S. State Department’s diplomat in residence at the University of Illinois at Chicago. If confirmed, he will replace Richard Norland, the current ambassador. […]
Trailers at Sarpi customs. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first two months of 2015 fell by 9 percent compared to the same period last year. This is indicated by new preliminary data published by the National Statistics Department (Geostat). The total foreign trade […]
