Akhmed Chatayev. (Interpressnews.) Chatayev was missing his left leg and right arm as he appeared outside the court building in Tbilisi in December, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The terrorist attack at Istanbul Atatürk Airport on 28 June, which claimed the lives of 44 victims and three suicide bombers and left 239 people wounded, is believed to have been organized by Akhmed Chatayev, a Russian national […]
Zurab Bigvava. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two opinion polls show vastly different levels of support for the two main contenders in Georgia’s parliamentary election, scheduled for October 8. A poll conducted by Georgian Dream gives the party a lead of 35 percent, with the United National […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 39-year-old man from Pankisi Valley in northeastern Georgia has reportedly been killed fighting on for the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The death of Omar Margoshvili, reported by Information Centre of Kakheti on Wednesday, […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 22-year-old Georgian man is reported to have died in the Syrian war, fighting alongside one of the Islamist rebel groups. Information Centre of Kakheti (ICK) wrote on Tuesday that Aslanbeg Borchashvili was from Dumasturi, a village in Pankisi Valley […]
The bill’s author Gubaz Sanikidze says it is a humane act toward elderly people. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on June 24 passed an amnesty bill which will release female prisoners older than 65 and male prisoners over 70, if they are convicted of lesser crimes. The bill was proposed by the National Forum faction in parliament […]
Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli’s decision on Monday to end compulsory military service sparked a variety of negative comments from members of the ruling party, Georgian Dream. Khidasheli is a member of the Republican Party, […]
Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli on Monday controversially signed a decree ending compulsory military service with immediate effect. In April, Khidasheli said she expected the professional army system to be introduced in 2017. […]
(All photos: Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia airlifted 60 people to the border crossing at Larsi on Sunday. The travellers had been stuck in Kazbegi since Thursday night, when a mudslide cut off a section of road in Dariali Valley. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said around 60 people […]
A screenshot from the project’s website (mshibzia.com) The new Georgian social media campaign aimed at reaching out to Abkhaz society is an example of a futile activism informed by nationalist narratives which are being used by Georgian political elites to distract society from the core issue of unresolved ethnic conflict […]
Nana Lezhava, Imedi TV’s new news chief. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the news division at Imedi TV was unexpectedly replaced on Thursday. News chief Maia Tabagari was moved to a post as consultant to the general director, while journalist Nino Lezhava (pictured) was brought in as her replacement, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian minister of internal affairs, Giorgi Mghebrishvili has claimed he has information that the suspect in the Khurcha killing could become ‘liquidated’ in a plot to discredit Georgia. “Abkhazia’s de facto Prosecutor’s Office appealed […]
The bill was proposed by Tamar Khidasheli (pictured) and Tamar Kordzaia from the Republican Party. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian parliament on Thursday rejected a proposal to criminalize sexual harassment in the work place and in public places. During the last year, about 50 complaints about sexual harassment have been filed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and two with the Ombudsman’s Office. […]
(OCCRP) By Occrp Bloomberg News is reporting that Patrice Lescaudron, a Credit Suisse Bank money manager who former Georgia Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili blames for the loss of over $US500 million, has confessed that he transferred $US3.5 million of client money to his wife’s bank account in Monaco and to the account of a company he controlled in Dubai. […]
Erosi Kitsmarishvili took part in the founding of Rustavi 2, one of the largest TV stations in Georgia, and served as ambassador to Russia during the 2008 war. In July 2014, he was found dead in Tbilisi with a gunshot wound to his head. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office in Georgia said Wednesday it had solved the case about the politician and founder of the television station Rustavi 2 who was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound to his head in 2014. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–An employee of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees was detained by the State Security Service (SUS) under the charge of bribery. According […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Khelvachauri District Court issued a warrant for a suspect wanted in the case of an attempted femicide which happened on June 10. According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, […]
Tbilisi’s drivers have been allowed to park on sidewalks for years, but this will end in September. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–City authorities in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi are considering removing parking spaces that were allocated on the city’s sidewalks a few years ago. Pedestrians may look forward to having the sidewalks cleared of cars already from September. […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili with his wife Ekaterine Khvedelidze By Dave Bloss and Nino Bakradze OCCRP Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is now claiming he lost more than $US500 million due to mismanagement by Credit Suisse Bank and by directors of an offshore asset fund he controlled. […]
In April, Georgia forced an Abkhazian tourist exhibition to shut down at a tourism fair in Montenegro because it presented Abkhazia as an independent state. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ambassador to Italy, Kakha Sikharulidze, says the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia will not be allowed to open a cultural institute in Rome. The planned Abkhaz Cultural Institute in Rome is an initiative by the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs […]
Ruslan Asad is an Azerbaijani civil society activist and a co-founder of the Thinking Citizen (Düşünən Vətəndaş) project, which brings together young representatives of Georgia’s ethnic Azerbaijani community. He told DF Watch about the project’s aims, successes, and future plans in the context of issues faced by the community. […]
‘Visa liberalisation for Georgia is not a distant matter,’ the German chancellor Angela Merkel stated during a joint conference with the Georgian prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in Berlin on 15 June. […]
Irakli Okruashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili on Tuesday testified that ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered the beating of a parliament member to make an example of what would happen to others if they dared openly criticize him. […]
Photos courtesy of Tamara Bokuchava, Social Photography Caucasus Foundation TBILISI, DFWatch–Resistance against the Nenskra hydro power project in Georgia’s northern Svaneti region has caused locals to restore the traditional ruling body lalkhor in order to increase the community’s impact on the national decision-making process. A congress […]
Darina, now aged 19, is a confident and intelligent young woman thanks to the support of various NGOs. (Onnik J. Krikorian) TBILISI, Georgia — Darina Eradze was just eleven-years-old when her mother had no other choice but to place her in care. After years of living with a father with psychological problems, Darina says that her older brother and herself were beaten on an almost daily basis. Things became even worse when after putting their house down as collateral for a business loan, he lost it and the family was evicted. Her father would sleep in parks while Darina and the rest of her family would seek out abandoned buildings. […]
Former President Mikheil Saakashvili inspecting a Lazika infantry combat vehicle in 2012. TBILISI, DFWatch–The United Arab Emirates has signed a contract to buy military equipment worth USD 32 million from the Georgian state-owned company Delta. Delta’s former director Ucha Dzodzuashvili said the first batch of equipment […]
Temur Chkonia (right) discussing the opening of a new McDonald’s in Rustavi earlier in 2016. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian businessman may open the first ever McDonald’s restaurant in rival Armenia, Sputnik Armenia reports. The news agency reports that the opening of the first of the chain’s restaurants in Armenia was decided at a meeting […]
Reiner Haseloff. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–German Chancellor Angela Merkel might visit Georgia this summer, Interpressnews reports. The news agency is quoting Reiner Haseloff, the minister president of the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, as he met Georgian media […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Central Election Commission on Sunday gave preliminary approval for one more referendum about same-sex marriage. This is the second referendum bid about this issue and if approved it will be held in parallel with the parliamentary […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgians were detained on Saturday by officers of the Russian FSB’s border service patrolling the perimeter of the breakaway region South Ossetia. Roin Zautashvili and his son Giorgi were detained for border violation in the village Bershueti […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Union once again failed to reach an agreement on abolishing visas for Georgian citizens who want to enter the Schengen area. […]
Rustavi 2 lawyer Tamta Muradashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia upheld a decision by Tbilisi City Court to transfer ownership of the largest opposition TV station, Rustavi 2, to Kibar Khalvashi, a former owner. Khalvashi successfully sued claiming that Rustavi 2 was forcibly […]
Ganmukhuri is symbolic because it lies on the “Abkhaz” side of the border river Inguri. TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has revealed a plan to build a luxury hotel in western Georgia on the border with the breakaway region Abkhazia. He told journalists on Friday that he also has some other plans which he will disclose when they are approved. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s direct foreign investments in the first quarter of 2016 was 103 percent more than in the same period last year, Georgia’s National Statistics Office writes in a preliminary report. Investments in the first quarter amounted to USD 376 million. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany on Wednesday again blocked visa-free access to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens, with reference to police reports that Georgian asylum seekers play an important role in organizing burglaries. After the decision became […]
Kakha Kukava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s traditionalists have formed a coalition for the October 8 parliamentary election. The initiative came from the Alliance of Patriot, whose leader Irma Inashvili came close to winning a contested local by-election last year, fraught with accusations […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi’s embattled vegan café Kiwi is looking for a new location after neighbors complained about its environment and guests. One of the employees of the café told DFWatch that the owner two weeks ago barred them from putting tables outside, […]
IDPs from Abkhazia living in a Sanatorium in Western Georgia (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the ninth consecutive year, the United Nations General Assembly on June 7 passed a resolution calling for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the wars in Georgia in the early 1990s. The first resolution […]
Schulz wrote the Georgia has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization. (Twitter.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, on Wednesday used his Twitter account to voice support for Georgia getting visa-free travel with the Schengen area without delay. Mr Schulz’s statement comes shortly after EU states decided to delay […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is ranked 85th among 163 of the world’s countries in the latest Global Peace Index published by the think tank Institute for Economics and Peace. Seven more European countries scored lower than Georgia, including all of Georgia’s […]
(OCCRP) by Dave Bloss, Miranda Patrucic, Khadija Ismayilova and OCCRP Azerbaijan 06 June 2016 The First Family of Azerbaijan and a close business partner made a series of financial transactions in the days and weeks before a crippling 2015 devaluation of the national currency that eventually earned them at least 100 million manat (US$ 64 million) in just two deals while additionally protecting their banks and companies. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of activists rallied in Brussels on Saturday in support of Georgian and Ukrainian citizens being allowed to travel visa-free to the Schengen area. The rally came days after the European Union put the visa waiver program […]
Ivanishvili Tuesday met with TV journalists (2030) TBILISI, DFWatch–The former prime minister and businessman, Bidzina Ivanishvili discovered ‘a person of his dreams from the time of his youth’ in Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, he said during a press conference at TechPark on Tuesday. […]
Zviad Kvachantiradze is MP and Leader of Majority in the Parliament of Georgia; Co-Chair of EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee; Ambassador (IPN) In today’s world, the citizens as well as the leaders of organisations are faced with ever dynamic and fast shifting socio-economic and political climates, individuals as well as organisations are challenged to their limits in terms of successful and sustainable leadership to navigate within such a turbulence setting. Leaders, institutions, and citizens are tested by fast paced shifts in socioeconomic and political conditions. Navigating through turbulence is a litmus test. […]
Tamar Kordzaia (pictured) and Tamar Khidasheli proposed the femicide bill. (Photo published by Georgian Dream.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The human rights committee in parliament on Monday rejected a proposal by two MPs from the majority faction to make femicide a crime. It would have taken seven votes for the committee to approve the draft. Only three voted for it; […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Tbilisi arrested a man on Tuesday who is accused of murdering his wife the day before. The 36 year old man is charged with premeditated murder. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A woman was shot outside a hotel in Isani on the outskirts of Tbilisi on Monday. She was taken to hospital with serious injuries but later died at the hospital. The woman was working in the kitchen […]
Invisible Protest for May 17, 2014, Tbilisi, Georgia (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Over half of Georgians think the state should protect the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and other sexual minorities, but four out of five want it to be illegal to demonstrate for LGBTI rights, according to a new survey by Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG). […]
Among the invited channels to interview Ivanishvili there are Maestro, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Kavkasia, GDS, Tabula (2030) Tbilisi, DFWatch – After negotiations between former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili and two opposition TV channels fails, the billionaire and Georgian strongman issues a statement inviting 10 major TV channel to a press conference. The conference is scheduled on Tuesday at Ivanishvili Sololaki residence at noon. […]
Meeting of civil society organizations to discuss Constitutional Court Bill. June 3. Tbilisi (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Civil society organizations brace for appealing revised constitutional court bill, and express their discontent with the final version of the bill that includes the president’s objections. President Giorgi Margvelashvili vetoed a bill on Constitutional Court on May 31, […]
International Rock Festival Tbilisi Jam Fest was disrupted on Saturday (photo: Edita Badasyan) Tbilisi, DFWatch – International Rock Festival was disrupted on Saturday on the Tbilisi outskirts after a power blackout that, the organizers believe, was probably arranged by the clergy. […]
Syvokon with his wife (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The Ukrainian journalist, Pavlo Syvokon, 32, died in the Caucasus mountains near the townlet of Stepantsminda while climbing Mount Kazbeg, or Mkinvartsveri in Georgian (5,047 m ). According to the other climbers, […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – On Wednesday, European Union once again failed to agree on waiving visas for Georgian citizens within the Schengen zone, Reuters reported. Last minute objection from Germany, […]
PM (left) replaced Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze by Aleksandre Jejelava (center) (Facebook) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili Friday announced resignation of the Minister of Education and Science, Tamar Sanikidze, and introduced a new candidate to the post, Aleksandre Jejelava, the Chairman of Management Academy. […]
Burchuladze: No one has ever cast doubt on my words, cannot be said of Mr. Bidzina’s words (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and famous Georgian operatic bass, Paata Burchuladze exchanged mutual accusations of lying. “I would advice Paata Burchuladze not to lie,” […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch - Hundreds of people, mostly youth, gathered at the government building in Tbilisi Thursday evening to protest ‘inhumane drug policy’ and demand decriminalization of the light drugs and to soften the drug legislation in general. The annual protest bringing together youth, politicians, journalists, NGO activists is held every June 2, since 2013. The main [...]
Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotatdze Tbilisi, DFWatch - Prosecution wouldn’t request pre-trial detention for the athletes involved in Kortskheli violence, Irakli Shotadze, Chief Prosecutor, said to journalists on Thursday. Instead, the Prosecutor’s Office would request a bail for six martial artists, charged with beating of opposition politicians and their supporters in Kortskeli, a village in [...]
Nika Melia (center) and Tengiz Gunava, MP, in Kirtskheli after the incident. (20300 TBILISI, DFWatch--The Ministry of Internal Affairs on Wednesday indicted six athletes for a violent incident about a week ago in Samegrelo, when several high profile opposition figures, including members of parliament, were severely beaten during the local municipal by-elections. In a [...]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi Zoo received 22 new animals on Monday. The animals were a gift from zoos in Germany and Belgium. There are seven South American coatis, two Indian porcupines and ten striped mongoose from Germany, while three blue wildebeest […]
Hiking club in Tkibuli (Tourism Administration) Tbilisi, DFWatch – 14.9 percent more people visited Georgia in May, compared to the same period last year, Georgian National Tourism Administration states in its monthly report released on Wednesday. […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – Ruling Georgian Dream coalition will not initiate motion to overturn presidential veto on the recently adopted law that significantly restricts power of Constitutional Court, Zviad Dzidziguri, Vice Speaker of the parliament, said on Wednesday. […]
