Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani called on her country’s citizens not to shame themselves after the visa liberalization comes into force and the borders of Schengen will be open for Georgians. Tsulukiani told journalists after […]
Undated photo of Abu Omar TBILISI, DFWatch–The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced that according to its sources military commander of the Islamic State, Tarkhan Batirashvili, was seriously injured in an American airstrike on 4 March, yet not killed, Reuters reported. […]
Viktor Dolidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Free Democrats, an opposition party which until 2014 was a member of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, supports a Constitutional amendment that will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Four members […]
Dimitris Avramopoulos. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission on Wednesday proposed to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens. If approved by the Union’s legislative bodies, Georgians may be able to visit the Schengen area without a visa from this summer. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission is expected to announce its proposal for visa-free travel for Georgians today at a press conference in Brussels. The press conference is scheduled for today at 20:30 Tbilisi time. There is a three hour difference between […]
Beslan Mukhtarov TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian member of Jabhat an-Nusra is confirmed dead after spending one month alongside Syrian Turkmen in Syria’s Latakia region. 30-years-old Beslan Mukhtarov was confirmed as the 17th Georgian citizen who was […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli says the U.S. government has informed that there is an assumption that Tarkhan Batirashvili, known as Omar al-Shishani or Omar the Chechen, was killed on Friday, but they are studying the situation. […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Labour rights and women’s political participation were the central issues during the International Women’s Day rally in Tbilisi. The rally included speeches and performances organised by a coalition of various feminist, LGBT, […]
Undated photo of Abu Omar TBILISI, DFWatch–Several media reported Tuesday that Georgian-born militant Omar al-Shishani, one of the Islamic State’s top commanders, has been killed by U.S. forces. CNN, Reuters and other media reported that Shishani, whose birth name is Tarkhan […]
Protest at TSU (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists demand transparent funding mechanisms for student government’s projects over allegations of misspending. On Monday, 7 March, approximately 300 activists gathered in front of the administrative building […]
Ucha Nanuashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the International Women’s Day, Georgia’s Public Defender highlighted problems related to protection of women’s labor rights, supporting women’s participation in decision-making and elimination of violence against women. Ucha Nanuashvili […]
Alexi Petriashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An opposition politician who was shot last week left the hospital on Tuesday and made his first statements to the press. Alexi Petriashvili, former member of government and party secretary of the opposition Free Democrats, said he didn’t know […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The SH-7 road in northwest of Georgia is closed after a rockslide near the village Tsitskhvari. A large mass of rock and soil slid onto the SH-7, which runs between Zugdidi in Samegrelo and Mestia in the Svaneti region. […]
(Identoba.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A public lecture about homophobia was called off at the Free University in Tbilisi as result of a protest by a radical religious group that claimed the lecture was propaganda. Identoba, an organization working to defend the rights of sexual and […]
Prime MInister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition on Monday agreed to support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The constitutional amendment was discussed at a session […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian police announced Friday that a man has been detained suspected of the brutal assault on Alexi Petriashvili, former member of government and prominent member of the opposition Free Democrats. At a special briefing at the MIA, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Air Arabia, Scat, El Al Israel Airlines, ARKIA and Dniproavia are considering flights to Batumi airport on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Guram Jalaghonia, head of the Civil Aviation Agency, told Business and Political Insight (BPI) on Monday […]
Levan Gachechiladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Public Registry on Monday registered Levan Gachechiladze as director of Studio Maestro. The registry said in a statement that Gachechiladze was appointed director of Maestro as a result of a decision made by the Appeals Court on March 1. […]
Aiup Borchashvili. (ick.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Tbilisi sentenced three men to prison on Monday for associating with or assisting a foreign terrorist organization. Aiup Borchashvili, former imam of the mosque in the village of Jokolo in Pankisi valley, was sentenced to 14 years […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several thousand people joined the National Movement on Sunday in a protest against the Georgian government’s negotiations with Gazprom. People formed a 7 km long human chain from the government office to the former Russian embassy […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are restrictions on heavy vehicles on a section of the S-3 road north of Tbilisi leading to the Russian border. Due to heavy snowfall, it is prohibited for trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30 seats to drive between […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A strike at a glass factory in Ksani near Tbilisi has ended after 29 days. Workers demanded increased salaries, collective contract and office space for the local trade union. They achieved a 7.5 percent pay raise and from January 1, 2017 will […]
Batumi Mosque (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Batumi Muslims continue to rally for permission to build a new mosque in the city. The only existing mosque, called Ortajame, is not large enough and people have to pray on the street. Several hundred Muslims gathered outside […]
airport of Mestia (Air Navigation of Georgia) TBILISI, DFWatch–From March 10, there will be two flights per week between Natakhtari airport near the capital and Kutaisi. Flights will be carried out every Tuesday and Thursday between Natakhtari and Kutaisi, Georgia’s third largest city, about […]
Davit Usupashvili (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican Party will remain in the Georgian Dream coalition, Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Thursday after meeting Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The reason for the meeting was a recent statement by the prime minister […]
The letter is addressed to Federica Mogherini. (EU Commission.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eight non-governmental organizations in the Georgian capital ask the EU to specify exactly how to measure the reforms the country is carrying out after signing an association agreement with the EU in 2014. The association agreement involves […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister sought to calm down a feud within his coalition on Thursday, detailing his views in a statement posted on Facebook. Gogi Topadze, leader of the coalition partner the Industrialists, accused the defense minister of having […]
May 17, 2015 (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report published by the Council of Europe (CoE) highlights persisting issues of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, direct violence, and systemic discrimination in Georgia. On Tuesday, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance […]
Vake Park protests in 2014 (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Wednesday, after a two-year-long legal dispute, Tbilisi City Court revoked the construction permit for Budapest Hotel, which is planned to be built in Vake Park in Tbilisi, journal Liberali reported. Wednesday’s ruling concerned a lawsuit […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Muslims and Christians have reached agreement about a cemetery in a village Adigeni, in the south of Georgia, after a tense standoff. The communities agreed to have one common cemetery, which will be separated by a line. Jambul Abuladze, […]
(Azot.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Azot chemical plant in Rustavi with more than 2,000 employees has shut down for a month due to economic factors. The plant, which lies in Rustavi, a town 20km south of the capital, expected Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar to reduce […]
Zviad Koridze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president pardoned 155 prisoners on Wednesday. 105 of them will leave jail today. The commission met on February 21-22, and considered 1,178 cases. 105 were completely pardoned, while the rest had their sentences […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Some of the employees of Tbilisi’s metro demonstrated at Didube on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions and higher salaries, following a drop in the value of the national currency lari. Metro workers warn that they may go on strike […]
Kakha Gogolashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s National Platform, an umbrella organization for more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has a new chairman: Kakha Gogolashvili, director of European Research Center. He replaces Lasha Tughushi, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Commission will publish legal document on Wednesday about visa free travel for Georgians to Schengen countries, according to Zviad Kvachantiradze, leader of the parliamentary majority. “Tomorrow, Brussels will finally officially publish […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli is prepared to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of fraud in the by-election in Sagarejo last October, which was won by her fellow party member. “Anyone who wishes […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has launched an investigation into the religious conflict in Adigeni in southern Georgia, where Muslims and Christians disagree about whether to have a separate graveyard for Muslims. The investigation […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United Nations will have traditional Georgian wine making vessel on display outside its building in Geneva from March 1 in connection with the organization’s 70th anniversary. Georgia gifted UN’s Geneva office a kvevri; a large earthenware […]
A government representative visiting Tkibuli on Friday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A solution was reached Monday evening in the labor dispute in Tkibuli after more than four hours of negotiations. Mine workers in the western Georgian town went on strike more than two weeks ago, demanding a pay raise. The negotiations […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Disagreement over a cemetery led to exchange of insults between Muslims and Christians in a village in southern Georgia on Monday. Samkhretis Karibche, a local online newspaper, reported that the locals verbally insulted each other. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The regional Court in Sighnaghi in eastern Georgia is considering the case of a 25 year old man who married a 15 year old girl who is pregnant. A few weeks ago, the couple showed up at a talk show on Imedi TV called the Gia Jajanidze Show. The man told of how he and the girl found […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgian citizens who barely avoided being hanged in Malaysia for drug-related crimes returned to Georgia on Sunday. Babutsa Gordadze, who was arrested in Malaysia along with Darejan Kokhtashvili, was convicted of illegally […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office in Georgia has launched an investigation two weeks after allegations were put forth by a member of parliament about election fraud in last year’s by-election in Sagarejo in eastern Georgia. Gogi Topadze, leader […]
(DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists demand putting halt a large construction project amidst environmental, urban, social, and conflict-of-interest controversies. Up to 400 activists gathered on Tbilisi’s Freedom Square on 27 February in order to protest against the construction […]
(DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Azerbaijani activists marked the anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy and called for its recognition as a genocide. On 25 February, a conference on the Khojaly (Xocalı) genocide was held in Tbilisi. The event was organised […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists demonstrated in front of the headquarters of Georgian Industrial Group in Tbilisi in solidarity with the miners who are on strike in Tkibuli. In the evening of 26 February, a group of up to 200 protesters […]
Avtandil Imedadze. TBILISI, DFWatch–Doctors say former government official and now opposition member Alexi Petriashvili is in a stable condition. He was shot in the legs and abdominal area on Friday at a cemetery in Tbilisi. The director of the Republican Hospital […]
Nino Ananiashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Ananiashvili, a former prima ballerina at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater, was criticized in Georgia for performing at the theater in the Russian capital on February 25, because in her home country, the day is observed as the Day of Soviet Occupation. […]
Amiran Khvadagiani. (DF Watch.) TKIBULI, DFWatch–More than two weeks have passed since coal miners in Tkibuli in western Georgia began standing watch day and night in front of the company’s office, demanding higher salaries. So far, without results. Their demand is to increase their salaries […]
Aiug Borchashvili (ICK.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Aiup Borchashvili admits links to Umar ash-Shishani, but denies direct involvement in recruiting people to fight in Syria and Iraq. Telavi District Court heard Aiup Borchashvili in the case of […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A former member of government and secretary of an opposition party was shot by unknown attackers on Saburtalo cemetery on Friday afternoon. His injuries are not life-threatening. Aleksi Petriashvili with his wife, journalist Eka Mishveladze (Facebook) Aleksi Petriashvili was shot at and wounded at the Saburtalo […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Russian border police detained a 31-years-old inhabitant of Tbilisi in the vicinity of the South Ossetian boundary line, Sputnik Ossetia reported. The man was detained on 24 February near the village of Akhmaji (Akhmadz in Ossetian) in Akhalgori (Leningor) […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Coal miners on strike in a small mining town in the west of Georgia broke into the offices of the company that owns the mines Thursday evening. Workers came in through the windows of the offices of Saknakhshiri GIG in Tkibuli, with the support of locals. […]
Exhibition at parliament (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Pictures and documents from the period of Bolshevik terror in Georgia marked the anniversary the tragic events of 1921. A photo exhibition in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi marked the Soviet Occupation Day, […]
(Tkibuli Municipality/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For more than ten days, miners have been on strike in Tkibuli, a town in western Georgia, demanding increased pay to compensate for their community’s loss of favorable tax conditions. The Ministry of Labor and Health […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–One more person was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the suspected ‘bridenapping’ in Tbilisi’s southern Ponichala district. Earlier on Tuesday, police in the capital arrested a Russian teenager, who is suspected of abducting […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man of about 50 years was murdered on Wednesday in the village Vardisubani near Telavi. A suspect was apprehended the same day. The victim, Vepkhia Glurjidze, had a disagreement with the suspect, who then stabbed him. Glurjidze took […]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The field meeting on the perimeter of the South Ossetia region went ahead as planned on Wednesday, and some of the topics discussed were irrigation water and detention of people for border violations. The meeting was held in Ergneti, a village […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Police in Tbilisi detained a teenager on Wednesday who is suspected of abducting a 17 year old girl and keeping her for four days. The detainee is a citizen of Russia, and like the victim also a minor. He was arrested by officers from the central Tbilisi […]
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement. TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Georgian opposition party Democratic Movement, recently visited Moscow and met with Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. The parties did not disclose the topic of the meeting. Her party’s press […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia still struggles with issues connected to its justice system, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, rights of LGBTI people, and cases of torture and other ill-treatment. Amnesty International (AI) has released the […]
Badri Iremadze, a still from the video TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian fighters affiliated with the Islamic State commemorate three men who died earlier this year in Syria. A new Georgian-language video produced by Furat, a media company affiliated with the Islamic State, has been circulated […]
Mamuka Akhvlediani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The chief judge at Tbilisi City Court was fired on Tuesday, sparking speculation that it might have something to do with his recent statements about corruption in the court and other controversial topics. Twelve members of the High […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili promises that the motorway through Georgia currently under construction will be completed by 2020. The transit road east-west through Georgia, connecting the border with Azerbaijan with the Turkish […]
Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court ruled in favor of former Mayor Gigi Ugulava on Tuesday, lifting a 50,000 lari bail imposed on him and a freezing order on the house of his mother-in-law. But the lifting of Mr Ugulava’s bail won’t mean that he can walk free. He is currently serving a four and a half year prison sentence in another case. […]
Nona and Meka Khangoshvili (DFWatch) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Kist, Chechen, Ingush activists and Georgian sympathisers commemorated victims of 1944 deportations with screening of a Chechen film depicting details of the tragedy. […]
(OSGF.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government representatives Monday discussed the possibility of creating an independent body to investigative crimes committed by law enforcement. The discussion revealed disagreement […]
Temur Kobalia, director of the NGO Georgian-Russian Forum. TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia last week detained two American members of non-governmental organizations (NGO) for violating visa rules and holding ‘non-tourist meetings.’ DF Watch spoke to Temur Kobalia, director of the NGO Georgian-Russian Forum, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A 17 year old girl who was abducted several days ago was returned to her family on Monday and questioned by police. Relatives say the kidnapper left Samira Bayramova at a supermarket near her home in Ponichala, a settlement […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A conference about sexual minorities had to be moved to another location after Tbilisi State University (TSU) refused to let it be held on February 22 following protests by extreme traditionalists. The protest was staged by a group which has often […]
Friday prayer in Shia mosque (DFWatch) Soghanlughi, DFWatch – Global Shia–Sunni conflict found its way into a small Azerbaijani community on the outskirts of Tbilisi.What started as a local tension in the predominantly Muslim settlement of Soghanlughi (Soğanlıq in Azerbaijani), which is a part of Ponichala district in the southeast of Tbilisi, escalated into a conflict informed by events in the Middle East, proving increasingly divisive for the community. […]
Davit Vanishvili. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Things did not change for the better when Davit Vanishvili’s house ended up on the other side of the border with Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia several years ago. DFWatch recently visited some of the villages on the administrative boundary […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Relatives of a 17 year old girl who was abducted three days ago protested outside a police station in Tbilisi on Sunday, demanding that something is done to find the kidnap victim. Samira Bairamova (17) from the predominantly ethnic […]
The Ferro factory in Zestaponi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in January was USD 528 million, a 24 percent drop compared to the same month last year. According to the new monthly report by the National Statistics Department, GeoStat, export was USD 122 million; […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Coal miners in Tkibuli in western Georgia are continuing their strike, which began more than a week ago. They demand increased pay and better working conditions, particularly warm working clothes in winter. Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines are affected by the strike. […]
Bianka filmed in the Gospel of Anasyrma Tbilisi, DFWatch – Film starring late transgender activist Bianka Shigurova is a powerful social commentary on transphobia in Georgia. Short film The Gospel of Anasyrma was screened yesterday in headquarters of […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Irish budget airline Ryanair is interested in entering the Georgian market. The news comes a few days after another budget airline, Wizz Air, announced its new routes out of Kutaisi. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met Thursday […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is suing Credit Suisse for losing 100 million Swiss francs, according to reports in Swiss press. Ivanishvili has filed a lawsuit at Geneva court against the financial manager of Credit Suisse Group AG, for embezzling […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Plans to open a high-end luxury casino in downtown Tbilisi have been aborted because the Hong Kong based operator, Melco International Development, was unable to reach an agreement with UAE Dhabi Group about leasing of space. The casino […]
Azerbaijan and Armenia are technically still at war over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–An ethnic Armenian member of the Georgian parliament criticized some of his colleagues on Wednesday for voting for a controversial Council of Europe resolution regarding access to water in Nagorno-Karabakh. Samvel Petrosyan, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-3 road was closed in a mountainous area north of Tbilisi on Thursday because of strong wind and poor visibility. According to the Road Department, the road is closed for all traffic between Gudauri and Kobi. On the same road, trailers, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The prison minister in Georgia supports a proposal by the head of the National Bank to merge the Prison Ministry with the Justice Ministry to save money. “The more we reduce government offices, the more effective the system will be,” […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Intermittent power supply ended two days ago in the breakaway region Abkhazia. The reason for the recent power cuts is low water level in the Inguri reservoir. Georgia is now importing electricity from Russia in order to compensate […]
Kutaisi Airport (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – As of September, Kutaisi will be connected with cities in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, and Italy. Wizzair, a Hungarian cheap airline, announced seven new flight destinations operating from the David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport to Berlin, […]
Leonid Tybylty (Tibilov), de facto President of SO, claims that ‘knowing that there would be a full-scale war… almost all of the Georgian population of Tskhinval region left their homes destroyed and burnt their houses down, leaving nothing behind. Tbilisi, DFWatch – As allegations of ethnic cleansing emerge, Russia and South Ossetia back off from cooperating on August 2008 war crimes investigation by the International Criminal Court. Emotions in Tbilisi, Tskhinval (Tskhinvali), […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of the National Bank suggests reducing the number of ministries in Georgia in order to save public money. In an interview with Rustavi 2, Giorgi Kadagidze drew attention to Switzerland, a developed country which has eight ministries, […]
(Investigative Service, Ministry of Finance.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Finance Ministry’s investigative service Tuesday detained three people for selling counterfeit salt. The three made profit by systematically selling salt, according to a short statement put out by the service. The statement said they packed […]
Dimitri Khundadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament is considering introducing a ban on children accessing porn websites. Dimitri Khundadze, head of the parliamentary committee on healthcare and social issues, suggests creating a commission to craft a draft law. […]
MP Soso Jachvliani has withdrawn a bill to make it a crime to insult religious feelings. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian member of parliament has unexpectedly withdrawn a draft law that would make it a crime to insult religious feelings. In a short explanatory note, MP Soso Jachvliani explained that the issue is so important that more consultations are necessary to refine […]
(airliners.net) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three Iranian airlines will enter the Georgian market in February and March, according to the airport operator TAV Georgia. The company announced that regular flights between Tbilisi and Tehran will be launched in the end of February. TAV Georgia, […]
PIK employees protest against closure of the channel in front of parliament in 2012 (IPN) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgian experts focus on security aspects of countering Russian propaganda in the debate on reviving a Russian-language TV channel. An initiative to create a Russian-language TV channel in Georgia was voiced by Paata Zakareishvili, minister of reintegration and civic equality, during the cabinet meeting on 11 February, Novosti Gruziya reported. […]
Abandoned South Ossetian checkpoint at the village of Ergneti from Georgian-controlled side (DFWatch, May, 2014) South Ossetian KGB detained a 42-years-old Georgian following citizen's arrest by a local man near Tskhinvali. An uneditified Georgian man was detained in South Ossetia for crossing ‘the border’ (administrative borderline), South Ossetian news agency Res reported. The agency [...]
Andrey Makarvich wearing ribbon with colors of Ukraine's flag during Peace March in Moscow, 2014 (Bogomolov.PL) Andrey Makarevich, leader of a Russian cult rock band Mashina Vremeni, and a vocal critic of the Kremlin will play a concert in the Tbilisi Concert Hall on March 9. Mashina Vremeni was founded in 1969 and is [...]
Georgian citizens can enter Iran visa-free for up to 90 days, while most foreign nationals can obtain 30-days visas at Iran’s airports. Iran has reintroduced visa-free regime for Georgian citizens, Iran’s deputy ambassador to Georgia Mohsen Kebriaizadeh told journalists on Monday. The decision follows a phone conversation between Georgian Prime Pinister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Iranian President [...]
Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili faced National Movement activists in Tsikhisdziri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili halted work at Tsikhisdziri on Saturday, where three giant trees are being prepared to be carried by ship and replanted in a garden further north on the Black Sea coast. An environmental group joined […]
The Enguri dam. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia may have its electricity supply cut off because of low water level at the Enguri Dam, which straddles the de facto border. Since January 25, Abkhazia’s electricity supply has been […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man was arrested Friday in the west of Georgia accused of triple murder. Three men who had been missing for several days were found dead in a river in Zugdidi with gun shot wounds to their head and chest region. The killing took place […]
Valery Bganba. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Abkhazia is introducing a new exception from its own ‘visa’ rules. Citizens of countries that have recognized the Georgian breakaway region may freely visit. In practical terms, this means for Russian citizens. The current law, adopted in 2005, says […]
Rainbow Europe TBILISI, DFWatch–Rainbow Europe’s LGBTI rights ranking praises positive developments in Georgia despite major setbacks. Georgia was placed in the middle of a ranking of European countries which assessed each country’s legislation regarding […]
Sakuneti Mosque (DFWatch) ADIGENI, DFWatch–Two mosques in the south of Georgia were Monday granted cultural heritage status. We went to the Samtskhe-Javakheti region to see how religious minorities are living there. One of the mosques designated as cultural heritage lies in the middle of the village Adigeni. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were killed in a car crash in eastern Georgia Thursday evening. Several people are injured, two of them are in a serious condition. The accident took place in the village Badiauri, near Sagarejo. A minibus smashed into a small […]
(Guerilla Gardening.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people were detained Wednesday during a rally in Tsikhisdziri on the Black Sea coast near Kobuleti. They were protesting against the removal of three giant old trees which they suspect will be hauled by boat 40km up the coast […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report suggests that a number of rights are violated when people are detained. They are not read their rights and have problems getting an interpreter and a lawyer during their first questioning. These are the findings in a new […]
Eka Mishveladze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A TV host on the Georgian Public Broadcaster says she was fired without explanation and plans to sue her employer. Eka Mishveladze, one of the hosts on Channel 1, says her open-ended contract was terminated with no explanation and she […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday explained a proposal to place video cameras in unmarked police cars, which was criticized the day before. “Recently, the media have purposely replicated the opinions of the so-called […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A picture of a young man hangs in the yard of the Shia mosque in Ponichala, a suburb of Tbilisi known as Soghanlughi, or Soğanlıq in Azeri language. A note is attached to it, saying: ‘Your blood will annihilate Wahhabism and wash it off this land’. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A proposal to put cameras in unmarked police cars and use video recordings to fine drivers for traffic violations is met with suspicion in Georgia. According to the bill, police will be entitled to install secret video cameras in unmarked patrol […]
Tbilisi, DFWatch – LGBT rights organisations condemn Giorgi Tatishvili’s initiative for same-sex marriages as a provocation and accuse pro-Russian political and radical religious forces of interference. On 27 January, Giorgi Tatishvili, an activist […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia exported 13 percent more wine in January, compared to the same period last year. According to the National Wine Agency, Georgia exported wine to 19 countries around the world. 1,521,802 bottles were exported, worth USD 2.62 million. […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Iran are considering reopening mutual visa-free travel for each other’s citizens, according to the Georgian prime minister. Such an arrangement existed between January 2011 and summer of 2013, until Georgia cancelled […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new terminal building will be built at Tbilisi Airport, due to an increase in passenger numbers. The new terminal will be finished within an year. Giorgi Molodinashvili, Deputy Director of the Georgia’s Airports Union, told DF Watch that in spring, […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian defense minister says there has been too much focus on her country being approved for a formalized plan toward NATO membership, called a MAP, since the alliance can accept Georgia as a member directly, she argues. NATO […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 36 year old man died in Georgia on Saturday after having contracted the H1N1 virus. He became the tenth victim of the swine flu outbreak. The deceased was from Gali in Abkhazia, and had come to Zugdidi to receive medical treatment. […]
New passport and residence permit (Sputnik Apsny) Tbilisi, DFWatch – New legislation doesn’t solve the problems of Abkhazia’s Georgians, who still find themselves in limbo of no right to vote and own property. ‘Issuance of new passports for inhabitants of Abkhazia […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi international will be closed during daytime for four months, starting from March 1, 2016, due to maintenance work on the runway. During dayttime, scheduled flights will either be cancelled or delayed. According to preliminary […]
Staff are not letting the new Maestro director and owner into the TV building. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian TV company Maestro has been taken over by two brothers, one a rock singer and the other a former presidential candidate, but staff won’t let them into the building. Maestro’s majority owner is now Giorgi Gachechiladze, a rock singer […]
Aslan Tsutsashvili (ick.ge) Tbilisi, DFWatch – 24-years-old Aslan Tsutsashvili from Pankisi valley accuses Akhmeta police of physical assault on ethnic grounds. The incident allegedly […]
(DF Watch.) BATUMI, DFWatch–Muslims gathered at the Orta Jame mosque in Batumi on Thursday and presented over 12,000 signatures in support of constructing a new mosque. Orta Jame is the only mosque in Batumi, Georgia’s second largest city, and it has been overcrowded […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian military police is preparing to send a team to the Central African Republic to investigate alleged sexual crimes committed there by Georgian soldiers. Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said Wednesday that investigators require some […]
Bianka Shigurova can be seen in the center of this photo (wearing a hat) from November, 2015. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A transgender woman was found dead in her apartment in Tbilisi on Thursday. She had apparently suffocated due to a gas leak. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) confirmed the death of Bianka Shigurova and said an investigation has been […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The director of a construction company was detained on Thursday accused of embezzlement of more than 1.5 million laris. According to the Finance Ministry’s investigation service, the company Construction-Commercial Corporation […]
Protest at Parliament (DF Watch) TBILISI, DFWatch–Gogi Topadze’s use of handicapist language provoked reaction from Georgia’s top politicians and a demonstration in Tbilisi’s center. MP Gogi Topadze’s use of Down’s syndrome as a term of abuse provoked a variety of reactions […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Swine flu has claimed its ninth death in Georgia, according to National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). A young woman died two days ago in the Adjara region in the southwest of Georgia, and laboratory tests confirmed that she […]
Gogi Topadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian parliament member Wednesday used Down’s syndrome as a term of abuse. Gogi Topadze, previously known for his praise of Stalin a few months ago, claimed that the president in his national address compared the Georgian […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-3 road between the winter resort Gudauri and the village Kobi is closed due to high winds and poor visibility. Between Aragvispiri and Gudauri, and between Kobi and the Russian border at Larsi, trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with […]
Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of NCDC. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s eighth swine flu victim was a young man who had an accompanying disease. Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of the National Center of the Disease Control (NCDC), said the man died because he received treatment too late. […]
Eka Beselia, head of the human rights committee. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia might bring in a new law that makes it a crime to offend ‘religious feelings’. A member of parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition has submitted a bill in parliament which was supported by the human rights committee. The bill […]
Minister Tina Khidasheli meets National Assembly (Mod.gov.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Minister of Defence conducted a series of meetings with Armenia’s prominent politicians and commented on issues linked to Armenian–Georgian cooperation. Minister of Defense of Georgia Tinatin Khidasheli concluded her three-day […]
Zviad Tomaradze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A controversy is brewing in Georgia over whether it should be written into the Constitution that a marriage is union between a man and a woman. The idea has been around at least since former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili suggested it in March […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president’s annual state of the nation address will be delivered at the opening of the spring session of parliament on February 3. Giorgi Kverenchkhiadze, who is parliamentary secretary for President Giorgi Margvelashvili, […]
Gocha Jamarauli received 70% of votes in the Gardabani by-election, according to CEC. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The ruling Georgian Dream coalition won the by-local election in Gardabani on Thursday. The election was necessary to find a replacement for Garsevan Nioradze, the recently deceased gamgebeli or head of municipality of Gardabani, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man who died of swine in Georgia on Saturday did not suffer from any other disease. But there is no reason to panic, authorities say. “Unfortunately, we had one case when the virus resulted in the death of an almost healthy person, […]
(Ministry of Culture/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As Tbilisi Opera House was reopened Sunday after more than five years of rehabilitation works, protesters decried that the first performance was invitation-only. Protesters who had gathered at the entrance did not like the policy to not have tickets […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Defense Ministry has suspended six of its staff, including the deputy head of the joint military staff, pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Georgian soldiers in the Central African Republic. Three girls in the Central […]
President Giorgi Margvelashvili met locals in Duisi, a village in the Pankisi valley. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president visited the Pankisi valley on Saturday, a few days after Russia’s foreign minister claimed that Islamic State militants are being trained there. Locals in Duisi, one of the villages in Pankisi in the northeast of Georgia, welcomed […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Five people died and six were seriously injured in a car crash in northwestern Georgia on Friday. Two cars, a Ford and an Opel, crashed between the villages Lia and Jvari near Tsalenjikha in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The accident happened […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In its latest world report, Human Rights Watch draws attention to a number of alleged violations in Georgia, including political persecution, pressure on the media and ill treatment. The first chapter on Georgia in the World Report 2016 […]
All kindergartens in the capital have suspended classes until February 1. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–468 schools are closed in Georgia on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Education. 267 schools are closed because of the swine flu outbreak and 201 are closed due to bad weather, mostly problems related to snow. “In order to prevent the spreading of the virus, […]
Fatou Bensouda. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved an investigation into alleged war crimes in the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008. The decision was made by the judges Joyce Aluoch, Cuno Tarfusser and Peter Kovacs. Prosecutor […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–A new report by the Council of Europe (CoE) criticizes Georgia for not having done enough to protect minorities and prevent inter-faith tension. The report deals with the protection of minority rights in Georgia and assesses the legislative steps taken […]
(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will supply Saudi Arabia with about 100 armored medical evacuation vehicles. Tuesday, the company Delta announced that it had won a tender announced by the Defense Ministry of Saudi Arabia, and the total value of the vehicles […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are 111 laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1, which causes swine flu. Four cases of the H3N2 virus have also been confirmed, the National Center of Disease Control said on Wednesday. Last week, the estimated infection […]
(Kremlin photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Islamic State fighters are being trained in the Pankisi valley in northern Georgia which was one of the reasons why Russia introduced stricter visa rules for Georgians. On Tuesday, Tbilisi […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Schools are closed in several municipalities in Georgia from Tuesday due to heavy snowfall. The Adjara region in the southwest of Georgia is particularly affected. According to Deputy Education Minister Lia Gigauri, all schools are closed […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian national currency on Monday reached a new historic low of 2.4923 lari for one US dollar. The price of dollars in exchange booths and banks was more than 2.53 laris. On January 23, one US dollar was 2.4694. Since the lari was introduced […]
(Telavi municipality.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 900 years old plane tree next to the palace of King Erekle II (1762-98) is slowly dying, and the local municipality of Telavi is calling on the assistance of a German expert to help save it. In Telavi, seat of the 18th century king of Kartli […]
Khvicha Gobadze and Mikhad Turkoshvili. (ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian citizen from Adjara who theratened his home country in an online video in November has died in Syria. The militant Khvicha Gobadze’s death was confirmed by his family, as well as the State Security Service. The Security Service did not offer […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On the SH-38 between Verona and Shuamta, the shortest way between Tbilisi and Telavi, vehicles without four-wheel drive are required to use snow chains due to ice and snow. Heavy vehicles must be equipped with snow chains on the Tbilisi […]
The Ferro plant in Zestaponi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in 2015 was 13 percent less than in 2014, excluding the unofficial economy. The trade with other countries amounted to USD 9.928 million, according to preliminary figures from the Georgian National Statistics Office (GeoStat). […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The E-60 is closed for heavy vehicles between Chumateleti and Khevi due to ice and heavy snowfall but other vehicles may pass freely. On the S-3 betwen Gudauri and Kobi near the Russian border, traffic is prohibited for all types of vehicles. […]
Head of Georgia’s NCDC, Amiran Gamkrelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A man died of swine flu in Georgia on Thursday. He became the fourth victim of the disease in the last ten days. The middle aged man was suffering from a chronic lung disease. He was infected with the H3N2 virus, while the previous […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–3,800 people in Tbilisi called the emergency number 112 only on Thursday as fear spread about the swine flu outbreak which has infected 9,000 people so far. Three people have died after being infected with the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Trailers, semi-trailers and vehicles with more than 30 seats are now allowed to drive between Gudauri and Kobi on the S-7 road near Russian border. But due to snow and ice, large vehicles must be equipped with snow chains. According […]
(Ministry of Internal Affairs/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The police in Georgia has a new pilot project: ski patrol. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the ski patrol will observe people who are skiing at winter resorts and make sure they are following the rules. The policemen on skis will pay attention […]
(Tamaz Dolaberidze/Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mine workers in Chiatura, a town in western Georgia, are protesting against a decision by their employer, Georgian Manganese, to halt mining work for four months due to failing demand. The workers have been temporarily laid off for […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--A third person has died of swine flu in Georgia. The 68 year old patient suffered from a chronic disease, like the previous two victims of the H1N1 virus, and died in a hospital in Zugdidi on Thursday. The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said Thursday that are currently about 9,000 people [...]
(EUMM.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Representatives of Georgia and the breakaway republic South Ossetia will hold talks about missing persons under the auspices of the International Red Cross. David Sanakoyev, who represents the de facto republic, announced […]
The middle aged man spent one day at Kutaisi hospital before succumbing to the H1N1 virus. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One more person died of swine flu in Georgia on Wednesday. The middle aged man spent one day at the hospital before passing away. He was suffering from a separate illness which exacerbated his condition. There are nearly 3,000 people infected […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The S-7 road is closed in the north of Georgia near the Russian border. The section between Gudauri and Kobi is closed due to snow, ice, wind and poor visibility. Between Aragvispiri and Gudauri, and between Kobi and the border crossing at Larsi, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi Opera House is reopening on January 30 after a five year closure, but some are not pleased that tickets for the opening night are not available to the general public. The first work to be performed since the building was closed […]
The South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion is one of the projects that will receive support. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU countries Tuesday approved 217 million euros in support for energy infrastructure in the south and southeast of the European continent, including a study of a gas pipeline to Europe from Turkmenistan, via Georgia. The 15 projects were selected […]
(National Bank of Georgia.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The amount of money sent home by Georgian emigres in December, 2015, was 12.2 percent lower than in the same period the year before. The total amount of so-called remittances was USD 101.9 million, according to the National Bank. […]
(ICK.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two militants from Pankisi in Georgia have reportedly died in the Syrian war. Information Center of Kakheti (ick.ge) names the two as Ramzan Pareulidze (24) and Mukhmad Turkoshvili (22). They were both from Pankisi Gorge, a valley […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A patient in Tbilisi who was infected with the H1N1 or swine flu virus died a few days ago, the National Center of Disease Control said. There were 2,928 persons infected with swine flu in Georgia as of January 18. This is the only fatal case so far. The virus has spread […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The top prosecutor in Georgia’s western region Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti was found dead in Tbilisi Saturday evening. The murder suspect has allegedly committed suicide. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) named the suspect in the murder […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze said on Friday that a handful of Iraqi students had their residency permits revoked because they didn’t comply with the legal requirements. The students, who are attending Akaki Tsereteli […]
PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A day after assuming office, Georgia’s new prime minister gave the Orthodox Church half a million laris from the government’s emergency reserve fund, it emerged on Friday. The Patriarchate of Georgia received 450,000 laris (more than USD 185,000) […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A meeting between Georgian Energy Minister Kakhi Kaladze and director of Gazprom Export Elena Burmistrova in Switzerland on December 27 has reignited a debate about Russian influence. It became known in late September […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Road restrictions on four roads in Georgia remained unchanged Thursday and Friday. In the south of Georgia, the S-11 is closed between Ninotsminda and the border with Armenia due to strong wind and poor visibility. Nearby, […]
Mayor Davit Narmania (left) and Giorgi Liluashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of Cartu Bank was appointed deputy mayor of Tbilisi on Thursday. Presenting his new deputy, Mayor Davit Narmania said that Giorgi Liluashvili has the experience and skills necessary to be a good manager. He listed Liluashvili’s past positions, […]
Batumi. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students raised flags at the local administration buildings in many parts of Georgia today to mark Flag Day. Flags were be raised in Batumi, Akhaltsikhe, Kazbegi, Akhmeta, Lagodekhi, Shindisi, Bolnisi and Marneuli, as well as on Enguri bridge, […]
Kutaisi airport. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian airports served 12 percent more passengers in 2015 than the previous year, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Aviation Agency of the Ministry of Economy. Airports in Georgia served a record 2,261,006 passengers in 2015, […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The investigation service of the Finance Ministry has launched an investigation into a Van Dyck painting which according to Turkish media was on sale after being illegally imported from Georgia. The investigation is being carried […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The de facto government of the breakaway republic South Ossetia Tuesday evening released Lasha Glurjidze, 21, after nine days in detention. Glurjidze was released after paying a 2,000 Ruble (USD 26) fine for ‘crossing the border’ […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Traffic was restored Tuesday for heavy vehicles on the SH-17 between Tkibuli and Ambrolauri, according to the Roads Department. Road restrictions remain in place on three road sections in Georgia. Vehicles must use snow chains on the S-3 […]
(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three journalists with an opposition-leaning television statin were attacked Tuesday evening in Tbilisi. Levan Sutidze, journalist of Tabula, wrote on his Facebook page that three people attacked three journalists of Tabula. In addition to himself, […]
(DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Manganese is temporarily shutting down its mines western Georgia for four months due to a low demand for manganese. GM owns the mines in Chiatura, a mountain town in the western Imereti province. According to a statement issued […]
(Mega TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Iraqi students protested in Kutaisi on Monday after having their residency permits revoked. The protest at Akaki Tsereteli State University involved up to ten Iraqi students, who asked the university to help them after the Ministry of Justice revoked […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–From Monday morning, heavy vehicles were again allowed to drive the S-3 road which runs from Mtskheta north of Tbilisi, into the Caucasus mountains and to the Russian border. But between Gudauri and Kobi, only vehicles fitted with […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The E-60 was reopened for all traffic on Sunday, after having been closed for several days near Zestaponi due to flooding of a river. During the closure, smaller vehicles were rerouted via Baghdati on the section of the E-60 between Zestaponi and Kutaisi. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 12-year-old girl died Sunday in Gudauri, a winter resort in northern Georgia, when a 18-year-old man lost control of his skis and crashed into her. The girl died on the spot, while the young man was injured and taken to the hospital in Gudauri. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two men were detained Friday in Turkey as they were attempting to sell a Van Dyck painting that had been allegedly illegally imported from Georgia. Turkish media reported that the painting was on sale for USD 14 million but had allegedly […]
The problem roads. Some roads remain completely closed (red), while others have restrictions (blue) on certain types of vehicles. (Source: Roads Department January 9, 2016 update.) (Source: Roads Department January 9, 2016 update.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There are still several roads in Georgia that remain closed to all traffic due to the weather. We bring you the latest information from the Roads Department. The road from Tbilisi to the winter resort Gudauri was reopened on Saturday […]
Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Friday as expected appointed Davit Zalkaliani as deputy foreign minister, the same position he held before resigning in November 2014. Zalkaliani was deputy foreign minister from 2012 to 2014, but resigned when his party […]
Four road sections are completely closed (red), while there are restrictions in other sections (blue). (Source: Roads Department.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several roads in Georgia are now closed or have traffic restrictions due to the weather conditions, according to the Roads Department’s January 8 update. S-3 The S-3 (Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi) is closed for all vehicles between […]
Tamaz Mechiauri, head of the finance budget committee, believes that the agency’s demand is reasonable but that legal experts should decide. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The newly created Finance Supervisory Agency is still not operational because the National Bank refuses to fund it. The agency has now asked parliament to provide direct financing. The agency was split from the National Bank […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Three hunters who were missing for almost ten days near Lagodekhi in the northeastern corner of Georgia have been detained by border guards in Dagestan for illegal border crossing. The four men went hunting on December 28, but only […]
Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former deputy foreign minister from the opposition Free Democrats Party is to return to his post following a proposal by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The Free Democrats party, which came to power in 2012 as part of the […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Road Department of the Infrastructure Ministry informs that trailers and semi-trailers from today are allowed to drive between Igoeti and Khevi on the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road. Restrictions have been lifted for all types of vehicles […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–The export of Georgian wine went down by 39 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year. Georgia exported more than 36 million bottles (0.75l) of wine to 46 countries, worth more than USD 98.1 million, according to a report published […]
(Kutaisi international airport.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Bad weather in western Georgia has led to Wizz Air’s flights to and from Kutaisi airport being redirected to Tbilisi on Tuesday. According to United Airports of Georgia, the following flights have been scheduled on January 5: A flight from Tbilisi to Warsaw […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Georgians were detained by Russian border guards on Monday at the delineation line around the breakaway territory South Ossetia. Saba Sekhniashvili and Lasha Glurjidze were trying to go to the Trinity Church, which lies in the village Bershueti. […]
Batumi’s palm trees are covered in snow. (Faecbook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Intense snowfall and strong wind is causing trouble for drivers on the E60 highway through Georgia and Batumi’s palm trees are covered in white. The Road Department now calls on everyone to avoid the Zestaponi-Senaki section of the E60 […]
A helicopter is searching along the River Kabali (red). TBILISI, DFWatch–A search is continuing by ground crews and helicopter for three people who have been missing for eight days in the Lagodekhi area in eastern Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan (see map). Information about the missing people […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Part of the waste collectors in the capital resumed their strike on Monday, demanding a full payment of their holiday bonus. The workers went on a strike last week, demanding increase of the pay and receiving the so-called 13th salary. Their demands remain the same. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Several flights were cancelled due to bad weather on Monday at Kutaisi airport in the west of Georgia. Interpressnews reports that heavy snowfall resulted in the cancelling of the flight from Warsaw to Kutaisi and the return flight from Kutaisi to Warsaw due […]
Bakuriani skiing resort. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The steady increase in visitors continued in December, with seven percent more people arriving last month, compared to the same period in 2014. In the year as a whole, there was also a seven percent increase, according to a new monthly report […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A search is on for three men who went missing in Lagodekhi, in the eastern part of Georgia, three days ago. Rustavi 2 reports that four men went hiking in the village Mskhalgori four days ago, but they were separated in the strong wind and snowfall. […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Snow and ice has made several roads unsafe for large vehicles. Here is the list of traffic restrictions published by the Road Department. On a section of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze road stretching from the 138 km mark to the 157 km mark, […]
Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In his New Year’s speech, Georgia’s new prime minister promised a better future for families in 2016. PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili wished everyone peace, good health and well-being. “Happy New Year to all of you who work […]
