Month: March 2018 - Page 2

At least eight injured as ski lift fails in Gudauri, Georgia

March 16, 2018 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–At least eight people were injured in an accident in Georgia’s ski resort Gudauri Friday as after a ski lift failed. Two people – a Swedish and Ukrainian national – are in a serious but not life threatening condition, while the others suffered minor injuries, Minister of Health Davit Sergeenko said, speaking to Imedi … Read more

Sokhumi's lack of a heart clinic leads many to seek treatment in Georgia proper

March 13, 2018 by DFWatch staff

GALI, DFWatch–Abkhazia’s de facto authorities have not managed to open a much needed heart clinic in Sokhumi due to the lack of qualified medical staff, a Georgian cardiologist who was involved in the process told DFWatch.

South Ossetia lets two Georgians go but still refuses to hand over body of deceased prisoner

March 11, 2018 by DFWatch staff

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili and Sozar Subari meet with newly released Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili. (Photo courtesy of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatist authorities in control of the South Ossetia region Sunday released two Georgian men who were detained about three weeks ago, but still refused to hand over the body of a third detainee who died in detention.

Rally for transgender rights thwarted by egg-throwing 'family values' activists

March 9, 2018 by DFWatch staff

Guram Palavandishvili was detained for throwing a raw egg. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Anti-gay activists thwarted a demonstration for transgender rights in Tbilisi Thursday.

Police detained one person for throwing a raw egg at the group of LGBTQ protesters who had gathered outside the House of Justice to demand smoother procedures

Far right group has patrolled Tbilisi streets for the last week

March 6, 2018 by DFWatch staff

Georgian March organizers holding icon of King Davit IV — The insignia worn by the street patrols are seen here in this photo from a protest in July, 2017, with organizer Sandro Bregadze (right) holding an icon of King Davit IV. (Facebook/Nini Ketelauri.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A far right group in Georgia has been patrolling the streets of Tbilisi for ‘over a week’, wearing armbands and T-shirts with its insignia, the group’s leader confirmed on Monday.

Georgian March’s patrols covered an area in the city center including Leselidze Street,

Georgia's ruling party allegedly preparing to pick justice minister as candidate for president

March 4, 2018 by DFWatch staff

Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party is going to pick Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani as a candidate for president, an opposition TV station claims.

Rustavi 2 TV claimed Tsulukiani’s candidacy has been approved by former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili.

South Ossetia deploys security force to Akhalgori, conducting stop and search

March 4, 2018 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia has imposed strict security measures in Akhalgori, the only part of the breakaway republic inhabited predominantly by ethnic Georgians.

Units of the region’s riot police have been deployed to the town of Akhalgori and its surroundings.

South Ossetia launches 'genocide' accusations as pressure builds to transfer deceased prisoner's body

March 3, 2018 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–South Ossetia’s de facto authorities still refuse to hand over the body of a former Georgian soldier who died after what appears to have been physical abuse by prison guards, and has instead repeated allegations that the 2008 war was a ‘genocide’ against Ossetians.

Gülen school manager offered state protection

March 1, 2018 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The manager of a private school linked to the exiled Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen was included in the state protection program, his lawyer confirmed Thursday.

Mustafa Emre Cabuk, quality manager at Demirel College, was released on bail on February 19