Monthly Archives: May 2018

Suspicion that the murderers of two teenagers are protected sparks outrage in Georgia

By | May 31st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

First Lady Maka Chichua hugging Zaza Saralidze, father of one of the murder victims, outside the office of the Chief Prosecutor on Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A furious crowd of demonstrators converged on parliament Thursday evening in response to the controversial verdict in the trial of two slayed teenagers. Many in Georgia believe law enforcers granted impunity to one or more persons implicated in the crime and that the real murderers still haven’t been charged. The murder of high schoolers Levan Dadunashvili and Davit Saralidze shocked Georgia and the trial has attracted intense public interest. […]

Read More
 0

Feeling of insecurity grows among Azerbaijani activists in Georgia – the story of Khayal Azizov

By | May 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Khayal Azizov (Facebook). Azerbaijani journalist Khayal Azizov, who has fled from his country, blames the Azerbaijani authorities in illegal persecution and psychological oppression in Georgia. […]

Read More
 0

Syria recognizes two Russia-backed Georgian breakaway regions as independent states

By | May 29th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Syrian government on Tuesday recognized the two Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. In response, Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Damascus. […]

Read More
 0

Georgia’s Orthodox Church asks priests to stay away from ‘blasphemous’ Rustavi 2

By | May 25th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Orthodox Church on Thursday denounced the largest private TV channel in the country, and asked its clergy to stop giving interviews to or participate in any of its programs. The reason for the unprecedented step was that Rustavi 2 has engaged in ‘blasphemy’ […]

Read More
 0

In Gali, Abkhazia, people wait in vain for a new border crossing to open

By | May 24th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

GALI, DFWatch–For almost a year and a half, people in Gali, in the south of breakaway Abkhazia, have been waiting for a new checkpoint to open on the administrative border line to Georgia proper, so far in vain. […]

Read More
 0

Moscow approves Abkhazia, South Ossetia cargo monitoring scheme by Swiss company SGS

By | May 21st, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–After seven years of delay, Russia has finally inked an agreement with the Swiss company SGS to carry out monitoring of goods passing through the border with Georgia. SGS will carry out customs monitoring […]

Read More
 0

John Bolton: President Trump has demonstrated he’s obviously not Barack Obama

By | May 21st, 2018|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |

(Twitter.) Voice of America Contributor Greta Van Susteren interviewed US National Security Advisor, Amb. John Bolton at the White House.  Bolton discussed foreign policy, the Iran deal, North Korea and some other issues. […]

Read More
 0

New flights connect Kutaisi to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Athens and Prague

By | May 17th, 2018|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatcch–Kutaisi in central Georgia will be connected by direct flights to some of Europe’s biggest cities this week for as little as 25 euros. Hungarian budget airline Wizzair is launching new flights out of Kutaisi International Airport. Already from Thursday, there are new connections […]

Read More
 0

Gay rights rally canceled in Tbilisi following pressure from far-right groups

By | May 17th, 2018|Categories: Minorities|Tags: , , |

In 2017, activist in Tbilisi met under strict security to observe the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). (Rustavi 2.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Organizers have called off a gay rights rally in Tbilisi out of security concerns. The rally should have been held in front of the government building in Tbilisi to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). “Considering all existing […]

Read More
 0

Nate Sibley: Russian corrupt money starts to corrupt institutions in the west as well

By | May 16th, 2018|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Nate Sibley (VOA). Russian Kleptocracy has become such a big issue because they pushed it so hard, Vladimir Putin and group of his friends symbolize nothing more than an organized crime, we are seeing tentacles of the Kremlin growing outward from Russia, says Nate Sibley […]

Read More
 0

Georgian clubbers call off protest after interior minister promises investigation of police brutality

By | May 14th, 2018|Categories: Youth|Tags: , , , |

Beka Tsikarishvili, one of the spokespersons for the clubbers who protested. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi youth outraged by police raids of two night clubs called off their two day long protest Sunday night after the interior minister publicly apologized for police brutality and promised an investigation. […]

Read More
 0

Georgia raises bar for obtaining residency permit

By | May 12th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is bringing in stricter rules for acquiring permanent residency, in order to stem the tide of irregular immigration, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has said. According to the amendments submitted by the government, foreign nationals […]

Read More
 0

Ivanishvili elected leader of Georgia’s ruling party at grandiose meeting

By | May 12th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

(Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili was formally elected head of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Friday, at a grandiose party convention resembling those held by the Communist party during the Soviet Union. Ivanishvili retired from politics in 2013, […]

Read More
 0

South Ossetia blocks Georgian bishop from entering border chapel on St George’s Day

By | May 7th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: |

Andria Gvazava, Archbishop of Gori and Ateni. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Separatists prevented a Georgian bishop from conducting St George’s Day mass on Sunday in a chapel on the administrative border line between the disputed territory South Ossetia and Georgia proper. Guards have allowed archbishop Andria to conduct the important mass […]

Read More
 0

Massive delays on Enguri bridge

By | May 6th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Long queues on the Enguri bridge has caused major interruptions for people wanting to cross the de facto border between Abkhazia and Georgia proper. Locals told DFWatch the immediate reason for the traffic jam is that only one out of four passport counters is operational on the Abkhaz side, […]

Read More
 0

Georgian court bans condoms depicting Queen Tamar

By | May 5th, 2018|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia has banned three types of condoms because the packaging was found to be unethical. Human rights groups see the ruling as an attack on freedom of expression. Tbilisi City Court’s decision bans the sale and promotion of three types of condoms sold by the company Aiisa. […]

Read More
 0

Smoking ban comes into effect in Georgia

By | May 1st, 2018|Categories: Society|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A blanket ban on smoking indoors came into power in Georgia on Tuesday. People caught smoking on public transport now risk a fine of 50 lari (20 USD) or twice as much for repeated violations. Smoking is now banned inside all kinds of buildings, […]

Read More
 0