Sunday, December 14, 2025

Georgia's president denies retweeting Donald Trump's 'Sleepy Joe' comment

TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia has become a target of criticism after re-tweeting Donald Trump’s viral tweet in which he derides his possible opponent in the 2020 presidential elections, former Vice President Joe Biden, calling him “sleepy Joe”. President Salome Zurabishvili’s administration had to hold an urgent press conference in which her spokeswoman flatly denied … Read more

Russian bikers denied entry to Georgia

TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of Russian bikers were denied entry to Georgia on Sunday, in an incident resembling the 2017 denial of entry of the infamous Night Wolves. The official reason for denying the bikers entry to the country is that they failed to provide information, or provided false information, about their identity and purpose of … Read more

Russian official repeats allegation that Lugar lab is used for biowarfare

TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has once again accused a medical research facility in the republic of Georgia of launching weaponized bugs into territory under its control. “This is a matter of national security,” said deputy chief of Russia’s Security Council, Rashid Nurgaliev, during a public appearance in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, a disputed territory currently under Russia’s control … Read more

Growing suspicion that Abkhazia's main opposition candidate was poisoned after security guards also fall ill

TBILISI, DFWatch–Suspicions grew Monday that a key opposition figure in Abkhazia has been poisoned, after two of his bodyguards were hospitalized in a serious condition, at least one of them with similar symptoms. Although officially, Aslan Bzhania, the main opponent of the incumbent de facto president, and his two guards are being treated for “pneumonia”, … Read more

President of Georgia asks CBS to correct script of 'NCIS: New Orleans' in which South Ossetia is called part of Russia

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Salome Zurabishvili calls on CBS to “make the necessary changes” to clear an “irresponsible mistake” in the synopsis of an upcoming episode of the TV series NCIS: New Orleans in which Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia is referred as a Russian province. In the episode “The River Styx, Part II” which will … Read more

Populist rulers across the globe increasingly navigate towards Kremlin: Hans Binnendjik

The NATO was founded in April of 1949 by Washington treaty, and at a time aimed to prevent Soviet aggression in Europe. In 21st century, the NATO’s role and agenda has changed. But the Alliance remains a deterrent against growing Russian threat in Europe. Ani Chkhikvadze, reporter for VOA’s Georgian Service, set down with Dr. … Read more

40 injured as Pankisi residents clash with police over hydropower

TBILISI, DFWatch–Up to 40 people were injured in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge Sunday as locals clashed with riot police over a hydropower plant. The confrontation started in the village Birkiani after police units entered the gorge to protect company employees who are working on the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the river Alazani. Locals have … Read more

Evolution of clan based governance in Georgian judiciary since 2007

Since the declaration of independence Georgia could never manage to create a truly independent judiciary. Low level of judicial independence was conditioned by several reasons, including the absence of political will. Since 2004, Georgian judiciary could overcome systemic corruption, however, found itself under strict control of executive power. A small group of persons, the clan, … Read more

Georgian parliament names session hall after Zviad Gamsakhurdia

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has named the plenary session hall of the parliament building after the country’s first president since independence. Parliament’s decision on Tuesday to name the hall after Zviad Gamsakhurdia seems to be the outcome of a rivalry between Georgia’s top political forces that are trying to woo the thousands of Georgians who revere the … Read more

Three workers seriously injured at construction site of Panorama Tbilisi

TBILISI, DFWatch–Three workers were seriously injured on Tuesday in central Tbilisi after falling from a building during construction work on a new luxury complex owned by the billionaire and former Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. The three injured construction workers, who are aged 19 to 21, have all been hospitalized with fractures and other injuries. … Read more