TBILISI, DFWatch–A opposition politician in Georgia has promised large cash rewards to law enforcement officers who refuse to use force against protesters in case there is unrest in connection with the October 4 local elections. Levan Khabeishvili, former chairman of the United National Movement (UNM), called on security forces to “put down their weapons” and … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party is gearing up for the October local elections, with Tbilisi Mayor Kakhi Kaladze expected to run for a third term. Kaladze, a former professional footballer, confirmed this week that he will be the party’s candidate for mayor of the capital, although he has not formally declared his candidacy … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A fatal building collapse in central Tbilisi earlier this month has intensified debate over housing safety and city governance, just months before Georgia’s local elections in October. The opposition party Lelo for Georgia staged a protest on Thursday, spotlighting what it calls the city’s widespread neglect of deteriorating residential buildings. Standing in front of … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Kavelashvili from Georgian Dream (GD) offers to pardons jailed opposition leaders, under the condition that they agree to participate in the upcoming local elections. He framed the offer as a constitutional initiative aimed at supporting democratic participation. But the offer sparked mixed reactions, especially among opposition groups who see the move more … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–In recent years, during regional tension and global turmoil, Georgia’s economy has shown exceptional growth, according to a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Among the country’s robust performance indicators are high GDP growth, falling inflation, and declining public debt. Since 2021, Georgia has sustained average annual real GDP growth exceeding 9%, … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A diplomatic and humanitarian standoff is developing at the Dariali border crossing between Georgia and Russia, where approximately 80 individuals are stranded in a neutral zone between the two countries. According to Ukrinform, a Ukrainian state news outlet, the group was “deported” by Russian authorities in what has been described as a form of … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday questioned two former officials as part of an investigation into a 2019 border incident near Russian-controlled South Ossetia. The case centers on the deployment of a border detachment under Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG), which reportedly entered the Chorchana area without proper coordination. A police checkpoint was established … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday questioned two former officials as part of an investigation into a 2019 border incident near Russian-controlled South Ossetia. The case centers on the deployment of a border detachment under Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG), which reportedly entered the Chorchana area without proper coordination. A police checkpoint was established … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Jailed opposition figure Giorgi Vashadze has proposed a new political initiative aimed at unifying key opposition parties ahead of parliamentary elections. The plan involves the creation of a joint political platform headed by ex-President Salome Zourabichvili, joining together the “Resistance Platform” and eight parties currently boycotting the municipal elections. “This is not just a … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A jailed newspaper editor in Georgia has been offered a plea deal by prosecutors as her trial draws to an end. Founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is on trial for slapping a police officer during a January protest. Her trial has drawn widespread condemnation. As the court goes through the evidence, the … Read more