2014 Crimea crisis

Georgia’s Sukhishvili dance company boycotts Crimea

By | September 2nd, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s most famous folk dance ensemble Sukhishvili has turned down an invitation to perform in Sevastopol and Simferopol, two cities in Crimea. The Georgian National Ballet, as it is formally called, posted a short note on Facebook about their decision. […]

David Lidington explains the UK’s view on the Ukraine crisis

By | April 12th, 2014|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , |

David Lidington, Britain’s Minister for Europe. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–We sat down with David Lidington, UK Minister for Europe, who visited on April 1-2, and asked him about Georgia’s association agreement with the EU and whether NATO should set it on course for membership. Is it possible that Russia will bring pressure […]

Georgian MP calls for “return” of breakaway territories

By | April 10th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tina Khidasheli called for a “return” of four territories under Russian control: Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestr. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A spokeswoman for Georgia’s coalition government Wednesday told European countries to be tougher against Russia and said four disputed territories currently under Russian control will be “returned”. Member of Parliament Tina Khidasheli drew on the fact […]

Georgian speaker: What will NATO do if Georgia is attacked?

By | April 9th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s speaker of parliament says his country could disappear from the world map if abandoned by NATO. “If Georgia takes step towards NATO, this will cause another aggression from Russia,” Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Tuesday […]

Ukraine-Crimea-Georgia – the West and Russia

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

Johan Galtung is professor of peace studies. (Photo by Paul Bernhard.) There is much in a name.  Ukraine means borderland. The position of the extreme West–like US neocons–is clear: get all into NATO, encircling, containing, defeating Russia.  Some in Ukraine and Georgia share that goal.  The less extreme West would focus on EU […]

EU speeds up signing of treaties with Georgia and Moldova

By | March 21st, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , , , |

EU leaders will sign treaties with Georgia and Moldova no later than June 2014, Barroso wrote on Twitter. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The European Council accelerates the process of signing association agreements with two former Soviet republics, Georgia and Moldova. The move comes amid an escalating crisis in Ukraine, where there is a threat of unrest spreading in the eastern […]

Tbilisi does not recognize Crimea referendum

By | March 17th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi does not recognize the referendum in Crimea, according to a statement released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry Sunday evening. The statement says the referendum was conducted as a result of Russian pressure of armed forces and in violation […]

Clashes in Tbilisi for and against Crimea referendum

By | March 17th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters and opponents of the referendum in Crimea clashed in Tbilisi Sunday. A group called “Eurasian Choice” tried to hold a demonstration on Cholokashvili Street in front of the old Russian embassy building at 15:00, but were pushed away […]

Regarding the situation in Ukraine

By | March 14th, 2014|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , , |

Alexandra Hall Hall is Britain’s Ambassador to Georgia. A choice isn’t a choice when it is made with a gun to your head. Yet on Sunday, the people of Crimea will be asked to make an impossible choice: to vote to become subjugated by Russia; or to vote for independence – with no guarantee that Russia will show any more […]