TBILISI, September 18 – The joint Lelo and For Georgia candidate for mayor in landslide hit Kharagauli surveyed affected villages today, as the elections are only weeks away. Inga Maghradze was joined by Aleko Elisashvili, who is running for deputy mayor of the capital for the same two party ticket, although he is leader of … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – Georgian opposition leaders are turning to Europe for support ahead of the country’s heated municipal elections. On Thursday, Mamuka Khazaradze, chairman of the Lelo coalition, and joint opposition mayoral candidate Irakli Kupradze met with Brussels Mayor Philippe Close in the Belgian capital. They were joined by their campaign chief, Tazo Datunashvili. … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – The opposition in Georgia are divided ahead of the October 4 local elections, a day some groups have called for using to stage a “peaceful revolution,” while other disagree. Former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia, now leader of the For Georgia party, dismissed the plan as an illusion and “the biggest mistake.” … Read more
TBILISI, September 18 – One of Georgia’s most high-profile opposition figures, Elene Khoshtaria, has been ordered to pay 5,000 lari (about USD 1,800) in bail following her arrest for defacing a ruling party election banner. A judge in Tbilisi set the bail on Monday, but Khoshtaria, one of the leading figures of the opposition Coalition … Read more
TBILISI, September 17 – A group of activists in Georgia say they are preparing for what they call a “peaceful revolution” on October 4, vowing to announce a caretaker government and declare power transferred by 8 pm the same night. The organizers, who have branded the rally a “national congress,” claim they expect between 200,000 … Read more
TBILISI, September 16 – Despite international criticism, Georgia’s government is signaling a tougher stance on street protests, with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warning that the era of going “soft” on demonstrators is over. The PM’s remarks came after the arrest of Elene Khoshtaria, a leader of the opposition group Coalition for Change, who was detained … Read more
TBILISI, September 14 – Georgia’s opposition parties gathered in Tbilisi on September 13 for a rally that passed peacefully, drawing between several hundred and up to 3,000 people, according to different estimates. The demonstration, which started at Tbilisi State University and ended in front of parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, was joined by ex-President Salome Zurabishvili, … Read more
TBILISI, September 10 – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has informed Georgia that it will not be able to send observers to the upcoming local elections scheduled for October 4, due to the short notice. The director of the organization’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Maria Telalian, explained … Read more
TBILISI, September 9 – Clashes last night outside the campaign office of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, was political violence, a rights group said. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association reported that GD supporters armed with iron rods attacked peaceful protesters and journalists near Hotel Georgia. Videos showed demonstrators beaten, … Read more
TBILISI, September 9 – Georgia has extended its discount ID card campaign, giving eligible citizens more time to apply ahead of October’s local elections. The State Services Development Agency had originally announced the half-price offer would run until September 5, but officials now say the program will remain open until September 19. The discount applies … Read more