Giorgi Margvelashvili

“Do not break up the trio” – Former leaders of Georgia ask the EU to grant candidate status

By | June 22nd, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili. Georgia's two former presidents and four ex-speakers of parliament appeal the EU not to oust Georgia from the "trio" and to grant it candidate status, as it did with Ukraine and Moldova. “The content of the letter is as follows - we agree with the demands of European Commission, the expediency of their fulfillment, [...]

Georgian President: West Awakening to Russian Security Threat in Historic ‘Now Moment’

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

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili speaks to media after a ceremony at the memorial cemetery of the Georgian soldiers killed during the war with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Aug. 8, 2017. (VOA) Washington, VOA – Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is calling for American and European leaders to capitalize on what he calls a palpable, growing international consensus about the scope, magnitude and immediacy of national security threats posed by Russian election interference and suspected assassination attempts on foreign soil. […]

Georgian president accuses Russia of running smear campaign in Europe

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

TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia has hinted that Russia may have manipulated media in Europe and made them focus on crime committed by Georgian nationals. “It may be the result of Russian propaganda when in the capitals of some European countries […]

President Margvelashvili questions the benefits of total GD victory

By | October 26th, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The will of the Georgian people was expressed in the local elections, but it is questionable whether a total win by one political party will be beneficial for the country, President Giorgi Margvelashvili said in his first comments on the local elections, which were held on Saturday. […]

Georgia’s president refuses to convene parliament to pass revamped Constitution

By | September 25th, 2017|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili has turned down a request by the ruling party to call an unscheduled session of parliament in order to adopt the new Constitution, citing the threat of one-party rule. “The president will not convene an extraordinary session,” […]

Georgia’s local elections slated for end of October

By | June 27th, 2017|Categories: Elections|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians will go to the polls to elect new mayors and local governments in the end of October, President Giorgi Margvelashvili announced on Tuesday. The local elections will be held in the ‘end the third week of October’, the president said, […]

Georgian president slams blueprint for new Constitution

By | June 24th, 2017|Categories: Legal reform|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili rejects a draft new Constitution presented by the ruling GD government because it is not based on a consensus. “The entire Georgian society believes we need a consensus document, but Georgian Dream […]

Georgian president accuses ruling GD of stalling democratic reforms

By | April 7th, 2017|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Friday slammed the governing GD party for dragging its feet on the way to further democratic reforms and claimed there is a ‘crisis’ in the justice system. The president launched the broadside during […]

Georgia’s president advises all sides invlolved in Rustavi 2 case to refrain from hasty steps

By | March 3rd, 2017|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Friday stepped into the tense situation surrounding the largest TV station in the country, urging all sides to refrain from undertaking ‘immediate’ action. The decision led to a protest […]

Georgian parliament overturns president’s veto of judicial bill

By | February 13th, 2017|Categories: Legal reform|Tags: , , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Opposition parties in the former Soviet republic of Georgia warn that the independence of the courts will be weakened after the ruling party overturned the president’s veto against a judicial reform bill. The so-called third wave of judicial reform was vetoed […]

Gazprom deal threatens Georgia’s fundamental interests, president warns

By | January 17th, 2017|Categories: Economy|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili views a controversial deal recently struck between the Georgian government and the Russian-owned energy giant Gazprom as less favorable than the previous agreement, and ‘harmful’ to the political and economic […]

Georgian president blocks referendum to ban same-sex marriage

By | August 9th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Margvelashvili blocked a referendum bid to ban same-sex marriage, while PM Kvirikashvili (inset) vows to bring in a ban if he wins a large enough majority on October 8. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will not hold a referendum over whether to have a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. President Giorgi Margvelashvili made it clear Tuesday evening that he does not support the proposed referendum about amending […]

President meets group who proposed referendum to define marriage

By | August 9th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will Tuesday meet the Georgians who proposed holding a referendum about defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Giorgi Abashishvili, head of the president’s administration, […]

‘Undue connections between political groups and law enforcement’

By | July 26th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

President Georgi Margvelashvili. TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili political groups have informal connections with law enforcement and other state bodies and are using them for political purposes. “This trend is used for political goals,” the president said on Monday, […]

Georgian president pardons 95 prisoners in connection with Easter

By | April 28th, 2016|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Wednesday pardoned 95 prisoners in connection with Orthodox Easter. The pardon decree was issued on April 27, and 69 of the pardoned prisoners have already left jail, according to Zviad Koridze, […]

Georgia’s Russia envoy Abashidze answers president’s criticism

By | March 21st, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Zurab Abashidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Diplomat Zurab Abashidze has expressed astonishment at a statement by President Giorgi Margvelashvili that he had not properly handled a critical remark by a Russian diplomat. Abashidze, whose full title is Prime Minister’s […]

Topadze’s use of Down’s syndrome as term of abuse stuns parliament

By | February 4th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Gogi Topadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian parliament member Wednesday used Down’s syndrome as a term of abuse. Gogi Topadze, previously known for his praise of Stalin a few months ago, claimed that the president in his national address compared the Georgian […]

Georgian president will hold annual address to parliament on February 3

By | February 2nd, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president’s annual state of the nation address will be delivered at the opening of the spring session of parliament on February 3. Giorgi Kverenchkhiadze, who is parliamentary secretary for President Giorgi Margvelashvili, […]

President supports Kvirikashvili as new PM and asks parliament for approval

By | December 26th, 2015|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili supports Giorgi Kvirikashvili (inset) as new prime minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili Friday supported the ruling coalition’s nominee, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as candidate for new prime minister and asked parliament to approve him. The president’s administration supported Kvirikashvili’s candidacy […]

Georgian president calls Saakashvili’s coup plan unacceptable

By | October 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president views as it unacceptable to have a senior official in a foreign country interfering in domestic affairs and planning mayhem in Georgia. President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s briefing on Friday was held in response to the controversy […]

Georgia is neglected as victim of Russian aggression: President

By | October 6th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says there is too little attention being paid to Georgia as a victim of Russian aggression. He told the television channel Rustavi 2 upon returning from the recent United Nations general assembly that […]

Georgian president rejects politically motivated pardons

By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has rejected a call by his predecessor Mikheil Saakashvili that it is a test of ‘decency’ to pardon three former top government officials who are convicted of crimes committed while in office. Saakashvili, who is now […]

Georgian president visits EU, NATO tops in Brussels

By | May 12th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–EU is allocating 150,000 euros for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili learned about this decision during his visit to Brussels during a meeting with EU’s neighborhood commissioner Johannes Hahn. […]

Georgian government absent as president delivers annual speech

By | March 31st, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–When the Georgian president held his state of the nation speech in parliament on Tuesday, the government and the prime minister were absent – again. This is the second time the government has snubbed President Giorgi Margvelashvili. The same […]

Georgian president rejects Putin’s invitation to May 9 celebration

By | March 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has declined an invitation to participate in the traditional May 9 celebration in Moscow of the 70th anniversary of victory in World War 2. The reason is that Russia signed ‘integration agreements’ with South Ossetia […]

Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan launch geopolitically important pipeline project

By | March 18th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Ilham Aliyev, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have agreed to start construction of a natural gas pipeline which will bypass Russia and reduce Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. The ceremony was held in Kars, a Turkish city near […]

Saakashvili criticized for his Syria statement

By | January 13th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili advises Saakashvili to stop damaging the country’s interests. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Georgia slammed his predecessor Mikheil Saakashvili, accusing him of manipulating with important and strategic issues of the country’s security just for his own interests. Mikheil Saakashvili earlier in Monday criticized […]

Georgian president rides horse during Turkmenistan visit

By | December 16th, 2014|Categories: In brief|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili visited Turkmenistan on Monday and signed four agreements dealing with as diverse issues as economy, culture, trade and tourism. People travelling with him say the business leaders in Turkmenistan […]

Georgian president vetoes surveillance bill, again

By | November 29th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has vetoed a surveillance bill which would have given the Interior Ministry control over access keys to eavesdropping on the communication of citizens. President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s veto on Saturday is the second time […]

Georgia’s problem lack of trust in institutions, president says

By | November 14th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili said in an address to parliament on Friday that he has warned that there would be problems if people continued to distrust the country’s institutions. “During the recent year, I have repeatedly underlined […]

Margvelashvili will address parliament on Friday

By | November 11th, 2014|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will address parliament on November 14 at noon. The address will be held at the beginning at a plenary session and be followed by an address of the speaker of parliament. November 5, right after the prime minister […]

President: Georgia’s European course is unchangeable

By | November 6th, 2014|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili rules out the possibility of a change in Georgia’s foreign policy orientation. The government coalition is split with both sides accusing the other of endangering the policy of seeking integration with NATO […]

Georgia’s president pardons 88 prisoners

By | October 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili has pardoned 463 prisoners so far this year. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Wednesday was probably the happiest day in the lives of 88 prisoners in Georgia, as they were allowed to walk free following a presidential pardon. Another 27 got their sentences reduced by half or one third. The decree by President Giorgi […]

Georgian president presents candidates for head of Supreme Court

By | October 1st, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , |

Outgoing head of Georgia’s Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili was a key player in the controversial justice reforms. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president on Tuesday presented parliament with his two candidates to take over as head of Supreme Court. This was the second time President Giorgi Margvelashvili presented Nino Bakakuri and Zurab Dzlierishvili as candidates to take over […]

Margvelashvili calls for peaceful resolution of frozen conflicts

By | September 30th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (TRT.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili appeared on the Turkish TV Monday, explaining his country’s policy toward two breakaway regions that have been controlled by Russia since the war in 2008. Georgian territorial integrity will be restored, […]

Georgia to help Kyrgyzstan get access to the EU market

By | September 29th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Istanbul on Monday. (Photo published on Facebook.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the free trade treaty Georgia signed with the EU earlier this year opens opportunities also for other countries to reach the EU market. He said this while discussing bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan […]

Georgia sending two delegations to UN

By | September 8th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will attend the UN Climate Summit 2014 despite the express wishes of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. The president has said many times that he will go to the US and his plan about the visit hasn’t changed. […]

Georgian president no longer to oversee student scholarships

By | September 8th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government wants to strip the president of the power to set terms for student scholarships and studies abroad. A new draft law about higher education will if passed let the it be up to the government to confirm the use of student advantages, […]

Government wants to reduce president’s power as commander in chief

By | August 19th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili with Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan in March, 2014. (Photo by Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia wants to limit the power of the president as commander in chief. The draft bill will take away the president’s power to approve the regulation of the Joint Staff, and the head of the Joint Staff will become subordinate […]

Georgian president accuses prosecutors of releasing classified document

By | August 11th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili accuses the Prosecutor’s Office of publishing a document which was classified as top secret, but the office denied this. August 8, Margvelashvili expressed concern about the publishing of […]

Georgian president defends decision to use lavish palace

By | August 10th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

The presidential palace lies on a hill overlooking Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili last year thought the presidential palace was too luxurious for him to use, but now he defends his decision to make it his place of work. In the presidential election campaign in October, 2013, Margvelashvili […]

Georgian president rebuffs MP for criticizing Bildt

By | August 8th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili has rebuffed a parliamentarian in his own coalition for criticizing a tweet by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. The controversy started when Bildt criticized the criminal charges against former President Mikheil […]

Georgian president will not attend signing of EU treaty

By | June 23rd, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili will not be present during the signing of a treaty between Georgia and the EU in Brussels on Friday. TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president, whose authority includes signing international treaties and who delegated the right to sign the Association Agreement with EU to the prime minister, won’t be in the Georgian delegation. Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze […]

Voting goes smoothly in Georgia’s local election

By | June 15th, 2014|Categories: Elections, News|Tags: , |

“I call on every politician to make today a victory for democracy,” said President Giorgi Margvelashvili after casting his vote in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch-Voting went smoothly Sunday in Georgia’s local election. 517,123 people had voted by noon, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). This is 16 percent of registered voters. ISFED said 98.7% of precincts were ready to receive voters […]

Two of Georgian president’s top people left

By | June 14th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , , |

Vano Machavariani, foreign policy adviser to the Georgian president, left his job Friday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president’s foreign policy adviser Vano Machavariani left his job on Friday. The head of the president’s administration, Lasha Abashidze, also resigned. Both delivered a written resignation, but Machavariani told […]

Biden announces new USD 5 million aid package to Georgia

By | June 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili in Ukraine June 7, 2014. (Photo published by the Georgian president’s press office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United States allocates USD five million in assistance to Georgia, specifically people affected by the so-called borderization at the administrative boundary lines around the breakaway regions. US Vice President Joe Biden announced the assistance […]

Georgian president transfers signing power to PM

By | May 27th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has transferred the right to sign an Association Agreement with EU to the prime minister for him to sign. Who will sign the AA has been a subject of debate the last few weeks. Government officials have […]

Georgian president maintains signing power remains with him

By | May 25th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili could delegate signing power to Prime Minister Gharibashvili when Georgia signs an association agreement with the EU June 27, an expert on the constitution suggests. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili maintains that he should sign Georgia’s association agreement with the EU, but says he wants to avoid a dispute about the issue. Shalva Tadumadze, parliamentary secretary of the government, said Friday […]

Georgian, Turkish and Azerbaijani presidents meet in Tbilisi

By | May 7th, 2014|Categories: Caucasus region, News|Tags: , , , , , , |

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül (left) and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey met in Tbilisi on Tuesday and celebrated the cooperation between their countries. The summit was initiated by the Turkish president and the main topic was three joint projects. Two of them are already […]

Presidents of Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan meet in Tbilisi Tuesday

By | May 5th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , , , |

The National Library in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Turkey and two South Caucasus countries will meet at the National Library in Tbilisi on Tuesday, to attend the 2014 Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey Summit. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is host for Turkey’s Abdullah Gül […]

Georgian president speaks at EU Eastern Partnership summit

By | April 25th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) and Czech President Miloš Zeman. (Photo by Georgian president’s office.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Thursday met with his Czech colleague Milos Zeman during a visit to Prague. Mergvelashvili came to take part in the five year summit of the Eastern Partnership, a political effort by the EU to reform six former […]

Margvelashvili to speak at Eastern Partnership summit

By | April 24th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has left for Prague to participate in the five year anniversary summit of the Eastern Partnership. According to president administration, Giorgi Margvelashvili will hold a speech at the summit on April 25. […]

Georgian president: No preparations made for Putin meeting

By | April 22nd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the proposal by Russia’s Vladimir Putin for a meeting has had no actual follow-up or preparations. At the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Russian president said that there is a possibility […]

Georgian President Margvelashvili visiting Poland

By | April 2nd, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Wednesday began a two day visit to Poland. On the first day of his visit, Margvelashvili was to meet his Polish colleague, after which they were slated to hold a joint press conference. He will also meet with […]

What did Ivanishvili criticize the Georgian president for?

By | March 20th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , |

Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili refrained from commenting on criticism from ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili beyond saying it is ‘painful’. In a TV interview, Ivanishvili said Margvelashvili revealed completely different features after the […]

Ivanishvili dissatisfied with president he recommended

By | March 19th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is dissatisfied with the president that he selected as candidate. Ivanishvili selected Giorgi Margvelashvili as the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate before the presidential election in October […]

Georgian president visited soldiers in Afghanistan

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan. (Photo by Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has paid a visit to Afghanistan and met with Georgian soldiers participating in the ISAF mission. Supporters of former President Saakashvili have criticized Margvelashvili for not being active, even though […]

Georgian president holds first event at disputed residence

By | March 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

The president’s residence in Avlabari, Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili met with ambassadors at the president’s residence in Tbilisi, which has been nonoperational after Saakashvili left office in October, 2013. In a ceremony in the Avlabari residence, President Margvelashvili received […]

Presidents of Turkey and Georgia discussed Ukraine crisis

By | March 4th, 2014|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , , |

President of Turkey Abdullah Gül. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The presidents of Georgia and Turkey have spoken on phone about the latest events in Ukraine. President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, and the Georgian President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, underlined the importance of supporting the territorial integrity […]

Georgia reacts to Russian Duma’s Ukraine resolution

By | March 2nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says Russia’s actions in Crimea are a brutal intervention in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state and calls on the international community to not allow a new conflict to escalate in Europe. The Georgian […]

Georgian president meets locals near contested border

By | February 27th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Wednesday met people who live close to the de facto border near the town Kareli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili says he hopes that the barbed wire which Russian soldiers are installing at the so-called border with two breakaway territories will eventually be sent away peacefully as scrap metal. Margvelashvili […]

Georgian president ‘completely shocked’ by events in Ukraine

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

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili says no government has ever been forgiven for using weapons against its own people. Margvelashvili said he was shocked by seeing footage from Thursday's events in Ukraine. “Events are developing in a tragic way in Ukraine, and we are completely shocked by what [...]

National Movement might boycott president’s address

By | February 19th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , , |

Member of Parliament Giorgi Vashadze said the National Movement are still discussing within the party what to ask Margvelashvili about. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement party’s members of parliament might not attend the Georgian president’s state of the nation address, which takes place in parliament in Kutaisi on February 21. UNM members say they have not yet made a decision about whether […]

Georgian president to hold annual address on February 21

By | February 15th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will hold his first annual address to parliament on February 21. Outlining the content of his speech already on Friday, Margvelashvili announced he wants to focus on values and Georgia’s ‘strategic vectors’; […]

Azerbaijan and Georgia to cooperate about territories

By | February 13th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili (left), and President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. (Photo published by the Georgian president’s administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says Georgia and Azerbaijan support each other in territorial integrity issues. Both countries have lost control over parts of their territory to small de facto governments with little or no international […]

Head of NATO Military Committee visits Georgia

By | February 12th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , , |

Head of NATO Military Committee, Knud Bartels (left) and President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Photo by Georgia’s Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Wednesday hosted Knud Bartels, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, which is currently visiting Georgia. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, Chief of Joint Staff, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze, and […]

Georgian president to visit Azerbaijan

By | February 12th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili will visit Azerbaijan for the first time on February 12. Margvelashvili will meet with President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday. He will also meet with Azerbaijan’s prime minister and speaker of parliament. […]

Georgian president to carefully study Putin’s offer to meet

By | February 11th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president says he will ‘carefully and seriously analyze’ a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin about a possible meeting between the two of them. When Georgian journalists attending the Sochi Winter Olympics asked Putin about […]

Georgian president’s annual address postponed

By | February 5th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president’s annual address will be held either on February 19 or February 21, the speaker of parliament says. According to the Constitution of Georgia, the president must once a year visit parliament to present a report about important […]

Margvelashili planning his first annual address to parliament

By | January 27th, 2014|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili is in consultations with the speaker of parliament about the date of his annual address to parliament. The Georgian constitution says that the president must visit parliament once a year and present a report about […]

Georgian president pardons 54 prisoners

By | January 20th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Prison No 8 in Gldani, Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Sunday pardoned 54 prisoners. Two of them are minors, and one is a woman. The pardoning took palce in connection with Epiphany, a holiday usually celebrated on January 19. It is regular practice for the […]

Georgian president to visit Turkey January 20

By | January 12th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili will visit Turkey on January 20. According to the president’s administration, he has planned meetings with President Abdullah Gül in Ankara and also the prime minister and speaker of parliament. […]

Georgian president will not use official residences

By | January 1st, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili says he has decided not to use any of the presidential residences. He claims that none of the government officials have purchased luxurious cars or other objects by state money. A few days ago, questions […]

Georgian president to get a modest pay rise

By | December 30th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili will get increased salary next year, but the increase is less than previously planned. The president’s salary will go up from 4 720 to 6 900 lari (USD 3 900), according to new draft, which parliament is reviewing. […]

Georgian president pardons 75 prisoners

By | December 18th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed his first decree to pardon 75 prisoners on Wednesday. According to the head of the president’s administration Lasha Abashidze, 54 of the prisoners were released, 14 got their sentence reduced to half, while […]

Georgia increases the president’s salary

By | December 11th, 2013|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has decided to raise the president’s salary by 2 500 lari (USD 1 450). There has been talk about increasing the president’s pay for the last week and on Tuesday the governing Georgian Dream coalition asked parliament […]

Georgia appoints seven new ambassadors

By | December 11th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed the appointments of seven new ambassadors. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has seven new ambassadors abroad, after President Giorgi Margvelashvili last week signed their appointment. The new ambassadors are the ones to Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Germany, Japan, China, Iran and Jordan. According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, […]

Georgian president says Russia cannot stop moves towards EU

By | December 5th, 2013|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: |

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili says Russia has no means of influence that could divert Georgia from its course toward integration with Europe and interrupt the signing of the Association Agreement next year. In a TV interview on Tuesday, […]

Margvelashvili: Looking forward to EU’s support

By | November 30th, 2013|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Video grab.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In his less than two minutes long address at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius Summit President Giorgi Margvelashvili spoke briefly about the country’s past, present and future on the way to Euro-Atlantic integration. After recalling the democratic election […]

Margvelashvili to address European leaders in Vilnius

By | November 29th, 2013|Categories: Europe, News|Tags: , |

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili will be given three minutes to address the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius today. He is expected to talk about the importance of Georgia being integrated with Europe, and that a certain resistance […]

Margvelashvili spoke about independence, unity, integrity

By | November 18th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

After the swearing in ceremony, President Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed guests in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Giorgi Margvelashvili was Sunday sworn in as the fourth president of Georgia at a ceremony held in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. The text of the oath says he swears to protect Georgia’s Constitution, independence of the state, […]

Margvelashvili sworn in as new president

By | November 17th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

New Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed guests in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The inauguration of Giorgi Margvelashvili was held today in the yard of the old parliament building in Tbilisi. The schedule of the day’s events is the following: at 13:00, the inauguration started and was expected to last for 45 minutes. The new […]

New Georgian president will be sworn in Nov 17

By | October 28th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Newly elected president Giorgi Margvelashvili will be sworn in November 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new president will sworn in on November 17. The location of the inauguration and other details are unknown. After the swearing-in ceremony, the new president will be empowered to use his authority granted by the Constitution, and the […]

Margvelashvili celebrates as Bakradze concedes defeat

By | October 28th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili Sunday night greeted jubilant supporters at the Georgian Dream coalition’s headquarters. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Giorgi Margvelashvili thanked all his supporters and Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili Sunday night, after exit polls showed he had won the Georgian presidential election in the first round. “Thanks to every citizen […] to the members of [my campaign] staff, […]

Margvelashvili 62%, Bakradze 22%, as 95% of votes counted

By | October 28th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili (left) had 62 % support as 95 % percent of votes were counted. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (right). (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili has received 62 percent of the votes in the Georgian presidential election after 95% of the votes have been counted, Georgia’s Central Election Committee (CEC) announced. This is slightly less than two […]

Exit polls show Georgian Dream winning in first round

By | October 27th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Two exit polls show that Georgian Dream candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili has won the presidential election. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili is predicted to win Georgia’s presidential election in the first round. Two exit polls show Margvelashvili winning clearly. According to an exit poll by the German company GFK on the order of […]

Georgian candidates confront each other in two TV debates

By | October 19th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , |

National Movement candidate for president, Davit Bakradze. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Broadcaster October 17 and 18 hosted two TV debates between presidential candidates. Only qualified subjects participated in the debates, those who were presented by the political parties, which receive state funding. There are […]

Georgian candidates on the campaign trail

By | October 10th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Presidential candidate Nestan Kirtadze wants free natural gas for people near the conflict zone. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Less than three weeks left before the presidential election in Georgia, candidates are busy conducting their election campaign. Davit Bakradze, the candidate for the National Movement, on Wednesday met with people in the Racha region. He opened a new […]

Margvelashvili picks replacement ahead of presidential run

By | July 16th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Minister of Education Giorgi Margvelashvili (left), and his deputy Tamar Sanikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister of Education Giorgi Margvelashvili has picked his own replacement, as he prepares for the race to be Georgia’s next president. The Georgian Dream coalition chose Margvelashvili as its candidate in the upcoming election, and although Georgian […]

Poll shows Ivanishvili bloc leading UNM 29 to 10 percent

By | July 15th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–45 percent of people like Giorgi Margvelashvili, the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate for president, while 48 percent like Davit Bakradze, who most likely will be the National Movement’s candidate. When asked who they would want as president, […]

Ivanishvili picks Margvelashvili as candidate for president

By | May 11th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili looks likely to become Georgia’s next president, if the latest poll is correct. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition has chosen Minister of Education Giorgi Margvelashvili as its candidate for president in the upcoming election. “Giorgi Margvelashvili has all good skills to be a president,” Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at […]

Student protest at Agriculture University

By | March 13th, 2013|Categories: Society|Tags: , , |

Education Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili met the students Tuesday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–For the last two days, students at an agricultural college have been at the center of a dispute between the governing Georgian Dream coalition and supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The dispute began with the […]

President Saakashvili attempts to challenge history

By | June 18th, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

It would be strange if the things were different, it would confuse the classics; ad fontes: power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Could this maxim be wrong in Georgia’s case? Could Saakashvili be an exception from this truism? asks Giorgi Margvelashvili, […]

Saakashvili: “We basically got what we wanted to get”

By | February 3rd, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

– Right! What we did not get was, something that was in the preliminary statement of the White House, stating that: “The President will reconfirm U.S. support for the integrity of Georgia’s territory within its internationally recognized borders”. We did not hear that; and really lacked that […]