Shalva Shavgulidze is the new Free Democrats leader. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former lawyer has been elected chairman of the embattled Free Democrats, perhaps the most staunchly pro-western party in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The Free Democrats’ failure to win any seats in the 2016 parliamentary elections coupled with […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Irakli Alasania, the former defense minister and leader of the Free Democrats who ‘temporarily left’ politics after his party failed to reach the minimum 5% in the election, may be hired by the president’s administration. According to domestic media, […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Georgian defense minister Irakli Alasania said Monday that he is quitting politics ‘temporarily’ after his party failed to surpass the 5% threshold in the parliamentary elections. Alasania’s statement came after the Central Election Commission (CEC) […]
TBILISI, DFWatch–Irakli Alasania, the former defense minister who was fired after some of his staff were detained for embezzlement, Friday issued an ultimatum: If the court finds the detainees guilty, he will mobilize people and launch protest rallies […]
Davit Zalkaliani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former deputy foreign minister from the opposition Free Democrats Party is to return to his post following a proposal by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The Free Democrats party, which came to power in 2012 as part of the […]
Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new defense minister has sided with her predecessor Mindia Janelidze in an argument with former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania about an agreement with France about buying air defense systems. Tina Khidasheli said in a recent interview […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania accuses the government of having failed to implement an air defense treaty with France and proposes setting up a parliamentary investigation commission to look into it. Alasania Friday […]
Mindia Janelidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Mindia Janelidze has confirmed after five months that he talked on the phone with his predecessor Irakli Alasania, who was then visiting France. But he denies what Alasania claims he told him on phone in that conversation. […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and his successor Mindia Janelidze on Wednesday accused each other of lying about a treaty Alasania signed in France in 2014 shortly before his dismissal. The treaty […]
“I would not comment seriously on Baron Münchausen’s statements,” Irakli Alasania responded to Mikheil Saakashvili’s TV interview. (DF Watch.) Tbilisi, DFWatch -After exchanging barrels of criticism, Georgia’s two main pro-western political parties deny likelihood of future political alliance. At least one of them, Free Democrats of the former defense minister Irakli Alasania, […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili at the National Library on Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Thursday, Georgia’s richest person and godfather of the governing coalition again lashed out at Irakli Alasania, calling him ‘a weak manager’ who has made an ‘ignorant statement’. Alasania was recently dismissed and claims it was […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s dismissed defense minister has given a ‘final warning’ to the country’s prosecutors, after which he plans to get the international community involved in the process. Irakli Alasania was dismissed shortly after making strong statements […]
Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s dismissed defense minister, Irakli Alasania, feels optimistic that his party which recently left the governing coalition will win in the parliamentary election of 2016. The Free Democrats on Saturday held a party conference, which with […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, who was dismissed a few days ago, Thursday evening met Bidzina Ivanishvili, the businessman who brought together the Georgian Dream coalition. Ivanishvili has avoided public statements since he left […]
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After sacking and reprimanding his once ally, Prime Minister Garibashvili says if Alasania’s party goes into opposition, this will make the country’s democracy even stronger. Alasania on his part says he thinks the PM has lost face. Garibashvili […]
Irakli Garibashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili castigated former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Thursday, calling him ‘a traitor’ and ‘an opportunist’. “What Alasania did, is a betrayal of the victory of 2012 and an attempt to deceive the Georgian […]
Irakli Alasania announced Wednesday evening that the Free Democrats Party is leaving the government coalition. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition in Georgia is in its worst crisis till now, as one party leaves and questions are raised about its western oriented course. Two ministers resigned in protest against the dismissal of the defense minister the day before, but the crisis […]
Irakli Alasania said he believes his dismissal was political. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili dismissed his defense minister Tuesday evening, hours after the Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against six more Defense Ministry officials. The sacked minister, Irakli Alasania, was one of the most […]
(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–While Georgia’s western backed defense minister struggles to prove the innocence of his ‘brothers-in-arms’, the Prosecutor’s Office dealt the beleaguered minister another blow. The Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday brought a new case about food […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is the most popular politician, if we are to believe the American NDI’s newest survey. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government coalition and its leading figures have lost popularity, according to a new poll by National Democratic Institute (NDI). 42 percent of the questioned say the Georgian Dream coalition is closer to them, while 11 percent say they feel […]
Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey will meet in Azerbaijan on Monday. Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said Sunday this is the first formal meeting between the three ministers and has been planned for a long time. […]
“A historical moment for our country’s relation with NATO,” says Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government is unable to say specifically what Barack Obama’s initiative to boost the military capacity of non-NATO partner countries will mean and how the US will assist Georgia, but they welcome the initiative. Georgia’s defense […]
Patriarch Ilia II (seated, left) remains highly liked in Georgia, while former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has had a drop in popularity. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new poll published by National Democratic Institute (NDI) shows that Patriarch Ilia II remains the most liked person in Georgia. 96 percent of those asked say the like the patriarch. 61 percent say they like Davit Usupashvili, Speaker of Parliament; […]
US Vice President Joe Biden and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania asks NATO to install air defenses and other military systems in Georgia. He made the call in a speech at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, on Wednesday. “Now the West has to seize the […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania is to meet Chuck Hagel, US Secretary of Defense. Alasania is on a working visit to the US and plans bilateral meetings at the Pentagon. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry’s press office, […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left), and Italy’s Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti. (Photo by Georgian Ministry of Defense. ) TBILISI, DFWatch–Italy and Georgia will strengthen their defense cooperation, according to a press release published by Georgia’s Ministry of Defense. Irakli Alasania, the Georgian defense minister, on Thursday met his Italian colleague Roberta Pinotti during a visit […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government has decided to commit its military forces to the European Union’s rapid reaction force in the Central African Republic from May. The violence between Christians and Muslims which began more than a year ago is at risk […]
NATO’s Knud Bartels (left) and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. TBILISI, DFWatch–The United States will finance Georgia’s participation in NATO Rapid Reaction Force, Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says. The NATO Military Committee visited Georgia on February 11 and 12. The delegation was chaired by Committee head Knud Bartels. […]
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Friday met with his French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian at the French Defense Ministry. They discussed military-industrial cooperation between Georgia and France and future plans. Alasania said they discussed […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan have relocated to a safer place after the last attack on one of their bases, which caused the death of seven soldiers. However, the investigation into the Taliban threat video, […]
Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri (left) and Defense Minister Irakli Alasania inspecting a military camp earlier this month. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Thursday told parliament that the defense ministry last year purchased 25 000 SIM cards for mobile phones in order to build up Facebook support before the election. Speaking during a meeting with the defense committee […]
Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri (left) and Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government accuses former officials during Saakashvili’s time in power of having embezzled state money in order to purchase luxurious cars and unnecessary apartments. The apartments were discovered at military bases which are in a […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the party of President Mikheil Saakashvili is trying to recruit one of his biggest assets; Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the National Movement is attempting to win over Defense Minister Irakli Alasania to their side. He says he heard rumors that some of the UNM members have contact with him, but when he asked Alasania about it, […]
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili doesn’t want speculation about a possible presidential run for Defense Minister Irakli Alasania in October, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the reason he removed Defense Minister Irakli Alasania from his post as vice prime minister was to end speculation in Alasania’s party about making him a candidate for president. The prime minister […]
Irakli Alasania is no longer vice prime minister, only defense minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has relieved Defense Minister Irakli Alasania of his additional responsibilities as vice prime minister. The press office of the PM says a decree was issued January 21 and that Ivanishvili will explain […]
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania in the funeral of Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze Jan. 5, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says the Georgian Dream coalition has had ‘an awkward discussion’ about selecting a candidate for the presidential election, but he doesn’t consider himself a candidate, as he feels responsibility for the post he […]
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania sat down with DF Watch to talk about the bilateral security and defense cooperation with the US which he said has already started. A few days ago bilateral consultations were held in Tbilisi […]
TBILISI, DFWatch - Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian president’s main competitor, plans to win in the western Samegrelo region by having the country's former UN ambassador run there. The region borders on Russian controlled Abkhazia and is that part of the country where Mikheil Saakashvili’s government has the largest influence. Bidzina Ivanishvili named Irakli Alasania as majoritarian [...]
TBILISI, DFWatch – An opposition candidate Tuesday presented details about an alleged secret paramilitary organization he claims was recently organized by President Mikheil Saakashvili in western Georgia. Leader of the Free Democrats Irakli Alasania had called the press […]
When President Obama sits down with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday, the conversation they have will take but a small part of the busy and beleaguered American leader’s day, but could have far reaching consequences for Georgia, writes Irakli Alasania, leader of the Free Democrats Party and Georgia's former United Nations ambassador. [...]
TBILISI, DFWatch - Irakli Alasania, the leader of the Free Democrats and front man of the strongest opposition bloc in Georgia, hits back at ‘fabrications’ spread by the country’s ‘government-controlled media’ about them being pro-Russian. The Free Democrats and the Republican Party are the two groups billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has formed a loose partnership with in [...]
TBILISI, DFWatch - Free Democrats leader Irakli Alasania asks the government to put the the latest constitutional change to the people in a referendum, calling it an illegal decision. The process is already in motion to change the constitution and increase the number of members of parliament from 150 to 190. But most of the opposition [...]
