Tina Khidasheli

Will Georgia end compulsory military service? Decision expected in Nov

By | October 22nd, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

(Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–It is still unknown if a decision by the former Georgian defense minister to end compulsory military service will become a reality. A decision may be expected in November, because Defense Minister Levan Izoria promised to ‘clarify’ the issue by next month, […]

Who will be Georgia’s next defense minister?

By | July 14th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , |

Tina Khidasheli. TBILISI, DFWatch–It is still unknown who will replace Tina Khidasheli as defense minister, but local media name three possible candidates: Irakli Sesiashvili, Koba Kobaladze and Kakhi Kakhishvili. The decision will be made by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, […]

Two Republican members of government resign

By | July 12th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Tina Khidasheli (Interpressnews) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican Party in Georgia announced on Tuesday at its members of the government are resigning. The ministers who will be leaving their posts shortly are Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli and Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili. […]

Georgia will stay in Afghanistan until the mission is completed

By | July 10th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: , , |

Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will continue its participation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said at the alliance’s summit in Warsaw. A meeting was held between heads of state from countries that participate […]

Georgian Dream slams minister’s decision to end conscription

By | June 28th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , , , |

Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli’s decision on Monday to end compulsory military service sparked a variety of negative comments from members of the ruling party, Georgian Dream. Khidasheli is a member of the Republican Party, […]

Crops wiped out by hail in Shida Kartli, anti-hail rockets ineffective

By | May 30th, 2016|Categories: Environment|Tags: , , , |

(Delta.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Crops were destroyed by a hailstorm in several municipalities of Georgia’s Shida Kartli province on May 26. In the hardest hit village Ebnisi the harvest was almost completely devastated. The local municipality is now estimating the cost of the damage. […]

Georgia’s PM has selected replacement for Republican ministers

By | May 16th, 2016|Categories: Politics|Tags: , , , , |

Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who was elected as a leader of Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party on Saturday, told Imedi TV that he has candidates to replace ministers from the Republican Party in case they resign. A few weeks ago, […]

Republican Party will remain part of GD coalition

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

Davit Usupashvili (IPN) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Republican Party will remain in the Georgian Dream coalition, Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said Thursday after meeting Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The reason for the meeting was a recent statement by the prime minister […]

Prime minister seeks to calm feud within ruling coalition

By | March 3rd, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian prime minister sought to calm down a feud within his coalition on Thursday, detailing his views in a statement posted on Facebook. Gogi Topadze, leader of the coalition partner the Industrialists, accused the defense minister of having […]

Defense minister ready to answer questions about alleged election fraud

By | March 1st, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli is prepared to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of fraud in the by-election in Sagarejo last October, which was won by her fellow party member. “Anyone who wishes […]

Georgia’s by-election last October to be investigated for fraud

By | February 29th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor General’s Office in Georgia has launched an investigation two weeks after allegations were put forth by a member of parliament about election fraud in last year’s by-election in Sagarejo in eastern Georgia. Gogi Topadze, leader […]

Georgia’s NATO accession debate too much focused on MAP: Minister

By | February 8th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: , |

Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian defense minister says there has been too much focus on her country being approved for a formalized plan toward NATO membership, called a MAP, since the alliance can accept Georgia as a member directly, she argues. NATO […]

Georgia sending team to investigate sexual misconduct in CAR

By | February 5th, 2016|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian military police is preparing to send a team to the Central African Republic to investigate alleged sexual crimes committed there by Georgian soldiers. Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said Wednesday that investigators require some […]

Georgian defense minister asks Ukraine to explain Saakashvili’s statements

By | July 25th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli has asked Ukraine’s government to explain whether they take responsibility for statements made by former Georgian President Mikheil Saaksahvili, who is now governor of Odessa. […]

Khidasheli: Defense deal with France will be signed by end of June

By | June 12th, 2015|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , , , |

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 […]

New Georgian defense minister vows to sign air defense deal with France

By | May 14th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The new defense minister in Georgia promises to sign a disputed military deal with France about air defense. Her predecessor Irakli Alasania claims the reason he was dismissed last November was that he wanted to go ahead with the same deal. […]

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 […]

Parliament again fails to fill Public Broadcaster board

By | January 28th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Georgian Public Broadcaster is still without a functioning supervisory board. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia has again failed to approve new board members for the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). Groups claim this shows there is a lack of will to free the broadcaster from political influence. January 23, parliament approved only one […]

Georgia may lift protected status of six thousand historic sites

By | November 22nd, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Narikala Castle in Tbilisi. (Photo published by Tbilisi.gov.ge.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia is discussing a draft law about cultural heritage which may remove the protected status of 6 319 historic sites. Among the sites are Borjomi Park in southern Georgia and Romanov Palace in Abastumani, as well as Narikala Castle, […]