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PM Irakli Kobakhidze Presents Annual Report to Parliament, as Opposition Boycott Continues
On the last day of the spring session, June 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze presented his annual report to Parliament. Most opposition members, with the exception of Girchi, were absent, as they have been boycotting the sessions since the adoption of the foreign agent’s law. 04/06/2024 – Prime Minister’s Report Claims Progress in Foreign …
Tags: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
28/06/2024 - 20:44
TI Georgia: Georgian Dream Received Highest Amount of Political Party Funding in 2023
On June 28, Transparency International Georgia published a report on political donations of 15 political parties in Georgia in 2023. According to the findings, out of the total funds the ruling Georgian Dream party received the most – 62%. The report also underlined the shortcomings of the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s supervision of party finances, criticized changes …
Tags: Anti-Corruption Bureau, Political Donations, Transparency International Georgia
Another Georgian Fighter Killed in Ukraine
Another Georgian fighter, Amiran Zoidze, was killed while fighting in the vicinity of Avdiivka in Ukraine, Georgian Warriors-Special Unit Tbilisi, of which Zoidze was a member, reported on 28 June. The Georgian Foreign Ministry confirmed Zoidze’s death to Civil.ge. Amiran Zoidze; Photo: Special unit Tbilisi/Facebook The latest casualty brings to 52 the unofficial number of …
Tags: Georgian fighter, War in Ukraine
Foreign Minister Invited to NATO Summit in Washington
The invitation to attend the July 9-11 NATO summit in Washington was sent to Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian bureau of Voice of America reported, citing State Department spokesman Mathew Miller. The State Department allegedly has not received an official response to the invitation from Tbilisi. Asked about this, Miller urged VoA to …
Tags: Matthew Miller, NATO
Mark Rutte: We Hope Georgia Will Return to EU Path
Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the future NATO Secretary General said during his arrival and doorstep remarks before the European Council meeting on June 27 that he’s “worried about the EU accession path of Georgia” and called on Georgia to return to the EU path. He said that the EU will discuss Georgia …
Tags: EU, EU bid, Mark Rutte
EaP Civil Society Forum Welcomes Opening of Accession Negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova
The Georgian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF GNP) welcomes EU’s decision to start the accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. The Platform congratulates to the people of Ukraine and Moldova for their “historic achievement” and stepping onto the new step on EU integration. At the same time, the Platform …
Tags: EU bid, The Georgian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
Georgia’s GDP Up by 9.2% in May 2024
Georgia’s estimated real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate amounted to 9.2% for May 2024 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on June 28. According to Geostat, the following activities contributed significantly to growth: information and communication; professional, scientific and technical …
Tags: GDP Growth, Geostat
European Council Calls on Georgian Authorities to Clarify Intentions on the EU Path
On June 27, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, Middle East, security and defense, competitiveness, migration, foreign policy, hybrid threats, and the next institutional cycle. Among other things, the European Council expresses its “serious concern” about developments in Georgia and it “calls on Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing the current course …
The Daily Beat: 27 June
The parliamentary majority passed in the first reading an anti-LGBT legislative package consisting of a core bill “On Protection of Family Values and Minors” and 18 related amendments to various laws of Georgia. The package passed with 78 votes in favor and none against. Most opposition MPs did not attend the plenary session as they are boycotting …
Tags: anti-LGBT law, Archil Gorduladze, Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, Central Election Commission, Jeyhun Bayramov, Law on Foreign Agents, PACE, Parliament of Georgia, Pension Fund, President Salome Zurabishvili, Supreme Court, UN Child Rights Committee
Parliament Lifts COVID-Related Fines
On June 27, the Georgian Parliament abolished fines imposed between June 23, 2021 and July 3, 2023 for violations of COVID-19 isolation, quarantine or face masks. Amendments to the law on exemption from administrative fines were fast-tracked and passed in the third reading today with 79 votes in favor and none against. Most opposition parties …
Tags: Covid-19, Parliament of Georgia
27/06/2024 - 19:26
UN Committee Finds Georgia Failed to Protect Children Against Violence, Abuse in Church-Run Orphanage
On June 27, the United Nations Child Rights Committee found Georgia guilty of violating its child rights obligations by failing to take immediate action to address the frequent physical and psychological abuse of children living in a closed orphanage run by the Georgian Orthodox Church. The Committee urged Georgia to pay compensation to the victims …
Parliament Adopts Changes to Pension Legislation Fueling Fears Over Citizens’ Savings and Corruption
Georgia’s ruling party has passed yet another controversial legislation that stokes fears about the citizens’ pensions of hundreds of millions of GEL. The amendments to the “Law on Funded Pension” were passed in its third and final reading today, June 27, with 75 votes in favor and none against. Most opposition parties did not participate …
Tags: Pension Agency, Pension Fund
Parliament Appoints Three Lifetime Judges to Supreme Court, Amid CSO Calls for ‘Vetting’
On June 27, the Parliament of Georgia approved the appointment of three new judges to the Supreme Court. Judges Badri Shonia and Gocha Jeiranashvili were appointed with 78 votes and their lifelong mandate will take effect from October 18 this year. Gizo Ubilova was appointed with 80 votes and his mandate will start immediately. Court …
Tags: Georgian Court Watch, Parliament of Georgia, Supreme Court, Vetting
Parliament Appoints Three Members to Public Broadcaster Board
On June 27, the Parliament of Georgia voted in favor of appointing three new board members to the board of the Public Broadcaster. One of the members of the Board is Izabela Osipova, presented by the Public Defender and elected with 80 votes in favor. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Board …
Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov Visits Georgia
Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, is visiting Georgia today, June 27. During his visit, he met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. In Tbilisi, FM Jeyhun Bayramov visited the Heroes’ Square and laid a wreath to honor the memory of those died protecting …
Tags: Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, Jeyhun Bayramov
PACE Resolution: Agents’ Law Bound to Have Adverse Effect on Elections
On June 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution on “Challenges to Democracy in Georgia” with 66 votes in favor and 4 against. Among other issues, the resolution says that the Foreign Agents Law “is bound to have an adverse effect” on the conduct of October parliamentary, calling for its …
Tags: Council of Europe (CoE), Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Anti-LGBT Legislation Passed in First Reading
On June 27, the parliamentary majority passed in first reading an anti-LGBT legislative package consisting of a core bill “On Protection of Family Values and Minors” and 18 related amendments to various laws of Georgia. The package passed with 78 votes in favor and none against. The majority of opposition MPs did not attend the …
Tags: Homophobia, LGBT Rights
Parliament Overrides President’s Veto on Amendments to Election Code
On June 27, the Georgian Parliament overrode the President’s veto of amendments to the rules of procedure of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia, which provide that if a decision of the CEC requiring the support of at least two-thirds of its full members cannot be adopted at a meeting of the CEC, it …
Tags: CEC, Election Code, Parliament of Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili
Parliament Approves Archil Gorduladze’s MP Credentials
On June 27, the Georgian Parliament approved with 77 votes the parliamentary credentials of Archil Gorduladze, a new deputy from the ruling Georgian Dream party list. Archil Gorduladze was elected as an MP to replace Giorgi Tsagareishvili, who was earlier appointed as the new Deputy Health Minister on June 19. Yesterday, June 26, the latter’s …
The Daily Beat: 26 June
Tbilisi burst into celebrations as Georgia made history and reached their first major tournament knockout stage with a victory over Portugal at Euro 2024. Georgia’s top star, Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been underwhelming in the previous two games, scored an early goal in the second minute. Giorgi Mikautadze converted the penalty kick in the …
Tags: EURO 2024, Georgia-Russia relations, Irakli Kupradze, Lelo for Georgia, LGBT, Maria Zakharova, Michael Roth, Portugal, Poti, Shalva Papuashvili, Trafficking, United National Movement, US State Department, Venice Commission
U.S. Congress Subcommittee Hearing: Agents’ Law, Sino-Georgian Relations
On June 26, the U.S. Congressional Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing on “Analyzing the Fiscal Year 25 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe,” at which Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Jim O’Brien and Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) at USAID, Erin …
Tags: Anaklia Deep Sea Port, foreign agents law, Jim O'Brien, U.S. Congress
61st Round of Geneva International Discussions
On June 25-26, the 61st round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) – a multilateral format to address security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war – was held in Geneva. According to the Press communiqué of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, participants in the I Working Group engaged “in active, at times tense, …
Georgia Upsets Group Favorite Portugal at Euro-2024, Qualifies for Playoffs
Georgia dealt an unexpected upset to the favorites, Portugal, and advanced to the knockout stage of EURO 2024. Georgia’s top star, Napoli’s Khvicha Kvarastkhelia, who has been underwhelming in the previous two games, scored an early goal in the second minute. Giorgi Mikautadze converted the penalty kick on the 57th. it was his third goal …
Tags: EURO 2024
Zakharova: Russia is Ready to Support Endeavors to Restore Georgian-Russian Relations
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said during the briefing on June 26 that Russia is ready to follow the path of Russo-Georgian “normalization” and supports any endeavors of Tbilisi in this direction. Asked how the Foreign Ministry assess the call of the Georgian party “Solidarity for Peace” to restore diplomatic relations between Georgia …
Tags: Maria Zakharova, Russia
26/06/2024 - 21:50
Opposition Member Recognized as Aggrieved Two Months After Being Beaten During Protests
On June 26, Irakli Kupradze, Secretary General of the opposition party Lelo for Georgia, was recognized as an aggrieved party more than two months after he was beaten by police during protests against the foreign agents law. The opposition politician was detained during the peaceful protest on April 16. He accused riot police of politically motivated brutality …
Tags: foreign agents law, Irakli Kupradze, Lelo, protests
U.S. State Department Will Track Agents Law’s Effect on Georgia’s Anti-Trafficking Efforts
On June 25, Cindy Dyer, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, commented about the impact of the Foreign Agents Law on Georgia’s standing in the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons 2024 Report. She noted that while there was great concern about the passage of the law, the impact of the law was …
Venice Commission Opinion Advises Against Adopting Anti-LGBTQ Laws
On June 26, the Venice Commission published its opinion on the draft constitutional law on the Protection of Family Values and Minors. The Commission calls on the Georgian government “reconsider this legislative proposal entirely and to not proceed with its adoption” or, if it proceeds with its adoption, to remove/modify some of the articles in …
Tags: anti-LGBT law, Venice Commission
24 Arrested for Drug-Related Crimes, Including 11 Traffickers
24 people, both Georgian and foreign citizens, were arrested for drug-related crimes, including eleven drug traffickers, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported on June 26. The investigation was launched under a number of criminal charges, including Articles 236, 260, 18-260, 19-260, 261, 262, 265, 273 and 19-273, which deal with the sale, purchase, …
Tags: Drug-related crime, MIA
2024 | Chronicle of Repression
During the process of passing the foreign agents’ law, mass protests and civil activism shook the ruling government’s grip on legitimate power but not on the state’s repressive apparatus. Despite hundreds of thousands protesting against it, the law was passed. Georgians loudly proclaimed, “Yes to Europe,” and its paths with the ruling party have clearly …
Tags: repression2024
CoE Fourth Opinion on Protection of National Minorities
On June 26, Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities released its fourth opinion on Georgia. The Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee praised Georgian society’s general climate of support for minority rights, noting the country’s openness and respect for ethnic and religious diversity. The report notes that the …
The Daily Beat: 25 June
Six opposition parties signed a “Declaration of Unity” in Brussels, outlining plans for the October 26 parliamentary elections and uniting around President Salome Zurabishvili’s Georgian Charter and its principles. They set a deadline of July 8 to decide on the best unifying configuration that will be most effective in winning the elections and implementing the necessary reforms after the …
Tags: Electoral Code, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, gender quotas, Georgia-Russia relations, Georgian Charter, Occupied Territories, Opposition, Parliament of Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili, Rikard Jozwiak, Venice Commission
Campaign Beat: June 10-24
After two months of uninterrupted protests, Georgia is taking a deep breath. The law on foreign agents has been passed, but its opponents are defiant. The country is living in anticipation of the October elections that many believe will be consequential. The campaign is taking place against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the government …
Tags: election campaign, Elections 2024
25/06/2024 - 19:36
Venice Commission Critical in Follow-Up Opinion on Amendments to Electoral Code
On June 25, the Venice Commission published its follow-up opinion on the draft amendments to the Electoral Code and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, stressing its concern that none of the recommendations had been taken into account by the Georgian authorities and that the amendments to the Electoral Code were made less than …
Tags: CEC, Electoral Code, Venice Commission
Interview | Head of the EUMM Bettina Patricia Boughani
Since its inception in 2008, in the immediate aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war, the EU Monitoring Mission has played a key role in ensuring stability and security around the occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. Tasked with monitoring and facilitating dialogue, the Mission is one of the many tangible manifestations of …
Tags: EUMM
Jozwiak: Expected EU Measures in Response to Georgia’s Backsliding
The EU is preparing a response to Georgia’s adoption of the Russian-style foreign agents law and the related developments. In his latest weekly newsletter, Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor for RFE/RL, explains how the EU is expected to respond to the backslide in Georgia. The analysis is based on the options paper, seen by RFE/RL, and …
FM Darchiashvili Attends Informal Meeting in Luxembourg amid EU Discussions on Georgia
On June 24, Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia attended an informal meeting in Luxembourg, which hosted the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting that same day. The informal meeting was hosted by Xavier Bettel, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and was attended by …
Tags: Ilia Darchiashvili
Venice Commission Opinion on Abolishing Quotas on Women MPs
On June 25, the Venice Commission released an opinion “On Amendments to the Election Code Which Abolish Gender Quotas”, stressing the need for mechanisms in Georgia to ensure gender equality in the political sphere and emphasizing that such amendments in the Election Code less than a year before the elections “gives rise to serious concerns …
Tags: Venice Commission, women quotas
Six Opposition Parties Sign “Declaration of Unity”
On June 24, six opposition parties signed a “Declaration of Unity” in Brussels, outlining plans for the October 26 parliamentary elections and uniting around President Salome Zurabishvili’s Georgian Charter and its principles. They set a deadline of July 8 to decide on the best unifying configuration that will be most effective in terms of winning …
Tags: Ahali, Droa, Girchi - More Freedom, Lelo, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, UNM
The Daily Beat: 24 June
The EU will downgrade the high-level contacts with Georgia and consider freezing financial aid to the Georgian Dream government after it passed the controversial Law on Foreign Agents, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borell told reporters following the meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Luxemburg. He also warned that the EU door would be …
Tags: ALDE, Ambassadorial, Berlin, China, Georgian Dream party, Independence Day, Irakli Koplatadze, Jim O'Brien, Josep Borell, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Robin Dunnigan
HR/VP Borrell Says Georgian Government is Taking Georgia Away From EU, Announces Initial EU Response
The situation in Georgia, along with Russian aggression against Ukraine, situation in the Middle East and Western Balkans, was one of the discussion items at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which took place on June 24 in Luxembourg. At the press-conference that followed the meeting HR/VP Josep Borrell said the foreign ministers of the …
Tags: EU, EU bid, Georgian Dream, Josep Borrell
24/06/2024 - 21:30
Georgia Invited to NATO Partnership Events, Says Assistant Secretary O’Brien, Urges Government to “Reconsider Its Positions”
All U.S. partners, including Georgia, will be invited to participate in NATO partnership events, Jim O’Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs said on June 24. In his remarks, the Assistant Secretary of State also said that the U.S. is “very troubled” by the decisions and rhetoric “coming from a …
Tags: Jim O'Brien, US-Georgia relations
HR/VP Borrell Warns EU Door Will Close for Georgia if Government Continues its Course
If the Georgian government continues on the same track, the EU door will be closed for Georgia to become a member state, HR/VP Josep Borrell said today, June 24, answering the journalists’ questions ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. According to Borrell, he will present to the ministers the options paper …
Tags: Josep Borrell
PM Kobakhidze Talks “Strategic Patience” Policy, EU Integration During Georgia’s Independence Day Event in Berlin
An event dedicated to the celebration of Georgia’s Independence Day was held in Berlin, Germany on June 21. The event was attended by representatives of the Georgian government, ambassadors of Georgia in various countries, representatives of the Georgian diaspora and German guests. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, hosted the event and made a …
Tags: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
22/06/2024 - 23:45
Embattled Georgia Side Grabs its First Point at EURO 2024
Georgia side drew one-all with the Czech Republic in their second match and grabbed their first point at EURO 2024. It was a nail-biter of a game dominated by the Czech side, which Georgia managed to hold to a draw thanks to the brilliant efforts of its star goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, who left the field …
Tags: EURO 2024
ALDE Adopts Urgent Resolution on Georgia, Calls for Sanctions Against GD and Support for Civil Society in Georgia
On June 22, ALDE (Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe party) adopted urgent resolution on Georgia “Condemning the authoritarian and anti-European turn in Georgia” at the ALDE Party Council meeting, which is taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania on the 21 and 22, June 2024. The resolution acknowledges the Georgian people’s will to joint the …
Georgia’s Former Ambassador to Slovenia Resigns From Foreign Service
Former Ambassador of Georgia Irakli Koplatadze announced about his resignation from foreign ministry. He last served as Georgian Ambassador in Slovenia. In his post on Facebook he writes that he is resigning after 18 years of continuous diplomatic service, saying it has been a “privilege” to serve “the best interests of Georgia’s independence and joining …
Tags: Diplomatic missions, Diplomats, Irakli Koplatadze, Salome Zurabishvili
President to Georgian Ambassadors: Your Time to Make a Choice Has Come
President Salome Zurabishvili addressed a video message to Georgian Ambassadors to Europe and the United States, who are currently gathered in Berlin by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for a conference. President Zurabishvili expressed regret that she was not given the opportunity to address the ambassadors in person but said she considered it necessary to deliver …
Tags: Ambassadorial, Salome Zurabishvili
21/06/2024 - 19:58
Former GD Advisor Mitchell Briefs the U.S. Helsinki Commission
On June 20, the U.S. Helsinki Commission held a briefing on “The Proliferation of Russian-Style Foreign Agents Laws,” where experts discussed the emergence of similar laws in Georgia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Kyrgyzstan. Political analyst Lincoln Mitchell led the discussion on Georgia, emphasizing the importance of Georgian civil society organizations (CSOs). He noted that over Georgia’s …
Chinese Embassy Calls U.S. Ambassador Statements “Preposterous,” “Unprofessional”
On June 21, the Chinese Embassy in Georgia released a statement deploring the remarks made by U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan about China in her recent interview with a local news-wire. Amb. Dunnigan spoke critically about Georgia’s awarding the contract to construct Anaklia Deep Sea Port to China Communications Construction Company. “We would like …
Tags: Anaklia Deep Sea Port, China, Robin Dunnigan, U.S. Ambassador
2024 Ambassadorial Conference in Berlin
On June 20, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze chaired the 2024 the Ambassadorial meeting in Berlin, Germany, which is currently hosting the EURO-24 football championship. The Ambassadorial was attended by the Georgian ambassadors to the United States and European countries, as well as the permanent representatives of Georgia to the European Union, NATO and other …
Tags: Ambassadorial, China-Georgia Relations, EU bid, EU-Georgia relations, NATO-Georgia relations, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
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