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Georgian Citizen Killed by Occupation Forces in Gali
A Georgian citizen, 43-years old Temur Karbaia, was beaten to death in Gali by three occupation forces (the so-called “Militia”) representatives of occupied Abkhazia. The information was first published on Facebook on December 9 by the movement “For Abkhazia”. The Special Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) confirmed the killing to the Public Broadcaster of Georgia. …
Tags: Abkhazia, Georgia, Russian Occupation
10/12/2023 - 17:14
Nationalism and ideology in present-day Georgia: Interview with Prof. Stephen Jones
In an interview for the second edition of Civil Journals, the recently launched Georgian-language magazine, our own Nini Gabrichidze engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Stephen Jones, the distinguished head of the Georgian Studies program at Harvard University. With a decades-long scholarly career, Professor Jones has immersed himself in Georgia’s history and politics, producing …
09/12/2023 - 20:12
“Your Voice to EU” March Unfurls the Largest EU Flag Ever
On December 9, a public pro-EU march “Your Voice to the European Union” was held in Tbilisi. The march organized by local civil society organizations started at 14:00 local time. It aimed to make the voice and choice of the Georgian people for the country’s European future heard in Europe. The march took place one …
Georgia Urged to Further Fight Corruption on 20th Anniversary of UN Convention Against Corruption
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention against Corruption, and is also the International Anti-Corruption Day. The Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Paweł Herczyński, made an address to mark the occasion, saying that the EU Commission’s historic recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status recognizes Georgia’s progress in the fight …
Tags: Corruption
The Daily Beat: 8 December
Kremlin’s man in occupied Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, announced restrictions on USAID-funded projects, declaring USAID Regional Director Persona Non-Grata. In his statement, Ardzinba claimed that “by formulating vague goals and objectives,” the project managers were misinforming occupied Abkhazia’s foreign ministry and promoting Georgian policy. According to Ardzinba, the decision was prompted by ‘discrepancies found in project …
Tags: Abkhazia, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), illegal detentions, Inal Ardzinba, Levan Ioseliani, National Statistics Office, Ombudsman, Radio Tavisupleba, South Ossetia, State Security Service, Ukraine, USAID
Two Georgian Citizens to be Prosecuted in Occupied Tskhinvali
On December 8, the so called security committee [also known as the KGB] of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region said it has initiated “criminal cases” against two Georgian citizens, residents of the village of Adzvi, Gori municipality Giorgi Meladze and Dito Korinteli for “deliberate” and “illegal crossing of the state border” on November 24, 2023. On …
Tags: Russian Occupation, Tskhinvali Region
08/12/2023 - 22:51
Georgian Public Defender Visits Kyiv
On December 7, the Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, who is visiting Kyiv, met with the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko, the press service of the Georgian Public Defender reported. The discussions centered around matters of cooperation between the two countries in the protection of human rights and common challenges. …
Tags: Georgia-Ukraine relations, Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender of Georgia, Ukraine
Geostat: FDI USD 316.0 Million in Q3’23
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Georgia reached USD 316.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, according to the preliminary data published by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on December 8. This marks a 61.5% decrease compared to the adjusted data of the third quarter of 2022. Source: Geostat The decline of FDI was due to the …
Occupied Abkhazia Restricts USAID Funded Projects, Declares USAID Regional Director Persona Non-Grata
In response to concerns about “non-transparent activities and perceived misinformation”, Abkhazia’s de-facto top diplomat, Inal Ardzinba, announced a new approach to dealing with international NGOs and UN agencies and declared USAID Regional Director Persona Non-Grata on December 7. According to Ardzinba’s statement, the decision was in particular prompted by ‘discrepancies found in project questionnaires’, notably …
Former UNM Chair Quits Party, Reveals Plans to Launch his Own
On December 7, the former leader of the main opposition party in Georgia, the United National Movement (UNM), Nika Melia, officially departed the party and announced the formation of his own , saying that although he doesn’t claim to have the most “qualified party in the political spectrum”, he will soon build “the truest political …
Tags: Georgia, Levan Khabeishvili, Nika Melia, UNM
The Daily Beat: 7 December
Former UNM chair Nika Melia announced he is leaving the party, citing the UNM’s “informal rule,” political corruption, and the party’s depletion of values and morale. “Whether I am leaving or not? Yes, I am leaving the party and heading to the future, leaving the past in the past,” said the former UNM chair during …
Tags: Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, CSOs, Education Ministry, Geneva International Discussions, hunger strike, Ilham Aliyev, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Nika Melia, PISA, UNM
President Aliyev: for Azerbaijan, the reliable transit route is through Georgia
On December 6, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev described cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan as a partnership “much broader than energy cooperation” and spoke of its importance for Europe and the prospects for regional integration in the South Caucasus at the forum entitled “Karabakh: Back Home After 30 Years. Accomplishments and Challenges,” co-organized by ADA University …
Tags: Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, Ilham Aliyev
07/12/2023 - 16:59
Georgia in PISA 2022 Report
On December 5, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) published its report on the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in mathematics, reading and science. The PISA results provide insights into how well education systems are preparing students for real-life challenges and future success. PISA is the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment. PISA …
Tags: education, Ministry of Education, PISA
CSOs Address Ministry of Education Amid Teachers’ Protest
On December 6, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) addressed the Ministry of Education with recommendations on how to make the selection process for school principals fairer and more legitimate. The statement was released on the second day of a round-the-clock protest and hunger strike by teachers in front of the ministry. 05/12/2023 – Teachers on Hunger …
Tags: CSOs, Georgia, Ministry of Education
Remains of 23 Abkhazia War Victims Transferred to Tbilisi
The remains of 23 people missing as a result of the 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia were identified and returned to their families on 6 December 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported. According to the Office of State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equity, among the 23 people 21 were …
Tags: Abkhazia, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, War in Abkhazia
Op-ed | Georgia Needs to Stop Treating Emigrants as ATMs that Give Cash and Ask no Questions
A few weeks ago, our organization, the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy, launched an advocacy campaign to enable Georgian citizens living abroad to vote (online) in the next Parliamentary elections. Georgia has a staggering emigration rate: out of its overall population of 3,7 million more than 125 thousand citizens left the country last year …
Tags: Elections, Elections 2024, Emigration
59th Round of Geneva International Discussions
On December 5-6 the 58th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) – a multilateral forum to address security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war – was held in Geneva. The next round is scheduled for April 2024. The Geneva International Discussions/GID were established on the basis of the ceasefire agreement of August 12, …
The Daily Beat: 6 December
President Salome Zurabishvili continues her pro-EU meetings with society representatives, including youth, students, scientists, and businessmen, which increasingly resembles an election campaign. Now, the ruling party representatives are almost sure that the President will resign somewhere in August-September and participate in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Members of the United National Movement continue to leave the …
Tags: 2024 Parliamentary Elections, Chiatura miners, Georgian Manganese, Nika Melia, Occupied South Ossetia, President Salome Zurabishvili, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, State Security Service, UNM
Parliament Speaker Papuashvili Meets NATO Deputy Secretary General
On December 6, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana in Brussels. According to the Parliament of Georgia, the parties discussed NATO-Georgia relations, current developments in the region, and plans for future cooperation. The NATO Deputy Secretary General expressed unwavering support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. The Speaker of Parliament …
Tags: Georgia, NATO General Secretary, Shalva Papuashvili
06/12/2023 - 18:09
Tskhinvali Region Amends “Regulation” on Renaming Geographical Sites
On December 5, the de-facto legislature of the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia adopted a so-called law on the naming of geographical sites in the region. According to it, the opinion of the local population must be taken into account when renaming a certain location. Since the war in 2008 and the adoption of the first version …
Chiatura Miners Reach Agreement with Georgian Manganese
After a five-day strike, Chaitura miners have reached an agreement with Georgian Manganese. One miner shared during a Facebook Live on December 5 that the company had agreed to the miners’ request to transition Darkveti mine workers to a 12-hour workday. Georgian Manganese has confirmed to Civil.ge that the company has met all of the …
Tags: Chiatura miners, Georgia, Georgian Manganese
UPDATE: UNM Loses City Council Members Amid Internal Party Tensions
Georgia’s biggest opposition party, United National Movement’s (UNM) City Council (Sakrebulo) members continue to leave the party and UNM’s regional organizations amid internal tensions and a rift between the current UNM leader, Levan Khabeishvili, and the ousted UNM chairman, Nika Melia. On December 6, 10 out of 11 UNM Khobi Sakrebulo members departed the party. …
Tags: Levan Khabeishvii, Nika Melia, UNM, Zugdidi
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Visits Georgia
On December 5, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Joshua Huck, who is visiting Tbilisi. The U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan, the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and the Head of the Government Administration Revaz Javelidze also attended the meeting. According to the government administration press release, the parties …
Tags: Archil Talakvadze, Irakli Garibashvili, Joshua Huck, Juansher Burchuladze, Robin Dunnigan, US-Georgia relations, Zurab Japaridze
Georgian Citizen Released by Russian Occupation Forces
Khvicha Korinteli, a Georgian citizen who was illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces in the occupied territory near the village of Adzvi in the Gori municipality, has been released, the State Security Service of Georgia reported on December 5. According to the SSSG, the emergency hotline and “other instruments at the disposal of the …
Tags: Russian Occupation, State Security Service of Georgia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia
The Daily Beat: 5 December
The Georgian delegation headed by the ruling party chair, Irakli Kobakhidze, began a four-day visit to Hungary, where they will hold consultations with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semien, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly János Latorcai, Chairwoman of the Committee on European Union Affairs Judith Vargas, and Minister of EU Affairs János Bóka. The …
Tags: 2024 Parliamentary Elections, Education Ministry, Hungary, Imedi TV, Irakli Kobakhidze, Joshua Huck, Levan Khabeishvili, Nika Melia, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Robin Dunnigan, United National Movement
President Zurabishvili’s EU Campaign Shunned by State Universities
In the midst of the “Our Voice to Europe” signature campaign, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who regularly holds meetings with various public figures, was denied permission by several Georgian state universities to give a lecture on EU integration and to use the space inside the universities to collect signatures for the campaign. The “Our Voice …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Our Voice to Europe, Petition Campaing, Salome Zurabishvili
05/12/2023 - 16:43
GD Chair Kobakhidze Visits Hungary
On December 5, the Chairman of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze begins a four-day visit to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The visit comes amidst an apparent divergence of opinions over the European Union’s enlargement process and against the background of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recently statement that “There is no place for it …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Georgia, Hungary
TV Imedi Journalist Quits, Alleges Anti-US Propaganda
On December 1, a US-based correspondent for the pro-governmental Imedi Rusa Shelia TV resigned from her position, citing the company’s alleged anti-USA agenda. She pledged to pursue her career in professional journalism “from a new independent media platform free of political influence.” In her op-ed published on the Georgian online media platform on.ge, Shelia delves …
Tags: anti-western propaganda, Law on Foreign Agents, TV Imedi
The Daily Beat: 4 December
In a document on the EU Commission Enlargement Package addressed to the newly elected Dutch Parliament, the Dutch government expressed its caution about endorsing the EC’s recommendation to grant Georgia EU candidate status “given the limited progress on most of the twelve priorities set out by the Commission.” According to the document, the cabinet acknowledges …
Tags: Abkhazia, Country Reports on Terrorism, EU Candidacy, Giga Otkhozoria, Ingushetia, Konstantin Pilia, Levan Khabeishvili, Margarita Simonyan, Netherlands, Nika Melia, Otar Parstkhaladze, Russia, TV Pirveli, UNM, US Department of State
Gali District de-Facto Head Says New Venue Being Prepared for Gali IPRM
On November 26, Konstantin Pilia, the de-facto head of the administration of the predominantly Georgian-populated Gali district of occupied Abkhazia, said that preparations were underway to set up a new physical space for holding the Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism/IPRM meetings, which has not taken place since 2018. 29/07/2020 – Abkhaz Leader Completes Cabinet, …
Tags: Abkhazia, Gali, Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), Russian Occupation
04/12/2023 - 18:17
Russian Propaganda TV Chief Meets with Abkhaz Students, Slams USAID
Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the “Russia Today” (RT) television channel, visited the occupied region of Abkhazia on December 3. Simonyan met with the students of the de-facto Abkhaz State University. At the meeting Simonyan criticized international and non-governmental organizations, pointing in particular to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Such organizations, she …
Tags: Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, Margarita Simonyan
The Netherlands Cabinet “Cautious” About Granting Georgia Candidacy
In a recent document on the EU Commission Enlargement Package addressed to the Dutch Parliament, the Dutch government expresses its caution about endorsing the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status for EU accession “given the limited progress on most of the twelve priorities set out by the Commission”. This is one of the …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Georgia, Netherlands
“Russo-Georgian Business Council” Discusses Tourism Cooperation
According to the government of Ingushetia, Russia’s North Caucasus republic, “Russo-Georgian Business Council” hosted a meeting dedicated to strengthening tourism and cultural ties between Georgia and Russia’s Ingushetia. The Ingushetia government said on December 1 that the event “brought together representatives of authorities and the tourism industry of both countries, including delegations from the Ministry …
Tags: Davit Tsetskhladze, Georgian diaspora in Russia, Ingushetia, Russian Occupation, Russo-Georgian Business Council
2022: Georgia in the U.S. State Department Report on Terrorism
The U.S. State Department’s 2022 Country Reports on Terrorism highlights that “the terrorism situation in Georgia remained quiet and stable” last year. In the detailed overview of the global counterterrorism environment prepared for Congress, Georgia is described as a “strong U.S. security partner”. The report notes significant counterterrorism successes in Georgia, including the foiled November …
Tags: Country Reports on Terrorism, Georgia, Terrorism, U.S. State Department
Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.1% in November
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.1% in November 2023, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on December 4. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.2%. The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (9.8% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.1% increase); housing, water, electricity, gas and …
Tags: Annual Inflation, Georgia, Geostat
The Daily Beat: 1 December
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili participated in the world leaders’ summit at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, voicing Georgia’s vision on combating the increasingly severe impacts of climate change worldwide. While in Dubai, PM Garibashvili also met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and discussed the reform process in the …
Tags: Charles Michel, Chiatura miners, CSOs, Defense Code, EU Candidacy, Georgian Manganese, Natia Turnava, National Bank of Georgia (NBG), Parliament of Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili
02/12/2023 - 09:00
CSOs Launch Meetings with Embassies, Announce Public March as Georgia Awaits EU Candidacy
In the run-up to the European Council’s decision on Georgia’s EU candidacy, dozens of local Georgian civil society organizations stepped up their efforts, launching an active pro-EU campaign and holding meetings with the diplomatic missions of EU member states. During these meetings, representatives of local CSOs hand over their joint letters to the ambassadors. The …
Tags: Civil Society, CSOs, Diplomatic missions, EU Candidacy, European Council, NGOs
01/12/2023 - 17:37
Chiatura Miners Go On Strike Over Unfulfilled Promises
Some of the Chiatura miners went on strike, over unfulfilled promises by their employer, Georgian Manganese. They are demanding that Georgian Manganese switch to a 12-hour working day and reduce the number of days they work, claiming that their current working day is 8 hours, but they have to produce a 12-hour standard. A worker …
Tags: Chiatura miners, Georgia
Georgian PM Participates in 28th UN Climate Change Conference
On December 1, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili is participating in the world leaders’ summit at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. “Irakli Garibashvili, together with Georgia’s delegation, attended the opening of the summit. The leaders participating in the summit were addressed with welcome speeches by UAE …
Tags: Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, United Nations Climate Change Conference
NBG Board Appoints Two New Vice Presidents
The Board of the National Bank of Georgia appointed two new Vice Presidents, the NBG reported on November 30. Ekaterine Mikabadze and Ekaterine Galdava became the new Vice-Presidents. The newly appointed Vice Presidents have already been and will continue to be members of the Board, which is the supreme body of the financial regulator. The …
Tags: Ekaterine Galdava, Ekaterine Mikabadze, Natia Turnava, National Bank of Georgia, NBG
FM Darchiashvili Attends OSCE Ministerial
The OSCE Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs opened its 30th session in Skopje, North Macedonia, on November 29, with Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili in attendance. On December 1, Ilia Darchiashvili spoke at the 30th session of the OSCE Council of Ministers, highlighting the challenges Georgia faces due to the occupation of its territories …
UNM: 20 New Members Join Political Council Amid Internal Turmoil
Amid internal turmoil in Georgia’s largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), the party has announced a significant change in its political council. The UNM adds 20 new members to its ranks, most of them long-time UNM members. At the same time, the party has declared that the door to the new political council …
Tags: Georgia, United National Movement
Parliament Approves Additional Amendments to Defense Code
On November 30, the Georgian Parliament hastily approved controversial additional amendments to the Defense Code in the third hearing, with 81 votes in favor. The legislative process unfolded quickly, as the bill was passed in the first hearing on November 29, just one day before its final adoption. 29/11/2023 – SJC: Amendments to New Defense …
Tags: Defense Code, Georgian Students, Parliament of Georgia
The Daily Beat: 30 November
One would think that Minister Lavrov had forgotten all about Georgia. After all, that was almost two international invasions ago. But no, Russia’s top diplomat has a top-notch memory (for his age). In his speech at the OSCE ministerial in Skopje, Russia’s foreign minister accused NATO of luring Tbilisi and Kyiv with its membership perspective, …
Tags: Davit Katsarava, Georgian Dream party, Ilia Darchiashvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Jaba Samushia, Occupied Territories, OSCE Ministerial Council, President Salome Zurabishvili, Russia Occupation, Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Shamba, State Duma, Tbilisi City Court, Tbilisi State University
Sergei Shamba: It is Necessary to Talk
On November 29, Sergei Shamba, the so-called “secretary of the security council” and “ex-Prime Minister” of occupied Abkhazia in a live conversation with the former Chairman of the Government-in-exile of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia Vakhtang Kolbaia, emphasized the importance of communication in the pursuit of building mutual understanding between Georgians and Abkhazians. “I have …
Tags: Abkhazia, Russian Occupation, Sergei Shamba, Vakhtang Kolbaia
30/11/2023 - 23:15
Anti-Occupation Movement Raises Concerns Over Alleged “New Occupation Plan”
Davit Katsarava, the leader of the anti-occupation movement Power is in Unity which regularly patrols the occupation line and reports on the situation on the ground, claims that the so-called new occupation plan is being prepared by the occupation forces for further occupation of Georgian territory. Katsarava says that his movement has been trying to draw the …
Tags: Davit Katsarava, Khurvaleti, occupation
CoE OHTE Report on History Teaching in European Countries, including Georgia
On November 30, the Council of Europe published the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe / OHTE General Report on the State of History Teaching in Europe. The report, the first of its kind, summarizes the trends in history teaching in 17 OHTE member countries, including Georgia. The report covers topics such as formal aspects …
Tags: Council of Europe, education, History, OHTE
CoE Discusses Secretary General’s 28th Consolidated Report on Conflict in Georgia
On November 29, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers at Deputy level discussed the CoE Secretary General’s 28th Consolidated Report on the Conflict in Georgia. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia, participated in the meeting. Deputy FM Darsalia also met with the Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić. “The Secretary …
Tags: Abkhazia, Consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia, Council of Europe, Council of Europe (CoE), Russian Occupation, Tskhinvali Region
Watchdog Criticizes Judicial System, Calls for Reform
On November 30, 2023, the Georgian Court Watch criticized the lack of results in judicial reforms over the years and presented its assessment and recommendations on the judicial system at the event “Rules of the Game of the Supreme Council of Justice”. The watchdog said the current situation shows that the legislative processes that have …
Tags: Georgia, Judicial Reforms, Judiciary
Georgia’s GDP Up by 6.2% in October 2023
Georgia’s estimated real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate amounted to 6.2% for October2023 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on November 30. According to Geostat, the following activities contributed significantly to growth: financial and insurance activities; wholesale and retail trade; …
Tags: GDP Growth, Georgia, Geostat
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