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About 100 Students from Georgia Apply to Study in Russian Universities
The Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia says about 100 applications from Georgia have applied for admission to Russian universities for 2024 so far. The quota for Georgian students is 200 places, the same as last year, when 100% of submitted applicants were accepted to study in Russia. The study of students …
Tags: Georgia, Russia, students
13/10/2023 - 14:32
ISFED Policy Document: Analysis of Political Finances in Georgia
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) Policy Document says that although Georgian legislation “more or less covers” the main issues defined by international standards that exist in the field of political finance, the dominance of the ruling party in fundraising, leading to financial inequality among parties is identified as a major problem. …
Tags: election campaign, Georgia, ISFED, Political Parties
Georgia’s Foreign Trade Up 16.6% in January-September 2023
On October 13, the National Statistics Service of Georgia (Geostat) published express data indicating that the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia increased by 16.6% in January-September 2023 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, reaching USD 15, 919.5 million. According to Geostat, Georgia’s external merchandise trade saw exports rise by 12.7% to …
Tags: Foreign Trade, Georgia, Geostat
The Daily Beat: 12 October
New US Ambassador Robin Dunnigan arrived in Georgia and met President Salome Zurabishvili, presenting her Ambassadorial credentials and conveying the best regards from US President Joe Biden. This ceremonial meeting at the president’s palace marked the beginning of Dunnigan’s ambassadorship in Georgia amid tensions in the US-Georgia relations. President Salome Zurabishvili signed the new …
Tags: Defense Code, Droa, Education Ministry, Girchi - More Freedom, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Robin Dunnigan, State Security Service, TI Georgia, Viktor Orban
Newly Appointed U.S. Ambassador Presents Credentials to President, Meets Foreign Minister
On 12 October, the day of her arrival to Georgia, new U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan presented her diplomatic credentials to the President and met with the Foreign Minister of Georgia. According to the Presidential Administration of Georgia, the U.S. Ambassador expressed her expectation of close collaboration with the President of Georgia, particularly as the nation …
Tags: Ilia Darchiashvili, President Salome Zurabishvili, Robin Dunnigan, US-Georgia relations
12/10/2023 - 23:19
Israeli Ambassador’s Hearing at Foreign Relations Committee Session
On October 12, the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee held a session with Israel’s Ambassador to Georgia, Hadas Ester Meitzad. The meeting began with a moment of silence to honor recent civilian casualties in Israel. Committee Chairman Nikoloz Samkharadze expressed support for Israel in its fight against terrorism and reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to a strong …
Tags: Georgia, Israel, Nikoloz Samkharadze
Security Service Summons Activists Amid “Trainings Plot” Allegations
On October 11 and 12, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) summoned Natalia Vatsadze, an actress, and Vakho Kareli, a photographer, in a follow-up to the so-called “training plot” allegations. In a statement on October 2, SSSG said three Serbian trainers affiliated with the civil society organization CANVAS, were brought to Georgia to participate in a …
Tags: Canvas, State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), USAID
Prime Minister of Hungary Visits Georgia
On October 10, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán began his official visit to Georgia. On October 11 he held a face-to-face meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. During his visit, a meeting of the Georgian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission was held followed by a memorandum signing ceremony. The Prime Ministers of Georgia and Hungary made …
Tags: Georgia, Hungary, Irakli Garibashvili, Viktor Orban
President Signs New Defense Code into Law
On 12 October, President Salome Zurabishvili signed the new Defense Code into law “despite flaws,” Davit Tevzadze, Presidential Advisor on Strategic Planning said in a briefing today. 28/02/2023 – Explainer | Georgia’s New Defense Code Tevzadze indicated that the requirement for conscripts to exclusively serve under the Defense Ministry’s jurisdiction will put an end to …
TI-Georgia: Political appointment of public school principals is illegal and unacceptable
According to Transparency International-Georgia, the Ministry of Education has begun a process of selecting school principals based on political loyalty and their possible use for electoral purposes. TI reports that the Ministry presented only one candidate for the post of principal to more than 900 public schools, resulting in a “decidedly uncompetitive environment” and the …
Tags: Georgia, Ministry of Education
Opposition Parties Launch New Whistleblowing Project
On October 12, the political parties “Girchi – More Freedom” and “Droa,” along with other opposition political parties, media, and non-governmental organizations, launched a joint project Mona.ge (Mona – მონა – is a Georgian word which means slave). This project aims to publicly identify individuals in Georgia who are supporting the Russian regime, which the …
Tags: Droa, Georgia, Girchi - More Freedom
The Daily Beat: 11 October
President Salome Zurabishvili is unsure whether she will remain in office as she awaits the constitutional court’s decision and subsequent vote in parliament. “I don’t know how many days I have left as President, but it will be very precious to me that if things go this way, this will be the last time I …
Tags: Defense Ministry of Georgia, Ilham Aliyev, Inal Ardzinba, Natia Turnava, National Bank of Georgia (NBG), Nikol Pashinyan, Otar Partskhaladze, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Viktor Orban
Zurabishvili: I don’t know how many days I have left as President
“I don’t know how many days I have left as President, but it will be very precious to me that if things go this way, this will be the last time I give an award to such an important person and generation,” President Salome Zurabishvili said as she awarded the Medal of Honor to Niko …
Tags: Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili
11/10/2023 - 18:05
Armenian PM Skeptical of Azerbaijan’s Proposed Negotiation Platform in Tbilisi
On October 11, Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan responded to a proposal by Azerbaijan’s President to consider Georgia as a venue for negotiations and for bilateral and trilateral meetings in Tbilisi. Pashinyan expressed concern that Aliev’s suggestion, made while discussions about a meeting in Brussels are underway, could be interpreted as an attempt to undermine …
Tags: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Nikol Pashinyan
Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Hold Regular Command and Post Drills
Georgian military personnel, along with their Turkish and Azerbaijani counterparts, took part in the trilateral command and post exercise ETERNITY 2023, which was conducted in Baku on a rotational basis, according to a report from the Georgian Ministry of Defense. The exercise also included participation from representatives of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, specifically …
Tags: Azerbaijan, Drills, ETERNITY 2023, Georgia, Turkey
National Bank Bleeds Managers
National Bank of Georgia bleeds managers as staff exodus from financial regulator continues. Eka Berianidze, the head of the Supervisory Policy Department’s Regulatory Policy Development Division, resigned from her position. Berianidze confirmed her resignation to a business news portal bm.ge. Berianidze has been working on several positions at the NBG since 2016. She was involved …
Tags: Archil Mestvrishvili, Eka Berianidze, Gvantsa Tskitishvili, Natia Turnava, National Bank of Georgia (NBG), Nikoloz Gagua, Papuna Lezhava, Tamar Kusikashvili
Georgia and UAE Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
On October 10, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Dubai. The agreement was signed by Levan Davitashvili, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister of the UAE. Georgia’s …
Ardzinba: Accession to Union State Fully in Fundamental Interests of Abkhazia
Abkhazia’s accession to the Union State of Russia and Belarus “is fully in the fundamental interests of the people of the republic”, the de-facto foreign minister of occupied Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, said to the Russian Channel One programme “Big Game”. According to Ardzinba, representatives of Abkhazia are actively studying the experience of building the union …
Tags: Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, Russia, Russian Occupatin
The Daily Beat: 10 October
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accompanied by his spouse, Lévai Anikó, and a government delegation, arrived in Georgia with a two-day official visit. At the Tbilisi airport, the Hungarian guest was met by the foreign minister, Ilia Darchiashvili. According to media reports, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili are set to discuss …
Tags: Abkhazia, Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, Gia Volski, Hungary, Inal Ardzinba, Lazare Grigoriadis, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Russia Occupation, Tbilisi City Court, Venice Commission, Viktor Orban
Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary’s Vision for Judicial Reform
In a statement released on October 9, Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary addressed the Georgian judiciary challenges and the ways to tackle them. The Coalition stresses: “Despite several waves of reforms carried out over the years, the Georgian judicial system still faces fundamental challenges and is experiencing a significant crisis of legitimacy and …
Tags: Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, Judicial Reforms, Judiciary, Venice Commission
10/10/2023 - 16:50
Beka Grigoriadis and his Brother Sentenced by Tbilisi Court
The Tbilisi City Court sentenced Beka Grigoriadis, the father of Lazare Grigoriadis, a young man arrested on charges of violence against police during the March 7-8 protests, to five days in detention. Grigoriadis was handcuffed in the courtroom. The judge recognized the brother of Beka Grigoriadis, Kakha Grigoriadis, as an administrative offender – he was …
Politicians React to Venice Commission’s Opinion
On October 9, the Council of Europe Venice Commission published its follow-up opinion to previous opinions concerning the Organic Law on Common Courts. The Commission welcomed some of the amendments to the Organic Law adopted in June 2023 as well as some of the September 2023 draft amendments, but noted that “important previous recommendations have not yet …
Tags: Georgia, Opposition, Ruling Party, Venice Commission
Foreign Relations Committee Chair Talks Ochamchire Base with Swiss Ambassadors
According to the Parliament of Georgia, Russia’s intention to open a naval base in occupied Abkhazia “has been condemned” by both sides at the meeting between Nikoloz Samkharadze, chairperson of the Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee and Heidi Grau and Krystyna Marty Lang, Swiss Ambassadors to Georgia and Russia respectively. “Difficult situation in the occupied regions …
Tags: Georgia, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Russia, Russia Occupation, Switzerland
Venice Commission: Pursue Reform Strategy “Without Unjustified Delay”
Council of Europe Venice Commission in its follow-up opinion to previous opinions concerning the Organic Law on Common Courts welcomed some of the amendments to the Organic Law adopted in June 2023 as well as some of the September 2023 draft amendments, but it noted that “important previous recommendations have not yet been addressed.” The …
Tags: EU bid, EU Candidacy, Judicial Reforms, Judiciary, Venice Commission
The Daily Beat: 9 October
On Sunday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited Georgia, meeting Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Joint statements to the media followed a tête-à-tête meeting between the two leaders, discussing transport, energy, and logistics. According to the official press release, PM Garibashvili and President Aliyev highlighted the importance of advancing the Middle Corridor initiative and railroad modernization …
Tags: Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, Davit Kezerashvili, Foreign Ministry of Georgia, Hamas, Ilham Aliyev, Israel, Mikheil Saakashvili, NATO PA, Occupied Territories, Ochamchire, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Shalva Papuashvili
NATO PA Condemns Russia’s Intent to Build Naval Base in Occupied Abkhazia
NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) adopted on October 9 a resolution – “Strengthening Stability and Security in the Black Sea Region Following Russia’s Full Scale Invasion of Ukraine,” which, among other issues, denounces Russia’s occupation of Georgia, condemns the Kremlin’s plan to build a naval base in occupied Abkhazia, and reiterates support for Georgia’s eventual NATO …
Tags: Black Sea Security, Georgia, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
09/10/2023 - 18:45
President of Azerbaijan Visits Georgia
On October 8, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited Georgia. Within the framework of the visit, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili held a face-to-face meeting with President Aliyev, after which the parties made a joint statement to the media. Reportedly, the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili was once again not informed about her …
Tags: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ilham Aliyev, Irakli Garibashvili
State Minister Anna Lührmann: Georgia Belongs in the EU, but Reforms are a Must
Amidst the winds of change and uncertainty swirling in the region, Georgia finds itself at a crossroads of destiny. As the country awaits the European Union’s decision on its candidate status this December, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this pivotal moment for Georgia’s European future, Civil.ge had the privilege of sitting down with Germany’s …
Tags: Anna Lührmann, European Union, Georgia, Germany
Georgian Authorities React to Hamas Attack on Israel
Georgian officials reacted to the attack on Israel launched by the organization Hamas, designated as terrorist by the U.S. and the EU, this morning. President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili expressed her solidarity with the State of Israel, stating: “Terror and inhumanity should have no place in our modern world.” Deeply concerned with the recent escalation …
Tags: Gaza strip, Georgia, Hamas, Israel
07/10/2023 - 19:41
Reactions to the Plan to Open Russian Navy Base in Occupied Abkhazia
Following his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Sochi on October 4, de facto leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania told the Russian daily Izvestiya about the plan to open a permanent Russian naval base in Ochamchire, a seaside town on the Black Sea coastline around 50 km drive from Zugdidi. 05/10/2023 – Bzhania Readies to …
Tags: Ochamchire, Russian Navy Fleet in the Black Sea, Russian Occupatin, War in Ukraine
The Daily Beat: 6 October
The daily circus of partisan haggling was punctured today by two tragedies that point to the depth of the fundamental problems this cacophony obscures. A 14-year-old girl was killed by her “husband” in the village of Iormuganlo of Sagarejo municipality. This tragedy points to the reality of the practice of “child brides” persisting in some …
Tags: Davit Kezerashvili, Femicide, Irakli Garibashvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Pawel herczynski, public schools, Viktor Orban
Hungary, Georgia Plan a Joint Cabinet Meeting in Tbilisi
Prime Minister of Hungary, Victor Orban, gave full-throated support to Georgia’s EU candidacy while interviewed by the media on the margins of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Granada, Spain. PM Orban said Georgia has done “a great job” in fulfilling the EU criteria, and it was “totally unfair” for the country not to …
Tags: EU-Georgia relations, Hungary, Viktor Orban
06/10/2023 - 20:08
PM Led Georgian Delegation at Granada European Summit
The Georgian delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili attended the Third Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) held in Granada, Spain on October 5-6. The visit centered around the anticipated report of the European Commission on Georgia’s fulfillment of the twelve conditions for becoming the candidate for membership in the …
Tags: European Political Community, Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili
Court Orders Interior Ministry to Compensate Reporter Wounded During 2019 June Protests
On 5 October, Administrative Board of Tbilisi City Court has partially satisfied the lawsuit by Ekaterine Abashidze, a journalist hit by a police-fired “non-lethal” bullets during June 20-21 protests in Tbilisi. According to the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a local watchdog defending the plaintiff’s interests in the court, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) …
Chkhorotsku Public Schools Protest “Politically Biased Selection of Principals”
Public schools in Chkhorotsku, Kirtskhi and Akhuti in the Samegrelo region are protesting the Ministry of Education’s nomination of candidates for the positions of school principals in nearly 927 Georgian schools, most of which have only one candidate. But some 350 schools, including Chkhorotsku N2, Kirtskhi N1, and Akhuti N1 public schools, have not even …
Tags: Chkhorotsku, Education Ministry, Georgia
Parliament Adopts the Amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations
On October 5, the Parliament endorsed the amendment to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations that the ruling party rushed through in an accelerated procedure. 74 MPs voted for and 22 against the adaptation of the law. The law empowers police to prohibit the erection of “temporary structures” like tents during assemblies or demonstrations if such setups …
President Zurabishvili: GD Motives for Impeachment “Purely Political”
President Salome Zurabishvili commented on the Constitutional Court’s impeachment hearing and said the arguments presented against her were “purely political.” “They (GD) don’t care whether the Constitution is violated or not. Their concerns are purely political; they are angry at the President and resentful,” Zurabishvili said. According to her, no actual legal arguments rooted in …
Tags: Georgia, Georgian Dream, Salome Zurabishvili
The Daily Beat: 5 October
Following the three-day hearings, the Constitutional Court concluded its review of the alleged violation of the Constitution by President Salome Zurabishvili. According to the Constitution, the court must provide the parliament with its legal conclusion on whether the President violated the Constitution by October 14. The parliament can proceed with the impeachment procedure upon receiving …
Tags: Aslan Bzhania, Constitutional Court, European Political Community, Georgian Legion, Mamuka mamulashvili, Ochamchire, Parliament of Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Russia, Tents Law, Ukraine
PM Says Impeachment Hearing Result of Zurabishvili’s “Provocation”
PM Irakli Garibashvili said President Salome Zurabishvili staged a “provocation” by violating the law intentionally to force the government to retaliate by launching the impeachment procedures. PM Garibashvili was commenting on the ongoing deliberations at the Constitutional Court, where the ruling party is arguing President Salome Zurabishvili committed an impeachable offense by traveling to Europe …
Tags: Impeachment Case, Irakli Garibashvili, Salome Zurabishvili
05/10/2023 - 21:17
PM Garibashvili “Optimistic” about Candidacy, Claims Special Concerns
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, spoke to journalists on the margins of the third summit of the European Political Union (EPC) taking place in Granada, Spain. PM Garibashvili said he was optimistic about Georgia’s prospects for the EU candidacy and warned the EU against “treating Georgia unfairly.” “We have heard many statements, which, on the one …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili
Updated: 3 Days of the Constitutional Court Deliberation on President’s Impeachment
After three days of hearings, the Constitutional Court has completed its consideration of the Georgian Dream MPs’ submission on the President’s alleged violation of the Constitution. The Court will submit its report to Parliament by October 14. The subject of discussion at the court session was the violation by the President of Georgia of Article …
Tags: Constitutional Court, Georgia, Impeachment Case, Salome Zurabishvili
“Georgian Legion” Commander Mamulashvili Wanted by Russia
Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the “Georgian National Legion” fighting in Ukraine, has been placed on Russia’s wanted list for his “alleged involvement in recruitment and participation in hostilities on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces,” official news agency TASS reported. The legal action is part of a broader criminal case against Mamulashvili and over seventy …
Tags: Georgia, Georgian Legion, Mamuka mamulashvili, Russia, Ukraine
Bzhania Readies to Host the Russian Navy, Wants to Join the Union State
Following his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Sochi on October 4, de facto leader of occupied Abkhazia told the Russian daily Izvestia about the plan to open a permanent Russian naval base in Ochamchire, a seaside town on the Black Sea coastline around 50 km drive from Zugdidi. Bzhania also expressed interest in joining Russia’s …
Tags: Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, Russian Occupatin, Vladimir Putin
The Daily Beat: 4 October
Following the reactions from the US Embassy in Tbilisi and the USAID-Georgia, Principal Deputy Spokesman of the US State Department, Vedant Patel, also dismissed the Security Service’s allegations against one of the USAID-funded projects, describing them as “false” and “fundamentally mischaracterize the goals of [US] assistance to Georgia.” “As always, our assistance is transparent. And …
Tags: Aslan Bzhania, Formula TV, Ilia Darchiashvili, Inal Ardzinba, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Misha Mshvildadze, National Bank of Georgia (NBG), State Security Service of Georgia, USAID, Vedant Patel, Vladimir Putin
Formula TV Co-Founder’s Assailant Jailed for Six Months
Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Nikoloz Gugeshashvili to six months imprisonment for assaulting Misha Mshvildadze, a co-founder of the critical Formula TV, Mshvildadze’s attorney confirmed to Civil.ge. Gugeshashvili punched Mshvildadze, who was walking in the street of Tbilisi, in the face on June 27 and was apprehended the following day. 12/09/2023 – Special Investigation Service …
Tags: Formula TV, Media Freedom, Misha Mshvildadze
04/10/2023 - 16:41
IMF: Stand-by Arrangement Delayed, Not Suspended
On October 4, the IMF Spokesperson told the Voice of America (VoA) that the IMF-supported stand-by arrangement with Georgia is delayed rather than suspended. According to the Spokesperson, the approval of the second review has been delayed due to the IMF’s disapproval of the change in the management structure and the recent decision on amendments …
Tags: Georgia, International Monetary Fund (IMF), National Bank of Georgia (NBG)
FM Darchiashvili Meets EU Commissioners, Council of Europe Secretary General
Foreign Minister Ilia Dachiashvili, who is on a two-day official visit to Strasbourg, yesterday met the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, and the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. The Foreign Ministry said Darchiashvili discussed Georgia’s implementation of the EU Commission’s twelve priorities with his European colleagues. Had a very productive meeting with EU …
Tags: Didier Reynders, EU Commission, Ilia Darchiashvili, Paolo Gentiloni, twelve recp
U.S. State Department: Plot Allegations Mischaracterize the Goals of US Assistance to Georgia
During the daily press briefing on October 3, Principal Deputy Spokesman of the US State Department, Vedant Patel stated that the SSSG’s allegations against one of the USAID-funded projects were “false” and “fundamentally mischaracterize the goals of [US] assistance to Georgia,” echoing the US Embassy’s statement. “As always, our assistance is transparent. And we will …
Tags: Georgia, State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), US State Department, USAID, Vedant Patel
The Daily Beat: 3 October
The Constitutional Court launched its first public hearing over the President’s impeachment case. The Court is considering the President’s alleged violation of the constitution while conducting foreign visits to lobby for the country’s EU candidacy without the government’s authorization. This is a precedent-setting case as it is the first time that the Constitutional Court of …
Tags: Belgium, Constitutional claim against President, Constitutional Court, Eoropalia, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Justin Welby, President Salome Zurabishvili, Slovenia, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Tamar Chugoshvili, United Kingdom
Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.7% in September
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.7% in September 2023, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on October 3. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.6%. The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (10.0% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.6% increase); housing, water, electricity, gas and …
Tags: Annual Inflation, Georgia, Geostat
03/10/2023 - 12:41
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