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Opposition MP Physically Assaulted


Member of Parliament from the opposition Girchi party Iago Khvichia was allegedly physically assaulted in the party’s office. According to him, the alleged assailant is the brother of a citizen whom Biblical Freedom – a church founded by Girchi, ordained to help avoid the compulsory military service. The alleged assailant reportedly protested Biblical Freedom’s activities, …

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07/03/2024 - 12:56


The Daily Beat: 6 March


In an interview with Rustavi 2 TV, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili backed the ruling Georgia Dream party’s intention to pass the legislation to fight “pseudo-liberal ideology” and “LGBT propaganda,” saying that one can’t choose gender as it is the case for age, adding that there are only two genders – female and male. “You can say …

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Ruling Majority Tests Homophobia as Campaign Pillar


Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze backed the ruling majority in announcing legislation to fight “pseudo-liberal ideology” and “LGBT propaganda.” The ruling party is clearly mounting homophobia as an early pillar for its parliamentary election campaign. And since elections are slated for this fall, there is still time to roll back the campaign or modify its pace …

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06/03/2024 - 19:04


ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Russian Commander in Ukraine, Georgia Wars


The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian commanders, Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Sokolov, on charges of war crimes allegedly committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the ICC’s recent decision is unrelated to the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of …

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PM Appoints New Deputy Finance Minister


Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze appointed Leri Barnabishvili, previously the Head of the Georgian government’s Department of Relations with Regions, as Deputy Finance Minister, the Finance Ministry reported on March 5. Barnabishvili has 20 years of experience in the Finance Ministry, including serving as Deputy Minister from 2015 to 2020 and Head of the …

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The Daily Beat: 5 March


Iceland’s President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson arrived on an official visit to Georgia, where he has already met with President Salome Zurabishvili, discussing Black Sea security, the situation in the occupied territories, including Russia’s intention to build a naval base in Ochamchire and the transfer of Sokhumi Airport to Russia. President Jóhannesson expressed Iceland’s full support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic …

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Iceland’s President Visits Georgia


Iceland’s President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson arrived on an official visit to Georgia on March 5. President Jóhannesson has already met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. Other events included a meeting of Georgian and Icelandic business representatives together with Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili, and delivering a …

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05/03/2024 - 17:24


Georgia Hosts U.S.-led Trojan Footprint 2024 Drills


Georgia is hosting the U.S.-led multinational special operations drills Trojan Footprint 2024, organized by the U.S. Special Operations Forces in Europe (US-SOCEUR). “During the next two weeks, Georgia, the United States, NATO members and partner country military forces will work on improving cooperation and coordination among a global network of partners and allies,” the U.S. …

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CSOs Call on EU’s Várhelyi to Prepare Interim Report on Georgia’s Reform Progress


12 local CSOs address the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi “to consider the possibility of preparing an interim evaluation report on Georgia” on its progress in meeting the nine conditions set for Georgia by the European Commission last November. CSOs emphasize that such a report would help them identify the specific problems …

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Interview | War is a Great Verifier of all Things


Georgia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the two-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As part of this commemoration, conferences and round tables were held, with participation of diplomatic and academic community members, to discuss the ongoing war, the challenges and the ways to support Ukraine until its victory over …

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President Vetoes Amendments to CEC Staffing Rules


On March 5, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed amendments to the Electoral Code passed by the Parliament on February 20, the President’s Administration confirmed to Civil.ge. The amendments, if passed, will change the procedure for electing the chair and non-partisan members (“professional members”) of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and abolish the post of Deputy …

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The Daily Beat: 4 March


President Salome Zurabishvili met with the ambassadors of the U.S. and EU countries at the Orbeliani Palace. According to the president’s office, the “Unity Platform for Europe” initiative, the participation of Georgian citizens living abroad in the upcoming parliamentary elections, and the importance of the long-term election observation mission were discussed during the meeting. In …

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ECtHR Rules Against Georgia in 2016 Police Chase Death Case


The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held Georgia responsible for the violation of the procedural limb of Article 2 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the right to life in the case of Z.E.’s death related to police chase in 2016, ordering the country to pay the …

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04/03/2024 - 19:05


President Zurabishvili Meets US, EU Member Ambassadors


Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili today, March 4, met the ambassadors of the U.S. and EU countries at the Orbeliani Palace. According to the presidential administration, three issues were addressed: the purpose and importance of the “Unity Platform for Europe” initiative, which President Zurabishvili announced in her annual address to Parliament on February 6; the importance …

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Pullman Hotel in Tbilisi Refuses to Host OpenTalks.AI Conference


The OpenTalks.AI conference, scheduled to take place March 6-7 at the Pullman Hotel in Tbilisi, has been canceled. The Russian organizer of the conference, held annually since 2018, is Ilabs, which has previously partnered with the Putin-funded Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and many currently sanctioned Russian companies. The cancelation notice was announced …

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Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.3% in February 2024


Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.3% in February 2024, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on March 4. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices decreased by 0.04%. The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (8.6% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.5% increase); transport (4.8% increase); and food …

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Interview | Black Sea will Remain a Contested Area for Years to Come


It’s been two years since Russia launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which has left hundreds of thousands dead, devastated Ukraine, has had huge implications for Euro-Atlantic security and dealt a severe blow to the rules-based international order. Civil.ge sat down with Daniel Szeligowski, Head of the Eastern Europe Programme & Senior Research Fellow …

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03/03/2024 - 17:07


Government Administration Head Dismissed, Deputy Acting


Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze confirmed the dismissal of Revaz Javelidze, the Head of the Government Administration. Javelidze held the post since May 2022 until his dismissal on February 29. Ilia Shamugia, the former Deputy Head of Administration took up as the Acting Head and is considered likely to be confirmed on this post. It is …

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02/03/2024 - 14:17


Officials Tight-Lipped About Allegations of Abduction from Former Russian Asylum-Seeker


Ilkin Melikov, 28, a Russian citizen who fled the country in late 2019 after being beaten by the police, was allegedly abducted from Georgia back to Russia in 2022, the Russian-language news service “VOT TAK” reported based on information the agency says it received from Melikov himself. Georgian PM Irakli Kobakhidze told the journalists it …

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Revenue Service Demands U.S. Clarification on Sanctions Evasion Allegation


On February 29, the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia denied the allegations about Georgia violating international sanctions against Russia, made during the February 27 hearing of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on “U.S. Technology Fueling Russia’s War in Ukraine: How and Why.” “The U.S.-Georgia trade statistics referenced during the …

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The Daily Beat: 1 March


Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs Zurab Azarashvili resigned after meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. PM Kobakhidze said the Minister had “management problems” that prompted his resignation. It is not yet known who will replace him in the post. Minister Azarashvili was considered a close ally and …

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U.S. Ambassador Talks EU integration, Elections with Formula TV


During her live interview with Formula TV on February 29, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan emphasized the “deep friendship and strategic partnership” between the U.S. and Georgia and spoke about Georgia’s EU integration, the upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as the recent mention of Georgia by U.S. Senators in connection with Russia’s sanctions evasion. …

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01/03/2024 - 22:13


Georgia in Freedom House’s Internet Freedom 2023 Report


Georgia’s score of freedom on the net decreased to 76 (on a scale of 0-100) by two points, but it still retains its place among the ‘free’ countries, according to the report released by Freedom House, the US-based rights watchdog. The report highlights that Georgia maintained online freedom during the reporting period (June 1, 2022 …

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EECMD Urges Speedy Discussion of Draft Law to Streamline Emigrants’ Voting


On February 29, Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy – EECMD called on the Georgian Parliament to expedite the discussion of the draft law aimed at streamlining the Georgian emigrants’ ability to vote. The draft bill developed by the organization and partner political parties was submitted to the Parliament on November 21, 2023. The bill …

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Health Minister Resigns


On March 1, Georgian Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs Zurab Azarashvili resigned from his post, the government administration reported. “Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze talked with the Minister of Health, after which Zurab Azarashvili left his post,” – says the official press release of the government administration. …

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President Zurabishvili in BBC’s HARDtalk


In an interview with BBC HARDtalk, President Salome Zurabishvili said she believes that the people of Abkhazia “might want to be part of European Union together with Georgia,” adding that it is the “perspective” Georgia could offer to Abkhazia, answering to BBC journalist proposition that “the people of Abkhazia may not want to be part …

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The Daily Beat: 29 February


Parliamentary majority leader Mamuka Mdinaradze announced that the ruling Georgian Dream party is drafting the law that will “protect society from the pseudo-liberal ideology and its inevitable consequences.” MP Mdinaradze is alarmed about the growth rate of “the number of people with non-traditional sexual orientation” across the world and believes that it is the ruling …

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Ardzinba Issues Ultimatum to UNDP, Threatens “Adequate” Response


Inal Ardzinba, the de-facto top diplomat of Russia-occupied Abkhazia, threatened the “timely and adequate response” against the United Nations Development Programme at a meeting with its programme manager, Vardon Hoca (Hoxha), if the UN agency does not officially refute “the goals of a USAID-funded project” by March 7 at 6:00 p.m., the media reported on …

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29/02/2024 - 19:23


Georgian Police Arrest Suspect in Connection with Murder in Occupied Gali


On February 29, the employees of the occupied Gali police department, David Kvekveskiri was arrested in Zugdidi, in connection with the brutal murder of Georgian citizen Temur (Vitali) Karbaia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia confirmed to Civil.ge. Kvekveskiri was detained on charges related to the illegal purchase and storage of firearms, according to Article 236 …

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Speaker: EU Should Distance Itself from MEPs Slanderous Allegations


On February 29, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili calls on EU to “distance itself from the slanderous allegations of MEPs”, in response to amendments initiated by MEP Anna Fotyga to two European Parliament resolutions adopted on February 28 to include the issue of the pardon of former President Mikheil Saakashvili. According to …

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Report | Atlantic Council: Russia Doubled Down on its Worldwide Efforts to Undermine Ukraine


Russia has failed to live up to its promises of a swift takeover of Ukraine. As the war enters its second year, it’s clear that Russia’s battlefield results do not match Vladimir Putin’s ambitions, further fueling Moscow’s desperate attempt to gain the upper hand in the information war. 2023 was the year of the Kremlin’s …

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Local Chief Says Population is Leaving Gali


On February 28, Konstatin Pilia, the head of the local occupation administration of the ethnic Georgian-majority Gali district of Abkhazia, met Aslan Bzhania, head of the occupation executive, and shared his concerns about more people leaving Gali. Pilia said the outflow began in 2015 due to “difficulties related to documentation.” An estimated 30,000 ethnic Georgians …

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President Zurabishvili Says No Ambitions to Lead Opposition


President Salome Zurabishvili is not going to be “the leader of the opposition” in the upcoming Parliamentary elections in October, she said following her speech at the Chatham House event “Georgia’s European Opportunity” on February 28, answering a question about her role in helping the opposition. “Some people would like me to take this term …

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Watchdog: MPs’ Work Trips Cost GEL 1.9 Million in 2023, with GD’s Share at 80%


In 2023, the total cost of MPs’ working trips, both international and domestic, amounted to GEL 1 939 749 (about USD 718 000), with visits undertook by ruling “Georgian Dream” MPs accounting for GEL 1 341 822 (about USD 497 000), or 80 percent of the total, local watchdog Governance Monitoring Center (GMC) reported as …

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Georgia’s GDP Up by 5.8% in January 2024


Georgia’s estimated real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate amounted to 5.8% for January 2024 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on February 29. According to Geostat, the following activities contributed significantly to growth: construction; financial and insurance activities; information and …

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The Daily Beat: 28 February


President Salome Zurabishvili is visiting the UK, where she participated in the Chatham House event – Georgia’s European opportunity. Addressing the Chatham House event participants, President Zurabishvili spoke of Georgia’s European integration, the war in Ukraine, Georgia’s occupied territories, and the Russian threat. “Georgia’s future is in Ukraine, Europe’s future is in Ukraine, and that …

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Government Spends Most on Social, Political Ads on Meta


The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a local watchdog, reported on major political advertising trends on Meta products such as Facebook and Instagram. According to the watchdog, between October 1 and December 29, 2023, 56.7 percent of all social and political ad spending on Facebook and Instagram came from 15 pages, the …

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28/02/2024 - 20:35


Georgian Citizen Illegally Detained by Russian Occupation Forces


The Russian occupation forces illegally detained Georgian citizen near the village of Takhtisdziri, Kareli municipality (near Tskhinvali occupation line), the Georgian State Security Service (SSSG) reported on February 28. Upon receiving information about the incident, the State Security Service activated the “hot line” operated by the EU Monitoring Mission. International partners and the co-chairs of …

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Mtavari TV’s Gvaramia Quits Management, Transfers Shares


Nika Gvaramia, the co-founder of the opposition-leaning Mtavari Arkhi TV, quit as Director General and transferred his 12% stake in the media to his wife, Sopho Liluashvili. He confirmed the information shortly after the RFE/RL Georgian Service report. Gvaramia said his move precedes the official launch of his party next week since owning media shares …

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EU Asylum Applications from Georgia Drop by 12% in 2023


In 2023, the number of Georgian citizens applying for asylum in EU states decreased by 12% compared to the previous year and reached 25 209 people, according to the data released by the European Union Agency for Asylum on February 28. Last year, Georgian citizens applied for asylum mainly in Germany (9194), France (7210) and …

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Parliament Foreign Relations Committee Hears U.S. Ambassador Dunnigan


On February 28, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament heard U.S. Ambassador Robin L. Dunnigan, who emphasized the four top priorities of U.S.-Georgia relations: Georgia’s EU integration process, economic ties between the two countries, U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and finally, the U.S. commitment to preserving Georgia’s cultural heritage. Amb. …

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Confirming the Trend, Georgia Denies Entry to Another Putin Critic


On February 26, Russian activist Maks Ivantsov reported that he had been denied re-entry into Georgia, claiming that this was because he was campaigning in Tbilisi and collecting signatures in support of Putin’s opponent Boris Nadezhdin candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections in Russia (on February 8 anti-war candidate Nadezhdin was barred by Central Election …

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Zurabishvili Worried about Russian Election Interference


In her interview with Sky News on February 27, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili said she is concerned about the possible Russian interference with the upcoming “very important” parliamentary elections in Georgia in October 2024. Asked if she was concerned about Russia’s sway over Georgia, she replied that everyone should be concerned, not just Georgia. …

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The Daily Beat: 27 February


On Monday’s parliamentary session, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to stand up and commemorate Alexei Navalny, citing his chauvinism and anti-Georgian statement during the 2008 Russo-Georgia war. “The chauvinists are not entitled to respect in the Hungarian parliament, and we do not stand up to honor those who called the Georgians rats during the …

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CSOs Present Vision on Implementing EU Requirements


On February 27, the coalition of twelve civil society organizations presented a detailed vision for the implementation of the nine steps defined by the European Commission for Georgia to move to the next stage of the EU integration process and start accession talks. The organizations that worked on this long document under the leadership of …

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27/02/2024 - 23:47


Russian Institute Lists Georgian Communication Regime as ‘Relatively Friendly’


Georgia was named as a “relatively friendly” state to Russia, while the occupied Georgian regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia, also ranked, allotted the first and third, respectively, in the list of the friendliness of communication regimes of post-Soviet countries published by the Russian National Research Institute of Communication Development on February 26. Out of 14 …

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TI-Georgia: Suggested Anti-Corruption Law Amendments Ignore Venice Commission Recommendations


According to Transparency International / TI-Georgia, a local corruption watchdog, the draft amendments to the Law on the Fight against Corruption “do not take into account critically important recommendations of the European Commission and the Venice Commission, in a number of ways worsen the existing regulations and raise questions about compliance with the Constitution.” Venice …

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SJC: Gelati Monastery Damage Indicates Alleged Malfeasance in Office


On February 27, the Social Justice Center (SJC), a local watchdog, issued a statement saying that the damage done to the World Heritage site of Gelati Monastery during the reconstruction and conservation works shows signs of possible malfeasance in office. In particular, the SJC states: “Reconstruction and conservation works carried out during the tenure of …

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Russia Eyes Minsk, Baku to Move Geneva Talks, Sokhumi Says


On February 26, the de-facto leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, and Abkhazia’s top diplomat, Inal Ardzinba, reported that Moscow insists on moving the Geneva International Discussions to another location, mentioning that at the moment, “Minsk and Baku are being considered” as alternative venues. Presenting the report on the activities of the de-facto ministry, Ardzinba …

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EU Ambassador Statement on World NGO Day


On February 27, on the occasion of World NGO Day, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, issued a statement underlining the role of NGOs in safeguarding the values shared by the EU and Georgia, stressing their necessity for any democracy and in particular in the context of Georgia’s European integration. He stressed civil society …

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