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Javier Colomina: Georgia should be ready for the decisive moment
NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia at a press briefing at the NATO Liaison Office, following his meetings with Georgian officials, said that there is “strong concern” in NATO “about the level of implementation of reforms” and that Georgia is still “the fundamental partner for NATO”. Javier Colomina said he …
Tags: Georgia, NATO, NATO-Georgia relations
24/05/2023 - 23:12
PM Garibashvili: we would destroy Georgia’s economy if we imposed economic sanctions on Russia
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum panel discussion on 24 May, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spent most of his time speaking about the war in Ukraine and about Georgia’s decision not to impose economic sanctions on Russia, saying that the country’s economy would suffer a significant loss. He also discussed Georgia’s EU integration and …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili
Detailed Freedom House ‘Nations in Transit 2023’ Report on Georgia Released
Freedom House, a U.S.-based rights watchdog, released its Nations in Transit 2023 report on May 24. According to the report, Georgia’s democracy score decreased from 3.07 to 3.04, leading to its classification as a “transitional government or hybrid regime.” This classification remains unchanged from the previous assessments. The Nations in Transit report assesses the status …
Tags: Democracy Score, Freedom House, Georgia, Nations in Transit
TI Georgia Alleges Links between New HCoJ Members and Judicial “Clan”
Transparency International Georgia, a local watchdog, has released an analysis of alleged links between Zurab Guraspashvili, Giorgi Gzobava and Tristan Benashvili, recently elected non-judge members of the High Council of Justice (HCoJ) and the judicial “clan.” “In addition to the fact that the newly elected members of the HCoJ “do not see the main challenges …
Tags: Georgia, High Council of Justice, Judiciary
NATO Special Rep. for South Caucasus and Central Asia Visits Georgia
Javier Colomina, NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, arrived in Georgia for an official visit to discuss NATO-Georgia cooperation and the country’s progress on the Euro-Atlantic integration path. On May 24, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, met with Colomina and expressed his appreciation for the NATO Special Representative’s …
Tags: Georgia, Javier Colomina, NATO
Achondroplasia Added to State Rare Disease Treatment Program
Following protests by parents and activists, the government decided to include achondroplasia in the list of rare diseases covered by the state program. A corresponding amendment has already been made to the government decree. Makuna Gochiashvili, a parent of one of the children diagnosed with achondroplasia who participated in protest rallies in front of the …
Tags: achondroplasia, Georgia
The Daily Beat: 23 May
The US State Department reiterated concern over the resumption of direct flights between Georgia and Russia, adding that “now is not the time to increase engagement with Russia.” At the press briefing, the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also noted that direct Russia-Georgia flights could lead to US sanctions against Georgian companies operating at …
Tags: Abkhazia, Mtavari Arkhi TV, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Qatar Economic Forum, Religious Freedom, Russia-Georgia Flights, Rustavi 2, US State Department
Former Anchor Wins Legal Dispute with Rustavi 2 TV
The Tbilisi City Court has ruled in favor of Diana (Diko) Jojua, former anchor of Rustavi 2 TV and current anchor of Mtavari Aharki TV, and ordered Rustavi 2 TV to compensate her with back pay, according to Transparency International Georgia, a local watchdog that was defending Jojua’s interests in court. Teo Zakarashvili, a …
23/05/2023 - 19:57
Georgia in State Department’s 2022 Report on Religious Freedom
On May 23, the U.S. State Department released a report assessing religious freedom in Georgia, highlighting concerns raised by local watchdogs and religious denominations. Crimes, Conflict, Rhetoric According to the report, in 2022, the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs investigated 8 cases of religiously motivated crimes, down from 13 in 2021. …
Tags: Abkhazia, Georgia, Religious Freedom, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, US State Department
International Reactions on Resumption of Russia-Georgia Flights
The resumption of flights between Russia and Georgia has sparked international reactions. In a recent tweet, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its disappointment over the resumption of flights between Russia and Georgia emphasizing: “It goes against the interests of Georgia and its chosen EU and Euro-Atlantic integration path”. The Ministry reiterated its call …
PM Stresses Importance of Building Trust with Abkhaz People
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated Abkhaz people on the Day of Abkhazia and stressed the importance of building trust between the Abkhaz and Georgian peoples. “The political team of Georgian Dream has offered a new approach, the policy of reconciliation and trust, to our Abkhazian brothers”, PM Garibashvili wrote, noting that “one of our …
Tags: Abkhazia, Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, occupation, Prime Minister
PM Garibashvili Visits Qatar
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is visiting Qatar to participate in the Annual Economic Forum, has met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The Georgian Prime Minister is also expected to address a plenary discussion. According to …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Qatar, საქართველო
US State Department Re-iterates Concern about Direct Flights between Georgia and Russia
During a press briefing held on May 22 Matthew Miller, the US Department spokesperson, said: “We have been concerned about direct flights between Russia and Georgia resuming” adding that “now is not the time to increase engagement with Russia”. The journalist asked about the US State Department’s reaction or possible sanctions in response to the …
Tags: Georgia, Sanctions, US State Department
The Daily Beat: 22 May
Since the reports were confirmed that the daughter of Russia’s top diplomat was indeed among the Russian guests loitering in the eastern Georgian resort of Kvareli, demonstrators, led by some opposition leaders, began to gather near the resort on Saturday morning to protest her stay in Georgia. The inn hosting Lavrovs’s sanctioned daughter and her …
Tags: Droa, Elene Khoshtaria, Foreign Ministry, Georgian Airways, Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kakha Kaladze, NATO PA, Salome Zurabishvili, Sergey Lavrov, Transparency International Georgia
Audit Reveals Irregularities in Ministry of Defense’s Financial Statements
The State Audit Service conducted an audit of the consolidated financial statements of the Ministry of Defense and its affiliated entities. The audit examined the financial data as of December 31, 2021, along with the corresponding consolidated statement of financial results. The audit revealed certain irregularities in the payment of allowances to employees with a …
Tags: defense ministry, State Audit Office
22/05/2023 - 19:20
Georgian Politicians React to Protest Rally in Kakheti and to President’s Briefing on the Issue
On May 19, after the first Russian plane landed in Tbilisi following Russia’s decision to resume direct flights with Georgia, it emerged that Mika Vinokurov, the brother of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s son-in-law, got married in Tbilisi and was planning to hold a post-wedding event at the Kvareli Lake Resort Hotel in the Kakheti …
Georgian Sailors Captured in Gabon Territorial Waters Released from Captivity
According to the Foreign Ministry of Georgia, Georgian sailors who had been abducted from a ship anchored in Gabonese territorial waters on May 2 were released from captivity on May 21, through joint efforts of the Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Georgian consulate in the …
Tags: Georgia, Maritime Transport Agency
TI Georgia Speaks of PM’s “Manipulation” over Resumption of Flights with Russia
Transparency International Georgia, a local watchdog, released an analysis on May 22, focusing on Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s “manipulation” and anti-Western rhetoric following the resumption of direct flights with Russia. EU calls on Georgia to stop trade with Russia TI Georgia said that PM Garibashvili’s statements that the European Union calls on Georgia to …
Georgian Parliamentary Delegation Attends NATO PA Spring Session
The Georgian Parliamentary Delegation is participating in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Spring Session, which is taking place in Luxembourg on May 19-22. The session is focused on maintaining support for Ukraine and strengthening the Alliance’s defense and deterrence posture in the face of security challenges, including those posed by Russia. During the first …
Individuals Detained at Kakheti Rally Yesterday Released
17 individuals detained yesterday on charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying the police, in Kvareli, Kakheti, as they were protesting against the wedding celebrations of a relative of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, were all released today, including Droa leader Helen Khoshtaria. Their release follows reports that family members and legal representatives were unable to …
21/05/2023 - 19:24
Amid Protests and Arrests, President Says Lavrov’s Relatives Leave Georgia
Amid public protests, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said at a news briefing on May 20, citing Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, that the relatives of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union, had already left Georgia. On May 19, after the first Russian plane landed …
Tags: Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili
20/05/2023 - 18:08
Analysis | Rapprochement with Russia: what now?
The first Russian plane operated by Azimuth Airlines landed at Tbilisi international airport amid loud protests against resuming direct flights with Russia. Adding to the commotion was the fact that among the passengers were well-known pro-Russian political figures with known Russian connections, who told the media on arrival that they had “lobbied” for the lifting …
The Daily Beat: 19 May
The first Russian aircraft landed in Tbilisi since Vladimir Putin lifted a direct-flight ban and let Georgians travel to Russia without visas. Hundreds of Georgians headed to the airport to protest what they see as the government’s brash detente with the international pariah. Apart from the regular passengers, the “Azimut Airlines” flight brought in some …
Tags: Aero Handling Georgia, Davit Kvaratskhelia, Irakli Garibashvili, Kelly Degnan, President Salome Zurabishvili, Russia-Georgia Flights, Sergey Lavrov
Photo Story | “Russian Plane Does not Land in EU” Rally in front of the Parliament building
A rally against the resumption of air flights with Russia is taking place in Tbilisi, in front of the Parliament building. Civil society activists, opposition politicians and ordinary citizens are demanding an “immediate” ban on flights to and from Russia, saying that this puts Georgia at serious risk of failing to attain EU candidate status. …
Tags: Georgia, Russia, Russia-Georgia Flights
19/05/2023 - 23:41
PM Speaks of Russian Flights, President Zurabishvili, ex-President Saakashvili
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili discussed a number of issues with journalists after the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new apartment buildings for internally displaced persons, including the resumption of direct flights with Russia, approval of the Georgian president’s visit to Brussels, and the European Court of Human Rights’ decision on the Saakashvili case. …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Russia
Protests Accompany First Direct Flight from Moscow to Tbilisi
The first direct flight from Moscow to Tbilisi since the Moscow’s decision on resumption of direct flights with Georgia has landed at Tbilisi International Airport today. The arrival of the flight was met by a group of protesters who gathered near the airport to express their opposition to the resumption of direct flights. The demonstrators …
Georgia’s Foreign Trade Up 21.9% in January-April 2023
On May 19, the National Statistics Service of Georgia (Geostat) published preliminary data indicating that in January-April 2023, Georgia’s foreign trade increased by 21.9% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, totaling $6.5 billion in value. During the same period, exports from Georgia increased by 23.6% to $1.96 billion, while imports rose by 21.2% to …
Tags: Foreign Trade, Georgia, Geostat
The Daily Beat:18 May
“Lifting of the air travel ban and visa regime signals Russia’s intention to deepen cooperation with Georgia,” the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Sergey Katyrin, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta. In an interview, Sergey Katyrin praised the creation of the Russia-Georgia business council and spoke in favor of exploring a railway connection within the Silk …
Tags: Abkhazia, Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, Droa, Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russia, Russia-Georgia Flights
US Ambassador Responds to GD Leader’s Visa Criticism
U.S. Ambassador Kelly Degnan dismissed the criticism of the ruling party Chair, Irakli Kobakhidze, that the US was not issuing enough visas to Georgians.. Amb. Degnan said, “Sometimes people want to think that they should have special treatment.” Amb. Degnan was speaking to journalists after opening the Rondeli Security Conference in Tbilisi. A day earlier, …
Tags: Georgia, US Embassy, US-Georgian relations
18/05/2023 - 23:53
Justice Minister, Foreign Diplomats Meet Again to Discuss Saakashvili’s Health
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze met with the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Embassies of the EU member states, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway to discuss the issue of imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. According to the Georgian Justice Ministry, Rati Bregadze briefed foreign diplomats on the …
55 Arrested on Drug-related Charges
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia announced on May 18 that 55 people, including 37 drug dealers had been arrested on drug-related charges as a result of operational activities carried out across the country. According to the Ministry, the investigation revealed that the detainees were using Internet applications and social networks to place …
Tags: Drug-related crime, Georgia, Ministry of Internal Affairs
Explainer | What Can the Juries Try in Georgia?
What is happening? The trials of Lazare Grigoriadis and Tornike Akopashvili, charged with violence against the police and damage to property during the rallies against the “foreign agent” laws on March 7 and 8, are ongoing. Their supporters and some parties say they have no confidence in the independence of the courts and say the …
Tags: Georgia, Judiciary, Lazare Grigoriadis, March 8, საქართველო
NGOs: Russian Plane Does Not Land in EU
“The permission given by the Georgian authorities for flights between Tbilisi and Moscow is a direct sabotage of the country’s status as a candidate for EU membership,” say more than a hundred non-governmental organizations, adding that “Russian plane does not land in EU.” In a joint statement released on May 18, CSOs note that “the …
Georgia’s (mis)alignment with the EU Foreign Policy
The EU spokesperson spoke recently about the low and falling rate of alignment of Georgia with the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP). A closer look at the alignment pattern shows that the problem is not only quantitative but also qualitative. Eka Akobia is an expert in International Relations, Dean and Professor at the Caucasus …
Tags: EU-Georgia relations
CSOs Negatively Assess Election of Three Non-Judge Members of HCoJ
The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, which brings together some 40 local civil society organizations, said on May 18 that it viewed negatively the election by the ruling party and some opposition MPs of Tristan Benashvili, Giorgi Gzobava, and Zurab Guraspashvili as non-judge members of the High Council of Justice (HCoJ). Noting …
Tags: Georgia, High Council of Justice, Judicial Reforms, Judiciary, Transparency International Georgia, საქართველო
Russian Official: Russia Seeks More Infrastructure Projects and Links with Georgia
Sergey Katyrin, president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a Russian new outlet, about the prospects for developing business ties between Russia and Georgia. He spoke in particular, of the need to start rail transit through the territory of occupied Abkhazia. According Sergey Katyrin the railway transit should also …
Tags: Georgia, Grigory Karasin, Russia, Zurab Abashidze
Georgian PM, Turkish President Hold Phone Call
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, telephoned the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on May 18 to congratulate him on the success of the presidential and parliamentary elections and to wish him a successful second round in the presidential elections. According to the Georgian government’s press office, during the phone …
Tags: Georgia, Turkey, Turkey-Georgia relations
The Daily Beat: 17 May
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili arrived in Reykjavik, attending the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. Irakli Garibashvili addressed the Summit and held sideline meetings with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte. In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized Georgia’s commitment …
Tags: Council of Europe (CoE), High Council of Justice, Iceland, Irakli Kobakhidze, Open Government Partnership, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Public Defender's Office, State Security Service, TV Imedi, UNM
Court Upholds Decision Ordering Journalist to Pay Fine to Rustavi 2 TV
The Tbilisi Court of Appeals has upheld the decision of the lower instance court ordering Eka Kvesitadze, the former host of Rustavi 2 TV program, to pay a fine to the TV channel for moving to Mtavari Arkhi TV in violation of the terms of her employment contract. The Tbilisi City Court initially ordered Eka …
Tags: Georgia, Mtavari Arkhi TV
17/05/2023 - 20:48
PM Addresses 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Head of the Government Administration Revaz Javelidze, is visiting Iceland to attend the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. PM Garibashvili addressed the Summit that is being held in Reykjavík and held a number of meetings. …
Tags: Council of Europe (CoE), Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister, საქართველო
Parliament Elects Three Non-Judge Members of HCoJ
Today, in a secret vote, the Parliament elected three non-judge members of the High Council of Justice (HCoJ)- Tristan Benashvili (93 votes), Giorgi Gzobava (91 votes), and Zurab Guraspashvili (93 votes) were elected as non-judge members of the HCoJ. The voting was anonymous. Zurab Guraspashvili, the Head of the Investigative Division of the General Inspection …
Tags: Georgia, Judiciary, Parliament of Georgia
CSOs Statement: The Government of Georgia is flagrantly violating the Open Government Partnership Principles
The CSOs involved in the Open Government Partnership/OGP process released a joint statement in which they express concern regarding the “flagrant violation of the fundamental values and principles of OGP by the Government of Georgia.” They note that the Government has in recent years demonstrated a “clear misalignment” with core values of OGP by endorsing the Russian-style law on …
Public Defender: Rights Situation of LGBT+ People Remains Serious Problem
“Despite the existing legal guarantees and human rights protection mechanisms, the rights situation of LGBT+ people is still a serious problem in Georgia, especially access to health care, education, employment, freedom of assembly and expression in public space,”- reads the statement released by the Public Defender’s Office on May 17 on the occasion of the …
Tags: Georgia, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, LGBT Rights, Public Defender
State Security Service Detains Six Georgian Citizens on Terrorism Charges
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) announced on May 17 that it had detained six Georgian citizens on charges of supporting the Islamic State terrorist organization as a result of the counter-terrorist operation conducted simultaneously in four locations. The Security Service noted that based on the evidence obtained, it was established that the detainees …
Tags: Georgia, State Security Service, Terrorism
The Daily Beat: 16 May
The EU regrets Georgia’s decision to resume flights with Russia following Putin’s lift of the air travel ban, EU foreign and security affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said. He reiterated EU concerns over Georgia’s decision, calling it regrettable in terms of Georgia’s non-compliance with the EU foreign policy approaches as stipulated by the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. …
Tags: Association Agreement, European Union (EU), Georgian Airways, IDAHO, Nika Gvaramia, Peter Stano, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
International Organizations, Embassies Issue a Statement on IDAHOBIT
International organizations and Embassies accredited in Tbilisi, issued a joint statement today on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHO). In the statement, the signatories welcome the increase in public support for the protection of minority rights in Georgia in recent years, and the efforts of state institutions and civil …
Tags: Georgia, LGBT Rights, LGBTQ Rights
16/05/2023 - 19:05
ECHR Finds Violation of Freedom of Assembly and Expression in Chkhartishvili v. Georgia Case
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found a violation of the right to freedom of assembly and expression in the case of Chkhartishvili v. Georgia. The case pertains to a protest that took place on November 29, 2019, outside the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia. The demonstration was attended by opposition politicians, civil …
EU on Georgia’s Decision to Issue Permit for Direct Flights with Russia: “This is Very Regrettable”
EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano at a European Commission mid-day press briefing today said, that EU regrets the decision by Georgia to resume flights to and from Russia following the latter’s decision to lift the air travel ban. He noted that due to the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, …
Tags: European Union (EU), Georgia
Another Georgian Citizen Detained Near Tskhinvali Occupation Line
The State Security Service of Georgia announced on May 16 that the Russian occupying forces illegally detained a Georgian citizen in the occupied area near the village of Ergneti in the Gori Municipality. The security service noted that the hotline mechanism of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has been activated and international partners as …
Tags: Georgia, occupation line
The Daily Beat: 15 May
The Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen paid a working visit to Georgia and opened the Embassy in Tbilisi, voicing “merit-based” support for Georgia’s EU candidate status. “I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that my country’s answer to the candidate status will be yes,” the Danish foreign minister said following the …
Tags: Baku, Denmark, Georgian Dream, Ilham Aliyev, Ilia Darchiashvili, Lelo for Georgia, National Statistics Office, Shalva Papuashvili, State Security Service, Transparency International Georgia, UNM
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