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Risch, Shaheen Statement on Reintroduction of Foreign Agents’ Law
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, on April 3 released a statement, after GD reintroduced a Russian-style foreign agent law saying that “not only would this draft law lead the political process in the …
Tags: foreign agents law, US
04/04/2024 - 08:33
The Daily Beat: 3 April
On April 3, the parliamentary majority leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the reintroduction of the draft law on foreign agents, which was dropped last year after March protests. According to Mdinaradze, the bill’s content remains the same, and the only change is in the title: the term “agent” in the …
Tags: Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, Beka Odisharia, Georgian Dream party, Law on Foreign Agents, Levan Ioseliani, Mamuka Mdinaradze, MEPs, Opposition, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Russia, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Ukraine
Ombudsman Reacts to GD MPs Insult of Female MPs During Parliamentary Session
On April 3, the Public Defender of Georgia issued a statement reacting to the ruling Georgian Dream MP Beka Odisharia’s “obscene and insulting remarks addressed to female MPs”. “In all such cases, the internal mechanism should be activated and the issue should be discussed by the Parliament,” according to the statement. “This is especially noteworthy …
Tags: Beka Odisharia, Gender discrimination, Public Defender
03/04/2024 - 20:32
Speaker Says EU Drive Should Not Come “at all Costs”
Commenting on the ruling GD intention to reintroduce the so-called Foreign Agents law, the Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili told Netgazeti: “We want to enter the EU peacefully, we want to enter the EU in a stable condition, not as a ruined country. This is the task.” “The task isn’t to move forward on the path …
Tags: Draft Law on Foreign Agents, Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili
Independent Media Outlets Condemn Reintroduced Foreign Agents Bill
On April 3, Georgian independent online media outlets issued a joint statement condemning the reintroduced draft law on foreign agents. The outlets state that the introduced law will destroy independent society and media, silence critical voices and drive Georgia out of the European family. “The authorities have once again lied to us and reintroduced the …
President: GD Sabotages Georgia’s European Future
On April 3, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili said that the ruling Georgian Dream party “has shown its face” and is engaged in “sabotaging” Georgia’s European future. She made this statement at the press briefing following the announcement by the Parliamentary majority that it is reintroducing the the draft law on foreign agents, which was …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
PM Kobakhidze: New Bill to Help “Europeanize” NGOs, Donors
On April 3, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze predictably issued a statement supporting the ruling party’s reintroduction of the Foreign Agents Law. PM Kobakhidze claims that the Georgian government is fully, “European-style” transparent and hopes that this law will also help to Europeanize also NGOs and their donors. Kobakhidze claims that “full transparency of the …
44 States, Including Georgia Sign Declaration Calling for Hague Tribunal to Prosecute Russia
On April 2, the Ministerial Conference on Restoring Justice for Ukraine, with the support of 44 countries, including Georgia, adopted a political declaration calling for the establishment of a special tribunal in the Hague to investigate and prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine and to compensate for damages. The signatories of the Declaration condemn …
Tags: Russian war in Ukraine, Ukraine
De-Facto Leader of Occupied Abkhazia Talks Relations with Tbilisi, Moscow with Russian Media
In his interview with the Russian media outlet “Arguments and Facts,” aif.ru, the de-facto leader of the Russia-occupied Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania discussed relations with the rest of Georgia as well as the Russian Federation. According to him, “we do not experience any aggression towards the Georgian people” and “it is important the state of Abkhazia …
Domestic Reactions to Reintroduction of Draft Law on Foreign Agents
On April 3, the parliamentary majority leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the reintroduction of the draft law on foreign agents, which the GD had to withdraw last year after the March 7-9 large rallies against the bill. According to Mdinaradze, the content of the bill remains the same, the only change is in …
Tags: Attack on CSOs, Draft Law on Foreign Agents, Georgian Dream
Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.5% in March 2024
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.5% in March 2024, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on April 3. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.01%. The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (10.2% increase); transport (8.1% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.5% increase); and food …
Tags: Annual Inflation, Geostat
BREAKING: GD Reintroduces the Draft law on Foreign Agents
On April 3, the parliamentary majority leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the reintroduction of the draft law on foreign agents, which was dropped last year after the massive rallies on March 7-9. According to Mdinaradze, the content of the bill remains the same, the only change is in the title: …
Tags: Attack on CSOs, Mamuka Mdinaradze
Commentary around Vetting, Judiciary
The European Commission, as well as local CSOs and opposition politicians, have repeatedly called on the Georgian Government to ensure the full independence of the judiciary and reform the system, including by introducing the extraordinary system of integrity checks for judges, with the involvement of international experts, the so-called “vetting” mechanism. However, the ruling Georgian …
Tags: Ana Tsitlidze, Davit Matikashvili, Gia Volski, Giorgi Gakharia, Grigol Gegelia, judicial clan, Judicial Reforms, Judiciary, Kakha Kaladze, Khatia Dekanoidze, Mamuka Mdinaradze, PM Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, Teona Akubardia, Vetting
The Daily Beat: 2 April
Prosecutor’s Office has appealed to the competent Dutch authorities to arrest and extradite UNM-era former Chief Prosecutor and Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili, convicted in absentia in Georgia on several criminal charges. The extradition request followed a report by the pro-government Imedi TV channel about Adeishvili’s visit to the Hague. On March 12, the Prosecutor’s Office …
Tags: Brazil, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian Dream party, Girchi, Levan Ioseliani, Nino Tsilosani, Prosecutor’s Office, Public Defender, The Netherlands, TV Imedi, Vetting, Zurab Adeishvili
Prosecutor’s Office Asks Netherlands to Extradite Wanted ex-Official
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has appealed to the relevant authorities in the Netherlands to arrest and extradite UNM-era former Chief Prosecutor and Minister of Justice Zurab Adeishvili, who was convicted in absentia in Georgia on several criminal charges, the Prosecutor’s Office told Civil.ge on April 2. The pro-Government TV channel Imedi reported that Zurab Adeishvili …
Tags: Netherlands, Prosecutor’s Office, Zurab Adeishvili
02/04/2024 - 18:30
Public Defender’s 2023 Human Rights Report
On April 2, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, released the 2023 annual parliamentary Report on the State of Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia. The report covers a wide range of human rights issues in Georgia and highlights major shortcomings that emerged or persisted during the reporting period. According to the …
Tags: Human Rights, Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender's Office
GD ‘Categorical’ in Urging U.S. to Lift Sanctions on Judges
Mamuka Mdinaradze, a Georgian Dream parliamentary majority leader, “categorically” called on the U.S., the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, and the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan to lift sanctions against Georgian judges. “So far we have not seen any evidence that would prove even the relevance of these sanctions, let alone the conditions and real …
Tags: judicial clan, Judiciary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, U.S., U.S. State Department, Vetting
GD, Girchi Deal to Abolish Women’s Quotas
The ruling Georgian Dream and the parliamentary opposition Girchi party struck a deal envisaging the support of the ruling GD to Girchi’s initiative on cancelation of women’s quotas from the party lists of the parliamentary elections. The current version of the Election Code provides that at least one in every four persons on any party list must be a …
Tags: gender quotas, Georgian Women's Movement, Girchi, Public Defender
FM Darchiashvili Visits Brazil
On April 1, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili began his visit to Brazil. Minister Darchiashvili met with his counterpart, Mauro Vieira. Meeting with the counterpart During the meeting with the Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, the parties emphasized the importance of Minister Darchiashvili’s visit, especially taking into account the ongoing global …
The Daily Beat: 1 April
A year-long joint journalistic investigation of “The Insider,” “60 Minutes,” and “Der Spiegel” suggests that the Russian military intelligence (GRU) unit used non-lethal acoustic weapons in Tbilisi, causing anomalous health incidents, also known as “Havana Symptoms” in US diplomats. A joint investigation revealed two cases in which Russian spies targeted US diplomats using acoustic weapons …
Tags: CSOs, Georgian Dream party, Girchi, Lazare Grigoriadis, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), US Department of State, US Embassy, US SAnctions
Campaign Beat: March 18-29
The campaign for the 2024 elections, slated in October, is in full swing. The ruling party is trying to retain its majority for the fourth consecutive legislature term. At the same time, the fragmented opposition is trying to get its act together to loosen the Georgian Dream’s grip on power. Starting today, the Daily Beat …
Tags: election campaign, Elections 2024
01/04/2024 - 21:28
Georgian Citizen Illegally Detained by Russian Occupation Forces Released
Aleksi Adeishvili, a Georgian citizen who was illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces near the occupied village of Akhmaji, Akhalgori municipality (near Tskhinvali occupation line), has been released and is now on the territory controlled by Tbilisi, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported on April 1. According to the same information, the SSSG actively used the …
CSOs: Grigoriadis’ Trial “Unreasonably and Groundlessly” Protracted
On April 1, a group of more than 20 civil society organizations reacted in a joint statement to the postponement of the trial of Lazare Grigoriadis, saying that the consideration of the criminal case against him has been “unreasonably and groundlessly” protracted. The CSOs added that “there is a growing suspicion” that he will not …
Tags: Civil Society, Judiciary, Lazare Grigoriadis
Journalistic Investigation Reveals Alleged Russian Attacks on US Diplomats in Tbilisi
On March 31, a year-long joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Insider, and Der Spiegel identified two cases in which US diplomats were targeted by Russian spies using acoustic weapons in Tbilisi, Georgia. 60 Minutes focuses on one of the cases in particular, with the prime suspect believed to be an Albert Averyanov, a member …
Tags: Russia, US Embassy, USA
The Daily Beat: 29 March
President Salome Zurabishvili criticized the Foreign Ministry for failing to facilitate the exercise of voting rights by a large number of Georgian emigrants. President delivered her critical remarks during the meeting with the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and the representatives of the Public Defender’s Office, CSOs, and the EU delegation …
Tags: Bidzina Ivanishvili, CEC, GDP Growth, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, National Statistics Office, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze
30/03/2024 - 09:00
President Criticizes MFA for Declining to Streamline Emigrant Voting
The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia for failing to facilitate the exercise of voting rights by a large number of Georgian emigrants. The President delivered her critical remarks in the beginning of the meeting with the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the representatives of …
Tags: Elections 2024, Emigrants, President Salome Zurabishvili
29/03/2024 - 17:21
Georgia’s GDP Up by 9.5% in February 2024
Georgia’s estimated real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate amounted to 9.5% for February 2024 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on March 29. According to Geostat, the following activities contributed significantly to growth: manufacturing, construction, professional scientific and technical activities, …
Tags: GDP Growth, Geostat
The Daily Beat: 28 March
The Tbilisi City Court again adjourned the trial of Lazare Grigoriadis, citing his physical absence in the courtroom. As a result, Grigoriadis, 23, arrested in connection with the March 7-9 protests for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at police and setting fire to a police car, remains in custody. The next court session is scheduled for …
Tags: Argentina, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Formula TV, Giorgi Gakharia, Lazare Grigoriadis, LGBT Rights, Tbilisi City Court, TV Pirveli, US State Department
Lazare Grigoriadis’ Trial Adjourned, Yet Again
On March 28, the Tbilisi City Court again adjourned the trial of Lazare Grigoriadis, this time citing the defendant’s physical absence in the courtroom as he wanted to participate in the trial remotely. As a result, Grigoriadis, 22, who was arrested in connection with the March 7-9 protests for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at police …
Tags: Lazare Grigoriadis, Tbilisi City Court
28/03/2024 - 16:39
FM Darchiashvili Visits Argentina
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, who began his official visit to Argentina on March 28, has already met with the Vice President of Argentina Victoria Villarruel, who also serves as the President of the Senate, the Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, and the First Vice President of the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires, Matías …
Tags: Argentina, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Commissioner Mijatović Urges Georgia to Respect Human Rights Amid Initiated Anti-LGBT Laws
On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a CoE member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two …
Tags: Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe (CoE), Dunja Mijatović, US State Department
The Daily Beat: 27 March
The Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatović slammed the Georgian Dream’s initiative to amend the constitution, curtailing LGBT rights. “It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned and which should have no place in a democratic society based on the rule of law and …
Tags: Bettina Boughani, COSAC, Council of Europe, Culture Ministry, Dunja Mijatović, EU Enlargement, European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), Georgian Dream party, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Irakli Garibashvili, LGBT Rights, Pawel herczynski, Tea Tsulukiani, Vetting
EU Ambassador: Vetting Remains Open Issue
European Union Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński said that the EU sees “a need for integrity checks of top judges…with the participation of foreign experts” to ensure a “fully professional, fully independent judicial system in Georgia.” Ambassador Herczyński was asked to comment on the so-called “vetting” system, that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Parliament Speaker …
Tags: Central Election Commission, EU Ambassador, EU nine conditions, Paweł Herczyński, Vetting
27/03/2024 - 18:29
Another Dismissed Employee Wins Legal Dispute with Culture Heritage Preservation Agency
On March 26, the Tbilisi City Court ruled unlawful the dismissal of Natela Mumladze from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation under the Culture Ministry, the Social Justice Center, a local watchdog which defended the plaintiff’s interests in court, reported on March 27. According to the watchdog, Mumladze was one of the employees who …
Tags: Culture Minister, National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Tea Tsulukiani
Remains of 12 Abkhazia War Victims Transferred to Tbilisi
The remains of 12 people missing as a result of the 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia were identified and returned to their families on March 21, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported. The families of the deceased had the opportunity to speak with representatives of the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau and receive more …
Tags: Abkhazia, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), War in Abkhazia
Interview | What Happens in Washington is the Key
The future of liberal democracy is uncertain against a backdrop of rising authoritarianism in many parts of the world, raging conventional and hybrid wars, and the weaponization of information.Civil.ge’s Nata Koridze had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Francis Fukuyama, renowned author, political scientist and one of the most prominent public intellectuals and scholars …
Tags: Democracy, Francis Fukuyama
COSAC Calls for Working towards EU Accession Talks with Georgia
The Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) expresses support for the EU enlargement and calls for “working towards opening accession talks with Georgia, in line with the merit-based approach” in its draft contribution prepared within the framework of its 71st plenary meeting in Brussels on March 24-26. …
Tags: COSAC, EU integration
New Head of EUMM Appointed
Major General Bettina Boughani has been appointed as the new Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, the Council of the European Union announced on March 26. She will serve from March 21, 2024 to December 14, 2024, succeeding Dimitrios Karabalis. Major General Bettina Boughani is an officer of the French National …
The Daily Beat: 26 March
On March 26, history has been made as Georgia qualified for EURO 2024 after beating Greece in a penalty shoot-out following a tense playoff final that ended 0-0 after extra time. It is the first time that Georgia has qualified for either the European Championship or a major tournament. Georgia will be in Group F …
Tags: Dmitry Peskov, Electoral Code, EURO 2024, Georgia, Georgian Dream party, Greece, Moldova, Moscow, Russia
Ruling Party Clings to Majoritarian System Elements Ahead of Elections
Ruling party lawmakers have announced changes to Georgia’s electoral code that Georgian Dream claims will improve the efficiency of the country’s electoral system and make elected officials more responsive to local constituencies. However, the proposed amendments have triggered concerns among their critics that the ruling party is clinging to the ousted majoritarian system and are …
Tags: Elections 2024, Electoral Code, Georgian Parliament
26/03/2024 - 22:04
Russian Court Sentences Georgian Citizen in Absentia in Connection with Crimean Bridge Explosion
On March 26, the Basmannyy court of Moscow sentenced in absentia a Georgian citizen, Alexandre Inasaridze, on charges of committing a “terrorist attack” on the Crimean bridge, reports Russian state media TASS. Inasaridze allegedly owns the trucking company whose vehicle transported the explosives that later exploded on the bridge. He is sentenced to two months …
Tags: Russia
The Daily Beat: 25 March
The ruling Georgian Dream party introduced a constitutional bill on the “protection of family values and underaged persons,” curtailing LGBT rights, a move seen by opponents as an attempt to boost its popularity ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. A draft constitutional law would ban sex changes and adoption by same-sex couples, as well as …
Tags: Armenia, Council of Europe (CoE), Death of Georgian fighter in Ukraine, Foreign Ministry, Georgian Dream party, LGBT, NGOs, Nikol Pashinyan, Opposition, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Supreme Court, Tbilisi Pride, Ukraine, Vetting
PM Kobakhidze Visits Armenia
On March 25, during his first official visit to Armenia as Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze met with the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. In addition to the one-on-one meeting between the Prime Ministers, negotiations continued in an expanded format involving representatives of both governments. Following the …
Tags: Armenia-Georgia Relations, Irakli Kobakhidze, Nikol Pashinyan, Vahagn Khachaturyan
25/03/2024 - 18:20
CoE Report Analyzes NGO Stigmatization in Georgia
The Council of Europe’s Expert Council on NGO Law published a study on the stigmatization of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Europe on March 22, reporting a “widespread and concerning pattern” of NGO stigmatization. The study was based on 55 responses to a questionnaire from civil society organizations operating in 31 Council of Europe member states, …
Judicial Conference Condemns “Vetting”, Elects Two to HCoJ
On March 24, the XXXII Conference of Judges of Georgia, a self-governing body of Georgian common courts, “unanimously supported” the statement made by the Supreme Court of Georgia on March 11, denouncing the initiative to check the integrity of judges through extraordinary “vetting” mechanism. In its statement on March 11, the Supreme Court argued that the extraordinary …
GD Pushes for Anti-LGBT Constitutional Law
On March 25, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Georgian Dream parliamentary majority, at the briefing, held at the office of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the initiation of two draft constitutional laws on the “protection of family values and minors.” According to Mdinaradze, the Parliament will vote on the amendment to the Article …
Tags: anti-LGBT law, Constitution, Georgian Dream, Homophobia, Mamuka Mdinaradze
Another Georgian Fighter Killed in Ukraine
Another Georgian fighter, Tengiz Chania, was killed while fighting in Ukraine, the Georgian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Civil.ge on March 23. Tengiz Chania; source: Davit Katsarava According to local media, a 48-year-old fighter was killed by a Russian shell explosion near the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. Tengiz Chania was an internally …
Tags: Georgia, Georgian fighter, War in Ukraine
23/03/2024 - 22:38
The Daily Beat: 22 March
In a brief statement issued by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission told Georgia that the comprehensive reform of the judiciary, with an accent on the integrity of all leading positions in the judiciary, is a part of “fundamentals” – the preconditions for opening the accession negotiations. The statement comes after …
Tags: Bidzina Ivanishvili, Cartu Foundation, European Commission, European Council, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian diaspora, Georgian Dream party, Pawel herczynski, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Vetting
EC Tells Georgia Judge Vetting Part of EU Negotiation “Fundamentals”
In a brief statement issued by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission told Georgia that the comprehensive reform of the judiciary, with an accent on the integrity of all leading positions in the judiciary, is a part of “fundamentals” – the preconditions for opening the accession negotiations. In particular, …
Tags: EU Candidacy, High Council of Justice, Judiciary, Vetting
22/03/2024 - 21:30
FM Darchiashvili Speaks Emigrant Participation in Elections during Parliament Interpellation
On March 22, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili responded in the form of a parliamentary interpellation to questions sent to the Ministry by opposition deputies. The questions concerned the participation of the Georgian diaspora in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Eight opposition MPs addressed FM Darchiashvili with the following questions: Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs …
Tags: Elections 2024, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Interpellation, Parliament of Georgia
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