News

    28/05/2022 - 16:52

    CSOs, Journalists, Artists Unveil New Initiative for Georgia’s ‘European Path’

    As Georgia awaits the EU’s decision on its request for candidacy, local civil society leaders, journalists, artists and public figures have joined forces to unveil a new initiative called “Take a Step Towards Europe.” During the launching ceremony on May 27 in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, the participants in the…
    28/05/2022 - 15:11

    GD Chair Lambasts President over Independence Day Speech

    Ruling Georgian Dream party chairperson Irakli Kobakhidze has lambasted President Salome Zurabishvili over remarks about Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and the Georgian judiciary in her Independence Day speech. Speaking with reporters on May 27, the GD leader claimed that the President had in her speech “practically mentioned Abkhazia…
    28/05/2022 - 04:09

    Georgian, Moldovan Presidents Talk EU Bids on Phone

    Presidents of Georgia and Moldova, Salome Zurabishvili and Maia Sandu, respectively, spoke on the phone on May 27 to discuss the EU membership bids of Tbilisi, Chișinău, and Kyiv. “We look forward to the decision of the EU in the near future, a decision of geopolitical envergure,” President Zurabishvili said…
    28/05/2022 - 00:26

    PM Lashes Out at Opposition MPs After Grilling Over Ukraine Support, Sanctions

    Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on May 27 lashed out at the opposition lawmakers after facing grilling at the Parliament over the Government’s support to Ukraine and stance on sanctions against Russia, among others.  During question time, United National Movement lawmaker Khatia Dekanoidze lambasted PM Garibashvili over his February 28…
    27/05/2022 - 12:25

    Explainer: GD, UNM Make Rare Deal to Resolve Local Council Deadlocks

    On May 25, political arch-rivals, the ruling Georgian Dream and the United National Movement, jointly endorsed amendments to the election and self-governance codes. The rare deal is paving the way for lifting the deadlocks in Batumi and Senaki Local Councils (Sakrebulo). What are the changes? The new members of already…
    26/05/2022 - 18:44

    Foreign Leaders Congratulate Georgia on Independence Day

    Foreign leaders, including U.S. and French Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, as well as diplomats and officials have congratulated Georgia on the 104th anniversary of the proclamation of independence. “Even as we celebrate Georgia’s independence, we recognize that the Russian occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territory prevents many…

    Opinion

      16/05/2022 - 15:56

      Interview | Head of EUMM Georgia Talks Abkhazia, S. Ossetia

      Ambassador Szczygieł, we are speaking today as Russia continues its full-scale attack on Ukraine for more than two months, which has brought seismic shifts to the entire region. In light of this war, what is the security environment on the ground across both Abkhazia and…
      13/05/2022 - 15:38

      Editorial | Pawning the Country

      The rapidity and zeal with which the Georgian Dream leaders and pundits rushed to the defense of their patron, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s private assets and riches, show that Georgia is not that much Ivanishvili’s political project, but his collateral in the international game – both an…
      03/03/2022 - 11:13

      ‘Fear & Apathy’: Pundits on Georgian Govt’s Steps amid Ukraine War

      The Georgian Dream government has attracted widespread criticism for what many — both at home and abroad — regarded as their half-hearted stance during Russian aggression against Ukraine. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s clear-cut rejection of joining international sanctions against Russia and alleged obstruction of a…
      02/02/2022 - 19:15

      Waiting for Resettlement – IDPs from Georgia and Azerbaijan

      More than thirty years have passed since the armed conflicts swept the South Caucasus. Amid the dramatic breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, dozens of ethno-political conflicts emerged in the former Soviet states. The nations living in the South Caucasus — once seen as…
      14/01/2022 - 18:04

      U.S.-Russia Talks: What Are Georgia’s Options?

      As the United States engages the Russian Federation concerning the Kremlin’s ultimatum aiming to change the configuration of European security, Georgia is among the countries whose fate is being decided. The process is likely to be drawn out, with the possibility of escalations that may…
      04/10/2021 - 20:25

      Pundits Talk Key Takeaways from Local Elections

      Two days after October 2 municipal elections, discussions continue over key takeaways from the vote and the less anticipated outcomes. The Georgian Dream party scored well above 43%, a number widely suggested as a threshold for its legitimacy after the EU-brokered April 19 deal, while…
      12/07/2021 - 15:58

      Georgia Lurches Towards Illiberalism

      “The times when the minority decided the fate of the majority are gone,” said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today, saying he will only listen to the will of “95% of the population.“ “Stop threatening and scaring me and the majority of this country with the…
      05/07/2021 - 10:35

      Ministers Reflect | Ketevan Bochorishvili (MESD 2012-2017)

      Ministers Reflect is a new interview series on “how to be effective in government”, following a model developed by the Institute for Government in London. The series seeks to capture – in former ministers’ own words – what it takes to be an effective government…
      22/04/2021 - 14:11

      Q&A | The Deal is Signed: What now?

      After months of the deepening political crisis that followed the October 31 parliamentary elections, the ruling Georgian Dream and part of the boycotting opposition MPs signed the EU-mediated compromise on April 19. Yet, controversies persist: the United National Movement, the opposition party that got most…
      18/04/2021 - 12:17

      Opposition Politicians on Namakhvani HPP Protests

      Thousands have been protesting in western Georgia against the construction of the Namakhvani Hydropower Plant on the Rioni River for months now. The project encompasses two separate HPPs of 333 MW and 100 MW on the Rioni River. The Government of Georgia hopes to enhance…
      16/04/2021 - 22:25

      Interview | On the Soviet Past, Myths and Relevance

      The centennial anniversary of the Soviet occupation induced discussion in Georgia about the Soviet past, distinctly demonstrating that the opinions about the Soviet Union still differ in the society. As some experts argue, the Soviet Georgia is a largely understudied topic that requires a deeper…
      16/04/2021 - 12:55

      Interview | Turkish Ambassador on Bilateral Ties with Georgia, Namakhvani HPP

      Thousands have been protesting in the western city of Kutaisi and the Rioni River Valley against the construction of the nearby Namakhvani Hydropower Plant for months now. The project encompasses two separate HPPs of 333 MW and 100 MW on the Rioni River. The Government…

      Analysis

      The Dispatch

      • The Dispatch
        24/05/2022 - 07:00
        56

        Dispatch | May 22-23: Rest/Wicked

        Just as the discussion was launched about instituting yet another day off in Georgia, the netizens were quick to point out that the country has more holidays (17) than any other country in Europe. But…

      • The Dispatch
        20/05/2022 - 06:56
        90

        Dispatch | May 18-19: Bipolar

        Wave after wave it goes: the ruling party acts in contravention to the European values and procedures it aspires to, it gets scolded, it lashes out blindly with one tentacle, while trying to smooth things…

      • The Dispatch
        17/05/2022 - 07:00
        75

        Dispatch | May 15-16: Topsy-turvy

        Nothing is more permanent in Georgia as the ruling party’s perennial game of brinkmanship with the West. Its our way, or highway, Ladies and Gentlemen from Brussels and Washington D.C. and – one has to…

      Op-ed

        26/05/2022 - 10:59

        EU Should Not Heed the Calls to Differentiate Associated Trio’s Applications

        Irakli Sirbiladze is a Foreign Affairs analyst, holding an MA degree in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London. His wider research interests include International Relations Theory, Georgian Foreign Policy and Russian Foreign Policy. As Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova – three Associated Trio nations…
        22/05/2022 - 14:09

        Op-ed | Refeudalization rather than Polarization

        Hans Gutbrod is a long-time analyst of Georgia and the Caucasus. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He is on Twitter at @HansGutbrod. With the jailing of Nika Gvaramia, we should bury once and for all the term…
        28/03/2022 - 17:47

        Putin’s Playbook in Ukraine Is a Century Old

        Largely ignored in the discussion of Russia’s strategy in its war on Ukraine is the story of what may have been the first successful conquest of a foreign country by the Soviet Union.  Vladimir Putin, who is obsessed with history, is certainly familiar with this…
        18/02/2022 - 19:24

        Where Abkhaz Students (Can’t) Study?

        Author: Giorgi Kanashvili, peace and conflict specialist I have been part of Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue for fifteen years now. One of the topics the Abkhaz constantly raise is about Tbilisi isolating Abkhazia from the West, and pushing them to look for alternatives. In this region, one…
        02/02/2022 - 20:05

        Op-Ed | Local Governance Reform Can Strengthen Georgian Democracy from the Ground Up

        By Peter Wiebler, USAID/Georgia Mission Director Last year’s local elections were held under difficult circumstances, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic and a tense environment before and during election day. Despite these factors, voter turnout was 52%, significantly higher than in the previous local elections. This…
        30/11/2021 - 18:03

        Farewell | 4 Years of Representing NATO in Georgia

        Author: Rosaria Puglisi, the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia It’s time to pack my bags and say my good-byes. After four memorable years, my term as the Head of the NATO Liaison Office (NLO) in Georgia is coming to an end. During…
        21/11/2021 - 10:00

        Op-Ed | Georgian Dream Deliberately Frustrates Western Friends

        By Jelger Groeneveld, Dutch D66 party, Board Member International Cooperation Division Friday would have marked the 50th day of Mikheil Saakashvili’s hunger strike in state captivity, amidst mounting concerns of his health condition and refusal of government authorities to transfer the former president to a…
        01/09/2021 - 16:09

        Perilous Choice: Georgia’s COVID Elections

        Laura Thornton is director and senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Previously, she was director of global programs at International IDEA, a Stockholm-based intergovernmental think-tank with the mission to advance democracy. She has also led the National Democratic…
        25/07/2021 - 21:40

        Tribune |”Sack me if you can!”

        Zaal Andronikashvili, Ilia State University/Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research. This article first appeared (in Georgian) on the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgian service page. It has been insignificantly adapted by Civil.ge for an English-language audience. “Sack me, if you can!” gloated Vice Premier…
        24/07/2021 - 12:24

        Tribune | Wide Coalition Needed to Defend Democracy

        Levan Tsutskiridze is Executive Director of the Eastern European Center for Multi-party Democracy (EECMD) Georgia has witnessed unbelievable violence during the first week of July. The homophobic mob, egged on by the religious extremists that are entrenched in the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchy and encouraged by…
        19/07/2021 - 01:34

        The Falling Darkness

        by Regis Gente As the airplane of the European Council President Charles Michel touched down in Batumi, it was hard to shake off the feeling of déjà vu. Once again, the top European official visits Georgia immersed in a tense, almost intractable political crisis. Charles…
        17/06/2021 - 18:26

        Tribune | Georgia has abandoned efforts to advance on NATO membership

        Giorgi Kandelaki is a former MP and member of European Georgia There is a prevalent view amongst Georgia’s supporters that – perhaps not as intensely as during the previous government – Georgia is still doing its best to progress towards NATO membership, and that the…

        Archives

          31/12/2021 - 14:21

          2021 in Georgia: Year in Review

          In Georgia, 2021 was a tumultuous year of continued and new crises, but also a year of attempted solutions, many…
          31/12/2019 - 15:12

          2019: The Year in Review

          2019 has been a year of political and security tribulations. No tangible progress has been reached on occupied territories as…
          31/12/2020 - 21:02

          2020 in Georgia: Year in Review

          To say that 2020 was an eventful year is an understatement. Like every other nation on the planet, Georgia has…

          Photo Stories

            26/05/2022 - 16:45

            In Photos: Independence Day Celebration in Tbilisi

            Thousands of Georgians have flocked to Freedom Square and adjacent Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi for Independence Day celebrations, to…
            24/05/2022 - 23:57

            In Photos: Georgians Supporting Ukraine

            Three months into Russia’s bloody war in Ukraine, ordinary Georgians all across the country continue hanging Ukrainian flags and colors…
            24/03/2022 - 11:14

            In Photos | Georgians Attend Grim Homecoming for Fighters Killed in Ukraine

            Dozens have waved Georgian and Ukrainian national flags and lit candles as flag-draped cases carrying remains of Gia Beriashvili and…
            02/03/2022 - 04:17

            In Photos: Sixth Day of Tbilisi For Ukraine

            Tbilisites hit the streets again on March 1 to support Ukraine, with many protesters also expressing dismay about the Georgian…
            27/02/2022 - 03:15

            In Photos: Third Day of Tbilisi for Ukraine

            On February 26, Tbilisites hit the streets to express solidarity to Ukraine as Ukrainian troops are fighting Russian advance on…
            26/02/2022 - 04:06

            In Photos: Thousands Rally for Ukraine, Against Garibashvili in Tbilisi

            On February 25, thousands have hit the streets in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia for the second day to show…
            25/02/2022 - 01:34

            In Photos: Georgians March for Ukraine

            Thousands have gathered in central Tbilisi in show of solidarity to Ukraine that came under full-scale Russian invasion earlier on…
            07/01/2022 - 16:55

            In Photos: Orthodox Georgians Celebrate Christmas

            The majority Orthodox Christian Georgians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ on January 7 according to Julian calendar. Civil Georgia’s…
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