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August 2008: Russian Invasion

News

    01/08/2022 - 17:14

    Central Bank Buys USD 10 Million

    The National Bank of Georgia bought USD 10 million on August 1. Per the Central Bank, the weighted average was GEL 2.7514 per USD. On August 1, Lari was trading at 2.7652, while on August 2 it will be 2.7484. Also Read: Central Bank Sells USD 40 Mln as Lari…
    01/08/2022 - 16:40

    Five MPs Condemn Attacks on U.S. Ambo, War Narrative

    Five female opposition MPs released a joint statement on August 1 which condemned attacks by ruling Georgian Dream party members and its recent departees on U.S. Ambassador Kelly Degnan and the “openly misleading narrative” that the U.S. is trying to drag Georgia into the war in Ukraine. They emphasized that…
    01/08/2022 - 14:40

    Investigation Launched Into Gogashvili Documents Published by CSOs

    The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia launched an investigation on August 1 into the documents given to civil society organizations by Ioseb (Soso) Gogashvili which detailed an alleged scheme of voter bribery and illegal mobilization by the ruling Georgian Dream party in past elections. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Civil.ge, that…
    29/07/2022 - 23:50

    Nine Die in Gudauri Double Air Crash

    On July 29, the Georgian Border Police helicopter Mi-8 crashed near mountain resort Gudauri, killing four crew, two rescuers and two paramedics. The rescue team was attempting to recover one pilot and his passenger of a paraglider that crashed in the same earlier. The passenger, reportedly a foreign tourist whose…
    29/07/2022 - 18:05

    Foreign Minister Visits Hungary

    The Foreign Minister of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili visited Hungary and met with his counterpart, Péter Szijjártó on July 29. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry’s press release, the two discussed bilateral relations in the fields of tourism, the economy, and education, among others. “The Minister’s agreed to hold an intergovernmental…
    29/07/2022 - 17:07

    Georgian PM Upholds “War Blackmail” Narrative, Backs Dissident MPs, Slams Opposition

    Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili addressed the “war blackmail” claims, the relations with country’s strategic partners, and spoke of the “radical” opposition while attending a local celebration in the town of Mestia. PM Garibashvili reiterated on July 29 that against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Georgia went through…
    29/07/2022 - 14:12

    CSOs Urge Authorities to Protect Gogashvili’s Rights

    Civil society organizations have released a statement responding to the arrest of Ioseb (Soso) Gogashvili, former deputy head of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG), and subsequent events, reminding authorities that they have a “special obligation” to administer a high standard of justice in the case against him. In…
    29/07/2022 - 13:56

    Jury Court Finds Policeman Guilty of Beating Deaf Minor

    The Tbilisi City Court confirmed to Civil.ge that the jury has found policeman Nukri Bakradze guilty of assaulting a 17-year-old disabled youth on January 23, 2022, inside the Isani Metro Station and sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment. Eight out of the twelve jurors supported the guilty verdict. The investigation…
    29/07/2022 - 11:55

    Georgia’s GDP Up 7.2% in June 2022

    Georgia’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 7.2% year-over-year in June 2022, according to rapid estimates released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on July 29. Geostat said growth was registered in transportation and storage; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; information and communication; hotels and restaurants; and…
    29/07/2022 - 11:41

    U.S. State Department Investment Climate Statement on Georgia

    The U.S. State Department’s 2022 Investment Climate Statement on Georgia positively assessed Georgia’s business, trade, and investment-related regulatory framework and legislation, but highlighted shortcomings in the judiciary. The report said, “there is an increasing lack of confidence in the judicial sector’s ability to adjudicate commercial cases independently or in a…

    Opinion

      01/07/2022 - 19:48

      Interview | Damon Wilson, President of the National Endowment for Democracy

      In Tbilisi today, Civil Georgia’s Editor-in-Chief Otar Kobakhidze sat down with Damon Wilson, the President, and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy to discuss Georgia’s EU and NATO integration, the role of civil society and independent media for the Georgian democracy, as well as…
      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…

      Analysis

      The Dispatch

      • The DispatchBERJAYA
        20/07/2022 - 12:50
        126

        Dispatch | 12-19 July: Credit due

        In Georgia, another week has passed. As the international order is consumed in the flames of Russia’s atrocious aggression in Ukraine, and as Europe burns in the throes of the climate change whose catastrophic effects…

      • The DispatchBERJAYA
        13/07/2022 - 07:00
        82

        Dispatch | 6-12 July: And then they wrote…

        Apparently summer is the time, when Georgian politicians sharpen their quills and go on to write long, winding letters full of intrigue and surreptitious adulation. Much like the protagonists of the legendary novel of Pierre…

      • The DispatchBERJAYA
        08/07/2022 - 06:56
        88

        Dispatch | July 5-6: What’s the story?

        As the week progressed, the extent to which the Georgian politics is disconnected from reality became painfully apparent. The linguistic flip-flops and other acrobatics of the ruling party have little to do with politics, let…

      Op-ed

        17/06/2022 - 11:53

        Opinion | Georgia’s Yanukovich Moment

        Author: Ted Jonas is an international lawyer and environmental activist who has lived in Georgia for many years. Georgia is having a Yanukovich moment. That time when the government of Ukraine in 2013-2014 got orders from Moscow to drop the EU association process. The government…
        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…

        Archives

          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…
          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…
          31/12/2021 - 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…

          Photo Stories

            03/07/2022 - 22:54

            Photo-story | Rally at the Parliament, Moves to GD Office

            Crowds started to gather, as the activists and opposition geared for their third reunion, calling for quicker accession to the…
            21/06/2022 - 13:23

            In Photos | Massive Pro-EU Rally in Tbilisi

            On June 20, tens of thousands of Georgians have rallied on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare, to support Georgia’s accession…
            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…
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