Georgia

Georgia to pause its European Union accession efforts

Georgia has decided to pause its European Union accession efforts and reject EU grants in response to a European Parliament resolution that denounced the South Caucasus nation’s recent parliamentary election…

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Georgian ruling party nominates hardline ex-Man City player for president

Georgia's ruling party on Wednesday nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former parliamentary deputy and professional soccer player, as its candidate for president in an election due to be held on Dec.…

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Georgian opposition calls for more protests as exit pollster says official result ‘impossible’

Three Georgian opposition parties who allege last weekend's election was rigged called for streets protests next Monday as an exit pollster said the official result, which gave victory to the…

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In Georgian capital, Hungary’s Orban says election was fair

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday that the election in Georgia won by the ruling party was free and democratic, as he congratulated his Georgian counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze…

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US, EU call for probe after reports of Georgia election violations

The United States and the European Union called for a full investigation into reports of violations in an election in Georgia, where the president urged protests on Monday following the…

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Georgia’s ruling party starts impeachment of pro-Western president

The speaker of Georgia's parliament said on Monday ruling party lawmakers would move to impeach the pro-Western president ahead of a parliamentary election on Oct. 26, a year after a…

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Georgian parliamentary speaker signs ‘foreign agents’ bill into law

Georgia's parliamentary speaker signed into law on Monday a bill on "foreign agents" that has caused a political crisis in the South Caucasus country and drawn sharp criticism from its…

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Georgian parliament votes to override presidential veto of ‘foreign agent’ bill

Georgia's parliament voted to override a presidential veto of a bill on "foreign agents" that has plunged the South Caucasus country into crisis, ignoring criticism from the West which says…

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Georgian President Blocks Attempt to Label NGOs as ‘Foreign Agents’

The Georgian government's attempt to designate Western-funded NGOs, media outlets, and campaign groups as "foreign agents" was blocked by President Salome Zurabishvili on Saturday. Despite the widespread public protests and…

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Georgia parliament passes divisive ‘foreign influence’ bill

The Georgian parliament on Tuesday approved in the third and final reading a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests. Georgian lawmakers brawled in parliament on Tuesday during a…

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Georgian opposition seeks UK support on foreign interference bill

Georgian opposition leaders are urging the UK to take a stronger stance against what they perceive as a crackdown on civil society within their country. They specifically called on the…

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EU, US urge Georgia to halt ‘foreign agents’ bill as protests continue

The European Union and U.S. condemned legislation making its way through Georgia's parliament on "foreign agents" and thousands of protesters snarled traffic in the capital with a peaceful protest against…

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Concerns on violence in Georgia following Putin style ‘foreign-agent’ law

Riot police cracked down on demonstrators in the Georgian capital Tuesday night, clearing an area in front of the parliament where thousands had been demanding the government drop a controversial…

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WATCH: Lawmakers brawl as Georgian parliament considers ‘foreign agent’ bill

Georgian lawmakers came to blows in parliament on Monday as ruling party legislators looked set to advance a controversial bill on "foreign agents" that has been criticised by Western countries…

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Georgia eyes EU candidate status but membership still a distant dream

While Ukraine's hopes of beginning membership talks will take centre-stage at this week's European Union summit, another potential member, Georgia, will also be seeking progress towards eventual entry to the…

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UPDATED: Russia plans naval base in Abkhazia, triggering criticism from Georgia

Russia plans naval base in Abkhazia Abkhaz leader says deal has been signed - Izvestiya Georgia: the move is gross violation of its sovereignty WSJ: Russia has withdrawn bulk of…

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Georgia accuses ex-official of plotting from Ukraine to oust Tbilisi government

Georgia has accused a former deputy interior minister of plotting from Ukraine to overthrow the Tbilisi government, testing ties with Kyiv as Georgia deepens its relations with Russia.The State Security Service said…

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Polish doctors examine jailed ex-Georgian President Saakashvili

Lawyers for Georgia's former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said a group of Polish doctors sent by the European Union (EU) had been allowed to examine the politician on Wednesday to monitor…

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Photo Story: First flight of Russian airline Azimuth arrives in Georgia amid protests

People protest the resumption of air links with Russia during the arrival of the first direct flight of the Russian airline Azimuth, from Moscow to Tbilisi International Airport, in Tbilisi,…

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Georgia belongs in European Union, says German foreign minister

TBILISI, March 24 (Reuters) - Georgia belongs in the European Union, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Tbilisi on Friday. Speaking during an official visit, Baerbock said Germany would…

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Former Georgian president Saakashvili ‘close to death’ after alleged prison poisoning

The former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has told Sky News he is approaching death in the hospital he has been moved to from jail. In a moment of rare…

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Georgia’s PM calls on Ukraine’s Zelenskiy not to interfere in Georgia affairs

March 13 (Reuters) - Georgian's prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili, called on Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday to not interfere in the political situation in Georgia, after a wave of…

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Why is Georgia in turmoil over a “foreign agents” law?

TBILISI (Reuters) - Ruling lawmakers in the South Caucasus country of Georgia on Friday dropped plans to introduce what critics called a Russian-inspired "foreign agents" law after days of intense…

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UPDATED: Georgia’s parliament drops ‘foreign agents’ bill

TBILISI, March 10 (Reuters) - Georgia's parliament on Friday dropped plans for a "foreign agents" bill that had triggered a major domestic political crisis and threatened to derail the Caucasus…

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Georgian lawmakers withdraw ‘foreign agents’ bill after protests

TBILISI, March 9 (Reuters) - Georgia's ruling party said on Thursday it was dropping a bill on "foreign agents" after two nights of violent protests against it amid criticism the…

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Georgian police use tear gas to halt protest against ‘foreign agents’ law

Police in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia used tear gas and stun grenades early on Wednesday to break up a protest outside Parliament against a draft law on "foreign agents".…

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WATCH: Fistfight erupts in Georgia parliament over ‘Russian-inspired’ foreign agent law

Lawmakers in Georgia engaged in fistfights on Monday as a parliamentary committee debated a controversial law that would regulate "foreign agents" which critics say is modelled on draconian legislation in…

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Photo Story: Satellite images showing traffic jam near Russia’s border with Georgia

A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows traffic jam near Russia's border with Georgia, issued 27 September 2022. Russian President Putin announced in a televised address to…

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Georgians hold aloft flag of Europe at pro-EU rally attended by tens of thousands in Tbilisi

Tens of thousands rallied in support of Georgia's membership to the European Union. Footage shows the huge crowd in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The event was organised by the Home to Europe!…

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Breakaway Georgian region awaits ‘signal’ before referendum on joining Russia

TBILISI, May 11 (Reuters) - The new leader of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia said on Wednesday it would wait for a signal from Moscow before holding a referendum on…

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UPDATED: EU set to receive membership bids from Georgia, Moldova -EU official

BRUSSELS, March 3 - The European Union is about to receive membership applications from Georgia and Moldova, an EU official said on Thursday. The official said the applications were due "imminently".…

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Georgia says joining NATO only way to preserve country’s integrity

MOSCOW, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Joining NATO is the only way to preserve Georgia's territorial integrity, the TASS news agency quoted its Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze as saying on Thursday.…

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Georgia’s ex-president Saakashvili agrees to end 50-day hunger strike

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili agreed to end a 50-day hunger strike in prison that had raised political tensions in the former Soviet republic and drawn expressions of concern from…

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Georgia proposes to move hunger-striking Saakashvili to military hospital

Georgian authorities have proposed to move hunger-striking former President Mikheil Saakashvili to a military hospital in the city of Gori, a justice ministry spokeswoman said on Friday, amid mounting concerns…

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Georgian hunger-striking ex-president Saakashvili needs urgent treatment

Georgia's hunger-striking former president Mikheil Saakashvili is being mistreated in a prison hospital and urgently needs special treatment in intensive care, a Georgian human rights group said. Saakashvili, who has…

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Georgian ruling party wins mayoral elections, opposition cries foul

Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 19 of 20 mayoral elections including in the capital Tbilisi, electoral authorities said on Sunday, as the opposition alleged that ballots had been rigged.…

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Georgia ruling party takes lead in local voting amid political crisis

Georgia's ruling party has taken a commanding lead over the opposition United National Movement founded by former president Mikheil Saakashvili in municipal elections that have taken on national significance amid…

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Georgians vote in local election after arrest of ex-president

MOSCOW, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Georgians go to the polls on Saturday to vote in local elections that could escalate a political standoff between the ruling party and the opposition…

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Photo Story: Charles Michel visits Georgia

Handout photos made available by Georgian President's Press Service shows Charles Michel, the president of the European Union Council (L) and Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili (R) attending a news conference…

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Hundreds protest after Georgian police detain opposition leader

TBILISI/MOSCOW — Police stormed the party offices of Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia and detained him on Tuesday, deepening a political crisis that prompted the prime minister to resign last…

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UPDATED: Georgia’s prime minister resigns

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation on Thursday, a move that prompted celebration from the opposition and calls for early elections. Gakharia, who had held the post since…

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Georgia to lift ban on international flights on February 1

Georgia will lift a ban on international flights, imposed last March as an anti-pandemic measure, in 10 days' time, authorities said on Friday. "Starting on Feb. 1, we consider it…

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Thousands of Georgians rally in Tbilisi to protest election results

Thousands of protesters rallied in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Saturday to back opposition calls for a re-run of the Oct. 31 parliamentary election they say was rigged. According to…

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Georgia’s ruling party claims victory in parliamentary vote

Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party leads in a parliamentary election in the former Soviet republic on Saturday, preliminary results showed, but the opposition rejected the results and said it planned…

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Georgia bans weddings and birthday parties as virus cases rise

Georgia has banned weddings and other types of public ceremony from Sept. 10 and postponed theatre and cinema openings to contain the spread of the new coronavirus as the number…

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Photo Story: Some coronavirus related restrictions eased in Georgia

People have their temperature checked as they prepare to board a train at a railway station in Tbilisi, Georgia, 15 June 2020. The Georgian government has allowed the reopening of…

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Photo Story: Gradual reopening in Georgia

Information boards displaying currency exchange rates in Tbilisi, Georgia, 08 June 2020. The Georgian government has allowed the reopening of some types of hotels, domestic passenger traffic and exchange offices…

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Georgia bans all foreigners from entering country over coronavirus

Georgia on Monday banned all foreigners from entering the country over coronavirus concerns the prime minister’s spokesman, Irakli Chikovani, told a briefing. Georgia has reported 33 confirmed cases of…

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Turkish foreign minister calls for enlarged NATO, Georgia membership

Turkey’s foreign minister called on Thursday for the enlargement of NATO and the addition of Georgia to the organization. “I don’t understand why we have not invited Georgia or we…

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Photo Story: Snow in Georgia

A general view of snow-covered trees at Tbilisi National Park, near Tbilisi, Georgia, 17 January 2020. Snow has fallen in the mountain regions of the country. Photo: EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

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Police in Georgia prevent opposition activists from picketing parliament

Georgian police erected steel fences around the parliament and government buildings on Thursday to prevent dozens of opposition activists from picketing the area in a dispute over electoral reform. The…

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Photo Story: Religious service marking the Day of Saint George in Georgia

Georgian people light candles during an Orthodox religious service marking the Day of Saint George at a church in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday 23 November 2019. Every year people flock…

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Several arrested in child abuse network crackdown in Georgia

Law enforcement and judicial authorities from Australia, Georgia and the USA, supported by Europol, dismantled an organised criminal network involved in the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation material.…

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Georgia reports military buildup along border with South Ossetia

Georgia said it had observed a "mobilisation of military equipment and personnel" in the separatist region of South Ossetia after an ultimatum issued by the breakaway territory expired. Georgia warned…

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Photo Story: Protests in Tbilisi

Georgian opposition supporters protest in front of Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on the evening of 25 June 2019. The protesters demand the resignation of the interior minister Giorgi…

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Russia suspends flights to Georgia, more protests in Tbilisi

President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned Russian airlines from flying to Georgia following days of violent unrest in the country. Moscow will also recommend that Russian travel agencies suspend all…

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Thousands try to storm Georgian parliament

Protesters have attempted to storm Georgia's parliament during a mass rally against a speech inside the chamber by a Russian Member of Parliament. The lawmaker also addressed delegates in Russian,…

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