Author: Vasil Iarajuli

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights on Friday ordered Russia to pay almost €130 million to Georgia for a number of breaches of the European Convention of Human Rights during its 2008 invasion of Georgia. The judgment concerned the just satisfaction of the court’s January 2021 verdict in the case Georgia against Russia, following Tbilisi’s lawsuit submitted to ECHR in 2008. The case concerned allegations by the Georgian government to Russia of killing, torture, inhumane treatement of Geogian citzens during the conflict, as well as looting and non-investigation of alleged war crimes. The court held unanimously…

Political opposition and activism within Russia has always been fraught with risks but it has become increasingly impossible in recent years, with political analysts saying it is now “extremely dangerous” to oppose the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Being a politician and openly against war and Putin’s rule in Russia is close to impossible,” Anton Barbashin, a Russian political analyst and the editorial director of online journal Riddle Russia, told CNBC. “All of the opposition political leaders are either in jail or under restrictive measures or outside of the country. I would not say opposition is dead. Opposition is fully…

Extraordinary and by-elections are being held in Georgia’s ten municipalities on Saturday, with voters set to elect a majoritarian member of the Parliament in Poti, Senaki and Khobi, majoritarian members of city councils (Sakrebulo) in Gurjaani, Tianeti, Akhaltsikhe, Tkibuli and Kutaisi, as well as mayors of Tsageri and Terjola, using “large-scale” electronic voting for the first time in the country. Natia Ioseliani, the Central Election Commission’s Spokesperson, highlighted the “significance” of these elections, calling it “the most important stage” in the history of Georgian elections. She called on all parties involved in the elections to work together for the “successful…

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze on Wednesday said his office would purchase 160 new 18-metre-long buses “in the first stage” of the latest push to update and expand the public transport fleet in the Georgian capital. Kaladze said the new vehicles were planned to be purchased throughout 2024, with the first batch to be delivered until the end of April of next year and the rest arriving before the end of the year. Passenger traffic volumes in the capital are increasing significantly. Considering this, we decided to buy 18-metre buses”, the Mayor said. Improving the quality of public transport services -…

The bilateral relations between Georgia and France and the European perspective of the country were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, who is on an official visit to Georgia. The officials reviewed the existing relations between Georgia and France and the prospects of future cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats, with the PM appreciating France’s “strong and active” support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its “greatest efforts” put forth for the non-recognition of Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories, the Government Administration said. The importance…

Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, arrived in Georgia on April 28 for an official visit. She met with her Georgian counterpart, Ilia Darchiashvili The meeting was followed by a joint press conference. Later, FM Colonna met with President Salome Zurabishvili and Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. A French Foreign Minister last visited Georgia in 2018. Meeting with the President The Administration of the Georgian President reported that during the meeting, the French Foreign Minister spoke with Salome Zurabishvili about Georgia’s integration into the European Union and France’s support in this process. The President noted that “the visits of foreign…

Police have used water cannon and tear gas against protesters in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, for a second night. The crowds are angry at a controversial Russian-style law, which would class non-government and media groups as “foreign agents” if they receive more than 20% of their funds from abroad. On Wednesday evening, police pushed back protesters who pulled down a metal barrier outside parliament. The crowds were ordered to disperse and some people have been injured. Pictures from Georgian TV showed hundreds of riot police on the streets late on Wednesday night, wearing helmets and holding shields. At least one police…

According to official data, about 1.5 million Russian citizens have crossed the Russia-Georgia border since the war started. How many have stayed is not known. But their presence is evident on the streets of the capital. And the influx is worrying many Georgians. A recent survey shows that the majority of Georgian citizens, about 70%, think the arrival of Russian citizens will negatively impact the country and support imposing a visa regime on their northern neighbour. Russian community plants roots Emigration for Action is among thousands of Russian companies that were registered in Georgia after Russia`s invasion of Ukraine. It helps…

Dive into the diverse landscapes of Adjara and you’ll discover the historical Georgian region is teeming with ancient architectural gems, breathtaking nature and scintillating adventure – not to mention a wine scene that even UNESCO approves of. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the “Pearl of the Black Sea” is Georgia’s most up-and-coming tourism destination. And, as global travel ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adjara was excitedly planning its comeback. “We’ve not stopped during the lockdowns,” says Tinatin Zoidze, Head of Visit Batumi. “Instead we used the time to develop ourselves with new hotels and…

In Tajikistan, a republican commission has been established under the leadership of the country’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda to determine the amount of damage from the earthquake that occurred last night in the country, the state news agency Khovar reported. Recall that on the night of March 23, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 occurred in Tajikistan, which was also felt in Uzbekistan. The epicenter was located in the village of Paldorak, Langar rural jamoat, Kukhistoni-Mastchokh district, at a depth of 11 km. The magnitude of the earthquake in the epicenter was 5-6 points, and in the capital Dushanbe – 3-4 points. The second earthquake, which…