Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is suing the government in Tbilisi for revoking his citizenship after authorities learned in October that he also was a French national. A court in Tbilisi held a hearing Monday in Ivanishvili’s case, but his lawyers said their motion — asking the court to replace the presiding judge — has been […]
Georgian Billionaire Sues Government, Launches Opposition Movement
NATO Chief Says Georgia Needs Further Reforms Before Membership
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Georgia has made a lot of progress but still needs further reforms before being admitted to the alliance. He spoke Wednesday in the capital, Tblisi, after meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri and other officials. Rasmussen said upcoming elections in Georgia will be a key test of its […]
Russia Agrees Reaches Agreement With Georgia On WTO Entry
Russia has reached an agreement with Georgia on trade-related issues, paving the way for Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization. A senior Russian trade negotiator, Maxim Medvedkov, said Tuesday in Geneva that Moscow has agreed to third-party customs checks on all trade and cargo between Russia and the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South […]
Georgia Agrees to Swiss Proposal in WTO Talks With Russia
Georgia has accepted a Swiss proposal aimed at resolving a trade dispute with Russia that could clear the way for Moscow to join the World Trade Organization. The Georgian government said Thursday that the proposal provides guarantees of international supervision of all trade and cargo between Russia and the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South […]
Georgia Offers Russia Conditions for WTO Approval
Georgia says it has offered Russia new conditions for approving Moscow’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergi Kapanadze said Wednesday that Tbilisi has proposed international monitoring of trade in Georgia’s two breakaway regions, Abkhasia and South Ossetia. Kapanadze is the head of a Georgian delegation meeting with Russian counterparts […]
Georgia Continues to Block Russian Membership in WTO
The latest round of talks between Russia and Georgia, which could have cleared the way for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, has broken down. After taking part in the negotiations Thursday, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergi Kapanadze said the two sides had failed to reach an agreement, but would meet again next week. […]
US Warship to Take Part in Joint Naval Drills With Georgia
A U.S. warship has arrived in Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi to take part in joint naval drills with the Georgian Coast Guard. The guided-missile cruiser, the USS Philippine Sea, arrived in Georgia on Monday. The ship’s captain, Herbert Hadley, says the crew will interact with the host nation on a personal level through […]
Amnesty International Urges Georgia to Stop ‘Forced Evictions’ of Refugees
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged Georgia to stop “forced evictions” of internally displaced people and provide them with adequate housing. The evictions, which started last year, are part of a controversial government program to relocate thousands of refugees from temporary shelters in the capital, Tbilisi, to new homes in the provinces. The program […]