Sixty-nine Georgian wine, mineral water firms apply for exports to Russia

Georgia Map

MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) – A total of 69 Georgian wine and mineral water producers have applied to export product to Russia, Russian consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said. “All of the documents received have been forwarded to Rospotrebnadzor experts for study. Priority will be given to those 31 organizations that have submitted information for the documentary check in full. The […]

» Read more

Georgia-Russia: Hostile Forever? As new administration seeks thaw with Moscow, president’s people want pro-West, anti-Russia clauses written into constitution.

Georgia Map

(Caucasus Reporting Service – Issue 674 – IWPR Institute for War & Peace Reporting – iwpr.net – Sofo Bukia) From: “IWPR Institute for War & Peace Reporting” <mailing@iwpr.net> Subject: Caucasus Reporting Service – Issue 674 Date: Tue,  5 Feb 2013 Despite their election defeat last October, President Mikhail Saakashvili’s political allies want the Georgian constitution to be changed to force […]

» Read more

Georgian Wine Could Be Allowed by Spring, Onishchenko Says

Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – February 5, 2013) Georgian wine and mineral water could return to Russian store shelves as early as this spring, Russia’s chief sanitary official said Monday. Moscow will send teams of sanitary inspectors to facilities in Georgia, Gennady Onishchenko told reporters. If they approve local quality levels, producers can register in Russia […]

» Read more

Russians becoming more favorable to Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus – poll

Map of European Portion of Former Soviet Union

MOSCOW. Jan 30 (Interfax) – The attempts of the new Georgian authorities to improve relations with Russia have affected the attitudes of Russians toward that country, sociological studies indicate. Presently, the number of positive comments on Georgia exceeds the number of negative, sociologists from the Levada Center told Interfax on Wednesday. Thus, while in January last year 36% of Russians […]

» Read more

Georgia vows to keep seeking EU, NATO membership

NATO Meeting file photo

TALLINN. Jan 31 (Interfax) – Georgia’s foreign minister made assurances on Wednesday that her country would stick to its policy of seeking membership in the European Union and NATO. “Both for Estonia and for Georgia, joining the European Union is primarily a security issue, but, of course, it would help revise the Georgian economy as well,” an Estonian government statement […]

» Read more

Georgia’s new govt looks to press “reset” in Russia relations

Georgia Map

(Business New Europe – www.bne.eu – Molly Corso in Tbilisi – January 31, 2013) In power for just three months, the government of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili appears to have struck gold in economic relations with Russia: officials in Moscow have tentatively given the green light to resuming Georgian wine and mineral water imports, reopening a major market for Georgian […]

» Read more

Georgia-Russia Relations Warming

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – January 25, 2013) A cocktail-party chat that lasted only minutes has triggered hopes that the country’s troubled relations with Georgia might be headed for substantial recovery. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had a conversation with his Georgian counterpart, Bidzina Ivanishvili, during a reception at the Davos World Economic Forum late Wednesday, Medvedev’s […]

» Read more

Moscow-Tbilisi relations will improve if Russia changes its Caucasus policy – Georgian president

Georgia Map

STRASBOURG. Jan 22 (Interfax) – Problems facing Russian-Georgian relations could be resolved easily if Moscow agreed to give up its “territorial claims”, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said. “Russia ought to give up its imperial ambitions, its territorial claims, and Georgia should rebuild its territorial integrity,” he said at the winter session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in […]

» Read more

Saakashvili accuses Ivanishvili team of looking to Russia

Georgia Map

TBILISI. Jan 12 (Interfax) – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has accused Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili of an attempt to change Georgia’s foreign policy. At the ceremony for introducing the new governors, which was held in the presidential palace on Saturday, Saakashvili said Ivanishvili in his recent interview had said that he had to “repel” the attacks of the Western world […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: No America in the Caucasus: The False Promise of Westernization in Georgia

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

[No America in the Caucasus: The False Promise of Westernization in Georgia – Foreign Affairs – Thomas de Waal – December 5, 2012 – click here to read full article] Writing in Foreign Affairs, Thomas De Waal questions whether Georgia could ever be considered “westernized.” He also holds that the story of political transitions involving Mikheil Saakashvili actually shares themes […]

» Read more

20 Georgian wine and mineral water producers preparing to resume exports to Russia

Georgia Map

TBILISI. Jan 1 (Interfax) – Twenty Georgian companies producing wine and mineral water are preparing to resume the deliveries of their output to the Russian market, head of the Center for Georgian-Russian Economic Cooperation Giorgy Seturidze told the press summing up the results of a Monday meeting with representatives of these companies. He said all technical questions related to the […]

» Read more

Georgian Organized Clashes, Investigators Say

Map of Russia and European Region of Former Soviet Union or Commonwealth of Independent States

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Jonathan Earle and Alec Luhn – Dec. 14, 2012) On the eve of the next major anti-government protest, investigators announced that they had evidence that a Georgian politician helped organize violent clashes at a May 6 protest in Moscow. Givi Targamadze, a close ally of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, “managed” opposition leaders responsible for the […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: PM’s Envoy to Meet Russian Diplomat ‘Informally’

Map of Georgia

[PM’s Envoy to Meet Russian Diplomat ‘Informally’ – Civil Georgia – Dec. 12, 2012 – http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25533] Civil Georgia covers plans for Georgia and Russia to have informal diplomatic talks, possibly in Switzerland.  The two sides apparently are already in direct contact, for the purpose of setting up the meetings: Georgian PM’s special representative for relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze, said […]

» Read more

NATO Commitment to Georgia Still ‘Solid’

NATO Meeting file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – Dec. 6, 2012) BRUSSELS ­ Two months after an opposition party swept elections in Georgia, NATO on Tuesday reconfirmed its 2008 decision to treat the nation as a future member but expressed concern about its democratic development. “Georgia’s commitment to NATO is solid. And NATO’s commitment to Georgia remains just as […]

» Read more

Georgia ready to start resuming dialogue with Russia despite radical differences – official

Map of Georgia

(Interfax – Dec. 2, 2012) Georgia believes it is necessary to start resuming dialogue with Russia despite radical disagreements regarding Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s status. “We believe we should look for common interests without preconditions, especially such that rule out the possibility of dialogue. We are sure that the settlement of problems between Georgia and Russia are in the interests […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: Georgia eyes double-digit growth, renewed Russia ties

Map of Georgia

(Georgia eyes double-digit growth, renewed Russia ties – Reuters – Margarita Antidze – Nov. 26, 2012 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/26/us-georgia-economy-idUSBRE8AP0NE20121126) Reuters covers Georgia’s expressed need for increased economic growth in the face of unemployment and low per capita GDP, with one hope being that trade with Russia will play a part: Georgia’s new economy minister says his country, beset by high unemployment […]

» Read more

Resumption of dialog with Georgia is possible given new geopolitical reality – Medvedev

Map of Georgia

MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) – Russia is ready to cooperate with the new Georgian authorities, if they take into account Russia’s decision on the recognition of Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s independence, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “This is not the easiest path, but Russia has always said that we are ready for dialog with the new Georgian authorities, but […]

» Read more

Georgian PM Ivanishvili expects U.S. to help normalize relations with Russia

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

TBILISI. Nov 28 (Interfax) – U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin discussed relations between Tbilisi and Moscow with Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili at a meeting at the Georgian State Chancellery behind closed doors, the prime ministerial press service reported on Tuesday. Ivanishvili said following the meeting that he hoped for the U.S. […]

» Read more

Georgia will not mark Rose Revolution anniversary

Map of Georgia

TBILISI. Nov 23 (Interfax) – Another holiday will be marked in Georgia this year instead of the Rose Revolution anniversary for the first time since 2003. The government led by Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in Georgia following the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze on November 23, 2003. This date has been marked officially as the Rose Revolution anniversary, but […]

» Read more

Georgia won’t close Soviet Occupation Museum in Tbilisi

Map of Georgia

TBILISI. Nov 19 (Interfax) – The Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection does not intend to revise the status or name of the Soviet Occupation Museum functioning in Tbilisi, a ministry statement says. With the change of government in Georgia activist groups have stepped up efforts in the past few weeks demanding that the museum be closed or renamed. […]

» Read more

New Kremlin Headache: Democracy is Alive in Ukraine and Georgia

Map of Russia and European Region of Former Soviet Union or Commonwealth of Independent States

(Voice of America – James Brooke – November 3, 2012 – James Brooke is VOA Moscow bureau chief, covering Russia and the former USSR) Vladimir Putin is suffering back pains and is cancelling foreign trips and his annual November press conference marathon. He may also be suffering from a foreign policy migraine: multi-party democracy is alive and well in the […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: Georgia Appoints Special Envoy for Relations with Russia

Map of Georgia

(“Georgia Appoints Special Envoy for Relations with Russia Civil Georgia” – Civil Georgia – November 1, 2012 – http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25407) Civil Georgia reports that Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has created a new post of Special Representative for Relations with Russia, appointing Zurab Abashidze, former ambassador to Moscow, to the position. Abashidze is to report directly to Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili touts the […]

» Read more

Ivanishvili: Georgia’s Accession to NATO Needs Speeding Up

Map of Georgia

TBILISI. Oct 18 (Interfax) – Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s likely next prime minister, insisted on Thursday that NATO speed up his country’s process of accession to the North Atlantic alliance now that the nation has carried out democratic parliamentary elections, a condition for joining the organization. “NATO should now take practical steps to enable Georgia to join the alliance as […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: Church’s Muscle Helped Propel President’s Rivals to Victory in Georgia

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

Church’s Muscle Helped Propel President’s Rivals to Victory in Georgia – New York Times – Ellen Barry – October 14, 2012 – http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/world/europe/churchs-muscle-aided-win-of-presidents-rivals-in-georgia.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Ellen Barry writes on the Eastern Orthodox church in Georgia and its views of politics and recent elections: “As sharply contested parliamentary voting approached in Georgia last week, the country’s Orthodox patriarch implemented his own peculiar pre-election […]

» Read more

Anatoly Karlin JRL #176 [re Georgia]

Map of Georgia

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2012 From: Sergei Roy <SergeiRoy@yandex.ru> Subject: Anatoly Karlin JRL #176 [re Georgia] Re Anatoly Karlin JRL #176, 8 October 2012 By Sergei Roy I must congratulate Mr. Karlin  on his excellent analysis of the politics involved in the recent parliamentary election in Georgia, its causes and consequences.  A few comments are due, though. Politics and politicking, […]

» Read more

Georgian tycoon expects NATO entry after poll victory

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

Georgian tycoon expects NATO entry after poll victory – Reuters – Margarita Antidze – October 9, 2012 click here to read original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/09/us-georgia-election-idUSBRE8980S220121009 Reuters covers predictions by Georgia’s next likely prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, that Georgia will soon join NATO, rather than come under Russian influence.  Ivanishvili’s party won recent parliamentary elections. “We are striving towards Europe and Georgia […]

» Read more

Does the Georgian Election Signal a New paradigm?

Map of Georgia

Does the Georgian Election Signal a New paradigm? – us-russia.org – October 8, 2012 “us-russia.org” presents  a panel anthology on the aftermath of the Georgia election, featuring Vlad Sobell, Edward Lozansky, Patick Armstrong, Sergei Roy, Anatoly Karlin, and Slava Kolodyazhniy. In Georgia’s October 1 parliamentary election President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement was defeated, paving the way for Georgia’s first-ever […]

» Read more

Georgia to Improve Relations with Russia – Minister

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

TBILISI, October 8 (RIA Novosti )- The new Georgian government will implement a plan to improve relations with Moscow, while maintaining its policy of pro-Western orientation, Foreign Minister designate Maya Panjikidze said on Monday. “There is a specific plan and idea on how to improve relations with Russia,” Panjikidze said. The aim of the Georgian Foreign Ministry is “to improve […]

» Read more

New Georgian Cabinet Sees No Quick Fix for Russian Ties

Map of Georgia

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 8, 2012) Maia Panjikidze, nominated on Monday as Georgia’s next foreign minister, vowed that the country’s foreign policy would not change and predicted that it would take years to normalize relations with Russia. “This is the decision of the Georgian people: to integrate with European and Euro-Atlantic organizations; to continue and deepen the strategic […]

» Read more

The Vote in Georgia: Why Saakashvili Lost, Why Ivanishvili Won, and What This Means for the Future

Map of Georgia

Paul Goble – Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 19 – Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – October 4, 2012 The final results of the Georgian parliamentary elections were not announced yet when President Mikhail Saakashvili conceded that his party lost the majority of the vote; Bidzina Ivaanishvili has begun talks about forming a government and suggested that Saakashvili resign as […]

» Read more

Is Ivanishvili a Trojan Horse for Russia’s Return to Georgia?

Map of Georgia

Voice of America – October 3, 2012 – By James Brooke – James Brooke is VOA Moscow bureau chief, covering Russia and the former USSR. In the run-up to Georgia’s parliamentary vote, supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili derided their opponent, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, as “a Kremlin project.” Activists for Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition were even chased out of one village […]

» Read more

Medvedev Praises Win by Georgian Opposition

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

(Nikolaus von Twickel – Moscow Times – October 3, 2012) Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev praised the results of Georgia’s parliamentary elections, in which the main opposition coalition defeated the party of President Mikheil Saakashvili. “If these results remain, Georgia’s political landscape will become more diverse. You can only welcome this, because it means that more constructive and responsible forces will […]

» Read more

Georgian Vote Spells No Reset with Russia – Analysts

Map of Georgia

MOSCOW, October 2 (Alexey Eremenko, RIA Novosti) – The Georgian opposition’s likely victory in parliamentary elections yesterday spells no more than token changes in relations with Russia, as anti-Kremlin President Mikheil Saakashvili remains entrenched in power, Russian analysts said on Tuesday. “Relations will improve, because they can’t get any worse,” said Alexander Krylov, Caucasus expert at the Institute of World […]

» Read more

Matviyenko expects Russia-Georgia ties to improve after election

Tblisi, Georgia, file photo

MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) – Russia will respect any choice made by the Georgian people in the October 1 parliamentary election, Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, told journalists. “Our country will respect any choice of the Georgian people. It is the Georgian people’s right to elect its parliament and the country’s […]

» Read more

Georgia Billionaire Scores Shock Vote Upset Over Saakashvili

Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Helena Bedwell and Henry Meyer – October 2, 2012 Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s opposition coalition unexpectedly won the most votes in a parliamentary election yesterday, dealing a blow to U.S.-backed President Mikheil Saakashvili. The president, 44, said his United National Movement would move to opposition after results with 29.1 percent of votes counted showed Ivanishvili’s Georgian […]

» Read more

Georgia Abuse Outcry Lifts Russia-Linked Billionaire in Vote

Map of Georgia

By Helena Bedwell and Henry Meyer – Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – September 28, 2012 Public outcry over the rape and beating of prisoners in a Georgian prison is threatening the nine-year rule of U.S. ally President Mikheil Saakashvili in Oct. 1 parliamentary elections. While Saakashvili’s ruling party held a lead of more than 20 percentage points in a poll conducted […]

» Read more

Scandal at jail breaks Georgia election wide open

(Business New Europe – Molly Corso in Tbilisi – September 21, 2012) Reeling from graphic evidence of widespread prisoner abuse just 10 days before the parliamentary elections, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his party are bracing themselves for a major fight to stay in power. The scandal broke on September 18 after a series of violently explicit videos showing prisoners […]

» Read more

NEWSLINK: Opposition says Georgia vote a choice between “good and evil”

Map of Georgia

Opposition says Georgia vote a choice between “good and evil” –  Reuters – Margarita Antidz – September 22, 2012 – click here for original article Reuters covers the campaigns for the October 1 legislative elections in Georgia. On the heels of the broadcasting of a video of prison inmates being tortured and raped with objects, billionaire “Georgian Dream” opposition leader […]

» Read more

Campaign Against Georgian Govt Is Financed From Russia – Saakashvili

Map of Georgia

TBILISI. Sept 21 (Interfax) – The campaign against the government in Georgia is financed from Russia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at the Tbilisi House of Justice opening ceremony. “They are fighting us with Russian money, using Russian methods, threatening us and wielding weapons on the border. But they won’t intimidate us,” he said. Saakashvili reiterated that Russia is trying […]

» Read more

AMERICAN UMBRELLA FOR TBILISI: An update on the American-Georgian military cooperation. – GROUP OF AMERICAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE EXPERTS IS VISITING GEORGIA

Georgia Map

AMERICAN UMBRELLA FOR TBILISI: An update on the American-Georgian military cooperation. – GROUP OF AMERICAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE EXPERTS IS VISITING GEORGIA – Author: Yuri Roks – Nezavisimaya Gazeta September 12, 2012 [no link available for English-language version of the original article] Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports that American antiaircraft defense experts have come to Tbilisi, under the framework of the Strategic Partnership […]

» Read more
1 2 3 4