Georgia's Prime Minister Accuses Ukraine For Inciting Anti-Government Protests

World leaders address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City © Thomson Reuters  

Reuters: Georgian PM tells Ukraine's Zelenskiy not to meddle in his country 

(Reuters) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili accused Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of meddling in his country's political situation by commenting on protests there last week, prompting an angry response from Kyiv. 

During the protests against a "foreign agents" law that critics said signalled an authoritarian shift in Georgia, Zelenskiy thanked protesters for waving Ukrainian flags, saying it showed respect, and he wished Georgians "democratic success". 

Last Friday, Georgia's parliament dropped the bill, which had threatened to harm Tbilisi's bid for closer ties with Europe. Critics had said it was inspired by a 2012 Russian law that has been used widely to crack down on dissent in Russia.  

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WNU Editor: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili was responding to these remarks made by Ukrainian President Zelensky .... Zelenskyy calls for 'democratic success' in Georgia amid protests (AFP). 

Georgia's Prime Minister Accuses Ukraine For Inciting Anti-Government Protests  

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvi criticizes Zelenskyy for inciting anti-government protests -- News 360  

Georgian PM Slams Ukraine Over Intervention In Domestic Matters, Claims Zelenskyy Involved -- Republic World  

Georgian PM lashes out at ‘anarchists’, Ukraine, and EU following foreign agent U-turn -- OC Media  

PM Garibashvili Links Tbilisi Protests to “Destructive, Anarchist” Forces -- Civil Georgia

Georgian Opposition Vows More Protests As Government Withdraws Contentious Foreign Agent Bill After Days of Protests

 

Reuters: Georgian ruling party withdraws 'foreign agents' bill but faces more protests 

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia's ruling party said on Thursday it was dropping a bill on "foreign agents" after two nights of violent protests against what opponents said was a Russian-inspired authoritarian shift that imperilled hopes of the country joining the European Union. 

The Georgian Dream ruling party said in a statement it would "unconditionally withdraw the bill we supported, without any reservations". It cited the need to reduce "confrontation" in society, while also denouncing "lies" told about the bill by the "radical opposition". 

However, opposition leaders said the protests would resume at 7 p.m. (1500 GMT). Giga Lemonjava, a representative of the Droa party, said they were demanding that the government formally denounce the bill and release all those detained during the protests.  

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Georgian Opposition Vows More Protests As Government Withdraws Contentious Foreign Agent Bill After Days of Protests  

Georgia’s government abandons Putin-style bill that triggered huge protests -- Politico 

Georgia withdraws ‘foreign influence’ bill but opposition vows more protests -- CNN  

Georgia drops controversial 'foreign agent' bill after two days of violent protests -- SKY News  

Georgian Lawmakers Pull ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill After Mass Protests -- Moscow Times  

Georgia ditches 'foreign agents' law after protests -- UPI  

Georgia Withdraws Foreign Agent Bill After Days of Protests -- Reuters

Georgia's Ruling Party Wins Local Polls

 

DW: Georgia ruling party wins local polls after ex-president's arrest 

The ruling Georgian Dream party has edged past the opposition with almost all votes counted. 

However, European election observers have cited allegations of vote buying and other irregularities by the ruling party. 

Georgia's ruling party on Sunday was set to win nationwide municipal elections that were overshadowed by the arrest of the country's former president and claims from by election obersvers of unfair voting practices. 

Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili returned from exile in Ukraine to the Caucasus country on Friday to support the opposition.  

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Update #1: Georgia Ruling Party Wins Local Election After Arrest of Former President (VOA)  

Update #2: Georgia local elections: Ruling party Georgian Dream leads after early results (Euronews/AP) 

WNU Editor: Outside observers and the opposition parties are alleging fraud and intimidation at the polling stations.

Georgia’s Ruling Party Claims Victory In Parliamentary Elections

DW: Georgia election: Ruling party claims victory, opposition protests 

A coalition of opposition groups united to try and oust the ruling Georgian Dream party, led by a billionaire. 

hey have rejected his party's claim to have won the election. The preliminary results of Georgia's parliamentary election were contested by an alliance of opposition groups on Sunday. 

With votes from more than 92% of precincts counted, the ruling Georgian Dream party had won 48% of the vote, against 45.5% for opposition parties. The proportional ballot decides 120 of the 150 seats in the legislature. 

Many other opposition parties cleared the 1% threshold for representation in the parliament, according to the central election commission. 

The ruling party — founded by Georgia's richest man, Bidzina Ivanishvili — declared victory soon after polls closed. However, opposition parties have rejected the results and called for protests. 

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Georgia’s Ruling Party Claims Victory In Parliamentary Elections

Ruling party in Georgia wins parliament vote, opposition protests -- Reuters 

Georgia’s Ruling Party Claims Victory in Parliamentary Elections -- Bloomberg

Georgia’s ruling party claims victory in parliamentary vote -- AP Election win by Georgia's governing party triggers protests -- AP Georgia opposition rejects election results, stages protest -- Al Jazeera Thousands Demand New Vote in Georgia After Ruling Party Claims Victory -- Moscow Times/AFP Georgian ruling party wins election as opposition struggles to unite for street protests -- RT

Police In Georgia Use Water Cannons On Protesters In Tbilisi

RFE: Georgian Police Use Water Cannons On Protesters In Tbilisi

TBILISI -- Riot police in Tbilisi have used water cannons on protesters who were blocking the entrance to parliament and arrested several people demanding early elections.

The violence broke as hundreds of demonstrators were gathered for a fourth day on November 18 to protest parliament's rejection of constitutional amendments on the transition to a proportional electoral system when riot police moved in.

Live broadcasts from the scene showed demonstrators huddled in large groups as they were sprayed with water.

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More News On Police In Georgia Using Water Cannons On Protesters In Tbilisi

Tens of thousands gather in Tbilisi to demand snap elections after Georgia government fail electoral reform -- National Post/Reuters
Thousands protest election reform failure in Georgia -- ABC News/AP
Riot police use water cannons to disperse Georgia protesters -- AFP
Tear gas, water cannon used to disperse peaceful rally in Georgia -- Al Jazeera
Georgia protests: Crowds gather outside Parliament buildings -- Euronews
Water cannon used as Georgian riot police move in to clear anti-govt rally blocking parliament in Tbilisi (PHOTO, VIDEO) -- RT
US, EU back Georgia protesters after thousands rally outside parliament -- France 24

Georgian Prime Minister Has Announced His Resignation

Mamuka Bakhtadze said he had fulfilled his mandate.

RFE: Georgian Prime Minister Resigns, Says He Has 'Fulfilled Mission'

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has announced his resignation after little more than a year in the position, saying he had fulfilled the mandate he was given.

"The purpose and main mandate of my nomination for the post of prime minister of Georgia in 2018 was to create and implement a strategic development framework for the country," Bakhtadze wrote in a Facebook post on September 2.

"A strategic development framework has been created, implemented, and therefore I decided to resign because I believe I have fulfilled my mission at this point," he added.

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Update #1: Georgian PM Bakhtadze steps down, warns against political divisions (Reuters)
Update #2: Georgian government steps down as PM Bakhtadze announces resignation (RT)

WNU Editor: There are tensions on the border .... Georgia observes 'military buildup' along border with Russia-backed South Ossetia (Euronews/Reuters).

‘Thousands Storm Georgian Parliament’ Over Visit Of Russian MP

The Guardian: Dozens injured after Georgia police fire rubber bullets at demonstrators

The unrest was sparked by the appearance of a Russian MP, who was allowed to chair a session of parliament

Police in Georgia used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to stop protesters storming the country’s parliament early on Friday, leaving dozens requiring medical treatment. Thirty-nine police officers and 30 civilians had been treated in hospital for injuries after the clashes, with the number likely to rise, said David Sergeenko, an adviser to the prime minister.

Thousands had rallied through the night outside the building in the centre of the capital, Tbilisi, after a Russian MP was allowed to chair a session of parliament on Thursday.

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WNU Editor: It is going to take a long time before there is "peace" between Georgia and Russia.

More News On Today's Protests In Georgia

Georgian protesters try to break into parliament -- AP
Georgia protests: ‘Thousands storm parliament’ over Russian MP -- BBC
Georgians angry over Russian lawmaker's visit try to storm parliament -- Reuters
Protesters attempt to storm Georgia's parliament over Russia MP's visit -- CNN
Protesters try storming Georgian Parliament over Russian lawmaker's visit -- FOX News
Police fire rubber bullets at protesters in Georgia: Reuters witness -- Reuters
Police fire rubber bullets & tear gas at anti-govt protest near Georgia parliament in Tbilisi -- RT
Russian MPs’ Arrival at Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy Sparks Protests -- Georgia Today
Protests erupt in Georgia over Russian MP’s visit -- Eurasianet

Thousands Protest 'Stolen Election" In Georgia

RFE: Thousands In Georgia Protest Alleged Election Fraud

TBILISI -- Thousands of people have protested in the Georgian capital against the election of the ruling party-backed candidate Salome Zurabishvili to the presidency, claiming fraud in last week’s runoff vote.

Holding national and EU flags, the protesters gathered on December 2 in front of the parliament building in the center of Tbilisi, calling for early parliamentary elections and a new election law.

French-born Zurabishvili, who had the backing of billionaire former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ruling Georgian Dream party, won 59.5 percent of the vote in the November 28 runoff, according to election authorities.

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More News On Opposition Protests Over The Election Result In Georgia

Alleged election malfeasance protested in Georgian capital -- ABC News/AP
Thousands in Georgia protest against presidential election results -- Reuters
Thousands in Georgia declare ‘stolen election’, urge snap polls -- SCMP/AFP
Georgia protests decry presidential 'election fraud' -- DW
Thousands in Georgia protest 'stolen election' -- SBS News
Georgians demand new polls after 'bought' election -- Al Jazeera
Ukraine's Poroshenko for 'Normandy format' talks with Russia -- Al Jazeera

To Avoide Antagonizing Russia NATO Will Not Give Georgia Full Membership Within The Alliance

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton listens to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (R) during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels June 25, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Francois Lenoir

Nato Steps Back From Giving Georgia Full Membership Of Alliance -- The Guardian/Reuters

Republic gains only possibility of 'cooperation' deal amid fears of some Nato members that full tie-in would antagonise Russia

Georgia's hopes of achieving full membership of Nato were set back on Wednesday as the alliance vowed to stop short of approval, avoiding possible confrontation with Moscow over an expansion to Russia's neighbours.

Officials said Nato's summit in September would not sanction the formal step to membership. But Nato members agreed in principle to draw up a "substantive package" of cooperation with Georgia that would help it move closer to the alliance, said its secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

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More News On NATO Not Offering Full membership To Georgia

NATO will not offer Georgia membership step, avoiding Russia clash -- Reuters
NATO Snubs Georgia’s Entry Prospects in Averting Russia Showdown -- Bloomberg
NATO to Strengthen Ties With Georgia, Not Offer Full Membership -- VOA
NATO Offers Georgia Closer Ties -- Defense News

My Comment: Georgia may not officially be a full member of NATO .... but for all practical purposes they are.

Georgia's President Concedes Parliamentary Election Defeat

Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili Admits Election Loss -- BBC

President Mikheil Saakashvili has admitted his party has lost Georgia's parliamentary election, in a live TV announcement.

He said the Georgian Dream bloc of his main rival, billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, had won Monday's election.

Victory for Mr Ivanishvili means the first democratic transfer of power in Georgia's post-Soviet history.

Mr Ivanishvili said the "only right decision" would now be for Mr Saakashvili to resign.

Mr Saakashvili, who has led the country since 2003, is due to remain in power until presidential elections next year.

Under agreed reforms, the parliament and prime minister will acquire greater powers than the president after that election.

Early results showed Georgian Dream ahead in the party list vote, which accounts for 77 of the 150 seats.

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More News On Georgia's Parliamentary Election

Georgia’s President Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election -- New York Times
Georgian president concedes his party lost -- AP
Georgia's President Concedes Election Defeat -- Wall Street Journal
Georgia's president concedes defeat in parliamentary elections -- CNN
Georgia Billionaire Scores Shock Vote Upset Over Saakashvili -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Georgia Ruling Party Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election -- Voice of America
Georgia's president Saakashvili concedes election defeat -- The Guardian
Georgian opposition celebrates as both sides see victory -- Reuters
Elections in Georgia: Why the Stakes are So High -- Liz Fuller, The Atlantic
Georgia’s leader-apparent is an eccentric zebra-collecting billionaire with a Russian past -- Washington Post/AP
Georgia's Election: Did Saakashvili Concede Defeat Prematurely? -- The Atlantic

Political Change In Georgia?

Both Sides Claiming Victory in Georgia -- Voice of America

Both sides are claiming victory in Georgia's parliamentary election, even with the outcome far from certain.

Pro-Russian billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition is challenging President Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement for control of parliament.

Exit polls give Georgia Dream the lead, based on the count of votes for party lists. This accounts for about half the seats.

Mr. Saakashvili says his party has won where the seats are filled by popular vote for individual candidates.

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More News On The Parliamentary Election In Georgia

Georgia's ruling party and rivals claim election win -- Reuters
Georgia's president, opposition both claim victory -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
Georgia Opposition Celebrate Election "Victory" -- RIA Novosti
Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili set to lose control of parliament -- The Telegraph
Georgia opposition coalition 'ahead' in popular vote -- BBC
Georgia Opposition Appears to Lead Popular Vote -- Wall Street Journal
Georgia Challenger Draws Strong Support, Exit Poll Shows -- New York Times
Georgian exit polls point to election win for Bidzina Ivanishvili -- The Guardian
News Guide to Georgia as It Holds Crucial Election -- ABC News/AP

Eleven Militants And Three Georgian Special Forces Killed In Clashes Near Russian Border

Georgian Army Operation On Russian Border Leaves 14 Dead -- BBC

Three Georgian soldiers and 11 suspected militants have been killed in an army operation along the border with Russia, Georgian officials said.

Georgia deployed forces to free several people taken hostage by the gunmen.

The gunmen had crossed from the Russian republic of Dagestan, where armed Islamist insurgents operate, Georgia's interior ministry said.

Correspondents say there are fears the incident could increase tensions between Russia and Georgia.

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More News On Today's Clashes On The Georgia - Russia Border

Georgia says 3 soldiers, 11 militants killed near Russia border -- Reuters
Georgia Frees Hostages Along Border With Russia -- New York Times
Georgian Troops Battle Militants -- Wall Street Journal
Georgia Says 11 Militants Killed, Hostages Freed Near Russia -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Georgia says 14 killed in clashes near Russia border -- AFP
Georgia says 14 killed in clashes near border -- Al Jazeera
Georgian police reportedly eliminate terrorists on Russian border -- RT

Georgia's Saakashvili Seeking U.S. Weapons to Deter Russia

President Mikheil Saakashvili, on the eve of a visit by Vice President Biden, said the arms "would make any hotheads think twice" about military action. (By Irakli Gedenidze -- Pool)

From The Washington Post:

TBILISI, Georgia, July 21 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urged the United States on Tuesday to supply his country with advanced defensive weapons, warning on the eve of a visit by Vice President Biden that a decision not to provide such arms would encourage a Russian invasion.

In a wide-ranging interview, Saakashvili said that discussions about a weapons deal remained at "very early stages" but that he planned to press Biden to speed up delivery of antiaircraft and antitank systems, saying such weaponry was "purely defensive" and "would make any hotheads think twice about further military adventures."

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Update: Biden in Georgia to express support, urge reform -- Reuters

My Comment: The U.S. is not going to arm Georgia. Their relationship with Russia is many magnitudes more important to the U.S. than jeopardizing it by giving Georgia a few shipments of weapons.

Vice President Biden's trip to Georgia is all PR .... and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is just deluding himself if he thinks he is going to get anything substantial from this visit.

Behind The Military Mutiny In Georgia

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, far left, surrounded by guards. Irakli Gedenidze / Presidential Press Service/ Pool / AP

From Time Magazine:

Georgia's government has called Tuesday's mutiny at a military base near Tbilisi part of a coup attempt orchestrated by Russia, but opponents of beleaguered President Mikheil Saakashvili accuse him of using the incident to crack down on mounting domestic opposition. Soldiers in tanks and armored personnel carriers raced to the base in Mukhrovani, 20 miles from the capital, to confront mutinous soldiers, about 500 of whom were arrested after the standoff ended peacefully.

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More News On The Crisis In Georgia

Police and protesters clash in Georgia's capital -- AP
Georgia Protesters Battle Police in First Violent Outbreak -- New York Times
Bid to storm Georgia police HQ repelled -- Brisbane Times
Demonstrators, Police Clash In Georgian Capital -- Voice of America
Anti-government clash in Georgia -- BBC
NATO war games launch despite Russia's fierce objections -- L.A. Times
Georgia war games strain NATO-Russia relations -- China View
Georgia war games feed tensions between Russia, NATO -- CBC

Tensions In Georgia As NATO Exercises Start

President Saakashvili of Georgia, far left, with his bodyguards, enters the military base where about 500 soldiers surrendered. Photo from Times Online.

NATO Exercise Begins Amid Tensions -- The New York Times

TBILISI, Georgia — A day after Georgia announced that it had put down a brief military mutiny aimed at disrupting NATO military exercises, the drills began Wednesday over Russian objections.

According to the Georgian account of the mutiny, government forces surrounded a tank battalion whose leaders were planning the uprising some 25 miles from Tbilisi, the capital. A few hours later, most of the unit’s 500 soldiers surrendered, and several of their commanders were detained.

President Mikheil Saakashvili said Russia was hoping to derail the NATO exercises, which he called a “symbolic event.”

“We are asking our northern neighbor to refrain from any provocations,” Mr. Saakashvili said of Russia, in a televised interview.

Russia immediately denied any role in the unrest.

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More News On Georgia And NATO

NATO holds Georgia war games, Russia critical -- AP
Nato kicks off Georgia exercises -- BBC
Russia, NATO in battle of wills over Georgia -- Reuters
Nerves rising over Georgia situation -- The Australian
Uprising adds to pressure on Georgia's president -- Brisbane Times
Russia criticises Nato exercises in Georgia -- ABC News (Australia)
FACTBOX - NATO military exercises in Georgia -- Reuters
NATO begins exercises in Georgia -- China View
Georgia, Moscow Trade Allegations on Military Uprising -- Voice of America
Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili claims to have crushed army mutiny -- Times Online

Army Revolt In Georgia Denounced As 'Russian-Backed Attempted Coup'

Georgia 'Foils Russia-Backed Coup' On Eve Of Nato Exercises -- Times Online

Georgia claimed today to have foiled a Russian-backed plot to stage a military coup on the eve of training exercises involving Nato troops.

The Defence Ministry said that a tank battalion had mutinied at a base in Mukhrovani, 20 miles east of Tbilisi, and were refusing to obey orders.

An Interior Ministry spokesman also announced that special services had uncovered a plot to topple the government involving a former high-ranking officer at the Defence Ministry.

The dramatic development came a day before Georgia hosts three weeks of military exercises with Nato that Russia has condemned as provocative so soon after the war over the breakaway region of South Ossetia last August.

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More News On This Attempted Military Coup In Georgia

Georgian troops 'launch mutiny' -- BBC
Georgian army unit refusing to obey orders after coup reports -- RIA Novosti
Tank battalion mutinied, Georgian defense minister says -- ITAR-TASS
Army revolt in Georgia denounced as 'Russian-backed attempted coup' -- The Guardian
Georgia accuses Russia of backing military coup -- The Age
Georgian troops mutiny ahead of NATO exercises -- CNN
Georgia says coup underway at military base -- Reuters
Georgia claims Russian-backed 'coup' underway -- The Telegraph
Georgia accuses Russia of plotting coup -- Press TV
Georgia Says Mutiny Underway -- Voice of America
Georgia Is Focal Point in U.S.-NATO Russian Tension -- New York Times
Russia deploys troops along Georgia's internal border -- The Telegraph

Nato Has 'No Will' To Admit Georgia Or Ukraine

From The Telegraph:

Nato is suffering from 'enlargement fatigue' and has no will to admit Georgia or Ukraine, according to Poland's foreign minister Radek Sikorski.

Mr Sikorski, who is a leading contender to become Nato's secretary-general when the Alliance selects a new chief in April, told The Daily Telegraph that membership for both countries was a "fairly distant prospect".

But he denied that Russia, which attaches great importance to thwarting Nato's enlargement, had achieved a victory.

Ukraine and Georgia were both promised Nato membership at a summit in Bucharest last April. But no timetable was offered and, four months later, Russia raised the stakes by invading Georgia.

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My Comment: NATO has very little will to do anything now.

European Security Agency Must End Mission In Georgia

From The International Herald Tribune:

MOSCOW: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe must end its 16-year mission in Georgia early next year because it is unable to resolve a deadlock with Russia, one of its member states, over whether to treat the separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign nations.

At a meeting Monday at OSCE headquarters in Vienna, Russia's envoy to the organization refused to extend the Georgia mission, which expires Dec. 31, unless members agreed that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were separate countries. Though Russia is the only one of the organization's 56 member states that has formally recognized the enclaves, the organization works by consensus.

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Monitors Come Under Fire Near Georgian Rebel Region: OSCE

From Yahoo News/AFP:

TBILISI (AFP) – An armoured vehicle carrying ceasefire monitors from the OSCE came under fire near Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region Wednesday but no-one was injured, the OSCE said.

Georgia's interior ministry blamed the attack on South Ossetian militia forces but the breakaway region's rebel government denied the claim.

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Georgia Sacks Defense, Foreign Ministers After War

President George W. Bush and President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, shake hands as they smile at cameras before the start of the afternoon session of the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest.
White House photo by Eric Draper

From Reuters:

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili dismissed the defense and foreign affairs ministers on Friday in a major shakeup following August's military defeat by Russia.

The changes come amid opposition criticism of President Mikheil Saakashvili's government and its loss in the five-day war that followed Tbilisi's military assault on its breakaway South Ossetia region.

"Changes need to be made in the sphere of defense," Mgaloblishvili told a news conference. "It is important to strengthen foreign policy and more experience is needed in this direction."

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My Comment: There should also be an election to see if President Mikheil Saakashvili have the confidence of the electorate.