Stories about Georgia from November, 2007
Georgia: Former Defense Minister Arrested
TOL Georgia comments on the arrest of former Georgian defense minister turned government critic, Irakli Okruashvili, in Germany on an Interpol warrant. In response, the blog says that Okruashvili is seeking political asylum.
Georgia: Campaign Begins
Following on from a state of emergency declared earlier in the month, Resistance Georgia reports that the campaign for a snap presidential election in earlier January has already started. However, the anti-Saakashvili blog says that the signs are not good for a free and fair election.
Russia: Election “Without a Choice”
Mark MacKinnon writes about one of the creators of Russia's “managed democracy” system and the lessons drawn by Putin from the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia: “Who cares what the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe election monitors have to say? They're all tools...
Georgia: Darba
Kaukasus posts photographs of the God's Mother Church in Darba, Kakheti, Georgia.
Georgia: Russian Peacekeepers
Steady State looks at how the Georgian authorities use public concerns over tensions and clashes with Russian peacekeepers stationed in the breakaway region of Abkhazia for its own political ends.
Georgia: Media Petition
Resistance Georgia reports that Georgian journalists on both sides of the political divide are signing a petition to protest Imedi TV beign taken off the air during the recent clashes in Tbilisi.
Slovenia: Last Combat's Dormant Battles
On Last Combat, Slovenia is, so far, a rather obscure place, writes The Glory of Carniola. Russia is a pretty busy battlefield, though.
Georgia: Neo-Bolshevik Propaganda
Resistance Georgia, an anti-Saakashvili blog, says there are grounds to compare the administration of the Georgian president to the Bolsheviks.
Georgia: Politicians Speak
TOL Georgia posts a collection of quotes from various political figures commenting on the recent unrest and clashes in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
Georgia: Development
Despite recent opposition protests and a state of emergency being declared, Social Science in the Caucasus reports that in general, “Georgia has been doing well” in terms of progress in many areas. Nevertheless, despite concluding that “Georgia is and remains a success story,” the blog says “the successes can be...
Georgia: Campaign Promises
TOL Georgia looks at the campaign promises being made by Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili ahead of January's vote. The blog also says that state employees are reportedly under pressure to re-elect the incumbent.
Japan：Travelogue from Georgia
Japanese blogger and blog journalism analyst Fujishiro Hiroyuki of Gatonews has posted a three-part travelogue, recording his trip to Georgia last month[Ja]. (1, 2, and 3) The series describes his experience in detail with photos. The blogger also expresses his concern about the current state of the country and worries...
Georgia: Imedi Returns
TOL Georgia reports that journalists at the Georgian TV station Imedi which was taken off the air during the recent opposition protest will resume their work by writing for a local newspaper.
Syria: Mourning Lost Sailors
This week, the Syrian coast was washed in the black color of mourning, after the shocking news of the Syrian vessel [Georgian flagged, but owned and operated fully by Syrian crew] "Haj Ismail" was hit with the horrendous storm that hit the Black Sea last week, along with another nine ships. Yazan Badran brings us the latest buzz from the Syrian blogosphere.
Russia: Tatarstan Warns Against Karabakh Independence
Window on Eurasia writes: “By recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Osetia or Transdniestria as independent, as many in Moscow are now urging, the Russian government would undermine the territorial integrity of its own country, a senior member of Tatarstan’s parliament told a Baku newspaper.”
Georgia: Russia, Conflict & Paranoia
Steady State reports that with a presidential election now scheduled for January in Georgia, the issue of Russia and frozen conflicts in the former Soviet republic is being exploited by the president for political purposes. Steady State, however, wonders if Georgian officials shouldn't instead seek prescription drugs for paranoia.
Caucasus: LGBT Conference
Unzipped: Gay Armenia has an exclusive interview with Christopher Atamian, President of the Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York on the situation of the LGBT community in Armenia. The interview also details plans to hold a conference on LGBT rights in the Caucasus in the very near future.
Georgia: Total Censorship
Resistance Georgia comments on reports that News International owned Imedia TV has had its license revoked following last week's clashes between opposition supporters and police in downtown Tbilisi. The blog concludes that the move “is one of the most painful blows to democracy in Georgia.”
Georgia: Undemocratic Election
TOL Georgia reports that the pre-election campaign in Georgia has already unofficially started, but asks why bother to have elections at all, especially as the only media allowed to operate is supportive of the Georgian president. In a second post, TOL Georgia takes a look at how Mikhail Saakashvili hopes...
Georgia: Arrests
Referring to sources in Tbilisi, Resistance Georgia alleges that mass detentions and arrests are occurring in the aftermath of last week's disturbances in the Georgian capital. Meanwhile, the BBC's Matthew Collin posts his latest article on the protests written for The Moscow Times on his blog, This is Tbilisi Calling.
Ukraine: More Reactions on Georgia
Foreign Notes writes about the Ukrainian politicians’ and journalists’ reactions to the events in Georgia – here and here.
