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Latest stories about Georgia

5 June 2011

Georgia: Sharon Stone Seducing the Nation

Written by Ana Keshelashvili · Arts & Culture, Film

The most popular topic for discussion on social networks, as well as by the online and traditional media, this weekend was the premiere of Renny Harlin's movie about the 2008 Georgia-Russia war. However, the most important guest invited for the premiere was Hollywood actress Sharon Stone.

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24 May 2011

Georgia: Tolkienesque Clashes on the Streets of Tbilisi

Written by Ana Keshelashvili · Humor, Protest

On 21 May, just days before the 20th anniversary of Georgia declaring its independence from the former Soviet Union, protests organized by the opposition People's Assembly accused President Saakashvili of monopolizing power. Some took a humorous look at the clashes that followed.

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21 May 2011

Georgia: Beyoncé's Girls Rule an Apocalyptic… Caucasus?

Written by Ana Keshelashvili · Arts & Culture, Music

The premiere of American singer Beyoncé's "Run The World (Girls)" video on May 18 evoked much debate among bloggers and social media users in Georgia for a less than expected reason. Not that it was the first single from her highly anticipated new album, or even because of its empowering message, but rather a simple road sign that appeared 1 minute and 50 seconds into the video.

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5 April 2011

Azerbaijan: Novruz Bayramı

Written by Onnik Krikorian · Arts & Culture, Ethnicity & Race

Novruz, a holiday celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and other countries, was once again also observed in Azerbaijan on 21 March although festivities started weeks before. This year was no different, and Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in the former Soviet republic once again commented on the event.

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19 March 2011

Georgia: Journalists Dismissed Because of Facebook Hate Speech

Written by Mirian Jugheli · Human Rights, Religion

On 18 March 2011, the Georgian Public Broadcaster dismissed two of its journalists, Giorgi Tukhareli and Giorgi Gabrichidze, because of offensive comments they made on Facebook against homosexuals as and the Vatican as well as the Catholic Church.

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3 February 2011

Georgia: Blogger action in support of evicted IDPs

Written by Mirian Jugheli · Development, Governance

Following the eviction of IDP families from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, bloggers in Tbilisi, Georgia, have joined ranks with protesters demanding an end to their often forcible relocation and demands for proper housing.

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9 January 2011

Christmas in Armenia and Georgia… and on Twitter

Written by Onnik Krikorian · Arts & Culture, Religion

While Christmas was observed in the West on 25 December, other countries instead celebrated it earlier this week. In Armenia, however, it even became a trending topic on Twitter .

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7 January 2011

Georgia: Policeman fired after being identified on Facebook

Written by Mirian Jugheli · Governance, Human Rights

After the excessive use of force by policemen to break up a demonstration in Tbilisi, Georgia, many Facebook users used the site to identify those responsible.

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23 December 2010

Caucasus: The Year in Review

Written by Onnik Krikorian · Freedom of Speech, Arts & Culture

With 2011 nearly upon us, the year in new and social media in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia during 2010 was surprisingly positive. So, what did the past year hold in store for the South Caucasus? Read on.

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30 November 2010

Caucasus: Revelations & Confusion over Cablegate

Written by Onnik Krikorian · Breaking News, Freedom of Speech

As the media worldwide reveals revelation after revelation with the gradual release of over 251,000 leaked U.S. Embassy cables over the coming weeks, there were also some items of specific interest in the South Caucasus.

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Updates about Georgia

27 March 2012

English

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on the passage of legislation in Georgia outlawing discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, age, and political as well as religious views. The blog notes that the inclusion of sexual orientation makes Georgia “clearly the most advanced country in the South Caucasus in terms of legislative provisions on LGBT issues.”

• Onnik Krikorian

14 March 2012

English

Shota tweets that two bloggers were physically assaulted allegedly by representatives of Tbilisi University's Student Union, itself reportedly controlled by the ruling party of power in the country. News of the alleged attack [GE] was spread on Facebook and in the form of a video report by Net Gazeti on YouTube.

• Onnik Krikorian

7 March 2012

English

time difference comments on the return of Vladimir Putin to power in Russia following this week's election. The blog says that even if much of the world is concerned by the development, the Georgian government must recognize the reality and not alienate itself from its powerful and sometimes mutually antagonistic neighbor. “Maybe it's time to balance politics and be more diplomatic?” the Georgian blogger asks on Twitter.

• Onnik Krikorian

22 February 2012

Russian

ЖЖ Сухуми სოხუმი cyxymu [RU] updates its readers on another assassination attempt made today on the defacto President of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, Alexander Ankvab. The blog reports one bodyguard was killed, with another two wounded, in the fifth attempt on Ankvab's life since 2005.

• Onnik Krikorian

21 February 2012

Spanish

Blogger Luis Figueroa [es] wonders if Guatemala could benefit from following Georgia's example in fighting corruption.

• Silvia Viñas

10 February 2012

English

As parliamentary elections approach this year in Georgia, to be followed by a presidential vote in 2013, allegations against Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire opposition politician, have appeared on the Internet. The alleged exposé of life in the Ivanishvili household by American teacher Patrick Downey, formerly employed by the businessman turned politician, have been met with skepticism from other expatriates in the former Soviet republic, and not least because of claims also made against Georgia in general, the U.S., and [his ancestral homeland of] Ireland. Downey had sought asylum or residency in the latter, according to a video blog, “[…] in light of recent uncontrolled and willfully ill-advised policies concerning the mass emigration of non-Irish persons to Ireland […].” Ivanishvili has responded by saying that Downey “is suffering from psychological problems.”

• Onnik Krikorian

8 February 2012

English

Following the removal of traditional newspaper booths in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, and out of concern that the independent media will suffer as a result, Democracy and Freedom Watch reports that newspapers are now being sold via mobile newsstands including those attached to bicycles. A video report [GE] is also available here.

• Onnik Krikorian

21 November 2011

Governance

Russian photoblogger Mitya Aleshkovskiy publishes [ru] pictures taken during the South Ossetia presidential election that took place on 13 November 2011. He writes on his impressions after visiting the region and points out: “There will be a new president here, but the regime will stay the same.”

• Ekaterina

16 November 2011

English

Tamada Tales comments on a video posted on an online site of parliamentarians voting for absentee colleagues. The blog notes that while the practice is common elsewhere, it is taken to new levels in Georgia with one parliamentary faction leader even having his vote made by an underling sitting next to him.

• Onnik Krikorian

14 August 2011

English

Eugene Ivanov of The Ivanov Report - on the third anniversary of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war - argues that US demands that Georgia should control its entire territory to become a NATO-member was a key motivation for escalation of the South Ossetian conflict into outright war.

• Vilhelm Konnander

Comments on "Georgia"

Georgia: LGBT Activists Attacked by Orthodox Religious Group

I always find it humoring when "christians" claim that this is a christian or predominantly christian nation. It may be...

Ahiska Turks have not Disappeared they Live in the United states Freely and i am One of them there Are...
As a Meskhetian Turk living in Georgia and are actively looking the process , I think that our Mesketain's repatriation...
Thank you for this very striking article Onnik. As a 3rd generation ethnic Abkhaz refugee in Turkey, I know how...