Georgia

One Year into the Ukraine War, Massive Influx of Russians into Georgia Has Consequences for Locals

By IPS Correspondent
Since the war in Ukraine started in February last year, at least 1.5 million Russian citizens have crossed the Russia-Georgia border, official data states. However, as of today, it needs to be clarified how many of them stayed in the country, but walking the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the presence of Russian nationals can be seen almost everywhere.

Georgia Confronts Domestic Violence

By Giorgi Lomsadze
The issue of domestic violence is moving to the forefront of public attention in Georgia after a series of killings of women at the hands of their respective spouses or ex-spouses made headlines in local mass media.

Georgia’s Female Drug Addicts Face Double Struggle

By Pavol Stracansky
Irina was 21 when she first started using drugs. More than 30 years later, having lost her husband, her home and her business to drugs, she is still battling her addiction.

New Anti-Discrimination Law Could Worsen Situation for Georgia’s LGBT Community

By Pavol Stracansky
Georgia’s LGBT community is sceptical that recently-introduced anti-discrimination legislation hailed by some rights groups as a bold step forward for the former Soviet state will improve their lives any time soon.

How EU-Ready Is Tbilisi?

By Giorgi Lomsadze
Georgia plans to finalise a pact with the European Union on Jun. 27 that would bring Tbilisi closer to Brussels. Even so, the campaign environment ahead of Georgia’s local elections suggests that the country has quite a bit of distance to cover before it reaches the standards of a European democracy.

Georgia Opts for Gold Mining at Protected Historical Site

By Paul Rimple
It turns out the choice between gold and historical preservation is an easy one to make for officials in Georgia: the government is going for gold.

Need for Firewood Raises Threat for Georgia’s Christmas Tree Trade

By Molly Corso
The South Caucasus country of Georgia is a source of much sought-after Christmas tree seeds. But its own forests are now under threat, as firewood is in increasing demand as a cheap source of heat for homes, schools and hospitals.

Georgia’s New Government Struggling to Keep Police Reform Pledge

By Molly Corso
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili rose to power in 2012 on a pledge to depoliticise the powerful police force created by President Mikheil Saakashvili following the 2003 Rose Revolution.

Could Georgia’s Orthodox Church Become a Font of Intolerance?

By Molly Corso
In the two-plus decades since the Soviet collapse, the Georgian Orthodox Church has emerged as one of the South Caucasus country’s most respected and influential institutions. But some observers and theologians now worry that ultra-conservative clerics within the Church are gaining too much power.

In Southern U.S., Energy Equity Seen as Path to Sustainability

By Matthew Charles Cardinale
Advocates of the concept of "energy equity" have begun employing it in the southern United States to create a diverse coalition of citizens who might otherwise approach energy policy issues differently.

Ending Hunger Is Possible

By Claudia Ciobanu
Thirty-eight countries were recognised for the first time on Sunday by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation for cutting in half the prevalence of people suffering from undernourishment, one of three targets under the first Millennium Development Goal.

OP-ED: A Double Standard Won’t Do for Baku

By Eldar Mamedov
Kseniya Sobchak, a well-known Russian political activist and social butterfly, is an outspoken critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But, curiously, she seems to be taking a much softer line on Azerbaijan’s authoritarian-minded ruler, Ilham Aliyev.

Anti-LGBT Rampage in Georgia Exposes Frustrations with the West

By Molly Corso
Georgia may be touted as the most pro-Western country in the South Caucasus, but the recent backlash against LGBT activists in Tbilisi underscores how wide the cultural divide is when it comes to defining democratic values.

Chinese Investment Tests Limits of Georgian Hospitality

By Molly Corso
A 150-million-dollar-plus Chinese real estate and tourism deal that is slated for a suburb of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is creating a quandary for many Georgians.

GEORGIA: Anti-Turkish Sentiments Grow as Election Date Nears

By Molly Corso
Rooted in longstanding historical, religious and economic differences, Georgian animosity toward neighbouring Turkey, Georgia’s fifth-largest investor, appears to be growing in the Black Sea region of Achara.

GEORGIA: Tbilisi Walks Diplomatic High Wire on Iranian Nuclear Issue

By Giorgi Lomsadze
Georgia is clearly the closest U.S. ally in the South Caucasus, moving in lockstep with American interests on just about every foreign policy issue – except one: Iran.


husky and his white cat