About: Abkhazia
Georgia’s separatist region of South Ossetia to hold referendum on joining Russia
The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Friday (13 May) set 17 July as a date for a referendum on joining Russia.
For Georgians, Ukraine tensions revive painful war memories
As tens of thousands of Russian troops mass near Ukraine's border, many in fellow ex-Soviet state Georgia are feeling a frightening sense of déjà vu.
EU tries to salvage Eastern Partnership ties under Russian threat
EU leaders will try to rescue their outreach to five former Soviet republics of eastern Europe on Wednesday (15 December), all of them would-be partners undermined by Russian meddling and regional strife.
Georgia wants ‘new elements’ in Eastern Partnership, its ambassador says
In an exclusive interview Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to the EU, discussed his country’s political situation and EU agenda, the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit on 15 December, and the more ambitious format of Associated Trio.
Thirteen years on – 20% of Georgia is still occupied by Russia
It is crucial that the EU beefs-up its presence in South Caucasus more broadly, particularly on security and conflict related issues, write Amanda Paul and Iana Maisuradze in an analysis of the situation in Georgia 13 years after the 2008 war which depleted the country of 20% of its territory.
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova seek acceptance of their EU membership perspective
A summit between Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi culminated on Monday (19 July) with the signature of a declaration calling for the EU to acknowledge the perspective of these countries to become full EU members one day. EURACTIV reports from Batumi.
Independence Day of Georgia – a story of freedom lost and regained
On 26 May, when Georgia celebrates its Independence Day, David Zalkaliani, the country's vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, describes what this day means for his compatriots.
After EU embarrassment in Moscow, Michel makes it up by going to Kyiv, Tbilisi
While European lawmakers were scolding the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell for his ill-fated trip to Russia, European Council President Charles Michel has announced he will be travelling to Ukraine and Georgia in March.
Focus on Black Sea, Caucasus highlights Georgia’s strategic importance
While Georgia’s normalisation with Russia is still in doubt because of the country’s breakaway regions, Georgia has embraced a pro-Western foreign policy, including plans to join the EU and NATO and deepening relations with the US. “We have seen a...
Georgian president visits Brussels in push for 2024 EU membership application
The President of Georgia Salome Zourabishvili is paying a visit to all three on European institutions Thursday and Friday (21-22 January) to cement Georgia’s bid for an EU membership in 2024. The visit of the Caucasian country’s head of state...
Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘direct control’ over Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Russia is responsible for human rights violations, including loss of life, torture, disrespect of property and privacy occurring in Georgian breakaway regions of Abkahzia and South Ossetia as it had effective control of the territories after the 2008 Russo-Georgian war,...
Georgia gets important designation in International Criminal Court
A Georgian national was elected for the first time as judge at the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) - an important designation for a country awaiting investigation of alleged war crimes committed during a short war with Russia in 2008.
Police in Tbilisi fire water cannons, tear gas at protesters
Police in Georgia fired water cannons and tear gas on thousands of demonstrators who have vowed permanent protests until a snap vote is called as the opposition accused the ruling party of rigging tightly contested parliamentary elections.
Georgian opposition unite to oust billionaire’s ruling party
Georgians vote on Saturday (31 October) in tightly contested parliamentary elections pitting an unlikely union of opposition parties against the increasingly unpopular ruling party led by the country's richest man.
A Georgian perspective: Peace in the South Caucasus is the only common goal
It is perfectly natural for Georgia, as a neighbouring country, to express her readiness to support a Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and host a dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, writes Victor Kipiani.
12 years after war: Georgia moving forward but still searching for justice
The Russian aggression of August 2008 against Georgia was a blatant attempt to change the borders of Europe by force, launching a series of events spreading over the wider region, writes David Zalkaliani.
It is time for the EU to build security partnerships with its neighbours
As the EU is discussing the way to develop the Eastern Partnership policy for the decade ahead, it is time for the EU to finally become more ambitious about the security dimension of this partnership, three former Eastern Partnership foreign...
Building a prosperous, democratic and outward-looking Georgia
Safety requires cancelling public festivities but Georgians are marking their National Day by celebrating individually in their hearts and standing together in solidarity, writes David Zalkaliani.
The EU must draw Georgia into its arms
EU institutions must continue to ensure that countries such pro-European as Georgia see the European Union as their ultimate goal, writes Paul L. Vandoren.
Protests in breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia
Around 200 demonstrators contesting a local election broke into the authorities' headquarters in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia Thursday evening (9 January) and demanded the resignation of its president. Protests continue today (10 January) with demonstrators setting up camp in front of administration building, local media reports.
What should the EU do about South Caucasus? Here are some proposals
It appears the South Caucasus is not a foreign policy priority of the new European Commission. But it should be, write Dennis Sammut and Amanda Paul.
Georgian PM Bakhtadze steps down, warns against political divisions
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday (2 September) after little more than a year in the job and said the country must not be riven by political divisions that could play into Russia’s hands.
Batumi and Sokhumi: A tale of two cities
Unresolved conflicts in Georgia don’t serve the interest of local populations on either side of the artificial divide and may not serve Russia’s own interests in long term, writes Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.