Girchi

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Georgian conscripts taking an oath. Image: Screengrab from the video of Georgian Ministry of Defence

Conscription

Podcast | Mandatory military service and ‘fictional’ priests in Georgia

by OC Media

•1 min read

Georgia’s defence code is stamping out loopholes that young Georgians use to get out of military service, as rights activists in the country warn that new amendments to the code could lead to discrimination against religious minorities. This week, we spoke to a Georgian student about why he chose to evade conscription, to Ioseb Edisherashvili from the Georgian Young Lawyers Association about the controversy surrounding the defence code, and to Giorgi Shaishmelashvili, the

Conscription

Georgia closes loopholes to defer military service

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

Georgia’s parliamentary majority has amended the country’s defence code, closing loopholes allowing conscientious objectors and long-distance students to defer their military service. Thursday’s amendments revoked exemption from military service for students enrolled in full-time distance study, as well as complicating a process used by conscientious objectors to immediately defer their service. This follows the introduction of a new defence code in September, which removed exemptions for al

Members of parliament present during the vote. Screengrab: Georgian Parliament/YouTube.

Democracy

Georgian Dream ‘fraudulently’ overturned electoral code veto

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•4 min read

The ruling Georgian Dream party appears to have fraudulently overturned a presidential veto on controversial amendments to Georgia’s electoral code, by falsely claiming that more MPs had voted than were present in the parliamentary session. The veto was overturned and amendments to Georgia’s electoral code were adopted in an extraordinary session of parliament held on 3 July, with the parliament reporting 78 votes in favour and 14 against. However, opposition Girchi MP Aleksandre Rakviashvil

Girchi leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze (left) and elected MP Iago Khvichia (right).

Child pornography

Girchi faces split following child porn scandal

by Shota Kincha

•3 min read

Georgian libertarian party Girchi has been racked by scandal after one of their elected MPs condemned the arrest of a man for possession of child pornography. On 29 November, Iago Khvichia, who was placed second on Girchi’s party list in 31 October’s election, took to Facebook to protest the arrest of a 43-year-old man in the west-Georgian town of Zugdidi. The unidentified man has been charged with the ‘illegal purchase, keeping, possession and usage of pornography material containing images o

Clockwise from top left: Zurab Japaridze (Girchi), Shalva Natelashvili (Labour), Giorgi Vashadze (Strategy Aghmashenebeli), Levan Khabeishvili (UNM), Nika Melia (UNM), Elene Khoshtaria (European Georgia), Shalva Shavgulidze (Free Democrats), Irakli Okruashvili (Victorious Georgia). Official pictures.

2020 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian opposition groups finalise electoral pact for Tbilisi candidates

by OC Media

•4 min read

A group of Georgian opposition parties has announced a joint list of majoritarian candidates to compete in the electoral districts of Tbilisi in October’s parliamentary elections. While candidates will formally represent their own parties, the parties that have signed up have agreed not to field candidates opposing each other in a bid to mobilise voters against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Shalva Natelashvili, Labour Party leader and the group’s majoritarian candidate in Tbilisi’s Nadzal

Georgia

New Interior Minister candidate says he would have used more force in Pankisi

by OC Media

•4 min read

Vakhtang Gomelauri, who is poised to become the next Georgian Interior Minister, has told parliament he would have used more force against residents of Pankisi. Both Gomelauri and prospective defence minister Irakli Gharibashvili made controversial statements in front of lawmakers on Thursday during their confirmation hearings. Gomelauri made the comments in relation to clashes between riot police and residents of northeast Georgia’s Pankisi Valley this April. ‘I would have deployed mo

2020 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Opinion | Proportional elections are an opportunity for Georgia; it’s up to young people to seize it

by Vera Gogokhia

•6 min read

As Georgia transitions to a new electoral system, it’s up to young people to seize the opportunity to make Georgia a better place. As political unrest in Georgia continues to swell, the Georgian Dream government has taken two key actions to pacify protestors. First, they removed Irakli Kobakhidze from his position as chair of parliament and forced the resignation of MP Zakaria Kutsnashvili, who was involved in inviting the Russian MP to appear in Parliament. Secondly, and perhaps more cri