Latest Bidzina Ivanishvili News
Ex-soccer player Kavelashvili becomes Georgia's president in a blow to country's EU aspirations
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili became president of Georgia on Saturday, as the ruling party tightened its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia. Kavelashvili, 53,...
Protests lay bare a clash of values and interests as Georgia navigates a Russia-West standoff
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia is convulsed by political upheaval again after its pro-Moscow government, fresh off parliamentary elections denounced as rigged by its critics, decided to suspend negotiations for the small former Soviet republic to join the European Union. The...
Over 40 people hospitalized in Georgia during protests over the suspension of EU talks
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people hospitalized, officials said Sunday. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament...
Protesters gather for third night of demonstrations after Georgia announces suspension of EU talks
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Protesters gathered across Georgia on Saturday night in a third straight night of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. More than 100 demonstrators were arrested as crowds clashed with police...
Georgian protesters clash with police for a second night after EU talks are suspended
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside the parliament and clashed with police for a second straight night on Friday. The night before, police used water...
Georgia suspends talks on joining the European Union and accuses the bloc of blackmail
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as “blackmail and manipulation” from some of the bloc's politicians. His announcement outraged the opposition and triggered...
Georgia's governing party picks former soccer player as presidential candidate
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — The governing party in Georgia on Wednesday picked a former soccer player as its candidate for president following a disputed victory in last month's parliamentary election that has sparked protests and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. The...
Georgian lawmakers will pick a new president on Dec. 14
Georgia's parliament set a date Tuesday for national and local lawmakers to pick a new president, paving the way for the ruling Georgian Dream party to choose an ally following its victory in a controversial election. The announcement comes just a month after Georgian Dream won an...
Protesters in Georgia's capital set up a tent camp and demand new elections, wary of Russia
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Demonstrators in Georgia's capital have set up tents on a central thoroughfare and vowed Monday to stay around the clock to demand new parliamentary elections in the country. The Oct. 26 election kept the governing Georgian Dream party in power, but...
Georgia begins investigating its disputed election but the opposition calls the probe into question
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into alleged vote rigging in last weekend’s parliamentary election, which officials said was won by the ruling party and the opposition denounced as illegitimate. The...
