Latest Bidzina Ivanishvili News

Germany, France and Poland condemn violence in Georgia, stress support for pro-democracy movement

Jan. 01, 2025 00:48 AM EST

BERLIN (AP) — The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland on Tuesday expressed concern about “the political crisis” in Georgia, two days after former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated as president of the South Caucasus nation, cementing the ruling party’s...

Kavelashvili is inaugurated as Georgia's president, complicating its path toward EU

Dec. 30, 2024 05:07 AM EST

TBILISI, Goergia (AP) — Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated as president of Georgia on Sunday, cementing the ruling party's grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia. ...

US sanctions the founder of Georgia's ruling political party

Dec. 27, 2024 14:16 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, U.S. officials said Friday. The State and Treasury departments said they hit...

Ex-soccer player Kavelashvili becomes Georgia's president in a blow to country's EU aspirations

Dec. 14, 2024 17:31 PM EST

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

Dec. 02, 2024 21:47 PM EST

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

Dec. 01, 2024 23:48 PM EST

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

Nov. 30, 2024 21:52 PM EST

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

Nov. 29, 2024 19:42 PM EST

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

Nov. 28, 2024 20:42 PM EST

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

Nov. 27, 2024 05:07 AM EST

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...