The Messenger - Georgia's English Language Daily

Parliament confirms new electoral system over opposition protests

At least two hunger strikers have been taken to the hospital since protests began March 9

Despite opposition protests parliament approved a set of controversial constitutional changes to the electoral system yesterday, by a comfortable margin over the two-thirds majority vote needed. (more)

Duma debates recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Foreign Minister Davit Bakradze hopes for ‘rationality’ from the Duma

The Russian Duma is considering today whether to recommend that Moscow recognize Georgia’s breakaway territories as independent states. (more)

Abu Dhabi Group buys Standard Bank

The UAE-based Abu Dhabi Group has purchased Georgia’s Standard Bank from equity company Salford Capital, a fund tied to recently deceased business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili. (more)

News in Brief

Words of the Day

Russia’s Abkhazian blackmail

With NATO’s summit in Bucharest just weeks ago, Russia has not been subtle in making its point: Georgian accession is a bad idea for Tbilisi, and a bad idea for Europe. (more)

Bulgaria ready for Azerbaijani gas

Bulgaria is ready to buy and transit Azerbaijani natural gas, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said when he visited Baku to discuss deepening cooperation between the two nations on March 10–12. (more)

US think tank: Georgia among the “states to watch”

The Washington-based Brookings Institute published an Index of State Weakness in the Developing World this week, which categorizes Georgia as a “state to watch.” (more)

Press Scanner

“First Lady becomes Georgian citizen” (more)