2015 in Georgia (country)

none 2015 The following lists events that happened during 2015 in Georgia. Incumbents National President: Giorgi Margvelashvili (November 17, 2013 – present) Prime Minister: Irakli Garibashvili (November 20, 2013 – December 29, 2015), Giorgi Kvirikashvili (December 30, 2015 – present) Chairperson of Parliament: David Usupashvili (October 21, 2012 – present) Autonomous republics Adjara Chairman of the Government: Archil Khabadze (October 30, 2012 – present) Chairman of the Supreme Council: Avtandil Beridze (October 28, 2012 – present) Abkhazia Chairman of Government (-in-exile): Vakhtang Kolbaia (acting; April 8, 2013 – present) Chairman of the Supreme Council (-in-exile): Elguja Gvazava (March 20, 2009 – present) Disputed territories Abkhazia President: Raul Khadjimba (September 25, 2014 – present) Prime Minister: Beslan Butba (September 29, 2014 – March 20, 2015), Artur Mikvabia (March 20, 2015) Chairman of People's Assembly: Valeri Bganba (April 3, 2012 – present) South Ossetia President: Leonid Tibilov (April 19, 2012 – present) Prime Minister: Domenty Kulumbegov (January 20, 2014 – present) Chairman of Parliament: Anatoliy Bibilov (June 23, 2014 – present) Events January 11 January – Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili joins world leaders in the Paris "unity rally" in solidarity of France after the Charlie Hebdo shooting.Georgian PM will join Charlie Hebdo rally in Paris http://agenda.ge/news/27693/eng 11 January 2015 Agenda.ge 10 January 2015 20 January – Iuri Vazagashvili, a campaigner for an investigation of the death of his 22-year-old son in a controversial police operation in Tbilisi in 2006, dies in an explosion while visiting his son's grave. Police launches an investigation on suspicion of premeditated murder.Blast Kills Man at His Son's Grave http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27983 20 January 2015 Civil Georgia 20 January 2015 23 January – Alexander Tchikaidze, Georgia's Interior Minister, resigns, citing accusations of his being involved in "protecting" the police officers participating in an operation, in 2006, which killed two young men, including Zurab Vazagashvili, whose father died in an explosion on 20 January 2015.Kirtzkhalia Nana Georgian PM to accept interior minister's resignation http://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/2356561.html 23 January 2015 Trend News Agency 23 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180106120409/https://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/2356561.html 6 January 2018 dead 26 January – Tchikaidze is succeeded as Minister of Internal Affairs by Vakhtang Gomelauri, his deputy and former security detail of the ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.New Interior Minister Appointed http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28001 26 January 2015 Civil Georgia 26 January 2015 February 2 February – Forty six non-governmental organizations release a joint statement, condemning ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's recent remarks about his plans to look into activities of several civil society personalities as "threatening" and alluding to Ivanishvili as "an informal ruler of the state".NGOs Slam 'Informal Ruler' Ivanishvili's 'Threatening' Remarks http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28018 2 February 2015 Civil Georgia 2 February 2015 2 February – Five former and six current Interior Ministry officers are arrested in connection to the 2006 police operation in which two young men, Zurab Vazagashvili and Aleksandre Khubulov, were shot to death in what the prosecution claims was a "premeditated murder", planned and executed by Irakli Pirtskhalava, then-deputy chief of criminal police, for the sake of personal revenge.11 Former and Current Police Officers Arrested in Zurab Vazagashvili Case http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28019 2 February 2015 Civil Georgia 2 February 2015 4 February – President of Russia Vladimir Putin signs into law the ratification of the treaty of "alliance and strategic partnership" with Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia, sparking protests from Tbilisi.Putin Signs into Law Ratification of Alliance Treaty with Sokhumi http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28024 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 4 February 2015 8 February – Chief Prosecutor's Office declares the high-profile murder of Zurab Vazagashvili solved as police arrests a policeman suspected of planting a hand grenade that killed Vazagashvili at his son's grave.Suspect in Yuri Vazagashvili Murder Arrested http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28029 8 February 2015 Civil Georgia 8 February 2015 13 February – Georgia's former President Mikheil Saakashvili is appointed by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko as head of the International Advisory Council on Reforms.Saakashvili Appointed as Head of Ukraine's Int'l Advisory Council on Reforms http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28044 14 February 2015 Civil Georgia 13 February 2015 https://archive.today/20150215154744/http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28044 15 February 2015 dead dmy-all 16 February – David Sakvarelidze, a member of the Parliament of Georgia from the opposition United National Movement party, is appointed as Deputy General Prosecutor of Ukraine.Georgian MP from UNM Appointed as Ukraine's Deputy Chief Prosecutor http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28050 16 February 2015 Civil Georgia 16 February 2015 18 February – A statement by the high-ranking Georgian diplomat Zurab Abashidze that Georgia joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not currently on the agenda sparks controversy with the opposition politicians denouncing the government's attempts at appeasing Russia.Georgian diplomat casts doubt on NATO membership goal http://dfwatch.net/georgian-diplomat-casts-doubt-on-nato-membership-goal-33715 26 May 2015 Democracy & Freedom Watch 19 February 2015 21 February – Affected by an internal split, the ruling Georgian Dream coalition loses majority in the Supreme Council of Adjara.Hit by Split, GD Loses Majority, Two Posts in Adjara Parliament http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28069 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 21 February 2015 March 4 March – The International Monetary Fund assesses Georgia's economy as hit by "severe external shocks" and warns against "political attacks" on the National Bank of Georgia amid ongoing depreciation of Georgian lari.IMF Assessments on Georgian Economy, Hit by 'Severe External Shocks' http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28103 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 4 March 2015 18 March – Russia and Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia sign a treaty of "alliance and integration", giving Russia the responsibility for the defense and security of South Ossetia. The treaty is denounced by the Georgian government as an "actual annexation".Moscow, Tskhinvali Sign 'Integration Treaty' http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28143 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 18 March 2015 21 March – The opposition United National Movement party holds a large anti-government rally in downtown Tbilisi.UNM Vows More Protests to Achieve Govt Resignation http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28156 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 21 March 2015 April 6 April – The ethnic Kist elders from Georgia's Pankisi Gorge call on the government of Georgia to undertake measures to stop recruitment of the local Muslim youth by the Islamic State.Paraszczuk Joanna Georgia's Kists Demand Action To Stop Pankisi Youth Joining IS https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-chechens-demand-action-to-stop-youth-joining-islamic-state/26943399.html 26 May 2015 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 7 April 2015 22 April – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrives in Tbilisi on his first-ever official visit to Georgia.Belarus President Starts First Official Visit to Georgia http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28212 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 22 April 2015 22 April – The Government of Georgia launches the state-funded Hepatitis C Elimination Program and partners with the U.S.-based Gilead Sciences, which offers its highly effective but costly anti-viral drug Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir) for free.Hirschler Ben Gilead uses Georgia as free-drug testbed for hepatitis C elimination https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-hepatitis-gilead-georgia-idUSKBN0ND1XU20150422 26 May 2015 Reuters 22 April 2015 26 April – Construction of a new Cathedral of the Holy Virgin of Iveron on Makhtata Hill is finalized in Tbilisi.Tbilisi: Cathedral construction on Makhata hill completed http://agenda.ge/news/34000/eng 26 May 2015 Agenda.ge 26 April 2015 May thumb|The U.S. paratroopers take part in Georgia's Independence Day celebrations, on 26 May 2015, after conclusion of the joint U.S.-Georgia drills Noble Partner. 9 May – The reshuffled cabinet, featuring four new ministers, wins a confidence vote in the Parliament of Georgia. Tinatin Khidasheli becomes Georgia's first-ever female Minister of Defense.Reshuffled Cabinet Wins Confidence Vote http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28257 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 9 May 2015 13 May – FC Dila Gori wins its first-ever Premier League of Georgia.პირველად არსებობის ისტორიაში - გორის "დილა" საქართველოს ჩემპიონია http://gff.ge/ka/News/Details/1235 20 May 2015 Georgian Football Federation 13 May 2015 Georgian FC Dila Gori becomes the Champion of Georgia for the first time in the club's history 21 May – Georgian vocalist Nina Sublatti finishes at the 11th place on the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Grand Final http://www.eurovision.tv/page/results?event=2083&voter=GE Eurovision.tv 24 May 2015 24 May 2015 22 May – European Union's Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, Latvia, concludes with a joint declaration praising the "progress made by Georgia and Ukraine respectively in the implementation of their Visa Liberalisation Action Plans", but falls short of granting visa-free regime to these countries for the time being.Georgia in Riga Summit Conclusions http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28293 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 22 May 2015Higgins Andrew Russia Casts a Shadow Over European Meeting https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/world/europe/tensions-persist-at-eu-meeting-focused-on-ex-soviet-lands.html?_r=0 26 May 2015 The New York Times 22 May 2015 25 May – Four high-profile members of the Parliament of Georgia—Zurab Japaridze, Pavle Kublashvili, Giorgi Khachidze, and Giorgi Meladze—leave the opposition United National Movement, declaring they will stay in opposition to the incumbent government.Four MPs Quit UNM Opposition Party http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28297 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 25 May 2015 30 May – Georgia's former President Mikheil Saakashvili is appointed by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko governor of the Odesa Oblast.Ukraine appoints Georgia ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili governor of Odesa https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/30/ukraine-appoints-georgia-ex-president-mikheil-saakashvili-governor-of-odessa 30 May 2015 The Guardian 30 May 2015 June thumb|Aftermath of the Tbilisi flood on 14 June 2015. 14 June – An overnight flood in Tbilisi results in at least 19 human deaths and devastates the city's zoo leaving most of its inhabitants either dead or on the loose.Tbilisi Flooding Causes Casualties http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28347 14 June 2015 Civil Georgia 14 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180105180438/http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28347 5 January 2018 dead dmy-allZoo animals loose in streets after flooding hits Georgian capital https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/zoo-animals-loose-after-floods-hit-georgian-capital/2015/06/14/178721a0-1279-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html?hpid=z3&tid=sm_fb 14 June 2015 The Washington Post 14 June 2015 14 June – Several people, including a local mosque imam from the Pankisi Gorge, are arrested in a special police operation on charges of recruiting fighters for the Islamic State group.Pankisi Mosque Imam Arrested for Allegedly Recruiting for IS Group http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28357 15 June 2015 Civil Georgia 15 June 2015 15 June – Georgia's Minister of Defense Tinatin Khidasheli, while on a visit to the Paris Air Show, signs a contract to purchase an air defense system from France.Georgia buys military air defence system from France http://agenda.ge/news/37206/eng 15 June 2015 Agenda.ge 15 June 2015 July 10 July – Georgia accuses the Russian troops in South Ossetia in installing "border demarcation" banners so as a small portion of the Baku-Supsa pipeline falls within the Russian-occupied territory.Tbilisi Says Russia's Border Marking Activity in S.Ossetia Involves Portion of Baku-Supsa Pipeline http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28424 15 July 2015 Civil Georgia 11 July 2015 17 July – The Parliament of Georgia passes a legal amendment transferring responsibility for banking supervision from the National Bank of Georgia to a specially created new agency despite international and domestic criticism.Fuller Liz Georgia Passes Controversial Banking Law Despite International Criticism https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-new-banking-law-criticism/27136971.html 22 July 2015 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 19 July 2015 President Margvelashvili vetoes the law, but the Parliament's ruling majority is able to override it in September.Parliament Overrides Presidential Veto on Banking Supervision Bill http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28543 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 3 September 2015 25 July–1 August – 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival is held in Tbilisi. August 11 August – 2015 UEFA Super Cup is held at Tbilisi's Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, with FC Barcelona defeating Sevilla FC 5–4. 15 August – The Georgian Defense Ministry reinstates its four employees released from their pre-trial detention over corruption charges in a controversial case which has led to a split in the ruling Georgian Dream coalition in 2014.'Cable Case' MoD, General Staff Officials Reinstated http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28498 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 13 August 2015 27 August – The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, and the Georgian government leaders inaugurate NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) at the Krtsanisi National Training Centre near Tbilisi.NATO, Georgia Open Joint Training Center http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28528 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 27 August 2015 31 August – The Georgian government, South Korea's water resource agency K-water and Italian construction company Salini Impregilo sign series of contracts in Tbilisi for construction of 280MW Nenskra hydro power plant in Georgia's highland region of Svaneti.Georgia Finalizes Deal on Nenskra Hydropower Project http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28539 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 1 September 2015 September 18 September – Tbilisi's ex-mayor and one of the leaders of the opposition UNM party, Gigi Ugulava, is sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for misspending of public funds during his mayoral tenure. The verdict comes a day after Ugulava is released from a 14-month pretrial detention following winning a landmark Constitutional Court case. The opposition claims the court's decision is politically motivated.Ugulava Found Guilty of Misspending, Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28580 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 18 September 2015 29 September – Georgia joins the NATO Response Force, a high readiness and technologically advanced force led by NATO.Georgia becomes fourth non-member state to join NATO Response Force http://agenda.ge/news/43356/eng 30 December 2015 Agenda.ge 27 September 2015 November 5 November – In an ownership dispute over the private television Rustavi 2, known for its criticism of the current government, a Tbilisi City Court judge orders to appoint interim management the replacing broadcaster's director general Nika Gvaramia and chief financial officer Kakha Damenia. Earlier, in August, the court has frozen assets of Rustavi 2 TV as part of the lawsuit by the broadcaster's former owner Kiber Khalvashi. The rulings lead to domestic criticism and international concerns.Timeline: Rustavi 2 TV Row http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28775 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 16 November 2015 12 November – The Tbilisi City Court judge, Tamaz Urtmelidze, partly overturns his earlier ruling and reinstates Rustavi 2 TV's top management. December 2 December – At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, the alliance reaffirms its "open door" policy toward Georgia, but states the country should first go through a Membership Action Plan (MAP) phase.NATO Tells Georgia: MAP Remains 'Integral Part' of Membership Path http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28822 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 2 December 2015 4 December – A decree by President Margvelashvili deprives ex-President and current Ukrainian official Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgian citizenship on account of his becoming a foreign country national.Saakashvili Loses Georgian Citizenship http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28829 31 December 2015 Civil Georgia 4 December 2015 10 December – The Chief Prosecutor's Office launches an investigation into alleged influence peddling after Aleko Elisashvili, ex-chairman of the State Pardons Commission, has claimed that senior politicians from the ruling Georgian Dream coalitions were trying to exert undue pressure on him.Ex-Chair of Pardon Commission Accuses Two Senior GD MPs of Influence Peddling, Calls for Parliamentary Probe http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28873 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 23 December 2015Fuller Liz Georgian Parliamentarians Questioned In 'Pardons for Bribes' Investigation https://www.rferl.org/a/caucasus-report-georgian-deputies-questioned-bribes-pardons/27431454.html 30 December 2015 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 16 December 2015 18 December – The European Commission states that Georgia has fulfilled all the benchmarks of its visa liberalization action plan and it will put forth to the EU member states a legislative proposal on visa waiver for the citizens of Georgia.European Commission Backs Visa-Free for Georgia http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28866 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 18 December 2015 22 December – The Russian Foreign Ministry announces easing visa requirements for the Georgian nationals starting from December 23.Russia Eases Visa Rules for Georgia http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28872 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 30 December 2015 23 December – Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili unexpectedly announces his resignation, without specifying reasons behind his decision.Antidze Margarita Georgian prime minister Irakly Garibashvili resigns https://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-premier-resignation-idUSKBN0U61PA20151223 30 December 2015 Reuters 23 December 2015 24 December – Belgium becomes the last European Union member state to ratify Georgia's Association Agreement with the EU.All 28 EU member countries ratify Georgia-EU Association Agreement http://agenda.ge/news/49140/eng 31 December 2015 Agenda.ge 24 December 2015 30 December – Georgia's new cabinet, with Giorgi Kvirikashvili as prime minister, wins the confidence in the Parliament of Georgia.Kvirikashvili Confirmed as New Prime Minister http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28892 30 December 2015 Civil Georgia 30 December 2015 Deaths 1 January – Polikarpe Khubutia, 90, Georgian folk singer of Mingrelian songs.პოლიკარპე ხუბულავა [Polikarpe Khubulava] http://intermedia.ge/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%A2%E1%83%90%E1%83%A2%E1%83%98%E1%83%90/57604-%E1%83%9E%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98%E1%83%99%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9E%E1%83%94-%E1%83%AE%E1%83%A3%E1%83%91%E1%83%A3%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%95%E1%83%90/76/ 31 January 2015 Intermedia 6 January 2015 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085808/http://intermedia.ge/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%A2%E1%83%90%E1%83%A2%E1%83%98%E1%83%90/57604-%E1%83%9E%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98%E1%83%99%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9E%E1%83%94-%E1%83%AE%E1%83%A3%E1%83%91%E1%83%A3%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%95%E1%83%90/76/ dead 19 January – Tadeoz (Mirian Ioramashvili), 68, Georgian Orthodox hierarch, the titular Metropolitan Bishop of Marabda.მიტროპოლიტი თადეოზი გარდაიცვალა [Metropolitan Bishop Tadeoz dies] http://reportiori.ge/index.php?menuid=3&id=51603 31 January 2015 reportiori.ge 19 January 2015 Georgian 8 August 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220808230146/https://reportiori.ge/index.php?menuid=3&id=51603 dead 30 January – Tamaz Avdaliani, 50, Georgian politician, the incumbent member of the Parliament of Georgia (GDDG).პარლამენტის წევრი თამაზ ავდალიანი მძიმე ავადმყოფობის შედეგად გარდაიცვალა [The Member of Parliament Tamaz Avdaliani dies after a severe illness] http://www.tabula.ge/ge/story/92112-parlamentis-tsevri-tamaz-avdaliani-mdzime-avadmkofobis-shedegad-gardaicvala#comments 31 January 2015 Tabula 30 January 2015 Georgian 11 February – Nodar Tsuleiskiri, 82, Georgian writer and Minister of Education (1990–91).ეროვნული მოძრაობის წევრი და კულტურის ყოფილი მინისტრი ნოდარ წულეისკირი გარდაიცვალა http://www.epn.ge/?id=1855 12 February 2015 ExpressNews 12 February 2015 Georgian 1 March – Guram Minashvili, 79, Georgian basketball player. 9 March – Otar Koberidze, 90, Georgian actor and film director. 16 March – Elise (Eldar Jokhadze), 66, Georgian Orthodox hierarch, Metropolitan Bishop of Nikortsminda. 17 March – Nauli Janashia, 68, Georgian politician, incumbent Member of the Parliament of Georgia (UNM). 28 March – Besik Khardziani, Georgian businessman, fatally shot in Tbilisi.Businessman Fatally Shot in Tbilisi http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28169 26 May 2015 Civil Georgia 28 March 2015 11 April – Kote Tolordava, 35, Georgian theatre and film actor. 3 May – Rezo Chkheidze, 88, Georgian film director. 18 May – Guram Bzvaneli, 80, Georgian composer. 12 June – Alexander Rondeli, 73, Georgian political scientist. 26 June – Eter Kakulia, 66, Georgian pop singer, prolonged illness related to malignancy. 9 August – Zaira Arsenishvili, 81, Georgian female writer. 11 August – Zurab Begalishvili, 54, Georgian theatre and film actor. 11 September – Rezo Cheishvili, 82, Georgian writer. 29 November – Guguli Mgeladze, 87, Georgian film director and script writer. 4 December – Irakli Ochiauri, 91, Georgian sculptor. References 2 2015 2015 in Georgia Georgia Category:2010s in Georgia (country) Category:Years of the 21st century in Georgia (country) Georgia