Ursula von der Leyen: The path to peace is power, weakness leads to more war – Alongside strengthening Europe’s defense, we will support Ukraine

‘We are ready for new parliamentary elections, which is the main demand of 100-day-long uninterrupted mass protests,” said Teona Akubardia, a member of the Gakharia For Georgia party.According to Akubardia, the Georgian Dream expands and intensifies propaganda saying no elections will be held with the aim to cease the protest momentum.“The statements of Ivanishvili’s regime regarding the October local self-governance elections serve as an attempt to remove the demand of new parliamentary elections from the agenda amid the 100-day-long uninterrupted protests ongoing throughout Georgia. Their speaking about the fears of the opposition is a lie because they themselves fear free and fair elections, they amended the Election Code to seize freedom of elections from citizens.We are ready for elections and this should be new parliamentary elections. All the rest is propaganda to create the feeling that no elections will be held and cease the protest momentum that is impossible. We are preparing for new parliamentary elections which is the main demand of the 100-day-long uninterrupted protests.We will do our best to change the regime, which confronted people and the constitution with inhuman methods,  in this country through free and fair elections. This is a process, Ivanishvili’s attempt to remove the demand of new elections from the agenda will be as unsuccessful as the range of oppressive laws and their aim to end public protests,” she said.

“We are following the development of events both in the US and European Union,” Prime Minister Itakli Kobakhidze told Georgian reporters in Turkmenistan.According to the PM, the new US administration demonstrates different approaches, however, the European Union is not changing its stance, including regarding the war.“We should follow the development of events. Amid these developments, we should be concentrated on defending our national interests. This is the main priority and goal,” he said.Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze pays an official visit to Turkmenistan.

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has strongly urged Georgia to fight against discrimination and hate crime in the country, in line with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.The Committee of Ministers adopted an Interim Resolution in ‘the Identoba and Others’ group of cases against Georgia during its quarterly meeting to supervise the implementation of rulings from the European Court of Human Rights.“These cases concern the authorities’ failure to provide adequate protection from homophobic or religiously-motivated attacks, and in some instances, official acquiescence, connivance or participation in acts motivated by prejudice.They also concern the authorities’ failure to ensure freedom of assembly for LGBTI people and freedom of religion for religious minorities.Meeting this week, the Committee of Ministers again strongly urged the Georgian authorities to accelerate and complete all renewed investigations and trial proceedings in these cases, in line with the European Court’s findings.The Committee deeply deplored Georgia’s enactment of the Law on “Protecting Family Values and Minors” and called upon the authorities to repeal this law. According to the Committee, it represents a backward step in the execution of these judgments and raises serious questions about Georgia’s compliance with its obligation to implement the European Court’s rulings.The Committee of Ministers strongly exhorted the authorities to renounce discriminatory narrative and unequivocally fight all forms of discrimination, hate speech and hate crime.In addition, the Committee strongly urged the authorities to guarantee freedom of assembly and religion for all individuals, without discrimination, through enhanced protection and prevention measures as well as a firm criminal justice response to hate-motivated violence,” reads the statement.The Committee of Ministers asked the authorities to provide detailed information on these issues by the end of June 2025 at the latest.

“On March 8, International Women’s Day, we join the international community with the theme ‘For All Women and Girls: Rights, equality, strengthening,” wrote Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani on Facebook.The Public Defender calls on the government to intensify efforts and take steps to ensure the protection of women’s rights in the country.“Women play a crucial role in our country’s development. Their work, efforts and courage create a fairer and more equal society. Despite this, the challenge remains acute, including family violence and violence on gender signs, economic barriers, obstacles in career growth, fight against stereotypes, legal rights of women, accessibility to services, etc.In this regard, the abolishment of compulsory gender quotas by the Georgian parliament as well as the gender equality-related legislative package of amendments are noteworthy amid the situation when women daily face visible or invisible barriers both in political and public life.The Public Defender calls on the government to intensify efforts and take tangible steps to ensure the protection of women’s rights in the country,” Levan Ioseliani wrote.

A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck Georgia at Ukanapshavi village, 27 kilometer north-east from Tianeti region, the National Seismic Monitoring Center reported. The quake was observed at 15:28 Tbilisi time.A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Armenia, 45 kilometers from Georgia’s border, this morning. The tremor was felt in Georgia at 9:26 a.m.