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Georgia Arrests Opposition Leader

A senior leader of Georgia's opposition party and close ally of former president Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested on money laundering charges Thursday, in what his supporters denounced as a political witch-hunt.

Gigi Ugulava, one of the leaders of the United National Movement (UNM), was detained at the airport in the capital Tbilisi as he was flying out of the country.

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Europe Court Condemns Russia for Mass Expulsions of Georgians

The European Court of Human Rights condemned Russia on Thursday over the mass deportation of Georgian citizens in 2006, saying it violated a string of rights conventions.

Russia's arrest, detention and collective expulsions of several thousand Georgians sharply raised tensions between the two countries, which fought a brief war in 2008.

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NATO Offers Georgia Closer Ties

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday the alliance will shortly offer Georgia closer ties, but ruled out membership this year amid growing concerns over Russia's intentions in Ukraine.

NATO leaders agreed at a 2008 summit shortly after Georgia fought a brief war with Russia that Tbilisi could join at an unspecified future date.

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Georgia Sends Troops to Central Africa

Georgia has sent troops to the Central African Republic to help a European Union military force curb sectarian violence in the strife-torn country, the tiny Caucasus nation's president told Agence France Presse on Tuesday

"Georgia is providing troops to the EU's mission in the Central African Republic as part of its responsibility to contribute to global security," President Giorgi Margvelashvili said by telephone.

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U.S. Boosts Aid to Georgia, Moldova amid Ukraine Crisis

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pledged new assistance Saturday to ex-Soviet republics Georgia and Moldova aimed at helping them stand up to a resurgent Kremlin and establish closer European ties.

Biden held separate meetings with Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili and his Moldovan counterpart Nicolae Timofti on the sidelines of Western-backed tycoon Petro Poroshenko's inauguration as Ukraine's head of state.

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Leader of Georgia Rebel Region Abkhazia Resigns

The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, said on Sunday he was resigning following days of political upheaval on Russia's southern flank.

"I am resigning from the post of the president of the Republic of Abkhazia" with a view to maintaining stability in the country, he said in a statement.

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Abkhazia Names Interim President, Sets Election Date

The parliament of Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia on Saturday named an interim president and set a date for new elections, Russian news agencies reported.

Parliamentary leader Valery Bganba was nominated as temporary president after Alexander Ankvab reportedly fled earlier in the week.

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Reports: Abkhazia Leader Forced to Flee, Denounces Coup Bid

Opposition protesters stormed the presidency in Abkhazia overnight in what the leader of the Georgian breakaway region called a coup attempt, Russian news agencies said Wednesday.

"This is an armed coup attempt," Alexander Ankvab was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. 

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Georgia to Sign EU Association Agreement on June 27

Georgia will sign a key association agreement with the EU on June 27, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Wednesday, as Brussels moves quickly to cement the deal amid the Ukraine crisis.

"We will sign the agreement in Brussels on the 27th of June together with all the EU heads of state or government," Van Rompuy told a news conference in Tbilisi.

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Hollande in Bid to Boost Caucasus Ties amid Ukraine Crisis

French President Francois Hollande starts a three-day visit to the South Caucasus on Sunday as he seeks to bolster European ties on Russia's southern doorstep amid the crisis in Ukraine.

Hollande was due to arrive in the Azerbaijani capital Baku around 6:00 pm (1300 GMT) Sunday, on the same day separatists in eastern Ukraine held referendums on breaking away from the country.

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