PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- "He is charming, but glib. Saakashvili needs to step up to the plate if the Rose Revolution is to meet its promise. It is not enough to want to be in the European Union. You have to meet standards of democracy. That is his challenge," a ranking Democrat wrote to me in response to the presidential election results in the Republic of Georgia.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- On Nov. 7 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a 15-day state of emergency; the announcement is ominous for energy markets.

MOSCOW, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Protesters crowded in front of the Georgian parliament for six days demanding the president's resignation. Astonishingly, President Saakashvili is resigning in two weeks.

MOSCOW, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Georgian parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze raised hackles in Moscow Tuesday, reaffirming Georgia's plans to join the European Union and NATO.

MOSCOW, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and acting Georgian leader Nino Burjanadze have held talks aimed at mending ties strained by the Chechnya conflict.

TBILISI, Georgia, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The peaceful coup that knocked Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze out of office appeared to be taking a violent turn Saturday.

TBILISI, Georgia, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Georgia's parliament has decided elections to replace ousted Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze will be held Jan. 4, the BBC reported.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell called the interim Georgian President Nino Burjanadze Sunday and assured her of U.S. support.