'Respect for media freedom declined,' according to the Department of State's annual report.
Ashton said EU needed 'more flexibility and better preparedness' if it wanted Georgia to be 'benchmark for future.'
Merabishvili was in Bahrain on March 9 and in Austria last month.
Peter Semneby plans meetings with breakaway region's leadership on March 12.
PM Tusk met with his Georgian counterpart and will meet President Saakashvili later.
Leader of public movement Defend Georgia has yet to decide on his election plans.
The goal is to improve command and to save funds, the government says.
He was endorsed on March 4 by number of pro-opposition groups.
Alasania says no to primaries and ties with ex-PM Nogaideli's party.
Key points of Saakashvili's speech and remarks of lawmakers following the President's address.
British, French and U.S. ambassadors met with three human rights and advocacy groups.
georgiamedia: New post: Georgia's dismal human rights record laid bare by the US State Department http://tinyurl.com/ylkmv2z #tbilisi
georgiamedia: New post: Alasania says he wants Alliance with Gachechiladze but his priority is talking to voters http://tinyurl.com/ygvbsq2 #tbilisi
A chronology of key events
georgiamedia: New post: Tbilisi's Armenian minority feel under political and social pressure http://tinyurl.com/yzgcqll #tbilisi
Christian-Democratic Movement said Inga Grigolia would be its candidate for Tbilisi City Council chair's post.
Recent comments
23 hours 47 min ago
23 hours 47 min ago
1 day 59 min ago
1 day 59 min ago
1 day 59 min ago
1 day 11 hours ago
2 days 13 hours ago
3 days 6 hours ago
3 days 11 hours ago
4 days 7 hours ago