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Opposition Leaders Comment on MP By-Election Results
The opposition New Rights and Conservative parties condemned the October 1 MP by-elections as unfair, but hailed the cooperation which took place between the four opposition parties on the eve of the polls. Four opposition parties – New Rights, Conservatives, Freedom and Labor Party – banded together and chose single candidates for each of the five …
02/10/2005 - 18:44
Ruling Party Leads in Polls
ResultsWith most of the votes counted, candidates from the ruling National Movement party lead in all five single-mandate constituencies, where MP by-elections were held on Saturday, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Gia Kavtaradze announced on October 2. Local election watchdog organizations have hailed the elections as fair, despite some problems related with voter lists.By-elections …
Saakashvili Comments on MP By-Election Results
President Saakashvili described October the 1 MP by-elections as a huge success for the authorities and said that the opposition parties suffered ?catastrophic results? in these polls which were held in five single-mandate constituencies to fill five vacant seats in the Georgian Parliament. The ruling National Movement party?s MP nominations won the race in all five …
Kazakh President Visits Georgia
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived in Georgia on October 2 for a two-day visit. After arriving in the Tbilisi airport he left for Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, where Nazarbayev will hold an unofficial meeting with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili. ?Georgia is developing and I think our experience will be very useful for Georgia,? Nursultan …
Observers Hail Elections as Fair
Local election watchdog organization International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) announced on Sunday that the October 1 MP by-elections in five single-mandate constituency were fair and democratic. ?We can say that the election procedures were conducted in full accordance with the law and the October 1 by-elections can be assessed as fair. But at …
Ruling Party Candidates Lead in MP By-Elections
Ruling National Movement party?s MP nominations are leading in Saturday?s MP by-elections in all the five single-mandate constituencies, according to the early results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on October 2.With the most of the votes already counted, Bidzina Bregadze of the National Movement leads in Tbilisi?s Isani constituency with 8,753 votes, followed …
Counting Underway on Georgia’s MP By-Elections
CEC Chairman Gia Kavtaradze says the elections were well-organized. But local opposition, observers filed complaints over voter lists. The counting of votes, cast in October 1 MP by-elections, started after polling stations closed in five single-mandate constituencies at 8 pm local time on Saturday. The Central Election Commission (CEC) is expected to announce early results of the polls …
01/10/2005 - 20:36
Highest Voter Turnout Reported in Tkibuli
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC) the highest voter turnout at the MP by-elections was reported in the Tkibuli constituency, in the western Georgian region of Imereti. 56% of Tkibuli?s total 18,000 voters had cast a ballot by 5 pm local time; in Shuakhevi constituency, in the Adjara Autonomous Republic ? 52%; Kobuleti constituency in Ajdara ? 38%; …
Ruling Party Denies it Violated Election Code
Ruling National Party officials admitted that they provided voters with minivans to help them get to the polling stations on election day on October 1. Influential MP from the National Movement Giga Bokeria said at a news conference on October 1 that this fact can not be regarded as a violation of the election code, because the …
Observers Note Voter List Problems
Georgian Election watchdog organizations International Society for Free Elections and Democracy (ISFED) and the New Generation?New Initiative reported that so far no ?serious? violations have been observed in the MP by-elections, which are taking place in five single-mandate constituencies on October 1. But the observers say that the problems persist regarding the voter lists. There …
Georgia Holds MP By-Elections
Voter casts their ballot in Tbilisi’s Isaniconstituency on October 1. Voters are casting their ballots in five-single mandate constituency in MP by-elections on October 1 to fill five vacant seats in the Georgian Parliament. These polls are largely expected to become a key indicator of the current public opinion on the government’s policies. By-elections are being …
CEC Describes Election Process as ‘Normal’
Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Gia Kavtaradze said at a news briefing on October 1 that the MP by-elections are being held in “a normal atmosphere without any procedural violations.” MP by-elections are being held to fill five majoritarian (single-mandate) seats in the Parliament. Polls are being held in the Adjarian towns of Kobuleti, …
MP By-Elections Held in Georgia
Polling stations opened at 8 am local time in five single-mandate constituencies on October 1 to hold MP by-elections. MP by-elections are being held to fill five majoritarian (single-mandate) seats in the Parliament. Polls will be held in the Adjarian towns of Kobuleti, Batumi and Shuakhevi; the western Georgian town of Tkibuli and Tbilisi’s Isani …
Burjanadze Speaks of ‘Black PR Campaign’ Against Her
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze convened a news conference on September 30 to deny recent newspaper reports about her wealth describing them as “a part of black PR campaign” against her. “It seems that it serves someone’s interest to carry out a black PR campaign against the Parliamentary Chairperson. I will not specify now, who …
30/09/2005 - 19:33
Russia’s Ivanov Comments on Peacekeepers in Georgia
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on September 30 that Russia will pull its troops out of conflict zones in Georgia if only the South Ossetian and Abkhaz sides will also demand peacekeepers? withdrawal. Georgian Speaker Nino Burjanadze announced on September 29 that the Georgian Parliament will set a performance deadline and will demand Russian …
EU-South Caucasus Talks over Neighborhood Policy Delayed
Talks between the EU and the South Caucasus states over cooperation in frames of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) has been postponed for unspecified period of time, Heikki Talvitie, the EU?s Special Representative to the South Caucasus, said on September 30. He cited problems which emerged in relationship between Azerbaijan and one of the EU-member …
Russian Deputy Speaker Calls for Abkhazia’s Recognition
Speaking at the rally in Abkhaz capital Sokhumi on September 30 Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin called on the Georgian and Russian authorities to recognize Abkhazia’s independence, Apsnypress news agency reported. Baburin was speaking at the rally marking 12th anniversary of breakaway Abkhazia’s ‘independence.’ Georgian troops were forced to leave Abkhazia after …
Saakashvili Gives Promises in Adjara on Eve of Poll
President Saakashvili called on local residents in the Adjara Autonomous Republic on September 30 for a support in order to enable the government to continue more vigorously infrastructure development in the region. Saakashvili was speaking at an opening ceremony of a new tunnel, which cuts the distance between Adjara?s two resort towns of Kobuleti and Batumi …
Sokhumi Opposes Change to Peacekeeping Format
President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh said on September 30 that the Abkhaz side is against changing the current peacekeeping format in Abkhazia, which is set up by the 1994 ceasefire agreement between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides. Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in Abkhazia, under the aegis of the Commonwealth of Independent States (SIC), monitor the ceasefire …
Georgia Detains Two Russian Peacekeepers
Two servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the Abkhaz conflict zone were arrested by the Georgian law enforcers on September 30 in Georgia?s Zugdidi district, at the administrative border with breakaway Abkhazia. According to the Constitutional Security Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, the two Russian peacekeepers were arrested for alleged illegal selling of …
Russia Strongly Backs Current Peace Format for South Ossetia
Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin met with U.S. Ambassador in Moscow William Burns on September 19 and discussed developments in the South Ossetian conflict zone, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. An information note issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry after this meeting says that the situation regarding the tensions in the conflict zone should be …
Breakaway Abkhazia Celebrates ‘Independence’
Breakaway Abkhazia celebrates on September 30 its ‘independence day,’ marking the 12th anniversary of the withdrawal of the Georgian troops from the territory of Abkhazia. Celebrations will mainly involve outdoor concerts and a rally at the Memorial of Honor in the capital Sokhumi, Apsnipress news agency reported. No military parade is planned in Abkhazia. This post is …
Georgian Security Chief Speaks of Moscow Talks
Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili said that during five-hour talks with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov in Moscow on September 28 the two sides discussed a broad range of issues regarding their bilateral relations, and focused on a resolution of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts. ?We were discussing Russia?s role in the resolution of these …
29/09/2005 - 21:40
Parliament Talks Tough with Russian Peacekeepers
Peacekeepers’ checkpoint in South Ossetia. The Georgian Parliament plans to setperformance deadline for Russian peacekeeping troops. The Georgian Parliament has developed a draft resolution instructing the government to take measures to prepare a withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the country if the peacekeeping forces’ performance does not improve before February, 2006 and July, 2006 in …
CEC Refuses to Bar Ruling Party’s MP Candidate from Race
The Central Election Commission (CEC) turned down on September 29 an appeal by the Society of Legal Development demanding to bar Koba Khabazi, of the ruling National Movement party, from running in MP by-elections in Kobuleti single-mandate constituency on October 1. Opponents, including the opposition Conservative and New Rights parties accused Koba Khabazi of bribing voters …
Parliament to Set Performance Deadline to Russian Peacekeepers
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on September 29 that lawmakers in the country have developed a draft resolution instructing the Georgian government to take measures to prepare a withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the South Ossetian and Abkhazian conflict zone if the peacekeeping forces? performance does not improve before February, 2006 and July, 2006 …
Georgia Scraps the Peacekeeping Format
South Ossetia Peace Process Hangs in Balance Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava said in Moscow that Georgia will soon say ‘no’ to the current, Russian-led peace format for South Ossetian conflict resolution, describing it as “unfair.” Khaindrava was speaking at a news conference held at the Interfax news agency’s office on September 29 …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
Georgia Says No to JCC Format in South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava said in Moscow that the current peace format in frames of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) is ineffective and Georgia will seek a new format for peace talks, as well as a new arrangement for the peacekeeping operation in the South Ossetian conflict zone. Khaindrava was speaking …
CIS Interior Ministers Meet in Yerevan
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili is participating in the session of the Council of Interior Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the Armenian capital Yerevan on September 29. The issues of combating corruption and illegal migration top the agenda of the session, that brought together the ministers from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, …
Georgian PM Visits Armenia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli will pay a two-day working visit to Armenia on September 29-30 to discuss the issues of bilateral and regional cooperation. The Georgian Prime Minister will hold talks with his Armenian counterpart Andranik Margarian and President Robert Kocharyan. Zurab Nogaideli will also attend a session of the joint Georgian-Armenian intergovernmental commission …
South Ossetia Insists on Increase of ‘JCC Status’
South Ossetian Special Affairs Minister Boris Chochiev said on September 28 that the status of the Joint Control Commission should be increased in order to give the commission more authority. “We have temporarily suspended the process of negotiations. If Georgia wants to continue talks, we will demand an increase of status of the negotiation process, …
28/09/2005 - 20:40
Georgian Foreign Minister Criticizes OSCE over S.Ossetia
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said at a news conference on September 28 that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has failed to become a meaningful vehicle to help solve the South Ossetian conflict. ?Last August we demanded demilitarization and monitoring [in South Ossetian conflict zone] there [in the OSCE headquarters in …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
Alasania Speaks of Abkhaz Conflict Settlement
The Georgian President?s representative for Abkhaz conflict issues Irakli Alasania, who also chairs the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government-in-exile, said the prospects are promising regarding upcoming peace talks between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in frames of the UN-led Geneva process, which are scheduled for early October. Alasania also said in an interview, which was published by the …
Saakashvili Calls on EU to Play ‘Decisive’ Role in Peace Process
President Saakashvili accused Russia, on September 28, of backing the secessionist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and called on Moscow for intensive negotiations in an attempt to find a mutually acceptable mechanism for cooperation which will prevent problems in bilateral relations. Saakashvili also called on the European Union for more active involvement in the process of peacefully resolving the …
MP Attack Suspect Arrested
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili announced on September 27 that the police arrested a person who is suspected of attacking parliamentarian Tamaz Kacheishvili and stealing his car. Merabishvili said that the police failed to recover the stolen car because it is currently in Tskhinvali, the capital of breakaway South Ossetia. Tamaz Kacheishvili, a parliamentarian from the opposition New …
Georgian Security Chief, State Minister Visit Moscow
Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili, accompanied by State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava, left for Moscow on September 28 to discuss the recent developments in the South Ossetian conflict zone with Russian officials. ?We will find out Russia?s position [over South Ossetia]. Authorities in South Ossetia never make decisions independently …
Finnish President Visits Georgia
Finnish President Tarja Halonen arrived in Georgia on September 28 for a two day official visit. This is the Finish President?s first-ever visit to Georgia. Tarja Halonen will meet with her Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli on September 28. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) …
Kokoity Wants to Boost JCC Status
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said that the ?status? of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) should be increased in an attempt to transform the body into a more meaningful vehicle for conflict resolution. ?We think that the status of the Joint Control Commission should be increased. People with more authority should be involved in the JCC. We are …
27/09/2005 - 19:45
S.Ossetia Blames Georgian Chief Peacekeeper for Shelling
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity alleged that Paata Bedianashvili, Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the conflict zone, was behind the shelling of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali, which occurred on September 27. Kokoity made this statement during a meeting with Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, the South Ossetian Press …
Saakashvili Speaks of Reconciliation with Abkhazia
President Mikheil Saakashvili called on Abkhazia for reconciliation and hailed the Abkhaz side?s decision not to mark September 27 with the military parade in Sokhumi. The Abkhaz side marks September 27 as the day of Liberation of Sokhumi, as Georgian troops were forced out of the city on this day in 1993. ?Both Georgians and …
Georgian Officials Call for Reconciliation with Abkhazia
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava called for reconciliation and peaceful resolution of the Abkhaz conflict on September 27. Both of them were speaking at the memorial of the Georgian fallen soldiers in Tbilisi to mark the Day of Memory and Hope ? commemorating the fall of …
GUAM Border Guard Chiefs Meet in Baku
Commander of the Georgian Border Guard Department Badri Bitsadze will participate in a meeting of the border guard chiefs from GUAM member states – Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova – in Azerbaijan?s capital Baku on September 27-29. According to the Georgian Border Guard Department, cooperation in combating terrorism, illegal migration, illegal drugs and arms trafficking will be …
Abkhazians, Georgians Mark September 27
Georgian officials will lay wreaths at the memorial of Georgia’s fallen soldiers in Tbilisi on september 27 to commemorate those who died in the Abkhaz conflict, marking the Day of Memory and Hope ? commemorating the fall of the Abkhaz capital Sokhumi on September 27, 1993, when the Georgian troops were forced out of the city. Three days later, …
S.Ossetian Minister: Tskhinvali Takes Break, Defines Strategy
South Ossetian chief negotiator Boris Chochiev reiterated in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency on September 26 that South Ossetia will not take part in the session of the Joint Control Commission (JCC). ?The reason behind this decision is that the Georgian side has not yet recognized its involvement in the Tskhinvali shelling [on …
26/09/2005 - 21:27
MPs Consider Setting Performance Deadline to Russian Peacekeepers
Georgian lawmakers are considering setting a deadline for the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to either stabilize the situation or leave the two conflict zones. The lawmakers have not yet agreed what the deadline should be. ?This should be a reasonable deadline? Naturally, a term of one week or one month will not be …
Groups in Samtskhe-Javakheti Advocate Autonomy
A group of non-governmental organizations based in Georgia?s southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, which is predominately populated by ethnic Armenians, held a conference on September 23-24 and discussed current problems in the region. In a resolution adopted at the conference, the Council of Armenian non-governmental organizations in Samtskhe-Javakheti called on the Georgian leadership to consider granting autonomy to …
Tskhinvali Urges U.S. to Warn Tbilisi Against Use of Force
In a letter sent to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi the Foreign Ministry of breakaway South Ossetia urged the United States ?to warn the Georgian authorities against provocations and any form of military pressure? on South Ossetia, the Press and Information Committee of unrecognized republic reported on September 26. ?Actions undertaken by the Georgian side …
MPs to Pass ‘Tough’ Resolution on Russian Peacekeepers
Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on September 26 that lawmakers are in the process of working over a resolution criticizing the Russian peacekeeping forces’ role in the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflict zones. “A decree by the Parliament over the peacekeepers will be very tough,” she told reporters. Burjanadze said that the peacekeeping forces “demonstrated helplessness” …
Analyst Challenges MoD’s Claims on Faulty APCs
Military analyst Irakli Aladashvili suggested in his article published by Kviris Palitra weekly on September 26 that 38 infantry combat vehicles – BMP-2 – of the Georgian Armed Forces are out of order as a result of improper use. This suggestion conflicts with the official version of the Defense Ministry, that vehicles were faulty at …
President Says Education Reform to Boost Social Justice
President Saakashvili said, while addressing a forum of first-year students on September 25, that through the most recent round of education reforms the country moved closer towards establishing social justice. Saakashvili was addressing thousands of students who have enrolled in universities this year after passing the first-ever standardized national tests. This was made possible after education reforms which helped root out …
25/09/2005 - 18:35
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)