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Bagapsh Leads in Abkhaz Polls
Chairman of the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC) Batal Tabagua announced, early on January 13, that presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh garnered 91,1% of votes in the January 12 elections, Itar-Tass news agency reported. Batal Tabagua also said that 58,5% of eligible voters cast ballots; hence the elections are valid. According to the CEC Sergey Bagapsh?s contender, …
13/01/2005 - 10:06
Unofficial Reports: Abkhaz Elections Valid
Russian news agencies reported, after the polling station in Georgia?s breakaway Abkhazia closed, that the January 12 presidential election in the unrecognized republic is valid, as 53% of the registered voters cast ballots. However, no official confirmation of this report has been made by the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC).Russian news agencies are citing unnamed sources in the Abkhaz Central …
12/01/2005 - 22:15
Suspects Arrested in British Citizen Murder Case
On January 12, police arrested five persons who are suspected of murdering a British citizen in Tbilisi on December 2, 2004. The British citizen was found dead of a gunshot wound in his apartment in the capital Tbilisi. No information regarding a possible motive was reported. Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said that the persons arrested on January 12 are …
Russian Reports: Abkhaz Elections Valid
Russian news agencies reported that 53% of the voters cast a ballot during the January 12 Abkhaz presidential election, thus validating the elections. Russian news agencies are citing unnamed sources in the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC). According to the Abkhaz election code, at least half of the registered voters must vote to consider elections as valid. But no official statement was …
Kidnapped Georgians Released in Abkhazia
Reports say 9 out of the 11 civilians who were kidnapped from the Georgian village of Ganmukhuri on January 11 were released on January 12. Two of them still remain captive. The reasons behind their prolonged detention is unclear. 11 ethnic Georgian were kidnapped after an armed group, described by Georgian officials as ?Abkhaz criminals,? raided the village of …
Russian Vice-Speaker: Abkhaz Polls Valid, Despite Violations in Gali
Vice-Speaker of the Russian Parliament Sergey Baburin, who is in breakaway Abkhazia to observe the presidential elections there, said at a news conference on January 12 that numerous violations were observed in the Gali district, which is predominately populated by an ethnic Georgian population, Regnum news agency reported.However, he added that ?there are all precondition to announce …
Conflicting Reports over Situation in Georgian-Populated Gali
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported that units of the Abkhaz governmental guard blocked the polling stations in the Gali district of the breakaway region and prevents voters from casting ballots. The Gali district of Abkhazia is predominately populated by ethnic Georgians, who spontaneously returned to Abkhazia in the years following the conflict in 1992-93. Itar-Tass also …
Abkhaz CEC: 40% Voter Turnout Reported by Afternoon
Chairman of the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC) Batal Tabagua said at a news conference on January 12 that 40% of the eligible voters in Abkhazia had already cast their ballots in the presidential elections by 4pm local time, RIA Novosti news agency reported. At least half of the more than 113,000 registered voters in …
Georgia to Train 20,000 Reserve Troops in 2005
On January 12, President Saakashvili visited a training camp for the Georgian reserve forces in the village of Dzevera, in the Shida Kartli region, and said that 20,000 reservists will be trained by the end of 2005. ?We need the army not because we are preparing for war. We are preparing for victory and for establishment of …
Saakashvili Speaks of Relations with Russia, Secessionist Regions
In an interview to the Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, published on January 12, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili expressed hope that Georgia and Russia will sign a comprehensive framework agreement by the end of 2005. ?We are currently working over a framework agreement. In February we expect a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Tbilisi. I think that …
PM Condemns Russian Officials’ “Disgraceful” Actions in Abkhazia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania expressed protest on January 12 regarding Russia’s active involvement in the presidential polls in breakaway Abkhazia and instructed the Georgian Foreign Ministry to issue an “adequate” statement. Zurab Zhvania said, while addressing a session of the government, that the “disgraceful activities of Russian politicians on the territory of Abkhazia are becoming alarming.” A group …
Abkhaz CEC: 30% Voter Turnout Reported by Noon
Chairman of the Abkhaz Central Election Commission Batal Tabagua said at a news conference, on January 12, that by noon Wednesday, 30% of the eligible voters in Abkhazia had already cast their ballots in the presidential elections, RIA Novosti news agency reported. At least half of the more than 113,000 registered voters in the region must cast a ballot …
Ethnic Abkhaz Becomes Georgian Government’s Spokesperson
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania announced, on January 12, that Lela Avidzba, an ethnic Abkhazian, will be appointed as the Georgian government’s spokesperson. Lela Avidzba is a journalist and previously anchored the Abkhaz-language news program at the Georgian state television. “Lela Avidzba will inform society about the Georgian government’s activities,” Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said at the government’s session. Last …
Tbilisi Deploys ‘Elite Troops’ to Protect Villages Near Abkhazia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said, at a governmental session on January 12, that units of Georgia’s “elite troops” were deployed in the Georgian villages that are located at the administrative border with breakaway Abkhazia to ensure security there. Earlier, Gigi Ugulava, the Governor of Samegrelo region, which borders breakaway Abkhazia, said that police checkpoints will be …
Georgia Expects at Least USD 200 mln from Selling Shipping Co. and Manganese Mining
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania set January 18 as a deadline for finalizing separate talks with those companies, which proposed the most reasonable bids for privatizing Georgian Ocean Shipping Company and Chiaturmanganumi manganese mining enterprise/Vartsikhe hydro power plant.“Privatization race was extremely successful, as there were more proposals, than we expected,” Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said …
Georgia Installs Police Posts in Abkhaz Conflict Zone
Georgian Interior Ministry forces will be deployed in the villages located across the administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, Governor of the Samegrelo region Gigi Ugulava said. The decision was taken after at least 11 civilians were kidnapped from the Georgian village of Ganmukhuri on January 11, when an armed group, described …
Timeline of Abkhaz Crisis
2004 BBC map October 3 – Presidential elections held in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia. The polls were expected to bring new leader of the unrecognized republic, but because of the post-election dispute between the two main presidential rivals – the opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh and pro-governmental candidate Raul Khajimba, Abkhazia was hit by two months of …
Abkhazia Holds Repeat Presidential Elections
Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia is holding repeat presidential elections on January 12 to elect the region’s the new leader who will replace ailing, outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba. Along with frontrunner presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh, leader of the People’s Party of Abkhazia Iakub Lakoba is also running for the presidency. At least half of the 113,000 registered …
Georgian Civilians Kidnapped in Abkhaz Conflict Zone
At least 11 civilians were kidnapped from the Georgian village of Ganmukhuri on January 11, after an armed group, described by Georgian officials as ?Abkhaz criminals,? raided the village. The village is located in the Zugdidi district of the Samegrelo region, at the administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia. Reports say that several …
11/01/2005 - 22:30
Privatization Bids for Shipping Co. and Manganese Mining Unveiled
The Georgian Prime Minister convened a press conference and briefed the public over preliminary information regarding privatization bids proposed by foreign companies for the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company and a privatization package that includes Chiaturmanganumi, a manganese mining factory in Tchiatura and a Vartsikhe hydro power plant. ?There are seven companies seeking to purchase the Ocean Shipping Company. The amount of money …
Group of Political Parties Seek Postponement of Abkhaz Poll
On January 10, a number of Abkhaz political parties and public movements called to postpone upcoming polls just two days before scheduled presidential elections, citing a ?lack of time to organize free and fair elections,? Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. The parties calling for the postponement of the elections include the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia, Republican Party ? Apsni, Union …
Russian Vice-Speaker Links Polls, International Recognition of Abkhaz Independence
Deputy Speaker of the lower house of the Russian Parliament Sergey Baburin was campaiging in Sokhumi on January 11 in favor of the Presidential elections in unrecognized Abkhaz republic, scheduled for January 12. According to Interfax, Baburin said voting in the elections “would be an investment in international recognition of Abkhaz [independence].” He added that the …
Government Launches Consideration of Privatization Bids
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania announced on January 11 that seven companies made privatization bids for the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company and four companies for the privatization package that includes Chiaturmanganumi, a manganese mining factory in Tchiatura, and the Vartsikhe hydro power plant. The deadline for submitting privatization bids expired on January 11 at 6 pm local …
Reports: Armed Group Raids Village in Abkhaz Conflict Zone
On January 11, a group of armed men raided the village of Ganmukhuri, in the Zugdidi district, located at the administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, and hijacked several cars, reported the Georgian media. Inter-Press news agency and Rustavi 2 television both reported that it was ?a group of Abkhaz criminals? operating in the …
Energy Minister Speaks of Gas Industry Development Plan
Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said that a long-term plan, envisaging a broad range of aspects relating to the country?s gas supply, transportation and security has been developed by the Energy Ministry in cooperation with the Georgian Gas International Corporation. ?This plan will be discussed at the governmental session tomorrow [January 12]. The plan outlines the …
PACE Draft Resolution on Georgia
Provisional version AS/Mon (2004) 4515 December 2004 COMMITTEE ON THE HONOURING OF OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS BY MEMBER STATES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (MONITORING COMMITTEE) Honouring of obligations and commitments by Georgia Co-rapporteurs: Mr Matyas Eörsi, Hungary, Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ GroupMr Evgeni Kirilov, Bulgaria, Socialist Group Draft Resolution 1. A year after coming into power, the new Georgian authorities …
PACE Issues Draft Resolution on Georgia
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will discuss a draft resolution on honoring of obligations and commitments by Georgia at an Assembly session in late January. The provisional version of the resolution, which was issued by the PACE Monitoring Committee last December, notes that the ?Georgian authorities continue to demonstrate an unyielding resolve to carry out …
Abkhazia Elects New President in Repeat Polls
Bagapsh’s (left) only real challenger in poll will be a possible low voter turnout. Reuters photo Breakaway Abkhazia will go to the polls to elect a new leader of the region on January 12 for the second time in the past three months, as last October’s elections failed to reveal a President because of a …
Abkhaz Presidential Candidate Concerned over Voter Lists
Abkhaz presidential candidate Iakub Lakoba, leader of the Peoples? Party, warned, on January 10, that the upcoming presidential polls, scheduled for January 12, may be thwarted because of flaws in the voter lists, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. ?There are 168,000 eligible voters in Abkhazia. During the October 3 presidential elections there were 137,000 voters registered. …
Georgia Cautious over Restoration of Railway via Abkhazia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said, after talks with visiting Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin on January 10, that a number of conditions should be met before restoring the railway connection between Russia and Georgia via breakaway Abkhazia. ?Restoration of the railway link is related to a number of conditions. On the other hand situation in …
10/01/2005 - 21:11
Georgia, Russia Sign Ferry Service Agreement
On January 10 visiting Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin and Georgian Economy Minister Lexo Alexishvili signed an agreement over a ferry service to transport cargo trains between the Georgian port of Poti and Russian port of Kavkaz. Reportedly, the launch of the ferry service will be possible within ten days. Georgia currently operates this kind of ferry …
U.S. Maj. Gen. Visits Georgia
U.S. Major General David Poythress, Adjutant General of the state of Georgia, arrived in Tbilisi on January 10.According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, during his working visit, Maj. Gen. David Poythress will share experiences regarding the training of the reserve forces. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Tbilisi Protests Presence of Russian MPs in Abkhazia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava expressed protest regarding the arrival of a group of Russian parliamentarians in breakaway Abkhazia to monitor the presidential polls, scheduled for January 12. The delegation of the Russian MPs is led by Sergey Baburin, Vice-Speaker of the Russian State Duma Council, which is the lower house of the …
Seven Companies Bid for Georgian Shipping Co.
According to the Georgian Economy Ministry, seven foreign companies have made bids for the privatizing of the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company. The deadline for submitting bids expires on January 10. These companies are: Cyprus-based investment company Schoeller Holdings Ltd, the British Marine Capital Limited, the Australian ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd, the Greenoak Group, as well …
Newspaper Speculates over Cabinet Row
The Georgian daily Rezonansi (the Resonance) alleged, in an editorial published on January 10, that Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili?s recent confrontation with “Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania?s team” was triggered by his desire to take over the Prime Minister?s position. Irakli Okruashvili, who replaced Giorgi Baramidze as Defense Minister as a result of a recent cabinet reshuffle …
Gallup Survey: Georgians in Top of Most Optimistic Nations
According to a survey conducted by Gallup International Georgia is again near the top of the world?s most optimistic countries, as 71% of Georgian respondents believe 2005 will be a successful year for the country. The survey was conducted in November and December, 2004 in more than 65 countries and comprised interviews with 60,000 citizens across the world. Only …
South Caucasus Countries Discuss Regional Railway
Visiting Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin will discuss the issue of restoring the Georgian-Russian railway link via Abkhazia with the Georgian leadership. Armenian and Azerbaijani governmental delegations are also expected to join the talks in Tbilisi on January 10. Last November, Russian Transport Minister, who visited Georgia and Armenia, proposed that the countries of the South Caucasus set …
Prime Minister Visits South Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, accompanied by State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, traveled to breakaway South Ossetia on January 9. Zurab Zhvania visited the Georgian village of Kheiti in the South Ossetian conflict zone and met with the local population there.?Very soon the President [Mikheil Saakashvili] will present peace plans for the settlement of …
09/01/2005 - 21:14
Hidden Tensions Become Public, But Cabinet Split Still Far from Critical Point
Despite clear signs of a rift in the Georgian cabinet, spawning from a row between the Defense and State Ministers over corruption allegations in the army, political analysts still say that tensions in the government have not reached a critical point yet.On January 6, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who suspended his visit to Ukraine, brought Irakli Okruashvili, …
Russian Transport Minister Visits Georgia
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin will pay a visit to Georgia on January 9-10 to sign an agreement over a ferry service between the two countries. The ferry service, between the Georgian port of Poti and Russian port of Kavkaz, will transport cargo trains. A preliminary agreement was reached during a visit to Moscow by Davit Onoprishvili, chief of the …
Abkhaz Officials Fear Low Voter Turnout
On January 7, according to the Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress, chairman of the breakaway Abkhaz Parliament Nugzar Ashuba expressed concern regarding the activity of certain forces in the region directed at thwarting the upcoming presidential elections in Abkhazia, scheduled for January 12. Nugzar Ashuba, who was speaking at parliamentary hearings over the preparations for the polls, called on the unrecognized …
08/01/2005 - 13:42
Four Russians Detained for Illegal Border Crossing
Georgian police detained four citizens of Russia on January 7 in the village of Tkviavi, in the South Ossetian conflict zone. Officials say that the Russian citizens entered Georgia illegally. One local Georgian policeman was also arrested on the same day. He is suspected of taking bribes in exchange for helping facilitate illegal entry into Georgia. This post is …
07/01/2005 - 20:44
Saakashvili Signs Anti-Trafficking Action Plan
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili signed a decree on anti-trafficking action plan for 2005-2006 years. The decree envisages setting up an anti-trafficking interim commission, which will be chaired by Secretary of the National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili. The OSCE mission to Georgia helped the government to develop anti-trafficking action plan. NGOs and civil society representatives have also participated in …
Russia Protests Release of Chechen Prisoners in Georgia
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed protest against the release of ethnic Chechen prisoners in Tbilisi, who were arrested by the Georgian border guards for suspected illegal crossing the border and possession of arms in August, 2002. ?The Russian side has numerously requested Tbilisi to extradite the members of a criminal group, who were detained for …
Saakashvili Slammed Ministers for Sparring Publicly
President Mikheil Saakashvili convened Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and State Minister Giorgi Baramidze on January 6 and warned them that he will not tolerate disagreements within the cabinet. ?I am not going to tolerate sparring between the members of government. Both of you are my friends, but if you want to deal with each other …
Bush, Saakashvili Held Phone Talks
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili held a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush upon his arrival from Ukraine on January 6. Bilateral cooperation and recent developments in Georgia were discussed during the talks, the Georgian President?s press office reported. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
06/01/2005 - 18:36
Allegations over Misuse of Funds in the Army Triggers Cabinet Row
State Minister Baramidze said he sees “a clear threat of cabinet split.” The Georgian government is now facing its first serious internal crisis, as Defense Minister and State Minister sparred publicly over the alleged cases of misuse of power and misappropriation of funds in the army.“I see a clear threat of a split in the government, which …
Members of Italian NGO Arrive in Georgia
Fifteen members of the Italian non-governmental organization “Terra del Foucco” had been waiting for three days at the Larsi checkpoint (Georgian-Russian border) for the permission to enter Georgia. Russian border officials did not allow them to cross the border and leave the territory of the Russian Federation. As a result, the delegation returned to Russia …
New Georgian Peacekeeper Commander in South Ossetia
Col. Koba Lachkebiani has been appointed Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion, which is part of the joint Russian-Georgian-Ossetian peacekeeping forces stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone. Chief of the General Staff Vakhtang Kapanadze said, on January 6, that commander of the Georgian peacekeepers Petre Goguadze resigned because of health problems. Col. Koba Lachkebiani formerly served …
State Minister Slams Defense Minister, Speaks of Threat of Cabinet Split
Georgian State Minister in charge of Euro-Atlantic integration issues Giorgi Baramidze, who previously held the Defense Minister?s position, convened a press conference and dismissed current Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili?s statements that some defense officials ?pushed the army into a worse situation than it was before the revolution.? Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said at a news briefing …
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)