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New Ambassador to the Vatican Appointed
The Parliament unanimously approved Ketevan Bagrationi-Mukhranbatoni as Georgia’s Ambassador to Holy See- Vatican City – on October 26. Recently, President Saakashvili granted Georgian citizenship to Ketevan Bagrationi-Mukhranbatoni, who is simultaneously a citizen of France. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
26/10/2004 - 13:57
CEC: Pro-Governmental MP Candidates Lead By-Elections
According to the preliminary results of the Central Election Commission (CEC) the MP candidates supported by the ruling National Movement-Democrats party won the by-elections, held in Georgia’s four single-mandate constituencies on October 24. Olympic Champion Giorgi Asanidze from the ruling National Movement party leads the polls in Tbilisi’s Krtsanisi single-mandate constituency with 3,608 votes, followed by …
Term of Military Service Reduced
On October 26 the Georgian Parliament approved, after a third hearing, amendments to the Law on Compulsory Military Service, and thus reduced the current 18-month term of military service to 12 months. Those enrolled in higher education institutions within the Military Departments are exempt from the draft and will still graduate with a military rank. This post is …
Russian Foreign Minister to Visit Georgia
Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Boris Malakhov said on October 25 that Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to visit Georgia in the near future. “The visit is being contemplated as part of a trip to be made by the Russian Foreign Minister to the South Caucasus region. However, the date of the trip will be …
Saakashvili Hospitalized with Wrist Injury
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was hospitalized late on October 25 with a wrist injury. According to Healthcare Minister Lado Chipashvili, the President has slightly injured his wrist, his health is not in danger in any way and will return to his duties soon. Reportedly, Mikheil Saakashvili got the wrist injury while working out. This post is also …
Burjanadze: Georgia not Ready to Repatriate Meskhetian Turks
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on October 25 that Georgia is not yet ready to repatriate Meskhetian Turks, despite the country’s commitment undertaken by Georgia upon its accession to the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1999. Nino Burjanadze, who was speaking at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe’s monitoring committee in …
Draft Tax Code Close to Finalization
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania met with parliamentarians on October 25 to discuss the current draft of the new tax code. After the meeting, which lasted almost five hours, the parliamentarians said that the draft is almost finalized. MP Roman Gotsiridze, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Budgetary Issues, told reporters that the meeting was “very …
Ex-Interior Minister Accused of Misuse of Power
The General Prosecutor’s Office has brought criminal charges for misuse of power against former Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili who was arrested on October 24. Narchemashvili, who served as the country’s Interior Minister in 2001-2003, is suspected of violating customs regulations, while importing tear gas from Azerbaijan and enforcing unlawful regulations for the import of cars. The …
PACE Monitoring Group Visits Ex-Audit Chief in Pre-Trial Cell
On October 25 a group from the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), which monitors the honoring of obligations and commitments by member states, visited on Sulkhan Molashvili, the former chairman of the State Audit Agency, in his pre-trial detention center at the request of the latter. The monitoring group made no comment after visiting Molashvili in …
25/10/2004 - 19:01
Peacekeepers to Set up More Checkpoints in South Ossetia
Two additional checkpoints of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces will be deployed in the South Ossetian conflict area, near Tskhinvali, amid sporadic shootouts, which mainly occur during the nights, Aleksandre Kiknadze, the Commander of the Georgian battalion of the joint peacekeeping troops, told Civil Georgia on October 25. Earlier today, residents of the Georgian village of Achabeti …
Georgians in South Ossetia Protest Shelling
According to Georgian media reports, the residents of the Georgia village of Achabeti held a protest rally on October 25 demanding to maintain a ceasefire in the conflict zone. The protesters blocked the road connecting the capital of the unrecognized republic, Tskhinvali, and Java, a town in northern South Ossetia. A similar rally by the Georgian population in the …
Tskhinvali Accuses Georgian Side of Shelling
The South Ossetian side accused the Georgian forces of shelling the Ossetian village of Kverneti overnight on October 25. However, the Georgian side denies accusations and claims that the South Ossetian forces were first to open fire. “Ossetian village of Kverneti, which is populated only up to 20 residents, mainly children and elderly people, came …
IMF Hails Georgia’s Economic Performance
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) mission, which visited Georgia on October 12-23 to review recent economic developments in Georgia, hailed the planned tax reforms, as well as welcomed the progress in the fiscal position and stabilized microeconomic situation. The mission will recommend to the IMF Executive Board that the first review under the Poverty Reduction and …
CEC Announces By-Elections Valid
The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the October 24 by-elections in four single-mandate constituencies of Georgia valid. According to official reports, out of 177 thousand eligible voters, 65 thousand, or 35%, cast a ballot. “The highest voter turnout was reported in the Zestaponi and Gori provincial constituencies. The voter turnout was lower in Tbilisi’s two …
Georgian Official: South Ossetia Violates Ceasefire Agreement
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said an agreement over a ceasefire, reached by the Georgian and South Ossetian sides on October 20 at a meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), was violated on October 25 when the South Ossetian side opened fire on the Georgian village of Achabeti in the …
Ex-Interior Minister Arrested
Security Ministry officials arrested former Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili on October 24. So far no charges have been brought against Narchemashvili, who severed as Georgia?s Interior Minister in 2001-2003. Law enforcer officials say that Narchemashvili was interrogated regarding alleged wrongdoings in the procedures involved in importing cars during 2000-2003. Koba Narchemashvili, who was ex-President Shevardnadze?s close ally resigned …
Media Conference Opens in Tbilisi
More than fifty journalists from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will discuss developments in the media field in their countries at the first South Caucasus Media Conference, being held in Tbilisi from October 25-26. The two-day conference is organized by the OSCE Mission to Georgia and hosted by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos …
Guns Found at Concert Attended by Georgian, Armenian Presidents
Georgian Security Ministry officials found a sniper rifle and a Kalashnikov assault rifle late on October 23 in the concert hall in downtown Tbilisi, one hour prior to the show, which was later attended by the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his visiting Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian. Security Ministry officials say that the investigation is …
24/10/2004 - 17:50
Court Remands Ex-Audit Chief in Custody
The Supreme Court remanded Sulkhan Molashvili, the former chairman of the State Audit Agency and close ally of ex-President Shevardnadze, for another stint of pre-trial custody on October 23. The court remanded Molashvili for an additional one month and ten days of pre-trial detention. Molashvili, who is accused of alleged misappropriation of 3 million Lari, …
Kocharian Meets Zhvania, Burjanadze
Visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharian held separate meetings with the Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze on October 23 in Tbilisi. ?I want to say that Robert Kocharian always pays a great deal of attention to eliminating even a minor flaw in relations with Georgia,? Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters after …
23/10/2004 - 13:20
Kokoev Visits Moscow
First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Valery Loshchinin met on October 22 with South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev in Moscow. The sides discussed ways of settleing the South Ossetian conflict, as well as the forthcoming talks between Kokoev and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania scheduled in early November, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. Earlier …
Budgetary Debate Continues
Following a heated debates between the Georgian cabinet members and parliamentarians over the 2005 draft budget, both executive and legislative authorities agreed on October 22 to continue the discussion of the next year’s budget in “a constructive manner.” A Meeting between the cabinet members, including Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and representatives from the parliamentary majority was held …
UN, OSCE Report Speaks of Environmental Impact of Conflicts
Environmental degradation and competition for natural resources could sharpen disputes in areas of the southern Caucasus already mired in conflicts, a report issued by the OSCE, UNDP and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Tbilisi on October 22 says. According to the report the militarized situation in such places as breakaway Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh …
22/10/2004 - 20:13
Saakashvili, Kocharian Hold Talks
Visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharian said after talks with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi on October 22 that they focused on “purely bilateral relations during the talks.” Mikheil Saakashvili described the relation between the two countries as “brotherly and friendly.” “We have discussed bilateral economic ties, cooperation in the transport sector… as well …
Cabinet, MPs Discuss Draft Budget
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and cabinet members met with the parliamentary majority on October 22 to discuss the disputed 2005 draft budget. “I am satisfied with the talks with the parliamentary majority. The parliamentarians demanded more information about the reforms planned by the cabinet in 2005,” Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters after the talks. …
Saakashvili Speaks of Preferences in MP By-Elections
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called on the voters on October 22 to support the nominees of the ruling National Movement party in upcoming MP by-elections in four single-mandate constituencies, scheduled for October 24. The National Movement has nominated its candidates in Tbilisi?s two ? Krtsanisi and Didube – single-mandate constituencies as well as in the …
Abkhaz Opposition Rejects Russia’s Deal to Overcome Crisis
The Abkhaz opposition declined a Moscow-proposed deal in which Russia was ready to support opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh, who has been declared president-elect, granting that he appoint Nodar Khashba as the Prime Minister of the unrecognized republic, the Georgian news agency Inter-Press reported on October 22. Nodar Khashba was appointed by ailing Abkhaz de facto President Vladislav …
Russo-Georgian Border Reopened
Reports say that Russia reopened its border with Georgia at the Larsi checkpoint on October 22, after an almost two-month closure following the Beslan hostage-taking tragedy in Russia’s North Ossetian Republic in early September. “Starting today the Larsi checkpoint will work at full capacity. The Georgian Foreign Ministry and the Border Guard Department have received relevant notes from …
Russia Remains Concerned over Pankisi Gorge
Deputy Chief of the Russian Border Guard Service Aleksander Manilov said, on October 22, that the situation in Georgia?s Pankisi gorge is still a source of concern for Russia. He also said despite difficulties, the situation is under control on the Russo-Georgian border. ?The situation on the border is difficult, strained, but we are in full …
Russia Criticizes European MPs’ Resolution on Georgia
On October 21 the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the resolution of the European Parliament on Georgia, claiming that the European parliamentarians have ?insufficient information? regarding the real situation in Georgia. The European Parliament?s resolution on Georgia, adopted on October 14, calld on the EU Council and Commission ?to include the issue of Georgia?s territorial integrity …
Defense Minister Visits South Ossetia
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze will arrive in the South Ossetian conflict zone on October 22 to meet with the servicemen of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion deployed in the breakaway region.He will get acquainted with the current situation in the conflict area and Later today Giorgi Baramidze will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and …
Armenian President Visits Georgia
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will arrive in Georgia for a three-day official visit on October 22. He will hold talks with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. Robert Kocharian will also meet representatives of the Armenian community in Georgia. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Officials: ‘Appropriation of Arms’ Unveiled
Georgian State Security Minister Vano Merabishvili and Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said at a specially convened joint press conference on October 21 that the law enforcers unveiled a case of appropriation of a “large number of arms” at a recycling facility in the Dedoplistskaro district, in eastern Georgia.Security and Defense Minister said that false documents found at the recycling facility …
21/10/2004 - 21:35
Judge Arrested for Alleged Bribe-Taking
Police arrested a judge in the town of Rustavi Jabanashvili on October 21 for suspected bribe-taking. The General Prosecutor?s Office reported that that the judge is accused of taking USD 10,000 as a bribe. On October 11 police arrested Alexandre Taliashvili, a judge at the Didube-Chugureti district court of Tbilisi, who was accused of taking USD 500 as a …
Georgia Grants Entry to Armenians Stuck in South Ossetia
Georgian authorities gave entry to the dozens of the Armenian citizens who have been trapped in breakaway South Ossetia en-route to Armenia for more than a week already.A convoy of busses and trucks belonging to the Armenian citizens were moving from Russia to Armenia via Georgia?s breakaway region of South Ossetia, but the border checkpoint in …
Georgia Urges Russia to Reopen Border
The Georgian Border Guard Department appealed, on October 21 the Russian Border Guard Service urging for the reopening of the Larsi checkpoint at the Russo-Georgian border, which was closed after the Beslan hostage-taking tragedy in early September. The border at the Larsi checkpoint has been opened only for three times for a couple of hours each …
Environmental Conference Opens in Tbilisi
A conference of Environmental Ministers form Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) is being held at the Tbilisi Marriot Courtyard from October 21-22. Representatives at the conference were greeted this afternoon by opening remarks from Ms. Tamar Lebanidze, Minister of the Environment of Georgia, and Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.Zhvania emphasized the importance of …
Demilitarization to Top Agenda of South Ossetia Talks
Tbilisi and Tskhinvali accuse each other of having extra, non-peacekeeping troops in the conflict zone. Photo: Press and Information Committee of South OssetiaA top-level meeting between South Ossetian separatist leader Eduard Kokoev and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania will be held sometime in the first week of November, according to an agreement reached by the …
Zhvania: Disarmament to Top High-Level South Ossetia Talks
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania confirmed on October 21 that he will meet South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi sometime in the first week of November. ?Disarmament of the conflict zone will be one of the main topics of …
Saakashvili Says Energy ‘Saboteurs Destroyed’
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on October 20 that the Georgian special forces destroyed a group of South Ossetian saboteurs who were allegedly attacking the high-voltage power transmission lines in Georgia. Two towers of high-voltage power transmission lines were blown up on October 10 in western Georgia, following similar explosions at the Kartli-2 power line near …
Saakashvili: Talks over South Ossetia Can Not Drag on Forever
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on October 20 that talks over the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict can not last forever and called for an immediate launch of talks over the political status of the breakaway region. ?The negotiating process can not drag on forever and it is not necessary to go to some European …
Georgia Makes Minor Progress in TI’s Corruption List
Transparency International?s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index 2004, which measures the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians in a given country, put Georgia among the countries where corruption is rampant. In the 2004 report, issued by the TI on October 20, Georgia is ranked 136th out of 146 countries …
Georgian Foreign Minister Visits Germany
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili will pay an official two-day visit to Germany on October 21-22. During the visit she will hold talks with her German counterpart Joschka Fisher, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and other officials. Bilateral relations, the prospects for future cooperation, the current situation in Georgia and the country?s integration into …
Annan: Abkhaz Peace Process ‘Perilously Close’ to a Standstill
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to resume political contacts and to continue pursuing negotiations of a settlement to the conflict, warning that the peace process has come “perilously close” to a standstill. “I remain deeply convinced that further progress in the peace process is possible only through participation of both …
JCC Agree on Zhvania-Kokoev Talks
The Georgian Prime Minister and President of self-styled South Ossetian Republic Eduard Kokoev will meet in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi before November 10, Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said on October 20. Khaindrava, who represents the Georgian side in the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (CEC) was speaking with …
20/10/2004 - 18:07
Saakashvili Describes Budgetary Dispute as a ‘Natural Process’
President Mikheil Saakashvili said on October 20 that the disputes over the 2005 draft state budget, which arose between the cabinet and the Parliament, is “a natural process.” “The Parliament has a chance to show its strength and competence… They [the government and Parliament] will dispute and finally reach an agreement, I know it for sure,” Saakashvili …
Why Has the Chief of Rustavi 2 TV Stepped Down?
Partner post from RFE/RL Georgian Service Observers say Erosi Kitsmarishvili has lost battle with PM Zhvania. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nika Tabatadze announced on October 13 at a news briefing that he quits the position and becomes the General Director of the private Rustavi 2 broadcasting company, replacing founder of the company Erosi Kitsmarishvili. What …
Ex-First Lady Dies at 75
Ailing Nanuli Shevardnadze-Tsagareishvili, wife of Georgia?s ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze, died on October 20 in Tbilisi at the age of 75. A heart attack was listed as the cause of death. A specialist of the Russian language and a journalist, Nanuli Shevardnadze-Tsagareishvili was a founder of the charity organization Women of Georgia for Peace and Life. Eduard Shevardnadze …
Blast in Downtown Tbilisi
Official: explosive, equivalent to 400 grams of TNT, was placed in the trash-can A blast occurred in one of the underground road crossings in Tbilisi on Heroes Square on October 20. The caused no casualties. “The explosive, equivalent to 400 grams of TNT, was placed in one of the trash-cans of the underground road crossing. We have also …
Alarming Statistics Makes Law enforcers Focus on Human Rights
On the background of blowing the whistle by civil watchdogs against human rights violations in prisons, Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili and Prosecutor General Zurab Adeishvili said that from now on more attention would be paid to eradicating human rights abuses within the law-enforcement agencies. With this purpose, monitoring groups will be set up at …
Page 610 of 761
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)