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Interior Minister: Georgia Has Taken Measures to Free South Ossetia from Kokoev’s Regime
Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili said at a news briefing on July 8 that the Georgian government will “take all necessary measures to free South Ossetia from de facto President Eduard Kokoev and his criminal clan.” “Kokoev will strongly regret forcing our detained soldiers to kneel. We will never forgive him for this. He will be held …
08/07/2004 - 20:54
OSCE Condemns Detention of Georgian Peacekeepers in South Ossetia
Solomon Passy, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office, expressed grave concerns on July 8 over recent developments in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and called for the immediate release of the Georgian citizens detained by South Ossetian armed units. “I strongly denounce this morning’s detention of Georgian citizens by South Ossetian armed units in the zone …
Three Georgian Soldiers Wounded in South Ossetia
Georgian officials confirmed that three Georgian soldiers were wounded on July 8, as a result of an armed attack against the checkpoint located between the Georgian villages of Kurta and Tamarasheni in breakaway South Ossetia.Georgian authorities say that the South Ossetian side aims at provoking large-scale armed confrontation in the conflict zone. This post is …
Powell, Zhvania Discussed South Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania held phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on July 8 and discussed satiation in breakaway South Ossetia. ?Mr. Powell expressed readiness to help Georgia in overcoming the current crisis. He also welcomed Georgian government?s efforts to avoid armed confrontation in the conflict zone,? Avto Pavlenishvili, spokesman of …
Tbilisi Says “No” to the Use of Force, Despite Attacks on Georgian Checkpoints in South Ossetia
The Russian NTV television station broadcasted footage showing the detained Georgian soldiers kneeling at gunpoint in Tskhinvali. In the wake of the detention of dozens of Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone, three Georgian soldiers were wounded after the Georgian checkpoint of peacekeepers came under fire at noon on July 8, adding …
PM Discussed South Ossetia with Power Ministers
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania met with the Security and Defense Ministers, as well as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to discuss situation in South Ossetia. ?I have no news for you. Situation has not changed significantly since the morning, when Georgian peacekeepers were detained. All I can say is that we have …
Russian Ambassador: Situation in South Ossetia Extremely Tense
The Russian Ambassador to Georgia, Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, called on the Georgian and South Ossetian sides to settle the current conflict in South Ossetia through dialogue. ?The situation is extremely tense in the region. Further acceleration of tension will trigger a great deal of problems for Georgia and for the entire region. However, there is a simple way out ? …
PM Meets with Foreign Diplomats over South Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania met with accredited foreign diplomats in Georgia on July 8 to inform them regarding the recent tensions in breakaway South Ossetia. The Russian Ambassador to Georgia, Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, said after the meeting that Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava will leave for Moscow on July 9 to hold talks with Russian officials over …
PM: Georgian Peacekeepers Attacked in South Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said in a news briefing that the checkpoint utilized by Georgian peacekeepers in the South Ossetian conflict zone came under fire on July 8. No casualties were reported. ?We are doing everything to avoid armed conflict. We will not tolerate the renewal of an armed confrontation in the conflict zone,? Zurab Zhvania said. At a …
Experts Say Defaced Georgian Fresco in Israel Restorable
Fresco of Shota Rustaveli after damage.Photo provided by the Georgian Foreign Ministry Israeli experts say that the Georgian fresco in the Monastery of the Holly Cross in Jerusalem, which is the only portrait of famed Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, can be restored. News about the damage done to the priceless fresco from the XIII century broke on July …
Russian, Georgian Security Chiefs Discuss South Ossetia
Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov and discussed the recent developments in breakaway South Ossetia. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania also said, at the news briefing on July 8, that the Georgian authorities are conducting regular consultations with the Russian side in oreder to defuse tensions in …
Georgia Calls on Russian Peacekeepers to Resolve Crisis in South Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said on July 8 that Russian peacekeepers, deployed in breakaway South Ossetia, ?face a major test,? as the situation in the conflict zone intensifies after the detention of the Georgian peacekeepers by South Ossetian authorities. ?It?s a challenge for the Russian peacekeepers. They should defuse tensions and the Georgian peacekeepers should be released. …
Georgia Condemns ?Unauthorized? Movement of Arms in South Ossetia
A statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on July 8 condemns the unauthorized movement of arms in South Ossetia and expresses concern that ?the uncontrolled transportation? of weapons by Russian armed forces poses ?a serious threat to peace and stability in the country.? Georgian internal troops detained and confiscated two trucks from Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia …
South Ossetia Detains Georgian Peacekeepers, Deploys Troops into Georgian Villages
Ossetian militia groups at the entrance of Tskhinvali Following the detention of Russian peacekeepers’ trucks loaded with arms on July 7, South Ossetian militia groups detained dozens of Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zone overnight on July 7-8. Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava, who is in charge of the conflict resolution issues, said on July …
Georgian Peacekeepers Detained in South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for conflict resolution issues Goga Khaindrava said on July 8 that around 50 Georgian peacekeepers, deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone, were disarmed and detained by the South Ossetian side overnight on July 7-8. ?They were taken to Tskhinvali [capital of self-styled South Ossetian Republic]. We regard the detained Georgian peacekeepers as hostages …
Former State Audit Chief Reportedly Tortured in Jail
On July 7 Mayas Eorsi, who chairs the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe?s monitoring group in Georgia, and Georgian MP Elene Tevdoradze, chairperson of the human rights parliamentary committee, visited former state audit chief Sulkhan Molashvili in jail, who faces embezzlement charges. Recently, the lawyers for Molashvili, a close ally of ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze, and several human …
07/07/2004 - 20:05
Russian Ambassador Demands Return of Confiscated Arms
Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said on July 7 that Moscow demands that the Georgian side returns the ammunition confiscated on July 7 in breakaway South Ossetia. ?This was a provocation and the arms should be returned,? Ambassador Vladimir Chkhikvishvili told reporters. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who also condemned the seizure of the arms, …
Georgian Government Heads for Major Embarrassment
State Minister Goga Khaindrava came under the fire of Interior Minster Irakli Okruashvili. The Georgian government heads for its first major embarrassment, as spectacular lack of coordination is revealed at a senior level in handling the South Ossetia crisis. A superficial probing into a recent incident of detention of the Russian arms convoy in South Ossetia …
State Minister Denies Links with Arms Movement in South Ossetia
State Minister Goga Khaindrava, who is in charge of conflict resolution issues, denied on July 7 that he had information regarding the transfer of a large number of Russian arms in breakaway South Ossetia. Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that several members of the Georgian cabinet, including those responsible for holding talks with the South Ossetian …
Arms Seizure Flares Tensions in South Ossetia, Causes Controversy in Georgian Cabinet
Tensions grew in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia after Georgian internal troops detained a convoy of trucks, loaded with arms, ammunition and uniforms, that was being brought into the region by Russian peacekeepers. Russia has already condemned the move as “a provocation.” The incident may also lead to a rift in the Georgian government, …
Arms Seizure in South Ossetia May Cause Rift Within Georgian Cabinet
The Georgia Security Ministry launched an investigation into the case concerning the transfer of a large number of arms into breakaway South Ossetia which was seized by Georgian internal troops on July 7. Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili told reporters, after the Georgian cabinet session on July 7, that several members of the cabinet are likely to be interrogated regarding the …
Russia Condemns Seizure of Arms in South Ossetia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on July 7 that the ?seizure of the Russian trucks in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone is cause for concern,? Itar-Tass news agency reported. In the early hours of July 7, Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone seized nine trucks belonging to Russian peacekeepers that were loaded with arms, …
Georgia Seizes Russian Arms Convoy in South Ossetia
In the early hours of July 7, Georgian peacekeepers, deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone, seized nine trucks belonging to Russian peacekeepers and that were loaded with arms, ammunition and uniforms. According to the Georgian side, the convoy of trucks was en route from Russia to Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway South Ossetia. ?Such a large number of …
CIS Border Guard Chiefs Meet in Batumi
Commanders of the border guard services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will meet in the capital of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, Batumi, on July 7-9. The issue of coordinating their efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal migration will top the agenda of the summit in Batumi. This post is also available in: …
EU Commissioner Discuss Neighborhood Policy in Georgia
EU Commissioner in charge of enlargement Janez Poto?nik, who visited Georgia on July 5-6 as part of a trip to the South Caucasus region, discussed the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and the EU?s assistance programs with the Georgian leadership. ?The inclusion of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia into the European Neighborhood Policy sends the important message that the …
EU Envoy Visits South Ossetia
The European Union?s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, met with South Ossetian de facto President Edward Kokoev in the capital of the self-styled Republic, Tskhinvali, on July 5. EU-funded projects for the restoration of the railway link between South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia as well as the repatriation of the refugees and IDPs into the region …
06/07/2004 - 19:15
Sozar Subeliani to be Nominated as Ombudsman
President Mikheil Saakashvili said during the meeting with NGO leaders on July 6 that he will propose that human rights activist and journalist Sozar Subeliani as Georgia’s new Public Defender (Ombudsman). Sozar Subeliani currently leads the human rights Liberty Institute’s “Rule of Law” direction, and is a long-time journalist with Radio Liberty. MP Elene Tevdoradze, the chairperson of the …
Saakashvili Criticizes Police for Violent Break up of Rally
During his meeting with NGO leaders, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili slammed the Interior Ministry over an ?excessive use of force? employed during the break up of a protest rally in Tbilisi on July 1. On July 1, Tbilisi riot police dispersed a group of protesters in front of the Tbilisi Municipality who were demanding that the governement make good on …
President Meets with NGO Leaders
President Mikheil Saakashvili met representatives from various Georgian civil society organizations on July 6, before his departure to Iran, and expressed a readiness to boost cooperation between his government and the non-governmental organizations. “We are ready for cooperation. Currently many members of the government are former NGO leaders and this is a positive trend. But …
President Meets with NGO Leaders
President Mikheil Saakashvili met representatives from various Georgian civil society organizations on July 6, before his departure to Iran, and expressed a readiness to boost cooperation between his government and the non-governmental organizations. ?We are ready for cooperation. Currently many members of the government are former NGO leaders and this is a positive trend. But on the other hand …
UK Foreign Office Minister Visits Georgia
British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell MP visited Georgia on July 5-6 in order to discuss bilateral ties with the Georgian leadership. ?The United Kingdom has close ties with Georgia. Our Special Representative, Sir Brian Fall, works closely with the Georgian Government, particularly in encouraging the settlement of conflicts within its borders,? Bill Rammell noted during the visit, …
Georgian-language News Launched on Tskhinvali TV
A Georgian-language news program was launched at the local Ossetian television station in the capital of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, on July 4. The Georgian-language program, run by local Ossetian journalists, will be broadcast weekly. On June 7 a Georgian state radio station started airing a two-hour daily program in the Ossetian language, for the Ossetian-speaking …
Saakashvili Visits Iran
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 6-9. The Georgian President will meet with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Mohammad Khatami, Prime Minister and other officials. The issues of bilateral cooperation and the further boosting of economic ties between the two nations will be discussed during …
Opposition Criticizes Proposal of Anti-Terrorism Center
The Rightist Opposition coalition, which is the only opposition faction in the Georgian Parliament, criticized, on July 5, the Georgian government?s proposal to set up a joint, Russian-Georgian, anti-terrorism center in Georgia. ?Creation of an anti-terrorism center would legalize a Russian military presence in Georgia and further hinder Georgia?s accession into NATO,? MP Davit Gamkrelidze, the …
EU Commissioner Visits Georgia
Janez Potocnik, the European Union Commissioner who together with Commissioner G?nter Verheugen is in charge of European enlargement, will be in Georgia on July 5-6. The Commissioner will discuss details of the EU?s Neighborhood Policy with the Georgian leadership. EU foreign ministers, who met in Luxemburg on June 14, decided to include the South Caucasus countries …
05/07/2004 - 20:22
Saakashvili Hopes to Bring Abkhazia Back in 3 Years
President Saakashvili said on July 5 that Georgia will be ?ready to bring Abkhazia back into its fold in two or three years.? ?We have no illusions and we know that Georgia is not ready yet to bring back Abkhazia. But we can make it happen after two or three more years,? President Saakashvili told reporters after the signing …
Saakashvili Signs Document on Adjara’s Constitutional Powers
President Saakashvili signed a document on July 5 regarding the distribution of power between the central authorities of Georgia and the Adjara Autonomous Republic. “The adoption of this document by the Parliament is of vital importance for Adjara’s future development. It will root out any separatist attempts in the region,” President Saakashvili said after signing the document. President Saakashvili reiterated that …
Georgia Prepares for Privatization of Ports, Airports
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters on July 5 that the government is working over procedural issues in regards to the privatization of airports and of the ports in Batumi and Poti. ?Privatization of these facilities is a very complicated process. Debts are accumulated artificially in these facilities [ports and airports], also some legal procedural issues need …
Georgia Launches Privatization of Hotels in Adjara
On July 5 Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze presented a list of state-owned hotels in the autonomous Republic of Adjara which will be privatized. ?Those who pay the most will receive these hotels,? Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze said at the presentation, which took place in the Adjarian capital of Batumi. ?We are interested …
Burjanadze Attends OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze left for Edinburgh, Scotland on July 3 in order to participate in the 13th annual OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Session being held on July 5-9. Security issues and the boosting of parliamentary ties between OSCE member states will be discussed during the session. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Ex-Adjarian Leader Faces Criminal Charges
The General Prosecutor?s Office will bring criminal charges against ex-leader of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze, Georgian Deputy Prosecutor General Giorgi Janashia said at a news briefing on July 5.?The investigation has all the grounds to bring criminal charges against Aslan Abashidze. He will be charged with misuse of power and misappropriation of state …
PACE Monitoring Delegation Visits Georgia
A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), led by Matyas Eorsi and Evgeni Kirilov, arrived in Georgia on July 5 for a fact-finding mission and to monitor the current situation in the country. The delegation, which monitors implementation of the commitments undertaken by the Georgian authorities to join the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1999, will …
Georgian President Hails “Warm Talks” with Putin
Saakashvili: Russian Bases will Go Much Sooner Than Many Think Two Presidents agreed to simplify visa requirements during their second meeting in Moscow. Photo: Kremlin.ru The easing of visa requirements for Georgian and Russian citizens was the only concrete agreement reached during talks between Mikhail Saakashvili and Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 3. But …
Georgia, UK Hold Joint Maneuvers
British officers and soldiers from the rifle volunteers will make up a company sized-group that will hold joint military exercises with Georgian servicemen from the 11th brigade at the Vaziani military base, near Tbilisi, on July 4-17. These joint military exercises, dubbed ‘Georgian Express ? 2004’, include bilateral infantry training. This post is also available in: ქართული …
Georgia Protests the Defacing of a Fresco in Israel
Fresco of Shota Rustaveli after damage. Photo provided by the Georgian Foreign Ministry The Georgian Foreign Ministry described the damage done to a Georgian fresco in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem as “an act of vandalism” One of the monastery’s pillars bears a portrait which is believed to be the Georgian poet of XII-XIII …
04/07/2004 - 16:37
Georgia, Russia to Ease Visa Requirements
The Georgian and Russian Presidents agreed during their meeting in Moscow on July 3 to simplify visa requirements between the two countries, Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvil told reporters. Mikheil Saakashvili said prior to meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Georgia will unilaterally ease visa requirements for Russian citizens and …
Georgian Security Officials Released in South Ossetia
On July 3, authorities in the self-style South Ossetian Republic released three Georgian security officials. The report came from Russian media sources who reported quoting spokesperson for the South Ossetian de facto government Irina Gagloyeva speaking on these matters. The three employees from the Georgian Security Ministry have been held since their arrest in South Ossetia on June …
03/07/2004 - 19:54
Saakashvili Attends Informal CIS Summit
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili attended an informal summit of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Moscow on July 3. It is expected that Saakashvili will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later on July 3. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Tax on Tobacco Increased
As a result of an amendment made to the Georgia’s tax code in January 2004, the excise rate on tobacco products increased from 0.2% to 0.25% starting on July 1. After July 1, according to the Finance Ministry, both imported and domestically produced tobacco products will be taxed the 20% value added tax (VAT). The new taxation has already resulted …
EC Grants ?4.65 Million to Reinforce Rule of Law in Georgia
The European Commission (EC) decided, on July 2, to make ?4.65 million available under its Rapid Reaction Mechanism (RRM) for measures to reinforce the rule of law and democratic processes in Georgia. According to a news release issued by the EC on July 2, the Commission will allocate funds towards policy and institutional reform in four …
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)