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Court Prolonged Ex-Energy Minister’s Pre-Trial Detention
District court ruled positively on General Prosecutor’s Office appeal and prolonged pre-trial detention of ex-Energy Minister Davit Mirtskhulava to three more months. Mirtskhulava’s lawyer Eka Beselia claimed the pre-trial detention was prolonged as Davit Mirtskhulava did not make a deal with the General Prosecutor’s Office, which, as she said, implied “paying of funds in exchange …
08/04/2004 - 12:48
ECHR to Announce Judgment over Asanidze Case
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce on April 8 judgment in the case of Tengiz Asanidze, who is currently in custody in Adjarian Autonomy. Despite the fact that he was given a pardon by ex-President Shevardnadze in 1999, and his conviction was quashed by the Georgian Supreme Court, he still remains in …
Final Election Results Delayed
The Central Election Commission(CEC) made a controversial decision to delay the publication of the final election results until April 18. CEC ruled to hold repeat elections in the two Adjarian districts,Khulo and Kobuleti, on that date. According to the election code, the final results should have been released on April 15. However, on April 2 …
07/04/2004 - 19:44
Georgia Deploys More Troops in Iraq
159 GTEP soldiers left for Iraq. Georgian increased its military presence in Iraq, after 159 soldiers left for Baghdad on April 7, as a Georgia’s contribution to Iraqi Freedom Operation. Around 55 servicemen, including mine-clearing experts and doctors are expected to join them after month. Georgian unit replaced the combined unit of a 70 mine-clearing …
Saakashvili, Scheffer Discussed Georgia’s NATO Prospects
President Saakashvili visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels on April 7 and met with Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and attended the North Atlantic Council Meeting. “We have presented to NATO Georgia’s individual partnership action plan, which is a second major step towards Georgia’s integration to the NATO. The first step made when Georgia made …
NGO Sues CEC over Repeat Elections in Adjara
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), which observed March 28 parliamentary elections, appealed court to annul the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) decision over holding of repeat elections in Adjarian Autonomy’s two election districts. CEC annulled on April 2 election results in Khulo and Kobuleti election districts of Adjara, where the Revival Union received most of the …
EU Reaffirms Support for Reforms in Georgia
President Saakashvili met on April 6 with Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Chris Patten, commissioner in charge of external relations, in Brussels. President Prodi and Commissioner Patten reaffirmed the EU’s determination to bring Georgia closer to Europe and its support to the Georgian government’s reform programme. In particular, the Commission expressed support …
Elections Held in Kodori Gorge
Elections were held in Kodori gorge, which is the only territory in breakaway Abkhazia under the control of Georgia’s central authorities, on April 6. Polling stations were not opened in Kodori during March 28 parliamentary elections, as the Central Election Commission failed to deliver ballot papers to the remote mountainous gorge, due to heavy weather …
Georgian Troops to Depart for Iraq with Delay
Georgian unit of 159 soldiers, which was set to depart for Iraq on April 6, will arrive in Iraq with one-day delay on April 7. Georgian troops will be deployed the cities of Baghdad, Baiji and Tikrit. The Georgian servicemen from 16th Mountain Battalion, which have undergone the U.S.-funded Train-and-Equip Program, will be guarding the …
Blast Injures Commander of Russian Forces in Georgia
The commander of Russian troops deployed in Georgia Alexander Studenikin was injured in a bomb blast in capital Tbilisi late on April 6. Alexander Studenikin was hospitalized; however officials say injuries are not life-threatening. Police officials said the blast occurred as the commander of the Russian troops in Georgia was walking to his home from …
Finance Officials Visit Adjara
Georgian finance officials, including chiefs of tax, customs and financial police, as well as Deputy Finance Minister arrived on April 6 in Adjarian capital Batumi. “Our visit aims at joint discussing of financial issues between the center and the region. We should establish order at the customs and introduce new rules of the cooperation,” chief …
06/04/2004 - 18:06
Governmental Commission to Draft New Tax Code
According to the decree of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, the governmental commission was set up to elaborate a new tax code. The commission chaired by the Prime Minister will be composed of cabinet members and economic experts. According to the Prime-Minister’s decree, the commission is to elaborate a new tax code within a month. Zurab …
Georgia Sends More Troops to Iraq
Georgian detachment of 159 soldiers will leave on April 6 for Iraq as a Georgia’s contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, the Georgian servicemen will be deployed in the cities of Baghdad, Baiji and Tikrit. The Georgian servicemen from 16th Mountain Battalion, which underwent U.S.-funded Train-and-Equip Program, will be guarding …
Saakashvili, Putin Discussed Security Issues
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on April 5. As the Russian President’s press service reported, security issues were discussed during the talks. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Chief Law Enforcers Visit Moscow, Kiev
The Prosecutor General, as well as the Interior and Security Ministers of Georgia will leave today for Moscow to hold meetings with their Russian counterparts. The issues of cooperation between the law-enforcement agencies of the two countries will be discussed during the talks. The General Prosecutor Irakli Okruashvili did not rule out, that the sides …
President’s Envoys Perform Duties in Adjara
President Saakashvili’s representatives at the Sarpi customs checkpoint and the Batumi port of the Adjara Autonomous Republic started to perform their duties after second attempt. Vasil Sanodze and Davit Akhalaia arrived in Batumi on April 4 after the President signed the decree on the representatives’ responsibilities and duties. “The situation has changed here. We have all …
President Wants British Airways to Resume Flights in Georgia
President Saakashvili expressed concern over pull out of British Airways from Georgia and requested from Minister of Infrastructure Tamar Sulukhia to settle the issue within a week. “This issue demands urgent solution. I support functioning of foreign air companies in Georgia. This is necessary for the country’s economy and prestige,” the Georgian President said at a …
Saakashvili Visits Brussels
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will pay a working visit to Brussels on 6-7 April to hold talks with EU and NATO leadership. President Saakashvili, who will be accompanied by acting Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili, will meet Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. “The meeting will be an opportunity to …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
President Demands to Curb Corruption in Customs
President Saakashvili raised concerns on April 5 over the high corruption rate at the customs, saying that he has given a week term to the Interior Ministry and the General Prosecutor’s Office to study the situation there. “As far as I know, particular officials still continue taking bribes there. It seems, they fail to understand …
05/04/2004 - 19:37
Saakashvili Calls on Adjarian Leader for Accepting New Rules
President Saakashvili called on the Adjarian leadership once again for respecting human rights and accepting “new rules of the game.” “Further tension between Tbilisi and Batumi would threaten country’s economy,” he said at the government’s meeting on April 5. “We will not tolerate violations of human rights in Adjara. The Adjarian leadership still has a chance …
CoE Envoy Meets Adjarian Leader
Plamen Nikolov, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) to Georgia, is holding a meeting with Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze in Batumi on April 5. “We will discuss the results of the March 28 parliamentary elections, as well as further developments in the region. The Council of Europe hails the …
Saakashvili Hails Reimbursement of Funds by Corruption Suspects
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili hailed the activities of the General Prosecutor’s Office, regarding withdrawal of misappropriated funds from former high officials, who were arrested for corruption charges. “Nobody can buy freedom. With reimbursement of stolen money they [former officials suspected in corruption] only mitigate punishment,” Mikheil Saakashvili said at a government session on April 5.He …
Election Observers Watchful
Election Observers Watchful2004-03-26 Along with 500 international observers, over 6,500 local observers will monitor the March 28 parliamentary elections in Georgia. This amount significantly exceeds the number of those observers, who monitored the previous elections. These observers will act under the auspices of three organizations – the Fair Elections Foundation, the International Society for Fair Elections …
400 ml Increase of Expenditures Planned
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said at the government’s meeting on April 5, that expenditures in the 2004 budget will be increased by 400 million Lari (approximately $200 million). “We hope to mobilize more revenues in 2004 after the reforms in the taxations system. That is why we decided to increase expenditures,” Zurab Zhvania told the …
PM: Business Climate Still Worries
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said, while addressing the cabinet on April 5, “there should be no pressure on business; however we still witness this kind of cases.” “Georgian, as well as foreign entrepreneurs and businessmen still have many unanswered questions. We should answer all their questions and defuse their worries,” Zurab Zhvania said. He said …
Labor Party Seeks for Vote Recount
Tbilisi district court considers appeal of the opposition Labor Party, which called for the March 28 parliamentary elections to be invalidated and ballots recounted. Labor Party, according to the official results received 5,8% of votes in parliamentary elections, thus failed to secure seats in the legislative body; however the party claims ballot was totally falsified …
Ex-Officials Suspected in Corruption Reimbursed $10 ml
The former high officials, who were arrested for corruption charges, have already paid 20 million Lari (approximately $10 million) to the state budget, the General Prosecutor’s Office reported. “Our supreme goal is not only to execute the corrupted officials, but also to make them reimburse the funds, they have stolen,” Prosecutor General Irakli Okruashvili said …
President’s Envoys Left for Batumi to Monitor Port and Customs
President Saakashvili’s representatives to the Adjarian Autonomy left for Adjara on April 4 to try for second time to start supervising port of Batumi and Sarpi customs checkpoint at Turkish border. Abashidze agreed after talks with Saakashvili on March 18 on appointment of the President’s representatives to Adjara to monitor cash rich port customs. However …
04/04/2004 - 14:01
Labor Party Leader Met Abashidze
Leader of the Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili, who is in radical opposition to the government, met Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze in Batumi on April 3. “Labor party wants to open an office in Batumi. This was the main issue discussed with the Adjarian leader. We also discussed March 28 elections, which were totally falsified by …
Ex-Transport Minister Released from Custody
Former Minister of Transport and Communications Merab Adeishvili was released from custody on April 3 after reimbursement of $1,5 million – sum he allegedly misappropriated while serving as a Minister. Merab Adeishvili was arrested in February for misappropriation charges and was sentenced to three month pre-trial detention. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) …
03/04/2004 - 18:35
Election Results in Adjara’s Two Districts Annulled
The Central Election Commission (CEC) annulled on April 2 election results in Khulo and Kobuleti – two election districts in Adjara, where the Revival Union received most of the votes. Chairman of the CEC Zurab Tchiaberashvili explained decision with mass irregularities during the polls on March 28. The repeated elections in these two election districts …
Russia Hopes for Breakthrough over Military Bases in Georgia
Speaking in Brussels on April 2 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed hopes that progress will be achieved soon over the issue of withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia. Sergei Lavrov said this issue was hampered due to the position of the previous authorities of Georgia. “With coming of the new leadership of Georgia, …
Commander of Adjara-based Military Unit Dismissed
Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili dismissed Roman Dumbadze, commander of the 25th armored-mechanized brigade deployed in the Adjarian capital Batumi. Spokesman of the Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani confirmed the report, however refused to give further details. “It was decision of the Defense Minister [Gela Bezhuashvili],” he told Civil Georgia. During a standoff between the Georgia’s …
Russia to Train Georgian Officers
Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said at a news briefing today that Georgian officers will undergo training in Russia. “This agreement was achieved during my recent visit to the Russian Federation. The Georgian officers are already ready to leave for Russia and undergo short-term training there,” Gela Bezhuashvili said, adding that the sides also agreed …
TV Channel Closed Down
Tbilisi-based TV company Channel 9 will suspend broadcasting from April 5. The television station is owned by the Georgian financial tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili. Administration of the Channel 9 gave no specified reasons of suspension of broadcasting. Ivanishvili has interfered in the channel work before. In 2002 the whole information team was sacked after broadcasting the …
Tbilisi Claims Adjara Behind Plot to Assassinate Saakashvili
Georgian Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava told a press conference on April 2 that four men were detained on suspicion of plotting assassination of President Mikheil Saakashvili . Deputy Security Minister accused Adjarian leadership of masterminding the alleged assassination attempt. “These men are the members of a group based in Adjarian Autonomy and operating under …
Adjara Tops Post-Election Agenda
Zhvania to meet Abashidze again in Batumi. President Saakashvili will dispatch next week Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania to the Adjarian Autonomy to discuss with the defiant leader of the region Aslan Abashidze details of draft over distribution of powers between the Autonomy and the Georgia’s central authorities.Meanwhile, Georgian Security Ministry reported on April 2, that …
02/04/2004 - 19:41
Saakashvili Met MPs elected in Single-mandate Constituencies
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met on April 2 with the MPs elected in the single-mandate constituencies. March 28 parliamentary elections did not affect 74 MPs elected in the single-mandate constituencies in November 2 elections, who keep their seats. Run-off elections are scheduled in one – Tchiatura single-mandate district. President Saakashvili said on March 28 that …
Zhvania, Abashidze to Discuss Distribution of Constitutional Powers
President Saakashvili will dispatch Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania to Adjara next week to discuss with the leader of the Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze draft of distribution of constitutional powers between the region and central authorities. “We are ready to start a dialogue over distribution of powers between the central government and the Autonomous Republic. This …
Prime Minister Reports Budget Surplus
On April 2 Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania reported 40 million Lari budget surplus in three months of 2004. He explained the surplus by better revenue collection; however he added that problems persist regarding transfer of tax revenues from the Adjarian Autonomous Republic. “However, this is not enough and the government intends improvements in order to …
EU Hails Commendable Progress in Conduct of Georgia’s Elections
The European Union welcomes the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) to the parliamentary elections in Georgia on 28 March 2004. The findings state that the elections demonstrated commendable progress compared with previous elections and that the conduct of the elections has brought Georgia closed to meeting OSCE and …
Saakashvili Steps up Military Rhetoric
President Saakashvili said, while addressing servicemen of the 11th brigade of the Georgian armed forces on April 1, that Georgia will soon acquire new helicopters and military vessels “to increase country’s combat readiness.” “Our troops should be ready for carrying out operation in any part of the country if necessary to curb the illegal armed …
Ruling Party, Rightist Opposition in Mutual Accusation over Vote Rigging
The ruling party National Movement – Democrats expressed protest against the accusations made by the Rightist Opposition – Industrialists-New Rights, which claims that the ruling party tries to prevent the opposition coalition to enter the Parliament through manipulation of election results. “If someone has illusion that the Georgian authorities try to prevent other political parties …
01/04/2004 - 19:08
Georgia Wants Armenia to Play Active Role in Railway Issue
Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Vano Merabishvili told reporters after talks with his visiting Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian that Armenia should “more active role” in the issue of restoration of the railway link between Armenia and Russia via Georgia. “Restoration of the railway route between Armenia and Russia [via Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia] is …
Election Results Annulled in 48 Precincts
The election results in 48 precincts have been annulled due to numerous procedural violations, observed during the March 28 parliamentary elections. Most of the annulled results are from the Kvemo Kartli region (26), also 12 in Shida Kartli and 4 in Adjara. Cancellation of election results in Kvemo Kartli region precincts hits hard the Rightist …
Saakashvili Vows to Curb Illegal Armed Groups
President Saakashvili attended today a military parade and exercises at the Vaziani military base, near Tbilisi, marking 12 anniversary of the 11th brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces. Soldiers trained by the U.S. military instructors in frames of Georgia Train-and-Equip Program (GTEP) are among the 11th brigade. “There are illegal armed groups in the country …
Interior Minister Visits Azerbaijan
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Baramidze left for Azerbaijani capital Baku on April 1. Georgian Minister has already held talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ramil Usubov and discussed protection of borders, fight against drug-trafficking and illegal import of weapons. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Armenian Security Chief Visits Georgia
Secretary of the National Security Council and Defense Minister of Armenia Serge Sarkisian arrived today in Tbilisi for a four-day official visit. The Armenian official will push the issue of restoration of the railway link between Russia and Armenia via Georgia, which has been terminated after the Abkhaz conflict. “The issue of restoration of the …
Agriculture Minister Interrogated
Davit Shervashidze, the Minister of Agriculture was summoned by the General Prosecutor’s Office for interrogation on March 31 over alleged irregularities in the ministry in previous years. On March 31 the General Prosecutor’s Office summoned David Kirvalidze, former Agriculture Minister for interrogation in connection with alleged irregularities in the distribution of international humanitarian aid in …
Abashidze Wants to Hold Referendum in Adjara
Head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze said on March 31 he will hold a referendum in Adjara to “help determine who the population of Adjara actually supported in the 28 March parliamentary elections.” Adjarian leader, whose party Revival Union failed to clear 7% threshold, necessary for gaining seats in the Parliament, questioned fairness …
Page 640 of 763
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)