Press Scanner
Compiled by Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, August 20
Opera will move to Philharmonia
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that the Opera and Ballet Theatre will be closed for the next 5 years. Most of the opera staff will move to the Philharmonia and the ballet will be based in the Rustaveli Theatre. The remaining opera singers will use the Public Office rehearsal hall.
The Opera and Ballet Theatre is quite damaged and the basement frequently floods. After it is repaired its underground communications system will be completely altered.
Ossetia and Abkhazia may be recognised by other countries
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that Nestan Kirtadze, the Labour Party’s International Secretary, has stated that Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia may be recognised by some other countries. At a press conference on Tuesday Kirtadze suggested that an American PR Agency, led by former Los Angeles Times Editor in Chief Mark Sailor, is lobbying for these regions. He added that the contact between this company and the de facto Governments of these regions is known to the US Justice Department.
The Labour Party is asking the US State Department to pay proper attention to this issue and prevent this company legitimising separatism.
Prosecutor’s office interested in Akishbaia
Rezonansi reports that Koba Subeliani is still in the USA with his family. Government members aren’t making any public comment about the Minister’s trip, but in private they confirm that Subeliani, the Minister of Refugees and Resettlement, has been accused of misappropriating aid for refugees and has gone away to distance himself from this situation.
The paper also states that investigators are interested in the conduct of Malkhaz Akishbaia, the former Chairman of the legal Abkhaz Government, who is accused of misappropriating one –off domations for Kodori Gorge refugees. Akishbaia says he will answer questions about this when he returns to Tbilisi. “I will be in Tbilisi tomorrow and answer all questions there. I have no idea why investigators are interested in me but I will collaborate with any Government structure on this matter,” he said.
Levan Vephkhvadze, Parliamentary minority and Anti-Crisis Council member, says: “We have received information from refugees that they are discontent with their houses and conditions. Subeliani asserted that everything was in order. The opposition is interested in how the funds have been spent and hopes an investigation will clear this matter up.”
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that the Opera and Ballet Theatre will be closed for the next 5 years. Most of the opera staff will move to the Philharmonia and the ballet will be based in the Rustaveli Theatre. The remaining opera singers will use the Public Office rehearsal hall.
The Opera and Ballet Theatre is quite damaged and the basement frequently floods. After it is repaired its underground communications system will be completely altered.
Ossetia and Abkhazia may be recognised by other countries
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that Nestan Kirtadze, the Labour Party’s International Secretary, has stated that Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia may be recognised by some other countries. At a press conference on Tuesday Kirtadze suggested that an American PR Agency, led by former Los Angeles Times Editor in Chief Mark Sailor, is lobbying for these regions. He added that the contact between this company and the de facto Governments of these regions is known to the US Justice Department.
The Labour Party is asking the US State Department to pay proper attention to this issue and prevent this company legitimising separatism.
Prosecutor’s office interested in Akishbaia
Rezonansi reports that Koba Subeliani is still in the USA with his family. Government members aren’t making any public comment about the Minister’s trip, but in private they confirm that Subeliani, the Minister of Refugees and Resettlement, has been accused of misappropriating aid for refugees and has gone away to distance himself from this situation.
The paper also states that investigators are interested in the conduct of Malkhaz Akishbaia, the former Chairman of the legal Abkhaz Government, who is accused of misappropriating one –off domations for Kodori Gorge refugees. Akishbaia says he will answer questions about this when he returns to Tbilisi. “I will be in Tbilisi tomorrow and answer all questions there. I have no idea why investigators are interested in me but I will collaborate with any Government structure on this matter,” he said.
Levan Vephkhvadze, Parliamentary minority and Anti-Crisis Council member, says: “We have received information from refugees that they are discontent with their houses and conditions. Subeliani asserted that everything was in order. The opposition is interested in how the funds have been spent and hopes an investigation will clear this matter up.”