The News in Brief
Wednesday, August 29
Orthodox Christians celebrates Assumption of Virgin Mary
Orthodox Christians celebrated the Assumption of Virgin Mary on August 28. Special liturgies were given in Orthodox churches for the celebration. 'His Holiness and Beatitude', the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, provided the holy liturgy at Sioni Cathedral. After the liturgy, the period of fasting that usually starts on August 14 ended. Three St. Mary’s days from the twelve great holidays are marked Birth, Assumption and taking St. Mary to temple. (Interpressnews)
President pardons 168 convicts
168 prisoners will be released from prisons on Virgin Mary Day. President Saakashvili signed the decree on pardoning them yesterday. Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance, Khatuna Kalmakhelidze announced the details of the Virgin Mary Day pardon at the briefing yesterday. She said there are several women convicts among the pardoned, but no minors. (Rustavi 2)
UNM begins election campaign on Sep.1
The United National Movement will begin its pre-election campaign officially on September 1. The congress of the party will be held in 11 cities of Georgia simultaneously. The press speaker of the ruling party announced the schedule of the campaign at the briefing today. Chiora Taktakishvili said the leaders of the party would introduce the key priorities of their election program More Benefit to the People. The campaign will be sponsored from the election funds of the party and the information about its appropriation will be public.
The United National Movement invites all non-governmental organizations that are involved in the monitoring of the election climate and process to the congress of the party. (Rustavi 2)
Jackpot winner shows up
The one-million lari jackpot has been hit by Nana Kaliashvili from Gori. Nana Kaliashvili bought the lucky ticket in the Gldani district in the suburbs of Tbilisi. The salesperson of the store, where the ticket was bought will receive from the Georgian Lottery Company 2% of the jackpot sum that is Gel 20,000.
This is the fourth time the Georgian Lottery Company jackpot has been hit. (Rustavi 2)
Open museum in central Tbilisi
An open-air museum will be arranged in the central part of Tbilisi, the remains of the historic stone gate discovered under the square during the road rehabilitation work is now under reconstruction. This is the territory located on Pushkin Square, which runs towards Baratashvili Bridge. Here the government of Tbilisi will arrange a new tourism space with bridges to the buildings and paths for pedestrians. The lower level of the museum will also be attractive for tourists with its integrated space. The arrangement of an open air museum will also cause a change for traffic. There will be one-sided movement from Baratashvili Bridge towards Freedom Square, also on the Chanturia and Virsaladze Streets, which will connect Rustaveli Square with the Right Bank of the River Mtkvari. (Rustavi 2)
Lawyer of Elita Burji released
Lawyer of the Elita Burji Company was released after a 20-day detention. Recollecting his detention, Imeda Nikuradze said he sometimes was forced to listen to the ruling United National Movement (UNM) video clip and was unable to spend his one hour period in the fresh air. Talking of the hardship he experienced during his 20 days of incarceration, Nikuradze said he will address the European Court of Human Rights.
Nikuradze was detained for hindering the National Bureau of Enforcement from executing its activities on August 7 but his lawyer Koba Khundadze said the lawyers are being chased in Georgia. “His detention was nothing but someone’s principal [decision],” Khundadze said on Monday evening. Advocates Association expressed their support towards Nikuradze. Gela Nikolaishvili said it does not matter who are being chased in the country. “We, advocates, express our solidarity towards the people of any profession,” he stated. (The Messenger)
Orthodox Christians celebrated the Assumption of Virgin Mary on August 28. Special liturgies were given in Orthodox churches for the celebration. 'His Holiness and Beatitude', the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, provided the holy liturgy at Sioni Cathedral. After the liturgy, the period of fasting that usually starts on August 14 ended. Three St. Mary’s days from the twelve great holidays are marked Birth, Assumption and taking St. Mary to temple. (Interpressnews)
President pardons 168 convicts
168 prisoners will be released from prisons on Virgin Mary Day. President Saakashvili signed the decree on pardoning them yesterday. Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance, Khatuna Kalmakhelidze announced the details of the Virgin Mary Day pardon at the briefing yesterday. She said there are several women convicts among the pardoned, but no minors. (Rustavi 2)
UNM begins election campaign on Sep.1
The United National Movement will begin its pre-election campaign officially on September 1. The congress of the party will be held in 11 cities of Georgia simultaneously. The press speaker of the ruling party announced the schedule of the campaign at the briefing today. Chiora Taktakishvili said the leaders of the party would introduce the key priorities of their election program More Benefit to the People. The campaign will be sponsored from the election funds of the party and the information about its appropriation will be public.
The United National Movement invites all non-governmental organizations that are involved in the monitoring of the election climate and process to the congress of the party. (Rustavi 2)
Jackpot winner shows up
The one-million lari jackpot has been hit by Nana Kaliashvili from Gori. Nana Kaliashvili bought the lucky ticket in the Gldani district in the suburbs of Tbilisi. The salesperson of the store, where the ticket was bought will receive from the Georgian Lottery Company 2% of the jackpot sum that is Gel 20,000.
This is the fourth time the Georgian Lottery Company jackpot has been hit. (Rustavi 2)
Open museum in central Tbilisi
An open-air museum will be arranged in the central part of Tbilisi, the remains of the historic stone gate discovered under the square during the road rehabilitation work is now under reconstruction. This is the territory located on Pushkin Square, which runs towards Baratashvili Bridge. Here the government of Tbilisi will arrange a new tourism space with bridges to the buildings and paths for pedestrians. The lower level of the museum will also be attractive for tourists with its integrated space. The arrangement of an open air museum will also cause a change for traffic. There will be one-sided movement from Baratashvili Bridge towards Freedom Square, also on the Chanturia and Virsaladze Streets, which will connect Rustaveli Square with the Right Bank of the River Mtkvari. (Rustavi 2)
Lawyer of Elita Burji released
Lawyer of the Elita Burji Company was released after a 20-day detention. Recollecting his detention, Imeda Nikuradze said he sometimes was forced to listen to the ruling United National Movement (UNM) video clip and was unable to spend his one hour period in the fresh air. Talking of the hardship he experienced during his 20 days of incarceration, Nikuradze said he will address the European Court of Human Rights.
Nikuradze was detained for hindering the National Bureau of Enforcement from executing its activities on August 7 but his lawyer Koba Khundadze said the lawyers are being chased in Georgia. “His detention was nothing but someone’s principal [decision],” Khundadze said on Monday evening. Advocates Association expressed their support towards Nikuradze. Gela Nikolaishvili said it does not matter who are being chased in the country. “We, advocates, express our solidarity towards the people of any profession,” he stated. (The Messenger)