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Compiled by Messenger Staff
Thursday, February 28
Onishenko may recall Russian experts from Georgia

Tabula reports that Russia's chief sanitary doctor Genady Onishenko said Russian experts, who are examining Georgian wine producing companies in Georgia, may be soon recalled. According to Interfax, Onishenko explained that Russian experts will be recalled if President Mikheil Saakashvili does not stop humiliating Russian experts.

President Saakashvili criticizes the initiative of the new government of Georgia regarding the return of Georgian wine and mineral waters to Russian market.

“The wine factory representatives poured wine for the Russian officials with trembling hands. I remembered Gogol’s “Revizor”… what a Russian official wants but two “Kopeiks” in the pocket to leave happily. Do you really think they came here to measure chemicals in our wine? Do you really think there is something in Georgian wine?” Saakashvili asked the journalists he hosted at his presidential palace on Tuesday night.

President Saakashvili slammed Georgian wine companies and Russian experts for this form of inspection of the Georgian product, saying the same measures were not carried out against any other foreign product.

He also wondered why Georgians have not overcome the desire to please Russians. He said if sausage from Bavaria enters Russian market without inspection, is Georgia still in the Soviet Union to please Russians. “Why can't we leave the era, the complex, and the slavery desire to please them? It is not an abstract question, but a concrete one, especially in an era where they promise nothing specifically,” Saakashvili said.



Socially vulnerable have wealthy vehicles

Interpressnews reports that the Social Service Agency (SSA) of the Ministry of Healthcare explained why 5, 935 families registered as socially vulnerable were suspended of assistance, while 11, 846 lost this status. Head of the SSA Noe Kinkladze said that although this issue has been the subject of public disappointment, the SSA studied the living conditions of the families and revealed that a number of socially vulnerable was increasing during the election periods.

Kinkladze said the information received from the Revenue Service informs that 32 families (from those registered as socially vulnerable) had over GEL 50 000 income annually; 31 – between 40 000 to 50 000; 392 – between 20 000 – 40 000; 2,363 – between 10 000 – 20 000 and 6147 – between – 5 000 – 10 000.

SSA head explains that Lexus and Toyota Land Cruisers are also among the properties registered by some of the “socially vulnerable” people. Others own pricey apartments.