The News in Brief
Thursday, May 23
PM: Georgian dream confident in Margvelashvili
Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said that the presidential candidate of Georgian Dream, Giorgi Margvelashvili, will destroy competition. "His opponents have no chance in the competition with Margvelashvili," Ivanishvili told reporters on Tuesday.
"Burjanadze of course, is a serious candidate, but even she cannot compete with our candidate; she will take second place," he said. The Prime Minister promised that the government will provide a fair and transparent presidential election in October this year. (Trend)
Ombudsman addresses Chief Prosecutor
The Public Defender of Georgia has sent an open address to the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia and called for a continuing investigation into the barbaric human rights violations that took place on May 17 in Tbilisi.
Ucha Nanuashvili calls on the investigation to take serious measures against those who did not act within the boundaries of Georgian law.
The ombudsman has already sent files documenting specific facts of violence that occurred on May 17 to the chief prosecutor for further reaction. (Rustavi 2)
Courtroom releases four May 17 detainees
Four of the people detained in connection with the events of May 17 in Tbilisi have been released from court. The court made each of them pay a fine of 100 lari within seven working days and forbade them to bear arms for a period of three years.
The court acquitted them of resisting law enforcement agencies, but failed to charge them with hooliganism.
All the detainees except Zurab Chkheidze acknowledged the fact they had misbehaved. The accused Giga Kuchukhidze said that he was even ready to apologize to the protesters whom he insulted.
The prosecuting party had demanded a 10- day prison sentence for Gigi Kuchukhidze and Zurab Chkheidze and a fine for Becky Piranashvili and Amiran Mantashashvili.
On May 17, a crowd of tens of thousands consisting of clerics and parishioners dispersed the police and the action of dozens of LGBT advocates in Tbilisi. At least 28 people including police and journalists were injured as a result of the unrest. (Trend)
PM wants to leave the post of agriculture minister vacant
PM Bidzina Ivanishvili wants to leave the post of agriculture minister vacant. The PM told journalists after a meeting with experts that he wants to leave the post vacant until the end of the investigation if it is not against legislation.
“I think the process will end by May 24. The Prosecutor’s Office is ready for it. I don’t want to talk about anyone’s fault until the end of the investigation. If Kirvalidze does not appear guilty, my greatest wish is for him to stay on his post,” said Ivanishvili.
According to the constitution, the Prime Minister has to appoint a new agriculture minister by 24 May. (IPN)
Georgian, Japanese FMs sign memorandum of cooperation
The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Georgian and Japanese Foreign Ministries was signed by the two country's foreign ministers Maia Panjikidze and Fumio Kishida in Tokyo yesterday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry told Trend.
Panjikidze's official visit to Japan started on May 20 and will run until May 24.
At the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the bilateral relations and outlined the plans for future cooperation. "We have discussed bilateral relations and the need to strengthen them in all directions," Panjikidze told the media after the meeting. "The Japanese Foreign Minister reiterated support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
According to the minister, Georgia and Japan regularly conduct political consultations. The next round will be held in Tbilisi in December. (Trend)
Azerbaijani Emergency and Georgian Interior Ministers discuss new agreement project
Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, Kamaladdin Heydarov, met with a delegation headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, the Emergency Ministry's website reported on Tuesday.
At the meeting, the Emergency Minister, touching on the rapid development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, spoke about the prospects of cooperation between the relevant public structures of the two countries, and spoke in detail about the work carried out in the field of emergency management structures of the ministry.
Georgian guests stressed the importance of further expansion and the development of cooperation between the relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
During the meeting they discussed a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of reduction, control and prevention of emergency situations between the governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
After the meeting, the Georgian delegation visited the Crisis Management Centre of the Emergency of Azerbaijan and got acquainted with its activities. (Trend)
Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia meets Simone Wolken
Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Tamar Beruchashvili, has met with the head of the Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to Georgia, Simone Wolken.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting discussed the issue of Georgia’s affiliation with the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
The parties agreed to join the convention and to cooperate for its further implementation. (IPN)
Demonstration to be held against the developments of the May 17 on May 24
A group of citizens is going to hold a demonstration against the developments of the May 17 on May 24. The slogan of the rally will be "No to theocracy".
The announcement was made at the National Library by civil society representatives.
Ilia State University professor Tata Tsopurashvili said the 24 May rally will be held at 19:00. In addition, another rally will be held the next day at 15:00 with the demand of the rule of law.
The meeting was attended by publicist Lasha Bakradze, sociologist Iago Kachkachishvili, civil rights defender Tamar Gurchiani and invited guests from the civil sector and NGOs. (IPN)
Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said that the presidential candidate of Georgian Dream, Giorgi Margvelashvili, will destroy competition. "His opponents have no chance in the competition with Margvelashvili," Ivanishvili told reporters on Tuesday.
"Burjanadze of course, is a serious candidate, but even she cannot compete with our candidate; she will take second place," he said. The Prime Minister promised that the government will provide a fair and transparent presidential election in October this year. (Trend)
Ombudsman addresses Chief Prosecutor
The Public Defender of Georgia has sent an open address to the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia and called for a continuing investigation into the barbaric human rights violations that took place on May 17 in Tbilisi.
Ucha Nanuashvili calls on the investigation to take serious measures against those who did not act within the boundaries of Georgian law.
The ombudsman has already sent files documenting specific facts of violence that occurred on May 17 to the chief prosecutor for further reaction. (Rustavi 2)
Courtroom releases four May 17 detainees
Four of the people detained in connection with the events of May 17 in Tbilisi have been released from court. The court made each of them pay a fine of 100 lari within seven working days and forbade them to bear arms for a period of three years.
The court acquitted them of resisting law enforcement agencies, but failed to charge them with hooliganism.
All the detainees except Zurab Chkheidze acknowledged the fact they had misbehaved. The accused Giga Kuchukhidze said that he was even ready to apologize to the protesters whom he insulted.
The prosecuting party had demanded a 10- day prison sentence for Gigi Kuchukhidze and Zurab Chkheidze and a fine for Becky Piranashvili and Amiran Mantashashvili.
On May 17, a crowd of tens of thousands consisting of clerics and parishioners dispersed the police and the action of dozens of LGBT advocates in Tbilisi. At least 28 people including police and journalists were injured as a result of the unrest. (Trend)
PM wants to leave the post of agriculture minister vacant
PM Bidzina Ivanishvili wants to leave the post of agriculture minister vacant. The PM told journalists after a meeting with experts that he wants to leave the post vacant until the end of the investigation if it is not against legislation.
“I think the process will end by May 24. The Prosecutor’s Office is ready for it. I don’t want to talk about anyone’s fault until the end of the investigation. If Kirvalidze does not appear guilty, my greatest wish is for him to stay on his post,” said Ivanishvili.
According to the constitution, the Prime Minister has to appoint a new agriculture minister by 24 May. (IPN)
Georgian, Japanese FMs sign memorandum of cooperation
The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Georgian and Japanese Foreign Ministries was signed by the two country's foreign ministers Maia Panjikidze and Fumio Kishida in Tokyo yesterday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry told Trend.
Panjikidze's official visit to Japan started on May 20 and will run until May 24.
At the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the bilateral relations and outlined the plans for future cooperation. "We have discussed bilateral relations and the need to strengthen them in all directions," Panjikidze told the media after the meeting. "The Japanese Foreign Minister reiterated support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
According to the minister, Georgia and Japan regularly conduct political consultations. The next round will be held in Tbilisi in December. (Trend)
Azerbaijani Emergency and Georgian Interior Ministers discuss new agreement project
Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, Kamaladdin Heydarov, met with a delegation headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, the Emergency Ministry's website reported on Tuesday.
At the meeting, the Emergency Minister, touching on the rapid development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, spoke about the prospects of cooperation between the relevant public structures of the two countries, and spoke in detail about the work carried out in the field of emergency management structures of the ministry.
Georgian guests stressed the importance of further expansion and the development of cooperation between the relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
During the meeting they discussed a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of reduction, control and prevention of emergency situations between the governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
After the meeting, the Georgian delegation visited the Crisis Management Centre of the Emergency of Azerbaijan and got acquainted with its activities. (Trend)
Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia meets Simone Wolken
Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Tamar Beruchashvili, has met with the head of the Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to Georgia, Simone Wolken.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting discussed the issue of Georgia’s affiliation with the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
The parties agreed to join the convention and to cooperate for its further implementation. (IPN)
Demonstration to be held against the developments of the May 17 on May 24
A group of citizens is going to hold a demonstration against the developments of the May 17 on May 24. The slogan of the rally will be "No to theocracy".
The announcement was made at the National Library by civil society representatives.
Ilia State University professor Tata Tsopurashvili said the 24 May rally will be held at 19:00. In addition, another rally will be held the next day at 15:00 with the demand of the rule of law.
The meeting was attended by publicist Lasha Bakradze, sociologist Iago Kachkachishvili, civil rights defender Tamar Gurchiani and invited guests from the civil sector and NGOs. (IPN)