The News in Brief
Friday, October 16
Prosecutor’s Office launches procedures to select Chief Prosecutor
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia is launching procedures to select the new Chief Prosecutor. On 19-20 October, a conference of Georgian prosecutors will be held in Hualing Tbilisi and eight members of the Prosecutors’ Council will be elected.
As Georgia’s Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani declared yesterday, she began consultations for selecting the candidate.
According to her, she is ready to listen to any opinion within the framework of the consultations.
“The only requirement is that a presented candidate should satisfy the criteria established by the law,” she added. (ipn.ge)
PACE delegation at occupational line
PACE Monitoring Committee reporters Boriss Cilevics and Kerstin Lundgren became introduced with the situation across occupied regions earlier today as part of their visit to Georgia.
The guests from Strasbourg arrived in the Khurvaleti village and met with the families who are technically living in occupied territory due to the placement of barbed wire.
They listened to the problems of the locals, and said that Russia continued to violate human rights and international norms.
Boriss Cilevics and Kerstin Lundgren will prepare a special report about the current situation in Georgia. (1tv.ge)
"I'm also going to leave the "Free Democrats" party"
The Leader of the "Free Democrats" Irakli Alasania has not confirmed the information, nor whether or not Viktor Dolidze and Zurab Abashidze are also planning to leave the party.
Irakli Alasania answered jokingly the question of the reporters about his teammates’ possible departure from the Party, "I'm also going to leave the "Free Democrats" - do not believe in these rumours. "As for Davit Zalkaliani, he is the founder and main figure of our Party. Six months earlier, we made the decision that he would continue working with the Levan Mikeladze Foundation. Naturally, activities in the non-governmental sector should not be confused with the political ones. That is all. Ivanishvili fabricated insinuations regarding this matter. Do not pay attention to this. The "Free Democrats" are as united as never before, the Party is growing and will continue to do so,” Alasania said. (pia.ge)
The marriage of 16-year-old individuals will be possible only after the court's approval, and only in cases of pregnancy and childbirth.
The bill prepared by the Ombudsman’s office has already been presented to Parliament by the legal issues committee.
According to the acting law, the marriage of any 16-year-old individual is allowed only by the parents’ or guardian’s written consent; if the parents or guardians are unable or unwilling to issues their consent, the court is authorized to do so.
But, under the newly-presented project, no parents and guardians will be authorized to issue their consent, leaving the decision with the court. The reasons for the marriage have also been restricted and are defined as being acceptable only in cases of pregnancy or childbirth. (ipn.ge)
South Ossetia plans to open new border crossing
The breakaway region of South Ossetia plans to open a new border crossing to make it easier for relatives to keep in contact with separated families or friends.
This will be the fourth border crossing between the breakaway area and Georgia proper, and will connect the villages of Khelchua and Zardiantkari, the latter of which stands on Georgia-controlled territory. The decision was made at a session of the de-facto cabinet of ministers, Sputnik Ossetia reported on Tuesday.
Two of the existing crossing points are in the Java region and one in Akhalgori. The Ossetian media outlet writes that several Ossetian families are living in the village Zardiantkari, and there was a request from locals in Khelchua to have a crossing point there.
“It is important to consider the family ties of people who live on the opposite sides of the border. These are our citizens, and our duty [is] to care for their well-being,” de-facto President Leonid Tibilov said.
The Georgian government has not yet been officially informed about the decision.
Keti Tsikhelashvili, Deputy Minister of Reconciliation and Civic Equality, told journalists that the issue was not discussed during the previous round of the Geneva talks, which are held about twice a year between the conflict parties of the 2008 war. She said that the government is still trying to check the information and find out what type of check-point is going to be opened and other details.
Sputnik Ossetia also wrote that the de-facto government is considering ‘reorganizing’ the border zone, which will include moving several settlements away from the barbed wire zones in certain sections, but the cabinet of ministers have not discussed this issue yet. It is scheduled for the next session. (dfwatch.net)
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia is launching procedures to select the new Chief Prosecutor. On 19-20 October, a conference of Georgian prosecutors will be held in Hualing Tbilisi and eight members of the Prosecutors’ Council will be elected.
As Georgia’s Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani declared yesterday, she began consultations for selecting the candidate.
According to her, she is ready to listen to any opinion within the framework of the consultations.
“The only requirement is that a presented candidate should satisfy the criteria established by the law,” she added. (ipn.ge)
PACE delegation at occupational line
PACE Monitoring Committee reporters Boriss Cilevics and Kerstin Lundgren became introduced with the situation across occupied regions earlier today as part of their visit to Georgia.
The guests from Strasbourg arrived in the Khurvaleti village and met with the families who are technically living in occupied territory due to the placement of barbed wire.
They listened to the problems of the locals, and said that Russia continued to violate human rights and international norms.
Boriss Cilevics and Kerstin Lundgren will prepare a special report about the current situation in Georgia. (1tv.ge)
"I'm also going to leave the "Free Democrats" party"
The Leader of the "Free Democrats" Irakli Alasania has not confirmed the information, nor whether or not Viktor Dolidze and Zurab Abashidze are also planning to leave the party.
Irakli Alasania answered jokingly the question of the reporters about his teammates’ possible departure from the Party, "I'm also going to leave the "Free Democrats" - do not believe in these rumours. "As for Davit Zalkaliani, he is the founder and main figure of our Party. Six months earlier, we made the decision that he would continue working with the Levan Mikeladze Foundation. Naturally, activities in the non-governmental sector should not be confused with the political ones. That is all. Ivanishvili fabricated insinuations regarding this matter. Do not pay attention to this. The "Free Democrats" are as united as never before, the Party is growing and will continue to do so,” Alasania said. (pia.ge)
The marriage of 16-year-old individuals will be possible only after the court's approval, and only in cases of pregnancy and childbirth.
The bill prepared by the Ombudsman’s office has already been presented to Parliament by the legal issues committee.
According to the acting law, the marriage of any 16-year-old individual is allowed only by the parents’ or guardian’s written consent; if the parents or guardians are unable or unwilling to issues their consent, the court is authorized to do so.
But, under the newly-presented project, no parents and guardians will be authorized to issue their consent, leaving the decision with the court. The reasons for the marriage have also been restricted and are defined as being acceptable only in cases of pregnancy or childbirth. (ipn.ge)
South Ossetia plans to open new border crossing
The breakaway region of South Ossetia plans to open a new border crossing to make it easier for relatives to keep in contact with separated families or friends.
This will be the fourth border crossing between the breakaway area and Georgia proper, and will connect the villages of Khelchua and Zardiantkari, the latter of which stands on Georgia-controlled territory. The decision was made at a session of the de-facto cabinet of ministers, Sputnik Ossetia reported on Tuesday.
Two of the existing crossing points are in the Java region and one in Akhalgori. The Ossetian media outlet writes that several Ossetian families are living in the village Zardiantkari, and there was a request from locals in Khelchua to have a crossing point there.
“It is important to consider the family ties of people who live on the opposite sides of the border. These are our citizens, and our duty [is] to care for their well-being,” de-facto President Leonid Tibilov said.
The Georgian government has not yet been officially informed about the decision.
Keti Tsikhelashvili, Deputy Minister of Reconciliation and Civic Equality, told journalists that the issue was not discussed during the previous round of the Geneva talks, which are held about twice a year between the conflict parties of the 2008 war. She said that the government is still trying to check the information and find out what type of check-point is going to be opened and other details.
Sputnik Ossetia also wrote that the de-facto government is considering ‘reorganizing’ the border zone, which will include moving several settlements away from the barbed wire zones in certain sections, but the cabinet of ministers have not discussed this issue yet. It is scheduled for the next session. (dfwatch.net)