The News in Brief
Wednesday, October 28
NATO membership – guarantor of Georgia’s independence, says FM
NATO membership will be a guarantor of security and independence of Georgia, the country’s Deputy Prime minister, Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
He made the remarks during the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the NATO and European Union Information Centre in Georgia, Sputnik reported.
"Our authorities are making every effort to achieve progress in the difficult process of integration,” said Kvirikashvili. “We carry out many reforms, continue to build democratic institutions and have serious achievements in the sphere of security.”
From this point of view, the activities of the NATO and European Union Information Centre are gaining utmost importance, according to Georgia’s Foreign Minister.
NATO Week in Georgia aimed at informing citizens about the alliance, and began on October 25.
Various events, including youth conferences and meetings with representatives of NGOs and diplomatic corps will be held in Tbilisi and in the country’s regions as part of the NATO Week.
Moreover, it is planned to open a new regional office of the NATO and European Union Information Centre in Gori (in the Shida Kartli region).
Institutional cooperation between Georgia and NATO began in 1994, when the country became a member of the Partnership for Peace program. (Trend.az)
Judge asks Rustavi 2 to estimate losses as lawsuit resumes
The lawsuit about the ownership of an opposition television channel resumed in the city court in Tbilisi on Monday.
The judge ordered Rustavi 2’s lawyers to present an estimate of expected losses after the court ordered the seizure of the company’s assets.
The TV company will have to submit the document by October 30, after which lawyers working for Kibar Khalvashi, the businessman who sued Rustavi 2, will have the opportunity to express their position. The judge will then announce his ruling.
The defence filed a motion in court demanding compensation for the USD 700,400 in losses which the company has already suffered as a result of the seized property, but the judge disagreed. He will make a decision only after the defence has presented a document detailing a calculation of the losses.
Rustavi 2’s lawyers require compensation for losses only in case the trial ends in favour of the current owners of Rustavi 2.
Tbilisi City Court ordered the seizure of the property of Rustavi 2 in August, 2015, on the grounds of a lawsuit filed by Khalvashi, a former owner. The court restricted the current owners and director from selling property, taking on liabilities, reorganization or liquidation.
Later on October 1, the court also seized the shares of TV company Sakartvelo, which owns 51 percent of Rustavi 2’s shares.
CEO of Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia thinks the lawsuit against Rustavi 2 is an attempt by authorities to shut down the channel. As he sees it, the government is pressuring the media and Khalvashi is backed by authorities, including the former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Government members strongly deny that there is any interference in the lawsuit, underlining the importance of ensuring freedom of speech. (DF watch)
Rainy weather forecasted in most Georgian regions till the end of October
Snow is expected in the mountainous regions of Georgia on 29-31 October. As the Head of Hydro-Meteorological Service Svetlana Nioradze has told InterPressNews, changing weather is expected in most Georgian regions. There will be rain especially in eastern Georgia, while mountainous reasons such as Gudauri and Kazbegi can expect snowfall.
Rain is in the forecast for several western Georgian regions. The temperature will be 12-17 degrees in the lowlands, 13-18 degrees – on October 28; 13-18 degrees – on October 29 and 14-18 degrees – on October 30.
Temperatures between 12-17 degrees are expected on October 27 in eastern Georgia; 11-16 degrees – on 28-29 October and 10-15 degrees by the end of the month.
There will be rain on 26-28 October in Tbilisi. Temperatures will reach 15 degrees. (IPN)
NATO membership will be a guarantor of security and independence of Georgia, the country’s Deputy Prime minister, Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
He made the remarks during the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the NATO and European Union Information Centre in Georgia, Sputnik reported.
"Our authorities are making every effort to achieve progress in the difficult process of integration,” said Kvirikashvili. “We carry out many reforms, continue to build democratic institutions and have serious achievements in the sphere of security.”
From this point of view, the activities of the NATO and European Union Information Centre are gaining utmost importance, according to Georgia’s Foreign Minister.
NATO Week in Georgia aimed at informing citizens about the alliance, and began on October 25.
Various events, including youth conferences and meetings with representatives of NGOs and diplomatic corps will be held in Tbilisi and in the country’s regions as part of the NATO Week.
Moreover, it is planned to open a new regional office of the NATO and European Union Information Centre in Gori (in the Shida Kartli region).
Institutional cooperation between Georgia and NATO began in 1994, when the country became a member of the Partnership for Peace program. (Trend.az)
Judge asks Rustavi 2 to estimate losses as lawsuit resumes
The lawsuit about the ownership of an opposition television channel resumed in the city court in Tbilisi on Monday.
The judge ordered Rustavi 2’s lawyers to present an estimate of expected losses after the court ordered the seizure of the company’s assets.
The TV company will have to submit the document by October 30, after which lawyers working for Kibar Khalvashi, the businessman who sued Rustavi 2, will have the opportunity to express their position. The judge will then announce his ruling.
The defence filed a motion in court demanding compensation for the USD 700,400 in losses which the company has already suffered as a result of the seized property, but the judge disagreed. He will make a decision only after the defence has presented a document detailing a calculation of the losses.
Rustavi 2’s lawyers require compensation for losses only in case the trial ends in favour of the current owners of Rustavi 2.
Tbilisi City Court ordered the seizure of the property of Rustavi 2 in August, 2015, on the grounds of a lawsuit filed by Khalvashi, a former owner. The court restricted the current owners and director from selling property, taking on liabilities, reorganization or liquidation.
Later on October 1, the court also seized the shares of TV company Sakartvelo, which owns 51 percent of Rustavi 2’s shares.
CEO of Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia thinks the lawsuit against Rustavi 2 is an attempt by authorities to shut down the channel. As he sees it, the government is pressuring the media and Khalvashi is backed by authorities, including the former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Government members strongly deny that there is any interference in the lawsuit, underlining the importance of ensuring freedom of speech. (DF watch)
Rainy weather forecasted in most Georgian regions till the end of October
Snow is expected in the mountainous regions of Georgia on 29-31 October. As the Head of Hydro-Meteorological Service Svetlana Nioradze has told InterPressNews, changing weather is expected in most Georgian regions. There will be rain especially in eastern Georgia, while mountainous reasons such as Gudauri and Kazbegi can expect snowfall.
Rain is in the forecast for several western Georgian regions. The temperature will be 12-17 degrees in the lowlands, 13-18 degrees – on October 28; 13-18 degrees – on October 29 and 14-18 degrees – on October 30.
Temperatures between 12-17 degrees are expected on October 27 in eastern Georgia; 11-16 degrees – on 28-29 October and 10-15 degrees by the end of the month.
There will be rain on 26-28 October in Tbilisi. Temperatures will reach 15 degrees. (IPN)