The News in Brief
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Second Version of 'Russian Law' Submitted for Consideration in Parliament of Georgia, Media Protests
At the meeting of the Bureau of the Parliament, the second version of the 'Agents of foreign influence' law was registered and submitted to the leading committees for consideration.
The bill was initiated by the deputies who formally left the Georgian Dream and were supported by the ruling party.
The media representatives protested the bill with banners with the inscription "No To Russian Law".
63 media organizations issued a joint statement, which reads that in the case of the adoption of the 'Russian law', they refuse to register as "agents of foreign influence". According to them, the purpose of this law is to stop critical voices from being heard, and media and public organizations will no longer be able to reflect the corruption, injustice and poverty in the country.
According to the Media representatives, the adoption of this law damages the process of joining the European Union, which was clearly indicated by the High Representative of the European Union on February 24 - therefore, the submitted legislative amendment hinders the development of Georgia and closes the window of opportunity that has appeared today.
Ombudsman's Consilium Issues Another Report on Mikheil Saakashvili's Health Condition
The Public Defender issued a report stating that on February 19, a group of specialists invited by the Public Defender of Georgia made another visit to the "Vivamed" clinic in order to assess Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition.
According to the Office of the Public Defender, taking into account their mandate, the purpose of the visits of the expert group, from the day of its creation, is to monitor the medical services provided to the patient. The group was/is not involved in the direct process of the patient's treatment.
"On February 19, the members of the expert group were scheduled to examine the patient and review his medical documentation. Mikheil Saakashvili's physical examination was completed, and unfortunately, the clinic could not provide medical materials on site due to non-working days. However, the Office of the Public Defender has requested complete medical materials from December 4, 2022 (the last visit of experts to Mikheil Saakashvili) until now, and the group of experts will additionally review the materials.
The Office of the Public Defender and the group of experts will continue intensive documentary monitoring of Mikheil Saakashvili's health management in the near future," the statement reads.
According to the assessment of the group of specialists invited by the ombudsman, the movement of the patient without supervision is dangerous, because the risk of falling, body damage/fractures is very high.
Second Version of 'Russian Law' Submitted for Consideration in Parliament of Georgia, Media Protests
The bill was initiated by the deputies who formally left the Georgian Dream and were supported by the ruling party.
The media representatives protested the bill with banners with the inscription "No To Russian Law".
63 media organizations issued a joint statement, which reads that in the case of the adoption of the 'Russian law', they refuse to register as "agents of foreign influence". According to them, the purpose of this law is to stop critical voices from being heard, and media and public organizations will no longer be able to reflect the corruption, injustice and poverty in the country.
According to the Media representatives, the adoption of this law damages the process of joining the European Union, which was clearly indicated by the High Representative of the European Union on February 24 - therefore, the submitted legislative amendment hinders the development of Georgia and closes the window of opportunity that has appeared today.
Ombudsman's Consilium Issues Another Report on Mikheil Saakashvili's Health Condition
According to the Office of the Public Defender, taking into account their mandate, the purpose of the visits of the expert group, from the day of its creation, is to monitor the medical services provided to the patient. The group was/is not involved in the direct process of the patient's treatment.
"On February 19, the members of the expert group were scheduled to examine the patient and review his medical documentation. Mikheil Saakashvili's physical examination was completed, and unfortunately, the clinic could not provide medical materials on site due to non-working days. However, the Office of the Public Defender has requested complete medical materials from December 4, 2022 (the last visit of experts to Mikheil Saakashvili) until now, and the group of experts will additionally review the materials.
The Office of the Public Defender and the group of experts will continue intensive documentary monitoring of Mikheil Saakashvili's health management in the near future," the statement reads.
According to the assessment of the group of specialists invited by the ombudsman, the movement of the patient without supervision is dangerous, because the risk of falling, body damage/fractures is very high.