Friday, October 26, 2007, #205 (1472)

News in Brief:

Green Party to join November 2 protests
The Green Party will participate in the November 2 protest rally outside parliament organized by the opposition coalition, announced party leader Giorgi Gachechiladze.
The Green Party backs the coalition’s demand for parliamentary elections in April 2008, rather than later that year in tandem with presidential elections.
Gachechiladze also said that the Greens do not back the forcible removal of the government, but called on all Georgians to support the protest.
(Black Sea Press)

Azerbaijani captain to serve two months’ sentence in Georgia
Poti City Court sentenced the Azerbaijani captain of Jezabel 2—the vessel flying a Cambodian flag seized en route from Abkhazia—and his assistant, a Russian citizen, to a two-month imprisonment.
According to Azerbaijani news agency Trend, Badri Pochkhua, a representative of the Georgian coastguard, said the court was satisfied that evidence showed the culpability of the two men.
The Georgian coastguard seized the vessel in the Russian free economic zone in the Black Sea, 65 nautical miles off the Russian port of Sochi.
1800 tons of coal was found onboard along with 14 people, including seven Azerbaijanis and six Ukrainians.
Pochkhua said the Georgian Customs Service may make additional charges against the two men.
The captain could face three to five years’ imprisonment, and the crew two to five years. The cargo will be confiscated and the owner could be fined GEL 50 000, Pochkhua said.
(Prime News)

Georgia sends priest to Kurmukh Church of Saint George in Azerbaijan
The Georgian Orthodox Church will send a new senior priest to Kurmukh Church of Saint George in the Qax region of Azerbaijan, home to many ethnic Georgians.
According to Azerbaijani news agency Trend, current rector Father Ioan, who has Azerbaijani citizenship, will be substituted by Father Gabriel.
Reports that the Kurmukh Church had been closed by local authorities caused uproar in Georgia recently.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry claimed that the reports were a deliberate provocation designed to worsen Georgian-Azerbaijani relations.
Father Gabriel must receive Azerbaijani citizenship within a month to legally work at the church.
In compliance with Azerbaijani legislation, foreigners cannot take a religious post in the country.
(Prime News)

New museum opens in Sighnaghi
A new museum will open in Sighnaghi this week, Giorgi Gabashvili, Minister of Culture, Monument Protection and Sports, told journalists.
The museum, Gabashvili said, would exhibit 16 works by prominent Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani and would be part of the National Museum.
(Black Sea Press)

Questions raised over mistimed Ricce e Poveri concert
A spokesman for Italian act Ricci e Poveri, Giuseppe Spaghettio, said the band were confused over which event they were scheduled to play in Tbilisi.
The pop band performed at last Sunday’s Tbilisoba festival.
However, the act were apparently under the impression they would perform in honor of the October 26 birthday of John “Didi John” Horan, famed linguist and amateur beerologist.
Horan is best known for single-handedly bringing the Osh Kosh clothing brand back from the brink of bankruptcy.
“Don’t get me wrong, Tbilisoba was a great gig, but it’s just that we thought we were coming here for Didi John’s birthday,” Dolmio, a roadie for the band, told journalists.
“I was looking forward to a few Argos and a cigarillo with the legendary socialite, innit,” singer Franco Gatti lamented. “We all wish Didi John a happy birthday.”
(Really Big News)



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