Georgian tycoon to bankroll political opposition Business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili says he will bankroll the opposition’s campaign, including its promised mass Tbilisi rally on November 2. Warning that the country is “on the brink of a major political crisis,” Patarkatsishvili, co-owner of leading television network Imedi TV, announced in an October 28 statement he would fund the United National Council opposition coalition to ensure “civilized” protests. [more] Three beaten at opposition rally in Zugdidi The United National Council’s political rally in Zugdidi erupted in violence on October 28. The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that two men have been jailed and five others fined GEL 400 for their involvement in an assault on the opposition coalition’s campaigners during the event, which opposition leaders described as a “rehearsal” for the planned mass protest on Friday. [more] State water company sold, but few details about the buyer
Tbilisi Water is being sold, the Economic Development Ministry confirmed on October 27, but officials had few details about the company chosen to own and operate the capital’s water supply. Swiss-registered Multiplex Solutions AG placed the winning bid of USD 85 million for the state-owned water distribution company. [more] News in Brief
A deal to sell management rights to Georgian Railways to anonymous investors fell through last week, about the same time the government announced that Tbilisi Water would be sold to a company which, so far, also has very little public information available. Do you trust the government’s privatization and tender processes? [view responses] A new stage in Abkhaz conflict settlement?
The restoration of territorial integrity has been this country’s top domestic priority since Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away in the early 90s, and the Saakashvili administration is under pressure to make progress where there has been little so far. [more] Inflation—discrepancies between official figures and reality?
Some independent analysts peg Georgia’s current inflation rate at 20 percent, while the government maintains it is below ten—predicting a figure of eight percent in 2008—according to the newspaper Rezonansi.
[more] Turkish-Georgian trade continues to increase
Turkey is Georgia’s biggest trade partner, according to statistics recently published in the newspaper Svobodnaya Gruzia. Between January and September, Georgia’s total trade turnover with Turkey reached USD 620.8 million—a 46 percent increase since the same period in 2006. [more] Armenia and Iran strengthen cooperation
The latest sign of increased Armenian-Iranian cooperation took the form of a new highway link between the two countries through the Meghri Pass, which officially opened on October 26. Armenian President Robert Kocharian said it was proof of development between Iran and Armenia at a joint news conference with Iranian President Mahmoud Amadinejad. [more] Press Scanner Today in History Birthdays Georgian Words of the Day
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Tuesday, October 30
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Business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili says he will bankroll the opposition’s campaign, including its promised mass Tbilisi rally on November 2. Warning that the country is “on the brink of a major political crisis,” Patarkatsishvili, co-owner of leading television network Imedi TV, announced in an October 28 statement he would fund the United National Council opposition coalition to ensure “civilized” protests. 
The United National Council’s political rally in Zugdidi erupted in violence on October 28. The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that two men have been jailed and five others fined GEL 400 for their involvement in an assault on the opposition coalition’s campaigners during the event, which opposition leaders described as a “rehearsal” for the planned mass protest on Friday. 
