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News in brief

Tuesday, November 27
Refugees in Tbilisi offered medical check-up

The Health Ministry of the Abkhazian government-in-exile has begun free medical check-ups for all IDPs based in Tbilisi, according to the government-in-exile’s press department.

The IDPs will receive any medication they require and the initiative is aimed at increasing the government-in-exile’s awareness of refugee health issues.

Koba Subeliani, recently appointed Minister for Refugees and Resettlement of Georgia, Dalila Khorava, Minister of Health Care in the government-in-exile and Beso Tserediani, chair of the Refugees Department, were all present on the first day of the event. It is scheduled to finish on November 28. (Prime News)



Ministry of Justice launches internship

The Legal Aid Service of the Ministry of Justice has launched an internship.

Prospective candidates could submit their applications from November 26. The deadline is December 7.

Applicants must have higher education in law. (Prime News)



Ethnic Azerbaijanis in Georgia receive IDs

Ethnic Azerbaijani living in the village of Iormughanlo in Kakheti province, eastern Georgia, received official ID cards yesterday.

Giorgi Vashadze, head of the Civil Registry Agency and Central Elections Committee chairman Levan Tarkhnishvili participated in the event. (Prime News)



OSCE Mission head meets de facto South Ossetian authorities

On November 25, Terhi Hakala, head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia visited the separatist region of South Ossetian.

Hakala reportedly met with de facto authorities on his first trip to the region to discuss their position on issues of conflict resolution.

He arrived in Georgia last week and has discussed the current media situation in Georgia with the administration. (Black Sea Press)



NGO: prison amnesty may have consequences

The NGO Penal Reform International (PRI) has released a statement warning of the possible consequences of the recent government initiative to commute the sentences of thousands of non-violent criminals in Georgia.

The organization says that without proper rehabilitation, released prisoners are at a high risk of committing crimes again.

“It should be noted that amnesty has only short-term results…the number of prisoners in Georgia’s penitentiary system will increase without the implementation of systemic changes,” the statement reads.

It also warns that releasing prisoners with infectious diseases poses health risks to society and advises the Justice Ministry to take advantage of technical assistance offered by international partners.

It also calls on the government to revise the Criminal Code. (Prime News)



USD 8 000 ransom demand for Gali resident

Abkhaz militia have demanded USD 8 000 in exchange for releasing a Gali resident, according to Tornike Kilanava, a member of the government-in-exile and the coordinator of Gali region.

Kilanava also said that the hostage, 31-year-old Gela Ghurtskaya, was being held because his brother serves in the Georgian armed forces, adding that he had been tortured while in captivity. (Black Sea Press)