The News in Brief

Imedi TV postpones reopening, again

Imedi TV still cannot restart broadcasts because of staffing and financial problems, station director general Bidzina Baratashvili told journalists yesterday.

“Many problems appeared over the four months when we did not work, including financial problems. We expect money will be transferred to cover our debts. We will definitely restart broadcasting by the end of April,” Baratashvili said.

He said he expected putative new owner Joseph Kay, aka Ioseb Kakiashvili, to transfer the sum needed to pay off the station’s debts.

Imedi TV was founded by late Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili. The station was raided and ransacked by the government during the November 7, 2007 crackdown on opposition protests. It later reopened only to voluntary suspend broadcasts in December 2007 after Patarkatsishvili was accused of plotting to overthrow the state.

Kay, a relative of Patarkatsishvili, claimed control of the station after its founder died suddenly in February. Patarkatsishvili’s family is contesting Kay’s claim. (Black Sea Press)



Georgian minister: Abkhazia not safe for tourists

Georgia cannot guarantee the security of tourists to Abkhazia, State Minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili said yesterday.

“Vacationing in Abkhazia is dangerous, and tourists must understand that they are going to a conflict zone,” he said. “We cannot take responsibility for everything that can happen to these people.

The breakaway region of Abkhazia is an increasingly popular vacation spot for Russian tourists. (Black Sea Press)



CEC details election plan

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has presented its plan for holding free and fair parliamentary elections in May.

The plan calls for structural reorganization, a concerted public information campaign and the retraining of all election commission members.

The CEC says its new plan will help prevent irregularities like those found in the January 5 presidential election. (Prime News)



Tbilisi mayor presents ruling party candidate

Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava presented the ruling party’s candidate for the city’s majoritarian seat in Krtsanisi district yesterday.

The candidate, Dilar Khabuliani, was previously the local chief for Didgori district.

The candidate promised to focus on social problems.

Khabuliani joined the mayor and the head of the Tbilisi Water Company in opening a new water reservoir in the village of Shindisi. (Prime News)



Gurgenidze leaves for Bahrain

Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze left for Bahrain yesterday to take part in the Crans Montana Forum.

According to prime minister’s press office, Gurgenidze is scheduled to meet with Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the prime minister of Bahrain.

Gurgenidze will deliver an ambitiously-titled presentation called, “Georgia: New El Dorado for Foreign Investments on the Crossroads of Europe and Central Asia.”

Gurgenidze left from Armenia, where he was attending a presidential inauguration. (Prime News)



Burjanadze visited Imereti

Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze was in Imereti province yesterday for election campaigning.

Burjanadze was in Samtredia, Tskaltubo and her home town of Kutaisi to present the ruling party’s majoritarian candidates for Imereti seats. (Prime News)