The Week in Brief
Thursday, April 10
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a Moscow radio station that the Kremlin will do its utmost to prevent Georgia from joining NATO. Russia considers NATO expansion a threat to its security, he said. Georgia’s foreign minister called the comments ‘extremely alarming.’
Georgians observed a day of national unity on April 9, bringing flowers to the steps of parliament in remembrance of the killing of Georgian pro-independence demonstrators 19 years ago.
The once-moderate New Rights will run with the eight-party opposition coalition in upcoming parliamentary elections. Party leader Davit Gamkrelidze took four percent of the vote as a presidential hopeful in January, while the coalition candidate won 26 percent.
Georgian lawyers went on strike this week, protesting in front of Tbilisi courts to demand an independent and fair justice system. They were fined for missing court dates.
The chairman of the Adjaran government unexpectedly lambasted the central government for not doing enough to fight unemployment in his region. Adjaran leader Levan Varshalomidze, picked by the president to run the nominally autonomous region, is up for reappointment this year.
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze took fire for an apparent blunder after he suggested Georgia will recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo. In an interview with an Estonian newspaper, Gurgenidze said Tbilisi will “of course recognize Kosovo” at some point.
Georgians observed a day of national unity on April 9, bringing flowers to the steps of parliament in remembrance of the killing of Georgian pro-independence demonstrators 19 years ago.
The once-moderate New Rights will run with the eight-party opposition coalition in upcoming parliamentary elections. Party leader Davit Gamkrelidze took four percent of the vote as a presidential hopeful in January, while the coalition candidate won 26 percent.
Georgian lawyers went on strike this week, protesting in front of Tbilisi courts to demand an independent and fair justice system. They were fined for missing court dates.
The chairman of the Adjaran government unexpectedly lambasted the central government for not doing enough to fight unemployment in his region. Adjaran leader Levan Varshalomidze, picked by the president to run the nominally autonomous region, is up for reappointment this year.
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze took fire for an apparent blunder after he suggested Georgia will recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo. In an interview with an Estonian newspaper, Gurgenidze said Tbilisi will “of course recognize Kosovo” at some point.