The News in Brief
Monday, April 14
Tbilisi: Georgian priest expelled from Gali
Pimen Kardava, a priest, was expelled from the predominantly ethnic Georgian district of Gali in separatist Abkhazia, Tbilisi said.
Abkhaz press reports said he was expelled for preaching “nationalistic ideas.”
“Father Pimen was insulted both verbally and physically. According to our information, representatives of the Abkhaz de facto authorities participated in [expelling him],” State Minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili said.
He called for an international response to the incident and criticized CIS peacekeepers for failing to fulfill their duties.
(Prime News)
Bakradze criticizes Russian general’s remarks
Foreign Minister Davit Bakradze criticized recent remarks made by Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Yuri Baluevsky.
Baluevsky commented that Russia would protect its interests with military and “other measures” if Georgia and Ukraine join NATO.
“Russia will undertake measures to defend its interests along its state borders. It will be not only military measures, but any other measures as well,” Baluevsky said.
“It is alarming when the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces allows himself to speak in such terms about neighbor state,” Bakradze responded.
(Prime News)
DNA testing assists in criminal investigation
The Levan Samkharauli National Bureau of Forensic Science conducted 36 DNA tests in 2008 so far to assist criminal investigations, according to the Justice Ministry.
Cases in which DNA identification was used included murder and burglary.
(Black Sea Press)
New chairman appointed to Tbilisi City Council
Zaal Samadashvili has been elected as chairman (gamgebeli) of Tbilisi City Council.
He replaced Zaza Begashvili, who has been appointed ambassador to China.
(Prime News)
CEC began publishing voters’ lists
The Central Election Commission (CEC) began publishing voter lists on April 12 for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
CEC chair Levan Tarkhnishvili said the lists will be posted on the CEC website.
Voters will be able to check their names using a hotline or on the website, and later, by an SMS service.
The deadline for changes to the lists is May 6.
(Prime News)
Media training on HIV/AIDS issues held
Media training on HIV/AIDS issues will be held in Tbilisi from April 22–24, with funding from the EU.
The project is entitled “Discrimination Caused by HIV/AIDS.”
(Prime News)
Ashes of national hero returned to home village
The ashes of national hero Arsen Jorjiashvili were buried in his home village in Tetritskaro district.
Jorjiashvili was executed for his part in organizing a liberation movement in 1906.
A group set up by Davit Bezhuashvili, a candidate for a majoritarian seat at the forthcoming elections, discovered the ashes in Tbilisi.
(Black Sea Press)
Georgian national rugby team wins European Nations Cup
The Georgian national rugby team defeated Russia 18–12 to win the European Nations Cup.
The Georgian side, coached by Australian Tim Lane, scored two tries.
The government will award the team with GEL 100 000 prize money, Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said at a cabinet session.
(Prime News)
Gurgenidze returns from Bahrain trip
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze discussed his recent trip to Bahrain at a April 12 cabinet meeting.
He met with a number of businessmen in Bahrain who are considering investments in Georgia, and at the cabinet meeting he reiterated the government’s plans to turn Georgia into a financial center.
(Prime News)
Over ten countries at GUAM conflict conference in Baku
Delegations from more than ten countries are scheduled to attend the April 15–16 conference on conflict settlement in Baku, according to the news agency News-Azerbaijan.
GUAM secretary general Valeri Chechalashvili is due in Baku on April 14 to prepare for the conference. The Georgian delegation will be headed by Deputy State Minister for Reintegration Issues Dmitri Manjavidze.
Ambassadors to Azerbaijan and conflict experts are also expected to take part in the event.
(Prime News)
Republicans reveal false addresses
The Republican Party say they have found 19 fake addresses in Tbilisi’s Isani district which appeared on voter lists in the January presidential election.
Republican Vakhtang Khamaladze said the fake addresses helped the government boost the number of votes President Mikheil Saakashvili received.
He added that the party will file an official complaint with the District and Central Election Commissions, and if the complaint is not sufficiently dealt with, will present it to the court and inform international observers.
(Prime News)
Pimen Kardava, a priest, was expelled from the predominantly ethnic Georgian district of Gali in separatist Abkhazia, Tbilisi said.
Abkhaz press reports said he was expelled for preaching “nationalistic ideas.”
“Father Pimen was insulted both verbally and physically. According to our information, representatives of the Abkhaz de facto authorities participated in [expelling him],” State Minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili said.
He called for an international response to the incident and criticized CIS peacekeepers for failing to fulfill their duties.
(Prime News)
Bakradze criticizes Russian general’s remarks
Foreign Minister Davit Bakradze criticized recent remarks made by Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Yuri Baluevsky.
Baluevsky commented that Russia would protect its interests with military and “other measures” if Georgia and Ukraine join NATO.
“Russia will undertake measures to defend its interests along its state borders. It will be not only military measures, but any other measures as well,” Baluevsky said.
“It is alarming when the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces allows himself to speak in such terms about neighbor state,” Bakradze responded.
(Prime News)
DNA testing assists in criminal investigation
The Levan Samkharauli National Bureau of Forensic Science conducted 36 DNA tests in 2008 so far to assist criminal investigations, according to the Justice Ministry.
Cases in which DNA identification was used included murder and burglary.
(Black Sea Press)
New chairman appointed to Tbilisi City Council
Zaal Samadashvili has been elected as chairman (gamgebeli) of Tbilisi City Council.
He replaced Zaza Begashvili, who has been appointed ambassador to China.
(Prime News)
CEC began publishing voters’ lists
The Central Election Commission (CEC) began publishing voter lists on April 12 for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
CEC chair Levan Tarkhnishvili said the lists will be posted on the CEC website.
Voters will be able to check their names using a hotline or on the website, and later, by an SMS service.
The deadline for changes to the lists is May 6.
(Prime News)
Media training on HIV/AIDS issues held
Media training on HIV/AIDS issues will be held in Tbilisi from April 22–24, with funding from the EU.
The project is entitled “Discrimination Caused by HIV/AIDS.”
(Prime News)
Ashes of national hero returned to home village
The ashes of national hero Arsen Jorjiashvili were buried in his home village in Tetritskaro district.
Jorjiashvili was executed for his part in organizing a liberation movement in 1906.
A group set up by Davit Bezhuashvili, a candidate for a majoritarian seat at the forthcoming elections, discovered the ashes in Tbilisi.
(Black Sea Press)
Georgian national rugby team wins European Nations Cup
The Georgian national rugby team defeated Russia 18–12 to win the European Nations Cup.
The Georgian side, coached by Australian Tim Lane, scored two tries.
The government will award the team with GEL 100 000 prize money, Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said at a cabinet session.
(Prime News)
Gurgenidze returns from Bahrain trip
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze discussed his recent trip to Bahrain at a April 12 cabinet meeting.
He met with a number of businessmen in Bahrain who are considering investments in Georgia, and at the cabinet meeting he reiterated the government’s plans to turn Georgia into a financial center.
(Prime News)
Over ten countries at GUAM conflict conference in Baku
Delegations from more than ten countries are scheduled to attend the April 15–16 conference on conflict settlement in Baku, according to the news agency News-Azerbaijan.
GUAM secretary general Valeri Chechalashvili is due in Baku on April 14 to prepare for the conference. The Georgian delegation will be headed by Deputy State Minister for Reintegration Issues Dmitri Manjavidze.
Ambassadors to Azerbaijan and conflict experts are also expected to take part in the event.
(Prime News)
Republicans reveal false addresses
The Republican Party say they have found 19 fake addresses in Tbilisi’s Isani district which appeared on voter lists in the January presidential election.
Republican Vakhtang Khamaladze said the fake addresses helped the government boost the number of votes President Mikheil Saakashvili received.
He added that the party will file an official complaint with the District and Central Election Commissions, and if the complaint is not sufficiently dealt with, will present it to the court and inform international observers.
(Prime News)