The News in Brief
Thursday, July 10
Journalists call for defense of Kavkasia TV
Journalists for Freedom of Speech called on colleagues yesterday to help defend Kavkasia TV, a local television station known for frequently airing government criticism that says its advertisers have come under state pressure.
“Another attempt to restrict freedom of speech, this time through new techniques, is obvious. The Georgian authorities are exerting pressure upon various companies to not advertise with Kavkasia TV. Thus, authorities are trying to limit the financial means necessary for the TV company’s existence,” said a statement from the group.
“We will achieve maximal results only through unity. Thus, we are calling on all journalists to join us and struggle together for freedom of speech, protection of our professional rights and dignity.”
The recently-founded Journalists for Freedom of Speech says most journalists in the country have experienced some kind of pressure from authorities.
“It is evident that after the Rose Revolution, media outlets, especially broadcasting companies, have been gradually and purposefully closed down,” the group’s statement reads. (Black Sea Press)
Kakheti governor to head state audit agency
Kakheti governor Levan Bezhashvili was named yesterday as the new head of the Chamber of Control, Georgia’s state auditing agency.
Parliamentary Speaker Davit Bakradze said “reorganization” of the auditing agency was an opposition demand, and that “significant changes in the [Chamber of Control’s] function are also expected.”
Levan Choladze, the acting head of the Chamber of Control, is becoming ambassador to Israel.
No one has yet been named to replace Bezhashvili as Kakheti governor. (Prime News, Black Sea Press)
Roundtable on small business development held
A roundtable talk on small business development was held at the Tori hotel yesterday.
The event was organized with support from the Friedrich Ebert Fund.
Experts, businessmen and civil society representatives attended. (Prime News)
National Agency of Public Registry goes online
Data from registration archives can now be found online, the Justice Ministry has announced.
The National Agency of Public Registry, part of the Justice Ministry, has published data on www.napr.gov.ge which includes information on property registration.
Documents on the site have legal standing despite not bearing the signature of the registrar or the seal of the National Agency of Public Registry. (Prime News)
Cabinet meeting held yesterday
Nine issues were discussed at a cabinet session yesterday.
Before the meeting the State Chancellery said Energy Minister Aleksandre Khetaguri was due to present a project “about supporting investments in Georgian energy sector.”
Finance Minister Nika Gilauri presented a project on the “technical assistance supported by donors and projects implemented by granting agreement.” (Prime News)
Parliamentary speaker meets UN representatives
A group of UN officials on a visit to Georgia met Parliamentary Speaker Davit Bakradze yesterday.
The UN delegation, led by Bertrand Ramcharan, was instructed by the UN secretary general to provide a comprehensive assessment of the peacekeeping process in breakaway Abkhazia.
It will present its final recommendations in September. (Prime News)
UGT donates computers to Abkhaz government-in-exile
United Georgia Telecom donated computer equipment to the Economic Development Ministry of the Tbilisi-backed Abkhaz government-in-exile yesterday.
“We thank the company for this humanitarian campaign,” said a representative of the government-in-exile. (Prime News)
Seasonal rail service Yerevan–Batumi restarts
Seasonal railway service from Yerevan to Batumi began yesterday.
The railway department said a high-speed passenger train will operate on the service.
It has six carriages but additional carriages can be added if they are needed.
The train does not stop at the Georgian–Armenian border; border and customs checks are held on board. (Prime News)
Burjanadze holds public meetings
Ex-parliamentary speaker and political heavyweight Nino Burjanadze began a series of meetings with civil society representatives yesterday by meeting with academics at the Georgian Diplomatic Academy.
Burjanadze, who recently founded a think tank called the Foundation for Democracy, said she wants to learn about current problems in the Georgian academic community.
“Being in a new capacity it is important for me to get acquainted with the problems of these people, to know their vision of how problems in this particular sphere could be solved,” Burjanadze said. (Black Sea Press)
Vandalism at Saburtalo cemetery
Over 20 gravestones were destroyed by unknown vandals at Saburtalo cemetery in Tbilisi two nights ago. Most of the gravestones were made of marble.
Hermes Ltd., the company which manages the city cemeteries, said it was “an act of vandalism.”
Police are investigating. (Black Sea Press)
Park on Mtatsminda to be fixed up by fall
The park on Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda hill will be repaired and reopened by fall, said Rakeen Development, the company which recently signed a 49-year lease on the park.
Rakeen is leasing the park, which was formerly under development by late Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, for GEL 300 000 annually. (Black Sea Press)
Journalists for Freedom of Speech called on colleagues yesterday to help defend Kavkasia TV, a local television station known for frequently airing government criticism that says its advertisers have come under state pressure.
“Another attempt to restrict freedom of speech, this time through new techniques, is obvious. The Georgian authorities are exerting pressure upon various companies to not advertise with Kavkasia TV. Thus, authorities are trying to limit the financial means necessary for the TV company’s existence,” said a statement from the group.
“We will achieve maximal results only through unity. Thus, we are calling on all journalists to join us and struggle together for freedom of speech, protection of our professional rights and dignity.”
The recently-founded Journalists for Freedom of Speech says most journalists in the country have experienced some kind of pressure from authorities.
“It is evident that after the Rose Revolution, media outlets, especially broadcasting companies, have been gradually and purposefully closed down,” the group’s statement reads. (Black Sea Press)
Kakheti governor to head state audit agency
Kakheti governor Levan Bezhashvili was named yesterday as the new head of the Chamber of Control, Georgia’s state auditing agency.
Parliamentary Speaker Davit Bakradze said “reorganization” of the auditing agency was an opposition demand, and that “significant changes in the [Chamber of Control’s] function are also expected.”
Levan Choladze, the acting head of the Chamber of Control, is becoming ambassador to Israel.
No one has yet been named to replace Bezhashvili as Kakheti governor. (Prime News, Black Sea Press)
Roundtable on small business development held
A roundtable talk on small business development was held at the Tori hotel yesterday.
The event was organized with support from the Friedrich Ebert Fund.
Experts, businessmen and civil society representatives attended. (Prime News)
National Agency of Public Registry goes online
Data from registration archives can now be found online, the Justice Ministry has announced.
The National Agency of Public Registry, part of the Justice Ministry, has published data on www.napr.gov.ge which includes information on property registration.
Documents on the site have legal standing despite not bearing the signature of the registrar or the seal of the National Agency of Public Registry. (Prime News)
Cabinet meeting held yesterday
Nine issues were discussed at a cabinet session yesterday.
Before the meeting the State Chancellery said Energy Minister Aleksandre Khetaguri was due to present a project “about supporting investments in Georgian energy sector.”
Finance Minister Nika Gilauri presented a project on the “technical assistance supported by donors and projects implemented by granting agreement.” (Prime News)
Parliamentary speaker meets UN representatives
A group of UN officials on a visit to Georgia met Parliamentary Speaker Davit Bakradze yesterday.
The UN delegation, led by Bertrand Ramcharan, was instructed by the UN secretary general to provide a comprehensive assessment of the peacekeeping process in breakaway Abkhazia.
It will present its final recommendations in September. (Prime News)
UGT donates computers to Abkhaz government-in-exile
United Georgia Telecom donated computer equipment to the Economic Development Ministry of the Tbilisi-backed Abkhaz government-in-exile yesterday.
“We thank the company for this humanitarian campaign,” said a representative of the government-in-exile. (Prime News)
Seasonal rail service Yerevan–Batumi restarts
Seasonal railway service from Yerevan to Batumi began yesterday.
The railway department said a high-speed passenger train will operate on the service.
It has six carriages but additional carriages can be added if they are needed.
The train does not stop at the Georgian–Armenian border; border and customs checks are held on board. (Prime News)
Burjanadze holds public meetings
Ex-parliamentary speaker and political heavyweight Nino Burjanadze began a series of meetings with civil society representatives yesterday by meeting with academics at the Georgian Diplomatic Academy.
Burjanadze, who recently founded a think tank called the Foundation for Democracy, said she wants to learn about current problems in the Georgian academic community.
“Being in a new capacity it is important for me to get acquainted with the problems of these people, to know their vision of how problems in this particular sphere could be solved,” Burjanadze said. (Black Sea Press)
Vandalism at Saburtalo cemetery
Over 20 gravestones were destroyed by unknown vandals at Saburtalo cemetery in Tbilisi two nights ago. Most of the gravestones were made of marble.
Hermes Ltd., the company which manages the city cemeteries, said it was “an act of vandalism.”
Police are investigating. (Black Sea Press)
Park on Mtatsminda to be fixed up by fall
The park on Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda hill will be repaired and reopened by fall, said Rakeen Development, the company which recently signed a 49-year lease on the park.
Rakeen is leasing the park, which was formerly under development by late Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, for GEL 300 000 annually. (Black Sea Press)