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Compiled by Sopo Datishvili
Tuesday, February 3
Rehabilitation work in Kutaisi is “low quality”

Kviris Palitra reports that Kutaisi City Hall has acknowledged the low quality of recent rehabilitation works in Kutaisi, in response to allegations made by the New Rights-Republicans alliance.

The opposition union said that the Kutaisi local government had undertaken low quality and overly swift rehabilitation work, which would actually damage the city budget. The Mayor of Kutaisi has said that there were some mistakes in the first phase of the rehabilitation but that the construction companies were responsible. The Mayor says this shoddy work will be improved soon.

People damaged by the recent tornado are also complaining about Kutaisi City Hall, saying that the Mayor promised he would repair their damaged buildings but hasn’t fulfilled this promise. People have had to repair their roofs at their own expense, in spite of the promise given by City Hall that help would be provided from the city budget.



Noghaideli alleges “repression”

Kviris Palitra reports that ex-Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli has stated that his party members are the subject of Government repression. They are being arrested, and the Government is trying to destroy the main support of the party in the Adjara region in this way, Noghaideli says.

Noghaideli made this statement at a protest meeting in Kobuleti which demanded the release of party member Paata Kaikatsishvili, a close relative of Noghaideli. The former PM claims that on November 27 the police planted drugs on Kaikatshishvili while arresting him.



Parliamentary group seeks replacement for Sozar Subari

24 Saati reports that the Parliamentary majority will not reappoint Sozar Subari as Public Defender. However although Subari’s term as Ombudsman will end in September, a possible replacement has not yet been identified.

In the lobbies it is said that opposition MP Dimitri Lortkipanidze wants to be Public Defender and no one excludes that his candidacy will be acceptable even for the majority, but there are those who oppose it on the grounds that he is a politician. If Lortkipanidze leaves Parliament the Strong Georgia faction will have to find a sixth member from somewhere to retain its status as an official faction.

Giorgi Chkeidze is also rumoured to be among the candidates for Ombudsman. Chkeidze was appointed Deputy Public Defender after Sopo Khorguani went into politics.