The News in Brief
Friday, December 25
Ramzan Kadyrov – Georgia and Ukraine are Russia’s private affliction
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a 33-year-old former rebel turned Kremlin loyalist, said that last year's attack by Georgia, which is a US ally, on the pro-Russian rebel region of South Ossetia was part of a Western plot to seize the whole Caucasus region, the Daily Telegraph reports.
‘...Georgia, South Ossetia, Ukraine, all this will go on and on. It's Russia’s private affliction. Why should we always suffer if we can eradicate this for good? We are a great power, we have everything - an Army, technology. We need to attack’, Kadirov stated.
At a briefing held after a meeting with Abkhazian separatist Minister Sergey Shamba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was questioned about Kadirov`s interview. He said he had not read the article, however, any kind of aggression was unacceptable for Russia. He said the Russian Security Concept did not imply aggression against other countries.
Lavrov then accused the Georgian Government of being dangerous for the security of the Caucasus. "We see no danger from Ukraine or other countries, however the Georgian Government really represents a danger to the peace and stability of the region. This danger was proved during the war against South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers last year," Lavrov said. (Interpressnews)
CPT publishes report on situation in Abkhazian prisons
The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today a report of its visit to Abkhazia, Georgia, carried out in April/May 2009. The report has been made public at the request of the Georgian authorities.
During the visit, which began in Sokhumi on 27 April 2009, the CPT’s delegation was granted access to all places of deprivation of liberty which it wished to visit and was able to interview in private persons deprived of their liberty.
The report says that security standards are not being met. Members of the Commission also disapproved of the strict control of prisoners' correspondence with their families and lawyers. The experts issued a recommendation to close the Tkvarcheli prison.
During his visit to Moscow, the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland stated that the organisation would make more attempts to carry out monitoring in occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the existence of a 'black hole' in the sphere of human rights was unacceptable for it. (Rustavi 2)
Pensions to rise by 10 GEL in Tbilisi in 2010
Pensions will grow by 10 GEL for not only old age pensioners but those of all other categories registered in Tbilisi, Mayor Gigi Ugulava announced at a City Council session today.
This Mayoral initiative will come into force from March 1 2010. The City Council will also issue 25 GEL vouchers and transport cards for pensioners.
The City Council will also open free English and computer courses for residents of the capital next year. (Rustavi 2)
Murder suspect arrested
The officers of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Main Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have detained Giga Arabuli (born 1991) who inflicted severe back injuries on Lasha Duluzashvili (born 1992) with cold steel during an argument. The victim died of his injuries shortly after being admitted to hospital.
The suspect has already pleaded guilty. An investigation is in progress under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. (Rustavi 2)
Suspicious substances found in Adjaran village
Some suspicious substances have been discovered in the village of Khchauri in the Adjara Region. The area, once home to a Russian military base, now belongs to the Patriarchate's University. The staff of the university fear that the substance may be radioactive and have therefore summoned experts to examine the territory.
The whole of the former Russian military site has been taken over by the University. Rebuilding was underway in the area where the substances were found, but these will be suspended while experts examine the territory. (Rustavi 2)
Parliament to have new MP
A new Member of Parliament will be approved at the spring session. Elene Javakhadze, a doctor by profession, will replace Papuna Davitaia on the National Movement list following the latter's appointment as State Minister for Diaspora Issues.
Lawmakers will suspend Davitaia's MP mandate at a special session today. Elene Javakhadze's elevation will give Parliament eight female MPs. (Interpressnews)
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a 33-year-old former rebel turned Kremlin loyalist, said that last year's attack by Georgia, which is a US ally, on the pro-Russian rebel region of South Ossetia was part of a Western plot to seize the whole Caucasus region, the Daily Telegraph reports.
‘...Georgia, South Ossetia, Ukraine, all this will go on and on. It's Russia’s private affliction. Why should we always suffer if we can eradicate this for good? We are a great power, we have everything - an Army, technology. We need to attack’, Kadirov stated.
At a briefing held after a meeting with Abkhazian separatist Minister Sergey Shamba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was questioned about Kadirov`s interview. He said he had not read the article, however, any kind of aggression was unacceptable for Russia. He said the Russian Security Concept did not imply aggression against other countries.
Lavrov then accused the Georgian Government of being dangerous for the security of the Caucasus. "We see no danger from Ukraine or other countries, however the Georgian Government really represents a danger to the peace and stability of the region. This danger was proved during the war against South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers last year," Lavrov said. (Interpressnews)
CPT publishes report on situation in Abkhazian prisons
The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today a report of its visit to Abkhazia, Georgia, carried out in April/May 2009. The report has been made public at the request of the Georgian authorities.
During the visit, which began in Sokhumi on 27 April 2009, the CPT’s delegation was granted access to all places of deprivation of liberty which it wished to visit and was able to interview in private persons deprived of their liberty.
The report says that security standards are not being met. Members of the Commission also disapproved of the strict control of prisoners' correspondence with their families and lawyers. The experts issued a recommendation to close the Tkvarcheli prison.
During his visit to Moscow, the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland stated that the organisation would make more attempts to carry out monitoring in occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the existence of a 'black hole' in the sphere of human rights was unacceptable for it. (Rustavi 2)
Pensions to rise by 10 GEL in Tbilisi in 2010
Pensions will grow by 10 GEL for not only old age pensioners but those of all other categories registered in Tbilisi, Mayor Gigi Ugulava announced at a City Council session today.
This Mayoral initiative will come into force from March 1 2010. The City Council will also issue 25 GEL vouchers and transport cards for pensioners.
The City Council will also open free English and computer courses for residents of the capital next year. (Rustavi 2)
Murder suspect arrested
The officers of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Main Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have detained Giga Arabuli (born 1991) who inflicted severe back injuries on Lasha Duluzashvili (born 1992) with cold steel during an argument. The victim died of his injuries shortly after being admitted to hospital.
The suspect has already pleaded guilty. An investigation is in progress under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. (Rustavi 2)
Suspicious substances found in Adjaran village
Some suspicious substances have been discovered in the village of Khchauri in the Adjara Region. The area, once home to a Russian military base, now belongs to the Patriarchate's University. The staff of the university fear that the substance may be radioactive and have therefore summoned experts to examine the territory.
The whole of the former Russian military site has been taken over by the University. Rebuilding was underway in the area where the substances were found, but these will be suspended while experts examine the territory. (Rustavi 2)
Parliament to have new MP
A new Member of Parliament will be approved at the spring session. Elene Javakhadze, a doctor by profession, will replace Papuna Davitaia on the National Movement list following the latter's appointment as State Minister for Diaspora Issues.
Lawmakers will suspend Davitaia's MP mandate at a special session today. Elene Javakhadze's elevation will give Parliament eight female MPs. (Interpressnews)