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The News in Brief

Friday, May 30
Georgian Dream condemns rival assault

Tensions are rising in Georgia’s capital city as the country moves towards self-government elections on June 15.

Two political parties are at loggerheads, with one blaming the other for "provocative actions”.

The current ruling party Georgian Dream responded to the invasion of opposition activists at its Rustavi election headquarters.

Georgian Dream blamed United National Movement (UNM) for engaging in "provocative actions” and said UNM were causing tensions to escalate the otherwise calm pre-election environment.

"We always condemn acts of violence, which attests to the dismissal of the Georgian Dream Chief of Staff due to an incident in Rustavi a few days ago,” a Georgian Dream statement read.

"We are sure the proper law enforcement agencies will react appropriately to this incident and the people involved will be held responsible before the law,” the statement said.

Georgian Dream said it condemned all acts of violence by political rivals.

The municipal elections will be held on June 15, 2014.

Seventy one local self-government bodies - Sakrebulos and 2,088 members of Sakrebulo, 12 city Mayors and 59 heads of the local municipality - Gamgebelis will be elected in the local self-government elections. (Agenda.ge)



KaZantip festival will go ahead in Crimea after all

The electronic dance music festival KaZantip will be held in Crimea. Earlier it was announced it had moved to Georgia.

For the last 22 years, KaZantip has been held in Crimea. But this year, it was first announced it had moved to Georgia, due to the Russian annexation. Now organizers say it might be held both in Crimea and in Georgia.

KaZantip Republic will be held from August 20 to 30 in Anaklia, a resort town in Georgia on the Black Sea coast. Recently organizers said that the festival might also be in Crimea from August 1 to August 10.

Itar Tass quotes organizers of KaZantip who said the festival has a trusty audience who are used to the format and location on the Black Sea shore in the western part of Crimea.

“There are a lot of provocative statements and interpretations around the project, but today we are working out the technical issues so that the project, as usual, will be held in Crimea.”

The organizers of the festival promise to provide more details after May 31.

“It would be strange if a pro-Russian project with 80% of its audience in Russia, which developed not because of, but in spite of Ukrainian realities, would not be supported now,” organizers say.

“For the region KaZantip is a magnet to attract vacationers who leave money, not only at the box office, but also in the infrastructure.”

According to them, the village Popovka, where the festival has taken place since 2001, has become the fastest growing location in the peninsula. (DF Watch)



Kuchma believes Crimea is lost for ever

Ukraine's ex-president said that the new government's main task is to keep Donetsk and Lugansk regions under the control of Ukraine.

“Crimea has already been lost and I believe that it is unrealistic to get it back, Russia will never concede Crimea to us. Currently, a war is underway in Donbass and the new president is facing the main task - to maintain Donetsk and Lugansk regions under the control of Ukraine. Nothing can be worse than the loss of those territories,” said Leonid Kuchma. (Pia.ge)



President meets with Defense Minister of Azerbaijan

The sides drew attention to the relations between the two countries and noted that it is necessary to deepen cooperation from the military, technical or indrustial point of view.

The discussions also focused on the regional security issues. The sides discussed the prospect for Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey's trilateral cooperation. During the meeting it was noted that the topic on a tripartite relationship was being actively discussed within the framework of "Tbilisi Summit 2014". The meeting was held at the Presidential Palace of Georgia and was attended by National Security Council Secretary Irina Imerlishvili, Defence Minister Irakli Alasania, Chief of General Staff, Vakhtang Kapanadze and Presidential Adviser for Foreign Affairs Ivane Matchavariani from the Georgian side along with the members of the Azerbaijani delegation. (Pirweli.ge)



Data Akhalaia released from custody by the Greek court

Former Head of the Constitutional Security Department of the Interior Ministry of Georgia, Data Akhalaia has been released from custody by the Greek court.

Data Akhalaia’s lawyer Irakli Zakareishvili told Frontnews on Thursday.

“Based on the evidence that was submitted to the court, the judge made the above-mentioned decision on May 29”, Irakli Zakareishvili said.

According to the lawyer, he will hold a press conference later. (frontnews.ge)