The News in Brief
Friday, November 4
Rustavi 2 and Cables Cases may be reviewed anew
A review of high-profile cases, including the Rustavi 2 and Cables Cases, may be re-launched. New judges of the Constitutional Court were handed over the mentioned cases by their predecessors.
As Constitutional Court Chairmen Zaza Tavadze said when commenting on the topic, the new judges must decide whether the cases must be reviewed anew or not.
“Even if only one of the new judges says that the cases must be reviewed anew, we will do so,” said the Chairman of the Court. (IPN)
USAID helps illegal dumpsite close in Georgian resort
An illegal dumpsite in a mountainous resort in Georgia’s western Adjara region has been cleaned of garbage and is now being transformed into a recreational area.
More than 450 tons of garbage was removed from Beshumi resort and the decade old illegal dumpsite was closed.
Plans are in the works to develop a recreational forest there.
The efforts were part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s program on Waste Management Technology in Regions (WMTR) which brings integrated waste management systems in two of Georgia’s regions, Kakheti and Adjara.
USAID worked closely with the local municipality and Austrian Development Cooperation to clean the area and handle the illegal dumpsite.
USAID has provided over $1 billion in humanitarian and development aid to Georgia since assistance began in 1992. (agenda.ge)
GDDG Holds Consultations on Nominees for Government, Parliamentary Posts
Following its victory in the October parliamentary elections, the ruling GDDG party is holding consultations on distribution of positions in the government and newly elected Parliament, GDDG’s executive secretary, Irakli Kobakhidze said.
As soon as the Central Election Commission (CEC) summarizes the final vote tallies, the President will set the date of an inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament and make an opening speech at the same session, the President’s office said on Tuesday.
After the first session of Parliament, which should be held no later than November 19, GDDG will have to name candidates for the new Parliament Speaker, Vice Speakers and chairpersons of 15 committees. The ruling party should also decide how many factions it will set up in frames its constitutional majority consisting of 115 lawmakers, according to the preliminary results of the October parliamentary elections. Along with selecting the heads of factions, the ruling party will also have to agree on the nominee of the parliamentary majority leader.
“No decision has been made yet in connection with the parliamentary posts, but consultations are underway,” Kobakhidze said, who is rumored to eye the Speaker seat.
“As far as the governmental changes are concerned, it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to make comments on this issue and he will do it,” he told reporters on November 2.
GDDG will re-nominate PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili no later than a week after the inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament and, following the President’s nomination, Kvirikashvili will select the ministers and submit them to the Parliament for confidence vote along with the governmental program.
PM Kvirikashvili said ahead of the runoff elections that the portfolio of the State Minister for Diaspora Issues will be folded under the Foreign Ministry in the new cabinet. He also said he intends to nominate two or three new ministers for the approval by the newly formed Parliament, although he did not specify which ones.
According to recent media reports, at least four new ministers will be appointed in the government. The “2030” news agency reported that Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri will apparently lose his post in the new cabinet and will be replaced by incumbent Economy Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili; the latter will be replaced by Business Ombudsman Giorgi Gakharia, who is also number five on GDDG’s list of MP candidates.
The same news agency reported that Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Nodar Javakhishvili will be replaced by Zurab Alavidze, head of the Strategic Project Coordination Department of the Government’s Administration.
Kakha Kaladze, GDDG’s executive secretary and number two on the ruling party’s list of MP candidates and who resigned from the post of Energy Minister to run in the elections, said in an interview with Rustavi 2 TV that he sees himself in the government once again. “But I do not have any special requirement; I am ready to do my utmost in any sphere wherever my team needs me,” he added.
The only government post which remains vacant, is the position of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, as Davit Bakradze - who served as the state minister since 2014 - was appointed as Georgia’s new ambassador to the United States. According to media reports, MP Victor Dolidze, former member of opposition Free Democrats party, is supposed to replace him.
Dolidze, who served as Georgia’s ambassador to the OSCE in 2005-2009 and chaired the parliamentary committee for European integration till February 2015, refused to comment on this issue. (civil.ge)
A review of high-profile cases, including the Rustavi 2 and Cables Cases, may be re-launched. New judges of the Constitutional Court were handed over the mentioned cases by their predecessors.
As Constitutional Court Chairmen Zaza Tavadze said when commenting on the topic, the new judges must decide whether the cases must be reviewed anew or not.
“Even if only one of the new judges says that the cases must be reviewed anew, we will do so,” said the Chairman of the Court. (IPN)
USAID helps illegal dumpsite close in Georgian resort
An illegal dumpsite in a mountainous resort in Georgia’s western Adjara region has been cleaned of garbage and is now being transformed into a recreational area.
More than 450 tons of garbage was removed from Beshumi resort and the decade old illegal dumpsite was closed.
Plans are in the works to develop a recreational forest there.
The efforts were part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s program on Waste Management Technology in Regions (WMTR) which brings integrated waste management systems in two of Georgia’s regions, Kakheti and Adjara.
USAID worked closely with the local municipality and Austrian Development Cooperation to clean the area and handle the illegal dumpsite.
USAID has provided over $1 billion in humanitarian and development aid to Georgia since assistance began in 1992. (agenda.ge)
GDDG Holds Consultations on Nominees for Government, Parliamentary Posts
Following its victory in the October parliamentary elections, the ruling GDDG party is holding consultations on distribution of positions in the government and newly elected Parliament, GDDG’s executive secretary, Irakli Kobakhidze said.
As soon as the Central Election Commission (CEC) summarizes the final vote tallies, the President will set the date of an inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament and make an opening speech at the same session, the President’s office said on Tuesday.
After the first session of Parliament, which should be held no later than November 19, GDDG will have to name candidates for the new Parliament Speaker, Vice Speakers and chairpersons of 15 committees. The ruling party should also decide how many factions it will set up in frames its constitutional majority consisting of 115 lawmakers, according to the preliminary results of the October parliamentary elections. Along with selecting the heads of factions, the ruling party will also have to agree on the nominee of the parliamentary majority leader.
“No decision has been made yet in connection with the parliamentary posts, but consultations are underway,” Kobakhidze said, who is rumored to eye the Speaker seat.
“As far as the governmental changes are concerned, it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to make comments on this issue and he will do it,” he told reporters on November 2.
GDDG will re-nominate PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili no later than a week after the inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament and, following the President’s nomination, Kvirikashvili will select the ministers and submit them to the Parliament for confidence vote along with the governmental program.
PM Kvirikashvili said ahead of the runoff elections that the portfolio of the State Minister for Diaspora Issues will be folded under the Foreign Ministry in the new cabinet. He also said he intends to nominate two or three new ministers for the approval by the newly formed Parliament, although he did not specify which ones.
According to recent media reports, at least four new ministers will be appointed in the government. The “2030” news agency reported that Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri will apparently lose his post in the new cabinet and will be replaced by incumbent Economy Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili; the latter will be replaced by Business Ombudsman Giorgi Gakharia, who is also number five on GDDG’s list of MP candidates.
The same news agency reported that Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Nodar Javakhishvili will be replaced by Zurab Alavidze, head of the Strategic Project Coordination Department of the Government’s Administration.
Kakha Kaladze, GDDG’s executive secretary and number two on the ruling party’s list of MP candidates and who resigned from the post of Energy Minister to run in the elections, said in an interview with Rustavi 2 TV that he sees himself in the government once again. “But I do not have any special requirement; I am ready to do my utmost in any sphere wherever my team needs me,” he added.
The only government post which remains vacant, is the position of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, as Davit Bakradze - who served as the state minister since 2014 - was appointed as Georgia’s new ambassador to the United States. According to media reports, MP Victor Dolidze, former member of opposition Free Democrats party, is supposed to replace him.
Dolidze, who served as Georgia’s ambassador to the OSCE in 2005-2009 and chaired the parliamentary committee for European integration till February 2015, refused to comment on this issue. (civil.ge)