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Prepared by Diana Dundua
Tuesday, April 29
“Chogovadze became governor in Imereti province”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that a district prosecutor, Mikheil Chogovadze, was appointed as governor to western Georgia’s Imereti province:

State Minister for Regional Issues Davit Tkeshelashvili officially presented him to the regional staff on April 26.

“Mikheil Chogovadze is a professional. He knows the region very well and I am sure that he will do his best to create a better future for the locals,” Tkeshelashvili said.

Reportedly, the ruling party named former Imereti governor Akaki Bobokhidze as a parliamentary candidate for the majoritarian seat in [Imereti’s capital of] Kutaisi.



“The president released 165 prisoners”

President Mikheil Saakashvili pardoned 165 prisoners on April 25, Akhali Taoba reports:

Out of 165 prisoners, 80 were released on the personal request of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

The pardoned prisoners were taken directly to the Patriarchate, where they were met by Ilia II.

The pardoned prisoners included Tamar Tskvitinidze, a host on the TV channel Pirveli Stereo, who was convicted of concealing evidence in the killing of a police officer in Tbilisi last summer.



“GEL 2000 fine for insulting journalists”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that a regional judge in the Kakheti district of Gurjaani fined a man, who is reportedly tied to the ruling party, GEL 2000 for threatening a journalist:

According to the NGO Human Rights Center, the prosecutor presented evidence to the court which makes it clear that on February 3 of this year, Giorgi Grigorian called journalist Giotgi Mtivlishvili and threatened either to kill or severely injure him. The victim was very frightened.

Gela Mtivlishvili is the publisher of local newspaper Imedi. He cooperates with the newspaper Rezonansi and the NGO Human Rights Center. His articles are mostly about incidents of legislative violations and human rights infringements from the government.

“The investigation is aware that Grigorian threatened Mtivlishvili at the demand of Ramaz Kerchashvili, the [ruling party] regional coordinator in Kakheti. [They live in the same] neighborhood in Tbilisi and they are friends. Despite all this, the ruling party member still has not been interrogated as a witness,” NGO representatives said.



“About 80 percent of building materials are imported to Georgia”

Only 20 percent of construction materials are manufactured locally, according to Akhali Taoba:

Georgian Business Consulting gathered information about the construction materials sector in Georgia using data from the state statistics department, companies’ data and analysts’ evaluations.

It is the first time there has been research on the building materials market in the country.

According to this information, the construction materials market has grown quickly. The average growth rate is at 20–25 percent annually.

The most frequently imported building material is cement. Plastic materials as well as construction equipment are also imported.

From Georgia, building materials are mainly exported to Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan. And imports come from Turkey, Germany, Iran, Italy and Russia.

Entirely imported goods include construction equipment, trucks and paints.

The local market provides the construction market with gravel, bricks, sand, concrete, etc.



“Tariel Sakvarelidze killed several people”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports on grisly multiple murders allegedly committed by 21-year-old Tariel Sakvarelidze, who first was responsible for the death of his classmate Davit Metonidze in a drunk driving accident:

Metonidze’s father was accusing Sakvarelidze of the crime, and demanding his arrest. But Sakvarelidze shot his former schoolmate’s father twice, killing him.

Metonidze’s friends learned about the killing and went to the police, who interrogated Sakvarelidze but let him go.

Sakvarelidze then decided to get rid of the witnesses to his earlier crimes, murdering them as well.

Only after this did the police arrest Sakvarelidze.