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The News in Brief

Thursday, July 3
Healthcare Ministry official arrested

The Constitutional Security Department made a televised arrest of a Healthcare Ministry official on corruption charges yesterday.

Zaza Koplatadze, deputy chairman of the Medicine Regulatory Agency, is accused of taking a bribe in exchange for distributing a license to sell medicine.

He was later hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. Prime News)



Ombudsman meets NGO representatives in Imereti

Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari met NGO representatives in Kutaisi yesterday.

The meeting discussed his latest report and Subari spoke about human rights violations over the past year in Georgia.

He will hold a similar meeting in Batumi on Thursday. (Prime News)



Czech Republic to assist Georgia in reforms

State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues Giorgi Baramidze met with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schweinsberg on July 2.

The pair discussed the conflict resolution, Georgia’s integration into the NATO, prospects for further cooperation between the EU and Georgia and ongoing reforms in the country.

“The Czech Republic is ready to aid Georgia in carrying out reforms. We are ready to give you applause for your successes and friendly advice for your mistakes,” Schweinsberg said.

He also met with Parliamentary Speaker Davit Bakradze. Bakradze said the meeting covered NATO issues and recent developments in Georgia’s conflict zones.

Schweinsberg arrived in Georgia on July 1 on a three day visit. He participated in the Batumi GUAM summit. (Prime News)



Deputy mayor visits building under repair

With the support of City Hall and the local administrative body of old Tbilisi a building on Toidze Street has been undergoing restoration work for several months.

The building is two centuries old and suffered earthquake damage. Yesterday Deputy Mayor Niko Khachirashvili visited the site.

“At present few historical buildings in old Tbilisi region are under reconstruction, each of them is a historical monument and we should maintain their previous images…The city administration is actively involved in this. This building had deteriorated and was a threat to the lives of its residents, we have reinforced it and the reconstruction of this building will be finished in approximately a month.”



Coastguard stop Libyan tanker

A tanker sailing under the flag of Libya was detained by the coastguard in Batumi and Black Sea convention inspectors for polluting Georgian waters.

Batumi Civil Court ordered the company operating the tanker to pay a total of GEL 76 000 in fines. (Prime News)