Press Scanner
Compiled by Londa Mindiashvili
Monday, June 8
The President’s residence and plane must be sold
Sakartvelos Respublika writes that Soso Shatberashvili, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, has stated at press conference that the fact that teachers and railway employees have not yet received their May salaries indicates that there is a serious budget problem.
The Labour Party demands that no further money is given to Saakashvili and the members of the Government for foreign trips. “Saakashvili’s claims about increasing salaries are false. We demand that the President’s residence and private plane are sold and the money this brings in be given to these people as their May salaries,” stated Shatberashvili.
Refugees are deceived and left
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that Mamuka Areshidze, the Director of Free Opinion House, has spoken about the condition of refugees living in the two Liakhvi gorges. Areshidze has said that these refugees have been abandoned and deceived. He appealed on the Government to resolve refugees’ problems.
“Refugees have a lot of problems concerning compensation, flats and employment. We want to appeal to the President, the opposition and our society to address these problems. There is such tension among the people that there is a high possibility of something bad happening. There were many things that went wrong during the August war, such as evacuations which did not happen. The wrong decisions have been taken about flats and the distribution of subsistence,” said Areshidze.
Obiektivi will blockade Alania TV next week
Alia reports that the Obiektivi journalists’ union will begin the blockade the offices of Alania TV next week. Irma Inashvili, the head of Obiektivi, declared this at a briefing outside the TV station.
Inashvili said the group is protesting against illegal acts and will take radical but legal action in order to regain the 35th frequency, on which Alania TV is currently broadcasting. Inashvili said that the frequency once belonged to their union but after the Rose Revolution the authorities took it away from them.
The members of Obiektivi have appealed to all non-Governmental organizations and political parties to establish a boycott of Alania TV. They have also notified the Embassies in Georgia of this position. Obiektivi has declared that every person whose property has been seized by the Government should write ‘Taken Away’ on it.
What will Maisashvili tell Saakashvili?
Alia reports that Gia Maisashvili, the leader of the Party of the Future, is going to write a letter to President Saakashvili on behalf of the party outlining the mistakes Saakashvili and his Government have made since taking office.
“We have made an analysis of his rule and given concrete reasons why he should resign. The letter will state why the actions he has taken are mistakes. We will tell him constructively why the people demand his resignation and what things must be corrected by the next Government.
“I want the letter to become a precedent in our society. The Government members do not want to admit that there is a critical situation in the country and that they have been unsuccessful. The letter will show Saakashvili that people can write constructive and analytical letters to him, and doing this will act as a kind of control on the Government. Saakashvili is inadequate, and does not take criticism into account, but we will still write to him,” said Maisashvili.
Sakartvelos Respublika writes that Soso Shatberashvili, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, has stated at press conference that the fact that teachers and railway employees have not yet received their May salaries indicates that there is a serious budget problem.
The Labour Party demands that no further money is given to Saakashvili and the members of the Government for foreign trips. “Saakashvili’s claims about increasing salaries are false. We demand that the President’s residence and private plane are sold and the money this brings in be given to these people as their May salaries,” stated Shatberashvili.
Refugees are deceived and left
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that Mamuka Areshidze, the Director of Free Opinion House, has spoken about the condition of refugees living in the two Liakhvi gorges. Areshidze has said that these refugees have been abandoned and deceived. He appealed on the Government to resolve refugees’ problems.
“Refugees have a lot of problems concerning compensation, flats and employment. We want to appeal to the President, the opposition and our society to address these problems. There is such tension among the people that there is a high possibility of something bad happening. There were many things that went wrong during the August war, such as evacuations which did not happen. The wrong decisions have been taken about flats and the distribution of subsistence,” said Areshidze.
Obiektivi will blockade Alania TV next week
Alia reports that the Obiektivi journalists’ union will begin the blockade the offices of Alania TV next week. Irma Inashvili, the head of Obiektivi, declared this at a briefing outside the TV station.
Inashvili said the group is protesting against illegal acts and will take radical but legal action in order to regain the 35th frequency, on which Alania TV is currently broadcasting. Inashvili said that the frequency once belonged to their union but after the Rose Revolution the authorities took it away from them.
The members of Obiektivi have appealed to all non-Governmental organizations and political parties to establish a boycott of Alania TV. They have also notified the Embassies in Georgia of this position. Obiektivi has declared that every person whose property has been seized by the Government should write ‘Taken Away’ on it.
What will Maisashvili tell Saakashvili?
Alia reports that Gia Maisashvili, the leader of the Party of the Future, is going to write a letter to President Saakashvili on behalf of the party outlining the mistakes Saakashvili and his Government have made since taking office.
“We have made an analysis of his rule and given concrete reasons why he should resign. The letter will state why the actions he has taken are mistakes. We will tell him constructively why the people demand his resignation and what things must be corrected by the next Government.
“I want the letter to become a precedent in our society. The Government members do not want to admit that there is a critical situation in the country and that they have been unsuccessful. The letter will show Saakashvili that people can write constructive and analytical letters to him, and doing this will act as a kind of control on the Government. Saakashvili is inadequate, and does not take criticism into account, but we will still write to him,” said Maisashvili.