The News in Brief
Wednesday, February 1
Retired pilots stage rally in front of U.S. embassy
A group of former pilots staged a rally in front of the United States Embassy in Tbilisi on Monday.
According to the demonstrators, they have submitted a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, asking him to react to what they characterize as the Georgian government’s illegal activities. They claim the government refuses to pay retired pilots fair compensation.
The veterans have been staging rallies demanding an increase to their pensions for the last few months, including a three-day hunger strike in front of the Presidential palace.
The pilots say their 100 GEL pensions are not even enough to buy medicine. (Interpressnews)
Incident Prevention Group assembles in Gali
The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Group, a forum for discussing issues between Georgia and its breakaway regions, assembled in Gali Tuesday.
Representatives negotiated over the presumed detention of a Georgian monk, who disappeared last week in Abkhazia. Also discussed was Georgian law enforcement's arrested of a man carrying explosive substances with him in Darcheli, Zugdidi, near the administrative border.
Along with Georgia and Russia, representatives of the United Nations and the European Union will participate in what is the group's first meeting this year. (Rustavi 2)
Youth organizations appeal for opposition unity
Representatives from various youth organizations have made an appeal to the Georgian Dream political movement regarding opposition unity, according to civil society leader Jaba Jishkariani.
They say that the appeal will also be brought to several political parties, asking that they negotiate to form a united front. Written appeals were sent Monday to Giorgi Targamadze, Irakli Alasania and Gubaz Sanikidze.
The letter-writers intend to publish responses from opposition leaders later this week. (Interpressnews)
Saakashvili guests on BBC news program
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeared on the BBC television show, World News America, after his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday.
The program's presenter, Katty Kay, posed questions to the Georgian president about his country's security, Russia-Georgia relations, the 2008 war, and the content of his meeting with Obama.
Saakashvili hailed the meeting with his American counterpart as fruitful, and remarked that the Obama administration has promised support for a free trade agreement, as well as Georgia's territorial integrity and its NATO bid.
"It was an amazingly good reception. I’ve been to the Oval Office before several times during the previous administration, but I have to say that this time, our relations have been elevated to a new level," Saakashvili said in the interview. (Rustavi 2)
False alarm at the Labour Party office
Police and forensic experts were called to the office of the Georgian Labour Party late Monday night after guards noticed a suspicious suitcase outside the front door. It took law enforcement 40 minutes to investigate the case, which turned out to be empty. Traffic on Javakhishvili Street was backed up for 40 minutes due to the incident, but was resumed after the conclusion of the investigation. (Rustavi 2)
A group of former pilots staged a rally in front of the United States Embassy in Tbilisi on Monday.
According to the demonstrators, they have submitted a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, asking him to react to what they characterize as the Georgian government’s illegal activities. They claim the government refuses to pay retired pilots fair compensation.
The veterans have been staging rallies demanding an increase to their pensions for the last few months, including a three-day hunger strike in front of the Presidential palace.
The pilots say their 100 GEL pensions are not even enough to buy medicine. (Interpressnews)
Incident Prevention Group assembles in Gali
The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Group, a forum for discussing issues between Georgia and its breakaway regions, assembled in Gali Tuesday.
Representatives negotiated over the presumed detention of a Georgian monk, who disappeared last week in Abkhazia. Also discussed was Georgian law enforcement's arrested of a man carrying explosive substances with him in Darcheli, Zugdidi, near the administrative border.
Along with Georgia and Russia, representatives of the United Nations and the European Union will participate in what is the group's first meeting this year. (Rustavi 2)
Youth organizations appeal for opposition unity
Representatives from various youth organizations have made an appeal to the Georgian Dream political movement regarding opposition unity, according to civil society leader Jaba Jishkariani.
They say that the appeal will also be brought to several political parties, asking that they negotiate to form a united front. Written appeals were sent Monday to Giorgi Targamadze, Irakli Alasania and Gubaz Sanikidze.
The letter-writers intend to publish responses from opposition leaders later this week. (Interpressnews)
Saakashvili guests on BBC news program
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeared on the BBC television show, World News America, after his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday.
The program's presenter, Katty Kay, posed questions to the Georgian president about his country's security, Russia-Georgia relations, the 2008 war, and the content of his meeting with Obama.
Saakashvili hailed the meeting with his American counterpart as fruitful, and remarked that the Obama administration has promised support for a free trade agreement, as well as Georgia's territorial integrity and its NATO bid.
"It was an amazingly good reception. I’ve been to the Oval Office before several times during the previous administration, but I have to say that this time, our relations have been elevated to a new level," Saakashvili said in the interview. (Rustavi 2)
False alarm at the Labour Party office
Police and forensic experts were called to the office of the Georgian Labour Party late Monday night after guards noticed a suspicious suitcase outside the front door. It took law enforcement 40 minutes to investigate the case, which turned out to be empty. Traffic on Javakhishvili Street was backed up for 40 minutes due to the incident, but was resumed after the conclusion of the investigation. (Rustavi 2)