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The News in Brief

Monday, February 4
By Mariam Chanishvili



KazTransGaz cut off 2381 illegally installed gas and water heaters

According to the company KazTransGaz-Tbilisi, 2381 arbitrarily installed gas and water heaters were cut off in various districts in Tbilisi in January of this year.

The majority of the arbitrarily installed gas and water heaters were found in Chugureti, Nadzaladevi, Gldani, Sanzona, Temqa districts.

As the company explained, each of them directly threatens the families and the inhabitants of the building blocks.

The gas explosion in a residential building in Didi Dighomi district took place in Tbilisi on the evening of 16 January. The incident killed 4, including a 4-year-old child, and injured 8.

The explosion occurred just hours after KazTransGaz employees checked the building after residents complained of smelling gas.

Carbon monoxide leak has claimed seven lives at 67, Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue, in Tbilisi, on January 31.

KazTransGaz also released a statement regarding the incident, claiming that the water heater had been illegally and inappropriately installed, which resulted in the accumulation of CO in the apartment.



Museum of Georgian Culture may be opened in Presidential Palace in Avlabari

The Museum of Georgian Culture might be opened in the Presidential Palace in Avlabari, Tbilisi.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Chairperson of the Georgian Dream faction discussed the issue on at the parliamentary majority meeting held at the party office, which was attended by the head of the "Georgian Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili.

"One of the issues discussed was the former residence of the president, regarding which a working group was created, that will hold meetings with different social groups. In the coming days, I think one of the most positive decisions will be made in this regard. One of the versions, which I personally agree with, along with my colleagues, Archil Talakvadze among others, is that the building may become the National Museum of Georgian Culture,” said Mdinaradze.

He emphasized that the opening of the museum is only one of the versions, but has not talked further about other options.

President Zurabishvili pledged during the 2018 campaign to move the administration out of the Avlabari palace and refused to set foot in the building during the first weeks of her term. Instead, the administration has been moved to a 19th-century structure, the Orbeliani Palace on Atoneli Street.