The News in Brief
Friday, November 22
By Liza Mchedlidze
'Dr. Gaprindashvili says he supports joining NATO and that Russia is the main enemy’ occupied Tskhinvali states
According to the de-facto government of Tskhinvali, the kidnapped doctor said during interrogation that the so-called South Ossetia is a territory of Georgia occupied by Russia and he is in Georgia and enjoys the legal right to move freely. Also, the illegally detained doctor says he supports Georgia joining NATO.
“During the interrogation, Vazha Gaprindashvili explained that he had crossed the border specifically because he was going to visit a church in the village monastery but was not able to speak about his religious beliefs. In addition, Vazha Gaprindashvili refused to answer questions about his party affiliation and said that he supports Georgia to join NATO soon. Evaluates border crossing as a legal right of Georgian citizens to move freely, considers South Ossetia a territory occupied by Russia, and Russia as a major enemy of the Georgian state, though Vazha Gaprindashvili says he, as a Georgian citizen, reserves the right to criticize any political leadership in Georgia and legally demand to change normative acts,” said so-called KGB.
Tbilisi City Court rules imprisonment to ten peaceful protesters
The Tbilisi City Court found 12 of the 37 detainees in administrative detention at the time of the November 18 rally to be law-abiding and applied various gravity sanctions.
Judge Valeriane Pilishvili has sentenced ten protesters to administrative imprisonment: Irakli Nadiradze - 13 days; Beka Basilaia - 13 days; Giga Makarashvili - 12 days; Elguja Bagrationi - 12 days; Zuka Berdzenishvili - 7 days; Luka Chichinadze and Giorgi Bunturi for 5-5 days; 4-4 days for David Mzhavanadze and Irakli Kacharava; Dimitri Bidzinashvili was sentenced to 3 days in prison. The judge fined Guram Mchedlishvili with GEL 1,000 and Paata Sosanashvili was only verbally remarked.
The court intends to hear cases of other detainees individually. It is not known at this time when the process will take place.
During the dispersal of the November 18 rally, Interior Ministry officials arrested 37 people for administrative offenses. They are accused of disobeying law enforcement officers (Article 173 CC) and hooliganism (Article 166).
MP Gedevan Popkhadze accuses Georgian Dream Party of Political Prosecution
Independent MP Gedevan Popkhadze leaves Parliament's Education, Science and Culture Committee after publicly accusing Georgian Dream party of political prosecution. He voiced his decision at the committee meeting and left the room in protest.
“It's been the second month in a row that I have been fined for missing committee meetings, which I believe is the result of discriminatory regulation. In addition, I would like to state that this is a form of political persecution by the Georgian Dream, so I consider it impossible to further participate in the work of the Committee. I will definitely appeal to the bureau and formally leave the committee, once again I emphasize that your political power is very humble and devoid of morals,” said Popkhadze.
Gakharia: ‘Illegal actions of irresponsible politicians affect the economy’
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia commented on the ongoing rallies in Tbilisi protesting parliament's decision to drop transition to the Proportional electoral system proposal. The Prime Minister said at a meeting of the government that political opponents do not consider the country's important dimension - the economy, and prevent its development by destructive actions.
“In the coming years, the biggest challenge and achievement of our country will be economic growth and job creation. Everything that happens in our social or political life as soon as it destabilizes, takes to the streets and takes the form of illegal actions, affects an important dimension of our lives, such as economic life. Therefore, those irresponsible politicians who do not consider the most important dimension of our country - the economy, we as a responsible force must take certain steps to respond to such challenges," said Gakharia.
‘We are disillusioned with cynical and traitorous move’ says Europian People’s Party
The European People's Party (EPP) is frustrated by the "cynical and treacherous move taken by the ruling party", which has failed to deliver on the constitutional promise promised to the people. EPP has the largest number of parliamentarians in the new convocation of the European Parliament. Its partners in Georgia are European Georgia and the United National Movement.
"All political parties in Georgia, supported by the international community, agree that a proportional electoral system is needed for a pluralistic political environment. The current government is fully responsible for the political crisis. We call on the authorities to refrain from using force, respect the right to assemble, and present the right to assembly. Finding ways to solve the problem: Finding a compromise will take the country on dangerous rails, which will frustrate Georgia's partners. It will only feed their mill those who want to cross Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path," says November 19 statement.
'Dr. Gaprindashvili says he supports joining NATO and that Russia is the main enemy’ occupied Tskhinvali states
According to the de-facto government of Tskhinvali, the kidnapped doctor said during interrogation that the so-called South Ossetia is a territory of Georgia occupied by Russia and he is in Georgia and enjoys the legal right to move freely. Also, the illegally detained doctor says he supports Georgia joining NATO.
“During the interrogation, Vazha Gaprindashvili explained that he had crossed the border specifically because he was going to visit a church in the village monastery but was not able to speak about his religious beliefs. In addition, Vazha Gaprindashvili refused to answer questions about his party affiliation and said that he supports Georgia to join NATO soon. Evaluates border crossing as a legal right of Georgian citizens to move freely, considers South Ossetia a territory occupied by Russia, and Russia as a major enemy of the Georgian state, though Vazha Gaprindashvili says he, as a Georgian citizen, reserves the right to criticize any political leadership in Georgia and legally demand to change normative acts,” said so-called KGB.
Tbilisi City Court rules imprisonment to ten peaceful protesters
The Tbilisi City Court found 12 of the 37 detainees in administrative detention at the time of the November 18 rally to be law-abiding and applied various gravity sanctions.
Judge Valeriane Pilishvili has sentenced ten protesters to administrative imprisonment: Irakli Nadiradze - 13 days; Beka Basilaia - 13 days; Giga Makarashvili - 12 days; Elguja Bagrationi - 12 days; Zuka Berdzenishvili - 7 days; Luka Chichinadze and Giorgi Bunturi for 5-5 days; 4-4 days for David Mzhavanadze and Irakli Kacharava; Dimitri Bidzinashvili was sentenced to 3 days in prison. The judge fined Guram Mchedlishvili with GEL 1,000 and Paata Sosanashvili was only verbally remarked.
The court intends to hear cases of other detainees individually. It is not known at this time when the process will take place.
During the dispersal of the November 18 rally, Interior Ministry officials arrested 37 people for administrative offenses. They are accused of disobeying law enforcement officers (Article 173 CC) and hooliganism (Article 166).
MP Gedevan Popkhadze accuses Georgian Dream Party of Political Prosecution
Independent MP Gedevan Popkhadze leaves Parliament's Education, Science and Culture Committee after publicly accusing Georgian Dream party of political prosecution. He voiced his decision at the committee meeting and left the room in protest.
“It's been the second month in a row that I have been fined for missing committee meetings, which I believe is the result of discriminatory regulation. In addition, I would like to state that this is a form of political persecution by the Georgian Dream, so I consider it impossible to further participate in the work of the Committee. I will definitely appeal to the bureau and formally leave the committee, once again I emphasize that your political power is very humble and devoid of morals,” said Popkhadze.
Gakharia: ‘Illegal actions of irresponsible politicians affect the economy’
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia commented on the ongoing rallies in Tbilisi protesting parliament's decision to drop transition to the Proportional electoral system proposal. The Prime Minister said at a meeting of the government that political opponents do not consider the country's important dimension - the economy, and prevent its development by destructive actions.
“In the coming years, the biggest challenge and achievement of our country will be economic growth and job creation. Everything that happens in our social or political life as soon as it destabilizes, takes to the streets and takes the form of illegal actions, affects an important dimension of our lives, such as economic life. Therefore, those irresponsible politicians who do not consider the most important dimension of our country - the economy, we as a responsible force must take certain steps to respond to such challenges," said Gakharia.
‘We are disillusioned with cynical and traitorous move’ says Europian People’s Party
The European People's Party (EPP) is frustrated by the "cynical and treacherous move taken by the ruling party", which has failed to deliver on the constitutional promise promised to the people. EPP has the largest number of parliamentarians in the new convocation of the European Parliament. Its partners in Georgia are European Georgia and the United National Movement.
"All political parties in Georgia, supported by the international community, agree that a proportional electoral system is needed for a pluralistic political environment. The current government is fully responsible for the political crisis. We call on the authorities to refrain from using force, respect the right to assemble, and present the right to assembly. Finding ways to solve the problem: Finding a compromise will take the country on dangerous rails, which will frustrate Georgia's partners. It will only feed their mill those who want to cross Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path," says November 19 statement.