The News in Brief
Wednesday, August 19
Tbilisi Civil Court orders Nino Burjanadze to pay taxes
Tbilisi Civil Court has made a judgment against leader of the Democratic Movement – United Georgia Nino Burjanadze in a financial case.
The court stated that under an order of the President of Georgia Nino Burjanadze purchased a country cottage and surrounding land worth GEL 12,109,997 from the state for the nominal price of GEL 1 on May 8, 2008. “As Nino Burjanadze purchased an immovable property at a nominal price she was obliged according to the tax laws to present an annual declaration to the tax bodies and pay income and other taxes to the state budget before April 1, 2009, which did not happen. As Nino Burjanadze hasn’t fully and timeously paid her tax demands of April 21, 2009 and May 11, 2009 she is required to pay GEL 12,514,876 to the Finance Ministry Income Service Tbilisi Regional Centre,” the announcement of the court reads.
A decision of the Tbilisi Civil Court can be appealed against during the 14 days after it is passed. (Interpressnews)
Czech Republic expels Russian diplomats
The Czech Republic has expelled two Russian diplomats from Prague for alleged spying, provoking an angry reaction from Moscow, reports say.
While one Russian diplomat to the landlocked country was expelled, another was asked not to return from vacation, according to diplomatic officials. One of the diplomats was identified as a Deputy Military Attache.
The Czech Happenings website has said that Czech military intelligence officials had received information that both diplomats probably work for the Russian secret services. Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer has refused to comment on this report and the Czech Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Prague have also refused to confirm it. “The Ministry does not comment on this sort of information,” Ministry spokesman Milan Repka said.
On Monday Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Monday condemned the decision to expel the two diplomats. “This is yet another provocation,” Lavrov said, but he refused to say whether Russia planned to take any retaliatory action.
According to the Czech Republic`s Dnes web portal, about 200 Russians work at the Embassy in Prague and two consulates, in Brno and Karlovy Vary. A report on the site claims that “two-thirds of them are spies.” (Rustavi 2)
Israel denies supplying offensive weapons to Georgia
President of the State of Israel Shimon Peres has denied reports that Israel supplies weapons to Georgia. In an interview with Russian TV Channel Vesti Peres said that Israel did not supply Georgia with offensive weapons because that would be a very irresponsible act by his country. He also expressed his hope that Georgia would find diplomatic means of resolving its current problems with Russia.
Shimon Peres was expected to arrive in Russia’s southern resort of Sochi yesterday to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. (Rustavi 2)
Healthcare Ministry department robbed
One of the departments of the Georgian Ministry of Health and Social Care was robbed late on Monday night. Reportedly the robbers took computer monitors from the Department of Social Healthcare and Programmes. One more computer was also uninstalled in preparation for being taken but the robbers failed to remove it.
Police are inspecting the crime scene. They say the robbers must have entered the room, on the second floor, through a window which was left open. An investigation is in progress. (Rustavi 2)
Bakur Kvezereli meets Kaspi Region Population
Agriculture Minister Bakur Kvezereli visited the Kaspi region yesterday and met the local population as part of the Public Dialogue programme. The Minster was introduced to the problems of the population and they discussed ways of resolving them.
The local population spoke about lack of agricultural machinery. Kvezereli promised he would solve all the people’s problems gradually.
The Agriculture Minister has already met the population of Shida Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Imereti during the Public Dialogue. (Interpressnews)
Illegal migrants ask for help
Twelve Georgian citizens arrested by the Turkish police for illegally entering the country have asked the Georgian Government for help. The detainees are being held at the Edirne refugee camp. They complain of unbearable conditions and inhumane treatment by the camp administration. They say they often face physical abuse.
The three Georgian nationals were arrested by Turkey’s police while trying to travel from Greece to Turkey. They will probably be released in a few days and deported to Georgia.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has already called upon Georgian citizens to refrain from illegally entering other countries. (Rustavi 2)
Tbilisi Civil Court has made a judgment against leader of the Democratic Movement – United Georgia Nino Burjanadze in a financial case.
The court stated that under an order of the President of Georgia Nino Burjanadze purchased a country cottage and surrounding land worth GEL 12,109,997 from the state for the nominal price of GEL 1 on May 8, 2008. “As Nino Burjanadze purchased an immovable property at a nominal price she was obliged according to the tax laws to present an annual declaration to the tax bodies and pay income and other taxes to the state budget before April 1, 2009, which did not happen. As Nino Burjanadze hasn’t fully and timeously paid her tax demands of April 21, 2009 and May 11, 2009 she is required to pay GEL 12,514,876 to the Finance Ministry Income Service Tbilisi Regional Centre,” the announcement of the court reads.
A decision of the Tbilisi Civil Court can be appealed against during the 14 days after it is passed. (Interpressnews)
Czech Republic expels Russian diplomats
The Czech Republic has expelled two Russian diplomats from Prague for alleged spying, provoking an angry reaction from Moscow, reports say.
While one Russian diplomat to the landlocked country was expelled, another was asked not to return from vacation, according to diplomatic officials. One of the diplomats was identified as a Deputy Military Attache.
The Czech Happenings website has said that Czech military intelligence officials had received information that both diplomats probably work for the Russian secret services. Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer has refused to comment on this report and the Czech Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Prague have also refused to confirm it. “The Ministry does not comment on this sort of information,” Ministry spokesman Milan Repka said.
On Monday Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Monday condemned the decision to expel the two diplomats. “This is yet another provocation,” Lavrov said, but he refused to say whether Russia planned to take any retaliatory action.
According to the Czech Republic`s Dnes web portal, about 200 Russians work at the Embassy in Prague and two consulates, in Brno and Karlovy Vary. A report on the site claims that “two-thirds of them are spies.” (Rustavi 2)
Israel denies supplying offensive weapons to Georgia
President of the State of Israel Shimon Peres has denied reports that Israel supplies weapons to Georgia. In an interview with Russian TV Channel Vesti Peres said that Israel did not supply Georgia with offensive weapons because that would be a very irresponsible act by his country. He also expressed his hope that Georgia would find diplomatic means of resolving its current problems with Russia.
Shimon Peres was expected to arrive in Russia’s southern resort of Sochi yesterday to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. (Rustavi 2)
Healthcare Ministry department robbed
One of the departments of the Georgian Ministry of Health and Social Care was robbed late on Monday night. Reportedly the robbers took computer monitors from the Department of Social Healthcare and Programmes. One more computer was also uninstalled in preparation for being taken but the robbers failed to remove it.
Police are inspecting the crime scene. They say the robbers must have entered the room, on the second floor, through a window which was left open. An investigation is in progress. (Rustavi 2)
Bakur Kvezereli meets Kaspi Region Population
Agriculture Minister Bakur Kvezereli visited the Kaspi region yesterday and met the local population as part of the Public Dialogue programme. The Minster was introduced to the problems of the population and they discussed ways of resolving them.
The local population spoke about lack of agricultural machinery. Kvezereli promised he would solve all the people’s problems gradually.
The Agriculture Minister has already met the population of Shida Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Imereti during the Public Dialogue. (Interpressnews)
Illegal migrants ask for help
Twelve Georgian citizens arrested by the Turkish police for illegally entering the country have asked the Georgian Government for help. The detainees are being held at the Edirne refugee camp. They complain of unbearable conditions and inhumane treatment by the camp administration. They say they often face physical abuse.
The three Georgian nationals were arrested by Turkey’s police while trying to travel from Greece to Turkey. They will probably be released in a few days and deported to Georgia.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has already called upon Georgian citizens to refrain from illegally entering other countries. (Rustavi 2)