The News in Brief
Thursday, July 5
Georgian project on healthy lifestyle wins international prize
The primary health care project carried out in Georgia under the patronage of Georgia`s first lady won an international prize - the campaign for a healthy lifestyle turned out to be the best among other similar projects presented in 37 different states. The Don`t Worry - Be Healthy campaign carried out under the initiative of first lady Sandra Roelofs, had components– the reduction of smoking, a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Sandra Roelofs and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Philip Dimitrov, awarded the participants of the project. (Rustavi 2)
Fuel prices fall by 0. 05 GEL
Fuel prices are falling. At every gas station, prices have been reduced by 0. 05 GEL today. Representatives of the fuel importer union say that the fall of prices is directly tied with processes on the international market. The tendency of price reduction on fuel began two months ago. (Rustavi 2)
Shota Utiashvili leaves Ministry of Internal Affairs
Shota Utiashvili is not the Head of the Analytical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs any more. According to Utiashvili, he does not know where he will continue to work. Nor is he aware of who will be the Head of the Analytical Department. The changes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are connected to the change of the Interior Minister. (IPN)
Irakli Alasania met with voters in Zugdidi
Georgian Dream member, Irakli Alasania, met with locals in the city of Zugdidi today. Alasania presented the election program of the coalition to voters and answered their questions. At the meeting, some in the audience reminded Alasania of his comments made about Zugdidi at one of the meetings with voters earlier. Irakli Alasania said then that Zugdidi would soon resemble Syria`s city of Homs– an opposition center, which is subjected to heavy bombings by Bashar Assad’s army. Zugdidi residents demanded an explanation by Alasania regarding this statement. However, Alasania said the questions were mostly about relations with Russia, how the Georgian Dream foresaw trade relations with Russia and how they planned to protect national interests. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Dream coalition will not pay fines
The Georgian Dream opposition coalition is not going to pay the fines imposed by Georgia’s Chamber of Control for vote-buying. Chairperson of the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, Manana Kobakhidze, said at yesterday’s press conference that the fine was illegal. In addition, the coalition parties do not have sufficient funds on their accounts. She said Bidzina Ivanishvili did not approve the court ruling and was also not going to pay the fine. “The political subjects of the Georgian Dream do not plan to pay the fine for two reasons: first– the fines were imposed illegally, without reasons, and the second– these parties do not have sufficient funds on their accounts to cover the fines,” Manana Kobakhidze said. (Rustavi 2)
Labour Party disapproves policy of commercial banks
Labour Party of Georgia disapproves of the policy of Georgia`s commercial banks. Soso Shatberashvili called on the National Bank of Georgia to publish the information about the incomes of the top-managers of commercial banks. In addition, the Labour Party recommends that commercial banks lower their loan interest rates instead of giving high salaries and bonuses to their staffs. The labour party leader said that over 20,000 people have been left without homes due to the failure to cover mortgage credits. (Rustavi 2)
Police identified persons suspected of killing Roman Dumbadze
The Russian media says that the police have identified those suspected of murdering retired Georgian General, Roman Dumbadze. Retired general of the Batumi 25th Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces was murdered by two masked bikers in Moscow`s central district on May 21st, 2012. Police detained three people in suspicion of the murder, but one of them, Mikheil Tonia, was released after interrogation. His relatives say his name was accidentally mentioned around the case. They say the police had questions for Tonia because they believe Kvirikashvili used to stay in his apartment sometimes.Police are now searching for Tornike Kvirikashvili in suspicion of the murder. The names of the two other detainees have not been reported so far. (Rustavi 2)
The primary health care project carried out in Georgia under the patronage of Georgia`s first lady won an international prize - the campaign for a healthy lifestyle turned out to be the best among other similar projects presented in 37 different states. The Don`t Worry - Be Healthy campaign carried out under the initiative of first lady Sandra Roelofs, had components– the reduction of smoking, a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Sandra Roelofs and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Philip Dimitrov, awarded the participants of the project. (Rustavi 2)
Fuel prices fall by 0. 05 GEL
Fuel prices are falling. At every gas station, prices have been reduced by 0. 05 GEL today. Representatives of the fuel importer union say that the fall of prices is directly tied with processes on the international market. The tendency of price reduction on fuel began two months ago. (Rustavi 2)
Shota Utiashvili leaves Ministry of Internal Affairs
Shota Utiashvili is not the Head of the Analytical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs any more. According to Utiashvili, he does not know where he will continue to work. Nor is he aware of who will be the Head of the Analytical Department. The changes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are connected to the change of the Interior Minister. (IPN)
Irakli Alasania met with voters in Zugdidi
Georgian Dream member, Irakli Alasania, met with locals in the city of Zugdidi today. Alasania presented the election program of the coalition to voters and answered their questions. At the meeting, some in the audience reminded Alasania of his comments made about Zugdidi at one of the meetings with voters earlier. Irakli Alasania said then that Zugdidi would soon resemble Syria`s city of Homs– an opposition center, which is subjected to heavy bombings by Bashar Assad’s army. Zugdidi residents demanded an explanation by Alasania regarding this statement. However, Alasania said the questions were mostly about relations with Russia, how the Georgian Dream foresaw trade relations with Russia and how they planned to protect national interests. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Dream coalition will not pay fines
The Georgian Dream opposition coalition is not going to pay the fines imposed by Georgia’s Chamber of Control for vote-buying. Chairperson of the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, Manana Kobakhidze, said at yesterday’s press conference that the fine was illegal. In addition, the coalition parties do not have sufficient funds on their accounts. She said Bidzina Ivanishvili did not approve the court ruling and was also not going to pay the fine. “The political subjects of the Georgian Dream do not plan to pay the fine for two reasons: first– the fines were imposed illegally, without reasons, and the second– these parties do not have sufficient funds on their accounts to cover the fines,” Manana Kobakhidze said. (Rustavi 2)
Labour Party disapproves policy of commercial banks
Labour Party of Georgia disapproves of the policy of Georgia`s commercial banks. Soso Shatberashvili called on the National Bank of Georgia to publish the information about the incomes of the top-managers of commercial banks. In addition, the Labour Party recommends that commercial banks lower their loan interest rates instead of giving high salaries and bonuses to their staffs. The labour party leader said that over 20,000 people have been left without homes due to the failure to cover mortgage credits. (Rustavi 2)
Police identified persons suspected of killing Roman Dumbadze
The Russian media says that the police have identified those suspected of murdering retired Georgian General, Roman Dumbadze. Retired general of the Batumi 25th Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces was murdered by two masked bikers in Moscow`s central district on May 21st, 2012. Police detained three people in suspicion of the murder, but one of them, Mikheil Tonia, was released after interrogation. His relatives say his name was accidentally mentioned around the case. They say the police had questions for Tonia because they believe Kvirikashvili used to stay in his apartment sometimes.Police are now searching for Tornike Kvirikashvili in suspicion of the murder. The names of the two other detainees have not been reported so far. (Rustavi 2)