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The News in Brief

Thursday, May 2
Georgian President discourages refusal to hold military parade

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili considers the government's decision not to hold a military parade on Independence Day on May 26 "unacceptable".

"Replacing the parade on May 26 with other events is not acceptable, because the Armed Forces are a key indicator of our independence," the Georgian President said on April 30.

"You have always served freedom, unity and the independence of Georgia. In 2008, your courage saved Georgia. I am sorry that this year the government prevented us from holding the parade for political reasons," the report says.

The President stressed that the parade is an opportunity for the people to thank the army once a year. Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili, head of the Commission on the organization of the May 26 events, previously said that the military parade is not planned. The event will be held in 25 cities across the country. (Trend)



There is no basis to allege that North Caucasian terrorists had been trained in Georgia – Irakli Alasania

The government and the Prime Minister of Georgia always take steps which are in the country's national interest, Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said while commenting on the Prime Minister’s recent statement, in which Ivanishvili did not rule out that some North Caucasian terrorists might have been trained in Georgia. Alasania said he could say on the basis of intelligence information that there was no basis for the above-mentioned doubt.

“No steps will be taken against our security. An investigation is ongoing; I do not see any necessity for making premature conclusions. We should wait for the end of the investigation. Of course, the Public Defender and others may express presumptions but there is no basis for the allegations,” Alasania said. (IPN)



Prosecutor's Office is interested in the financial activities of Security Council

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia is conducting an investigation into the financial activities of the National Security Council and the distribution of its budget. The investigation is interested in the period during which the council was directed by Giga Bokeria.

This is a common procedure for the investigation, the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Archil Kbilashvili said on Tuesday. "The public will be informed of the results after the completion of the investigation," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said society will soon learn how Bokeria had spent millions on his own needs.

"The investigation is underway, and you will see how Bokeria spent millions. It is instructive material," he said. Earlier this year, the National Security Council's budget was cut from 24 million lari to 1.6 million lari. (Trend)



MIA has Released Georgians detained by de facto Ossetian government

Giorgi Dotiashvili has been released from illegal custody as a result of intensive negotiations, held by the Informational-Analytical Department and the Shida Kartli Regional Main Division with representatives of the de-facto government of Tskhinvali.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, on April 22, the Russian military detained Giorgi Dotiashvili in Kirbali village, in the district Gori for illegally crossing the administrative border. Officers of the S. Ossetian militia transported the detainee in Ghromi village initially and took him to Tskhinvali afterwards.

As a result of intensive negotiations Giorgi Datoshvili was released by the representatives of the de facto government of Tskhinvali. (Front News)



Airport refuses to circulate Tabula

Tabula Magazine will not be circulated at Tbilisi Airport from May 2013; the decision has been made by the management of TAV Georgia Operation Service of the Airport. Tabula Chief Editor Tamar Chorgoleishvili says that after the April issue of the magazine was delivered to the airport, the marketing manager of the magazine was told that TAV Georgia has terminated its cooperation with the publication.

According to Chorgoleishvili, they have never had any problem with circulating the magazine at the airport before – “the termination of barter coincided with the publication of Margvelashvili’s caricature.” Tabula chief editor plans to circulate the magazine via alternative sources. According to her, representative of the magazine will hand Tabula issues to all those interested.

The English version of Tabula has been being circulated at the airport since the first issue of the magazine in June 2010. (Media.Ge)



Georgian brandy Dzveli Kakheti allowed on Russian market

The Georgian brandy Dzveli Kakheti will appear in Russia in a few days. The Georgian wine company– Kakhetian Winery– received a confirmation letter stating that the product is accepted by the Russian consumer watchdog. The representatives of the company say this is great news for the company and they will begin the export of the cognac to Russia in a few days. (Rustavi 2)



International Jazz Day celebrated in Georgia

Tbilisi Events Hall hosted International Jazz Day on April 30 organized by Eastern Promotion together with Radio Jazz FM 97.5. This date has been celebrated worldwide since 2011 upon the decision of UNESCO aimed at emphasizing the importance of jazz music. Celebrated in 70 countries with different events, this year’s main focus was drawn to Istanbul, Turkey where famous jazz musicians George Duke, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, Keiko Matsui, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Hugh Masekela, Christian Scott, Marcus Miller, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ben Williams, John McLaughlin, Lee Ritenour gathered to perform a gala concert. This year Georgia also joined the celebration by uniting Tbilisi Big Band and its friends at the Event Hall. Jazz fans had an opportunity to watch the concert held in Istanbul on air. (The Messenger)