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The News in Brief

Friday, December 19
Giorgi Margvelashvili likely to pardon prisoners before New Year's Eve

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is likely to pardon several prisoners before New Year's Eve.

“The pardon commission will hold a meeting next week,” said Head of the Pardon Commission, Zviad Koridze on Thursday.

“The commission has received 225 applications in total,” he added. (Frontnews)



Police return stolen items to former Interior Minister

Police have returned items to former Interior Minister Ivane (Vano) Merabishvili after his home was broken into earlier this week.

Three men have been taken into custody for allegedly breaking into Merabishvili’s house and stealing valuable items.

The trio are accused of brazenly entering Merabishvili’s house in Abastumani sometime on Tuesday. The thieves entered the home through a bathroom window and stealing TV sets, dining ware, beverages, icons and other household items.

After the break-in was discovered, officers of the Adigeni police division of Samtskhe-Javakheti district began investigating the case and apprehended three people believed to be responsible for the incident. The trio had previous convictions in Akhaltsikhe for theft, police said.

The investigation stated the thieves broke into Merabishvili’s home on December 16, entered through a bathroom window and made off with televisions, various drinks, tableware, and an icon in a silver frame and other household appliances.

Police searched the accused properties and discovered some of Merabishvili’s stolen property.

Some of Merabishvili’s stolen dining ware was confiscated after being found near the Dry Bridge flea market and pawn shops near central Tbilisi.

The police investigation is ongoing. (Agenda.ge)



PM comments on fuel price

As the Georgian Prime Minister stated at today’s cabinet meeting, fuel prices fell on the world market

"I instructed the Competition Agency to work on this issue and held responsible for the lack of study and control over petrol prices in Georgia. You probably know that fuel prices fell several tens of percent in the world market. Unfortunately, to our surprise, it is not adequately reflected in the Georgian market. So, I want the Competition Agency to familiarize the public with what we are dealing within 10 days. If I am not mistaken, the price of gasoline went down in Georgia today, but it should be adequate and appropriate to the global market", - Gharibashvili said. (PIA.ge)



Qualifications change for Kitsmarishvili case

After a 5-month investigation into the case, the investigation on murder was started. The prosecutor’s office has not commented officially. However, it is known that a week ago, the proceedings were continued with the new qualification.

Kitsmarishvili"s attorneys confirmed the requalification in “Kurieri”

Founder of Rustavi 2, the largest broadcasting company in Georgia and former ambassador to Russia, Kitsmarishvili was found dead on July 15th. His body was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the garage of his apartment block in Tbilisi. Police officers also found the gun next to the body. (Rustavi 2)



“The number of people dying in prison has reduced in Georgia”

The number of people dying in prison has decreased in Georgia, said Eva Pastrana,? Human Rights Attache from the European Union Delegation to Georgia.

"The number of people dying in prison has reduced in Georgia; it is obvious. However, allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners still cause concerns. All these cases should be investigated immediately. The EU joins the Georgian Public Defender’s request, about the implementation of photo/video recording during the monitoring process in prisons,” Eva Pastrana said. (Frontnews)