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The News in Brief

Wednesday, July 8
Georgia’s Economy Minister: “Lari has stabilised”

Georgia’s national currency, the Lari, is not experiencing a sharp fluctuation and has stabilisied, according to Georgia’s Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Since the beginning of the day the Lari slightly strengthened in value against the US dollar. Correspondingly, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) set a new exchange rate where 1 USD cost 2.2465 GEL. The previous exchange rate was 1 USD = 2.2471 GEL.

Similarly, the Lari gained value against the Euro. From today 1 EUR cost 2.4777 GEL, while the previous rate was 2.4965 GEL.

Minister Kvirikashvili said the previous exchange rate against the Greenback was 2.38 GEL for every dollar but now the rate was 2.24-2.25 GEL.

We cannot create an artificially stable currency as our trade balance is reflected on the rate that we have now. Our main trade partners have their currencies at the same rate as Georgia has,” Kvirikashvili said.

Georgia’s Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri added the Government’s forecast about the currency stabilisation did not accurately reflect the current situation; he stressed the Lari would strengthen in the near future as a result of increased tourism and exports.

Meanwhile NBG published an official document advising the Government of Georgia to reduce its expenditures to stabilise the Lari.

Several days ago, the NBG increased Georgia’s refinancing rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 percent following a review of the macroeconomic forecast, which showed an increase in inflation expectations as well as in domestic and external risks affecting the forecast inflation. (Agenda.ge)



23 patients out of 32 recovered from Hepatitis C, Health Ministry reports

After a month of treatment, 23 patients out of 32 who were engaged in the Hepatitis C elimination program have recovered, declared Deputy Health Minister Valeri Kvaratskhelia.

Two patients engaged in the Hepatitis C elimination program attended the briefing.

Valeri Kvaratskhelia has presented the program’s mid-term results. According to the Deputy Minister, 23 patients will continue undergoing therapy despite not having the virus anymore.

“The results are better than we expected. Some of our patients have recovered. However, Elimination of the virus does not mean stopping the treatment course. According to the agreements signed with the patients, they should follow the therapy through,”- Deputy Minister remarked. (IPN)



First Deputy Prosecutor of Ukraine denies criminal proceedings against Davit Sakvarelidze

As First Deputy Prosecutor of Ukraine Vladimir Guzir has declared that no criminal proceedings have been launched against Deputy Prosecutor General Davit Sakvarelidze.

As Ukrainian media reports, there is no conflict at all between him and Sakvarelidze.

“We have no conflict and no criminal proceedings have been launched against him; there isn’t even a remote possibility of this,”- Guzir said.

As he claims, there is no basis for launching criminal proceedings as investigation of procedures conducted by officials is already over.

Besides, Ukrainian President’s press service has released a statement, claiming that Vladimir Guzir and Davit Sakvarelidze informed Petro Poroshenko about the details of a special operation conducted on July 5.

According to the decree of First Deputy Prosecutor Vladimir Guzir, criminal proceedings were initiated based on a crime committed by Deputy Prosecutor General Davit Sakvarelidze. This information was published by Vladimir Boiko, a Ukrainian journalist, on his Facebook page.

The case refers to search procedures performed following Davit Sakvarelidze’s orders in the personal offices of Deputy Prosecutor of Kiev Alexander Kornitsa and Deputy Head of Main Investigative Service Vladimir Shapakin.

According to Boiko, first Deputy Prosecutor Vladimir Guzir has assessed the procedures as an illegal invasion of a state-owned building.

Apparently, Sakvarelidze searched the offices without any legal premise or even informing acting Prosecutor General Guzir. He conducted the operation only on the basis of information that somebody intended to give 200 thousand USD to Kornitsa as a bribe.

As reported, Davit Sakvarelidze addressed head of National Security Council Vasil Gritsak, who put several Special Forces operatives under his command. “No bribe money was discovered during the search,”- Boiko wrote. (ipn)



Tbilisi Mayor wants consultations over right-hand drive cars

Davit Narmania has commented on the right-hand drive cars. The Mayor of Tbilisi thinks that it is necessary to hold consultations on the issue.

"There are many countries which do not allow such vehicles on its territory because they disrupt the traffic. I think that this issue has to be consulted," Narmania said.

The Mayor focused on the promotion of public transport; Narmania said that new busses are scheduled to be imported to Georgia. (Rustavi2)