The News in Brief
Friday, December 11
The mission strongly supports the NBG’s policy – IMF
“The mission strongly supports the NBG’s policy to allow the Lari to float and to limit foreign exchange interventions only to dampen excess exchange rate volatility,” reads the statement released by International Monetary Fund.
“Intervening to resist likely long-lasting external shocks would not succeed and would only waste foreign currency reserves. The depreciation has helped absorb the external shock by reducing imports, preserving the competitiveness of domestic producers, and protecting the value of remittances. Finally, achieving the NBG’s main objective of price stability requires a floating exchange rate. To continue fulfilling this objective and safeguarding financial stability, the NBG should have full operational independence,” the statement says.
“The mission and the authorities have made substantial progress toward reaching a staff-level agreement on the second and third reviews. The mission will work to finalize with the authorities the letter of intent in the coming weeks, including agreeing on the strategy to keep banking supervision independent, on ensuring sufficient level of foreign reserves, improving the framework for managing and disclosing contingent liabilities, and on structural reforms to promote growth. If these final discussions are successful, the second and third reviews can be completed in early 2016,” reads the statement. (IPN)
Georgian man will not face trial for marrying 13 year old
A man who married a 13 year old girl and now has two children with her will not face trial for sexual relations with a minor, prosecutors have decided.
Nadim Paksadze, who is now 21, was under investigation for marrying a minor, which has become a criminal offence under recent legislative amendments.
The case took place in Khulo, a municipality in the southwestern Adjara region of Georgia. He kidnapped Maia Solomonidze when she was 13 and in the ninth grade.
Paksadze claimed that neither the parents nor the government had any complaints about the kidnapping or him marrying her.
An investigation was launched three years later, following a legislative amendment which made it a crime to marry an underage person. Two days before the investigation was launched, the couple had their second child.
Paksadze complained that the case brought against him was unlawful because it was three years ago when the marriage still wasn’t a crime.
“No-one was against. The girl also agreed, and we created a family. We didn’t register the marriage, as she was underage,” he told journalists.
On Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara made a decision to drop the charges against Paksadze, ending the investigation launched on November 18.
“Despite the fact that it was verified that a crime was committed - which is punishable with seven to nine years in jail - the Prosecutor’s Office of Adjara has taken into account the fact that Paksadze has created a family with his wife and they have two children. Paksadze is the only breadwinner. He has no criminal record and has positive characteristics according to character references,” the statement reads.
Child marriage is a challenge for Georgian society. From 2011 to 2013, over 7,000 girls left school, in most cases due to an early marriage or engagement.
More than a week ago, groups held a demonstration at several government offices to once again draw attention to this issue and promote the elimination of this practice. (dfwatch.net)
Minister of Internal Affairs held meeting with the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili continues his official visit to the United States, within the frames of which he met the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey.
The Minister thanked the US side for providing assistance over the last few years and their cooperative efforts. According to him, Georgia attaches huge importance to the close cooperation with the United States in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
The US side has expressed eagerness for supporting and deepening cooperation with Georgia. James Comey also expressed interest in assisting MIA Forensic Service personnel and investigators in re-training and improving their qualifications. The sides also discussed the importance of the exchange of information for the fight against crime and prevention of criminal offences.
The Minister noted that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has extensive knowledge and experience in the fight against all types of organized crime and therefore it is important for Georgia to be supported by its partner country, to share knowledge, practices and receive recommendations.
At the meeting with James Comey, the Minister reviewed the recently-implemented reforms within the Ministry. Giorgi Mgebrishvili noted that significant steps towards developing international police cooperation have been made on the legislative and institutional levels. The two sides also discussed progress achieved as part of their cooperation and reviewed future plans. (MIA)
“The mission strongly supports the NBG’s policy to allow the Lari to float and to limit foreign exchange interventions only to dampen excess exchange rate volatility,” reads the statement released by International Monetary Fund.
“Intervening to resist likely long-lasting external shocks would not succeed and would only waste foreign currency reserves. The depreciation has helped absorb the external shock by reducing imports, preserving the competitiveness of domestic producers, and protecting the value of remittances. Finally, achieving the NBG’s main objective of price stability requires a floating exchange rate. To continue fulfilling this objective and safeguarding financial stability, the NBG should have full operational independence,” the statement says.
“The mission and the authorities have made substantial progress toward reaching a staff-level agreement on the second and third reviews. The mission will work to finalize with the authorities the letter of intent in the coming weeks, including agreeing on the strategy to keep banking supervision independent, on ensuring sufficient level of foreign reserves, improving the framework for managing and disclosing contingent liabilities, and on structural reforms to promote growth. If these final discussions are successful, the second and third reviews can be completed in early 2016,” reads the statement. (IPN)
Georgian man will not face trial for marrying 13 year old
A man who married a 13 year old girl and now has two children with her will not face trial for sexual relations with a minor, prosecutors have decided.
Nadim Paksadze, who is now 21, was under investigation for marrying a minor, which has become a criminal offence under recent legislative amendments.
The case took place in Khulo, a municipality in the southwestern Adjara region of Georgia. He kidnapped Maia Solomonidze when she was 13 and in the ninth grade.
Paksadze claimed that neither the parents nor the government had any complaints about the kidnapping or him marrying her.
An investigation was launched three years later, following a legislative amendment which made it a crime to marry an underage person. Two days before the investigation was launched, the couple had their second child.
Paksadze complained that the case brought against him was unlawful because it was three years ago when the marriage still wasn’t a crime.
“No-one was against. The girl also agreed, and we created a family. We didn’t register the marriage, as she was underage,” he told journalists.
On Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara made a decision to drop the charges against Paksadze, ending the investigation launched on November 18.
“Despite the fact that it was verified that a crime was committed - which is punishable with seven to nine years in jail - the Prosecutor’s Office of Adjara has taken into account the fact that Paksadze has created a family with his wife and they have two children. Paksadze is the only breadwinner. He has no criminal record and has positive characteristics according to character references,” the statement reads.
Child marriage is a challenge for Georgian society. From 2011 to 2013, over 7,000 girls left school, in most cases due to an early marriage or engagement.
More than a week ago, groups held a demonstration at several government offices to once again draw attention to this issue and promote the elimination of this practice. (dfwatch.net)
Minister of Internal Affairs held meeting with the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili continues his official visit to the United States, within the frames of which he met the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey.
The Minister thanked the US side for providing assistance over the last few years and their cooperative efforts. According to him, Georgia attaches huge importance to the close cooperation with the United States in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
The US side has expressed eagerness for supporting and deepening cooperation with Georgia. James Comey also expressed interest in assisting MIA Forensic Service personnel and investigators in re-training and improving their qualifications. The sides also discussed the importance of the exchange of information for the fight against crime and prevention of criminal offences.
The Minister noted that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has extensive knowledge and experience in the fight against all types of organized crime and therefore it is important for Georgia to be supported by its partner country, to share knowledge, practices and receive recommendations.
At the meeting with James Comey, the Minister reviewed the recently-implemented reforms within the Ministry. Giorgi Mgebrishvili noted that significant steps towards developing international police cooperation have been made on the legislative and institutional levels. The two sides also discussed progress achieved as part of their cooperation and reviewed future plans. (MIA)