The messenger logo

The News in Brief

Tuesday, June 25
By Natalia Kochiashvili



Hunger strike in front of the Parliament

Three young people participating in the protest rallies began a hunger strike, camping in front of the Parliament of Georgia.

They say the hunger strike will not stop until the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

Participants of the protest rally demand the release of detainees from June 20-21, the punishment of law enforcers guilty of abuse of power and conducting 2020 elections with the proportional system; the ruling party agreed to the last demand after four days of protest. The rally continues - this Monday, a column of protesters headed from the Republic Square to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they are to gather in front of the Parliament in the evening.



The Writers’ House abolished

The National Foundation of Georgian Literature was announced as the successor of the Writers’ Home, which was abolished this Monday.

According to the information of the Ministry, in order to protect and develop national literary heritage, the objective of the foundation of the unified LEPLs will be - Creation of new publishers and adequate conditions for accessibility as well as translating to different languages; Introduction of residency programs for Georgian writers; Supporting the teaching of creative writing and encouraging the development of literary criticism and others.

On May 3, 2019, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia announced that it intends to unify its organizations (LEPLs), “Georgian National Center” and “Georgian Writers’ Home” in the “National Foundation of Literature” to modernize units and improve management.

On May 7, more than 50 writers and publishers publish an open letter asking them to maintain their independence. According to them, the fact that the final decision was made without consultation with the staff, writers, or publishers makes the motivation of the Ministry suspicious.



Khazaradze was re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of TBCBANK Group PLC

The shareholders meeting of TBCBANK Group PLC ended in London. According to the founder of TBC Bank, Mamuka Khazaradze, 97% of shareholders supported his candidacy as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Badri Japaridze as the Deputy Chairperson.

“TBC Bank’s shareholders are among the 105 institutional investors from the US, UK and continental Europe. We perceive this fact as a confirmation of trust towards us and support to our strategy,” - Khazaradze commented and thanked his partners and the whole team.

In early April, the founders of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze left the Supervisory Board of the Bank, however, they remained the chairman and deputy chairman of the Board of Directors of TBC PLC.