The News in Brief
Friday, June 14, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Public Defender Urges Dialogue and Action After Balda Village Incident
The public defender responded to events in Balda village, where members of a protest movement against planned construction in Balda Canyon were attacked on June 11, resulting in one resident being wounded. He urged the heads of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, and the Agency for Protected Areas of the State of Georgia, to organize a meeting with the public soon, using all available resources, and fostering a dialogue based on trust and results.
"The public defender is concerned about the events in the village of Balda and believes that the current situation is becoming increasingly tense and dangerous day by day.
Thus, it is necessary for the state to take all effective steps to ease the situation and find ways out of the crisis. There is no alternative to dialogue and mediation with the participants of the protest to achieve this.
Considering the crisis situation in Balda village of Martvili municipality and the special importance of the issue under discussion, the Public Defender of Georgia calls on the heads of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, as well as the Agency for Protected Areas of the State of Georgia to use all available resources and ensure a meeting with the interested public in the coming days, taking into account the preferred format of the meeting by the population, and promote a trust-based and result-oriented dialogue," the public defender said.
President Zourabichvili Plans to Honor National Football Team in September
In response to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze's statement that President Salome Zourabichvili appears reluctant to honor members of the national football team and representatives of the national football federation, the president's administration clarified that she issued the decree to award them in May, with the ceremony scheduled for September.
"According to the existing practice, the President of Georgia issues the act of awarding a few days before the awards are presented. This was also the case this time: on May 23, 2024, the President of Georgia issued decrees (n:23/05/02 and n:23/05/01), awarding the nominated persons with an Order of Honor and a medal. An official awarding ceremony was planned for the end of May at the Orbeliani Palace, but it could not be held due to the absence of the national team members in Georgia," the statement reads.
The administration stated that President Salome Zourabichvili will present awards to the members of the national team and representatives of the football federation at the beginning of September in Orbeliani Palace.
Public Defender Urges Dialogue and Action After Balda Village Incident
"The public defender is concerned about the events in the village of Balda and believes that the current situation is becoming increasingly tense and dangerous day by day.
Thus, it is necessary for the state to take all effective steps to ease the situation and find ways out of the crisis. There is no alternative to dialogue and mediation with the participants of the protest to achieve this.
Considering the crisis situation in Balda village of Martvili municipality and the special importance of the issue under discussion, the Public Defender of Georgia calls on the heads of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, as well as the Agency for Protected Areas of the State of Georgia to use all available resources and ensure a meeting with the interested public in the coming days, taking into account the preferred format of the meeting by the population, and promote a trust-based and result-oriented dialogue," the public defender said.
President Zourabichvili Plans to Honor National Football Team in September
"According to the existing practice, the President of Georgia issues the act of awarding a few days before the awards are presented. This was also the case this time: on May 23, 2024, the President of Georgia issued decrees (n:23/05/02 and n:23/05/01), awarding the nominated persons with an Order of Honor and a medal. An official awarding ceremony was planned for the end of May at the Orbeliani Palace, but it could not be held due to the absence of the national team members in Georgia," the statement reads.
The administration stated that President Salome Zourabichvili will present awards to the members of the national team and representatives of the football federation at the beginning of September in Orbeliani Palace.