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On November 30 the chairman of the New Rights Parliamentary Group, David Gamkrelidze attended an international conference. Two days conference, with the title - Promoting Democracy: Enhancing The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy was organized by the Parliament of Georgia. Representatives of all Parliamentary Groups and executive government attended the meeting. Mr. Gamkrelidze gave a speech, where he emphasized that Georgian government tries to isolate the opposition groups from the international processes. Conference was attended by the President of the National Democratic Institute - Kenneth D. Wollack, the Speaker of the Senate of Poland - Bogdan Borusewicz and the Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania Viktoras Muntianas. |
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David Gamkrelidze MP attended an international conference
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On November 30 the chairman of the New Rights Parliamentary Group, David Gamkrelidze attended an international conference. Two days conference, with the title - Promoting Democracy: Enhancing The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy was organized by the Parliament of Georgia. Representatives of all Parliamentary Groups and executive government attended the meeting. Mr. Gamkrelidze gave a speech, where he emphasized that Georgian government tries to isolate the opposition groups from the international processes. Conference was attended by the President of the National Democratic Institute - Kenneth D. Wollack, the Speaker of the Senate of Poland - Bogdan Borusewicz and the Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania Viktoras Muntianas. |
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Statement of the New Rights Party about financial police rushing into the private companies
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Two days ago, the employees of the book-store "Saunje", together with the representatives of the civil society, fairly protested against expected sell of the store´s space; the scandalous incentive that threatened existence of the store "Saunje" was left behind attention in the mean time of the Georgian political turmoil. Mass-media revealed that on November 4 the financial police rushed in the units of the "Sony" company, situated on Rustaveli ave. (shop "Sony" and cafe "Rustaveli"); the documentation and offices were sealed and the company´s owners were summoned to make claims. After two days, the government´s representatives informed us again through mass-media that the "Sony´s" owners should give up owned property and accept in return territory of the shop "Saunje". This case is an obvious confirmation that the financial police represents governmental tool of blackmailing and exerting pressure on business and that in our country the property rights are absolutely ignored, business is terrorized and the foreign investment is unprotected. A while ago, "thanks to" the joint deal of the financial police and the Ministry of Agriculture, Georgia was nearly engaged in the international scandal connected with the problems arisen concerning Austrian company - "Schinhoffer".
It is significant that yesterday, when the president of Georgia was talking about Georgian democracy from the tribune of the European Parliament, the representatives of his government (again financial police and the Ministry of Agriculture) were attacking one more European investment based company - "Badagoni".
We advise Georgian government to abandon terrorizing business. The intimidated business can not become a guarantee of the economic advancement and employment; the country, where the property right and investments are not protected can not become a reliable partner for other countries and the international companies. |
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Detention of NRP military commission chairman Giorgi Tavdgiridze causes international outcry
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The non-governmental organization Georgia for NATO has appealed to the international organizations for their reaction regarding the Giorgi Tavdgiridze detention case. In the appeal sent to the NATO parliamentary assembly committees, NATO press and information service, European Commission, Geneva Center for Democratic Control on Armed Forces and various human rights organizations, the possible motives for Tavdgiridze´s detention are clearly explained. Also, the document gives a comprehensive explanation as to why Tavdgiridze should be regarded as a political prisoner.
"Colonel Tavdgiridze was frequently criticizing the current situation in the Defense Ministry system and was boldly exposing cases of corruption to the public view. He was saying that the ministry had become a non-transparent, non-accountable state agency", the appeal says.
The NGO, based on the estimates of Tavdgiridze, states that the Defense Ministry is spending large amounts of money to buy the kind of arms and technology which are irrelevant to the NATO standards. As they say, Giorgi Tavdgiridze fears that these hasty purchases are caused by the fact that the authorities plan to utilize those arms and technology for solving the inner conflicts of Georgia. In his opinion, the funds are spending on order of the Defense Minister and not according to the program or the budget. "All this gives us every ground to believe that Colonel Tavdgiridze is a victim of political persecution," the appeal says.
The NATO parliamentary assembly committee, the Civil Dimension of Security, has confirmed receipt of the document regarding Giorgi Tavdgiridze and stated that will address the issue with attention to put it out on an international level. |
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New Rights Party position concerning lately tensioned relations between Russia and Georgia
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BRIEFING OF MR. DAVID GAMKRELIDZE, NRP CHAIRMAN ABOUT LATELY TENSIONED RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA
On October 3, 2006 Mr. David Gamkrelidze MP, chairman of the New
Rights Party of Georgia gave a briefing, where he discoursed upon the
lately tensioned relations between Russia and Georgia and evaluated
the recent developments.
Mr. Gamkrelidze declared that Georgia, as a sovereign state has taken
absolutely natural step as revealing and detaining the spies of the
malevolent country. This action can be considered as one of the rare
occasions during the recent years of our country´s history, when
Georgian government was acting in full accordance with the
international standards and in conformity with the state of affairs
between the Russia and Georgia.
Therefore, the international community earnestly expected the reaction
of Russian Federation. It was extremely important to see what would be
the reaction of the President Putin himself, and not the members of
State Duma or Ministers of Defense/Foreign affairs.
In the opinion of David Gamkrelidze, the reaction of Vladimir Putin
was an emotional, menacing speech of the addled leader that was
accompanied by the economic sanctions such as: transport, post and
presumably financial blockade and the first attempt of deportation of
Georgian nationals. Such inadequate step was correspondingly defined
by the international community.
In that way President Putin performed self-exposure, convinced the
whole world of the rightfulness of the Georgian position and
demonstrated that the real mission of Russia and its "Peace forces" is
destructing Georgia and seizing its territories.
In this state of affairs two timely and very important decisions the
President of Georgia, as a head of sovereign state can take will be
to:
I. Unilaterally terminate to Russian Peace-makers the mandate of
acting on Georgian territory, both in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
II. Take an official decision about Georgia´s disengagement from
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
None of these decisions lay under prerogative of the Parliament or the
Government of Georgia. According to Georgia´s Constitution both issues
are in competence of the President of Georgia.
David Gamkrelidze appealed to Mikheil Saakashvili to make use of the
present state of affairs and realize the longstanding dream of
Georgian nation about Georgia once and for all leaving the orbit of
Russian empire.
In that case the Russian-Georgian relation crises, accompanied by
temporary difficulties will be lot more justified and will turn into
the logical sequel of the events that took place between two countries
lately. |
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Statement by the New Rights Party on boycott of the local elections
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Given that:
-The Georgian authorities are holding the local elections on narrow, ruling party interests and do not consider any of the opinion/arguments expressed by the citizenry, international organizations, experts or the opposition parties [the direct elections of mayors and governors were not allowed, the election committees were staffed with only the ruling party "professional" supporters, the register of voters is practically in the same condition as during the 2003 Parliamentary elections, etc.];
-The new system of electing the Tbilisi City Assembly approved by the Parliament in 2005 is extremely undemocratic and one-sidedly serves the interests of the ruling party - United National Movement [according to the current electoral law, out of the 37 mandates of the Tbilisi City Assembly 30 will go to the party which will gain more votes than the others, that is to say, at least 30% of the whole turn-out. The remaining 7 mandates will be distributed among the parties which will gain 4% of the votes. Relevantly, it is most likely that 65% of the voters will not be represented in the Assembly at all (the total 6-7 seats received from the proportional list will merely be used as an opposition decoration). After the abolition of the voter turnout (33% of total voters) this issue becomes even graver as it will most likely turn out that the Assembly will represent the will of only 8-10% of the total number of the Tbilisi townspeople];
-The incumbent President of Georgia referred to an unprecedented manipulation with fix a date of elections, thus ridding the opposition parties of the time to prepare and launch their election campaigns [on August 8, the Head of the President´s administration who is at the same time the Secretary General of the ruling party, Giorgi Arveladze, declared publicly by TV that the elections would take place in December 2006. On August 26, President Saakashvili, who is the Leader of the ruling party at the same time, announced October 5, 2006 as the date for the local elections];
-The ruling party - United National Movement - has been conducting its active election campaign since Spring 2006 without any restraints or control. It also blatantly abuses the budgetary funds and the administrative resources for the promotion of its candidates and its party list;
-The government agencies are exerting pressure on the personnel working in the budgetary sector on a regular basis in order to the able control their choice on the Election Day.
Consider that:
-The local elections to be held in this kind of electoral system and in the existing situation, is one of the most significant problems the country is facing. It will further divide and polarize the political parties as well as the society;
-It is essential that in the process of state government, particularly at the level of self-government, the interests and opinions of the society should be best represented and considered, which the current electoral legislation and the actions of the ruling party render impossible;
-Thanks to the actions of the President and his party, the 2006 local elections can be likened to a very badly performed play, the end of which is known beforehand.
With all the above-mentioned in mind:
New Rights Party of Georgia decides on boycotting the Local Elections scheduled to take place on October 5, 2006.
It has been five years since our party has been playing an important role in the country´s political life. In 2002 local elections we received the most number of mandates country-wide. In 2004 parliamentary elections we were the only opposition subject who overcame the 7% threshold and got its group in the Parliament. However, in this kind of "unbelievably cynical event", which the incumbent authorities somehow happen to call "local elections", we refuse to take part. We have no desire to participate in Saakashvili´s authoritarian activities as "Democratic background".
At the same time, we would like to once again express our respect to the Georgian electorate and vow that the New Rights Party of Georgia will continue with their constitutional struggle against Saakashvili and his authoritarian rule. |
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Statement about arrest of Colonel Giorgi Tavdgiridze, head of New Rights Party Military Issues Commission
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The declared goal of the Georgian authorities is accession to the NATO. It would be logical to think that the authorities welcomed anything that would facilitate this process. However, the recent detention of the well-known military expert, former rector of the Georgian Military Academy, came as a sheer surprise indeed.
Colonel Tavdgiridze is a distinguished figure in the Georgian armed forces and has had a brilliant military career. He was leading the modernized Georgian army as well as commanding one of the best Georgian units - Shavnabada Battalion. Tavdgiridze was head of the J4 department of the General Staff. He is the author of the Logistics and Supply Concept of the Georgian Armed Forces. Later on, he was heading the headquarters of the Infantry Forces. The Georgian-American "train and equip program" was initiated through his personal efforts and leadership. The program, among others, was aimed at creating first Georgian military units brought closer to the NATO standards. Specifically, he was the one who developed staff-organizational structure of the units designated for the program. He was overseeing the first stage of the training. Colonel Tavdgiridze received education at the General Staff Academy in Germany. From 2004 to 2005 he was a rector of the Georgian Military Academy.
The formal reason for the detention of Colonel Tavdgiridze is as follows: on order of the incumbent Defense Minister, due to the ongoing reforms in the Military Academy, the personnel in the defense system were cut off their work contracts and an order was issued on the new rules of employment. This order of the minister did not actually reach the National Defense Academy. Based on the acting legislation, the then rector, Giorgi Tavdgiridze summoned those teachers who were teaching foreign languages to the officers of the peacekeeping contingent scheduled to go to Kosovo and Iraq as well as those students set to be sent to the NATO member states. This, in turn, rescued the program for sending future officers to the West for further training, fulfillment of the IPAP requirements as well as training of the officers of the peacekeeping continent. Today, the prosecutor´s office deems the money paid to the teachers for the education of the Georgian officers as embezzlement of the state funds.
Over the last period, Colonel Tavdgiridze was strongly criticizing the Defense Ministry via media. He had exposed many facts of corruption in the ministry system. In his opinion, the Defense Ministry has become a closed and irresponsible state agency; the country is being militarized; the defense minister and other high-ranking officials are using militaristic rhetoric more and more frequently; the ministry is spending great amounts of money to purchase the kind of military technology, which does not meet NATO standards. Colonel Tavdgiridze fears that these sorts of hasty purchases might be caused by the intention of the authorities to use this technology for the inner ´frozen conflicts´. Tavdgiridze believes that the Minister of Defense is personally directing the units of the armed forces; the funds are spent on his order and not within the framework of the program budget.
We are certain that Giorgi Tavdgiridze is a victim of a political persecution and a personal prisoner of Minister Irakli Okruashvili. Tavdgiridze was punished in a demonstrative manner so that the other professionals in this sphere should not dare raise any opposing voice. Regrettably, we have no ground to believe in the independence of the incumbent Georgian courts. Therefore, we appeal to the international community and, to you personally, to give an adequate response and reaction to this case, because in stead of democracy, Georgia is day by day becoming an authoritarian-style of country where democracy and the fundamental Human Rights of the individual are being jeopardized. |
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Parliament of Georgia: Who is in charge of the Country?
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MPs unemployed before the Rose Revolution
By Nino Loladze
In order to save his public rating, Mikheil Saakashvili might dissolve the parliament earlier than the time of the general elections - this kind of prognoses are quite frequent. After the Rose Revolution, the doors of the Parliament were opened to very random people. The electoral list of the ruling party (United National Movement) would be a good proof in this regard, where out of 188 people, 79 were unemployed. The revolutionary "Aurora" fired for exactly for them and brought them from the street rallies directly into the Parliament.
It is not a novelty that the unemployment rate has increased after the Revolution and so many have been left without jobs. And their places have been occupied by such people who had never had a job in their life. What happened was that the professionals were replaced by the party-activist amateurs. Those who were carrying the bulletins of the National Movement Party later found themselves well-ensconced in governmental office rooms. And, their friends and relatives got jobs in the ministries and other administrative agencies.
The electoral list of the President´s party was created in the office then Secretary General of the United National Movement Vano Merabishvili [current interior minister]. Some of those, which landed on Merabishvili´s list, would not have dreamed about once becoming an MP even in their boldest dreams. However, as it appears, the Rose Revolution is capable to make even the wildest of dreams come true.
The party leadership registered 79 unemployed individuals in the United National Movement electoral list. 57 of them, today, are MPs. Even the major source of pride David Kirkitadze was jobless. Here is how his work experience looks on the Parliament´s official web-site. In 1995-2000 he studied in the Tbilisi Judicial Psychology Institute, in 1996-2000 he studied in the Georgian Physical Training and Sports Academy, in 2003-2004 he was Deputy Head of the Civil Service for Sports and Tourism of the Tbilisi Mayor´s Office.
Rati Samkurashvili was also unemployed. However, this does not mean that he went without something to do. Samkurashvili was mainly involved in the party activities. All this started for the Shevardnadze´s CUG [Citizens´ Union of Georgia] youth organization. For his party achievements, in 2001, he was even appointed as assistant to the Head of the then Revenues Ministry staff. In 2002-2003, Samkurashvili was chairman of the Gldani district organization of the United National Movement and after that he was given the post of the regional secretary of the party.
Among the unemployed was Levan Mkheidze as well. However, today he is already the Head of the Investigation Department of the Financial Police. He does not even have his work experience on the official site of the Parliament. David Namgalauri was also unemployed, who today is the chairman of the State Sports Department.
The Revolution gave the chance to open the doors of the Parliament to Kakha Getsadze too, who from 2000 worked as a doctor-surgeon in the Prison #5 medical department. Thanks to Saakashvili´s roses, Teo Tlashadze escaped the status of an unemployed as well, who in 1990-1993 was just a laborer in the Gori-based industrial company, and in 1995-1998 she was teaching history in a village in Gori secondary school. After this Tlashadze had not worked at all, at least that´s what here biography lets us know.
Koba Khabazi became an MP after a long time of being unemployed. The Revolution granted status of an MP to Shota Malashkhia, Guram Kakalashvili; the former inspector of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti department of the interior ministry, Grigol Kobalia, as well as Ramin Gogokhia. Roin Janashia was among the unemployed too, who before he became an MP had his last job in 1998 and was Kolmsheni district principal. The workbook was opened for Nikoloz Natsvlishvili in the Parliament as well, whose biography tells us that in 1993-1998 he was only a student of the Tbilisi Institute of Economics and Humanities.
It is a usual thing for just regular, random people to come to power after revolutions. Therefore, the once unemployed becoming MPs the other day is a "usual" story. It is a fact that for the future general elections, the distinguished representatives of the ruling party will be in the electoral list again. Why not? Kirkitadze, Samkurashvili and others will have quite impressive CV´s by that time.
Extract from an article posted on the AKHALI VERSIA newspaper
28-29 June 2006 # 49 |
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Saakashvili recognizes himself in a play of Robert Sturua?
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Government has reduced state financing of the theatres: reasons & versions
The general manager of the famous Shota Rustaveli Academic Theatre Gia Tevzadze announced at a press conference held at the occasion of the season closing that the Rustaveli theatre received the least amount of funds compared to other Georgian theatres. In his words: "Just two days before opening the season in the Rustaveli Theatre, President Mikheil Saakashvili visited the theatre and vowed that it would get 2 million GEL annually in terms of government funding. That said, the promise has hardly been kept."
Tevzadze said that the financial support the Rustaveli theatre receives is 180 % less than all other theatres. This has prompted him to sign on to the release of 40% of the theatre staff on an unpaid vacation. As Tevzadze and the attendees of the press conference noted, there is a presumption that Saakashvili did not make his promise good due to the much-talked-about play - "A Soldier, Love, Security Officer and the President" - directed and staged by famous Robert Sturua.
"It has so turned out that the state has quit financing the theatres right after the staging of this very play, for which other theatres are blaming us too. There is a presumption that it was this play that caused the government´s resentment at the theatre community in Georgia".
Extract from an article posted on the REZONANSI newspaper
27 June 2006, #170 |
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STATEMENT by Georgia's opposition parties on the Kodori Gorge crisis: Issue 2
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To begin with, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of the person who died during the special operation in Kodori Gorge.
In addition, the opposition parties of Georgia note with satisfaction that thanks to the mediation of the Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II, the Georgian society and our joint efforts in general, the bloodshed and fratricide was avoided in the first phase of the crisis that unfolded in Kodori Gorge.
It was exactly the adequate reaction from all strata of our society that forced the authorities to restrain from all-out military retaliation against the small resistance paramilitary group. And, as a matter of fact, military retaliation was insistently propagated by the President and his team through the media over the recent days.
By the reaction from the general public, Emzar Kvitsiani realized that his armed revolt had no support from neither the political circles nor the majority of Georgia´s population, and the government, for its part, perceived that the large-scale bloodshed in Kodori Gorge would produce serious protest from the society.
We would like to especially point out the fact that, according to the information we had, during the special operation, the majority of fighters was very cautious, which had minimized the number of casualties among the population as well as the insurgents and the government forces.
We would like to express our hope that the Georgian public will in the future have the same kind of adequate and timely response to events of this nature and will allow no one to undermine the interests of our country and its citizens. We call upon the incumbent authorities to pay less attention and time to their euphoric PR campaigns and focus more on the solution of all those real problems that exist in Kodori Gorge and the whole conflict zone.
New Rights (Conservative) Party
Republican Party
Labor Party
Freedom Party
Conservative Party
Industry Saves Georgia
Public Forum |
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