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The Right Opposition Group member David Saganelidze met the family members of the victims of 9th April and those injured during similar actions in Azerbaijan and Lithuania. After the meeting David Saganelidze noted that unlike the Georgian government, the governments of other two countries have fair attitude towards the victims of Vilnius and Baku events. Victims in Lithuania are provided with 400 USD support per month and with free medical service, while Georgian government has canceled even the limited indulgence. The Lithuanian and Azerbaijani guests showed sympathy for the families of deceased and expressed indignation at Georgian government´s attitude towards suffered. |
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David Saganelidze MP met the victims of 9th April
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The Right Opposition Group member David Saganelidze met the family members of the victims of 9th April and those injured during similar actions in Azerbaijan and Lithuania. After the meeting David Saganelidze noted that unlike the Georgian government, the governments of other two countries have fair attitude towards the victims of Vilnius and Baku events. Victims in Lithuania are provided with 400 USD support per month and with free medical service, while Georgian government has canceled even the limited indulgence. The Lithuanian and Azerbaijani guests showed sympathy for the families of deceased and expressed indignation at Georgian government´s attitude towards suffered. |
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The Right Opposition Group met the USA Congress Delegation
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Today, On April 5, the Right Opposition Group has met the US Congress delegation. The conversation covered current political events of Georgia: absence of the Judiciary, violation of property rights and Human Rights, notorious murders and severe situation in prisons. Issues of NATO integration and reunification of Georgia were also discussed during the meeting. |
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David Gamkrelidze MP and Pikria Chikhradze MP met the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
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Today, on March 29 US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew J. Bryza met the leaders of the Parliamentary opposition: Right Opposition Group leader David Gamkrelidze and New Rights Political Secretary Pikria Chikhradze. Long and extensive conversation covered current political events of Georgia, Judiciary system, Human Rights and Property Rights situation and President´s recent initiative that concerns creation of the administrative subject in Tskhinvali. |
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The New Rights' rating is rising
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On March 20-22 "Interpressresearch", the social survey centre of "Interpressnews" has conveyed the phone survey in Tbilisi. 450 respondents were questioned. Answers on the question - which political party do you trust the most - were distributed as following:
1. National Movement - 15,8%
2. New Rights - 5.4%
3. Labour party - 2.9%
4. Republican party - 2.0%
5. Industry will save Georgia - 0,7%
6. Conservative party - 0.7%
7. National forum - 0,4%
8. Georgian way - 0,2%
Find it difficult to answer - 29,5%
None of the parties - 42,0%
Its a secret - 0,7% |
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Chairman of Tbilisi Armenian diaspora Arnold Stepanian joined the New Rights Party
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Prominent representative of the civil society, chairman of Armenian diaspora of Tbilisi Arnold Stepanian joined the New Rights Party. According to the decision of the party National Committee Arnold Stepanian was invited to the political bureau and will start busy political activity with his new status. |
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EPP delegation visited the New Rights Party Headquarters
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On March 19, 2007 the fact finding mission delegation of the European People´s Party visited the New Rights Headquarters. The delegation´s composition was as following:
Head of the delegation - Walburga HABSBURG DOUGLAS MP, Sweden - Chair of the Swedish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Moderate Party;
Delegation members: Yasar YAKIS MP, Turkey - Chair of EU Commission in the Turkish Parliament, Former Foreign Minister of Turkey, AK Party;
Kostas SASMATZOGLOU, Greece - EPP Secretary of External Relations;
Eva GUSTAVSSON, Sweden - International Secretary of Moderate Party, IDU Political Auditor;
Erik KROIHER, Austria - International Secretary of Austrian People´s Party;
Panagiotis PAPADOPOULOS, Greece - Secretary of International Relations of Nea Demokratia;
Galina FOMENCHENKO, Ukraine - YEPP Vice-President, EPP Political Adviser.
The delegation was hosted by: David Gamkrelidze MP, NRP Chairman, Pikria Chikhradze MP, PACE member, Irakli Iashvili MP, Manana Nachkebia MP, President of Women of New Rights, George Mosidze, NRP International Secretary and Irina Pruidze, President of the Young Rights.
The New Rights Party familiarized the delegation with the values, program and structure of the party and discussed with them current political issues of Georgia. |
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David Gamkrelidze MP has held a press conference regarding President´s visit to the Parliament
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Today, on March 14 the Right Opposition Group Chairman David Gamikrelidze convened a press conference regarding President´s visit to the Parliament:
Tomorrow, on March 15 President Saakashvili will 3rd time address the Parliament of Georgia with the report. Unfortunately, Mr. Saakashvili has refused again to follow traditional dialogue format and gave preference to monologue. In this situation we have no choice but to openly address the President with the questions, answers to which are expected by the society for a long time. Our questions concern the following issues:
1. Privatization process that became subject of backroom arrangements between Prime Minister Nogaideli and State Minister Bendukidze;
2. Problem of Tbilisi International Airport;
3. Issue of violating private property rights;
4. Nearly liquidation of judiciary in the country;
5. Talked over issue of discredited Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili and his criminal gang.
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David Gamkrelidze has signed the support memorandum of Georgia's affiliation to NATO
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Today, on March 12 the Right Opposition Group Chairman David Gamkrelidze has signed the memorandum about supporting Georgia´s affiliation to NATO. According to David Gamkrelidze´s statement, the document is a clear message for our north neighbour, making it obvious that there is no power in Georgia, who would remain neutral regarding Georgia´s NATO membership. |
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The New Rights call upon the President to choose between the "criminal gang" of Vano Merabishvili and Georgian State
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Today, on March 5, the Right Opposition Group leader Pikria Chikhradze MP gave a press-conference regarding the yesterday´s TV story. She called upon the President of Georgia to make preference between the "criminal gang" of Vano Merabishvili and the State of Georgia. According to the statement of Pikria Chikhradze, the President should already have decision on this issue by his report to the Parliament. Strike of March 27 was planned by Mamardashvili and Akhalaia in order to overlap the urgent topics of that time and recover their reputation. The President should either verify by his action that Vano Merabishvili is behind this "criminal gang" or sign under the fact that he covers them himself. |
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The Right Opposition Group met the veterans
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Today, on February 27 the Right Opposition Group met the veterans of war, labour and military powers. Pikria Chikhradze MP, Mamuka Katsitadze MP and David Saganelidze MP talked to veterans and set a goal to elaborate program for restoring abatements. The Right Opposition Group will rise the question of the veterans during the upcoming meeting of the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Parliament. |
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The Right Opposition Group summons Minister George Arveladze to the Parliament
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Today, on February 27 during the plenary Pikria Chikhradze MP called upon the Parliament to react on recent events of Tbilisi International Airport. According to her statement, respective committee should be interested in this issue and the Minister of Economic Development should be summoned to the committee meeting to answer number of questions. In case of neglect by the committee Pikria Chikhradze assumes using the governmental hour regime. |
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Statement regarding of deprivation, seizure and expropriation of the private property in Georgia
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STATEMENT BY THE NEW RIGHTS PARTY OF GEORGIA
REGARDING FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF DEPRIVATION, SEIZURE AND EXPROPRIATION OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, DISPOSSESSION OF THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY, CASES OF REAL ESTATES’ DESTRUCTIONS AND DONATIONS BY FORCE COMMITTED BY THE GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES
Cases of depriving, seizing, expropriating the private property, dispossessing the right of property, destroying the real estate and donating the real assets to the State by force (namely by intimidation and blackmail) committed by the Georgian authorities lately reached unprecedented scale.
Expropriation of the property from private persons and private companies took a mass scale recently, although it has already started in 2004. In this field actions of Georgia’s acting government are almost identical with those committed by the Bolshevik regime of the Soviet Russia in twenties of XX century.
According to Article 21 of the Georgian Constitution:
• The right to inheritance and property is recognised and guaranteed. The abrogation of the universal right of property, its acquisition, transfer and inheritance is prohibited.
• Restriction of these rights is possible for the necessary social need in cases determined by law and by established right.
• Sequestration of property for necessary social need is permissible in cases directly determined by law, by a decision of the court or through urgent necessity by organic law but only if full compensation is made.
The same is acknowledged by the Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Nevertheless, both in Tbilisi and in entire Georgia, the Constitution and internationally recognized fundamental right of property are regularly encroached. In 21st Century, when Georgia is a member of the international organizations, such as UN, Council of Europe, OSCE and WTO, when Georgia’s claim to become a member of NATO and EU is talked about, in fact the Georgian authorities are affected by the boom of Neo-Bolshevism.
The international experience shows that such unlawful, anti-constitutional, illegal, inhuman actions of the government usually ends up tragically for the government itself and unfortunately deplorably reflects the farther development of the country. It is significant that all above mentioned take place on the background of practical liquidation of the Judiciary that is itself one of the main reasons of lawlessness and unlimited willfulness of the authorities.
In connection with the alarming situation regarding deprivation of the Right of Private Property in Georgia the New Rights Party and its Parliamentary Group calls upon:
• Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia to cease immediately mass expropriation of the private property by the General Prosecutor’s office and by Tbilisi Mayor and Municipality and to restore the property to the owners. Otherwise President’s statements about success, democracy, public benefit and constitutional dialogue with the opposition will be another farce and lie;
• Ms. Nino Burjanadze, Chairwoman of Parliament to fix her position about above mentioned events and support our Parliamentary Group’s initiative on creation of the parliamentary investigation commission with the aim of ascertaining and further reacting on the facts of illegal deprivation of the private property. Otherwise she will lose the moral right to be called the Chairwoman of the Parliament of Georgia elected by people;
• The UN, OSCE, EU and CoE missions in Georgia, ambassadors of USA and EU member countries – to study the facts of illegal expropriation of the private property by the Georgian authorities and state own position. |
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Statement regarding Amendments to the Constitution adopted On December 27, 2006
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STATEMENT BY THE NEW RIGTHS PARTY OF GEORGIA
REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION ADOPTED ON DECEMBER 27, 2006
On December 27, 2006 the Georgian Parliament adopted with Constitutional majority of the votes the amendments to the Constitution, according which the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be held together (on one day) in the period of October 1 - December 31, 2008 and the election date will be fixed by the President personally (not later than 60 days before the elections). The addition has been made to the Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution that the above mentioned rule refers only the Presidential and Parliamentary elections to be held in 2008, subsequent elections will not fall under this rule.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT:
- The last elections of the Parliament of Georgia were held on March 28, 2004; according to the Constitution the Parliament is elected for 4 years term and therefore the next Parliamentary elections were supposed to be held in April, 2008;
- The last elections of the President of Georgia were held on January 4, 2004; according to the Constitution the President is elected for 5 years term and therefore the next Presidential elections were supposed to be held in January, 2009;
- Georgian authorities already more than once ignored recommendations and arguments of the friendly organizations (including Venice Commission, etc.), international experts and opposition parties.
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT:
- Georgian authorities ratified unprecedented amendment to the Constitution, when the sitting Parliament, elected by the population for 4 years term, without any serious arguments by one-self prolonged its credentials for 8 months. This way breaking all written or unwritten rules practiced in the international parliamentarism. Current or the following Parliament can, "in case of necessity" prolong its mandate just as well by any term;
- Parliament of Georgia created another unique precedent by adopting amendment to the Constitution for a single use (specially for 2008 elections) and therefore carrying on detrimental tradition of adjusting State´s basic law - Constitution - to personal interests, established by President Saakashvili;
- A right conferred on the President of Georgia, according to new Constitutional amendments, to assign Presidential (and Parliamentary) elections in the period of October 1 - December 31, 2008 (3 months is unprecedented long term), gives President Saakashvili great advantage over his competitors and represents disregard of the principles of international suffrage. Taking into account previous experience, when President Saakashvili assigned the Local Elections 2006 exactly 40 days prior (and informed the population and the political parties with 2 days delay), it is doubtless that above mentioned Constitutional amendments are adopted for the purpose of creating electoral benefits for Saakashvili.
CONSIDERING ALL ABOVE MENTIONED, WE STATE THAT:
The constitutional amendments initiated by President Saakashvili and adopted by his Parliamentary Majority on December 27, 2006 are extremely undemocratic and serve one-sidedly to the interests of the ruling party -United National Movement - and its chairman Mikheil Saakashvili.
THE NEW RIGHTS PARTY AND ITS PARLIAMENTARY GROUP CATEGORICALLY DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM THIS DECISION OF THE PARLIAMENT AND CONSIDERS AUTHORITIES´ SUCH ACTION TO BE ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS ESTABLISHING IN GEORGIA UNDEMOCRATIC, AUTHORITARIAN REGIME.
The New Rights Party calls upon the International Community, Governments of the friendly countries, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe and European Union governing structures, European PeopleL Party and International Democrat Union ruling bodies to state own position on the process of formation of the Authoritarian Regime in Georgia.
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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Evaluation of the activities of Georgian authorities in 2006
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Evaluation of the activities of Georgian authorities in 2006 by the New Rights Party of Georgia
I. Foreign policy
FAILURES:
1. On NATO Riga Summit the issue of Georgia´s membership was postponed until further notice;
2. Process of Georgia´s approach to the European Union has been suspended for indefinite term;
3. Georgian-Russian relations became extremely strained, as a result Russia imposed an absolute blockade on Georgia;
4. Russian government started mass deportation of ethnic Georgians from its territory, in some cases with lethal outcome;
5. Notwithstanding the 3rd and 4th items, Russians are still holding the Peacekeepers´ mandate in Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
6. At the same time, the President and government of Georgia are queerly silent about Georgia´s withdrawal from CIS;
7. President Saakashvili´s plan of Peaceful Resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, widely advertised in Europe, has actually been collapsed;
8. At this point failed an attempt of seeking the alternative energy sources and from the new year Georgia will be supplied again by Russia, but this time twice more expensive, natural gas (about 235 USD);
9. Transparency International has marked Georgia in its report as a Middle Asia type super-presidential country;
10. Georgia fell within the centre of world media´s attraction only with negative economic aspect - "A small country that practically has levied war on its neighbour "Great Russia". After this, not a word about any serious foreign investments in Georgian economy.
SUCCESSES:
1. The only success in foreign policy, one can consider, is the last Russian soldier leaving the territory of Tbilisi and closing down the Russian Army Headquarters, but in fact even this is realization of Istanbul Summit´s obligation and not a result of progress in 2006.
II. Human Rights
FAILURES:
1. Sadistic killing of bank worker Sandro Girgvliani by the policemen on January 27;
2. The punishing operation carried out by the authorities in Tbilisi prison N5 on March 27, resulted in hundreds of injured and 8 died prisoners, yet no punished any official;
3. Fusillade execution operation carried out by the police nearby Tbilisi tennis-courts (youngsters killed in car);
4. Appearance of political prisoners: Irakli Batiashvili (former MP) and George Tavdgiridze (former military) were imprisoned;
5. Appearance of prisoners of conscience: Irakli Kakabadze and other activists of Egality Institute were jailed for one month;
6. Inhumane conditions in the prisons, permanent humiliation and torture of the prisoners;
7. Mass expropriation of the private properties (enterprises, buildings, stocks) by the government.
SUCCESSES:
1. Adoption of the criminal procedural code by the first hearing by Parliament.
III. Judiciary system
FAILURES:
1. Trial of Sandro Girgvliani´s murderer policemen, as a result of which only low ranking officers (executors) were sentenced, while the high ranking officers (commanders) and the wife of the Interior Minister evaded the responsibility;
2. Trial of the policemen, who murdered a student Amiran Robakidze in 2004;
3. Trial of 14 years old youngster George Zerekidze, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for hooliganism, while Sandro Girgvliani´s murderer policemen were sentenced only to 7 years;
4. Trial of former MP Irakli Batiashvili, who was accused in "supporting intellectually" from Tbilisi (!) the rebels of Kodori gorge;
5. Trial of the chairman of New Rights Party military commission, colonel George Tavdgiridze, who was punished by the authorities as a caution because of criticizing the defense minister Irakli Okruashvili.
This is a small list of the trials that were held in Georgia last year, with absolute ignorance and violation of the law and justice.
SUCCESSES:
1. Initiation of introducing the jury system;
2. Amendments to the Constitution, according which the High Court of Justice of Georgia is no longer subordinated to the President.
IV. Economy
FAILURES:
1. Mass expropriation/confiscation of the private property;
2. Terrorization of the businessmen by the financial police and prosecutor´s office;
3. Privatization and state tenders carried out without transparency and with broken law;
4. Loosing Russia, as a traditional and largest export market;
5. In the international business circles Georgia has established a reputation of unstable and risky country.
SUCCESSES:
1. One of the largest French bank "Societe Generale" entered Georgia;
2. Stocks of "Bank of Georgia" were brought out to London Stock Exchange.
V. Social defense
FAILURES:
1. Very high inflation and significant growth of first needs´ prices (electricity, natural gas, water, medical supplies, flour, sugar, oil);
2. Broad unemployment and lack of state employment policy;
3. Canceling social aid to great many of population and biased criteria of selection the disadvantaged people.
SUCCESSES:
1. Slight increase of pensions;
2. Introduction of State Medical Insurance for the disadvantaged people.
VI. Army and Police
FAILURES:
1. Huge expenditures in Georgian army without any real and obvious results;
2. Still Russian-Ukrainian arming of Georgian army which does not comply with NATO standards;
3. Lack of army building strategy;
4. Unbearable, humiliating conditions on the military basis;
5. Catastrophic scope of drug addiction and ineffectiveness of the police in fighting with the narcotics rings.
SUCCESSES:
1. August operation in Kodori gorge concluded without blood;
2. Oppressing the criminal gangs by the police and diminishing the criminal environment.
VII. Education and Science
FAILURES:
1. Collapsed study process in secondary schools;
2. Tbilisi State University destroyed because of wrong policy of the authorities;
3. Practically castrated Science National Academy and demolished traditional science schools;
4. Mass dismissal of qualified scientists and professors from the research institutes and high schools.
SUCCESSES:
1. Holding unified state entrance exams.
FINALLY
Here, we should mention complete monopolization of the election system by the governmental party, carrying out the October local elections with violations and foully, entire formalization and abolition of the self-government system, exerting pressure on journalists and mass-media, lack of control on expending the state budget (presidential fund, etc.) and finally, illegitimate appropriation and absolute usurpation of the power by changing the constitution in December.
To sum up, the most negative results of the action of Saakashvili´s government in 2006 are as following:
1. Prolonging its own term by the Parliament that can be considered as a direct usurpation of the power;
2. Trials of Sandro Girgvliani´s and Amiran Robakidze´s cases;
3. Unlawful (political) imprisonment of Irakli Batiashvili and George Tavdgiridze;
4. Refusal to the membership of the NATO & EU;
5. Mass expropriation of the private property. |
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