NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-26-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)

Elections and politics
1. Official preliminary outcomes in comparison w/parallel vote tabulations, opinion polling & exit polls
2. Results of parliamentary elections in Georgia
3. CEC confirms ruling party’s landslide victory
4. National Movement sails to victory
5. Ruling party triumphs
6. Reports on vote count annulled from over 20 polling stations in Georgia
7. Three more polling stations annulled
8. Election watchdog issues PVT results
9. Saakashvili promises dialogue, stronger Parliament
10. Saakashvili calls for dialogue ahead of opposition’s rally
11. President hails Georgians' "wisdom" after ruling party's landslide win in poll
12. Opposition mistrusts PVT results
13. video: Georgia’s opposition calls for parliament boycott
14. Opposition boycotts parliament after Saakashvili win
15. Leading opposition bloc said it will not take part in the activity of parliament
16. Opposition consults on possible boycott of parliament
17. Opposition coalition discusses tactic
18. Opposition vows to boycott parliament
19. Chances for unanimous opposition boycott shrink
20. Natelashvili urges opposition to reject mandates
21. Opposition leader outlines demands
22. Some candidates against boycott
23. Christian-Democratic Party undecided on boycott
24. Republican Party claims election falsification
25. MP candidate speaks about violations
26. Candidate for MP assesses opposition's decision as political game
27. video: Protesters plot Georgian rally
28. Opposition gears up for rally
29. Opposition leader calls on Church not to engage in political mediation
30. Germany hails Georgian polls
31. Solana hails ‘peaceful conduct’ of polls
32. International observers claim problems with election
33. Presidents congratulate Georgia on passing its democracy exam
34. Western print media criticize Georgian elections
35. European envoys assess polls
36. The most democratic elections in Georgia
37. Election controversy weakens Georgia
38. Authorities build up one-party parliament
39. Democracy still a work-in-progress in Stalin’s home town
40. Inclusive democracy: Where opinions begin and end
41. A journalist physically assaulted
42. Several attacks on journalists during parliamentary elections
43. In Sagarejo’s Azerbaijanian villages great election chaos observed
44. Kakheti’s observer struck by chair – voters frightened by criminals recently released from the prison
45. Open palm: Another signal to circle “five”: Vote rigging in Kutaisi
46. Noisy election in Gori on a maliciously peaceful background
47. The Human Rights Centre hardly managed to evacuate observers from Gori polling stations
48. Akhaltsikhe: Ballot box stuffing with faked votes
49. Provision of pensions and elections take place simultaneously in Zugdidi
50. In Batumi National Movement’s observers are regarded with more favor
51. The Human Rights Centre feft Sagarejo, Lagodekhi and Sighnaghi
52. IDP cards – one more method of falsification
53. Invisible ink: Another method of rigging elections
54. Elections in Samegrelo under cloud of murder and unexplained explosions
55. People beaten over faked passports
56. The Human Rights Center recalled observers precincts - threat of terror and death
57. Report from election observation 20 and 21 May 2008
58. Election deals in Samtskhe-Javakheti region
Conflicts and Georgia-Russia relations
59. paper: Introduction to the Georgia-Abkhazia case study
60. paper: The isolation of Abkhazia: A failed policy or an opportunity?
61. paper: Sanctions and the path away from peace
62. Russia to rotate peacekeepers in Abkhazia by June 2
63. Russian Defense Ministry to hold peacekeepers’ rotation in Abkhazia in late May
64. Russia says no increase in peacekeepers after rotation in Georgia's Abkhazia
65. Russian peacekeepers new accusations against Georgia
66. Secret peace plan discussed between Sukhumi and Tbilisi
67. American frigate sparks off separatists' concern
68. Rumors of peace amid drums of war
69. Polish reporter complains of being beaten up in Sukhumi
70. Peacekeepers report airspace violation in Georgia-Ossetia conflict zone
71. Georgia wants 'new dialogue' with Russia
72. What it means for Georgia to be on eve of war
73. Russian 'Avax' over Georgia
74. Checking in with the Georgians and Russians with the help of Robert Frost
75. Georgia sees chance to ease tensions with Russia
76. I am more likely a careful pessimist than an optimist in the issue of the Karabakh resolution [excerpt]
77. Zaporizhzhya Cossacks' reply to Moscow's Mayor
Foreign relations
78. upcoming conference: European Neighbourhood Policy and the South Caucasus
79. Prime Minister to take part in the sitting of the CIS heads of governments
80. Georgians are overcritical and over demanding
81. Whole world - USA, UNO, EC, etc. support only Saakashvili, not 'Poppositionists'!
82. Senior aide's lobbying efforts highlight challenge for McCain
83. Georgia relies on international community
84. State Minister to attend NATO PA Assembly's session
85. Foreign Minister leaves for Brussels
86. Does Georgia equally belong to all its citizens regardless the nationality?
87. German officials met Georgia's Defense Ministry officials
88. Azerbaijani president offers Independence Day greetings to Georgian counterpart
89. Energy security in the states of the Southern Caucasus region under threats of Russia
90. Saakashvili in Ukraine for energy summit
91. Georgia, Ukraine propose set up of new energy union
Business and economics
92. Productivity is the key for Georgia’s development
93. Bank of Georgia's long-term IDP affirmed at 'B+' with stable outlook-Fitch
94. audio/video: Georgia's transformation into a modern market democracy
95. Kala Capital longs for foreign designer company
96. Georgian dollar reserves decreased
97. KazTransgaz-Tbilisi for cleaner environment
98. Kulevi oil terminal opened
99. EBRD purchased Basis Bank Shares
Misc.
100. Honeymooning in Georgia
101. Georgian National Gallery to be revived
102. Fishing Georgia - Georgia on my six-weight line
103. Simulation systems for Georgian Army
104. Crisis of faith: Armenian identity threatened in Tbilisi
105. Encouraging women to become more politically active
106. New women’s health initiative offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings
107. Commemoration of AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day in Tbilisi
108. Dissecting Megrelians
109. The triumph of freedom with a modest parade and a pop star concert: Georgian Independence Day turns ninety
110. 2,600 servicemen to take part in Georgia's Independence Day parade
111. Patriarch presented diploma to Azerbaijani scientist
112. A Georgian Eurovision to boost national pride
113. Needles just the latest town to consider 'breakaway' course [excerpt]

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814