POLICY: New social movement appears in Tbilisi (news-en.trend.az)

The Social movement 'Defend Georgia!' was introduced in Tbilisi on July 10. Levan Gachechiladze, former presidential candidate in Georgia, will head the new movement.
The cofounder of movement, former Culture Minister David Magradze introduced initiative group. This group includes writer Chabua Amirezhibi, actors Otar Megvinetukhutsesi, Guranda Gabuniya, fivefold world champion Nona Gaprindashvili, Levan and Giorgi Gachechiladze, basketball player Nikoloz Deryugin, directors Keti Dolidze, Rezo Esadze, Robert Sturua, Revaz Chkheidze, footballer Nukri Kakilashvili, composers Bidzina Kvernadze, Nato Metonidze, former Defense Minister Giorgi Karkarashvili and other highly sympathized people in Georgia. Author of the book "Data Tutashkhiya" Chabua Amiredgibi selected chairman of the initiative group.
Registration of our supporters will begin on July 13 and afterwards the party will be presented. All opposition society forces and individuals which participate in actions in front of parliament beginning from April 9 will be unified in this movement, Magradze said.
Beginning from July 10, television ads will be demonstrated in local television channels with a list of telephone numbers. All who desires can become member of the movement.
Founders of the movement said they target to prevent armed resistance in the country.

source: news-en.trend.az

EURASIANET: GEORGIA: NO BREAKTHROUGH IN SAAKASHVILI-OPPOSITION TALKS (eurasianet.org)

After a month of street demonstrations during which protesters have agitated for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s resignation, the Georgian leader and opposition envoys sat down for talks on May 11. The discussions did not appear to resolve any of the issues dividing the two sides.

The opposition was represented by Levan Gachechiladze, a former presidential candidate; Irakli Alasania, leader of the Alliance for Georgia coalition; Salome Zourabishvili, leader of the Georgia’s Way Party; and Kakha Shartava, leader of the National Forum.

Aside from Saakashvili, the government’s side included Parliamentary Chairperson Davit Bakradze, parliamentary majority leader Petre Tsiskarishvili, parliamentarian Giorgi Gabashvili and Minister for Corrections and Legal Assistance Dimitri Shashkin.

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OPPOSITION: Opposition Sets Tents at President’s Residence (civil.ge)

Can find the contemporary unity of different oppostional parties a common programm in a tent camp before the parliament ... ? Or is it only a youth project like a adventure trip to break out from the normal daily life ? What is the aim of this political movement ? Is it a political spectacle ?

The opposition activists and their leaders installed several tents outside the presidential residence on Monday in an attempt to mount pressure on the authorities.

“We will put more tents in other places as well,” Levan Gachechiladze, one of the opposition leaders, said after personally installing one of the tents.

“This is a peacefully expression of the citizens’ will,” Irakli Alasania, leader of opposition Alliance for Georgia, who was also there, said.

Nino Burjanadze, the leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia, said she hoped the President would “hear people’s demand from here.”

Meanwhile, Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, told reporters after meeting with a group of civil society representatives and political analysts, including those who are the authorities’ critics, that the authorities could consider possibility of a coalition government.

He, however, also said that the coalition government required “confidence between the political forces and a normal political dialogue.”

Mamuka Katsitadze of the New Rights Party, part of Alliance for Georgia, said that the opposition was not even considering such option.

And Eka Beselia of the Movement for United Georgia, a party founded by ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, told protesters outside the Parliament: “No posts, not taking seats in the government; the demand about resignation of Saakashvili has no alternative.”

source: civil.ge

REPORT: Tbilisi Protestors Start Street Barricades (eurasianet.org)

by Molly Corso and Elizabeth Owen 4/10/09

Hours after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili rejected the opposition’s ultimatum to step down, opposition leaders threatened to seize systematic control of the country using civil disobedience.
Opposition leaders announced a blockade of streets in front of parliament, the presidential residence and the Georgian Public Broadcasting headquarters every day between 3 pm and 9 pm in Tbilisi.
Levan Gachechiladze, the former presidential candidate, told EurasiaNet that the opposition plans to extend these blockades throughout the capital and, eventually, to the rest of the country until Saakashvili resigns. At an afternoon briefing, National Security Council Secretary Eka Tkeshelashvili told reporters that the government "will not obstruct" protestors from closing the three roads, two of which are major thoroughfares.
"We will have to see for tomorrow how the situation develops," Tkeshalashvili said, noting that the government’s official policy is to allow people to demonstrate. "We are counting on the wisdom of our public as well." Uniformed police in the Georgian capital remain minimal, but alert.
Roughly 90 minutes into the blockade’s 6pm start on April 10, police had partly closed access to one of the blockaded roads, outside of Georgian Public Broadcasting. Yelling slogans, opposition supporters on foot and in cars were loosely grouped on the road outside the TV station, but did not extend much beyond the building.
Meeting with foreign journalists in his office, the Georgian president showed no sign of disquietude at the protests or the opposition’s demands. "I’ve been facing these ultimatums every other month for the past five years," Saakashvili said, calling the demonstrations a "normal part of the Georgian political scenery."
But while neither government nor opposition shows signs of acceding to the other side’s demands, Saakashvili and one opposition leader both are repeating calls for dialogue.

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NEWS: Georgia News Digest 12-05-07

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups-beta.google.com/group/genews/files

1. video: Georgia rejects Russian election observers
2. Georgia not to invite Russian observers to its presidential polls
3. MPs hail decision not to invite Russian observers
4. CoE delegation to visit Georgia
5. ODIHR observer mission head to arrive in Tbilisi on Wednesday
6. Tkemaladze: It is necessary to invite observers from various countries
7. Election watchdog plans parallel vote tabulation
8. Burjanadze notes attempts to create "negative backdrop" for poll
9. Acting President Burjanadze holds emergency briefing
10. Session of Security Council held in Parliament
11. Internews Georgia to conduct public outreach campaign on the up-coming presidential elections 2008
12. Watchdog says minister, mayor violate election law
13. "Human Rights Center" demands to stop airing of Kabu’s new clip
14. Zurabishvili says country needs free media
15. Zourabichvili says government bound to fix presidential vote
16. Davitashvili threats the authority with "adequate response"
17. Gachechiladze says non-violence decisive in his platform
18. Gachechiladze to visit Guria today
19. Gachechiladze prioritizes withdrawal from CIS
20. Unknown men broken windows of Levan Gachechiladze’s election headquarter
21. Oposition collects 70,000 signatures in support of its presidential nominee
22. Gachechiladze to continue campaign in region
23. Head of Election Office of Azerbaijan released in Georgia
24. Campaign chief of presidential hopeful released
25. Head of National Assembly of Georgian Azerbaijanis to Establish New Political Party
26. "Labourists" to hold manifestation in Republic Square on December 05
27. Opposition to hold street march in Tbilisi
28. Students organizers of rally in TSU beaten up and left in Kaspi forest
29. Student opposition leaders beaten
30. Gamkrelidze to meet with population of Didi and Patara Liakhvi gorges
31. News Corp. seeks to revive Imedi
32. Imedi general director denies plans to sell TV company to Georgian government
33. Patarkatsishvili made allegation against Rustavi 2 on disinformation
34. Patarkatsishvili denied Belgium entry
35. Patarkatsishvili: The current authorities are leading Georgia towards an abyss
36. Salford refuses its relationship with Patarkatsishvili
37. Okruashvili one step closer to extradition from Germany
38. Germany shown documents on Okruashvili's political persecution
39. Eka Beselia: Discussion Of Okruashvili’s Case Will Have Political Grounds
40. Lawyer to ask German authorities not to extradite Okruashvili
41. Berlin judicial department rules on custody for Okruashvili
42. Okruashvili one step closer to extradition from Germany
43. Germany shown documents on Okruashvili's political persecution
44. Eka Beselia: Discussion Of Okruashvili’s Case Will Have Political Grounds
45. Okruashvili one step closer to extradition from Germany
46. Lawyer to ask German authorities not to extradite Okruashvili
47. Berlin judicial department rules on custody for Okruashvili
48. Party submits signatures in support of Saakashvili as presidential candidate
49. Saakashvili submits supporters’ signatures to CEC
50. Officials protest ‘provocations’ at Saakashvili’s campaign
51. "Labourists" ask CEC to withdraw Mikheil Saakashvili’s candidacy
52. Lomaia warns against "provocation" at Saakashvili campaign events
53. Opposition wants to throw Saakashvili off presidential ballot
54. S. Ossetia may take months to rejoin Georgia – Saakashvili
55. S. Ossetia a matter of, at most, months– Saakashvili
56. Saakashvili says reclaiming Abkhazia will "double Georgia's economy"
57. CIS Joint Peacekeeping Forces in Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone to be rotated
58. Russia starts rotation of 600 peacekeepers in Abkhazia
59. Abkhazia wants Russian peacekeeper strength to be increased
60. Abkhazia denies OSCE claims of headway in conflict settlement
61. Abkhazia to open new customs houses on Georgian border
62. Bagapsh says Abkhazia interested in "peace, stability" in Georgia
63. No progress made toward deal with Georgia - Abkhaz president
64. Shamba: we will seize Kodori at any rate
65. Breaking Russia’s NATO myth
66. The OSCE criticizes Russia: Double standards, not "gold standard" [excerpt]
67. EU should boost efforts to help Georgia achieve reforms
68. Salary of President of Georgia to be increased by gel 700 from 2008
69. Salary rates at all state establishments of Georgia to be increased by 18% on average
70. Special ties distributed to MPs as a sign of solidarity to people with disabilities
71. New power lines to be built between Georgia and Turkey
72. Rompetrol Georgia register a 70% growth of sales
73. GDP will grow by 5.5% ,while inflation will reach 9%
74. Deposits growth tendency continued
75. Strengthening search and rescue skills to save lives in Georgia

full digest: Georgia News Digest - Ansicht in Groups BetaNeu!

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

NEWS: Georgia News Digest 12-03-07

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups-beta.google.com/group/genews/files

1. CEC launches revision of united lists of voters on Saturday
2. CEC posts rechecked voter lists
3. List of presidential hopefuls in Georgia shrinks to 18
4. Georgian presidential election: candidate profiles
5. TV reports public opinion survey ahead of polls
6. Saakashvili airs first TV ads
7. Saakashvili focuses on IDPs return to Abkhazia in campaign
8. Saakashvili campaigns in Samegrelo
9. Georgian opposition hopeful certain about victory in presidential polls
10. Pre-election headquarters of Levan Gachechiladze opened in Rustavi
11. Opposition opens election headquarters in Rustavi
12. Opposition coalition claims its activists pressured, beaten
13. Meeting between united opposition and electorate of Rustavi completed
14. Gachechiladze's says government will fail to intimidate people
15. Maisashvili to support Saakashvili at elections if latter faces businessman
16. Presidential hopeful’s ‘anti-oligarch’ remarks make headlines
17. Gamkrelidze to meet with population of Saburtalo and Chugureti Districts
18. Gamkrelidze to meet population of Gldani district with a pre-election campaign
19. Leaders of "Labourists" invited tradesmen of "Lilo" Market to participate in manifestation
20. Labourists organized presentation of election headquarters
21. Presidential hopeful Natelashvili launches campaign
22. Leader of Azerbaijani diaspora in Georgia arrested for two months
23. Appeal for arrest of representative of Azerbaijani candidate for presidential position in Georgia
24. Georgia manages secret committee, which comprises representatives of several international organizations
25. Could he lose?
26. Following unrest, Georgia looks ahead to crucial elections next year
27. Opposition evaluation of November 7 events
28. Not good enough - not good at all
29. How Georgian and Russian elections look alike
30. Saakashvili wanted to bomb Batumi?
31. Even Santa would refrain
32. Okruashvili’s team members recon extradition of Okruashvili to Georgia inadmissible
33. Okruashvili’s party applies to German government
34. Don't extradite Okruashvili - party tells Germany
35. Okruashvili’s lawyer, wife fly to Berlin
36. Journalists quit discussion
37. TV companies in talks with presidential candidates on forms of future TV debates
38. Daniel Fried anticipates Adam Michnik’s mission to be successful
39. More unanswered questions about Imedi television
40. Group warns to launch protest rallies over Imedi
41. Government faces ‘week-long deadline’ on Imedi
42. Targamadze speaks about IMEDI
43. Who will monitor media before election? CEC has said that Prime-Time company is among candidates
44. Bezhuashvili met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
45. Bezhuashvili informed Cyprian counterpart about situation in Georgia
46. Bezhuashvili met OSCE Secretary General
47. Bezhuashvili does not agree to Lavrov’s statement regarding "anti-Russian rhetoric"
48. Georgian, Russian Foreign Ministers spar on 'Rhetoric'
49. Lavrov on Georgia
50. At UN, Abkhazia IDPs urged to cite precedents while Kosovo is distinguished
51. Duma may debate independence recognition for Georgian regions
52. Sokhumi, Gudauta, Gagra cities vote in Abkhazia
53. video: Abkhazia votes for Russian Duma
54. Book "Cultural Heritage Of Georgia – Abkhazia" published
55. South Ossetia mission: Travel notes
56. Gurgenidze to start his foreign visits from UK
57. Minister says his country cannot thrive within CIS
58. Georgia’s acting president meets Slovak foreign minister, chairman of the EU committee of ministers Jan Kubish
59. Saakashvili proposed to European judges to consider in Georgia disputes between private persons and state
60. Former Soviet republics and Turkey back economic zone in Caucasus
61. Azerbaijan and Georgia are more afraid of the independence of Kosovo than Serbia
62. Session of Black Sea Economic Cooperation to be held in Georgia
63. Azerbaijan to restore gas supply to Georgia
64. Runway at Tbilisi airport needs reconstruction
65. A (drafty) window of opportunity
66. Kublashvili met representatives of diplomatic corps
67. Iran Khodro enters Georgian market
68. NATO Information Center's new proposal
69. Businessman set up special fund for settlement of demographic problem
70. War veterans and blinds to exercise privileges on municipal transport
71. Public schools located Dedoplistskaro and Sighnaghi to receive wood
72. Government, businesses raise GEL 15 mln for social assistance

full digest: Georgia News Digest - Ansicht in Groups BetaNeu!

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