Journalists and Representatives of Red Cross Visit Detained Georgian Juveniles
Representatives of the Red Cross International Committee and journalists have visited detained Georgian juveniles today, -Res agency informs. According to the agency, the detainees are in a normal state and have no any sign of physical pressure. According to Ossetian journalists, the detainees say they didn’t have grenades and explosive materials. The Ossetian media says the detainees have been informed that ‘illegal crossing of a border is a criminal crime’. The so-called MIA staff of the Tskhinvali mode detained pupils of Tirdznisi secondary school: Giorgi Romelashvili (Born in 1995), Aleko Sabadze (born in 1995), Viktor Buchukuri (born in 1993) and Levan Khmiadashvili (born in 1992) on 4 November. The Georgian MIA informs that the juveniles disappeared from the vicinity of village Tirdznisi, Gori District. The so-called Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tskhinvali alleges the juveniles had 4 hand grenades and explosive materials. The Georgian side appeals to the international organizations to help in the release of the children.
Tbilisi hosts GUAM Parliamentary Assemly session
Tbilisi is hosting a three-day GUAM Parliamentary Assembly with participation of member-states Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova and representatives of Baltic states. The speakers of Georgian and Moldovan Parliaments and the permanent representative of the Azerbaijan`s Milli Mejlis delegation in GUAM opened the fourth parliamentary assembly in the Sheraton Metekhi Palace today. The session was closed for media and its participants adopted a special communiqué, which condemns aggressive activities in international relations and the approval of the results of these kinds of aggressions. The GUAM parliamentary assembly has supported the principle of territorial unity and its importance. The participants of the assembly also agreed on specific activities for the security in the region. The delegations also agreed that the GUAM would form a new committee, which will work on the issues of regional security.
Foreign Ministry addresses int. organizations
Georgian Foreign Ministry calls upon international organizations to intensify their activities for the release of four underaged Georgians, who were arrested by separatists on November 4 and who are still held in Tskhinvali isolator. `We ask and call on all international organizations, who have any kind of tools for influencing the separatists, to intensify their activities in the release of the pupils, to treat the problem with more care and take into consideration what we are dealing with – on the one hand we have teenagers, and on the other – criminal regime,` Nino Kalandze, deputy foreign minister told media today.
Russian journalist moves to Georgia
Oleg Panfilov, director of the Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations (CJES) moved to Georgia. Popular Russian journalist says his decision to live in Georgia was motivated by the current political situation in the Russian Federation. `It is impossible to live in the country where the authorities lie to you, where media lies to you and people are afraid of them,` Panfilov said after his arrival. The Russian journalist will have his program on a Caucasian TV channel. It will be an analytical program. He also plans to deliver lectures at the Tbilisi Ilia Chavchavadze University. In the future, Panfilov wants to found a school of journalism together with his Georgian colleagues. To write a book on Georgia-Russia war 2008 is also in the plans of Oleg Panfilov.
Georgian Diaspora rallied in Paris
Georgian Diaspora in France has held a rally in protest to the Russian aggression against Georgia. The rally was held in Paris and local NGOs were also participating in it. The protestors reminded the international society that occupation of independent states and construction of a new Berlin Wall was unacceptable in the 21-st century, when the world was marking the 20-th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
Medvedev signs use of Russian army abroad into law
President Dmitry Medvedev has approved an amended law on defense allowing the use of Russian armed forces abroad, the Kremlin said on Monday. The amended law stipulates that Russian armed forces can be used abroad for: rebuffing armed attacks against Russian military units or other troops stationed outside the Russian territory; rebuffing or preventing armed attacks against foreign countries by proper request; protecting Russian citizens abroad from armed attacks; fighting piracy and ensuring navigation safety. The bill of the amended law was passed by Russia`s lower and upper houses of the parliament, the State Duma and the Federation Council, respectively, on Oct. 23 and Oct. 30. Read more…
Occupants kidnap another Georgian in Abkhazia
Abkhaz separatists and Russian occupants have kidnapped another Georgian – Jambul Bazaghua was detained and taken to Gali district, as he was waiting for his relatives on the Engury Bridge. The occupants, who were dressed as civilians, seized him 100 KM away from the Russian checkpoint. Reportedly, Badzaghua was taken to Gali administration of the puppet regime.
EUMM concerned about detention of four under aged Georgian citizens
EUMM expresses profound concern over the detention of four under aged Georgian citizens in the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district. The mission has released a special statement.
`The EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia expresses profound concern over the detention of four under aged Georgian citizens, between 14 and 17 years old, in the vicinity of Tskhinvali on Wednesday, 4 November.
Over the past days, EUMM has been in contact, through the Hotline, with all involved parties, in particular the de facto South Ossetian authorities. EUMM reminds that in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the appropriate treatment of under aged detainees must be ensured at all times. Among others, children taken into custody during pre-trial detention must not be placed in penitentiary facilities used by ordinary criminals; the Social Service department or its equivalent is the only authority in charge of holding under aged people in detention; under aged detainees have the right of immediate access to legal council assistance; the right to receive a visit of parents or a next of kin; and, the de facto authorities are obliged to inform parents or legal guardians of under aged detainees on the charges.
Furthermore, EUMM has been in close contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representative in Tbilisi.
While EUMM declares its readiness to assist in any appropriate way, the Mission also vigorously appeals to the de facto authorities in South Ossetian to find common ground with the relevant Georgian structures in order to bring the present situation in a prompt manner to a satisfactory resolve`, the statement says.
New houses handed over to internally displaced families
New houses have been handed over to hundred families displaced in consequence of the August war. Construction of the houses in the village of Sakasheti, Gori district have been funded by the Turkish government and the Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation has bought home appliances for the IDPs. The Georgian president and government members attended the ceremony of presentation of the houses on Sunday. Turkish high officials also arrived in the village. The president personally viewed the newly constructed homes. Read more…
Russian occupants oppress locals in Gali district
Tornike Kilanava, the representative of the Abkhaz legitimate government talks about current criminal situation in Gali district of Georgia`s breakaway region of Abkhazia. A representative of the marionette regime, members of the so-called Abkhazian parliament has brutally beat a civilian in Gali. He shot four bullets to Geno Gerzmava and did not allow eyewitnesses to help the injured man. The man was taken to hospital later, his health condition is very hard. The Georgian citizen was punished because he took his child from Russian to Georgia school.
Along with this, the Russian occupants and Abkhaz marionettes are delivering arms to the youth and forcing them to take part in the occupational military exercises. The occupants, being under the influence of drugs often shoot from firearms to intimidate the local population. They have ousted the Basilaia family from Gali district for resisting them.
US-Georgian military exercises finished
The joint US-Georgian military training – `Immediate Response` has ended. The military exercise aimed at preparing the Georgian militaries to participate in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan was ongoing for two weeks at the Vaziani military Base.
On Saturday the training closing ceremony was organized at the Base. In the course of the event, successful soldiers were awarded with certificates and presents.
The exercise is designed to promote interoperability of the Georgian militaries with NATO standards during the international security assistance mission in Afghanistan.
At this phase of the training, Georgian military servants undertook the preparatory trainings especially for counter-insurgency operations. Georgian servants will carry out their mission side by side with American soldiers.
`The United States expresses its appreciation about Georgia’s strong commitment to participate voluntarily in the most crucial peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan` the official statement issued by the United States Embassy to Georgia says. Ministry of Defense of Georgia reiterated its position in the previous days, regarding intended involvement of Georgian military servants in the ISAF operation.
US intends to continue to seek return of OSCE mission in Georgia
United States intends to continue to seek the return of the OSCE mission in Georgia. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon said Friday at a briefing for foreign Journalists in Washington. He referred in this context `the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the OSCE`, at which the US intends to raise the question again.
`We regretted very much the departure of the OSCE mission from Georgia. It was playing an important role in South Ossetia. South Ossetia and Abkhazia both need independent international observers so that we can understand what is going on there. They need access to humanitarian groups and NGOs. Transparency should be a key principle, it is the key principle within the OSCE and we regretted the OSCE`s departure from Georgia. The Russians were only prepared to accept the OSCE presence, that we think would have implied the independence for South Ossetia, which we don`t recognize and which the vast majority of the countries in the world don`t recognize. So that was an unfortunate development as was the departure of the UN mission in Abkhazia. We are grateful that the European Union has the monitoring mission in Georgia. This is now the only eyes and ears of the international community directly on the ground. However, that this is not enough, because they are not in Abkhazia and South Ossetia`, Philip Gordon said.
Georgian president attends start of construction of power station
Construction of Mtkvari Hydro Electric Power Station has started in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region. The 28-megawatt hydroelectric power station is being constructed in the village of Sakuneti, Akhaltsikhe district. The Caucasian Energy and Infrastructure Company will make an investment of USD 70 million. The construction works will finish in three years. The Georgian president has laid the first capsule into the foundation of the station. Mikheil Saakashvili talked about importance of the project at the opening ceremony.
The president said, this is the biggest construction in the history of independent Georgia and the Mtkvari HES will be the largest hydroelectric power station in the country.
`At the anniversary of the war, in conditions of the world crisis, against teh background, when everything has been stopped in the region, when the whole world thought, that we are finished and we are ready to kneel down, this is a start of great constructions in this gorge. This construction in the direct as well as figurative sense will give Georgian new energy`, Saakashvili said. He added, a lot of families will be employed at the new power station.
`Georgia is not someone`s province. Georgia is an European country. We keep on constructing a contemporary and stable country. We are the centre of this region, we have the lowest corruption. The region starts from China and includes the Eastern Europe and great part of the Middle East`, the president said. Saakashvili said, Georgia has succeeded, because the government is working day and night for attracting foreign investments.
Georgian MPs consider kidnapping of teenagers as Russian provocation
Georgian lawmakers assess kidnapping of the four Georgian teenagers by the Russian occupants from the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district as another Russian provocation for causing disturbances in Georgia. They say, the government should keep on cooperation with the international society in order to prevent another aggression from Russia. As for the parliamentary opposition, it demands that the issue be raised at the session of the Security Council and drawing out mechanisms for protection of citizens. `They use children for provocations. They want to strain the situation in the region even more, escalate the not quite friendly relationships`, Petre Tsiskarishvili, the chair of the United National Movement parliamentary faction said.
TV station of Tskhinvali regime reports on abducted Georgian teenagers
TV station of the Tskhinvali marionette regime has reported about the four Georgian teenagers abducted by Russian militants from the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district. The Ossetian media report, the teenagers were detained in the village of Prisi of the occupied territory. Prosecutors of the Kokoity regime assert, one of the detainees, Giorgi Romelashvili, used to have intense contact with his native village of Kheiti in 5 kilometres from Tskhinvali. According to their accusation, Romelashvili had even committed robbery there. The Interior Ministry of the marionette regime has filed a suit against the kidnapped teenagers. The four boys have been accused of illegal crossing of the so-called state boundary and keeping and carrying of firearms and explosive materials. Representatives of the Kokoity regime say the provocation has been planned by the Georgian government.
Two Georgian citizens detained in Russia
Two Georgian citizens have been detained in Russia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry reports, the detainees have been accused of violating the visa regime. The Georgian citizens have been in the isolator of pre-trial detention in the city of Arkhangelsk for six months. Georgian diplomats say, their extradition has been impeded due to obscure reasons. Reportedly, the Georgian citizens are in unbearable conditions in Arkhangelsk, they are being physically oppressed.
27 ambassadors from EU to arrive in Georgia
Ambassadors of the 27 EU member states will arrive in Georgia on November 12-14. Ambassadors will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, members of the government and the Georgian Parliament within the visit. The delegation of the EU ambassadors will visit the occupied regions, meet with the local population and observe the operation of the EU monitoring mission in the regions. This is the first case when ambassadors of all EU member states visit Georgia together. `The ambassadors will observe the work of the EU monitoring mission in Georgia in order to work on the further action plan. The visit is very significant, because it demonstrates great support to Georgia,` Georgia`s envoy to the EU Salome Samdashvili has said in a telephone interview with Rustavi2.
EU warns Belarus over recognition of separatists
Possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus would contradict the spirit of cooperation and would unlikely to facilitate it in the framework of Eastern Partnership policy. It has been stated by Hans-Dieter Lukas, special envoy of the German Foreign Ministry for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus in his speech at 12th Minsk Forum on November 5. A representative of the Foreign Ministry of Germany called the position of the EU on this issue “clear”, as independence of these regions haven’t been recognized by any country of the European Union, or by any country partner of the EU New policy. In his turn, Stefan Eriksson, Ambassador of Sweden which is presiding in the European Union, called the position of Minsk that still hasn’t recognized independence of the breakaway republics `wise`. The diplomat noted that it is a right of Belarus to adopt any decision on this issue.
Senators send letter to US envoy in UN
US Senators, Richard Lugar and John Kerry have sent a letter to the Representative of the United States to the United Nations Susan E. Rice, in which they urge the envoy to actively support efforts at the United Nations that `reaffirm international standards of sovereignty, territorial integrity and human rights as related to Georgia and resist attempts to subvert these principles`. `It seems clear that the Russian Federation is pursuing a variety of strategies to consolidate its position within occupied Georgia and acquire veneer credibility for its actions under international law. It is in everyone`s interest that the question of Georgia`s occupation and sovereignty remains in the diplomatic rather than the military sphere. If the international community fails to address the problem within the United Nations and other international institutions, we run the risk that the problem may again slip from diplomacy to conflict. While we support the ongoing construction of cooperative relations with Russia, it is also important that we maintain our commitment to Georgia,` the letter says.
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