Greece supports presence of OSCE in Georgia

Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the current OSCE chairman, supports the extention of the OSCE mission in Georgia. Mr. Papandreou voiced this position at the OSCE Ministerial which is held in Athens today. `I believe the presence of OSCE in conflict zones and on Georgia`s whole territoryis very important today,` Papandreou announced. The 17th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council aims to reach a joint declaration on European security in the 21st century. During the two-day meeting at the Athens Olympic Fencing Center, foreign ministers and high level representatives from the 56 OSCE participating states and some partner states were to make important decisions on a wide range of topics. Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze is attending the event. He is expected to deliver a speech at the Ministerial and to hold meetings with colleagues from 16 states.

Russian occupants detain six civilians in Abkhazia

Russian occupants have detained six peaceful civilians at the Khurcha-Nabakevi border of the breakaway Abkhazia. They halted a mini-bus driver Gocha Shamugia and five passengers. Shamugia is from the village Kvemo Barghebi and he was taken nut and other products from Gali district to Zugdidi. The occupants took the bus with its passengers to Gali. There whereabouts are yet unknown. The occupants accuse the passengers of crossing borders of `Abkhazia` illegally and demand ransom from their families.

Georgia to deliver speech a ICAO Forum in Paris

Giorgi Karbelashvili, Head of supervising board of Georgian Air Navigation will deliver a speech at the ICAO forum and object to the flights to Georgia`s breakaway Abkhazia. The forum of the International Civil Aviation Organization will be held in Paris. In his report, Karbelashvili will focus on the facts of violation of the international convention, which prevents any country to cross the air borders of Georgia without the consent of the Georgian Aviation Department. Tbilisi will call upon the international organizations to apply to strict measures for violating the existing norms. Giorgi Karbelashvili hopes that Russia will be held accountable for ignoring the international norms.

Hammarberg fails to convince separatists

The visit of the CoE commissioner for human rights, Thomas Hammarberg to Georgia`s separatist South Ossetia turned out ineffective yesterday. The commissioner plans to arrive in Tskhinvali for the second round of negotiations tomorrow. Today he will meet with Georgian authorities. Hammarberg says he will do his best to release the four underaged Georgians from the captivity of the occupants and the separatists. During his yesterday`s visit to the occupied region, Hammarberg met the hostages of the puppet regime. Four pupils were detained by the occupants in the village of Tirddznisi, which is beyond the boundary line and charged them with crossing the `borders of South Ossetia illegally and carrying explosives`. Mother of one of the hostages, Giorgi Romelashvili greeted the commissioner at the Ergneti checkpoint late last night and questioned him about the state of the children in the custody. Later today, Reuters released the video footage as Hammarberg met with the hostages.

Occupants release detained Georgian

Russian occupants have freed Ramaz Makasarashvili, a bus driver, whom they arrested two days ago for resistance to the so-called border guards at the Perevi checkpoint. Makasarashvili has already arrived in Gori and the officers of the counter-intelligence department are interrogating him.

European Council Commissioner for Human Rights not let in Tskhinvali

European Council Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has not been let in Tskhinvali Region by Russian occupants and representatives of the marionette regime. Thomas Hammarberg was waiting for their decision in the Georgian village of Ergneti for several hours. Finally, representatives of the Tskhinvali marionette regime arrived at Ergneti village to meet with the commissioner. Along with the short meeting, several shots were heard, after what Hammarberg left the territory. The European diplomat says, he is not going to refuse to enter Tskhinvali town and see there the four Georgian teenagers abducted from the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district on November 4.

Situation getting tense due to so-called election in breakaway Abkhazia

The situation is getting tense with the upcoming so-called presidential election in Georgia`s breakaway region of Abkhazia. One of the candidates for the so-called president, Raul Khajimba`s election program evidently contradicts the programs of other candidates. Khajimba`s program says, the Abkhaz nation is gradually loosing its culture, language and traditions; the agreements signed with Russia, do not take Abkhazia`s interests into account, that caused his resignation from the vice president`s position. The Georgian locals do not intend to participate in the so-called presidential election in Abkhazia, although they do not rule out that the election scheduled for December 12, may break down.

Travel in Tbilisi

1977 year. Advertising Dannon yogurt

Anti-Putin protest rallies to be held in 21 countries of world

Protest rallies under `Everyone against Putin` slogan will be held in twenty-one countries of the world on Friday. The rally members in this form will object to the Russian policy. The one-day rallies will start at 17:00 GMT and be organized by the Georgian Diaspora in France. The organizers will ask the Sarkozy`s government to force Russia to fulfil the Sarkozy-Medvedev cease-fire agreement signed in @008. Except Georgian nationals, representatives of the Caucasian Diaspora, as well as NGOs will participate in the protest rallies as well. However, Ingush and Chechen nationals living in Belgium will be the first to join the Everyone Against Putin rally today.

Tomas Hammerberg Responds to Georgian MPs Criticism

CoE’s Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammerberg has responded to Georgian MPs criticism.
Mr. Hammerberg told journalist at the Tbilisi International Airport that problems, which Georgia faces today, were familiar to him, he had worked a lot on similar problems and had a rich experience in the sphere.
‘It seems Georgian MPs aren’t well informed about my activities. If someone doubts my impartiality, I advise to read my reports on situation in North Caucasus, which is connected to Russia. In Strasbourg I’ve worked hard on the issue on the release of the abducted Georgian juveniles and I’m going to meet Georgian officials regarding the issue. I hope the detained children will return to their families soon’, Mr. Hammerberg said.
The Georgian MPs have criticized Tomas Hammerberg last week for his inactivity in the issue on the release of the abducted children.
The CoE’s Commissioner for Human Rights has arrived in Georgia today. The main theme of the visit is the release of the children detained by the Tskhinvali regime. Mr Hammerberg will stay in Georgia till 4 December. He plans to arrive in Tskhinvali on 1 December.

German Embassy provides population injured in August war with firewood supply

The German government will provide the population injured in consequence of the August war with supply of firewood for winter. The firewood supply has been delivered to more than 300 families in the village of Kvarkheti, Gori district. Patricia Flor, the German Ambassador to Georgia participated in the humanitarian rally.
The aid has been implemented by the grant of EUR 50000 allocated by the German Embassy. Germany has allocated over 10 million to Georgia for overcoming results of the war in the country.

Visit of the National Defence Minister of Poland

Defence Minister of Georgia, Bacho Akhalaia has held meeting with his Poland counterpart today. Solemn welcome ceremony of the National Defence Minister of Poland, Bogdan Klich was held at the Ministry of Defence of Georgia this morning. After ending solemn welcome ceremony defence ministers of two countries held close-door discussions. The Defence Minister of Georgia made a few comments for representatives of media and stressed political-strategic importance of Poland as our friend country. `Intensive cooperation between the Armed Forces of Georgia and Poland is intensively carrying on. We discussed issues regarding strengthening our cooperation. We had talks about Georgia’s NATO integration and an encouragement received from Poland in this regard.` – Stated Bacho Akhalaia.

Turkish national becomes trafficking victim in breakaway Abkhazia

A Turkish national became a trafficking victim on the occupied territory of Georgia`s breakaway region of Abkhazia. Hussein Aydan, 39, arrived in Georgia from Samsun, Turkey and was able to enter the Russian town of Sochi, where he had to work with an Abkhaz national named Temur on a ship. The promise was not kept. Hussein Aydan was taken to the town of Ochamchire of Abkhazia, deprived of his passport and forced to work with thirty other Turkish nationals in unbearable conditions. After his life had been exposed to danger due to disobedience, Hussein Aydan decided to escape. He could arrive in the town of Zugdidi on the Georgian-controlled territory. He has already contacted with his family members and the Turkish consul in Georgia. Although Aydan crossed the Georgian boundary illegally, Georgian law enforcers will not file a suit against him, because he became a trafficking victim.

Чешские депутаты посетили Грузию

RFE/RL Прага—Главный редактор “Эхо Кавказа” Андрей Бабицкий связался с одним из членов делегации Сената Чехии, известным писателем и журналистом Яромиром Штетиной.

Бабицкий: Господин Штетина, с какой целью делегация Сената приехала в Грузию?

Штетина: В принципе, главной целью нашей поездки было информировать о позиции чешского парламента касательно русско-грузинского конфликта, поскольку Сенат парламента Чешской республики принял уже два постановления, где четко выражает несогласие с агрессией Российской Федерации против Грузии.

Бабицкий: А отношение ваше, может быть личное, к докладу специальной коммиссии Европейского Союза, где отвественность за события прошлого августа возлагается также и на Тбилиси?

Saakashvili attends presentation of reconstructed Old Tbilisi

Several renewed objects opened in the framework of the New Life of Old Tbilisi Project in Kalaubani district of Georgia`s capital Tbilisi on Sunday. The Georgian president attended the opening ceremony. Mikheil Saakashvili, along with Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, also opened a renewed underground passage. The New Life of Old Tbilisi Project intends reconstruction of the old districts of the Georgian capital.

Czech MPs Visit Georgia

Members of the Parliament of the Czech Republic have arrived in Georgia today. They will meet deputy chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Mikhail Machavariani, chairman of the foreign affairs committee Akaki Minashvili, representatives of the parliamentary opposition, chairman of the human rights and civic integration committee Giorgi Arsenishvili and Parliament speaker Davit Bakradze. The MPs will also meet deputy minister of foreign affairs Davit Jalaghania, minister of corrections and legal assistance Dimitri Shashkini and state minister for reintegration issues Temur Iakobashvili today. The meetings in the Parliament will continue on 25 November too. The guests will be received by the chairman of the interim commission for restorqtion of territorial integrity, Shota Malashkhia, and the chairman of the committee for European integration, Davit Darchiashvili.
Before leaving Georgia, the guests will visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the Jvari Monastery, and the ‘Monastery of Mothers’ in the town of Mtskheta, while the Museum of Arts and ‘Karvasla’ in Tbilisi. The Czech MPs, members of the committee backing democratic development worldwide, will leave Georgia on 27 November.

Tskhinvali Prosecutor’s Office Ends Investigation into Case of Detained Georgian Juveniles

The Tskhinvali Prosecutor’s Office has ended investigation into the case of detained Georgian juveniles, – the deputy representative of the de-facto President in post-conflict regulation issues, Merab Chigoev, told InterpressNews. ‘I am informed that the investigation has been over and the case will be transmitted to the court. A trial might be held in the nearest days. This is all that I know’, Chigoev stated. 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 charges of illegal crossing of the administrative border on 4 November.

Detained Russian Citizens to be Handed over to Russian Side in Village Ergneti

The Russian citizens, detained by Georgian law-enforcers in the village of Nikozi, Gori district, will be handed over to the Russian side by the European Union Monitoring Mission in the village of Ergneti at 12:00. The corresponding statement was made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. According to the Ministry, the Russian citizens – Alexander Borkov (born in 1988), Alexander Popov (born in 1990) and Maxim Berezin (born in 1988) – were detained for illegal crossing of the administrative border and violation of the visa regime at 16:30 yesterday.

Three Policemen Detained in Moscow on Suspicion of Committing Murder

Policemen, suspected of murder of a resident of Abkhazia, have been detained in Moscow, Interfax informs.
All three police officers, suspected of having beaten to death Abkhaz Eduard Gurtskaya, 19, in Moscow on Monday evening, have been detained. The city’s police patrol crews were alerted and instructed to detain the suspects immediately after the incident was reported, a source in Moscow law enforcement services told Interfax on Tuesday. ‘The suspects were wearing police jackets. All three were detained in southeastern Moscow,’ the source said. The detainees – Anvar Ibragimov, Alexei Chernikov and Viktor Kuznetsov – serve in the Moscow police department’s Second Operational Regiment, according to the source. They were drunk when they were being detained. They have confessed to having committed the murder and are being questioned. Moscow Police spokesman Viktor Biryukov has confirmed to Interfax that police officers of the Second Operational Regiment have been detained on suspicion of committing a murder.