Press Digest 26.06.2014
Searching for a neutral zone – they call for USAID to organize political debates for our mayoral candidates
There is the only one outlet from this blind alley -- Kublashvili and his puppets must abandon the Court
A run-off helps us to boost democracy in Georgia; it do not play into our people’s hands though -- Davit Lortkipanidze
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Searching for a neutral zone – they call for USAID to organize political debates for our mayoral candidates
"How or in what kind of format the political debates between the mayoral candidates will be held is still a question mark. For some TV Companies, the Georgian Dream’s offer to hold debates in a neutral zone, where all major TV Companies will be present have turned out to be inadmissible as they think that by giving them the aforementioned offer the leading party dictates the rules of the game. The Rustavi 2 TV Company has refused to participate in the debates; as for “Imedi” TV and “Maestro”, they have blown hot and cold on this offer thus far. TV 3 and the Public Broadcaster will hypothetically involve themselves in the debates; however, they want to find out the whys and wherefores of the situation as well as the further details regarding the issue soon. The position from the TV “Caucasus” has been unknown so far. As Reports fly, the debates may be arranged by a public figure instead of a journalist,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
"We have not appealed to the TV Companies to get involved in the debates. We simply wanted to meet with their representatives to introduce them to our position. Now it’s up to these TV Companies whether or not they will get involved in these debates. We have met with the leadership of the TV Companies and told them that no matter how high their rating is, we cannot give an advantage over one company to another, and we also added, that, obviously, we are unable to hold debates in all 6 companies simultaneously. We called on USAID to assume the responsibility of organizing these debates and offer a format to the TV Companies,” declared manager of Georgian Dream Press Service, Nona Khandiashvili.
"We have not reversed our decision; our position regarding this issue has remained unchanged – participating in the debates with the current format does not fall within our plans. We have elaborated our own agenda which we are following. By rights, during the elections, media dictates the rules of the game to the politicians and not vice versa. We plan to hold debates in Rustavi 2, accordingly, only those candidates who will come to our studio will participate in the debates. The political debate show may be hosted by the most popular journalists Inga Grigolia from “Imedi” and Giorgi Gabunia from our TV Company,” stated Nika Gvaramia. As for the Imedi TV General Manager, Revaz Sakevarashvili, they have not gotten any kind of proposal from the Coalition yet.
“TV Maestro Information Service Head, Nino Zhizhilashvili, also states that the Georgian Dream has not given them any offer regarding final project, and, accordingly, the broadcasting company has not made a final decision in terms of the issue thus far. “We fall short of details regarding the format of debates, the air time the debates will take as well as the place where it will be conducted. When they give us precise information regarding this matter only then will I be able to answer your questions, “announced MS. Zhizhilashvili. We also wanted to find out about the position of the Caucasus TV, founder of which, Davit Akubardia, told us that he also falls short of detailed information regarding the subject,” concludes the author of the article.
There is the only one outlet from this blind alley -- Kublashvili and his puppets must abandon the Court
“Apparently, Kote Kublashvili views our court as an independent body manned with up-and-coming officials due to the fact that he presides over the entire system and everyone here serves his political interests by following his orders. Woe to us but even after the so-called reforms were enacted absolutely nothing has changed here for the better. As long as Kublashvili is at the helm of the body, passing reforms in this system are simply excluded,” declares former judge of the Supreme Court, Tamar Laliashvili in his interview with the Alia gazette.
“Some judges of the Supreme Court refused to comply with his directions by stooping to rendering illegal verdict; I also refused to become a marionette in Kublashvili’s hands. That is the reason why he countered me. In 2005, I was in Germany, at the conference of judges, when he called me and ordered me via phone to hand in my resignation. I instantly voiced concerns, filed complaints at different international organizations; my great endeavor to draw their attention proved futile though. Kublashvili enjoyed autocracy and he could have easily taken arbitrary steps. Saakashvili declared Zero Tolerance in those days, and this resulted in the Prosecutor’s Office move to jail a number of innocent people. A great deal of not guilty verdicts rendered within the Supreme Court did not suit Kublashvili, who because of our disobedience, failed to follow Adeishvili’s instructions to a tee, “maintains Tamar Laliashvili.
“That is the reason why he dismissed all judges who handed down non-guilty verdicts. He grappled with us for a year, and finally achieved his goal – in 2006, the Supreme Council of the Justice Ministry accused us of violating some procedural norms and on the bases of this fired us. After this, they set to purging the entire body from different officials who refused to meekly comply with their instructions. Others who stayed within the body became Kublashvili’s servile flatterers and wretched puppets who were ready to follow his each and every direction. These judges first consulted with Kublashvili and only then rendered verdicts,” contends the respondent.
“Kublashvili put only those judges who were perfectly tailored for the role of his slaves in his good books. Let’s bring up Zaza Meishvili and Maia Oshkhereli, who sentenced Sulkhan Molashvili to 9 years in prison. After two years from the aforementioned verdict, both of them were elevated to higher posts at the Supreme Court. Those who refused to follow their boss’s orders were dismissed or incarcerated. .. And tell me after this how can Kublashvili dare to raise this issue? How can he talk regarding the independence of the Court? Under the Nationals, the majority of their delivered verdicts were illegal… To cut it short, the Court must be cleansed of its current officials -- Kublashvili and his puppets must undoubtedly abandon the body,” concludes Ms. Laliashvili.
A run-off helps us to boost democracy in Georgia; it do not play into our people’s hands though -- Davit Lortkipanidze
"I agree with Soso Jachvliani’s statement saying that the majority has failed to work as one team. Soso managed to keep a cool head thus far, however, finally his cup was full and he said what he had to say. Jatchvliani is the deputy Chairman of the Georgian Dream Coalition, and his statements are apparently worth taking into account. Let’s remember the support the Georgian Dream enjoyed during the elections of 2012, however, after a year and 7 months, this support has faded away, and a very small number of the people entered the polling stations at the next elections. In a nutshell, the people are malcontent with the present government and don’t try to hide this,” announces member of the majority, Davit Lortkipanidze, in his interview with the Akhali Taoba gazette.
“As it appears, we have failed to accomplish our entrusted duties. Frankly speaking, the Coalition is faced with an x-number of unsettled problems today. However, we have performed a great deal of good deeds regarding which the public has not been informed. And obviously this is our weak point. We have reiterated this earlier and now I will repeat it once again that we are unable to hold an effective PR campaign. And we are faced with a number of other problems that must be subjected to a thorough analysis. Many political bombs were planted by the former Government in our political scene, and these bombs are exploding at this moment; precisely this has resulted in the necessity of holding a run-off. Second round elections help us to boost democracy in Georgia, however, they do not play into our people’s hands,” maintains Davit Lortkipanidze.
“A number of majoritarian deputies – the heads of the committees among them -- are for snap elections. These people strongly hold that some positive changes must be brought about in our country. I am not entitled to go into detail about private talks; these people are newly-born politicians and in the wake of this they have abstained from making public statements. I cannot define their move to show restraint and keep silent as irrational; neither must they condemn the decision from me and Soso Jachvliani to openly give our position though,” states the respondent.
“Snap elections will also help us in removing the Nationals from the political stage. I admit that it’s difficult to grapple with them, as they are highly-qualified PR managers and we cannot apparently be neck and neck with them when it comes to this subject. The Nationals do have their staunch voters, they don’t strain to increase their number though; the only objective they want to achieve at this point is to reduce the number of our advocates. Our adherent see that the Nationals are still active in the political scene and this by all odds gets them down. And precisely this has resulted in low voter turnout at the elections of 15 June,” announces Lortkipanidze.
