Press Digest 01.10.2014

The present top officials are clever and really try to do a great deal; however, they have failed to keep a tight hold on the system they have inherited from the Nationals -- Gia Khukhashvili

EU report sheds light on the conflict between the President and the Premier

Asaval-Dasavali gazette journalist severely beaten - incident outside Independent Zone Office***

The present top officials are clever and really try to do a great deal; however, they have failed to keep a tight hold on the system they have inherited from the Nationals -- Gia Khukhashvili

The most fundamental change that the present authorities have managed to bring about in our country is a positive environment. Despite the problems we face today, aggression as well as the Government’s aspiration to set up an authoritative rule in the country has been substantially diminished. As for our economy, the era of nomenclature capitalism has been wrapped up. Elite as such, I mean those privileged people that were completely integrated with the Government have ceased to exist. And this is naturally auspicious for us and our country. However, it is also a fact that the internal issues have remained mishandled here; the people’s requirements are still unaddressed; they have not been provided with jobs, and, overall, the situation inside the country is far from being good. As for the foreign arena, our authorities have really managed to deliver the goods in this sphere; they have succeeded in moving closer to the EU; rapprochement with Russia is also underway; our products have already reentered its market. Although two core problems of our people – unemployment and economic recession -- are still two key challenges our authorities still have to negotiate,” states expert Gia Khukhashvili in his interview with the Rezonansi gazette.  

“A hundred enterprises, a million trees… such political rhetoric is not really something that can attract me. Government is not accountable to open enterprises; first of all, it must assume the obligation of creating a relevant environment in the country, the environment that will enable our economy to found these enterprises. How can I count how many factories the Government has opened? It’s something ridiculous,” states Mr. Khukhashvili.

"As for our agriculture sector, let’s admit that they have done a really good job in this sphere. Take grape, for instance. Under Saakashvili, grapes were so cheap that our poor farmers hardly managed to gain any income from it. Now grapes cost more than 1 GEL and it’s obviously a great relief for our farmers. However, we also cannot deny that this cannot be deemed as a breakthrough in our agricultural system. It’s true that the situation has improved in this sphere; however, this improvement can easily turn out to be a temporary phenomenon,” claims the respondent.

“As for their promise that petrol prices would fall, they have simply failed to calculate everything properly and issued a hasty promise. However, it’s also a fact that they have decreased the price of gas and electricity by 5-10 tetris… as for a petrol price, no one can give the people a long-term guarantee that it will remain low for a long period of time. One positive change has been introduced in our country though – today, a politician does not in any way benefit from this volatility of petrol price; as for its price, it is determined by the market, not by the Government,” maintains Mr. Khukhashvili.

“Unlike the Nationals, the present authorities are at least trying to live up to the people’s expectations and keep their promises… Once again I repeat the acting political biggies have brought positive changes in the country; however, the Nationals great accomplishment is that they have empowered the system and made it more effective. As for the present top officials, they are clever and really try to do a great deal; however, they have failed to keep a tight hold on the system they have inherited from the Nationals,” concludes the respondent.

EU report sheds light on the conflict between the President and the Premier

“Immensely tensed relations between the President and the Head of our Government have obviously not been left outside the European leaders’ attention, and the EU report saying that the Georgian Chief Executive and the Premier have failed to even deal with such a nonissue as the signing the Association Agreement is a clear testimony to this. The EU Council has also voiced concerns over their move to keep Bacho Akhalaia in custody for more than 9 months as by doing this, they have clearly gone against the law,” reports the Alia gazette.

“By being at odds the leaders of our country obviously put all international organizations that are involved in some kind of relations with this very state in an extremely awkward position. And we obviously cannot embarrass these organizations by making them share the functions between our President and Premier. That is the reason why they have hinted our authorities that they must calm tensions and end these ridiculous political spats. How could they have known that the two would start crossing swords with each other because of the Davos Economic Forum too?” asks political expert, Soso Tsiskarishvili.

“It’s already a bit late to shift to a conciliatory tone but … better late than never. Mr. Ivanishvili has laid a foundation for these arguments and it would be only right if he ended them too. He must negate all restrictions that hamper the Government and the President from freely communicating with each other,” claims Mr. Tsiskarishvili.

“Information we receive from media and TV can serve as only a superficial account of the relations in which our political biggies are involved behind the scenes… Thus, I think that our authorities will manage to find an outlet from this blind alley only if they make decisions independently and will assume the responsibility for their repercussions too,” maintains the expert.

“As it seems, the interests of the acting high officials and the Nationals do coincide with each other. By always taking sides with one party, they are even more heightening tensions and triggering a massive backlash for their behavior among our people. Obviously, by taking such preposterous steps they are losing the people’s respect too,” concludes Soso Tsintsadze.

Asaval-Dasavali gazette journalist severely beaten - incident outside Independent Zone Office

"Reportedly, a journalist of the Asaval-Dasavali gazette, Zaza Davitaia, was callously beaten yesterday. The representatives of the Independent Zone inflicted severe injuries on the journalist, who was later taken to the Ghudushauri Clinic. An investigation into the case has already been launched; the culprits are facing assault charges; however, the members of Independent Zone have pinned the blame on the journalist who allegedly provoked them. The advocates of the beaten journalist reportedly marched en masse to the “Zone” Office and clashed with the journalist’s attackers. As they state within the “Zone”, these people wanted to raid the building and they apparently thwarted them in doing this… As a journalist for the “Asaval-Dasavali” gazette tells us, Zaza Davitaia was ambushed at Bulachauri Street; in his words, around 15 people beat the victim who has allegedly suffered a concussion and had his ribs broken,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“Police officers were reportedly mobilized at the scene of the incident shortly after the journalist was beaten. The investigation has been impemented under article 239; the offenders are facing assault charges. As MIA informs, while at the scene of the incident, at Iosebidze Street, Police team emerged, one of the members of the Zone verbally attacked a Police official, Davit Gogokhia, who was later arrested,” says the article.

“Clashes continued outside the “Independent Zone” Office, where the supporters of the injured journalist staged a rally. As a “Asaval-Dasavali journalist claims, the people wanted to hold a calm demonstration but the members of the Zone met them with bats in their hands; and soon after the two opposing sides were involved in an all out battle. “The demonstration was peaceful; the representatives of different media outlets were also there. The Zone members were armed with iron bats though. Mr. Khabaz is said to have been armed too; however, I personally cannot confirm this. The two sides tried to work out everything with their fists; if not for timely intervention from the police, something terrible would have definitely happened there,” claims Mr. Chubinidze.

"One of the members of the “Independent Zone,” Gela Vasadze, has accused the journalist in provoking them. “This was a purely provocative act from him and I am sure he will keep this practice in the future too. Several times, this journalist and his advocates converged on our building and held demonstrations. We suspect that this well-laid plan aiming to provoke us was elaborated by MIA,” claims the representative of the Independent Zone.