Press Digest 07.10.2014

2015 will mark the beginning of protest events by our outraged drivers standing a strong chance of losing their only means of survival thanks to the Company Intertrans

I am deeply concerned because of the fact that the National Movement has put them in such a critical situation – Gia Maisashvili

Restrictions on banning Russians from purchasing real estate in Abkhazia abrogated

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2015 will mark the beginning of protest events by our outraged drivers standing a strong chance of losing their only means of survival thanks to the Company Intertrans

"Another monopolist company is gradually emerging in Georgia today. The Company “Intertrans” aims to control long-distance transportations, flights as well as all enterprises providing our populaton with travel opportunities throughout all of Georgia. Before “Intertrans” handles some infrastructural issues as well as those connected to our minibuses, the Ministry of Economy is trying to restore a permission system for long-distance transportation. In the competition to obtain permission, Intertrans and its daughter companies will definitely best its rivals. Thus, the coming year will mark the beginning of protest events by our outraged drivers that stand a strong chance of losing the only means of survival thanks to the Company Intertrans,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“As we have already mentioned above, permission on long-distance transportation will be annulled. However, as Transport Trade Union Head Lavrenti Alania informs, the Ministry of Economy has already elaborated legislation on restoring permission for long-distance transportation. The legislation reportedly aims to set order in Georgia’s market and bring in new regulations in this direction”- maintains Mr. Alania.

“As soon as the Intertrans Company gets hold of permission for long-distance transportation, it will completely control long-distance travel in Georgia. As per the data from the Public Register, Intertrans was registered on December 21, 2012 and the only shareholder of the company is Zaza lomidze. As different internet papers say, Zaza Lomidze has been involved in a partnership with Zviad Jankarashvili in the LTD “City” since 2010. On his part, Mr. Jankarashvili is the nephew of Tamaz Tamazashvili, Irakli Gharibashvili’s father-in-law,” states Lavrenti Alania.

"We would like to remind our readers of the fact that despite harsh protests from the public, the Intertrans Company got hold of 15-year permission for taking passengers from one place to another on March 26, 2014. Despite the fact that the drivers from Rustavi held large-scale protest events, the Company continued to realize its plans. At these demonstrations, the drivers also mentioned Kakha Kaldze, the person they linked the Intertrans Company to. However, in the words of our Energy Minister, he was immensely surprised by their move to link his name to the company. Despite this, he met with the protesters and tried to calm them down”- writes the author of the article.

I am deeply concerned because of the fact that the National Movement has put them in such a critical situation – Gia Maisashvili

“At the end of 2012, I offered the new Government to invite all renowned European and American investigators to Georgia. I have even presented the names of these investigators to the leading team. Under the initiation, the authorities had to introduce them to high profile cases of our former high officials. If they did this, they would have cleared up all kinds of misunderstandings that now surrounds their cases”- declares Head of the Leaders School, Gia Maiasashvili, in his interview with the Rezonansi gazette.

“The EU and the European Council must undoubtedly be kept in the loop regarding the present situation in Georgia and, at the same time, they must not suspect that the acting authorities have subjected their political adversaries to political persecution. Because of the fact that they failed to do this properly and settle the doubts from the European leaders, the West has passed a resolution that is not so favorable for Georgia. In order to avoid this, in 2012, I offered Bidzina Ivanishvili to form a special delegation of the Prime Minister. If they had taken this step, we would not have found ourselves in this situation today,” maintains Mr. Maisashvili.

“I have also suggested to the present political biggies that the famous European and American investigators should have been invited to Georgia. If they had not ignored the aforementioned proposal and if they had formed a special investigation group, we would have definitely not found ourselves in this critical situation today,” asserts Mr. Maisashvili.

"They turned a deaf ear and blind eye to my proposal. They invited only one investigator from the U.S. and another from Israel. On op of that, this measure was adopted after a long span of time and it clearly would not prove productive as our people have already adopted a negative attitude towards our government,” alleges the respondent.

“Unfortunately, all Governments of Georgia have pursued one and the same irrational policy. They continue to hold their predecessors accountable for our misfortunes and do absolutely nothing to lead the country out of crisis. As for our present top officials, I am deeply concerned because of the fact that the National Movement has put them in such a critical situation,” concludes the respondent.

Restrictions on banning Russians from purchasing real estate in Abkhazia abrogated

"Russians will reportedly not find it difficult to purchase immovable property in Georgia’s breakaway enclave of Abkhazia from now on. The Parliament of Abkhazia is allegedly working on new legislation to enable Russians to purchase real estate in the region”-reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“According to the acting legislation, they will face absolutely no problems if they decide to buy a house built in the post war period in Abkhazia. However, such houses constructed after the war are rather difficult to find in the region today. The citizens of Russia were banned from purchasing real estate here under Bagapsh and Anakvab under the pretense of maintaining their nationality. However, Mr. Khaijimba does not see any kind of necessity to keep these restrictions in force”- says the article.

"I do not rule out that one day Russians may purchase the houses of Georgian IDPs. Reports are rife that the citizens of Russia and Syria are particularly motivated to buy their houses. Those Georgian that were involved in the Georgia-Abkhazian conflict do stand a strong chance of losing their real estate”- writes the author of the article.

“The Russians have always managed to buy houses by ignoring all existing laws and regulations. An initiation on officially letting them purchase houses in the occupied regions has already been raised. It is also true that they are entitled to purchase new houses in Abkhazia. However, no new buildings are being constructed in the region at this point in time. Incontrovertible is the fact that the more houses the Russians will buy there, the less possibility will the Abkhazians have to control their own land”- declares one of the representatives of the Experts Club, Irakli Tskitishvili.

“Bagpsh and Anakvab were able to see the threats the Russians could pose to Abkhazia. However, the new De-facto President has removed all obstacles from the Russians’ path and has allowed them to settle on this land without any difficulty”- concludes the respondent.