Press Digest 24.11.2014
The closer we get to NATO the more we distance ourselves from our breakaway regions – Mamuka Areshidze
“We will petition the President to veto the legislation” – will the so-called wiretapping key remain in MIA?
Kublashvili’s former body guard provides the Kronika with secret information
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The closer we get to NATO the more we distance ourselves from our breakaway regions – Mamuka Areshidze
“Georgia has not been formed as a full-fledged democratic country and, accordingly, some ideas regarding wiretapping are really impossible to realize here since they are interlinked to the country’s pressing security challenges. Let us bring their intention to grant a key to the wiretapping system to a provider. Such a practice was installed in Europe; however, we know perfectly well that here, mainly German reconnaissance service officials serve in the provider that is entitled to monitor the people’s private conversations. As for Greece, where also a provider was commissioned to fulfill this mission, there not very long ago, a scandal broke out and the provider was fined 76 million Euros since not only the people so authorized had access to the wiretapping system but almost each and every official of the provider,” states expert Mamuka Areshidze in his interview with the Kviris Palitra gazette.
“This process has left me with an impression that some political parties within the coalition as well as some inpiduals are simply trying to curry favor with some people such as the representatives of different NGOs, politically active part of our society etc. Consequently, due to this, the country’s pressing challenges are left without due attention. On this particular occasion, chasing the western norms and standards very often cannot prove to be beneficial for us and our country. Therefore, I agree with their intention to give the Ministry of Foreign Affairs access to this system. First of all, the body has rather wide experience in this sphere and, secondly, it must be more capable of performing this mission without breaching laws than some kind of a mythical provider,” claims Mr. Areshidze.
“As far as I can see, around 6 or 7 press services operate in Georgia today and this obviously binds a body that will be relegated this task with an immensely great responsibility. As for the second key, it can fall only into the hands of that organization in which the people do place confidence. In my mind, their initiation to grant this key to the Personal Data Protection Officer’s Service is interesting. I think it’s the first time I have shared an initiation from the leading team. It’s without question that the President can veto this initiation but he probably understands that by this move he will wither the state and will stimulate the Fifth Column that aims to put this issue on hold in order to pursue the practice of uncontrollably monitoring the people’s private conversations,” contends the expert.
"This issue has almost incited a rift between the Prime Minister and the representatives of some Non-Governmental Organizations in Georgia… When the Prime-Minister wants to be categorical, he, as a rule, makes blunt and ill-timed statements that are generally rather unpleasant to hear. Accordingly, the head of the Government also must not stoop to issuing them. That is the reason why, I think that in order to save face, the Prime Minister must pay more attention to his words. His statements can easily be strict but not abusive. The PM must not insult his political opponents with his words. Some non-governmental organizations take on much more responsibility than they are entitled. Because of some obscure reasons, some of our NGOs decided that they are the main moderators in the country; unfortunately, our journalists have also hammered this insane idea into their heads. How can one organization deal with each and every acute issue of the country; this is something ridiculous, is it not?” asks the respondent.
“By the way, Soros’s visit to Georgia and his statements issued here were of really paramount significance. We must get one irrefutable truth – the closer we move to NATO the more we distance ourselves from our breakaway regions. The left-wing party systematically reminds the Government that they must focus their attention on these territories; however, the only thing you can urge the Government today is to permanently shed the light on this issue in the international arena and be on alert. However, it is also a fact that by doing this we will fail to iron out a solution to this matter – neither the West have enough resources for this today nor obviously us,” concludes the respondent.
“We will petition the President to veto the legislation” – will the so-called wiretapping key remain in MIA?
"Despite great effort from the Non-Governmental organizations, the so-called wiretapping key will presumably be left to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. As one of the leaders of Georgian Dream, Davit Saganelidze claims a decision has already been made and the majority has supported an initiation from Beselia and Popkhadze. Therefore, this means that the model of wiretapping that has been rejected by the civil sector will start operating soon. “As Executive Director of “Transparency International– Georgia,” Eka Gigauri, maintains this initiation cannot eradicate the practice of illegally snooping on the people’s lives. That is the reason why, he hopes that the President will use his constitutional right and will veto the legislation,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“It is also worth noting that the legislative body is expected to make a final decision on this issue in the coming week. Lawmakers will have to make a choice between the two given options: according to one of the projects elaborated by deputies Beselia, Popkhadze and Sesiashvili, the two key system will be installed in the country and one key will be granted to the Personal Data Protection Officer while the other – to MIA. As for the project by Deputy Vakhtang Khmaladze, according to it, a wiretapping key will fall into the hands of the Communication Regulatory Commission. Allegedly, the NGOs have also supported the initiation on implementing a two-key system in wiretapping; they want one key to be granted to the court, while the other to different electronic communication companies,” says the article.
“However, as the circulating reports have it, the parliamentary majority stands with the Prime Minister and Beselia’s legislation is strongly expected to be given advantage over other already presented legislation. “The first and the most important issue is the issue of security. Mobile companies cannot obviously ensure our security. As for the Operator Companies, they have been against holding this key from the very beginning. While focusing on this issue, I would advice you to make conclusions only after finding out which country has set up its companies in this business market,” announced Davit Saganelidze.
“The legislation by Beselia and Popkhadze is unlikely to be supported by the Republicans and Free Democrats; however, despite this, the Dream Government is not expected to face any predicaments in order to enact this law. According to our regulations, the legislation must be supported by the majority of the MPs; however, their number must not be less than 50. “Allegations saying that the majority is for this legislation do not really ring true. Republicans are also the members of the majority, and as far as I am concerned, they are against this legislation. I know that they’ve given advantage to Vakhtang Khmaladze’s presented version. In addition, I do not rule out that some representatives of the Georgian Dream will also refuse to support this legislation.
“I personally stand by Vakhtang Khmaladze, whose project says that the key must be withdrawn from MIA,” declares member of “Free Democrats” Municipality, Shalva Shavgulidze. The Movement “It Concerns You” is categorically against adopting Beselia-Popkhadze-Sesiashvili’s legislation since, as Eka Gigauri claims, this legislation will not allow the people enjoy their fundamental right of leading a private life which is why they are strongly determined to urge the President to veto the project,” concludes the author of the article.
Kublashvili’s former body guard provides the Kronika with secret information
"I was his personal body guard and I will give you only pure facts. They simply had to get rid of that wretched Kublashvili, who is a real pedant and sophisticated man. He observes everything under a magnifying glass and does not even have the slightest idea what friendship is as he has never stood with anyone. We, his guards, saw how Mr. Adeishvili with a huge folder in his hands visited him at the court once or twice a month; they spent around 3 or 4 hours behind closed doors and at midnight, when not even a single soul was in the court, these two men held secret meetings,” states anonymous respondent Kote Kublashvili’s former body guard in his interview with the Kronika gazette.
“Different high officials including Valeri Tsertsvadze, Kote’s secretary and Head of the Court of Appeals, attended their meetings. They did not drop the practice of holding secret meetings before 2012. We noticed that two or three days after Adesihvili visited the court, they, as a rule, launched special operations and massive repressions. I know for certain that Mr. Adeishvili brought the entire court under his thumb. He was an autocratic ruler in the body and controlled everything there. Each and every detainee’s fate was in his hands: he set the amounts of bail and dealt with other issues too. Kote agreed with his each word and complied with his each and every directive. They decided everything behind closed doors,” claims the anonymous respondent.
“The two people who served as Kote’s secretaries are now both officials of the Prosecutor’s Office. As unofficial information has it, Chinchiladze is Adeishvili’s nephew. Once he also served as the prosecutor in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti and before 2012, he took full control of the region,” states the respondent.
“Even his brother, Paliko Kublashvili, avoids meeting him. Moreover, even his own mother did not want to stay at his place while visiting Tbilisi. Even now some judges are under his control in the Tbilisi Municipal Court. The only worthy judge who has never bowed before Kublashvili since 2005 is Natia Tskepladze, has proven to be a rather tough nut to crack. They contrived a number of schemes against her and did everything in their power to do away with her, but never could. They failed to find something against her. She’s always made right decisions and they have not managed to run her out of the court. However, they refused to give this immensely qualified judge any cases,” maintains the anonymous respondent.
“Before 2012, Adesihvili controlled the Municipal Court via Chinchiladze... However, we’ve not seen “Misha’s brothers” there for a rather long time. Kote Kublashvili is also leaving the body in February, 2015 and by all rights, his entire entourage is expected to go along with him. In a nutshell, the entire body will be purged from Adesihvili’s followers soon,” concludes Kote Kublashvili’s former body guard.
