A talk to Misha 2010-03-16 22:16 The scandal over the program shown on Imedi TV is gathering pace. Media found out a recorded telephone conversation featuring a person whose voice sounds like Georgy Arveladze, the TV company’s director general confirming that the idea to simulate invasion of the Russian troops was coordinated with president of Georgia. Arveladze denies authenticity of the record calling it a provocation arranged by Russian special services.

In struggle against Georgia’s “Russian mafia” 2010-03-16 16:07 69 mafiosi from ex socialist countries have been detained in the European Union. Most criminals are Georgia-born, now accused of money laundering, gun and drug dealing, robberies, bribery, money extortion and murder schemes. Teriel Oniani, now incarcerated in Russia can get into the prisoner’s box together with them. The mafia boss who as some sources report once sponsored Mikheil Saakashvili can now be extradited to Spain upon request of the prosecutor’s office.

The Imedi scandal: reverse reaction 2010-03-15 23:07 A scandal around the report made by the Imedi Georgian channel and broadcasted on Saturday evening is gradually developing into an international one. Europe and the USA followed the Georgian opposition and the authorities of Russia and South Ossetia in criticizing the provocative actions. However, the masterpiece produced by the Georgian TV-reporters has got its supporters besides the president of the country.

Pre-election passages 2010-03-15 21:17 Today is the start of Tbilisi Mayor pre-election campaign. In best traditions of Georgian politics even today it’s absolutely impossible to tell enemies from friends. Only one thing seems to be certain: despite numerous talks, the opposition has failed to get united and present a unique candidate. Each candidate has his own position. Not all of them have their program. But accusations against each other are more than enough. No doubt, the most interesting events are there to come. In the meantime, even the exact number of voters is still unknown.

Convicted to fasting and prayer 2010-03-15 09:51 Georgian authorities have long been cooperating with the Orthodox Church in rehabilitation of criminals. The convicts on minor crimes are sent to work in monasteries. Well, it is good for one’s soul and beneficial to the state: since the Rose Revolution Georgian prisons have been overloaded despite amnesties and pardons.

With NATO without plan 2010-03-12 15:48 A discussion of Georgia’s annual national NATO cooperation program for 2010 is taking place today in NATO HQ in Brussels. The document will be delivered to the bloc members by Georgy Baramidze, state minister for European integration. Will the alliance back continued reformation of Georgia’s current regime?

Two pipes 2010-03-11 23:37 The great gas-project confrontation between Europe and Russia in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region may theoretically turn into harmonious cooperation. Eni, an Italian company which is Gazprom’s partner in the South Stream project suggested combining this project with the anti-Russian Nabucco project that is very popular in Georgia. The competition between the future pipes is based not only upon the economic benefit but on political grounds as well, which fact will obviously prevent combining two projects into one.

Russian bases are Tbilisi’s constant concern 2010-03-11 22:29 Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes Moscow for violating international law. This time Tbilisi condemns the treaty on a joint Russian military base in the territory of South Ossetia. As we know upon signature of the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaty Russia undertook certain security guarantees toward Ossetians. Georgia still considers Tskhinval its territory refusing to acknowledge that the current situation was caused by the Georgian army’s attack on the sleeping town.

Georgian opposition is gathering in Moscow 2010-03-10 23:52 It seems that the relationship between Moscow and Tbilisi have not yet moved off dead center. The neighboring countries are still lacking the diplomatic relationship. The leaders of the two countries are lavish at using a strong word about each other. Nevertheless, there is a certain tendency, which is rather difficult to define. At least, there has never been such a case in the international practice.