Will the “Georgian law” justify itself? 2010-02-03 23:17 Despite recently imposed more stringent measures against leaders of organized criminal groups Georgia continues to export mafia bosses to Russia. A short time ago Guram Chikhladze who, as the law-enforcement bodies claim, was one of the protagonists on the criminal stage of Moscow region, was detained in Moscow. This is the second detention of a criminal authority from Georgia in Moscow over last week. Will this situation bring changes to the main export article from Tbilisi?

“Zhvania’s case” waiting for proof 2010-02-03 17:25 Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was found dead in Tbilisi on February 3, 2005. The official investigation chose the version of carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of an accident. However, the inconsistencies in the case materials, as well as the statements made by the oppositional politicians speak for the version of a deliberate murder. Mikhail Saakashvili’s team is under suspicion.

Visa-free friendship 2010-02-02 21:39 As was expected, the visa-free regime agreement between Russian and South Ossetia stirred the irritation of Georgia, which seems to worry about each step undertaken by the Russian authorities in favor of the former Georgian region. The agreement cannot significantly facilitate the uncontrolled crossing of the Russian-South-Ossetian border; still, it will validate the South-Ossetian passports.

Gamsakhurdia’s “Moscow truth” 2010-02-02 15:35 Konstantin Gamsakhurdia, son of first Georgian president, now heading the parliamentary commission investigating into circumstances of his father’s death accuses Edward Shevarnadze, the country’s former leader, of his involvement in murder referring to the information by ex state security minister Igor Giorgadze he had met in Moscow. Despite Shevarnadze’s refutation the parliamentarian will now press for the status of a commission of inquiry. What will the revelations of security officials mean to Georgia’s ex leader?

PR failure in a Georgian manner 2010-02-02 08:52 The best thing in which the Georgians seem to succeed in today’s crisis is the PR-technologies. The Georgian, Russian and western experts hold by an opinion that the Georgian authorities have far outdone their regional neighbors in this respect. Tbilisi does not conceal the informational war with Russia, wishing to revenge the lost territories and convince the world community of its rightness. It is in the aspect of the informational war with the Kremlin that the new First Caucasian project was launched at the beginning of the year. The broadcasting is realized via a satellite. However, the new project has already experienced a failure: the Eutelsat French company has suspended the broadcasting of the First Caucasian Channel for the reason of the test broadcasting term expiration, while the new contract with Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) has not been executed yet. Tbilisi is not trying to conceal its dissatisfaction.

Ukraine in wait for guests from Tbilisi 2010-02-01 16:45 Information that Georgian monitors might come to the second round of Ukraine’s presidential election made Odessa worry. Local regional council gathered for an emergency session with the deputies expressing concern over possible unrest and frustration of the second round of election calling on the country leaders and PACE to “provide adequate evaluation of the anti-popular actions by Timoshenko and her patrons”. A logical question is whether Tbilisi will risk sending its people to Ukraine in this situation?

Georgia’s generous offer for NATO 2010-01-29 15:06 Despite US president Barack Obama’s statement on US pull-out from Afghanistan next year in his speech before the Congress Tbilisi proposes Washington to use Georgia’s territory as a base for NATO blows on Taliban extremist movement. Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili is ready to provide access to sea ports and airports to the US and the alliance forces. Will the White House make use of this generous offer?

Georgia: time to make a choice 2010-01-28 18:29 Another round of negotiations between the representatives of Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Russia, USA, EU, UN and OSCE is going to be held in Geneva today concerning the situation in the South Caucasus. The parties are intended to discuss the issues of safety and the problems of refugees. Moscow is also going to raise the issue of signing an agreement on Tbilisi’s nonaggression against Sukhum and Tskhinval. In its turn, Georgia will acquaint the participants of the discussions with the strategy developed in respect of the young republics. According to the Georgian strategists, the document is aimed at peaceful cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The point is that these assurances have got nothing in common with the increased military potential of Georgia.

What shall we expect from next round? 2010-01-28 17:08 February 7 is the second round of Ukraine’s presidential election between two rivals - PM Yulia Timoshenko and Viktor Yanoukovich, Party of Regions leader. GeorgiaTimes has already written about the first round featuring the so-called “monitors” from Georgia, almost protagonists of the event. Curiously enough, Tbilisi is still frequently mentioned in the run-up to the coming duel between Ukraine’s two heavy-weighters.