Opinions

Mortal Combat for the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant 2009-11-20 18:23 The foreign investor reproached the Georgian government for its inability to protect private property. On the background of endless groaning of functionaries on how Georgia needs investments the indifference to the situation of the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant is unclear. The director of the British company «Thames Steels» that used to own plant assets made a declaration on the violation of legal owners’ rights and on complicity of Georgian courts with criminal organizations.

Berezovskiy may take possession of the Georgian “Hope” 2009-11-19 21:18 The long-suffering Imedi (Hope) TV channel is the center of attention again. Recently, Court of London delivered an expert report confirming the fact that Badri Patarkatsishvili’s will was composed after his death. As GeorgiaTimes correspondent found out, it does not mean that the media assets are now going to pass to the family of the decedent and that the channel will again become the voice of the opposition. It is Boris Berezovskiy who might become the new owner of the Georgian Hope.

Frontier barriers of the Georgian democracy 2009-11-17 00:27 The Georgian authorities are demonstrating their “desire” to set up a dialogue with Russia by means of the people’s democracy. The country has denied entrance to the initiators of the historic and literature award Marina Guseva and Alexander Veligonenko, who were carrying a book about Commander Bagration and were going to take part in the presentation of the World Congress of Peoples of Georgia branch office. The GeorgiaTimes correspondent interviewed Marina Guseva (see photo).

Ebralidze: a scarecrow for Saakashvili? 2009-11-13 17:39 Representative of the Russian branch of the World Congress of Peoples of Georgia Alexander Kinteraya was not allowed to enter Georgia. He intended to open an organizational branch there. The reason for denial was not mentioned; however, it is the presidential ambitions of the Congress Head Alexander Ebralidze that could be the only obstacle.

Small taxes that claim a lot 2009-11-12 17:27 Because of the crisis the Georgian government was forced to reconsider their attitude to taxes. Desire to make Georgia more investment-attractive was replaced by a trend to squeeze money from businesses. The latest victim of this policy is Kazbegi beer factory in Rustavi. And again rhetoric does not match deed - which is normal for Mikheil Saakashvili. Recently he spoke about improvement of tax environment.

Civil disobedience inevitable 2009-11-10 14:47 Autumn slack doesn't seem to last long with the opposition declaring a new wave of rallies. NGOs have raised an ultimatum to the president of Georgia. Experts are at their wits' end making any forecasts. Two scenarios are possible: either the opposition raises the white flag eventually or a new turn of confrontation is there to start.

Why Tsotne Gamsakhurdia was arrested 2009-11-09 17:40 November rallies in Georgia went by almost without emergencies with the police dispersing only one demonstration of the supporters of Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia, the widow of Georgia's ex president demanding liberation of Tsotne, her son who had recently been arrested and declared a hunger strike in protest. Gamsakhurdia's supporters consider him a political prisoner. GeorgiaTimes correspondent tried to figure out intricacies of the Georgian justice.

Sheremet to stand before court for insult 2009-11-06 17:25 Former Defense Minister of Georgia, now opposition Movement for United Georgia leader is going to sue TV journalist Pavel Sheremet in court. The Georgian "hawk" doesn't like the way the author of "Saakashvili. Georgia. Shattered Dreams" depicted him in his book. GeorgiaTimes correspondent asked Pavel Sheremet why he had offended Irakli Okruashvili.

How Bagdasarov left Vashadze without Russian passport 2009-11-06 13:58 A new diplomatic scandal has burst out between Georgia and Russia - a small scandal in fact. State Duma deputy Semen Bagdasarov suggested that Georgian FM Grigol Vashadze be deprived of Russian citizenship. He wasn't supported by his colleagues. But Vashadze himself who hadn't planned to renounce Russian citizenship angrily submitted his RF passport to President Dmitry Medvedev together with a request of citizenship renunciation. For whose benefit? This is what GeorgiaTimes correspondent was trying to find out in Moscow and Tbilisi.

Tactical maneuvers on Upper Lars 2009-11-05 14:16 Russia and Georgia openly admit that restoration of traffic via Upper Lars checkpoint is of mutual interest. However even here some tactical maneuvers were started. Georgian Foreign Minister contradicted the information on Georgian-Russian talks held in Yerevan on resumption of traffic on this stretch confirming though that Georgia was discussing that with Armenia. What can the opening of the road directly connecting Georgia and Russia bring about and is there any hope for it?