Opinions

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?

Pardon – a chance for a new life. What’s next? 2009-11-03 16:54 New pardon is expected in Georgia. This time the authorities suggest releasing incarcerated drug users with a reservation that drug dealers are not subject to mercy. GeorgiaTimes correspondent asked the opinion of Elene Tevdoradze, a rights defender, on the president's initiative.

Don’t rush to throw work records in the Kura River! 2009-10-28 13:11 The Labor party of Georgia objects to the draft law on abolition of work records. As Iosif Shatberashvili, the party’s secretary told GeorgiaTimes this is how the authorities want to obviate promises to bring pensions in compliance with the years of service and merits pretending that the Georgian Labor Code is approaching Western standards.

Beslan Butba: human resource investment as top priority 2009-10-26 23:24 The election campaign is starting off in Abkhazia. Upon acquisition of independence a year ago the country will elect its president on December 12. The opposition in the young republic is going to contest the president’s post. The chairman of Abkhazia’s Economic Development Party (ERA) Beslan Butba is answering questions of GeorgiaTimes correspondent.

Olympic non-serenity 2009-10-22 22:22 The UN General Assembly recently called to cease any military actions for the period of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Olympic armistice is an ancient tradition established in VIII century B.C. and revived by the International Olympic Committee in the last century. Meanwhile, tomorrow the Georgian parliament will discuss the possibility of boycotting the Olympic Games in Sochi. Are the ancient traditions and international standards worth breaking, especially that Georgia is so careful about holding to any traditions?

Georgia: newest history lessons 2009-10-21 23:02 The parliament favors deputy Jondi Bagaturia’s initiative to set up a commission to investigate the death of Georgia’s first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Many believe the suicide version is improbable. But is it possible to shed light on this misty story 16 years later? And does Georgia need this now? This is what GeorgiaTimes correspondent was finding out in Tbilisi.

Man does not live by treaty alone 2009-10-21 09:41 Georgian patriarch Ilia II revived the 1790 Treaty on Unity of the Iberians. The natives of Georgia (Iveria, or Iberia in the old times) all around the world will get an opportunity to swear their loyalty to Motherland in a written form in the name of God. The last time such vow was demanded of the Georgians was the time of Irakliy II when Russia withdrew its troops from Georgia in protest against Georgia’s peaceful treaty with Turkey.

France attracted by Nabucco 2009-10-19 23:19 The world media’s attention is again focused upon Nabucco gas pipeline, which is to reduce Western Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. French company GDF Suez announced its readiness to take part in the project that is considered to be “anti-Russian”, Georgia drawing attention to the project as well. GeorgiaTimes’ correspondent is talking to the Georgian and Russian experts about the peculiarities of the French energy policy.