http://georgiatimes.info/GeorgiaTimes.infohttp://www.georgiatimes.info/pix/logo100en.gifhttp://georgiatimes.info/?lang=enhttp://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25950.htmlThe 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.Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25847.htmlThe 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.Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:18:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25575.htmlThe 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).Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25463.htmlRepresentative 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.Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25385.htmlBecause 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.Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:27:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25195.htmlAutumn 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.Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:47:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25146.htmlNovember 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.Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:40:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/25023.htmlFormer 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.Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:25:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24994.htmlA 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.Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:58:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24921.htmlRussia 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?Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:16:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24828.htmlNew 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.Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24424.htmlThe 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.Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:11:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24263.htmlThe 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.Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:24:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/24052.htmlThe 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?Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23979.htmlThe 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.Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:02:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23876.htmlGeorgian 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.Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:41:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23778.htmlThe 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.Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:19:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23622.htmlPresident of the newly established state Sergey Bagapsh revealed Abkhazia's ambitions in his interview to American periodical The Washington Times. Does his assuredness that his country will finally be recognized have any grounds? It looks like it does. The more so that Georgia has already realized it has got no influence over Sukhum and the people of the republic.Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:43:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23559.htmlThe alternative Abkhazian government is beating an alarm: they tried to hang Putin’s portrait on the wall in one of the schools of the Galskiy region of Abkhazia. Besides, they say they are lacking Georgian schoolbooks and the teachers are said to be forced to acquire Abkhazian nationality. Well, what a shame for an independent country! The panic of the “stray” “officials in exile” was commented upon for GeorgiaTimes by head of the Galskiy region administration Beslan Arshba.Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:59:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23494.htmlEU representatives are displeased with the situation of national minorities in Georgia believing that involvement of non-title nations in all spheres of Georgian life is limited. The nationalities question has long been Georgia’s heel of Achilles. What is in store for the multi-national state?Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:46:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23407.htmlIt is well understood in Georgia that the oppositional movement failed because of the lack of unity. The authorities’ opponents are calling upon their supporters to unite their efforts. Will they succeed this time? So far, the majority of the oppositional leaders are unable to choose between Alasania and Burjanadze.Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:17:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23157.htmlRussia and Georgia: What Do People Want? Such forum is planned to be held in Krasnodar on October 10. It will be held on the initiative of Iveria regional public organization of Krasnodar. GeorgiaTimes is talking to Head of NGO (nongovernmental organization) Mindia Gulua who is giving his view of the Russian-Georgian relationship development.Thu, 8 Oct 2009 16:21:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/23007.htmlCurrent Georgian government makes active use of PR technologies in pursuing their domestic policies. All independent politologists and experts confirm that. This is what Mikheil Saakashvili’s political opponents criticize him for.Tue, 6 Oct 2009 14:31:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22561.htmlRussian Foreign Ministry again blames Georgia for violation of Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. Tbilisi’s reaction was predictable for it is believed there that Russia was the first to refuse to comply with this agreement virtually striking it down. But since this document remains the only legal instrument between the conflicting parties, both countries keep referring to it. GeorgiaTimes has tried to find out how long the plan will be valid.Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:37:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22413.htmlFormer German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is lobbying Iran’s engagement in Nabucco project. The participation of a country with the world’s second largest gas deposits will accelerate construction making the pipeline cost-effective. For Georgia it’s fraught with the loss of part of potential transit incomes and for Russia – the South Stream competitor’s final victory. Do the two countries have common interests?Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22255.htmlSome media have reported on Turkey’s alleged desire to recognize Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s independence. There is a “but” though: in exchange for Russia’s recognition of North Cyprus. How possible is this turn of events that would completely change alignment of forces in Caucasus?Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:40:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22199.htmlPresident of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev made a critical statement about Georgia in his speech delivered during the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. The Georgians left the conference room in advance but the speech of the Russian leader reached them in print and was referred to as “propaganda”. As to the words of the U.S. President Barack Obama, Tbilisi grasped them immediately. However, Russia and the USA continue coming closer and Tbilisi has to approve such rapprochement.Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:57:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22133.htmlBy 2015 Georgia will have US military facilities. As Resonansi newspaper reports, the project is lobbied by a group of Republican Party Congressmen and ex Vice President Dick Cheney. How feasible is that? How will Russian-Georgian and Russian-US relations develop? GeorgiaTimes correspondent asked experts of both states for comments.Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:07:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/22010.htmlThe Georgian opposition is going to resume protest actions on Rustaveli avenue. An application for holding a meeting on September 28 has been submitted to Mayor’s Office. The opposition promises to call about 50 thousand people to the streets. However, the majority of the oppositional activists have not yet defined their position: they are conducting negotiations and developing their strategy. It has also become known that former Prime Minister and current leader of party For Fair Georgia Zurab Nogaideli has met with leader of the Laborites Shalva Natelashvili. What did the former opponents talk about? The GeorgiaTimes correspondent tried to find it out.Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:13:00 +0400http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/interview/21870.htmlThe Union of Doctors plans to urge the Georgian government to protect health of Chiatura residents. The research has revealed health deterioration as a result of manganese poisoning. The company in charge of mining has gone bankrupt with the Ministry of Economy failing to find its owner. But the state is not in a hurry to assume the responsibility for environment condition near Chiatura.Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:26:00 +0400