Day: November 3, 2023
The ruling Georgian Dream party members criticized the local non-governmental organizations over their joint statement, issued on November 2, in which nearly 170 CSOs appeal to the European Commission, urging it to recommend to the European Council that Georgia be granted the EU candidate status. The GD leadership claimed CSOs were “organic part of the United National Movement” and argued counterfactually that they have lobbied against Georgia’s EU candidacy, but are now trying to “take credit” for the GD government’s forthcoming success in securing the positive EC decision.
The joint statement asks the European Commission for the positive recommendation on Georgia’s EU candidate status, “despite the ongoing challenges that Georgia must address.” The CSOs note the importance of fulfilling the twelve conditions, as well as the “challenges associated with implementing these recommendations.” Signatories emphasize that Georgia’s European choice “remains a steadfast national aspiration,” which unites the country’s “broad and proactive civil solidarity.”
The GD members criticized the CSOs for allegedly “trying to separate the Georgian people from the government”, stressing that the EU does not grant the status to one without the other. They also slammed the language used by the CSOs to frame their request, which implies that the GD government is not fulfilling its obligation to properly implement twelve EU conditions. GD representatives claim that, Georgian CSOs are trying to take credit for the forthcoming positive recommendation by the European Commission on November 8.
Irakli Kobakhidze, GD Chair: “Unlike the NGOs, who have lobbied against the candidate status, our government officials have lobbied for candidate status. This is the key difference…The message “Give us the status despite everything” precisely means “Do not give us the status.”… When you tell the professor that your child is not ready, but still ask to give them a good mark, you actually tell them not to do so. These CSOs have an idea of the EU as some kind of a new Soviet Union, or they are actually lobbying against candidate status…” “[CSOs] are the organic part of the collective National Movement, and they think that if Georgia is granted candidate status, they will suffer an even heavier defeat in the parliamentary elections. This is simple logic. It’s what Salome Zurabishvili believes in, it’s what CSOs believe in, it’s what the collective National Movement believes in…As for the the narrative that there is government on one side and the people – on the other side, this refers to their non-state attitude.” Kobakhidze also reiterated claims against the “foreign sources,” being financiers of “extremism, polarization and revolutions” in Georgia. In this context he also attacked the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), repeating claims – many times rejected by EED – that it was funding “a particular political party,” which is prohibited by law. Kobakhidze noted that the government continues “to consult with European and American partners in order to prevent the financing of extremism, polarization, and revolution in our country from foreign sources.”
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament: “As can I see, some of the non-governmental organizations did not sign the statement. It is the fact that the statement was prepared by some of the elite CSOs and even the tone of this statement shows how they are misbehaving. They realize that none of the attempts that were aimed against the candidate status now have any prospect of success. Positive signals are coming. And now everyone is trying to take credit for the victory of the Georgian people. In reality, after a year and a half of the sabotage and the resistance, it seems that the EU is preparing the positive decision, and the Georgian people will win, and all the groups that were against [the candidate status], be they political or the elite NGOs, will lose.”
Irakli Chikovani, GD Deputy Chairman: “They are trying once again to oppose the granting of candidate status to Georgia. The narrative that separates the Georgian population, Georgian citizens [from the Georgian government] or says only the geopolitical decision should be taken on granting Georgia the candidate status is complete nonsense.”
Rati Ionatamishvili, GD Deputy Chairman: “As the European decision-makers realize more and more that the decision once made on Georgia was unfair, these rich NGOs still spread the messages filled with Russian tradition and effectively try to sabotage Georgia’s European choice… As it seems, the closer the date of the decision comes, and only a few days remain, these [NGOs] will reveal more and more that their real interest was that Georgia did not get the candidate status.”
After the release of the joint statement, Eka Gigauri, the head of Transparency International – Georgia, one of the signatories, commented to journalists that “despite of all challenges that we all know we have, given the current geopolitical environment in the region, it is important that a positive recommendation decision on status be made.” The GD officials also criticized this argument, claiming that the geopolitical situation has not changed over the past year.
Also Read:
On November 1, the de-facto legislature of the occupied Abkhazia was supposed to hold a special extended meeting of the “Committee on International, Interparliamentary Relations and Relations with Compatriots” to discuss Abkhazia’s readiness to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus. However, as committee chairman Alkhaz Bartsits says, the meeting did not take place top diplomat Inal Ardzinba was in “on a business trip.”
According to Bartsits, the idea of joining the Union State has been voiced by officials on various platforms and at various levels, although the specific essence and objective of this conversation is unclear to political representatives. He said, Inal Ardzinba was invited to provide explanations on the possibility of joining the Union and on whether this was compatible with “constitution and the interests of the Abkhaz population.”
He said, “There are a number of issues related to socio-economic direction, our traditional, our cultural values, which may not be acutely manifested everywhere in the post-Soviet space, as in the territory of Abkhazia, given our mentality, given our history.” Bartsits also speculated that the issues has been raised now because “the geopolitical environment is changing” and “we will probably have to define ourselves somehow.” He noted that Abkhazia has a strategic partnership and an ally in the image of the Russian Federation, but it is striving for recognition of the post-Soviet states and the discussion on what path is unacceptable and acceptable for Abkhazia to take to achieve this goal needs to be held.
Asked whether Abkhazia could enter into a union with a country that doesn’t recognize its independence (Belarus), Bartist replied that this would be mutually exclusive. He added that even if we assume that Belarus recognizes Abkhazia, there are arguments for and against joining the Union. “If this idea of a Union State could stimulate certain processes, maybe we could talk about it, well, in theory, let’s say yes, but in practice, again, it would be necessary to start from what risks this idea entails, that’s what we wanted to talk about today.”
Also Read:
Transparency International-Georgia, an anti-corruption watchdog, has updated its list of alleged high-level corruption cases, involving government officials and their relatives. The list is regularly updated to reflect the high-level corruption situation in Georgia and includes information on specific cases.
The current list includes 151 alleged cases of high-level corruption, where at least 162 high-level public officials were identified, including: 13 judges, 27 members of the Parliament, 28 prime ministers, ministers and their deputies, and 53 local government officials.
Introducing the updated list, TI-Georgia notes that although Georgia is characterized by “impressively low levels of petty corruption,” there is almost “total impunity for high level corruption,” the ultimate form of which is the “state capture.”
TI-Georgia cites the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to which “the influence of the ruling party’s founder over key institutions meets the definition of state capture.”
Moreover, it also states that “the nature and scope of the cases of alleged high-level corruption and the increasing number of these cases point to an alarming conclusion that high-level corruption in Georgia is taking the form of “kleptocracy”, where officials systematically use political power to appropriate the country’s wealth and undermine all critical voices, including political opposition, media, and civil society”.
According to the TI-Georgia, although the local civil society, international assessments, public opinion polls, investigative journalists and non-governmental organizations expose the alleged cases of high-level corruption, the responsible bodies such as the Prosecutor’s Office and the State Security Service, often fail to respond effectively, especially when the cases are linked to the ruling party.
“Even though according to Georgian legislation an investigator or prosecutor is obliged to initiate an investigation upon notification of the commission of a crime, alleged cases of corruption reported regularly by Transparency International Georgia are also left without a response,” – the watchdog says.
In order to effectively curb the high-corruption, experts recommend transferring corruption investigation powers to an independent agency, as urged by the European Parliament, European Commission, and OECD/ACN. Currently, the fight against corruption falls within the remit of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Latest additions to the TI-Georgia list include:
- Alleged corruption cases linked to Romeo Mikautadze, First Deputy Minister of Economy
- Receipt of state contracts up to GEL 3 million by Razmik Gumashyan, the uncle of the senior official of the Ninotsminda Municipal Assembly.
- Receipt of state contracts up to GEL 28 million by former public officials Sulkhan Zumburidze and Mamuka Papuashvili.
- Alleged corruption cases linked to Mariam Chubinidze, a daughter of Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special State Protection Service.
- Receipt of public procurement contracts up to GEL 53 million by state-privileged company Neostar LLC.
- “The Feudal Lord of Javakheti.”
- Corruption risks in Abastumani.
Also Read:
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.8% in October 2023, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on November 3. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.6%.
The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (9.8% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.6% increase); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.2% increase); transport (1.2% increase); and food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.2% decrease).
The monthly inflation rate was mainly driven by price changes in transport (3.6% increase), clothing and footwear (3.3% increase), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.3% increase).
As for food and non-alcoholic beverages, prices increased this year for the following subgroups: fruit and grapes (15.3%); fish (6.9%); vegetables (6.0%); meat (5.9%). At the same time, prices decreased for sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (-1.2%); milk, cheese and eggs (-2.9%); bread and cereals (-8.8%); and oils and fats (-24.4%).
Also Read:
- 03/10/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.7% in September
- 05/09/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.9% in August
- 03/08/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.3% in July
- 03/07/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.6% in June
The ruling Georgian Dream party members criticized the local non-governmental organizations over their joint statement, issued on November 2, in which nearly 170 CSOs appeal to the European Commission, urging it to recommend to the European Council that Georgia be granted the EU candidate status. The GD leadership claimed CSOs were “organic part of the United National Movement” and argued counterfactually that they have lobbied against Georgia’s EU candidacy, but are now trying to “take credit” for the GD government’s forthcoming success in securing the positive EC decision.
The joint statement asks the European Commission for the positive recommendation on Georgia’s EU candidate status, “despite the ongoing challenges that Georgia must address.” The CSOs note the importance of fulfilling the twelve conditions, as well as the “challenges associated with implementing these recommendations.” Signatories emphasize that Georgia’s European choice “remains a steadfast national aspiration,” which unites the country’s “broad and proactive civil solidarity.”
The GD members criticized the CSOs for allegedly “trying to separate the Georgian people from the government”, stressing that the EU does not grant the status to one without the other. They also slammed the language used by the CSOs to frame their request, which implies that the GD government is not fulfilling its obligation to properly implement twelve EU conditions. GD representatives claim that, Georgian CSOs are trying to take credit for the forthcoming positive recommendation by the European Commission on November 8.
Irakli Kobakhidze, GD Chair: “Unlike the NGOs, who have lobbied against the candidate status, our government officials have lobbied for candidate status. This is the key difference…The message “Give us the status despite everything” precisely means “Do not give us the status.”… When you tell the professor that your child is not ready, but still ask to give them a good mark, you actually tell them not to do so. These CSOs have an idea of the EU as some kind of a new Soviet Union, or they are actually lobbying against candidate status…” “[CSOs] are the organic part of the collective National Movement, and they think that if Georgia is granted candidate status, they will suffer an even heavier defeat in the parliamentary elections. This is simple logic. It’s what Salome Zurabishvili believes in, it’s what CSOs believe in, it’s what the collective National Movement believes in…As for the the narrative that there is government on one side and the people – on the other side, this refers to their non-state attitude.” Kobakhidze also reiterated claims against the “foreign sources,” being financiers of “extremism, polarization and revolutions” in Georgia. In this context he also attacked the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), repeating claims – many times rejected by EED – that it was funding “a particular political party,” which is prohibited by law. Kobakhidze noted that the government continues “to consult with European and American partners in order to prevent the financing of extremism, polarization, and revolution in our country from foreign sources.”
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament: “As can I see, some of the non-governmental organizations did not sign the statement. It is the fact that the statement was prepared by some of the elite CSOs and even the tone of this statement shows how they are misbehaving. They realize that none of the attempts that were aimed against the candidate status now have any prospect of success. Positive signals are coming. And now everyone is trying to take credit for the victory of the Georgian people. In reality, after a year and a half of the sabotage and the resistance, it seems that the EU is preparing the positive decision, and the Georgian people will win, and all the groups that were against [the candidate status], be they political or the elite NGOs, will lose.”
Irakli Chikovani, GD Deputy Chairman: “They are trying once again to oppose the granting of candidate status to Georgia. The narrative that separates the Georgian population, Georgian citizens [from the Georgian government] or says only the geopolitical decision should be taken on granting Georgia the candidate status is complete nonsense.”
Rati Ionatamishvili, GD Deputy Chairman: “As the European decision-makers realize more and more that the decision once made on Georgia was unfair, these rich NGOs still spread the messages filled with Russian tradition and effectively try to sabotage Georgia’s European choice… As it seems, the closer the date of the decision comes, and only a few days remain, these [NGOs] will reveal more and more that their real interest was that Georgia did not get the candidate status.”
After the release of the joint statement, Eka Gigauri, the head of Transparency International – Georgia, one of the signatories, commented to journalists that “despite of all challenges that we all know we have, given the current geopolitical environment in the region, it is important that a positive recommendation decision on status be made.” The GD officials also criticized this argument, claiming that the geopolitical situation has not changed over the past year.
Also Read:
On November 1, the de-facto legislature of the occupied Abkhazia was supposed to hold a special extended meeting of the “Committee on International, Interparliamentary Relations and Relations with Compatriots” to discuss Abkhazia’s readiness to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus. However, as committee chairman Alkhaz Bartsits says, the meeting did not take place top diplomat Inal Ardzinba was in “on a business trip.”
According to Bartsits, the idea of joining the Union State has been voiced by officials on various platforms and at various levels, although the specific essence and objective of this conversation is unclear to political representatives. He said, Inal Ardzinba was invited to provide explanations on the possibility of joining the Union and on whether this was compatible with “constitution and the interests of the Abkhaz population.”
He said, “There are a number of issues related to socio-economic direction, our traditional, our cultural values, which may not be acutely manifested everywhere in the post-Soviet space, as in the territory of Abkhazia, given our mentality, given our history.” Bartsits also speculated that the issues has been raised now because “the geopolitical environment is changing” and “we will probably have to define ourselves somehow.” He noted that Abkhazia has a strategic partnership and an ally in the image of the Russian Federation, but it is striving for recognition of the post-Soviet states and the discussion on what path is unacceptable and acceptable for Abkhazia to take to achieve this goal needs to be held.
Asked whether Abkhazia could enter into a union with a country that doesn’t recognize its independence (Belarus), Bartist replied that this would be mutually exclusive. He added that even if we assume that Belarus recognizes Abkhazia, there are arguments for and against joining the Union. “If this idea of a Union State could stimulate certain processes, maybe we could talk about it, well, in theory, let’s say yes, but in practice, again, it would be necessary to start from what risks this idea entails, that’s what we wanted to talk about today.”
Also Read:
Transparency International-Georgia, an anti-corruption watchdog, has updated its list of alleged high-level corruption cases, involving government officials and their relatives. The list is regularly updated to reflect the high-level corruption situation in Georgia and includes information on specific cases.
The current list includes 151 alleged cases of high-level corruption, where at least 162 high-level public officials were identified, including: 13 judges, 27 members of the Parliament, 28 prime ministers, ministers and their deputies, and 53 local government officials.
Introducing the updated list, TI-Georgia notes that although Georgia is characterized by “impressively low levels of petty corruption,” there is almost “total impunity for high level corruption,” the ultimate form of which is the “state capture.”
TI-Georgia cites the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to which “the influence of the ruling party’s founder over key institutions meets the definition of state capture.”
Moreover, it also states that “the nature and scope of the cases of alleged high-level corruption and the increasing number of these cases point to an alarming conclusion that high-level corruption in Georgia is taking the form of “kleptocracy”, where officials systematically use political power to appropriate the country’s wealth and undermine all critical voices, including political opposition, media, and civil society”.
According to the TI-Georgia, although the local civil society, international assessments, public opinion polls, investigative journalists and non-governmental organizations expose the alleged cases of high-level corruption, the responsible bodies such as the Prosecutor’s Office and the State Security Service, often fail to respond effectively, especially when the cases are linked to the ruling party.
“Even though according to Georgian legislation an investigator or prosecutor is obliged to initiate an investigation upon notification of the commission of a crime, alleged cases of corruption reported regularly by Transparency International Georgia are also left without a response,” – the watchdog says.
In order to effectively curb the high-corruption, experts recommend transferring corruption investigation powers to an independent agency, as urged by the European Parliament, European Commission, and OECD/ACN. Currently, the fight against corruption falls within the remit of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Latest additions to the TI-Georgia list include:
- Alleged corruption cases linked to Romeo Mikautadze, First Deputy Minister of Economy
- Receipt of state contracts up to GEL 3 million by Razmik Gumashyan, the uncle of the senior official of the Ninotsminda Municipal Assembly.
- Receipt of state contracts up to GEL 28 million by former public officials Sulkhan Zumburidze and Mamuka Papuashvili.
- Alleged corruption cases linked to Mariam Chubinidze, a daughter of Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special State Protection Service.
- Receipt of public procurement contracts up to GEL 53 million by state-privileged company Neostar LLC.
- “The Feudal Lord of Javakheti.”
- Corruption risks in Abastumani.
Also Read:
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.8% in October 2023, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on November 3. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.6%.
The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (9.8% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.6% increase); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.2% increase); transport (1.2% increase); and food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.2% decrease).
The monthly inflation rate was mainly driven by price changes in transport (3.6% increase), clothing and footwear (3.3% increase), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.3% increase).
As for food and non-alcoholic beverages, prices increased this year for the following subgroups: fruit and grapes (15.3%); fish (6.9%); vegetables (6.0%); meat (5.9%). At the same time, prices decreased for sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (-1.2%); milk, cheese and eggs (-2.9%); bread and cereals (-8.8%); and oils and fats (-24.4%).
Also Read:
- 03/10/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.7% in September
- 05/09/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.9% in August
- 03/08/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.3% in July
- 03/07/2023 – Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.6% in June