Day: April 9, 2024
Georgia marks two historical events on April 9: a brutal repression of the pro-independence protests in Tbilisi in 1989 by the Soviet Army, which left 21 dead and hundreds of injured by poison gas deployed by the troops. In 1991, following the defeat of the Communist Party by the pro-independence coalition in the polls in 1990, and the subsequent referendum on independence in March 1991, the Georgian parliament announced the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
Throughout the weekend and on Monday, the wave of international condemnation has been expanding following the decision of the ruling party to re-introduce the “foreign agents” bill that, if adopted, is likely to curtail the operation of civic associations and independent media.
More than 400 CSOs (the number is growing) have denounced the bill, as did the media saying the government “does not want to hear the voices” from the provinces and far-flung places. President Salome Zurabishvili, who shares that sentiment, spoke to the Ambassadors and promised to veto the bill, but the ruling party could easily overcome her veto.
PM Kobakhidze is adamant the bill is “sound” and “entirely thought through.” He lambasted the CSOs for what he called “censorship” when social media platforms, such as Meta’s Facebook, removed the ruling party’s attack ads concerning the bill. In the meantime, watchdogs pointed to a coordinated social media campaign by the ruling party engaging civil servants and local government officials, who are under strict instructions on what messages to post. The Georgian Dream MP Dito Samkharadze confirmed he was coordinating the campaign and said the “party has been calling [on civil servants and party activists] to tear lies and malevolence over the heads” of “people without a nation”, “natsis” [a pejorative reference to UNM] and “natsiNGOs” and who “are aiming against country’s independence try to rule the country with black foreign cash.”
In the meantime, the Parliament Bureau has delayed the formal review of the bill till April 15, seemingly to leave plausible deniability ahead of PM Kobakhidze’s visit to Berlin, which is scheduled for April 12. CSOs picketed the parliament and are planning a larger “March for Freedom” on April 9.
Also delayed was the verdict in the court proceedings in Lazare Grigoridis case. Grigoriadis, 23, was arrested in connection with the March 7-9 protests against the first iteration of the Foreign Agents’ law. The prosecution says he threw a petrol bomb at the police car, while the defense says Grigoriadis is innocent as he is being ‘vilified’ in a political trial as a poster child of the Gen-Z protesters who made the ruling party withdraw that law. Judge Zviad Sharadze said the verdict is expected in “reasonable time.”
An explosion rocked one of Tbilisi’s shooting clubs on April 7, killing three on the spot; another man succumbed to injuries in the hospital. One of the deceased was identified as Col. Yuri Lomidze, which triggered speculation of foul play, including from the Gen. (ret.) Gogi Tatukhashvili, former commander of the Interior Troops. Col. Lomidze was involved in the 2007 clash in Kodori, Upper Abkhazia, where Georgian special forces reportedly killed two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers. Five of the Georgian participants died under suspicious circumstances in 2014, triggering persistent rumors of “GRU revenge.”
Campaign Trail
PM Kobakhidze held the cabinet meeting and announced a massive debt write-off for citizens and businesses with outstanding tax penalties. Tax relief, pardon of penalties, and salary hikes for public employees have been traditional campaign tricks at the disposal of the governing parties in Georgia. In a new twist, PM instructed the Ministry of Economy to make sure cheap flights to Germany are available for those who would want to travel to the European football championship.
At the same cabinet meeting, PM Kobakhidze presented a white elephant project – the new Tbilisi International Airport at the current site of the Vaziani military airfield, which he said, would boost passenger capacity, encourage tourism, and boost GDP.
Giorgi Gakharia’s party, “For Georgia,” has initiated a counter-draft law which, they say, would boost CSO transparency without repressive overtones of the government’s draft. The “For Georgia” submission would amend the current law “On Grants” to boost transparency and reporting requirements.
The National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia (NAPR) canceled the registration of the pro-Russian, anti-liberal “Conservative Movement/Alt-info” party, according to the decision issued on April 8.
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The Daily Beat: 8 April
Georgia marks two historical events on April 9: a brutal repression of the pro-independence protests in Tbilisi in 1989 by the Soviet Army, which left 21 dead and hundreds of injured by poison gas deployed by the troops. In 1991, following the defeat of the Communist Party by the pro-independence coalition in the polls in 1990, and the subsequent referendum on independence in March 1991, the Georgian parliament announced the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
Throughout the weekend and on Monday, the wave of international condemnation has been expanding following the decision of the ruling party to re-introduce the “foreign agents” bill that, if adopted, is likely to curtail the operation of civic associations and independent media.
More than 400 CSOs (the number is growing) have denounced the bill, as did the media saying the government “does not want to hear the voices” from the provinces and far-flung places. President Salome Zurabishvili, who shares that sentiment, spoke to the Ambassadors and promised to veto the bill, but the ruling party could easily overcome her veto.
PM Kobakhidze is adamant the bill is “sound” and “entirely thought through.” He lambasted the CSOs for what he called “censorship” when social media platforms, such as Meta’s Facebook, removed the ruling party’s attack ads concerning the bill. In the meantime, watchdogs pointed to a coordinated social media campaign by the ruling party engaging civil servants and local government officials, who are under strict instructions on what messages to post. The Georgian Dream MP Dito Samkharadze confirmed he was coordinating the campaign and said the “party has been calling [on civil servants and party activists] to tear lies and malevolence over the heads” of “people without a nation”, “natsis” [a pejorative reference to UNM] and “natsiNGOs” and who “are aiming against country’s independence try to rule the country with black foreign cash.”
In the meantime, the Parliament Bureau has delayed the formal review of the bill till April 15, seemingly to leave plausible deniability ahead of PM Kobakhidze’s visit to Berlin, which is scheduled for April 12. CSOs picketed the parliament and are planning a larger “March for Freedom” on April 9.
Also delayed was the verdict in the court proceedings in Lazare Grigoridis case. Grigoriadis, 23, was arrested in connection with the March 7-9 protests against the first iteration of the Foreign Agents’ law. The prosecution says he threw a petrol bomb at the police car, while the defense says Grigoriadis is innocent as he is being ‘vilified’ in a political trial as a poster child of the Gen-Z protesters who made the ruling party withdraw that law. Judge Zviad Sharadze said the verdict is expected in “reasonable time.”
An explosion rocked one of Tbilisi’s shooting clubs on April 7, killing three on the spot; another man succumbed to injuries in the hospital. One of the deceased was identified as Col. Yuri Lomidze, which triggered speculation of foul play, including from the Gen. (ret.) Gogi Tatukhashvili, former commander of the Interior Troops. Col. Lomidze was involved in the 2007 clash in Kodori, Upper Abkhazia, where Georgian special forces reportedly killed two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers. Five of the Georgian participants died under suspicious circumstances in 2014, triggering persistent rumors of “GRU revenge.”
Campaign Trail
PM Kobakhidze held the cabinet meeting and announced a massive debt write-off for citizens and businesses with outstanding tax penalties. Tax relief, pardon of penalties, and salary hikes for public employees have been traditional campaign tricks at the disposal of the governing parties in Georgia. In a new twist, PM instructed the Ministry of Economy to make sure cheap flights to Germany are available for those who would want to travel to the European football championship.
At the same cabinet meeting, PM Kobakhidze presented a white elephant project – the new Tbilisi International Airport at the current site of the Vaziani military airfield, which he said, would boost passenger capacity, encourage tourism, and boost GDP.
Giorgi Gakharia’s party, “For Georgia,” has initiated a counter-draft law which, they say, would boost CSO transparency without repressive overtones of the government’s draft. The “For Georgia” submission would amend the current law “On Grants” to boost transparency and reporting requirements.
The National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia (NAPR) canceled the registration of the pro-Russian, anti-liberal “Conservative Movement/Alt-info” party, according to the decision issued on April 8.
Military pilots conducted training flights – VIDEO
In accordance with the combat training plan for 2024 approved by the Minister of Defense, training flights were conducted with the Air Force’s helicopter units.
Prior to the flights, military personnel’s theoretical knowledge was checked, and military pilots were informed about safety rules.
Helicopters carried out flights from base airfields along the designated routes and accomplished the tasks on takeoff and landing, conducting aerial reconnaissance, as well as other activities in the daylight hours and at nighttime.
The tasks assigned at the exercise in order to increase the combat training and improve practical skills of the crew were successfully fulfilled.
Military pilots conducted training flights – VIDEO
Hərbi pilotlar təlim-məşq uçuşlarını icra ediblər – VİDEO
Müdafiə nazirinin təsdiq etdiyi 2024-cü ilin döyüş hazırlığı planına əsasən, Hərbi Hava Qüvvələrinin (HHQ) helikopter bölmələri ilə təlim-məşq uçuşları həyata keçirilib.
Uçuşdan əvvəl şəxsi heyətin nəzəri bilikləri yoxlanılıb, hərbi pilotlara təhlükəsizlik qaydaları çatdırılıb.
Bazalanma aerodromlarından müəyyən edilmiş marşrutlar üzrə uçuşlar edən helikopterlər gündüz və gecə vaxtı havaya qalxma və yerə enmə, hava kəşfiyyatının aparılması, eləcə də digər fəaliyyətlər üzrə tapşırıqları yerinə yetiriblər.
Uçuş heyətinin döyüş hazırlığı və praktiki vərdişlərinin daha da artırılması məqsədilə keçirilən təlimdə qarşıya qoyulan tapşırıqlar müvəffəqiyyətlə icra olunub.
Hərbi pilotlar təlim-məşq uçuşlarını icra ediblər – VİDEO
Военные летчики выполнили учебно-тренировочные полеты – ВИДЕО
В соответствии с планом боевой подготовки на 2024 год, утвержденным министром обороны, вертолетные подразделения Военно-воздушных сил выполнили учебно-тренировочные полеты.
Накануне полетов были проверены теоретические знания личного состава, до сведения военных летчиков были доведены правила безопасности.
Вертолеты выполнили полеты по установленным маршрутам, совершив вылеты с аэродромов базирования. Были выполнены задачи по взлету и посадке в дневное и ночное время, ведению воздушной разведки, а также по другим видам деятельности.
Задачи, поставленные в ходе учений, проводимых в целях повышения боевой подготовки и практических навыков лётных экипажей, были успешно выполнены.
Военные летчики выполнили учебно-тренировочные полеты – ВИДЕО
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NPR News: 04-09-2024 4AM EDT
#Armenia‘s MFA announces it will not participate in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Minsk on 12 April.
*Yerevan continues to distance itself from Moscow.
Source: https://t.co/0pbGh2sS3J
— Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) April 9, 2024