Category: Audio Review – South Caucasus News

Today, Parliament of Georgia adopted the controversial Defense Code in the 3rd hearing with 80 votes.

The overhaul of compulsory military service is a central element of the new code. Under the revised Defense Code, effective from 2025, all conscripts will be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense, departing from previous practices.

• 28/02/2023 – Explainer | Georgia’s New Defense Code

Furthermore, the fee for postponing conscription will see a substantial increase, rising from 2,000 GEL to 10,000 GEL. Only one such one-year deferral will be permitted for conscripts under the age of 25. Previously, individuals were allowed to defer their service twice, for a total of 18 months.

Another significant and controversial modification pertains to a provision which previously allowed individuals to defer military service if they were ordained as priests. After the new code is in effect, the exemptions will be limited to priests of the Orthodox Church of Georgia.

Despite the removal of the provision exempting priests from the law, the 2002 Constitutional Agreement between the Georgian state and the Orthodox Church holds a superior legislative authority, which continues to grant exemption privileges exclusively to Orthodox priests.

Additionally, the new code aims to enhance the welfare of those in military service. According to the deputy Minister of Defense Grigol Giorgadze, the Defense Code is essential for attaining objectives that bolster defense capability, enhance NATO interoperability, and establish social protections for military personnel. “Through the reforms embedded in the Defense Code, the well-prepared reserve, trained to NATO standards, will see a substantial increase,” he added.

Opposition members and civic activists are holding a protest rally in front of the Parliament building, where today’s parliamentary session will see the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, address the MPs regarding the the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, along with Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, who was summoned by the parliamentary opposition through an interpellation following the Shovi tragedy.

At the rally, themed ‘Against Russian Agents,’ features protesters called for the prosecution of Otar Parstskhaladze, a former Prosecutor General of Georgia, sanctioned by the U.S., under the banner reading ‘Arrest the Russian Agent Otar Parstkhaladze.’

• 14/09/2023 – US Sanctions Ivanishvili Crony for Channeling Russia’s Influence

The demonstrators are also demanding an investigation into the Shovi tragedy, citing allegations of government negligence. Their concerns include the lack of an SMS early warning system in the area and delays in rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Parliament has raised security to ‘yellow’, restricting access to its premises and deploying police personnel to secure the area.

To be updated…

Also Read:

• 22/09/2023 – The Daily Beat: 21 September
• 21/09/2023 – The Daily Beat: 20 September
• 06/09/2023 – Chinese Ambassador Confirms Chinese Interest in Anaklia Port
• 15/08/2023 – Opposition Summons Interior Minister to Parliament

Today, while addressing the Parliament of Georgia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili revealed that the two finalists in the Anaklia Deep Sea Port private partnership selection competition are Chinese-Singaporean and Swiss-Luxembourg consortia. The names of the specific companies involved remain undisclosed, citing reasons of ‘confidentiality.’

Davitashvili told the Parliament that Russian companies did not participate in the selection competition, adding that the government did its best “to ensure that the interests of Russia or any other state do not take precedence over Georgia’s.”

On September 20th, the Economy Ministry announced the selection of two candidates from a pool of four bidders. The ministry did not disclose the origin of the winning companies at that time.

Instead, it stated that the two chosen bidders would be given several months to submit technical, commercial, and financial proposals. After the evaluation process, the Ministry of Economy will determine the winner and initiate negotiations for the concession contract and partnership agreement.

MP Salome Samadashvili from the opposition Lelo party criticized Levan Davitashvili’s statement, suggesting that the eventual winner of this competition “will happen to be” the Chinese company, because, according to her it is “easier to have corrupt dealings with China”. Samadashvili also expressed her lack of surprise at the absence of American companies in the competition, alleging that Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom she claimed was acting on behalf of Russia, had tried to hinder U.S. participation in the project.

MP Roman Gotsiridze of the Euro-optimists parliamentary group accused the GD government of driving Western investors away from the Anaklia project by taking steps such as making anti-Western, anti-Ukrainian statements, attempting to pass a law on foreign agents and restoring direct flights with Russia. He said: “Civilised Europe, the United States of America and the West have turned their backs on the Anaklya project”. He recalled the official US position expressed by Mike Pompeo, who warned during his visit to Georgia in 2020 that Georgia should not fall prey to Russian or Chinese economic influence in connection with the Anaklia deep-sea port. Gotsiridze said: “In fact, the Anaklia project has been handed over to China.”

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia revealed on February 20 that it initiated a call for expressions of interest to seek a private partner willing to acquire a 49% stake in the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project. The remaining 51% of the shares will be retained by the state.

Also Read:

• 06/09/2023 – Chinese Ambassador Confirms Chinese Interest in Anaklia Port
• 20/02/2023 – Government Announces Call for Expression of Interest for Anaklia Deep Sea Port

Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan received the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, and the Head of the EU Delegation, H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Armenia Vassilis Maragos.

During the meeting, regional security issues developed as a result of the recent events and the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders were discussed.