Failed Impeachment & more–19th Oct 2023

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 19th of October twenty twenty-three A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

On Wednesday the 18th, Georgian Dream or Otsneba failed to impeach President Salome Zurabishvili. Otsneba doesn’t have 2/3 or 100 votes in parliament. They ended up getting eighty-six out of the 100 required to go forward with the impeachment process. The opposition said that the failed impeachment was the defeat of Ivanishvili, who, according to the opposition, wanted to subjugate Georgia's EU integration.

On Monday the 16th, the Constitutional Court had ruled that Zourabichvili's working visits to Europe without the government's approval violated the Constitution. Six out of nine judges supported the decision. This is the first time the court has dealt with an impeachment procedure. The opposition said that Otsneba controls the Constitutional Court judges, so the verdict did not come as a surprise. Otsneba members said that the Constitutional Court's decision proved that Zourabichvili breached the Constitution and that they would proceed with the impeachment process in the Parliament. In response, Zourabicvhili said she planned to continue serving as the President and called on the opposition to "take to the streets against this impeachment."

On Tuesday, the 17th, she made two crucial decisions. Firstly, she stripped the Georgian citizenship of Otar Parskhaladze, who holds dual Georgian and Russian citizenship. Recall that the US Treasury had sanctioned him for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy under the guidance of the Russian Federal Security Service officer Aleksandr Onischenko. Secondly, the President vetoed the "Tent Law" before the Parliament could vote on it. The law would have empowered police to ban the establishment of structures during assemblies or demonstrations that posed a threat to participants' safety or were unnecessary for the event's organization. The opposition criticized the law, saying it violates freedom of speech.

On Thursday the 12th, the parties Girchi - More Freedom and It is Time or Droa, launched a joint project called Mona.ge. Mona means enslaved person. The founders of the project chose the name to refer to Otsneba's appeasement policies toward Russia. The project includes a bilingual website and a Facebook page to make public the names of those serving the Russian regime in Georgia, keep a digital record of them so that future generations can access the information, and prevent listed individuals and their family members from seeking asylum in Western countries. The project targets a wide range of individuals, including state security employees, police officers involved in arresting demonstrators, judges, and business owners financing the Russian regime through corrupt government officials. Link to the project’s website in the show notes!

On Friday the 13th, a non-governmental organization that monitors elections and related political processes called the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, or ISFED, published a document on political finance in Georgia. According to the report, Georgia's political finance landscape mostly adheres to international standards, but Otsneba’s dominance in fundraising causes concerns about financial inequality and political corruption. ISFED said that while private funding is allowed, Otsneba’s donors often secure government contracts. State funding is based on parliamentary election results, hindering newcomers in local elections. Fewer seats in parliament means less state funding. ISFED recommends amending laws to allow state funding based on local and parliamentary election results, enhancing the Anti-Corruption Bureau's independence and criminal investigation powers, and increasing expense transparency.

On Friday the 13th, Otsneba representatives did not join the European Council's resolution recognizing Russia as a dictatorship. The resolution from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said that Vladimir Putin’s presidency would be “illegitimate” if he continues in office beyond the twenty twenty-four elections. Irakli Chikovani, the head of the Otsneba delegation in the Assembly, mentioned that Otsneba party members were in Poland as observers, while others participated in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and that he personally had other things to do. Well, ok then, the guy was busy with other stuff, I mean cut him some slack! Chikovani asserted that the Government’s interactions with Russia solely aimed at restoring territorial integrity and helping citizens in occupied territories. When asked about Russia being a dictatorship, he dodged the question and just said that Russia had some democratic issues. Still, back in twenty twenty-two, Otsneba also didn't endorse the Council of Europe's resolution, which considered Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

On Thursday, the 12th, Robin Dunnigan, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador, arrived in Georgia and presented her diplomatic credentials to the President. She is a career diplomat who joined the State Department in nineteen ninety-two. Dunnigan has served at United States Embassies in Vietnam, Chile, Turkey, Cuba, and El Salvador. During the meeting with the President, the U.S. Ambassador expressed her commitment to strengthening the relationship between the two countries, especially as Georgia strives for Euro-Atlantic integration. Welcome, Ambassador.

On Thursday, the 12th, Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization dedicated to tackling poverty, and Welthungerhilfe, the largest private aid German agency, published a Global Hunger Index (or GHI) report. The Global Hunger Index measures hunger levels globally, regionally, and at a country level. The score ranges from zero to sixty, the lower the score, the lower the hunger rate. According to the report on Georgia, the country has a GHI score of less than five, placing it among the twenty countries with the lowest hunger rate.

On Friday the 13th, The Tourism Product Development Agency of the Adjara Tourism Department introduced a new twenty-four-kilometer circular cycling route called Goderdzi-Mtsvane Tba-Shavi Tba. Cyclists start from Goderdzi Pass and continue through Riketi and Lodidziri. The journey includes a stop at Green Lake, where cyclists can have a picnics, go on boat rides, and take pictures. Following the route, they reach Black Lake, nestled in a forest at 1,900 meters above sea level, surrounded by alpine flora.

Amidst Russia's plans to build a naval base in Ochamchire, on Wednesday, the 18th, Sergei Shamba, the security council secretary of Abkhazia and well known boot-licking public relations genius, stated that Abkhazia maintains a strong relationship with Russia. He said that Abkhazia is aligned with the Russian world and desires to be a part of it. Shamba also noted that thanks to the Russian language, Abkhazia has become familiar with world culture. Additionally, he pointed out that the two societies have enriched each other and that Abkhazia has always attracted the attention of the Russian creative intelligentsia.

On Thursday the 12th, Rustavi authorities unveiled a memorial for soldier Mikheil Narindoshvili, who lost his life in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Rustavi's Mayor emphasized the significance of commemorating national heroes. Other dignitaries attended the unveiling ceremony, including Deputy Defense Minister Grigol Giorgadze, and State Trustee in Kvemo Kartli Giorgi Dokhturishvili. The event aimed to pay tribute to all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On Thursday, the 12th, Mountain Trails Agency announced that Gudauri, a popular winter destination in Georgia, will host the Snowboard Cross World Cup for the first time. The event will take place in various countries, such as Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, Spain, and Austria. The competition will begin in France in December and will reach Gudauri in February twenty twenty-four.

And that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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Nakhvamdis!