GEORGIA: Bomb Threat & more – 25th Jan 2024

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 25th of January twenty twenty-four A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia

On Sunday the 21st, Batumi faced bomb threats. The State Security Service of Georgia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, swiftly responded with counter-terrorist measures. No explosive substances or devices were found. Investigations revealed that the threats were made outside of Georgia, with a phone number listed under the name of a Georgian minor. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of false terrorism reports linked to international online games that involve minors, including previous threats to Galleria Tbilisi on the 30th of December, twenty twenty-three, and on the 17th of January, twenty twenty-four. Authorities have identified a specific group abroad responsible for these messages and are taking measures to address this issue. The Counter-Terrorist Center of the State Security Service is still investigating the case.

On Monday the 22nd, Natia Mezvrishvili, the deputy chairperson of the For Georgia or Sakartvelostvis party, urged the ruling Georgian Dream party or Otsneba to arrange a parliamentary session to review the Prosecutor General's report on the activities of the Prosecutor’s Office. The call for accountability comes after allegations of political corruption and the enrichment of elite families linked to Otseba. According to Mezvrishvili, the Prosecutor’s Office didn’t act effectively against corruption, worsening living conditions for the general public while enriching the elite. What’s even worse is that the parliament hasn’t reviewed the Prosecutor's Office reports for years. The Sakartvelostvis party demands the independence of the Prosecutor's Office. Party founder Gogi Gakharia echoed this demand on social media, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability from the Prosecutor’s Office.

On Thursday, the 19th, the United National Movement or Natsebi voiced serious concerns regarding the medical treatment of former President Misha Saakashvili. Citing a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (or CPT), the Natsebi said that Misha is not receiving proper care in the Vivamedi clinic, saying his situation was oppressive and degrading. The party said Saakashvili is a political prisoner and that the imprisonment of Misha impacts the fairness of Georgia's upcoming twenty twenty-four elections since they want him to participate in the elections against Otsneba. The Natsebi called for his immediate release, insisting that his detention compromises the integrity of the electoral process and Georgia's potential EU membership negotiations. The CPT report, highlighting the unfavorable conditions in Vivamedi, supports the Natsebi’s stance on the urgent need to address Saakashvili's health and well-being.

On Tuesday the 23rd, Rati Bregadze, the Minister of Justice, responded to a report from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (or CPT) published on Thursday the 18th. The CPT report criticized the lack of outdoor exposure and association opportunities for some patients, including Saakashvili, whose regime resembled solitary confinement at times.

Bregadze clarified that Misha Saakashvili said he preferred to be alone in his prison cell and ward. Despite receiving nearly 3,000 visits in less than two and a half years, Saakashvili did not want company. Bregadze mentioned that Saakashvili had never shown interest in spending time outdoors either.

On Monday the 22nd, President Zurabishvili expressed deep concern over a fire that broke out on Sunday the 21st at the Sokhumi National Gallery in Abkhazia. The blaze destroyed over 4,000 works of art. The President attributed the loss to neglect from the Abkhazia leadership and Russian presence in the region. Zurabishvili urged the global community to refocus efforts on protecting Georgia's cultural assets in these territories.

On Sunday the 21st, Georgia's Tbilisi Urban Forest, or the Narikala Ridge Forest, was shortlisted for the twenty twenty-four EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture or EUmies Awards. Originally developed in the mid-20th century with pine plantations, the area has faced environmental challenges, leading to a transformative effort in twenty twenty to introduce a biodiverse range of endemic and climate-adapted species. In February, the EUmies jury will announce the finalists, and the winners, in April. The awards ceremony will take place in May in Barcelona of all places.

On Friday the 19th, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, joining the discussion on "Towards a Lead-Free Future" upon an invitation from USAID Administrator Samantha Power. Garibashvili highlighted lead poisoning as a global public health challenge and shared the positive results achieved through Georgia's efforts: The country conducted assessments of atmospheric conditions to identify lead sources, resulting in a 75 percent reduction in blood lead levels among children in high-risk regions.

On Sunday the 22nd, Irakli Kobakhidze, Chair of Georgia's ruling Otsneba, praised China's remarkable economic progress over the past two decades, describing it as an exemplary country for cooperation.

But why is Georgia so desperate to do business with China? Well, there is the Anaklia deep-sea port project in Georgia's western region, which will enhance Georgia's transit capabilities, and regional trade opportunities. This would impact Eurasian trade dynamics, positioning Georgia as a key logistics hub and affecting geopolitical interests, particularly in relation to China, the EU, and Russia. Anaklia's port has a strategic location on the Black Sea, especially considering China's alliance with Russia. Currently, Russia and China rely on Turkish ports, but their relations with Turkey are complex.

The Chinese officials expressed a strong willingness to cooperate, raising expectations for joint projects and increased Chinese investments in Georgia. Also, unlike partners in North America and the European Union, China is very happy to pay giant bribes to politicians around the world for infrastructure deals, particularly those that can act as a macro-economic stimulus for their ailing economy.

On Monday the 22nd, the Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed its plan to scrutinize the asset declarations of 300 public officials throughout twenty twenty-four. According to the bureau's press release, This initiative is driven by the heightened public interest and the substantial risk of corruption. The list of individuals whose asset declarations will undergo scrutiny includes influential figures such as the Prime Minister, the Chair of Otsneba, members of the cabinet, parliamentary deputies, and even Tbilisi's mayor, Kakhi Kaladze who we mentioned last week in this context. A special independent commission within the bureau decided which declarations would be analyzed.

On the same day, Zurab Azarashvili, the Health Minister, addressed a critical issue regarding healthcare infrastructure. He announced that the Central Republican Hospital did not meet safety standards. Azarashvili cited assessments from five independent sources, all of which concluded that the Republican Hospital falls short of contemporary healthcare standards and rehabilitating the clinic was not profitable. So, they have decided to demolish the hospital and build another healthcare facility. The budget is approximately 200 million Lari (around 75 million US dollars). It will feature over 500 patient beds and adhere to the requirements of a multi-disciplinary clinic. The project is expected to take between thirty-six and forty-eight months to complete

And to close this show, on Tuesday the 23rd, Gogi Kalandarishvili, the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (or CEC), assured that the Commission and authorized agencies would take necessary steps to enable Georgians abroad to participate in the October twenty twenty-four elections. Recall that the CEC checks that the organizations helping with overseas voting follow the rules and procedures set by election laws. Electronic technologies for elections will only be used within Georgia to prevent cyber threats.

That’s it for this week! Thanks for joining us!

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Nakhvamdis!