Several Casualties Because of the Landslide in Racha & more– 10th Aug 2023

Gamarjobat from Sant Gervasi! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 10th of August twenty twenty-three A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

We start this week's show with tragic news.

On Thursday, the 3rd, a landslide hit a resort in Shovi, in Racha region. The government declared Monday the 7th a national day of mourning for the victims of the landslide. A memorial service took place in all churches. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' latest official data revealed that twenty people died, including several children. Authorities are currently conducting identification procedures that involve DNA testing and take time. They have successfully identified fourteen bodies so far. The Defense Forces of Georgia are aiding in the ongoing search for the remaining seventeen missing individuals. Overall, the rescue teams evacuated 210 people from the affected area. The international community also extended its condolences to the victims.

The tragedy in Shovi provoked a huge argument between the opposition and the members of the government. Georgian Dream or Otsneba members said it was unavoidable. However, the opposition criticized the government for the lack of preventive measures in the regions with a high risk of landslides. Green Alternative, an environmental organization, talked about the National Environmental Agency's twenty twenty-one Geological Bulletin, which warned that "the mudslide poses a danger to the central highway and the infrastructure of the Shovi resort." Green Alternative said the appropriate agencies should have strengthened monitoring of all possible sources of danger in the territory and created an effective system for warning the population about the danger. All in all, both the opposition and the environmental organization are blaming the government for the lack of preventive measures. The Natsebi even requested a temporary investigation commission in the Parliament to investigate the Shovi tragedy. There are also credible rumors that there was a warning 12 hours before the landslide that was ignored by the ministry.

. Speaking of the environment.

On Wednesday, the 9th, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that the government greenlighted a twenty twenty-three to twenty twenty-five air quality management plan for the Central Zone, one of the six air quality control zones. This plan encompasses Rustavi, Marneuli, and Bolnisi, focusing on air quality enhancement initiatives. The project falls under the broader scheme of monitoring six regions: the Black Sea, Western, Eastern, and Highland zones, among others. It involves extending air quality surveillance, evaluating air pollution's health impacts, and fostering public awareness. The plan gained support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Swedish Government.

Moving on to the August War.

On Tuesday, the 8th, Georgia marked the fifteenth anniversary of the two thousand eight War with Russia. A gathering of government officials, representatives from the executive and legislative bodies, and the diplomatic corps took place at the Mukhat-gverdi cemetery to honor the soldiers who lost their lives. However, the start date of the two thousand eight Russia-Georgia war is a topic of debate. Otsneba politicians and government officials observe the 8th as the beginning of the conflict, while opposition politicians view this as aligning with the Russian perspective, as Russian propaganda says that Georgia attacked the Tskhinvali region on the 8th of August. Instead, the opposition commemorated the anniversary on the 7th, which marks the initial appearance of Russian troops entering Georgia when the war started.

On that note about Russia.

Starting in September, the Russian security agency or FSB will have access to user data collected by Yango, a ride-hailing and delivery app owned by a Russian tech company called Yandex. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has granted the secret police new surveillance powers. By using a device with the Yango app installed, the application will be able to collect the device’s data, such as IP addresses and device serial numbers. The app will also recollect user-generated data, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, bank accounts, user comments, and, of course, the addresses of their trips. The scope of surveillance extends beyond Russia, as Yango's services are available in over fifteen countries, including Armenia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Finland, and…..Georgia.

More on the topic of human rights.

On Wednesday, the 9th, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (or ODIHR), made a report on the "Foreign Agents" draft laws introduced in the parliament in February twenty twenty-three by Otsneba, following requests by the Public Defender. The report focuses on the negative impact of the laws on human rights, such as freedom of association, expression, privacy, participation in public affairs, and protection from discrimination. Furthermore, the assessment reveals that governments greenlight legislative initiatives related to laws such as "foreign agents" laws, often without evidence of a tangible, current, or severe threat to national interests or democracy.

Jumping to agricultural news.

On Saturday, the 5th, Giorgi Todua, the head of the Association of Nut Producers, told a Georgian business and economic news website called Business Press News that the forecast figure of the hazelnut harvest exceeds 50,000 tons, which is 30% more than last year's harvest. The quality and price have also increased. The price of raw nuts is three laris per kilo, around a dollar and fifteen cents, and the price of dry nuts is four laris, a dollar and fifty cents. According to Todua, the creation of the cadastre by the state and the subsidy program allowed the farmers

to access twenty million laris, eight million US dollars, and receive 500 laris, 190 US dollars per hectare in the form of an agro voucher.

Some news in the aviation industry.

On Wednesday the 9th, TAV Georgia, the company that manages Tbilisi and Batumi airports, confirmed that a major Indian budget airline called Indigo will conduct direct flights connecting Delhi to Tbilisi International Airport. TAV also said that 186 passengers already took the inaugural flight. Indigo will operate three flights per week between the two destinations.

International affairs.

On Wednesday the 9th, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, addressed the forty-fourth Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of ASEAN in Jakarta. He highlighted Georgia's strategic location, democratic reforms, and intent to share legislative experience. This marked Georgia's first engagement after obtaining observer status. Samkharadze mentioned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Moscow's invasion of Georgia in two thousand and eight and urged ASEAN countries to support Georgia's territorial integrity and back its UN resolutions.

Moving on to healthcare news.

On Wednesday, the 9th, the Ministry of Health announced changes in the state's universal healthcare program, intended to increase access to treatment for cancer patients. This includes financing hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and medicines for all cancer patients throughout the country. Those with an annual income exceeding 40,000 laris, around 10,000 US dollars, who were not previously covered by the system, can now benefit from the program. Tamar Gabunia, Deputy Minster, said that within the framework of the universal healthcare program, all beneficiaries would have equal access to oncological disease treatment regardless of their income. The program has a yearly cap of 25,000 laris, around 10,000 US dollars per patient.

Some online ticket monopoly news.

On Wednesday, the 9th, the Competition Agency asked the court to conduct an investigation into the online cinema ticket sales market. Pending the Agency's investigation, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals has temporarily suspended the "exclusive" clause from a contract signed on December twenty twenty-two between Distribution Company LLC and Online Tickets LLC. This clause obligated the Distribution Company to exclusively provide cinema tickets from six major theaters in the country to Tinet LLC for online sales, prohibiting ticket transfers to other companies. The Agency said that this monopolistic condition led to the market exit of competing entities and that the investigation continues.

. We end this week's episode with the success of Georgian Judokas.

The national judo team won six medals at the twenty twenty-three Judo World Masters in Budapest. Lasha Bekauri, Olympic Champion, won gold in the ninety-kilo weight category, defeating his compatriot Luka Maisuradze. Four other team members won bronze medals in their respective weight categories. Moreover, the Georgian para-judo team won two gold, one silver, and three bronze medals at European Para Championships in Rotterdam.

Aaaaand that’s it for this week! Thanks for joining us!

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Nakhvamdis!