Tag Archives: Georgia

Saakashvili is suffering from dementia and spasms – US neurologist

JAN. 9 2023 (The Bulletin) — A US neurologist told a court in Georgia that former Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili is seriously ill and suffering from dementia and spasms. The neurologist also said that Saakashvili was too ill to face a trial. Saakashvili has been in prison since he returned from self-imposed exile in 2021. He is accused of various abuses of power when he was Georgia’s president between 2004-13 but has protested his innocence through hunger strikes.

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— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Stritcher measures needed to boost vaccine, says Georgian president

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NOV. 3 2021 (The Bulletin) — Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili said that to accelerate Georgia’s flagging coronavirus vaccination rate, the government needed to take stricter measures including introducing vaccine passports and making unvaccinated people who fall ill with Covid-19 pay for their treatment. Around 60 people are dying a day in Georgia with Covid-19, fast approaching Georgia’s high of around 80.

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— This story was published in issue 506 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Nov. 4 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Final campaigning in Tbilisi mayoral election

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OCT. 27 2021 (The Bulletin) — Rivals Kakha Kaladze of the Georgian Dream party and Nika Melia of the United National Movement party held their final rallies before an election on Oct. 30 to become the mayor of Tbilisi. This runoff election was triggered because Mr Kaladze, the incumbent, failed to win more than 50% of the vote in the first round of the election earlier in October.

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— This story was published in issue 505 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Oct. 28 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgian and Kyrgyz Central Banks keep interest rates steady

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OCT. 25/27 2021 (The Bulletin) — The Georgian and Kyrgyz central banks both decided to keep their interest rates steady but warned that accelerating inflation may force more rises. Georgia raised its interest rate to a 13-year high of 10% in August. It said that inflation was now measuring around 12%. As for Kyrgyzstan, it kept its interest rate at 7.5% and said that external factors were driving inflation.

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— This story was published in issue 505 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Oct. 28 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Hilton Garden Inn opens in Tbilisi

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OCT. 26 2021 (The Bulletin) — Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili opened the Hilton Garden Inn in Tbilisi, the latest luxury hotel to start up operations in Georgia’s capital. Business and tourism demand has boomed in Tbilisi over the past few years. The Hilton Garden Inn, which is aimed at business travellers, has opened through a franchise agreement with Lasha Papashvili’s Redix Group, a conglomerate of hotels, property, business centres, winemakers, industry and agriculture.

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— This story was published in issue 505 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Oct. 28 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 202

Georgian police raid fake vaccine certificate factory

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OCT. 26 2021 (The Bulletin) — Police in Georgia raided a travel agency in Tbilisi that was producing fake coronavirus vaccination certificates for Georgians travelling abroad. Media reported that the certificates would have allowed Georgians to skip quarantine rules in Europe. Around a quarter of Georgia’s population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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— This story was published in issue 505 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Oct. 28 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Saakashvili has had a blood transfusion, says doctor

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OCT. 23 2021 (The Bulletin) — Former Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili had to have a blood transfusion in prison, the Russian Interfax news agency reported by quoting his personal doctor. Saakashvili returned to Georgia on Oct. 1, ending eight years of exile. He was immediately arrested for various abuses of power crimes for which he was sentenced in-absentia to six years in jail in 2018. Saakashvili has said that the convictions are politically motivated and he has been on a hunger strike.

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— This story was published in issue 505 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Oct. 28 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgia updates its 10-year military development plant

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JULY 22 2021 (The Bulletin) — Georgia’s ministry of defence presented an updated 10-year plan for its military, a plan that includes building 1,050 apartments to give to soldiers on the outskirts of Tbilisi. Georgia also wants to buy more javelin anti-tank shoulder missiles from the United States and start production of mortar bombs.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgia’s economy to grow by 7.7%, says IMF

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JULY 22 2021 (The Bulletin) — The IMF said in its latest economic assessment that it expected Georgia’s economy to grow by 7.7% this year, underlining its sharp recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Economists have said that the major concern for Georgia’s economy is inflation. The Central Bank said that it was running at nearly 10% last month.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgian PM says lockdown will not be reimposed

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JULY 21 2021 (The Bulletin) — Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili said that the government would not reimpose a coronavirus lockdown despite cases rising. Georgia had had one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns, and it earned international praise for locking down hard and early. This year, though, it has taken a lighter touch and lifted most restrictions. Opposition leaders have said that the light lockdown is an effort to pick up support ahead of an important election this year.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021