Welcome to the June 13 Weekly Summary with Mark Mullen. This week Mark discusses the incident which caused the death of seven Georgian services members in Afghanistan. Saakashvili declared the 7th of June as a day of mourning. Mark also speaks about the threatening video, called ‘Taliban Jihad against Georgian troops in Afghanistan’, which was released on YouTube.
Mark mentions the National Security Council meeting, where the sides discussed the controversial video and Georgian participation in Afghanistan. Bidzina Ivanishvili didn’t attend the meeting and he noted that the agenda didn’t interest him.
In addition Mark speaks about the amendments to the law on higher education. During the Parliamentary discussion the Minority and Several members of the Majority didn’t support the initiative. Chairman Davit Usupashvili reportedly left the room during the vote. Saakashvili and the ambassador commented on the law amendments. Rector Aleksandre Kvitashvili resigned.
Other topics of the week are: Vladimir Putin about cooperation with Georgia; Ivanishvili on destruction of video footage of people’s private life; Maia Panjikidze about the editorial letter from Washington Post; anti-NATO rally in Batumi; Anti-Putin protesters arrested; Georgian wine in Russia in two weeks; UN & NATO ambassadors and much more – So sit back and enjoy.


The original audio podcast version of this content can be found at TBLpod.com, recorded locally on Rustaveli Avenue. Each week Mark and his excellent team of researchers, experts and analysts put together a summary of what has happened in Georgia and why. Years of experience and contacts in this country help them provide a context for the news each week. Their discussions give a uniquely candid perspective, which is difficult to find anywhere else, even in Georgian, and which [we must note] is their personal opinion and not that of any organization or company they or we may work for or represent, including Palitra. For this reason Mark and his team have an audience from all over the world and, even more interestingly, a devoted audience of Georgian listeners interested in their outlook on current events. Thanks for tuning in. Please come back next week.

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