Interview with Mamuka Areshidze, an expert

Ex-premier Vano Merabishvili is in prison. Expert Mamuka Areshidze thinks it’s an absurd that general secretary of the ‘National Movement’ was allegedly arrested to overlap the May 17 events.

Interview with Nugzar Tsiklauri, one of minority leaders

‘The mood in ‘National Movement’ is grave; they think that there is an attempt to somehow crush the strongest opposition force’, - declared Nugzar Tsiklauri, member of parliamentary minority; we began our interview with him by the issue of arrest of ex-premier Vano Merabishvili.

An episode of meeting dispersal…

Nugzar Zhordania, an ‘Achara PS’ journalist, during the dispersal of meeting at Rustaveli Ave. on that hellish night was saved by a Tbilisi family. Nugzar Zhordania: That night I went through hell. Having seen Niaz Bolkvadze, head of Achara Ancestral Union, writer and philosopher, exhausted by heat, I couldn’t hide my indignation. He had temperature and could hardly stand on his feet.

Exclusive interview with Sozar Subari, head of penitentiary system

‘For security reasons, ex-Premier Vano Merabishvili’s cell is controlled by video-eye’, - declared Sozar Subari, Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia. Being an advisor of UN Human Rights High Commissioner, first of all we asked him to assess May 17 events in the capital.

Criticism against the Party Leader

According to the experts, internal confrontations taking place in the National Movement has all the hallmarks of the irreversible process which is likely to disintegrate once mighty and tightly knit party into isolated shards. They add that the end is nigh, that is, the National Movement will not be able to keep itself intact even by the October Presidential elections. For the same reason, their Presidential hopeful faces harsh prospect of losing the privileged status among his likes from the opposition.

Leader of “Industry Will Save Georgia” Gogi Topadze talked to Georgian Journal about the ongoing presidential race and new arrests that changed the layot in Georgian Political life. We offer the interview to our reader:

Exclusive Interview with Ex-Minister of Georgia

Salome Zourabichvili, who intends to finalize her decision to present her candidacy for the presidential elections in October of 2013, talked to Georgian Journal and declared that she is “thinking about her candidacy for the next presidential election as an independent candidate”. At the same time, she denied rumors about establishing new political party. “I founded one political Party “the Way of Georgia” in 2006, which has kept its line and orientation over these very difficult years and which now continues without me. I have said about the President’s role that he/she should not be identified with one given Party, and should not represent a single Party. I am no longer the leader of my Party, where I have only an honorary title, but would not think about joining another one or creating a nes one. I do not believe in politicians changing parties as they change shirts, which has been a bad habit for some people in Georgian politics.”

Exclusive Interview with Federica Favi, Ambassador of Italy to Georgia

Last week, the Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, H.E. Mrs. Federica Favi held a press conference regarding Embassy’s new visa issuing service. Ambassador Favi spoke to journalists from the offices of Visa Management Service. Due to the deadline, we could not publish it immediately. However, Georgian Journal decided to visit the embassy to conduct a face-to-face interview with Federica Favi, recipient of the prize in the nomination of “the best respondent” at Georgian Journal’s Diplomat Party a month ago at Tbilisi Marriott.

Former PM Vano Merabishvili, who is now UNM secretary general, and ex-healthcare minister Zurab Tchiaberashvili, who is now governor of Kakheti region, were arrested on May 21. 

“This is first time in Georgia when different political parties are presented in different governing bodies. This situation became a challenge” said Koki Ionatamisvhili, head of the faction of National Movement at the Tbilisi City Hall Assembly to Georgian Journal

As more candidates for presidential elections become known to the public, situation changes and results of the elections become less predictable. As number of the voters who are looking for the third candidate is quite influential, appearance of the third candidate makes it more interesting, thinks political expert Ramaz Sakvarelidze, who talked with Georgian Journal about the presidential race.

‘It’s thanks to police that we have no casualties’

‘The ‘National Movement’ has been planning this provocation for about 3-4 weeks; it’s aim was to discredit Georgia in the eyes of international community!’ declared Sandro Bregadze ‘ leader of ‘Erovnulebi’.

Expert Kakhi Kakhishvili about May 17 event

The most critical response that followed the May 17 action in Tbilisi was expressed in Western press. It’s an interesting fact – the enthusiasts who round the clock are connected to internet calculated that on European or American sites Georgia was mentioned with such frequency only during the August war.

Several days ago in the interview with ‘Euro News” the Prime Minister spoke about the Kosovo model and noted that it is possible to use this model in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. But for the time being nothing is said whether the Kosovo model will be acceptable for Russia. Zurab Abashidze, Prime Minister’s special representative in Russia speaks about the ‘red lines’ drawn by Russia.