Compiled by: Aleksandre Weekly News Digest on Georgia Davitashvili May 18-26, 2021 Compiled on: May 27, 2021 Content Internal Affairs Internal Affairs Political Developments Political Developments 1. CSOs Say Planned Election of HCoJ Members Defies EU-brokered 1. CSOs Say Planned Deal Election of HCoJ Members Defies EU- Nine local CSOs, including the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, brokered Deal International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, and Transparency 2. Freedom House ‘Nations International Georgia, today warned against holding an extraordinary Conference in Transit’ Report on of Judges on May 26 to elect four judge-members of the High Council of Justice, Georgia a move they said goes against the “spirit” of April 19 EU-brokered deal. 3. EU, US ambassadors The members may not have high public confidence if elected before the send joint open letter to activists injured during Parliament endorses “ambitious reform of the judiciary” envisaged in the June 2019 anti- agreement, the watchdogs stressed. They called on the Georgian lawmakers to occupation protest adopt legislation suspending any HCoJ elections until steps are taken to ensure a 4. Anna Dolidze “transparent and fair” appointment process. Inaugurates New Lelo for Georgia MP Ana Natsvlishvili said today that she has initiated a bill to Political Party impose a moratorium on the appointments until the judiciary reforms are 5. Massive Protest Against Namakhvani HPP through. She argued that the ruling Georgian Dream party is attempting to Underwent in Tbilisi “strengthen its positions” in the judiciary meanwhile. 6. EU Ambassador calls on The Republican party also delivered a statement today, warning that the GD sides to start dialogue aims to increase its influence in the judiciary through the group of influential on Namakhvani issue judges often referred to as the “clan.” The Council aims to gather members who 7. US Ambassador hopes will carry out the influential group’s interests “without resistance,” so it does not UNM to enter Parliament wait for the Parliament to endorse the reforms, according to the statement. 8. US and EU Ambassadors Responding to the criticisms, Secretary of the HCoJ Nikoloz Marsagishvili call for postponement of judiciary appointments argued that the Council is required by law to make the appointments, as there is 9. Human Rights no legal mechanism to extend the terms of the four outgoing members. Committee backs GD- GD lawmaker Irakli Kadagishvili affirmed today that the ruling party will ensure proposed amnesty bill in that the EU-brokered deal is fully implemented, adding that the process can be first reading COVID-19 further “accelerated” with the opposition’s “timely and constructive involvement.” 10. Georgian doctors may The Council consists of 15 members, including the Chairperson elected out of the start using Israeli Covid- judge-members for a four-year term. There are nine judge-members overall, 19 drug to treat critically including the Supreme Court Chair, appointed by the Conference of Judges. ill patients Meanwhile of the six non-judge members, five are elected by the Parliament, and 11. Georgia close to signing one is named by the President. deal for 1 mln doses of Pfizer vaccine 2. Freedom House ‘Nations in Transit’ Report on Georgia 12. Over 100,000 people The October 2020 parliamentary elections “put tremendous strain on Georgian have been vaccinated democracy,” reads the Nations in Transit 2021 narrative report on Georgia, against Covid-19 since published today by the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House. March in Georgia “While the preelection period was comparatively free and competitive, cases of 13. Georgia begins vaccination with Chinese voter intimidation, misuse of administrative resources, as well as instances of Sinovac violence and political pressure intensified as election day approached,” Economy and Social highlighted the report, according to which, Georgia’s Democracy Score declined Affairs from 3.25 to 3.18, keeping the country in the transitional or hybrid regime 14. Borjomi suspends category. operation of both The overall score decline owes to the Electoral Process rating declining from 3.25 factories while workers to 3.00, reflecting that despite positive amendments to the electoral code, the on strike 2020 elections were “marred by instances of vote-buying” and the second-round 15. Borjomi mineral company, striking boycott by the opposition; and the Independent Media rating declining from workers reach 3.75 to 3.50, to reflect Adjara TV dismissals as well as new law enabling the agreement, strike is over National Communications Commission (GNCC) to interfere in broadcasters’ 16. Nabeghlavi distributors operations. go on strike Regarding the press, the report said, “2020 was also a challenging year for media 17. Turkey, Russia, China freedom in Georgia.” It highlighted that “the country’s pluralistic media Georgia's top trading partners in Jan.-Apr. environment continued to be plagued by political polarization and the influence 2021 of party affiliation,” adding that “ongoing pressure on Adjara TV continued to 18. Strike on for the Third challenge its independence and caused large-scale staff changes, as well as fears Week in Ozurgeti Flour of a gradual government takeover of the public broadcaster.” (Civil.ge, May 20, Milling Plant 2021) 19. Georgia, USAID Sign 3. EU, US ambassadors send joint open letter to activists injured New USD 67 Mln Grant during June 2019 anti-occupation protest 20. Communications Ambassadors of the European Union and the United States Carl Hartzell and Commission gives 3- month deadline to Kelly Degnan have sent a joint letter to the civil activists injured during June 20, Caucasus Online to 2019. return 100% of sold Hartzell and Degnan say that as Georgia’s partners, they have worked ‘to help shares to original state end an extended political crisis emanating from the parliamentary elections 21. New Deputy Economy 2020'. Minister Appointed “The 19 April Agreement was a compromise brokered through a challenging 22. Restaurants, bars, cafes allowed to receive guests mediation process and its contents are fully owned by Georgia’s political leaders. indoors on weekends Under its first article, the agreement outlines a commitment to address cases of starting June 1 perceived politicized justice”, the joint statement reads. 23. Georgia eases entry “Based on this commitment, it is up to the political parties represented in the restrictions for travellers Parliament to determine the exact modalities of these obligations, including an from Canada, Japan, Kuwait, China, South amnesty law that meets the intended objectives of the Agreement and respects Korea, Moldova, Oman Georgian laws, the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as all other 24. Georgia opening land pertinent international conventions to which Georgia is a member”, it also says borders on June 1 (Agenda.ge, May 22, 2021). Occupied Territories 4. Anna Dolidze Inaugurates New Political Party 25. 5 years since brutal murder of Georgian Anna Dolidze, a former non-judge member of the High Council of Justice (HCoJ), citizen Giga Otkhozoria held a congress at Arto Park in Tbilisi on May 22, inaugurating a new political by occupation forces party For People. 26. Patriarch of Antioch At the congress, Anna Dolidze stated that social justice will be a cornerstone of Hosts Abkhaz Leader in Damascus the new political party. “We choose a way of governance where social equality is External Policy the main driving idea of the state,” said Dolidze, adding that the party wants to 27. Georgian Defense Forces create a country “without hunger as a primary challenge.” Chief Visits NATO HQ Anna Dolidze also said that the party unites competent people, who share the 28. Prime Minister same values, and who fight for justice and Georgia’s better future. “Having faith Garibashvili Concludes in solidarity, we believe that we can build a welfare state,” she added. Madrid Visit Previously Dolidze ran as an independent candidate for Tbilisi’s Didube- 29. Abashidze, Karasin Talk Chughureti majoritarian district in October 2020 parliamentary elections. She Humanitarian Situation, Trade received 17.95% of votes in the first round, coming in third after Georgian 30. Georgian Foreign Dream’s Gia Volski with 42.64% and joint opposition candidate Zurab Japaridze Ministry on Belarus of Girchi (united oppositional candidate) party with 21.06% (Civil.ge, May 22, 2 Flight Diversion 2021). 31. Georgian President: 5. Massive Protest Against Namakhvani HPP Underwent in Tbilisi Forced landing of The half-year-long protest against the construction of the Namakhvani Ryanair flight, arrest of journalist unacceptable Hydropower Plant project in western Georgia’s Rioni Valley has shifted to Tbilisi, 32. President of Poldand as thousands from all across Georgia gathered at the capital city’s First Republic Duda visits Georgia for Square to voice their discontent with the controversial project. Independence Day 33. Georgian PM, Ukrainian Addressing the diverse protesting crowd, which encompassed Georgians from all Defence Minister discuss strategic cooperation sides of the left-right political spectrum, the protest leader, Varlam Goletiani reiterated their earlier demands: terminating the state’s contract with Namakhvani HPP investor and Enka Renewables company to leave the Rioni valley; the launch of criminal investigations against officials involved in drafting and signing the document, including Economy Minister Natia Turnava, and