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POLITICS Aleko Elisashvili, Ana Dolidze and

German ambassador explains the German Prosecutor’s Office’s Levan Koberidze create a new platform comment regarding the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili

FULL STORY ON Page 2

ECONOMICS

NBG publishes conclusion on 2020 draft budget

Leaders of a new political platform. Photo: IPN

agencies has the authority to remove Dolidze from the post of the High Council of Justice. Nazi Janezashvili, another a non- FULL STORY ON Page 3 judicial member of the High Council of Justice, demanded that her colleague, Dolidze, explains who is funding her or- ganization and why? Janezashvili wrote By Natalia Kochiashvili on the social network Facebook that if Dolidze resigns today, she has already epresentatives of the civil move- violated the law. In the post, she made R ment Aleko Elisashvili and Levan an extensive explanation of the conflict Ioseliani, a non-judicial member of the of interest and listed 3 main limitations, Council of Justice and one of the found- which, in her estimation, does not allow ers of the Movement for the People, Ana Dolidze to carry out political activities. Dolidze and independent MP Levan She also responded to the new political Koberidze formed the ‘New Platform’ platform: “After that, are there still ques- and confirmed their commitment by the tions about Dolidze’s political activities? Memorandum of Understanding. I repeat, the law prohibits non-judicial According to the memorandum, the members of the High Council of Justice New Platform is a union that gives new NGOs say if Ana Dolidze is going to be involved in politics, she should resign. from engaging in political activities! opportunities to the people and the coun- When you criticize others for lack of try in a polarized environment between Movement. “However, we will see what it the 2013 legislative amendment removed transparency, publicity, honesty, you the two opposing political forces: will look like and what form it will take in members of parliament from the High should have a moral right to do so and As Dolidze said in her speech, clean, general, and we do not rule out that our Council of Justice, replacing them with you should not be a violator of the law,” country-minded party members should stand here will turn into a political team,” academics and professionals who were Janezashvili wrote. unite with others and mobilize forces to Elisashvili explained. barred from membership in political Dolidze founded the civil movement create a new agenda. He said that at this stage, the politi- unions and political activities. “The imple- ‘For the People’ on May 21. She said the “Our task is to create a different plat- cal force closest to the views of the New mentation of such activities is a precondi- aim of the movement was to create a new form for discussion, which will become Platform is Lelo and consultations are tion for the termination of the authority of political reality with ‘clean hands’. On a new healthy alternative to today’s underway with it. a member of the High Council of Justice. the same day, she posted a ‘manifesto for polarized atmosphere, and will bring Note that this week the civil sector The purpose of the law is to protect and the people’ on her official Facebook page together patriotic, conscientious and car- called on Dolidze to resign if she intends maintain the political neutrality of the and later spoke to the media about the ing citizens of similar values around​​ us,” to engage in politics. judiciary,” the statement said. organization’s visions and future plans. said Dolidze, adding that they believe in 7 non-governmental organizations NGOs say, since Dolidze’s appoint- Dolidze later responded to calls from the possibility of creating a new agenda consider that the status of a non-judicial ment as a member of the High Council of seven NGOs, saying she would decide to by uniting their efforts that will serve as member of the High Council of Justice is Justice, she has been actively involved step down when she decides on political a base for building successful and free incompatible with the implementation of in identifying problems in the judiciary, activities. Georgia. political goals. The statement of the civil finding ways to solve them and informing “As long as I am a member of the According to Elisashvili, the leader sector is related to the activities of Dolid- the public. They also underlined the spe- Council of Justice and carry out public of the Civil Movement, it is not ruled ze’s civil organization For the People. cial importance of the work she has done activities, I think my vote in this council out that New Platform will form into a After the Georgian Dream came to during the composition of the Supreme is very important for the country and as serious ‘political statement.’ He said that power, the signatory organizations ac- Court and the legal framework to improve I have been talking for several weeks, as the registration of the political party has tively supported the issue of depoliticizing the selection process. soon as I decide to engage in political ac- been started by the leaders of the Civil the High Council of Justice. To this end, At the same time, none of the state tivity I will make this decision,” she said. P2 | POLITICS FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 ECONOMICS | P3

German ambassador explains the German Prosecutor’s Office’s Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.0404 | Euro - 3.4669 | GBP - 3.4177 | 100 Russian Ruble - 4.3638 | Swiss Franc - 3.2008 | comment regarding the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili NBG publishes conclusion on 2020 draft budget THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA HUBERT KNIRSCH STATED THAT THE WORDS OF THE GERMAN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE REGARDING THE GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT BELONGED TO THE DECEASED ZELIMKHAN KHANGOSHVILI AND NOT TO THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE ITSELF. By Natalia Kochiashvili international donor organiza- is ¢901 million more than tions,” reads the document. last year. Foreign liabilities As a result, international increase by ¢5,199 million. As By Anastasia Sokhadze killed in Germany on August tor’s office, Khangoshvili fell to the he National Bank of Georgia 23rd, 2019. His murderer was ground, the accused also fell off (NBG) has published its reserves will increase, allowing a result, the government debt T the NBG to carry out foreign to GDP ratio increases by 13.2 ccording to the Ambassador soon arrested and was eventually the bicycle, but soon approached assessment of the adjustment of exchange interventions as percentage points in 2020 to of Germany to Georgia, the proven to be a citizen of Russia. Khangoshvili and shot him twice the 2020 budget. According to the A needed and thus avoid poten- 54.4%. Despite rapid growth, prosecutor’s office used a wording The statement of the prosecu- in the head. Khangoshvili died on document, the new debts, which tial additional pressure on the government debt to GDP is that was not optimal and could tor’s office does not say the name the spot. the Georgian government plans exchange rate and inflation still below 60%. have been better. The German of the accused in the murder and The Russian government de- to borrow, will not pose a risk to resulting from the increased “Assuming that GDP growth Prosecutor’s Office tried to quote only mentions Vadim K. Accord- nies any involvement in Khan- the country’s financial stability budget deficit. will average 5% in the coming the victim while describing the ing to the journalistic investiga- goshvili’s liquidation. At the same and the debt will be maintained The main source of funding years and the budget deficit will Georgian government. tion carried out by Bellingcat in time, Russian President Vladimir at a sustainable level. for the budget deficit is the in- fall below 3% in the medium “When Khangoshvili ex- December 2019, the name of the Putin called him a ‘militant’ and According to the draft law crease in liabilities. term, this increase in debt does plained why he was in Germany, murderer is Vadim Krasikov, said he was guilty of blowing up submitted to the Parliament of The project envisages the not pose a risk of debt sustain- he said that he was against the who arrived in Germany with a the Moscow metro. According Georgia, the state budget rev- mobilization of ¢1,850 mil- ability in the medium term,” so-called pro-Russian government passport issued in the name of to him, Russia demanded the enues will be set at ¢10.303 mil- lion, of which ¢8.979 million will lion through the issuance of the National Bank said in a of Georgia. It’s unfortunate that it Vadim Sokolov. extradition of Khangoshvili from In 2020, the Georgian government plans to get a record ¢7.2 billion in foreign be on tax revenues and ¢1.323 government securities, which statement. seemed as if we characterized the According to the text of the Germany and Germany refused it. debt. For comparison, in 2019, Georgia took on a new foreign debt of ¢1.386 billion. political orientation of the Geor- German investigation agency, million will be on non-tax rev- gian government, it was not our Vadim Krasikov first left Moscow enues. State budget tax revenues recovery process. At the same intention,” stated Knirsch. for Paris on August 17th and then are down 7.1% compared to the time, it should be kept in mind The German Federal Pros- moved to Warsaw on August 2019 same index. that the increase in the budget ecutor’s Office has charged the 20th. From Poland he left for According to the submitted deficit should not occur to the Georgian citizen with the murder Berlin on an unknown route on project, the state budget ex- extent that it creates the risks of of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, also June 22nd. To enter the Schengen penditures amount to ¢14,811 additional pressure on inflation known as Tornike Kavtarashvili. area, he used Vadim Sokolov’s million, of which ¢11,586 mil- and threatens macroeconomic The statement made by the Pros- Hubert Knirsch denies characterizing the political orientation of the Georgian passport issued by the Russian lion for current expenditures stability. ecutor’s Office claims that the ac- Government. Immigration Service in Bryansk and ¢3,225 million for capital According to the NBG as- cused committed the crime on the was preceded by the victim’s op- The text also states that Khan- on July 18th, 2019. expenditures and net loans. sessment, the draft budget is orders of the Russian authorities. positional attitude towards the goshvili fought on the side of On August 23rd, in one of the State budget expenditures balanced - on the one hand, it According to the prosecutor’s Russian state, the governments the Chechen separatists against parks in Berlin, Vadim Krasikov increase by ¢2,449 million com- responds to the task of support- office, the Russian authorities of the Chechen and Ingush repub- the Federal Army, and in 2008 followed Zelimkhan Khangosh- pared to 2019. The increase ing the reduced joint demand, on have ordered Khangoshvili to be lics, as well as the pro-Russian in South Ossetia he gathered a vili with a bicycle, and when he affected current expenditures the other hand, this increase in liquidated. government of Georgia,” the state- group of warriors with Russia. approached, he fired a Glock 26 Zelimkhan Khangoshvili was killed by (¢2,515 million), while capital the consolidated budget deficit is “The assassination attempt ment said. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili was weapon. According to the prosecu- one of the citizens of Russia. expenditures and net lending temporary, this option is gradu- decreased by ¢66 million. ally declining in the coming The combined budget deficit years and will return to a stable is projected at 8.5% of GDP in level (3%) by 2023. 2020, compared to 2.0% in 2019. As a result, the high deficit Sanctions and measures without deprivation of liberty NBG says that against the back- of the 2020 budget, given the fis- ground of a significant reduction cal consolidation in subsequent increasingly used in Europe: new survey in economic activity as a result years, does not pose a risk of of the pandemic, a temporary inflationary pressures, National trasbourg, 18.06.2020 – Eu- increase in the budget deficit Bank states. “In addition, it TWENTY EUROPEAN PRISON ADMINISTRATIONS RELEASED 118,000 INMATES AS A MEASURE S ropean states are increas- is justified, on the one hand, to should be noted that the main ingly resorting to sanctions and TO PREVENT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE LOCKDOWN finance health and increased part of the increased deficit will measures which keep offenders social needs and, on the other be financed by additional finan- in the community without de- people in the 28 probation agen- released 5% of their population reduced their prison density by tioners in Europe shows that hand, to support the economic cial resources mobilized from The government submitted a draft amendment to the 2020 budget to parliament on the 5th of June. privation of liberty, according cies that provided this data for (over 118,000 inmates). 15 April (Cyprus, Italy, France community measures and sanc- to the 2019 SPACE II annual both years, whilst their overall Excluding countries with less and Slovenia), whilst Sweden, tions are increasingly used across survey, carried out for the Coun- probation population rate grew than 500,000 inhabitants, those the only country not to apply a the continent: in 32 out of the 40 FROM Page 2 On average, 10% of probation- vey provides an overview of the cil of Europe by the University 2020 opinion polls show strong support from 137.8 to 139.6 probationers which released the highest pro- lockdown of its population, joined countries (or administrative en- ers were female compared to 6% use of custodial (SPACE I) and of Lausanne. (Please see also per 100,000 inhabitants. portions of prisoners were Tur- the group of countries with over- tities), the probation population among the prison population. In community (SPACE II) sanctions for EU in Georgia the Key Findings) The SPACE II survey was key (35%; 102,944 inmates), Cy- crowded prisons. rate was higher than the prison Over time, the Council of every country, with the excep- and measures in the Council of On 31 January 2019 there published together with a special prus (16%; 121), Slovenia (16%; Ten of the administrations population rate. Europe has called on its member tion of Serbia and Greece, the Europe member states. EU FINANCED POLL SHOWS 69% OF PEOPLE IN GEORGIA were around 2 million people in SPACE I report on Prisoners in 230), Portugal (15%; 1,874), with a prison density of more On average, in Europe, there states to use imprisonment as a proportion of women was higher Notes: TRUST THE EU, 77% FEEL RELATIONS ARE GOOD. Europe subject to these alterna- Europe in Pandemic Times. This Norway (13%; 401), Ireland than 100 inmates per 100 places were 165 probationers for every measure of last resort and to ap- on probation than in prison, prob- • Unless otherwise indicated, tives to imprisonment such as report includes an evaluation of (12%; 476), Italy (9.4%; 5,739) on 1 January continued to be 100 inmates. Only a few admin- ply alternatives to deprivation of ably because probation is used for the data are expressed in me- The EU has financed 2020 tions with the European electronic monitoring, commu- the short-term impact of the CO- and Spain (7.4%; 4,356). France overcrowded on 15 April: Turkey, istrations – Serbia, Azerbaijan, liberty as often as possible. The less serious offences, and women dian values, which are more opinion polls in Georgia through Union are good. nity service, home arrest, treat- VID-19 pandemic on European released 14% of its prison popu- Romania, Greece, Hungary, Cy- Switzerland, Bulgaria, Norway, aim is to favour the integration are seldom involved in violent reliable than average figures its ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ • 69% of people in Georgia trust ments, semi-liberty or conditional prison populations up to 15 April lation (10,188 inmates) but this prus, Italy, France, Serbia, Czech Russia and the State Administra- of offenders into society and thus crimes which usually lead to a as they are less sensitive to project. The survey took place the EU, the most of any inter- release. From 2018 to 2019, the 2020, a period which roughly includes all releases (for example Republic and Austria; although tion of Spain – had lower proba- reduce recidivism, prevent over- prison sentence. extreme figures. between February and March national organisation while probation population grew by coincides with the first month of those of inmates arriving at the Turkey reduced its prison popula- tion population rates than prison crowding, improve the operation Adding the total number • The 2019 SPACE II survey 2020 (before the COVID-19 only 28% trust the Eurasian 7.9%, from 1,547,572 to 1,699,676 lockdown. end of their prison sentence) and tion drastically in May. population rates. The highest of prisons, and promote a hu- of probationers (1,969,204) to contains data from the pro- crisis) and is based upon face- Economic Union. Twenty out of 43 prison ad- not only those related to mea- Higher probation than im- probation population rates were mane and efficient treatment of the total number of inmates bation agencies of Council of to-face interviews among a • 49% of Georgians have a posi- Frisday June 19 ministrations reported having sures to prevent COVID-19. In- prisonment rates reported by Poland (646 persons prisoners. However, there seems (1,530,442), on 31 January 2019, Europe member states except representative sample of 1,000 tive image of the European released inmates to prevent the cluding these persons would lead According to the SPACE II per 100,000 inhabitants), Turkey to be a risk that their extended 3.5 million people were impris- for Albania, Germany, Hun- people throughout the country. Union (EU). Only 7% of Geor- Day Partly Cloudy spread of COVID-19, applying to over 128,000 inmates released survey, on 31 January 2019 (591), Georgia (541) and Lithu- use may lead to “probation over- oned or under the supervision gary, Liechtenstein, Republic The annual survey is now gians have a negative view of various measures such as am- in Europe since the beginning of there were across Europe 155 ania (523). crowding” in the future. “There of probation agencies in Europe, of Moldova and San Marino. into its fifth year, with the first the EU. nesties, early and provisional the pandemic. probationers per 100,000 inhabit- are signs that some probation this being a low estimate of the • The data on probation popu- wave having been carried out • 71% of Georgians are aware of High: 31°C releases and other alternatives Four prison administrations ants compared to 105 inmates in agencies seem to be using com- European “correctional popula- lation on 31 January 2019 in 2016. the EU’s financial support to to deprivation of liberty. On av- which reported overcrowding on prisons per 100,000 inhabitants. Night Cloudy munity sanctions and measures tion” since it refers only to those refer only to the 32 probation Similar surveys were also the country, and 69% of them erage, these 43 administrations 1 January 2020 had significantly The overall high rate of proba- CONTINUED ON Page 3 as supplementary sanctions and countries which provided data. services which use the person carried out five other Eastern consider the support to be ef- not as measures replacing im- The countries with the high- as a counting unit. Partnership countries: Armenia, fective. Low: 19°C prisonment. As a consequence, a est correctional population rates • The report Prisoners in Eu- Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Re- LINKS growing number of persons are - above the European median of rope in Pandemic Times con- public of Moldova and Ukraine. • Georgia report & factsheets Saturday June 20 being placed under supervision 267 inmates and probationers per siders the impact of measures Results from the six countries 2020: ENG: https://www. Nino Metreveli by the criminal law system, in 100,000 inhabitants - were Tur- to prevent COVID-19 until 15 are presented in national reports euneighbours.eu/en/east/ Day Partly Cloudy Commercial Director prison or on probation”, said the key (920), Poland (836), Lithuania April, with the noteworthy and a consolidated regional over- stay-informed/publications/ Head of the SPACE team, Profes- (755) and Russia (737). Countries exception of Turkey that indi- view report. opinion-survey-2020-georgia Mariam Mchedlidze sor Marcelo Aebi, from the School with the lowest rates were Fin- cated the releases of inmates Here below are the key find- • Regional overview 2020 Editor-in-Chief High: 33°C of Criminal Sciences of Univer- land (103), Norway (106), Iceland until 4 May. In addition, the ings in Georgia – more details (all EaP countries, English Natalia Kochiashvili sity of Lausanne, Switzerland. (113) and Switzerland (131). number of releases reported may be found in the factsheets only): ENG: https://www. Night Cloudy Executive Editor In 2019, foreigners accounted * * * by France include all kinds and report at the links indicated euneighbours.eu/en/east/ Nino Kavelashvili for 8% of probationers, a smaller Conducted every year for the of releases and not only those below. stay-informed/publications/ Low: 19°C Design and Layout proportion than among the prison Council of Europe by the Univer- aimed to prevent the spread of MAIN FINDINGS opinion-survey-2020-region- population (14%). sity of Lausanne, the SPACE sur- the pandemic. • 77% of Georgians feel rela- al-overview