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Will GD Name Its Presidential Candidate?

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Issue no: 1069 • JULY 27 - 30, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... Father of Murdered Teen Sets up Charity Foundation NEWS PAGE 2 Georgian PM Dismisses 5 Governors NEWS PAGE 3 Can Trump & Putin Pull Georgia out of the Quagmire? POLITICS PAGE 6 Fereydan Georgians in Iran FOCUS Demand Citizenship ON THE MOON POLITICS PAGE 8 A full lunar eclipse is set to wow the country on July 27 PAGE 2 European Commission to Allocate 12 million Euros to Moldova for Economic Development Will GD Name Its BUSINESS PAGE 9 Vice President of Int’l Federation Presidential Candidate? Red Cross Visits Georgia BY THEA MORRISON hile the opposition parties have named their presidential candidates, it remains unknown whether the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) will have their own pres- idential candidate or not. WFollowing various comments made by the majority mem- SOCIETY PAGE 10 bers regarding the issue, the GD founder and Chair, ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili named several candidates from the Celebrated Georgian Artist team who might be suitable for the President’s post: Jus- tice Minister Thea Tsulukiani; the Minister of Labor, Kordz to Perform with String Health and Social Affairs, David Sergeenko; ex-Minister of Refugees Sozar Subari; and the PM’s Special Repre- Orchestra in Borjomi Park sentative for Relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze. However, after naming the possible candidates, the GD CULTURE PAGE 12 Chair noted he thinks the ruling party should not name their candidate yet in order to give more space to the The Black Sea Jazz Festival opposition and independent MPs, a demonstration of the high-level of democracy in the country. 2018 Continued on page 2 Photo: GD founder and Chair Bidzina Ivanishvili. Source: rugbyxv.ge CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS JULY 27 - 30, 2018 Father of Murdered Teen Sets up Charity Foundation held in future,” Saralidze noted. BY THEA MORRISON The Khorava Street incident took place in central Tbilisi, during which two teen- agers, Davit Saralidze and Levan Dadu- aza Saralidze, father of the nashvili, were stabbed to death in a brawl teenager killed in the central on December 1, 2017. Tbilisi last year, Davit On May 31, Tbilisi City Court charged Saralidze, set up a charity two minors – one for the premeditated foundation on his son’s birth- murder of Dadunashvili and the second Zday, July 25. for the attempted murder of Saralidze; "Today is my son's birthday and he however, the court could not say who would have turned 17. It is hard for me had killed Saralidze, which sparked mass to speak about it. He was always ready protests in the capital. in his life to do good and to help people, Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor Irakli Sho- so I decided to establish a foundation tadze resigned amid the protest rallies, "Dutucha" which will help all poor peo- while then-Prime Minister Giorgi Kviri- ple, children who suffer from various kashvili ordered a re-investigation of the diseases and socially vulnerable per- case as there were many questions left sons,” Saralidze stated at the press- unanswered. conference. Saralidze’s father, Zaza, asked the The man explained that the foundation authorities to show him concrete results will function through public donations and arrest his son’s killers and all people from people who want to help others. involved, claiming he will not stop until “There will be various charity events all the offenders are held responsible. Photo: 1TV 5 Georgian Citizens Arrested in US Summer Set 2018 - Reincarnation BY SHAWN WAYNE Summer Set will promote the popu- acoustic, and instrumental music stars ADVERTORIAL larity of chill culture in the mountains, with day and night fusion! The Lineup attracting tourists from different Euro- will be announced step by step. t has been reported that US law pean countries. Similar festivals, com- Share - thoughts on ecology, the drug enforcement agencies exposed 5-year history, 15 000 music bining music, sports, mountain resorts, policy, human rights and animal rights, an organized criminal group lovers in one space, more are currently in Europe. healthy lifestyle and everything that engaged in automobile fraud in than 100 stars of electronic Summer Set presents 9 slogans, colors will change after the return of the fes- the USA. music in Georgia: it's The and emotions on its logo. tival! IA group consisting of 25 people from First Scale Electronic Discover - Gudauri in the summer! Love - the environment that Gudauri the US, Ukraine, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Rus- arrested while in hiding with the money AMusic Festival - Summer Set 2018. Colorful festival in the mountains, a offers! Summer Set helps to popularize sia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and a total of 5 they had accumulated. Electronic Music Festival Summer Set magical world where you can relax from Georgia's mountain resorts in the sum- citizens of Georgia were arrested this Standing accused of conspiracy to com- is back with new surprises! The fi rst the city noise, chaos and have the oppor- mer season! week in Michigan, Florida, and New York. mit fraud, the members are facing up to set of the Summer Set will be held on tunity to 'be' with yourself! Change - everything that you do not The group opened automobile front 30 years in prison. It was reported that July 27 on the territory of the electric Feel - your heart, your friends, music like in yourself, in the environment, or companies to which US citizens trans- the criminals may face charges of con- power plant (Tsotne Dadiani 32) as a and the natural, primitive beauty that something that gripes you. Be healthy, ferred an estimated total of $4.5 million spiracy to launder money, which can one-day event headlining Cigarettes the mountains of Georgia offer! improve, walk more, be better! in order to buy cars. The criminals were lead to an additional 20 years in prison. after Sex, WhoMadeWho, Koreless, Breathe - stay in one of the 500 tents Create - a new location, culture, con- Gidge and Baikal. and breathe fresh air in a 24-hour mode. nections and festival! Summer Set is to be moved to Gudauri Move - dance or learn to walk on tight- The partners of the festival are: the Lunar Eclipse to Be Visible This Friday from 2019 and will be held every sum- ropes, ride mountain bikes, paraglide Georgian National Tourism Adminis- mer. The new hybrid model and phi- over the Gudauri mountains, take yoga tration, Ministry of Economy and Sus- and Mars, called a ‘Mars opposi- losophy of the festival will unite the classes: nine types of sport coaches will tainable Development "Mountain BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE tion,’ on the night of July 27. mountain resorts of Georgia, electronic meet you on the territory of the festival. Resorts Development Company," and Earthsky.org says it will be and instrumental music, nine types of Listen - to electronic, experimental, Hotel "Moxy" Tbilisi. “the best Mars opposition sports and various workshops on socio- eorgia will have since 2003,” with Mars glow- cultural topics. a front row seat ing very bright and very red "Our goal is to introduce another nov- to, quite liter- near the eclipsed moon this elty. We started in 2012 when the brand ally, the eclipse of Friday. introduced tens of thousands of people the century this Fri- Visibility varies, but the entire to the electronic music and festival cul- Gday night. eclipse will be visible in the Eurasia ture. It helped put the club business in On the night of July 27-28, the full moon region. The eclipse will begin at 9 pm Tbilisi on the world map. From 2019, will experience the longest lunar eclipse and the total eclipse will last from 11:30 the Festival will be held in Gudauri. of the 21st century. Its totality will last 1 pm – 1:13 am. This year, its presentation event will be hour and 43 minutes. For comparison, Some of the best viewing spots in Tbi- held in Tbilisi," said Nika Dvalidze, PR the shortest total lunar eclipse of the lisi are likely near Lisi Lake, the Chron- Manager of the festival. century was on April 4, 2015 and lasted icles of Georgia statues, and Narikala. Summer Set adds new artists to the a mere 4 minutes and 48 seconds. Mov- A group is also gathering at the Old scene in addition to well-known musi- ing in and out of the totality phase, par- Hippodrome to watch the eclipse, hosted cians. A hundred different groups, pro- tial eclipses will be visible, making the by the Georgia Astronomy Club. ducer and DJs will be able to present entire process around 4 hours long. themselves to festival guests. The Sum- The eclipse will also have a side show www.facebook.com/ mer Set will also introduce beginner – the Earth is passing between the sun events/617479738629114/ musicians. Will GD Name Its Presidential Candidate? Continued from page 1 including Ivanishvili himself. David Bakradze, presidential candidate Georgia, says it is “shameful” that the post,” expert Gia Nodia stated. “There is a great wish in society to see of the parliamentary minority European ruling party cannot name a presidential Georgian PM, Mamuka Bakhtadze “If there is a worthy independent MP, Bidzina Ivanishvili as the president but as Georgia, says any independent MP who candidate. stated on July 26 that he agrees with we will support this person and if not, we know, the GD Chair has no wish to take is supported by the ruling party, will become “It has never happened in any country Ivanishvili’s position that GD should not the opposition parties can fi ght for the part in the elections,” Talakvadze noted.
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