MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #035 (4839) MessengerMONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Politics PM Candidate Chair of Lietuva names his cabinet Committee on Foreign Affairs meets ruling party and opposition to discuss the crisis

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Georgian opposition ready for negotiations with the government

Melia said that the opposition is doing everything to de-escalate the situation

Georgia celebrates 100th anniversary of its constitution

The first constitution of the country was adopted on February 21, 1921

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BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM

andidate for PM Irakli Garibashvili Cnamed his cabinet ministers on Feb- ruary 19. The candidate to replace the former minister of infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili upon her resignation is the former deputy minister of infrastructure Irakli Karseladze. Former Deputy Min- ister of Defense Juansher Burchuladze has been nominated to take Irakli Garibashvili’s post as Defense Minister. Other members of the cabinet have been announced as follows: David Zalkaliani as a Minister of For- eign Affairs; Gocha Lortkipanidze as the Minister of Justice; Ivane Macharavariani as the Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri as the Minister Natia Turnava as the Minister of his resignation on Thursday, February of Finance; of Interior; Economy and Sustainable Development; 18. Gakharia explained that the reason Tea Akhvlediani as for his decision was the inability to come the Minister for Recon- to an agreement with other members of ciliation and Civil the ruling party regarding Nika Melia’s Equality sentencing. Gakharia added that Melia Ekaterine Tikaridze did break the law, however, his arrest as the Minister for In- would possibly threatened the health and ternally Displaced Per- lives of other citizens. Gakharia added sons, Health and So- that he hopes that his decision to resign cial Issues will help contribute towards the depolar- Mikheil Chkhenkeli ization and rivalry in , as both as the Minister of Edu- can prove harmful to the country’s fu- cation, Science, Cul- ture. ture and Sport Irakli Garibashvili has already served Levan Davitashvili as the country’s Prime Minister between as the Minister of En- 2013-2014 when he replaced the previous vironmental Protection PM and founder of the ruling Georgian and Sport Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili. The designated can- Garibashvili’s candidacy and his cabinet didacy of Irakli have to be approved by the Parliament Garibashvili has been within the next two weeks, or else early named after the former parliamentary elections will have to be Prime Minister Giorgi scheduled. The voting is expected on Feb- Gakharia announced ruary 22. P2 Politics The Messenger MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 Chair of Lietuva Committee on Foreign Affairs meets ruling party and opposition to discuss the crisis spoke with the leader of the op- position United National Move- ment party, Nika Melia, who tweeted shortly after the meet- ing: “Either Georgia goes with the Lithuanian way or it turns into Belarus. When we were enter- ing the EU and NATO, left and right always worked together. We never imprisoned anyone. If repressions and conflicts con- tinue, Georgia’s chances are killed”. The current political crisis was caused by the recent court ruling which sentenced Nika Melia to be kept in custody as a result of his refusal to post the bail for his release. The Geor- gian Ministry of Interior then went on to temporarily postpone Melia’s arrest amidst the resig- nation of the Prime Minister who claimed that such a decision was caused by his inability to come to an agreement with a ruling party on Nika Melia’s case. Lithuanian Foreign Ministry is calling both the authorities and the members of the opposition to BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM responsible for leading the Geor- best in order to restore peace committee of foreign relations, abstain from any actions that gia group in the past Seimas. berween them. Maka Botchorishvili, as well as can cause further “division of the n February 20, Zygimantas The politician then went on to Upon his arrival to Georgia, the chair of the parliamentary society” and refrain from “using OPavilionis, Chair of the say that he has friends on both Zygimantas Pavilionis met with group of the EU integration, force against the citizens.” Lietuva Committee on Foreign [political] sides and will do his the chair of the parliamentary Nikoloz Samkharadze. He also Affairs, held meetings with the ruling party and the United National Move- ment opposition party to address the ongoing political crisis. Ahead of his arrival to the country, Zygimantas Pavilionis announced that his visit to Geor- gia would be aimed at meeting “friends from political spectrum” in order to “build bridges, heal common wounds and build com- mon future in the EU and NATO.” In his Twitter post, Zygimantas Pavilionis rein- stated that “Lithuanians have never abandoned Georgians, not even in the darkest hour”. Earlier this week, the Baltic Times reported that the Board of Lithuanian Simas held an emergency meeting in which it has been decided to send Zygimantas Pavilionis in order to help the country find a way out of the current political dead- lock. The media outlet also cited Zygimantas Pavilionis saying that he has some personal input in the country already, as, dur- ing the presidential term of Valdas Adamkus, Pavilionis was Weather

Monday, February 22

Day Partly Cloudy High: 7°C published by Nino Metreveli Night Partly Cloudy The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 1°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with Mariam Mchedlidze article or news item please those of the newspaper. We Tuesday, February 23 0108, Georgia Editor-in-Chief Founded by Prof. contact. take no responsibility for any Zaza Gachechiladze All contributions should be claims made in advertisments. Day Partly Cloudy Natalia Kochiashvili Tamar Gachechiladze submitted by e-mail. Executive Editor High: 8°C Publisher The Messenger Georgia’s The Messenger preserves the Night Partly Cloudy Mob.:+995 599 565621; +995 577 760000 English language daily is an style of a source written in E-mail:[email protected] Khatuna Gogichaishvili independent newspaper, and, English where possible. Low: 3°C http://www.messenger.com.ge/ Layout Designer, Photographer MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 The Messenger Economics / Politics P3 Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.3069; Euro - 4.0149; GBP - 4.6270; 100 Russian Ruble - 4.4736; Swiss Franc - 3.7011 Georgian opposition ready for negotiations with the government the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 25 people didn’t allow. This was followed by a con- were detained during the rally in front of frontation between activists and law en- the Parliament. All of them are accused forcement officers. of disobeying the lawful request of a po- The Public Defender stated that the lice officer. According to the agency, af- police prevented the protesters from set- ter all the arrests, all the detainees were ting up their tents, emphasizing that released. when the entrance to the building is not “Despite numerous calls and warnings, blocked, it is unjustified to deprive them the protesters did not obey the lawful re- of this opportunity. The ombudsman quest of the representatives of the Minis- stated that the placement of such tempo- try of Internal Affairs, continued to act rary structures is protected by freedom illegally, after which they were arrested,” of assembly. the ministry said in a statement. Georgia’s international partners have The activists gathered on the Rustaveli been stating that such a situation in the Avenue and wanted to set up a tent in country is damaging the country’s democ- front of the parliament, which the police racy, taking the country back in time.

According to Melia, the political climate in the country worsens every hour

BY NIKA GAMTSEMLIDZE International Partners have actively reiterated that the political crisis in Geor- he Chairman of the United gia is deepening and requires dialogues TNational Movement Nika Melia between the parties. stated that the opposition is doing every- After the decision, the former PM of thing in their power to de-escalate the the country Gakharia announced about situation in the country and that they his resignation. After this, the Chairman are ready for a dialogue with the govern- of the Georgian Dream ruling party Irakli ment. He also noted that the negotiations Kobakhidze announced that Irakli should be oriented at finding common Garibashvili would be the candidate of the ground. ruling party. Garibashvili has already According to Melia, the political climate served as the Prime Minister of Georgia in the country is worsens every hour. He once. thanked every partner of the country who The ongoing events in the country have has shown their readiness to help. sparked protests in Tbilisi. According to Melia’s sentencing was followed by a wave of protests in Tbilisi Georgia celebrates 100th anniversary of its constitution

The constitution was adopted four days before Georgia was occupied by EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell noted that the document the Soviet’s Red Army adopted a century ago underlines Georgia’s European values

BY NIKA GAMTSEMLIDZE tution of Georgia firmly placed the coun- and modern Georgian state. Most of all, stitutional Commission of fifteen mem- try in a broad family of European values. it demonstrated the high democratic as- bers was formed, which took over the he Independent Republic of Georgia According to the ambassador, it put the pirations of the Georgian people,” reads materials of the previous commission and Tadopted its first constitution on Feb- principles of democratic governance, re- the statement. continued its work. The composition of ruary 21, 1921, four days before the occu- spect for human rights, protection of the The statement once again reaffirmed the the commission members has changed pation of the country by the Soviet Red rule of law and fundamental freedoms, as EU’s commitment to supporting Georgia several times. It was first headed by Army. The Constitution adopted in 1921, well as freedom of assembly, freedom of on its path towards a strong democracy. Rajden Arsenidze, and later by Pavle consisting of 17 chapters and 149 articles, speech, and print media, at the forefront. The US Embassy to Georgia also issued Sakvarelidze. was based on the principles of the Act of Hartzell noted that he was very happy a statement. According to the US Em- The full draft of the Constitution was Independence of Georgia adopted on May to participate in the event dedicated to bassy in Georgia, now more than ever, it published in May 1920 and distributed 26, 1918. The constitution guaranteed the the 100th anniversary of the Constitu- is important for the Georgian people to to the members of the Constituent As- rights of women, religious and ethnic mi- tion of Georgia. unite around the core values enshrined in sembly for consideration. Many meetings norities; the death penalty was abolished. The EU Delegation to Georgia also is- the First Constitution. The US Embassy of the assembly were dedicated to the dis- International partners of the country sued a statement regarding the 100th statement also noted that Georgia’s first cussion of the project. congratulated Georgia on the anniversary anniversary of the Constitution. As we constitution was an important step to in- On February 21, 1921, when the Con- of the constitution. The Ambassador of read in their statement, in many ways, tegrate Western democracies into society. stituent Assembly of Georgia adopted the the EU to Georgia Carl Hartzell noted the constitution was ahead of its time. The first meeting of the Constitutional first constitution of Georgia at a meeting that the document adopted a century ago “The 1921 Constitution was a remark- Commission of Georgia was held on June in Tbilisi, the Georgian Armed Forces underlines Georgia’s European values. able achievement, enshrining a proud 7, 1918. After the election of the Constitu- fought the Russian army on the outskirts According to Hartzell, the first consti- legal tradition in support of a progressive ent Assembly, in March 1919, a new Con- of Tbilisi.