TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #215 (4772) MessengerTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Politics Health Minister: We are dealing MDF releases pre-election monitoring report on with inefficient management anti-Western messages, hate speech, fake news

FULL STORY ON Page 2 Georgian Security and For- eign Policy Community writes Mike Pompeo, requests per- manent presence of American armed forces in

FULL STORY ON Page 2 Economics NGOs respond to rally dispersal against Namakhvani HPP by using police force

FULL STORY ON Page 3 Government will likely impose further restrictions,

BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI not be considered. gen beds. She noted that this issue was “Here we are dealing with inefficient According to the Minister of Health addressed at a meeting with the heads of management, on which we have con- s of November 16, there were 16,785 Ekaterine Tikaradze, the clinics should the clinics, which took place twice in the sulted, agreed on these issues and clinics Aactive Covid-19 infected cases, of transfer relatively light patients to cov- government administration, with the in- will improve management, thus mobiliz- which 5,658 are treated in hospitals and eted hotels and should use breathing volvement of the Prime Minister last ing respirators and oxygen beds for the 7,812 at home. 50,256 people are recorded equipment for severe patients with oxy- week. patients who need it,” Tikaradze said, to be in self-isolation. adding that to date, 1,040 res- The number of confirmed pirators and up to 3,400 oxy- coronavirus cases increased gen beds have been mobilized by 3,175 to 82,835. According and additional respirators to the information published have been purchased and will on a special page stopcov.ge, be distributed to clinics as 65,291 of them have recovered soon as they arrive. and this figure has increased She clarified that 868 beds by 3,230. Covid-19 has killed are mobilized in the country 733 people in Georgia. in the direction of Covid man- Amiran Gamkrelidze, head agement and this number is of the National Center for Dis- increasing by 100-200 beds ease Control, claims that daily. According to Tikaradze, there are enough beds mobi- up to 800 patients are leav- lized in the country at the ing hospitals daily, while the moment and there is no need admission and hospitalization to arrange field hospitals. Ac- rate is high. cording to him, currently, up Given such a situation, the to 5,000 citizens are treated new platform was created for in hospitals, which is 30% of citizens enabling them to get the total number of infected information about the iden- people, and this figure should tity of the family doctor and be reduced to 15% under good the primary health care in- management. stitution through the new in- According to Gamkrelidze, formational portal. additional 3,000 beds can be According to the Ministry mobilized and a total of 8,500 of Health, by referring to the beds will be available in hos- personal number on the por- pitals. tal, the citizen can find out After the meeting of the which primary health care in- Interagency Coordination stitution is registered and Council, Gamkrelidze said the also receive information current restrictions will be about the identity of the fam- tightened even more, yet clari- ily doctor who will monitor fied that a full lockdown would Ambulatoria.moh.gov.ge - The citizens can find a family doctor at a new portal. the patient’s health condition. P2 Politics The Messenger TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 MDF releases pre-election monitoring report on anti-Western messages, hate speech, fake news for supporting neutrality and disinformation and manipulative direct talks with Russia as a so- context have been verified, lution to the problems.” 26 state- which were spread by politicians ments were made against the and election stakeholders. The United States, 15 against civil report also refers to conspiracies society organizations and Soros, around COVID-19. The conspira- and 10 against the European cies spread by the politicians Union. (Alliance of Patriots, Georgian Among political parties, the Idea, Zviad Tomaradze), con- Media Development majority (89) of the anti-West- cerned the non-existence of the Foundation (MDF). ern comments were made by the virus and threats related to vac- Alliance of Patriots, followed by cination. reads the report. Georgian March and Georgian MDF names the topic of David During the reporting period, Idea parties (18). Gareja Monastery Complex as MDF also observed fake news on Out of 140 statements made the most influential discrediting social media against political The monitoring of hate speech and anti-Western narra- during the reporting period con- campaign that had been and other stakeholders. The tives covers the period from August 1 to October 25, 2020, taining hate speech, the largest launched by the government monitoring has revealed that while the monitoring of fake information includes cases share accounts for xenophobic ahead of the parliamentary elec- besides disinformation spread by revealed in a period between August 1 and November 10. comments, which is then fol- tions against the opposition par- politicians, 31 other pieces of lowed by comments of homopho- ties. Discrediting campaign re- disinformation were revealed. bic context. According to the re- lated to David Gareji Monastery The largest share (16) was BY KHATIA BZHALAVA formation includes cases re- port, among politicians, the ma- Complex, which is located on the against opposition and eight vealed in a period between Au- jority of discriminatory remarks disputed section of the Georgian- against the . edia Development Founda gust 1 and November 10. were made by the members of Azerbaijani state border, served The study has also detected 4 Mtion (MDF) has published According to the report, elec- Alliance of Patriots (75), followed the purpose of spreading the in- cases of disinformation and ma- the results of monitoring con- toral subjects made a total of 157 by Georgian March with 37 com- formation that “the previous gov- nipulative content is spread in ducted ahead of the 2020 parlia- anti-western speeches during ments, Free Georgia - 7, Geor- ernment sold Davit Gareji mon- support of the ruling Georgian mentary elections. The monitor- the monitoring period. The larg- gian Idea - 5, Georgian Roots – astery to Azerbaijan.” Dream. Two pieces of fake infor- ing focused on the cases of anti- est share (65) of anti-western 4, Lelo for Georgia – 4. Labor “The campaign promoted a mation were spread against the Western messages and hate messages targeted the West as Party and Georgian Dream each narrative that opponents are sell- US Ambassador and one- by a speech voiced by electoral sub- a common geopolitical space made two comments. The ma- ing churches and homeland, Georgian Trump-supporting jects and political parties, as well with shared values, as well as jority of xenophobic statements while the government is neutral- page against Joe Biden. As the as fake news and discrediting geographical and institutional were Turkophobic, izing threats. The campaign was monitoring has revealed, the campaigns. The monitoring of unity. Then comes NATO with Armenophobic about migrants, accompanied by a criminal in- most common form was the fal- hate speech and anti-Western 41 messages. Statements and against the sale of lands to vestigation launched based on sification of quotes also spread- narratives covers the period from against NATO were most fre- foreign nationals. topographic maps provided by ing fabricated posts/documents August 1 to October 25, 2020, quently made by The Alliance of As the report suggests, within businessmen with close ties to and photo/video manipulations. while the monitoring of fake in- Patriots, “highlighting the need the reporting period, 22 pieces of Russian intelligence services,”

on advancing the U.S.-Georgia Reagan, a “Shining City Upon a Georgia move closer to NATO National Security and Foreign NEWS IN BRIEF defense and security partnership. Hill” that has overcome state membership. Policy Analyst For Georgia, the United States is failure and successfully battled At this point, Georgia’s capac- Phikria Asanishvili a vital ally. Likewise, we believe the Soviet legacy of corruption. ity to meaningfully contribute to Associate Professor of Interna- Georgian Security and in Georgia’s share in bolstering The Georgian people do not take our strategic partnership will be tional Relations, State Foreign Policy Western interests in Europe and genuine American friendship for further enhanced by the resil- University Community writes Mike globally. Georgia stands as a key- granted. Over 90 percent of ience and vibrancy of its demo- Giorgi Astamadze Pompeo, requests stone for securing our allies’ foot- Georgians hold a favorable view cratic institutions. In this light, Doctoral Candidate in History, hold in the East-West Corridor, of the U.S. and Georgian soldiers we welcome the valuable U.S. University of Karlsruhe permanent presence of which multiple U.S. administra- have proudly served in the U.S.- engagement in mediating a Nato Bachiashvili American armed forces tions have invested so much to led missions in Iraq and Af- solution to Georgia’s current po- Chairperson of International in Georgia build. We see a U.S.-led Euro- ghanistan. litical crisis. We are likewise Centre for Geopolitical Studies Atlantic system as the only guar- We express our profound ap- grateful for the momentous and Giorgi Badridze We offer you the open letter antor of a Europe that is whole, preciation for America’s strong sustained efforts that the U.S. Senior Fellow, Georgian Founda- written to the US Secretary of free, and at peace. support to Georgia’s sovereignty has made over the years, to help tion for Strategic and International State Mike Pompeo: In recent years, the South and territorial integrity. We strengthen Georgia’s democracy. Studies (Rondeli Foundation) To: The Honorable Michael R. Caucasus and the Black Sea re- believe that a key step forward We fully support the process Former Ambassador to the Pompeo, Secretary of State gions have become areas of geo- to support the Georgian people of strengthening the U.S.-Geor- United Kingdom of Great Britain From: Georgian Security and political instability. Most of in our struggle for freedom, gia alliance, inclusive of the pres- Zurab Batiashvili Foreign Policy Community these security risks stem from while advancing U.S. regional ence of the U.S. military on the Research Fellow, Rondeli Foun- Subject: Permanent Pres- Russia’s ambitions to reconsti- and global interests, would be: ground, to the benefit of shared dation ence of American Armed Forces tute a Soviet-era “sphere of in- z A permanent pres- Euro-Atlantic security. Zaza Bibilashvili in Georgia fluence,” in what Moscow per- ence of American armed Sincerely, Chairman, The Chavchavadze Dear Mr. Secretary, ceives as its “Near Abroad.” forces in Georgia. Such a Zviad Adzinbaia Center for European Studies We, the representatives of the Emboldened by its freedom of policy may include allied (U.S./ International Security and Digi- and Civic Education security and foreign policy com- action, Russia recently deployed European) forces on a rotational tal Diplomacy Fellow, The Levan Bodzashvili munity of Georgia, sincerely wel- troops to Nagorno-Karabakh to basis, as well as logistical and Fletcher School, Tufts University Former Deputy National Secu- come your visit to Tbilisi during enhance its regional military air patrolling elements that Founder, LEADx Change rity Assistant to President these heated times. We are united posture. would provide a wide range of Eka Akobia Former Deputy Foreign Minister in our desire to share our views Since regaining independence, options for American and allied Dean, Associate Professor, The Eto Buziashvili the freedom-loving citizens of forces to operate uninterrupted School of Governance, Caucasus Research Associate, Atlantic Georgia have toiled to create a in the South Caucasus and University Council Weather functional democracy. In this Black Sea regions. At the same Former Adviser to the National project, the United States has time, the U.S. military presence Former Minister of Defense Security Council Tuesday, November 17 been an indispensable ally by in Georgia would enjoy over- Former Ambassador to the elevating Georgia to, in the whelming popular support, de- United Nations MORE NEWS IN BRIEF Day Partly Cloudy words of President Ronald ter imminent threats and help Irina Arabidze ON P. 3 High: 13°C published by Night Showers Nino Metreveli The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 6°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with article or news item please those of the newspaper. We Wednesday, November 18 0108, Georgia Founded by Prof. Mariam Mchedlidze contact. take no responsibility for any Zaza Gachechiladze Editor-in-Chief All contributions should be claims made in advertisments. Day Showers Tamar Gachechiladze submitted by e-mail. High: 9°C Publisher The Messenger Georgia’s The Messenger preserves the Night Showers Mob.:+995 599 565621; +995 577 760000 Khatuna Gogichaishvili English language daily is an style of a source written in E-mail:[email protected] Layout Designer, Photographer independent newspaper, and, English where possible. Low: 3°C http://www.messenger.com.ge/ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 The Messenger Politics / Economics P3 Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.3004; Euro - 3.9090; GBP - 4.3499; 100 Russian Ruble - 4.2949; Swiss Franc - 3.6208 NGOs respond to rally dispersal against IRI publishes technical election Namakhvani HPP by using police force assessment mission interim report one of the largest energy projects he International Republican Institute technical election assess with an installed capacity of 433 Tment mission published an interim report yesterday, which MW. The Namakhvani HPP includes the analysis of 31 October parliamentary elections and Cascade Project encompasses recommendations for the second rounds of 21 November. the building of two separate “Conducted elections in Georgia did not satisfy the constitutional HPPs on the Rioni River, there- and electoral changes imposed by the new standards and reduced fore “due to its massive scale, the the trust of election administration. It’s of vital importance for the potential impact and possible government to be able to improve the credibility and transparency risks on the local social and natu- of the future elections in the upcoming round and correct the flows ral environment are high.” that were observed on 31 October,” said Stephen Knicks, Director As the NGOs state, based on of Eurasia at the International Republican Institute. the Environmental Impact As- Even though the 31 October elections were held in a more or less sessment Report prepared by the peaceful environment, following the legislation, the pre-election company (ENKA Renewables), period and election day revealed violations, negatively impacting the implementation of the lower the reliability of the full process. The notable violations that were Namakhvani project alone will recorded by observers were the use of administrative resources, be associated with the loss of a vote-bribing, pressuring voters and observers, the figure manipu- significant amount of land, lations and results management processes in summary protocols According to a statement published by the organiza- which is mainly caused due to of district election commissions, which lacked transparency to meet international standards. tions, as of November 15, residents of village Zhoneti had the arrangement of a reservoir with a 610hectare mirror sur- Given the second tour scheduled on 21 November and background been protesting the construction of the Namakhvani of ongoing negotiations among nine parliamentary opposition par- HPP cascade for 21 days. face. There are also high risks existing in the context of physi- ties, the report of the mission offers the government, political par- ties, civil society, and the media to improve trustworthiness for the BY KHATIA BZHALAVA paratory works. As the NGOs cal and economic resettlement, note, the so-called preparatory in particular, if the power plant next election based on the developed recommendations. on-governmental organiza- works involve considerable inter- is built, 100 families will be sub- Ntions - Georgian Young vention and significantly con- ject to dispossession as their Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), vert local natural and social en- settlement will be under a risk gality of the construction of HPP, and researches by the company Green Alternative and Human vironments. However, substan- of inundation. The statement as well as its severely high im- on the potential impact of the Rights Education and Monitor- tial documentation and expert reads that the project is accom- pact and risks, the large-scale HPP ing Center – EMC respond to the studies about the impact of HPP panied by serious seismic risks construction is ‘proceeding NGOs call on the court to: dispersal of protest against the under construction is yet to be as well. As experts say, cascades smoothly’ with the lack of trans- •Ensure timely and impartial construction of Namakhvani submitted. The local people de- of Namakhvani and Tvishi parency and ignorance to the review of the submitted com- HPP by using police force on No- mand an opportunity to meet dams will not withstand a 5 critical questions and opinions. plaint to enable the locals to re- vember 14. According to the with the relevant authority offi- magnitude earthquake, whilst “In response to the local solve their problems through le- NGOs, instead of conducting dia- cials and share their concerns, there was a 7 magnitude earth- community’s concerns and gal means. logues with the locals, who are but as the statement reads, in- quake in Racha in 1991. peaceful protest, the government The NGOs call on local and concerned with the HPP’s high stead of starting dialogues, up to According to the statement, uses repressive methods and international organisations, dip- environmental impact, the gov- 100 police officers were mobilized the construction permit issued tries to suppress the local’s pro- lomatic missions and media ernment ignores the at the rally, and protesters, in- by LEPL Technical and Con- test by using police force, grossly organisations to: community’s interests and uses cluding elderly, women and chil- struction Supervision Agency violating the fundamental rights •Become actively interested police force and repressive meth- dren, were forcibly removed (TCSA) of the Ministry of of the people under the influence in the legality of Namakhvani ods to suppress the protest. The from the road. According to the Economy and Sustainable Devel- of the project,” reads the state- HPP construction and its pos- organizations urge the govern- locals, some of the activists were opment of Georgia provides some ment. sible impact. ment to stop using repressive injured in a clash with the po- documentation that should be Considering the above men- •Use all available resources methods against peaceful pro- lice. submitted by the company be- tioned, the NGOs call on the gov- to support the worries of local testers and to provide suspen- The project of Namakhvani fore the construction starts. Re- ernment of Georgia to: people and put the problems of sion of construction works until HPP is being carried out in the spectively, the NGOs state that Namakhvani plat construction they present proper documenta- valley of river Rioni by the Turk- at this stage, the company is •Stop using repressive meth- on the agenda. tion and research on the poten- ish company ENKA. NGOs note carrying out the construction ods against the fair and peace- tial impact of HPP. that a tunnel of Shuakhevi HPP, without having submitted sub- ful protest of the local commu- According to the statement which had been built by the stantial documentation and re- nity and immediately create a published by the organizations, same company, demolished soon search required by the construc- format of real and continuous as of November 15, residents of after commissioning. tion permit. dialogue with the community village Zhoneti were protesting Constructing the The statement reads that and the specialists in the field. the construction of the Namakhvani HPP cascade is against the background when •Ensure a halt to construc- Namakhvani HPP cascade for planned in Tskaltubo and the local population, the commu- tion of Namakhvani HPP until 21 days. They still demand halt- Tsageri municipalities. The nity, and specialists in the field adequate consultations are con- The project of Namakhvani ing of the building process, which statement reads that the have several critical conclusions ducted with the community and HPP is being carried out is underway with a status of pre- Namakhvani HPP cascade is and questions regarding the le- prior to submitting documents by a Turkish company.

CONTINUED FROM Page 2 litical Studies (France) Former Deputy Minister of Defense George Washington University Vice President, the Georgian Giorgi Gvalia Tinatin Khidasheli Senior Fellow, Senior Fellow, Institute for Strategic Studies Mikheil Darchiashvili Professor of Politics and Inter- Chairperson, Civic Idea Rondeli Foundation (GISS) Former Deputy Defense Minister national Relations, Ilia State Former Minister of Defense Giorgi Muchaidze Datuna Rakviashvili Member of the Governing Board, University Beka Kobakhidze Executive Director, Atlantic Secretary, National Security Atlantic Council of Georgia Shota Gvineria Chair, MA Program in Modern Council of Georgia Council, 2016 – 2018 Davit Darchiashvili Senior Fellow, Economic Policy History of Georgia, Ilia State Sophia Petriashvili Giorgi Rukhadze Professor, Director, Center for Rus- Research Center University Former Associate Professor of Senior Fellow, Georgian Stra- sian Studies, Ilia State University Former Ambassador to the Batu Kutelia International Relations, Tbilisi tegic Analysis Center Jaba Devdariani Kingdom of the Netherlands Vice-chair, Atlantic Council of State University Tornike Sharashenidze Founder, the United Nations Gia Japaridze Georgia Alex Petriashvili Professor of International Af- Association of Georgia & Civil.ge Senior Fellow, Ilia Former Ambassador to the Former Minister for European fairs, Georgian Institute of Pub- Paata Gaprindashvili Chavchavadze Center for Euro- United States and Euro-Atlantic Integration lic Affairs Director, Georgia’s Reforms As- pean Studies and Civic Educa- Khatuna Lagazidze Former Ambassador to Vasil Sikharulidze sociates tion. Former Charge d’Affaires Senior Fellow, Georgian Stra- Turkmenistan and Afghanistan President, the Atlantic Council Former Ambassador to Austria to Portugal and Cyprus tegic Analysis Center Tengiz Pkhaladze of Georgia; Former Ambassador Kakha Gogolashvili Tedo Japaridze Former Senior Advisor to the Associate Professor, Georgian to the United States Director of European Studies at Former Ambassador to the National Security Council Institute of Public Affairs Tornike Turmanidze Rondeli Foundation (GFSIS) United States Ekaterine Metreveli Former Foreign Policy Advisor Professor of International Rela- Giorgi Goguadze Former Foreign Minister President, Georgian Foundation to the President tions, Assistant Professor of Interna- Nino Kalandadze for Strategic and International Mirian Popkhadze Gela Vasadze tional Affairs, Caucasus University Director, The Chavchavadze Studies (Rondeli Foundation) Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Regional Program Manager, Tornike Gordadze Center for European Studies Grigol Mgaloblishvili Institute Georgian Strategic Analysis Former Minister of European and Civic Education Former Ambassador of Georgia Former Representative of Min- Center and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Nodar Kharshiladze to NATO istry of Defense to the United Temuri Yakobashvili Georgia Founding Director, Georgian Khatuna Mshvidobadze Nations Ambassador of Georgia to the Professor, Paris Institute of Po- Strategic Analysis Center Professorial Lecturer, The Irakli Porchkhidze United States (2010-2013)