EGI Political Digest 24

The European Union has summoned Georgia’s ambassador over alleged wiretapping

On September 22 EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzel told reporters that Georgian Ambassador to Brussels Vakhtang Makharoblishvili had been summoned to the EU headquarters the day before to clarify Georgia’s alleged covert surveillance of the EU diplomatic mission.

Ambassador Hartzel said that the alleged hearing from Georgia “raises questions about the Vienna Convention and we do not consider it natural that a close friend and partner like Georgia is involved in this type of action against us.”

He stressed the importance of continuing the discussion on the nature of surveillance. He stated, that any security service is interested in investigating threats, including terrorism or espionage, the ambassador added, that surveillance should be carried out with caution and should be controlled. “Surveillance should not be part of a democratic society,” said Carl Hartzel.

The Secretary-General of the Georgian Dream and the mayoral candidate of the capital, Kakha Kaladze, said regarding the listening of the diplomats that “they(SSG) should listen to those whom they consider necessary to listen”

Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream, said on September 22 that “[when] there are even signs that someone may be listening to someone illegally, our friends would be interested in and they are interested .” However, he also added regarding to Ambassador Hartzel’s statement “I think diplomatic standards were slightly deviated, especially in this pre-election period.”

On the same day, the Ambassador’s statement was evaluated by the Minister of Culture and Vice Prime Minister, Tea Tsulukiani. “You are now talking like Karl Hartzel, as if everything has been confirmed,” Tsulukiani told the host of the Night Courier program on Rustavi 2 in response to a question about the wiretapping.

On September 24, in front of the EU headquarter in Tbilisi, a verbal argument between the leaders of the Georgian Dream and the National Movement, Irakli Kobakhidze and Nika Melia, was followed by a physical confrontation.

Thousands of alleged secret recordings were leaked to the Internet on September 12-13. The files mainly contain information about clerics, but also cover conversations between Georgian journalists, opposition politicians, foreign diplomats and public officials. The files show details of conversations concerning the EU Ambassador, Carl Hartzel, US diplomats, the Israeli Ambassador and other diplomats.

The company “Enka” terminates the contract with Georgia for the construction of “Namakhvani HPP”

Namakhvani investor company ENKA Renewables terminates a contract with the Georgian government and refuses to build a $ 800 million hydropower plant that has been opposed by a group of activists for months. The decision of Enka Renewables is known from the announcement published by its parent company – ENKA ŞNŞAAT on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The statement said that the reason for the termination of the contract was the violation of the terms stipulated in it and force majeure.

At this stage, it is difficult to calculate exactly how much the Georgian government will pay to the company. Based on different calculations, different amounts are named – from 150 million to 700 million. Giorgi Abramishvili, executive director of the Georgian Renewable Energy Development Association, told RFE / RL that Enka has spent at least $ 100 million so far and will definitely try to get that money back

Opposition candidate and activists were attacked in Dmanis

Dmanisi Mayor Giorgi Tatuashvili and their supporters were attacked in the village of Gantiadi. 2 opposition activists were stabbed. According to Kakha Okriashvili, the attackers were Georgian Dream activists.

According to the chairman of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, the incident in the village of Gantiadi in Dmanisi has no justification and the perpetrator should be punished. As for the Georgian Dream’s responsibility for the incident, Irakli Kobakhidze says that the Georgian Dream has been talking about the country’s development plan for the last three months, while the TV stations and the National Movement are sowing hatred, so they are responsible.