Press Digest 11.02.2015
Massive reshuffling underway in law enforcement agencies
Who should be held responsible for our troubled National Currency?
Filmmakers take on Ministries of Economy and Culture
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Massive reshuffling underway in law enforcement agencies
“Reportedly, our law enforcement agencies are being restructured and many officials have already been forced to resign,”- reports the Rezonansi newspaper.
“This issue became immensely acute when prosecutor Valerian Zumbadze, who was looking into the so-called photographers’ case, left his post. Though, a couple of days ago he was promoted and now serves as deputy head of the General Inspection.
As Khatuna Lagazidze told Rezonansi, different factors could have contributed to this massive shake-up in these bodies. She names the incompetency as well as criminal past of officials among these factors.
“Such reshufflings always provoke some suspicions. As a rule, a number of people never resign voluntarily. I think that the public is entitled to know why those who were involved in different high-profile cases are being dismissed one after the other,”- states Lagazidze.
According to the political expert, their personnel policy is flawed and our authorities are granting posts of great responsibility to unworthy candidates. “How can I believe that in the entire body they failed to find a more qualified prosecutor than Valerian Zumbadze, who was involved in numerous high profile cases? How can it be true that these people are irreplaceable?
“I think that in this particular case, we are dealing with either nepotism or the government’s desire to exploit these people to the fullest. You know, when you have something against a specific inpidual you can easily lead him by his nose,”- concludes the expert.
Who should be held responsible for our troubled National Currency?
“The lari keeps depreciating; today, 2.04 GEL is equal to one dollar. A promise from the President of the National Bank that he would use all available means to save the troubled lari is still unfulfilled.
The National Bank seems committed to its chosen course, which is why it is strongly expected to stay away from the current developments by refusing to change its monetary policy. On top of that, our authorities are also releasing reckless statements that nothing unusual is happening in the country today and the devaluation of GEL is nothing new,”- reports the Rezonansi newspaper.
“However, our specialists do not share their opinion and feel that they must be held accountable for issuing inadequate statements; moreover, the specialists accuse Giorgi Kadagidze of deliberately agitating the situation.
Obviously, in the present state of affairs, the National Bank’s inactivity is striking. It’s true that after Kadagidze’s briefing, GEL was slightly strengthened; however, today 1.00 USD is still equal to 2.04 GEL,” says the article.
According to Economic Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, today the situation in Georgia is rather tough but the government fully controls it; moreover, if we believe Kvirikashvili, they have already devised an action plan.
“We are coordinating very smoothly with the National Bank. We work and make decisions together. Obviously, representatives of the National Bank are in charge of its monetary policy; however, I don’t think that they should take radical steps at this point; the necessity for this has not emerged yet,”- declared Kvirikashvili.
Despite the value of GEL steadily dropping for several months the National Bank has refused to take any effective measures to rectify the situation; they have only twice intervened in the process and have held only two briefings. At the first briefing of December 5, 2014, Giorgi Kadagidze declared that the country’s financial stability is not endangered; however, at the second briefing on the 30th of January, they released rather pessimistic statements. As Kadagidze claimed, GEL had hit rock bottom against USD and this could have easily resulted in surge in product prices.
“However, we have already drawn up our future action plan and we are strongly determined to maintain micro-economic stability whatever it takes,”- announced Kadagidze.
Filmmakers take on Ministries of Economy and Culture
Filmmakers from the Georgian Film Studio have reportedly clashed with representatives of the Ministries of Economy and Culture. Film producers allege that the Ministry of Economy secretly plans to sell off the studio.
In addition, as the producers claim, the ministries refused to cooperate with them. However, as they maintain within the Ministry of Economy, the Georgian Film studio is not in any kind of danger. Quite the contrary, Minister Kvirikashvili even offered the filmmakers to draw up a joint concept,”- reports the Rezonansi.
According to the minister, the filmmakers lack a shared vision. “Moreover, we are seeking tools to handle this issue. I would be immensely glad if those specializing in this field presented us with their concept; this will naturally enable us to move forward with this issue.”
“Claims that we have formulated some plans behind their backs are completely baseless, but I can understand their frustration; however, they must also trust us by believing that the government would not make an arbitrary decision under any circumstances,”- claims the Minister of Economy.
It is also noteworthy that yesterday, members of the board of trustees held a press conference; which was attended by Buba Khotivari, Eldar Shengelaia, Merab Kokochashvili, Mikheil Kobakhidze and others.
The film producers also focused on the potential dangers the alienation of the film studio could entail. Buba Khotivari, chairman of the board of trustees, accused Minister Kvirikashvili of pitting the filmmakers against each other.
“Out of the blue, they decided to sell the Georgian Film Studio, and they are now trying to hide their intention behind different reforms, beautiful slogans and pompous speeches. However, we have seen through their masquerade and we know that they want to transform our “holy temple” into a dirty inn,”- declared Khotivari.
Minister of Culture Mikheil Giorgadze was surprised by the filmmakers’ complaints.
“I am astonished by their move; after the filmmakers raised hell about our alleged intention to sell the studio, we immediately met with the interested parties. The meeting ended on a positive note and everyone seemed satisfied with its final result,”- announced the Minister.
