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Finance minister lays out budget

This morning in parliment Finance minister Dimitri Gvindadze layed out the governments budget for the next year including some good and bad points. Among the good points was the pledge of $250 million for the implimentation of reforms required to be made to allow membership into the EU, and NATO. Among the bad is a 1% tax increase which the minister says would be needed in order to prevent public debt from going to high and having the country ending up like some European countries. At the same time he announced tax breaks for energy companies developing more of the countries Geo-thermal, and hydro electricity sources to further decrease the countries dependency on Natural gas from neighboring countries. He also stated that even though much equipment still needs to be upgrades or replaced from losses during the 2008 conflict with Russia the military will not recieve any additional funds, and may even face cuts in coming years.

Violence in South Ossetia

Despite the pressence of Russia's "Peace keepers" violence continues in South ossetia in the form of ethnic violence. Yesterday a group of georgians in the eastern part of the rouge province were attacked killing one elderly woman. residents of the town said they reported the incident but were only told the matter was being looked into. This morning the Prime Minister critized Russian forces for not doing enough to protect ethnic georgians in South Ossetia, and that continued violence could invoke a response from Georgia. This comes as tensions continue to remain high with Russia over the issue of the countries two rouge provinces. Vano Merabishvili stated that the increasing violence is a direct result of Russia using it's Veto power to prevent the extension of the UN observation mission several years ago, and not giving European observers any access to South Ossetia.

American technology to increase mining output

In coordination with Hondo Minerals, Georgia will become one of the few countries in the world to trial new E-leach technology. The technology, allowing for extraction without using harmful chemicals is also expected to increase output by making the process faster, and safer for workers inside mines. Something the mining industry is up in arms about across the country. The increase in productivity is expected that it could boost countries GDP by 0.5-2% depending on the actually results once the technology is fielded later this year.

Car bomb targets Georgians

Hours ago a car bomb exploded in the city of Akhalgori in South Ossetia, killed five, including a Russian Peace Keeper, and wounding a dozen others. All of the victims, excluding Russian peace keepers have been identified as Georgian in ethnicity. Upon hearing news of the attack President Saakashvili released a statement highly critical of Russian peace keepers "There seems to be less, and less peace to keeep inside South Ossetia. I hold the Government of the Russian Federation responsible for the decay in security in South Ossetia. The failure to protect the lives of Georgians inside South Ossetia is inexcusable. If the situation continues on it's current course then the Russian Federation must act to contain anti-Georgian violence, or we may consider taking appropriate actions to protect the citizens of my country"

President Saakashvili confirms peace plan

After questioning by reporters President Saakashvili admitted that a south Ossetian peace plan is currently being drafted. In questioning he stated "Yes, there is a plan, no it is not complete yet so i can't give you details, because we haven't writen the details. What I can tell you is that this plan will be before the world at the UN by the end of the year for a vote to take place some time next year. I hope that the announcement of this will calm the violence in south ossetia. I want a peaceful solution to this issue, This country does not need, nor want a bloody conflict that other nations have had, and that we have had before again. Instead, democracy, and diplomacy are the answers, and the keys to this" In a related story the mining industry appears to gearing up towards increased trade with Germany as American technology begins to be used in the industry increasing output by the industry, expecting to raise the countries GDP.

Russian attack on Georgian Soil

This morning the government called a press conferance about a reported incident near South Ossetia. When it began the president gave a statement "Ladies and gentlemen, members of the local and international media. Last night I was woken up by some disturbing news, At approximately ten forty last night gun fire was reported just twenty minutes from the border with south ossetia. In response a quick reaction force was sent out from the Georgian army. Upon arriving at scene they came under small are and shoulder launched missile fire. The men behind me are now holding up enlarged photgraphs of the after scene of this compound. The ensuing battle which at the time was elieved to South Ossetian rebels, lasted several minutes, and I regret to inform that seven members of the Georgian army have died in the line of duty, with many more injured."

"towards the end of the battle this unknown force was picked up by three helicopter. Georgian forces shot down one of those aircraft, this aircraft was a Russian built Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka transport helicopter. I should be noted that due to how new it is, this aircraft is only in service with the Russian air force. Further more bodies recovered arebelieved to be that of Russian special forces." A major in the Georgian army then spoke up.

"As you can see here by images nine through eleven, the helicopter had it's tail taken off, crashing shortly after, killing every one on board, these images show the recovered parts, and image 12 shows there approximate location on a Ka-60"


"In short for unknown reasons last night Russian forces launched an attack against a target in Georgia. This attack resulted in the death of seven, and several more injured members of the armed forces. It is with the utmost sadness and anger that I have to make this statement. I do not know why Russia undertook these actions, however there target did not seem to be Georgia it self, however they still opened fire on Georgian forces sent to investigate. My government wants to know why this happened, why these brave men and women of our armed forces had to die, and I believe that the people of Georgia, especially the families of the dead are entitled to know why as well"

More attacks hours after UN proposal

Only hours after the Georgian delegation proposed a motion in the UN general assembly that would gauge international opion on South Ossetia's freedom and right to self determination two attacks were carried out in the eastern regions of South Ossetia dominated by a Georgian majority. In one attack a lone gunman opened fire on a crowded market, he was shot and killed by Russian peace keepers but two Georgians were killed including a 18 month old baby. The second attack was apparently a bomb left in a backpack at a busy bus terminal, four people were killed. These attacks further the presidents calls for UN peace keepers to be put in place for any vote on South Ossetian independance to take place.

New rail line to Poti announced

As part of a trade deal with neighboring Armenia the government announced a public works project of creating a new rail line linking Armenia to the port of Poti. The new rail link would be able to accomidate heavy rail traffic for cargo to the port in Poti allowing Armenian goods to be shipped to Europe and around the world. The porject is expected to be complete by next year. Once complete it is expected to increase regional tade by a significant margine though the government says estimates are into complete on how much that increase will be. Combined with rail lines going to other neighboring countries Georgia is the center point for traffic in the region going north and South. If and when the Border with Russia reopens the Republic is expected to have greatly increased trade and GDP growth.

Ethnic war? more attacks strike

This afternoon a bomb strike hit yet another town in eastern South Ossetia. A car bomb was parked in front of a police station were it detonated during a shift change, killed six, wounding 14 others. Several hours later in the South Ossetian capital a Gun man opened fire on a group of South Ossetians with a hunting rifle and a single grenade. fifteen people were killed, two dozen injured before the suspect fled. He is suspected to have been identified and picked up by Russian security forces by no confirmation has come from the head of Russian forces in South Ossetia.


President Orders check points

After hearing off the increasing in violence to the possible out break of an ethnic conflict the President has ordered Check points at all roads and rail links into South Ossetia, and patrols along the rest of the provincial border "Some how weapons that should not be in the hands of civilians are getting into the hands of cowards, and militants. Therefore I have asked the army to set up check points and patrols to prevent the flow of weapons and materials used in attacks from reaching South Ossetia. I implore the Russian Federation to do the same, and to seek out those responsible, and remove all weapons that should not be there from inside South Ossetia. If we have any hope of Regional peace, all must be done to ensure weapons that should not be in the hands of those who wish to do nothing but bring hatred and conflict to our peace loving nations are stripped of their means to cause terror and death"

Eduard Kokoity calls for peace

Current leader of the renegade province of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity issued a breif statement condeming the violence in the region and expressed his hope and optimism for a resolution put forward in the UN by Georgia "I feel this is a step towards our independance, our freedom, it is within our grasp without the need for violence so I urge all in South Ossetia to not resort to violence when peace is clearly working!" this statement was issued from a well sacured compound in the South Ossetian Capital just minutes from the Georgian border, protected by Russian 'peace keepers' many suspect though that the presidents words alone wont stop the violence.

Gela Bezhuashvili speaks on russian claims

Gela Bezhuashvili, head of the Georgian Intelligence service released a rare statement saying that no one from Georgia proper has been or ever will be directed to sell weapons or conduct operations in South Ossetia that would cause destruction of property or the loss of life. Calling it counter productive he praised russian peace keepers for reportly finding and dismantling a bomb making facility. He stated that to him it appeared russian forces were finally getting in gear on the issue and that he expected calm to return to the region quickly.

Russia blocks UN motion

Georgia's attempt to gain independence for its problem provinces has failed after Russian diplomats said they would not support any resolution in the UN Security council without Georgia confining to demands that would cause Georgia to loose much of it's territory to the rouge provinces. Other nations objected to the province being divided on ethnic lines, claiming or could lead to ethnic violence worse that what recently took place. While disappointed the Prime Minister said some of the views in the world community had marrit and should be looked at. He also said his government would try again but not until they study the issue further.

Tourism promotion begins

As part of the governments budget, $50 million has been pumped into the tourism industry including the promotion of the country internationally. The tourism department also says it is also considering a proposal tables for Georgia to bid for the 2022 Olympic winter games. If the those in the tourism deparment decide to go for it they will need to a submit a bid within the next year. A successful bid would mean billions to the local economy if it did occur.

Georgia will seek 2022 Olympics

After weeks of speculation at a press conferance today officials confirmed that Georgia is now actively seeking to win the bid of 2022 Olympic winter games. The chairman for the Georgian Olympic committee has been named as former Gold medal Olympian Revaz Mindorashvili who won gold at the 2008 games in Beijing. Mindorashvili told reporters he looked forward to beginning work to lobby for the games and hoped he could watch the games in 2022 in the nations capital.

Government demands formal apology

This morning the government passed a motion unanimously in parliment demanding a formal apology from venezuela for remarks made in the UN calling our president a war criminal. Calling it slander against the presidents good name MP's from all parties said it was an insult to the country and the remarks should be retracted and a apology be given by both venezuela's UN representative, and the president of venezuela. This event only furthers the strained relations between the two countries which have been at odds since the 2008 conflict with Russia.

Attacks were part of Ethnic cleaning

The government recently released a report on an invetigation into attacks ealier in the year in South Ossetia. The 300 page report cites Human Rights Watch and other organizations on the ground that do have access to the area that it was another case of ethnic cleaning by the South Ossetian Sepratist militia. Citing one report from human rights watch that called decribed the post war situation.

The report went on to the present situation as Georgians continue to leave South Ossetia, and Abkhazia from continued conflict. While the report acknowleged that the de facto government of Abkhazia has actually done something to prevent more death. However in the Georgian capital the Abkhazia government in exile called for the Russians to withdraw and the sepretists to relinqish power back to the legitimate government.

Moscow back to USSR rule?

In an interview with the prime minister on a morning talk show he blasted Moscow for using it's military muscle as a political tool with Georgia in the balance. Referring to Moscows choise to station aircraft in Cuba, a move which moscow says is because of the United states choice to sell 16 F-16 fighter jets to Georgia. creating a new arms crisis that could drag in NATO, and Russia's allies. In the interview the Prime Minister had stern words for Moscow "This is a page out of the former soviet era, with moscow's only goal is to prevent us from aquiring tools needed to protect our country. But now Moscow is trying to take away the choice of those nations that used to be under their rule. Georgia for one will not be bullied, if Russia doesn't put jets in Cuba it looses nothing, we loose these new jets, and we might as well let Russia take the rest of Georgia over, not just occupy two of our provinces illigally. It is our freedom to decide who we buy arms from, and what we buy, not Moscow, not Putin and his handfull of ex-KGB masterminds who have the russian political scene twisted around their finger. However moscow doesn't like reality some times, look at the 2008 war, after it Russian generals admitted that ethnic cleansing was occuring against Georgians in south Ossetia. Meanwhile Moscow denied it, pushed out UN observers, while it still continues to this day. This is something you see out of dictatorships not democracies"

IOC announces 2020 candidates

The International Olympic committee has announced the candidates for the 2020 Summer games. Istanbul, Baku, and Tokyo are the three major cities vying for the ability to host the summer Olympics. Upon the releasing of the candidate cities the government, and tourism Georgia threw there weight in behind Baku in Azerbaijan for the games "We are trying to get the 2022 Winter games, therefore it is only natural that we support our neighbor and regional ally in their bid for the games. It is my hope that they will be successful in their bid, and bring the games to our fair part of the world"

Farmers given help

Farmers in Georgia's agriculture industry have been hurt this year with unpredictable seasonable tempatures changing almost daily before July became unseasonably warm in the western part of the country. With some loosing part of their crops the government has announced it will provide aid to those farms who have lost part of their crop or have been hit financially by the unseasonable weather thats hit the region. The government also promised to do more to get Georgian agricultural goods to market in Europe as fast as possible in order to maximize what farmers can earn from their goods.

Russian Cargo ship detained

The Georgian coast guard today announced it has detained a Russian cargo vessel bound for violation of navigation rules. After a search was done (part of standard procedure) the crew was also detained after atleast two crew members were found to have contraban in their possesion. The search also turned up one crate of ammunition not on the cargo manifest which was also confiscated. The vessel is question the Pur-Navolok operated by Belfreight and was running cargo from Ukraine to Turkey when it strayed into Georgian waters. The coast guard told us that the ship will be fined roughly $30,000 USD for being nearly 20km off course, and another $15,000 for the ammunition that had no paper work and was not on the manifest. Charges are pending on drug offenses for a unknown number of the crew and officials say those individuals will not be leaving with the ship when it leaves a Georgian port for turkey in the morning. Officials also confirmed that the swiss embassy was already in communication with the detained crew members. Officials refued to speculate if the ship was actually smugling weapons into Georgia to be used by criminal gangs or sepretists.

Troop levels in Afghanistan to Increase

At a time when NATO is wraping up it's mission in afghanistan as several countries pull out the defense minister announced today Georgia will fill that gap as best it can. He announced today that troop levels will increase to roughly 1800 personal on the ground by the end of next year to ease the pressure faced by NATO forces as nations pull out. This nearly doubles Georgia's presence in the country and troops will be facing the situation head on with the battle group being in Helmand to support strained British, American, and Dutch forces in the region.

Russian spies sentenced to life in jail

Thirteen people, including four Russian nationals arrested back in 2010 finally were sentenced today after almost 18 months of being on trial. All thriteen were sentenced for there part in a "major" GRU spy operation against Georgia only two years after the war.

"In order to carry out espionage activities, Russians gave him special computer hardware and software for encrypting the exchanged information. This person handed over both the hardware and the software to the Interior Ministry�fs counter-intelligence department thus making it possible to identify specifics of their [Russian spy ring�fs] work,�h the Interior Ministry said in regards to one of the Russian business men who were convicted today on the charges.

observers watch as elections near

Election observers will begin to decend upon Georgia as parlimentry elections near this fall, being called a critical test for Georgia especially for NATO membership, opposition critics hope that the election will truely be free and fair. This hope is carried by many in Georgia ahead of next year's presidential elections which will see a new president elected to Georgia's top office. While niether side has started the heavy campaigning that is expected to change by the end of the Quarter as the major parties fight for the votes of every day Georgians in key battle ground regions over key issues of the Economy, Russian ties, Health care, and sepretist regions.

354 people caught since road blocks

The government reported that since the start of patrols and road blocks around the rouge provinces of our country it has caught 354 individuals illigally crossing the border into Georgian territory. Although the majority of the cases have been drug smugglers, several have been caught transporting arms and munitions a spokesmen had this to say "The weapons, and ammo recovered were clearly old, left over from the soviet era, meaning they were found some where and traffics, I highly doubt we would find new Russian tech any where along the border. Both the Russians, and the sepretists are smarter then that, and wouldn't be arming groups in Georgia for no reason" while the operation continues the Georgian government said the only way to remove these weapons is to allow Georgian forces into the sepretist regions and conduct searches.

"Free trade viable"

The governments committee on economics released today an initial report detailing the possible benefits of a free trade deal with Armenia. The deal first proposed by Armenia earlier in the year struck up interest across Georgia with what it could mean economically. In the report the committee found that hundreds of millions to billions of dollars could be generated via free trade with Armenia. The committee also went to far to recommend the government authorize studies for a Georgia-EU and America Free trade deals in or to gain further growth in the Georgian economy. In his response to the report the prime minister said he will not table anything just yet as the final report is months away. However He did say he agree's with the committee and will table a motion to allow the committee look at proposals for the EU and America and there possible benefits.

Security eased at border as election begins

The ministry of defense reported today that after successfully cracking down on smuggling and other illigal activity in and out of the rouge provinces they are loosening their grip. Instead of an outright road block they have now turned into check points. Already since carried out dozens have crossed legally into Georgia, mostly Georgian citizen escaping from violence against them by South ossetians. Government figured place the number of people displace due to ethnic violence since 2008 at tens of thousands of people. Leadering to the governments moderate response to attempt to deal with it. Opposition critics protest that the government is not doing enough and is campaigning on it in the currently election. Georgians are set to go to the polls in parlimentry elections this november.