Member Info for Madpunter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Georgia_%28country%29

The EU, Uncle Sam and the UK, have finally woken up to the shenanigan's of the GD, under the control of BI. IMHO due to the contest over the pond occurring at the same time as the Georgian elections, they took their eyes of the ball, allowing the GD to unfairly win. IMHO when the GD finally lose power, FRR will get an extension of the PSA and the SM's will arrive. IMHO the noise from the court cases , that have allowed the can to be kicked down the road, will then fade away.

23.06.2022 / 00:54AA

Carl Bildt - this guy, I'm talking about the Prime Minister of Georgia, is no longer subject to rehabilitation - derailed
twitter

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt says Irakli Gharibashvili has "derailed".

Bildt shares Irakli Gharibashvili 's statement on Twitter, where the Georgian Prime Minister says that "Carl Bildt's wife's company has taken millions from the budget during the National Movement, and today it is coming out and teaching us."

"This boy - I am talking about the Prime Minister of Georgia - is no longer subject to rehabilitation. Speaking in Parliament, accusing my wife of stealing millions from Georgia shows that she derailed. "It is a tragedy for a very good country," Bildt wrote.

For information, according to the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili , Carl Bildt has taken millions from the budget during the rule of the "National Movement". As the Prime Minister mentioned in his speech in the Parliament, he knows the identities of the lobbyists bribed from the budget. Gharibashvili named former Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt as one of them.

"I have the names of lobbyists bought from the budget. Most will tell you everything. From the budget you paid millions to Carl Bildt for example. The company of Carl Bildt's wife has lost millions during your rule, comes out today and teaches us. Give it to me now today. Start writing now. "Give it to me," Gharibashvili said.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/716479-karl-bildti-es-bichi-vsaubrob-sakartvelos-premier-ministrze-reabilitacias-agar-ekvemdebareba-relsebidan-gavida

Speaking in parliament on June 22, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said that Georgia was one of the leading countries in the fight against corruption. The Georgian government often uses misinterpretations of international rankings to hide real problems in the country, Transparency International-Georgia said in a statement.

According to the organization, "the influence of Bidzina Ivanishvili , the founder of the ruling party, fits into the definition of state seizure of key institutions, despite the fact that Ivanishvili formally left politics."

"The Prime Minister was checking the data of the Transparency International Perception Index (CPI) for 2021 this time as well. He said that according to the CPI, Georgia was in the 51st place in 2012 and in the 45th place in 2021, however, he did not mention that the main determinant is the score obtained in the index.

In the case of Georgia, the score has not improved significantly since 2012 - in 2012 the country had 52 out of 100 points, and after 9 years, in 2021 it has 55, which indicates the stagnation of anti-corruption reforms in the country. 55 points is the average. For example, the scores of the 10 countries with the best results exceed 80. He said that Georgia is the undisputed leader in the Association Trio compared to Ukraine and Moldova. According to the CPI, Georgia really has a better result, which is largely due to the low level of petty bribery. However, successful anti-bribery reforms were carried out 18 years ago and can not be considered as the achievement of the current government. The CPI scores indicate that similar ambitious reforms have not been implemented in the last 9 years. However, unlike Moldova and Ukraine,
Transparency International started talking about the worst manifestation of corruption in Georgia - the seizure of the state in 2019, when the seizure of the state was named as one of the reasons for the democratic setback in the country.

Analyzing the results of the 2021 CPI, Transparency International said: "The influence of the ruling party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili , fits into the definition of state seizure of key institutions, even though Ivanishvili formally left politics. "His party, the Georgian Dream, has in recent years finally seized control of the judiciary and law enforcement, effectively halting the political momentum needed to fight corruption," Transparency International said in a statement.

Read more about the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index https://bit.ly/3xNSqhM

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/716537-saertashoriso-gamchvirvaloba-sakartvelo-sakartvelos-mtavroba-xshirad-iqenebs-saertashoriso-reitingebis-arascor-in

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili tweeted that her country was "ready to work with determination over the next months to reach the candidate status".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said all three countries were "part of our European family".

"This decision strengthens us all," she tweeted.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61891467

Phil - We have our own supply of North Sea Oil and Gas, but due to the push for Carbon Zero, our refining capacity has greatly decreased. Therefore, we have to import and where are we importing diesel from? RUSSIA!

Nigel Farage reacts to soaring fuel prices as diesel and petrol reaches £2 a litre in parts of UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4YmwfFHKxc

Gakharia’s team offers roadmap for the EU Candidacy status to Gov’t
"For Georgia" urges the Government to admit problems

https://georgiatoday.ge/gakharias-team-offers-roadmap-for-the-eu-candidacy-status-to-govt/

Yet Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze has been negotiating with Russia’s energy giant Gazprom, which is believed to be widely utilized for fulfilling Putin’s government’s political and geopolitical interests. The Minister declares that Gazprom could fill a “gap caused by the energy shortage of Azerbaijan”, Georgia’s main gas and oil supplier since 2006, when Russia endeavored Georgia to pay its political price for Euro-Atlantic aspiration and, as a result, cut gas supply during a very cold winter.

Likewise, U.S. External Policy Council Expert Stephen Blank this week told Georgian newspaper Kviris Palitra that gas import from Russia will negatively impact Georgia-U.S. relations.

Kakha Kaladze is the General Secretary of the Georgian Dream and Mayor of Tbilisi. Is there any wonder why the field hasn't been developed with the pro-Putin stance of the GD?

There is a reasonable notion that the case could be politically ‘muted’. At this stage, disclosing this world-shattering information could be exceedingly risky for both the Georgian government and the country’s national security, while economic lucrativeness and development of the field is the second main issue.There is a reasonable notion that the case could be politically ‘muted’. At this stage, disclosing this world-shattering information could be exceedingly risky for both the Georgian government and the country’s national security, while economic lucrativeness and development of the field is the second main issue.

They got this bit right. Is there any surprise that if a major like BP has verified the reserves it hasn't been disclosed?

Njames - I only posted the article link for the reference to the windfall tax and the loophole for investing in new production. IMHO we're heading for Global Cooling, as were into a Grand Solar Minimum. Take a look at the link below. There's plenty of reading on the subject that I posted previously.

https://www.lse.co.uk/chat/general/general/the-man-made-global-warming-scam-BC36E2D3-47A5-45D9-A163-1D9BA45EAD60.html

If companies like BP are to pay a windfall tax, then buying Block 12 even with the current associated risk becomes a free bet. Lose the money paying windfall tax or possibly gain a huge hydrocarbon resource with BP transportation pipelines already in place? Seems like a no-brainer to me, but wtfdik!

The UK is also facing a massive expansion of oil and gas production in the North Sea, as the government has imposed a windfall tax on the industry that contains a loophole encouraging companies to invest in new production.

‘Gold rush’ for gas production threatens to lock in global heating

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/08/gold-rush-for-gas-production-threatens-to-lock-in-global-heating

If executive director's were leaving a paid job to join SOLG, then they would want to be financially rewarded in case of a successful bid. Otherwise they would be leaving paid employment for a position that would be short lived. Therefore, the share incentives are essential to attract the right type of executive directors required by SOLG IMHO.

Lifeishard - IMHO it also highlights why FRR is keeping schtum. It's like a high level poker game where FRR doesn't want to give the opposition any advantage, whether actual or perceived.

IMHO if the GD ditch BI, free Mikheil Saakashvili and Nika Gvaramia, then extend the PSA with FRR, they would be fast tracked by the EU. Unfortunately, that's a lot of 'if's' but the pressure is building. Recent polls show that the Georgian people can see the country is heading in the wrong direction. Next time Uncle Sam and the EU won't take their eye off the ball and allow the election irregularities. Hopefully, more will realise like Gakharia and leave the GD before they reach the point of no return.

Part 2

"The former president of Georgia is in prison. Do you all remember how Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU affected the arrest of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko? Unfortunately, despite unprecedented efforts at the EU level, "Michel's agreement has not been implemented yet. Moreover, just when the commission started drafting a recommendation for Georgia's EU candidate status, a head of media critical of the government was arrested, adding another dark spot to Georgia 's image," MEPs said.

In a statement on Georgia's position on Ukraine, MEPs added that the Georgian government should understand that "Ukraine, like an icebreaker, also opens the door to Moldova and Georgia as candidate countries."

Opposition parties should also find the strength to offer the people of Georgia a credible strategy for European integration, which is needed to accomplish this task. "If this does not happen, the Georgian people may have to make a choice - whether under the current political structure, led by Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream, or Georgia's European future," the MEPs added.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/714037-evroparlamentarebi-andrius-kubiliusi-da-rasa-iuknevichiene-kartvel-xalxs-gia-cerilit-mimartaven

06.06.2022 / 23:33AA
MEPs Andrew Kubilius and Rasa Yuknevichien address the Georgian people in an open letter
MEPs Andrew Kubilius and Rasa Yuknevichien address the Georgian people in an open letter
twitter

MEPs Andrew Kubilius and Rasa Yuknevichien addressed an open letter to the Georgian people.

The letter states that if the outcome on the path to EU membership is less optimistic, the Georgian people should not be disappointed.

"In mid-June, the European Commission will make the long-awaited recommendations on the EU candidate status of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Then, at the end of June, the EU member states will make a final decision. It is difficult to predict the outcome. "We urge the Georgian people not to be disappointed if the outcome is less optimistic, instead, to join forces for the common cause of Georgia's accession to the European Union," the letter reads.

As for the situation in Georgia, according to MEPs, the situation in the country has deteriorated over the past two years.

"For a long time, Georgia has been at the forefront of the path to EU integration. However, today, in the EU and the European Parliament, the prevailing perception is that the situation in Georgia has deteriorated over the past two years. "This has also complicated the work of Georgia's friends in the EU and the US. As a result, the picture is quite bleak when viewed with different eyes. Oligarchization and consequently polarization in Georgia remain high and concentrated in the hands of one person who is not accountable to the people for democratic elections." In the letter.

The MEPs said in a letter that the arrest of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and General Director of the Main Channel, Nika Gvaramia, had some impact on the EU path.

Possibly the translation, as the article is pushing for a move towards the West and commenting on Georgia moving in the wrong direction.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/712014-ian-keli-da-devid-krameri-putini-ukrainashi-marcxdeba-magram-sakartveloshi-imarjvebs

24.05.2022 / 20:22AA
Ian Kelly and David Kramer - Putin loses in Ukraine, but wins in Georgia
Ian Kelly and David Kramer - Putin loses in Ukraine, but wins in Georgia
twitter

Putin loses in Ukraine, but wins in Georgia - this is the title of a joint article published on the American news website The Bulwark by former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly and former US Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer during the George W. Bush administration.

The article talks about Georgia going in the wrong direction and emphasizes that especially after the crisis in Ukraine, the Georgian government is becoming more and more similar to the Russian model, with full one-party rule and persecution of the opposition.

"We owe it to many Georgians who hope to join the European Union and NATO to impose travel bans and other sanctions on those who undermine hope for a future with the West," the statement said.

The authors add that the latest disturbing step on Georgia's path to authoritarianism came last week when a judge sentenced Nika Gvaramia, director of the main opposition TV station Main Channel, to more than three years in prison on politically motivated charges.

Ian Kelly and David Kramer claim that the Georgian Dream has strong control over the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. According to them, the ruling party has been campaigning against the leaders of the opposition, especially the United National Movement.

"Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili , who was arrested after returning to Georgia from Ukraine last fall, has suffered from deteriorating health and ill-treatment in prison," the authors said.

The article says that the Georgian Dream government seems to base its decisions not on whether it promotes integration with Western norms, but on whether their concrete move could offend the Kremlin dictator.

The American authors publish in the publication the failure of the Georgian Dream to carry out reforms to ensure an independent judiciary. They also note the annulment of the April 19 agreement and the cancellation of the construction of the Anaklia deep-water port.

Kelly and Kramer consider the Georgian Dream's policy towards the ongoing war in Ukraine to be the most disturbing. According to them, like Putin, the leaders of the "Georgian Dream" seem to see the war primarily as an opportunity to attack opponents.

"Why did Georgia take such a position of intimidation [against Russia], especially when three-quarters of Georgians surveyed believe that Russian aggression against Georgia is still ongoing and why [the Georgian government] is attacking Ukrainian leaders?" The authors ask.

The publication says that the United States and its European allies must act to persuade the Georgian government, and especially those behind the scenes, to make decisions and pursue policies that move Georgia further away from the West and closer to Russia.

Retired colonel gives rare realistic analysis on Russian TV

Steve Rosenberg

BBC Russia editor

It was an extraordinary piece of television.

60 Minutes is the flagship talk show on Russian state TV: studio discussion promoting the Kremlin line in everything, including President Putin’s so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine. The Kremlin still maintains that the Russian offensive is going according to plan.

But studio guest Mikhail Khodarenok, a military analyst and retired colonel, painted a very different picture.

He warned that “the situation [for Russia] will clearly get worse” as Ukraine receives additional military assistance from the West and that “the Ukrainian army can arm a million people”.

Referring to Ukrainian soldiers, he noted that “the desire to defend their motherland very much exists".

"Ultimate victory on the battlefield is determined by the high morale of troops who are spilling blood for the ideas they are ready to fight for.”

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“The biggest problem with [Russia’s] military and political situation”, he continued, “is that we are in total political isolation and the whole world is against us, even if we don’t want to admit it. We need to resolve this situation.”

“The situation cannot be considered normal when against us is a coalition of 42 countries and when our resources, military-political and military-technical, are limited.”

The other guests in the studio were silent; even the host, Olga Skabeyeva, normally fierce and vocal in her defence of the Kremlin, appeared unusually subdued.

It’s rare to hear such realistic analysis on Russian TV. The Kremlin has gone out its way to control the informational landscape here: shutting down independent Russian news sources, and ensuring that television – the principal tool in Russia for shaping public opinion - is on message.

So, what happened on 60 Minutes? Was this a spontaneous and unexpected wake-up call on Ukraine that slipped through the net? Was it pre-planned to prepare Russians for negative news on the "special military operation"?

It’s too early to say. Stay tuned to Russian TV for further signals.

https://twitter.com/BBCSteveR/status/1526329765065539592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1526329765065539592%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fworld-europe-61461805