Member Info for Madpunter

Posted Blownitalready on the 4th September :-

Due to the Navalny case, the Russian-German gas pipeline project may be reconsidered
Calls against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project have increased in the German Bundestag following Navalny poisoning. Part of the German lawmakers believe that the project, which should double the supply of natural gas from Russia to Germany , will strengthen Russia's influence and give additional impetus to the country's criminal activities.

Discussions over the pipeline project resumed after the German government announced on September 2 that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent, a substance from the Novichok group. Information disclosed in an appropriate after German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the Russian authorities "hard questions" demanded answers.

The Russian government strongly denies the allegations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the issue, recalled that doctors at Omsk Hospital, where Navalny was originally taken, "could not find" traces of poisonous substances in the patient's body.

Western countries have condemned the attack on the Russian opposition and stressed the need for tough retaliatory measures.

"We must pursue a tough policy and respond in a language understandable to Putin to the Kremlin - with natural gas," said Robert Retgen , conservative chairman of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee.

On September 2, Retgen told the media that the completion of the Nord Stream 2 project would be "the biggest incentive for Putin to continue his usual policies."

The new pipeline project will double the volume of natural gas supplied through Nord Stream 1. The project is being implemented by Nord Stream AG, the largest shareholder in the Russian state-owned Gazprom .

90% of the design work has already been completed, and the project is scheduled to be fully operational by April 2021.

The completion of the project is also opposed by the United States government, which sees the growing Russian influence in Europe as a significant geopolitical threat.

It is still unknown whether the German Chancellor will follow the pressure of some legislators, especially given that Merkel has been a staunch supporter of its completion since the beginning of the project.

The German chancellor said on September 2 that everything would depend on the Kremlin's response, although he added that the attack on Navalny had nothing to do with the pipeline project.

"If we want to give our partners a clear message to Speak to the Kremlin, the economic relations with the negotiating table to be inserted. In accordance with this process the gas pipeline project can not be excluded", - says Wolfgang ishingeri , Munich Security Conference Chairman and former German ambassador to the United States.

https://formulanews.ge/News/36165 (google translated)

Posted Earsbern on the 3rd September :-

Documents 78 & 79, California
Doc 78 has 111 pages of background written by Hope/OMF's leading lawyer (sorry, but they were not seen or read by me as it would be pricey to retrieve them and I almost certainly wouldn't understand them anyway. Hope's lawyers seem to have a habit of trying to bore judges into submission). Fortunately, the document also consists of a separate page where they actually say what they want. If I understand it correctly, it says that H/OMF want to see all of FRR's discovery requests, and to be given indications of whether those requests have been successful or otherwise; also to see "all documents within (FRR's) possession, custody and control that are responsive to (FRR's) request for Production Nos. 1,2,4,5,7m,12-17,22 and 30-33".
H/OMF also want FRR to "withdraw their objections and provide a complete response in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure about their discovery responses to Interrogatory Nos. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10 and 15-18".
H/OMF also say that they want ZM & SN to be "produced" at H/OMF's offices "for depositions".

Doc. 79 is from Judge Seeborg in response to the above. He says that H/OMF (in Doc. 78) have failed to adhere to a scheduling order in doc. 56 which explains that the process parties "shall" (judge's quotation marks) undertake to resolve discovery disputes, and that H/OMF's request is hereby referred, along with all further discovery disputes, to a randomly assigned Magistrate Judge.

I think that might be legaleese for 'F off'.

I would surmise that this legal skirmishing is basically a cut and paste routine they go through at the start of any case involving discoveries.
I suppose it's also possible that H/OMF's lawyers could be trying to manufacture some grounds for appeal for after they lose the case ("we were prevented from wading through every scrap of evidence imaginable, your honour")!!!
Anyway, the discoveries aren't scheduled to be completed until 12/10/20 (non-expert) and 30/11/20 (expert), so I suspect that the FRR team will not be unduly hurried!

Posted StarRage on the 3rd September :-

California update
Tuesday, September 01, 2020
MOTION to Compel filed by Stephen Hope, Outrider Management LLC, Outrider Onshore, LP. Motion Hearing set for 10/8/2020 01:30 PM in San Francisco, Courtroom 03, 17th Floor before Judge Richard Seeborg. Responses due by 9/15/2020. Replies due by 9/22/2020.(Parker, Ross)

Wednesday, September 02, 2020
Order Referring Case to Magistrate Judge for Discovery ~Util - Set Hearings Wed 09/02 10:22 AM
ORDER Referring Discovery Dispute to Magistrate Judge. Signed by Judge Richard Seeborg on 9/2/2020. (cl, COURT STAFF)

Posted DomFok on the 3rd September :-

BORDERISATION Drone Footage
Apparent borderisation by occupying forces near Karapila village close to main highway and where BTC oil/gas pipeline crosses deep into the conflict zone. (Twitter) https://twitter.com/olesya_vart/status/1301111445279715328?s=21

Posted Looed on the 3rd September :-

Frontera mentioned in German magazine
The Georgian press has reported on a German magazine article that focuses on the Caucasus Online issue and the general investment culture in Georgia. The article also mentions FRR -

"According to the article, the government's recent actions against foreign and domestic investors call into question the rapprochement between Georgia and Europe.

The author links this development to a change in the law that was initiated in July and regulates electronic communications, allowing the government to have its own managers in firms to control them.

The article cites examples of Forntera and NEQSOL Holding whose contracts were terminated by the Georgian government.

"In 2019, NEQSOL Holding, an international group with infrastructure investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor, acquired a 49 percent stake in Caucasus Online. Between the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Asia.

According to the company, he was constantly informing the government about long-term plans in the country. "The Georgian government expropriated the company on the basis of inadequate information and terminated the contract," the Cicero article reads.

In 2017, the American gas and oil company Frontera was also expropriated, presumably as a result of Russian influence."

I can't access the German magazine site so not sure if there is any more detail on FRR - if anyone can check that would be great

This is the German site - https://www.cicero.de/aussenpolitik/georgien-annexion-russland-eu-investitionen-corona

And this is the Georgian report - http://www.tabula.ge/ge/story/177530-samagalito-bavshvi-mcdar-gzaze-germanuli-gamocema-cicero-saqartveloze

Posted Jonathansxx on the 2nd September :-

Another extract from the very good interview with Ben Hodges:-

"Do you think that in Georgia, Russia might intensify even more using different techniques of hybrid warfare and other means, and result in a bigger threat?

- The Kremlin will never stop. Everybody needs to wake up and understand that the Kremlin will use everything it has, to achieve its strategic objectives, which include undermining liberal democracy, the last thing that the Kremlin wants is for the people, the citizens of Russia, to see that their neighbors in Georgia and Ukraine and Belarus are beginning to enjoy the benefits or could enjoy the benefits of liberal democracy of free enterprise, of young people being able to fulfill potential. So they are going to continuously do all that they can to undermine efforts in Georgia and Ukraine, and perhaps, I think we are about to see, in Belarus what happens. Because they see what happened in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, when people were set free, they were liberated. Not perfect, but still, when you have a liberal democracy, the quality of live goes up. They didn’t want to see that in Georgia, and so, they will continue to do things to undermine it. Which is why having a strong, resilient society in Georgia, where people trust their institutions of the judiciary, where elections are free and fair, where police activities are transparent and fair, and where media is allowed to investigate and cover everything that’s said and done and where financial transactions are transparent, that is what will give Georgia a strong, resilient society."

RE: Noble Partner 20
Noble partner exercises:-

https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2650

Posted RainbowRider on the 2nd September :-

Noble Partner 20
Aug. 29, U.S. soldiers arrived in Tbilisi to take part in an exercise, with the objective to secure a stable environment in the Black Sea region. Also to posture the credibility of combat ready forces across the European theater specifically in Georgia.

Posted Looed on the 2nd September :-

Ben Hodges - "Only the Kremlin benefits when there is no private investment in Georgia"
This interview links the investment environment with Russian interference. It doesn't mention FRR but does talk about American investment in general as well as Anaklia Port and the Caucasus Online issue. Although this snippet might as well be talking about FRR -

"..unfortunately, the Government or the Georgian Dream party in power has continued to throw obstacles in the way of this Port Project. And even though the Ministry of the Economy has said it was a top priority, it’s obviously not. If it was a priority, it would be happening, but it’s not. And of course, the Kremlin is behind this, because the Kremlin doesn’t want to see Georgia become prosperous;"

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/108984-ben-hodges-only-the-kremlin-benefits-when-there-is-no-private-investment-in-georgia

Posted Looed on the 2nd September :-

DomFok - I re-read the comments from the Minister (I think from a different article). Following on from the quote you posted -

“The government is currently in quite positive and active communication with Frontera"

She goes on to say -

"As long as this dialogue with Frontera continues, we will provide very important assistance to these people once and for all," Natia Turnava said."
https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/30769548.html

"As long as dialogue continues" - You pointed out the negative press seems to be paused, and we haven't heard about any more employee protests. So its possible talks are taking place.

Slim evidence I know....

Posted Looed on the 1st September :-

Some additional comments from the Ambassador -

"Q- about the monitoring missions of NDI and IRI, whether they will arrive to observe the elections in October and also about the Speaker Talakvadze’s recent initiative to toughen the penalty for voter intimidation and other kinds of violations

Ambassador Kelly Degnan: Well, I saw the very good news that OSCE/ODHIR plans to send a robust monitoring mission, both long term observers and short term observers, which is obviously going to be very important as a way to supplement that. We, the Embassy, other embassies, as we have every election, plan to send out teams of election observers on the day. Obviously, we are not the professionals, we are going to supplement that and the domestic observers here, who are professionals, are very experienced and well-trained. NDI and IRI are going to remain very involved in monitoring the elections here. They have a long history of being a part of elections in Georgia and they would not want to miss this one either. So I am sure they are making their own calculations about the composition of their teams and how they are going to do it. We are waiting to coordinate with CEC to get more information about the precautions that need to be taken to make sure that all the monitoring missions, as well as all voters, can go to the polling stations safely in October. As for the second part of the question, as I said earlier, enforcement, rigorous enforcement of all of the election reforms is going to be very, very important and any effort to eradicate vote buying, voter intimidation, abuse of administrative resources, some of the problems that Georgia has seen repeatedly in its elections over the last thirty years, is a good step forward. The next important step is vigorous implementation. And again, all of this is to take measures that will help ensure that these are free, fair, transparent elections and a step forward for Georgia in terms of better elections than previous ones."

https://ge.usembassy.gov/ambassador-kelly-degnans-remarks-to-media-at-the-celebration-of-entry-into-force-the-code-on-the-rights-of-the-child/

Posted Jonathansxx on the 31st August :-

Agenda.ge, 31 Aug 2020 - 14:31, Tbilisi,Georgia

"EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell says that as an international observer it is more important for him to see how a party will win at the 2020 parliamentary elections of Georgia rather than who wins.

I will keep an eye on this election campaign", he said.

Hartzell said no one doubts that 'this will be a very important election'.

We have seen the adoption of new legislation under the March 8 agreement. In my opinion, this creates a new and positive framework for this election, which will be used positively by all participants in this election, including new participants as well”, he said.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Georgia on October, 31 2020 to elect 150 members of parliament.

Parliamentary elections will be held according to an updated electoral system: 120 MPs will be elected according to party lists, and 30 - according to majoritarian districts. In addition, the barrier for a party to enter parliament has been lowered and is now not three, but only one percent."

Posted Earsbern on the 31st August :-

Election date 31/10/20
https://civil.ge/archives/364324

The date of the election has today been officially announced as Saturday 31/10/20 (as widely expected).
I'm assuming this is for round 1, when all the seats (proportional and majoritarian) are voted for.
In which case, round 2 for undecided majoritarian seats will be voted for at a later date.

Posted Jonathansxx on the 31st August :-

"US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says Georgia should expect Russia to intervene in the elections.

"Georgia should expect Russia to intervene in the elections. "There is a long, well-organized" pattern "of interference [a kind of repetitive line], using disinformation campaigns and other methods, not only in connection with the election, but in general," Kelly Degnan told reporters on August 31.

According to the ambassador, to combat this problem, the US Embassy and other international donors have initiatives "to raise awareness among Georgian citizens to help Georgians see the difference between fake news and accurate reporting."

"Once again, I think, political leaders need to introduce their platforms to the public, which should be aimed at educating the public on issues that are important to them - education, economic recovery, healthcare"…

According to the ambassador, this is the best way to combat future disinformation from Russia or any other actor."

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnetgazeti.ge%2F

Posted Madpunter on the 31st August :-

T - 60
and counting.

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/halloween

Posted DomFok on the 31st August :-

Arsenal
Didn’t Natia Turnava recently say “The government is currently in quite positive and active communication with Frontera and is preparing for a meeting to discuss certain technical issues."

Which probably explains the silence on both sides IMO

Posted Jonathansxx on the 29th August :-

Georgia needs to spread the message about Russian interference.

"Former Secretary of the National Security Council Davit Rakviashvili also speaks about the lack of state policy in the face of Russia's hybrid war.

"The Russian Federation is trying not only in Georgia, but all over the world to interfere in the elections and strengthen its position through manipulation and polarization of public opinion. Numerous direct and indirect indicators show that Russia's main task is to create an unstable situation in Georgia, to polarize society. The best springboard and time for this is elections. Their task is to divide Georgian society as much as possible, to demonize the West as much as possible, and to bring as much ambiguity as possible into our future. "When the Patriots Alliance speaks of neutrality, it is precisely an attempt to create ambiguity in the future that more than 70% of Georgian citizens have chosen," Rakviashvili said.Georgia has the legislative and executive leverage to identify and prevent hostile state-linked interest groups, and the ruling political class has no will to do so.

Levan Natroshvili also believes that the interest groups related to the Russian Federation feel free in the country due to the passivity of the state and the decision taken by the prosecutor's office not to launch an investigation into the materials published by the dossier proves once again that the state, to put it mildly. Refrains from taking active steps against a policy that serves Russia's interests"

The previous post was posted on the 29th August and not the 28th.

Posted Looed on the 29th August :-

Russian oil, no oil (again), pipelines, NY Democrats, oh - and FRR
US President Donald Trump explained why the United States is forced to buy Russian oil. Speaking to supporters in New Hampshire, the head of the White House complained about Democrats who oppose the construction of pipelines in the United States.

“New England has the highest energy prices in the United States. Do you know why? Because Governor Cuomo is not allowing the pipeline to go through the top of New York so that oil and gas, which we have a lot, can get there. " Andrew Cuomo is the Governor of New York State.

Addressing his supporters, Trump asked if they knew from whom they were buying energy. “Didn't you know? Many ships come to you, most of them from Russia, because Governor Cuomo from New York does not allow the pipeline to be built, ”Donald Trump complained.

Trump posted the full transcript of his speech on his Twitter page.

The American company Frontera Resources began geological exploration in Georgia two decades ago. Experts tried to find oil on the territory of the country for Georgia to gain independence. And veteran Georgian geologists noted that there is no point in looking for oil where it cannot be.

We will remind, Donald Trump has officially agreed to run for president of the United States from the Republican Party.

https://yandex.ru/turbo/s/argumenti.ru/world/2020/08/684531?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop

Posted Looed on the 28th August :-

"How the United States is preparing for parliamentary elections in Georgia"
A Russian take-down of US involvement in the upcoming elections. I only post this part as it references FRR -

(As some experts in the Georgian domestic political cuisine note, no previous election campaign was distinguished by such unprecedented involvement of Washington and Brussels as this year's parliamentary campaign. Activists of opposition parties and groups interpret this circumstance as a direct allusion to the “Georgian Dream” and its leader to cede power, and try to convince the public of the inevitability of this scenario, which is fraught with another surge of internal political instability.

As you know, in recent months, the "friends of Georgia" from the Congress have not weakened their pressure on a wide range of issues, issuing instructions to release "political prisoners" up to dissatisfaction with the "persecution" of the Frontera Resources Corporation by the Georgian authorities, as opposed to the decision of the International Arbitration Court. Trying to disavow criticism, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia accuses some politicians (obviously, first of all, from the camp of the United National Movement and European Georgia) of striving to involve "Western partners" in internal political processes, which, in his opinion, does not go Good for Georgia. Promising to ensure "fair elections", he swears loyalty to the Euro-Atlantic foreign policy, and nothing in the activities of "dreamers" in this direction does not induce doubts in the sincerity of these assurances"

https://vpoanalytics.com/2020/08/28/kak-ssha-vedut-podgotovku-k-parlamentskim-vyboram-v-gruzii/?utm_source=politobzor.net

This is from the Internet magazine "Military-Political Analytics". I can't find anything about it but the fact its Russian based is likely all we need to know.

Posted Aurora1 on the 28th August :-

All major Oil and gas deals are political its the black stuff behind many countries success or fail. Our FRR find was never going to be any different and located where it is and having such a low lift cost right next to you know who its no surprise.

Posted Looed on the 28th August :-

Pity MadP - has no qualms in chucking all manner of nonsensical rubbish out there but positively bristles when said nonsense is called out. So, another day another cherry-picked attempt at a smear. I'll bite this time as its too easy

My post, also from 22/08/20, posted - as you well know - soon after the one you cherrypicked :

"Thanks Ivy. Your find is a lot more detailed and I didnt connect PPP with payroll. Combining the info I could with yours this initial loan is for 8 weeks. Providing they keep the staff I assume they continue to receive the bailout. Not sure if the US has put any end date to this type of package. Does anyone know who the 12 are or what they might be doing?"

From my post of 15/08/20 :

I found the official "Income Reports", filed by Cornerstone, that show the income was received this year. US$80K in Q1 and US$80K in Q2 (up from US$50K per Q in 2019).

Q1 - https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2020/Q1/301173002.xml
Q2 - https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2020/Q2/301192703.xml

I did contact Cornerstone to ask if the public record was correct. No reply so far - and likely little chance of any sort of reply - but I will keep pushing these groups to try and see if we can find anything out. Thats a lot of cash coming from somewhere."

The client is FRR as clearly stated in the documents, therefore the money is spent on FRR.

Ok let's see what you can twist up today. I actually utilise my time to discover useful info on matters related to FRR.

Posted Madpunter on the 27th August :-

Looed's post from the 22/08/20 :-
The loan approval was approved in April. The form says that FRR where able to retain 12 jobs as a result of this loan. It also shows the name of the bank providing the bailout.

"Companies and nonprofit organizations that receive PPP loans may have the loans forgiven if they meet certain criteria, including not laying off employees during an 8-week period covered by the loan. Applicants must attest in their application that the loans are necessary for their continuing operation. Note: This data includes loan applications approved by banks and submitted to the SBA. It may not reflect money distributed to, or credit used by, a given company."

It would seem this money hasn't been used to pay the staff in Georgia?

I wonder if this is how FRR are able to pay US$160,000 so far in lobby fees? Not sure thats how such a loan should be used.

https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/loans/frontera-resources-corporation-f1e0248725b005d33267b59b4df0cb7c

The last sentence from Looed's post @ 01:03 today :-
Quick point on finances - FRR has spent a minimum of US$160K this year on lobbying, so cash is coming from somewhere.

Looed I think you need to state that FRR has NOT spent $160k this year on lobbying or that the 'loan' may have been used for this purpose. IMHO ZM and SN are the most likely sources for the money and as they are directors of FRR and the lobbying is relevant to FRR, FRR is listed on the 'Opensecrets' website.

NOTE: The organization itself did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate family members. Organizations themselves cannot contribute to candidates and party committees. Totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

Posted Looed on the 28th August :-

USAID digs in a bit deeper
USAID continues to increase its influence itself in the Georgian economy -

Turnava: "USAID support for Georgian economy to increase"

"USAID began operating in Georgia in 1992. For 27 years, the agency has provided over $1.8 billion in assistance to the country. The U.S. Government dedicates approximately $40 million annually to 50 wide-reaching programs that support Georgia’s democratic, free-market, Western orientation. The USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2020-2025 (CDCS) for Georgia emphasizes on establishing a strategic partnership with the country on its Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) while advancing Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening resilience to malign influence. The three main development objectives of the strategy are: 1) to strengthen the resilience to external malign influence, 2) to consolidate fragile democratic gains through citizen responsive governance, and 3) to provide inclusive high-value employment opportunities through increased economic growth."

https://caucasuswatch.de/news/3025.html

RE: Elections
The Kremlin-funded party has just been disqualified from the election - (video in Georgian)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDLXOuAv83I&list=PLpUZOWMIm4rczABuv8WokMserehYMFgMo