28.10.2010 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Innenminister Merabishvili zu russischen Militärbarracken an der südossetischen Verwaltungsgrenze und Agententätigkeit gegen Georgien : "That's the base where subversive actions, political and economic destabilization and banditry is being planned against Georgia." - 14.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Präsident Saakashvili im Zusammenhang mit der Agentenaffäre: ‘Wir wollen keine Konfrontation mit irgend jemandem; wir verteidigen uns selbst.’ - 09.11.2010, Civil Georgia
President Saakashvili awarded on November 9 Georgian counter-intelligence officers, who were part of the operation to uncover, as the President put it, “spy network of Georgia’s occupant country” and said that Tbilisi was ready for talks with Moscow if the latter demonstrated “good will”.
“This operation was very important, important because our country is obviously under permanent pressure and threat of permanent destabilization attempts… We defend ourselves, and our counter-intelligence agents are on the forefront of this self-defense,” Saakashvili said at the meeting with the Interior Ministry leadership. "A real monster is in struggle against us."
“I would like to thank you and wish you further success in your attempts to stop the actions and tricks of Georgia's enemy... We’ve managed to create small, but efficient counter-intelligence service.”
“We do not want confrontation with anyone; we defend ourselves. If Russia shows good will and decides to launch negotiations with us, Georgia will always be ready for that. If we are talked to as a sovereign state, which has its democratically elected government, we will be ready for [talks] without any preconditions like we have always been,” he added.
TV-Dokumentation über 'russisches Agentennetzwerk' in Rustavi 2 - 06.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Georgia's most watched television station, Rustavi 2, aired during prime time on November 5 a documentary about alleged Russian spy network, which the Georgian Interior Ministry said, had operated in Georgia for years until it was uncovered last month.
The first reports about the arrest of individuals suspected of spying for Russia emerged last week. The first official announcement came only a week later on November 5; meantime, Rustavi 2 was airing a trailer of its planned documentary about, what it called, "“total fiasco of the Russian intelligence”.
Rustavi 2 TV, regarded as a pro-governmental nationwide broadcaster, was given an exclusive access not only to case files but was also able to film arrest of some alleged spies in Batumi on October 15.
The 30-minute documentary centers on a double agent with a code name 'Enveri', who, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry, played a key role in obtaining the Russian military intelligence's encryption materials through which, it said, it became possible to expose the alleged spy network.
The double agent, interviewed in dark studio, so that to hide his face, on a background of some Soviet symbols, was speaking in Russian saying that in late 1980s he served for the Soviet military intelligence in Georgia's port town of Poti.
According to the Interior Ministry in 2006, when major spy row erupted between Russia and Georgia after Tbilisi arrested four Russian military officers on espionage charges, number of Georgian citizens turned themselves in admitting having links with the Russian intelligence. At the time the authorities promised amnesty for those who would have voluntarily reported about links with the foreign intelligence.
According to the documentary, the trend showed alarming scales of the Russian intelligence operations in Georgia prompting the Georgian counter-intelligence to find someone who could have been planted inside the network. The former Soviet army officer was selected, according to the documentary.
"I was hesitant initially, but eventually agreed as I have always been in service of my homeland - if at first it was the Soviet Union, then it was Georgia," the double agent with code name 'Enveri' says in the documentary.
He said, that under the pretext of wanting to retrieve his pension as a former Soviet army officer, he contacted his "old acquaintances" in the Russian military intelligence and arranged a meeting in a Russian town close to the Ukrainian border. According to the documentary there he met with three operatives from the Russian military intelligence (GRU - Glavnoye Razvedovatelnoye Upravlenie), including one with name Sergey Akimov. The operatives, he said, trained him in how to use specially developed spy hardware and special software for exchange of encrypted information.
After three days of "extensive training", the double agent, before departure back to Georgia, met with Yuri Zhilin, described in the documentary as chief GRU operative in Russia's Krasnodar region.
After that, according to the documentary, he was regularly exchanging messages with GRU in a form of encrypted texts, image and music files mainly via e-mail. Encoding of such files, according to the documentary, required multiple passwords and software. In the process, according to the documentary, it also became possible to identify dozens of other Georgian citizens working for the Russian intelligence and in addition at least one GRU liaison officer was also identified - the Russian citizen, Yuri Skrilnikov, according to the Interior Ministry.
According to the documentary Skrilnikov arrived in Georgia in May, 2010 for a meeting with the double agent, but he was detained by the Georgian counter-intelligence. What the documentary does not mention is that Skrilnikov was formally charged with currency forgery; another Russian citizen and one Georgian citizen were also arrested together with him - all of them worked for the Russian military based in Batumi before it was finally closed down in November, 2007.
It was reported in mid-October that court in Batumi found him guilty of currency forgery and sentenced him on October 7 to 18 years in prison. At the time the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the verdict as "yet another provocation against the Russian citizen" who in the past served in the Russian military base in Batumi. Skrilnikov is among those 13 persons, who, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on November 5, were arrested on spying charges.
The double agent says in the documentary that his Russian minders were "very much interested" in information related to western warships' port calls in Georgia, training courses carried out by Georgia's western partners for the Georgian forces, defense plan of the ports, structure of the Georgian land forces and thier location. He said all the information he was sending to his Russian handlers was approved by the Georgian intelligence.
In the documentary a pilot of the Mi-8 army helicopter, who is among six Georgian military pilots charged with spying, says that during the August, 2008 war he informed his Russian handlers that Georgian helicopters were probably hidden in the Borjomi gorge. He said the wildfire, which erupted in the gorge, destroying over 200 hectares of forest there during the war, was probably a result of the information he provided to the Russian intelligence.
In the end of the documentary narrator says that the operation against the Russian spy networks, "which was unprecedented in our country's history, enters into the new phase." It was then followed with an announcement made by deputy head of the Interior Ministry's counter-intelligence unit reiterating the authorities' promise guaranteeing amnesty for those who will voluntarily report about thier links with the foreign intelligence services.
TV wird Film ausstrahlen über das ‘Fiasko des russischen Agentennetzwerkes’ - 02.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Georgia’s nationwide broadcaster, Rustavi 2, aired promotional video of an upcoming documentary about, as it put it, “total fiasco of the Russian intelligence”.
The 40-second promo, first aired on November 1, provides some hints indicating that the documentary will apparently be about reported arrest of a group of Georgian citizens allegedly working for the Russian intelligence.
The promo mentions “18 spies”, although it was initially reported that 20 persons were arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia.
“Rustavi 2 presents documentary film ‘Enveri’; Russian intelligence taken by Georgia’s bait; methods through which the Russian intelligence operates throughout the world; the largest spy network has been exposed; total fiasco of the Russian intelligence; on Rustavi 2 soon”, the promo says.
Rustavi 2 TV, usually used for leaking official information, was non-committal when contacted for comment on the upcoming film.
Russisches Außenministerium: Moskau habe keine Kenntnisse zu Details bezüglich der Verhaftung von ‘Agenten’ - 30.10.2010, Civil Georgia
Russia is not aware of details of reported arrest by Georgia twenty of its citizens on suspicion of spying for Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on October 30.
“As far as I know, we are talking about the Georgian citizens. We do not know anything but that,” Lavrov, who is Hanoi, was quoted by the Russian news agencies.
News about the arrest of alleged spies in Georgia was reported by Reuters on Friday evening, citing unnamed Georgian security sources. The Georgian Interior Ministry declines to confirm or deny the report and no official comment on the matter is expected until next week.
The Russian daily, Kommersant, reported quoting a Russian Foreign Ministry representative: “We have seen reports about alleged arrest of spies. But as far as there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries because of Tbilisi’s initiative, it is impossible for us to promptly find out what has happened. What is important and to what we have paid our attention is that the Georgian citizens are mentioned; so one should address the Georgian authorities for clarification.”
According to the Reuter’s report all the detainees are suspected of creating a spy network in Georgia and delivering secret information to Russia. It was reported in the Georgian media sources on October 30, that the detainees are also suspected of gathering sensitive information about procurements by the Interior Ministry and Ministry of Defense.
Georgia arrests 20 suspected Russian spies - 30.10.2010, independent.co.uk
By William Dunbar in Tbilisi
Georgia has arrested twenty people on suspicion of spying for Russia, it was reported last night. Citing an anonymous source in the security services, Reuters said that the detainees, all of whom are Georgian citizens, are suspected of being part of a spy ring that passed secrets to Moscow. A source in Georgia's ruling National Movement, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the arrests had taken place. ...
Nach Berichten sollen 20 russische Agenten festgenommen worden sein - 28.10.2010, Civil Georgia
Reuters reported on Friday evening, citing unnamed Georgian security sources, that 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia.
According to the report detainees, all Georgian citizens, are suspected of creating a spy network and delivering secret information to Russia.
Details remain sketchy and the Interior Ministry representative declined to comment.
“We do not comment on the matter; I can neither confirm nor deny [the report],” Shota Utiashvili, head of the information and analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, told Civil.ge
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Krieg-2008, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
Schlüsselpunkte der neu verabschiedeten Verfassung
15.10.2010 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Parliament passed on October 15 amendments to the constitution with its third and final reading, which will significantly reduce powers of next president in favor of PM and the government.
The new constitution will go into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who is scheduled to be elected in October, 2013.
As soon as the new constitution goes into force in 2013, the government existing at the time will resign to give way to the Parliament, elected in 2012, to compose the new government.
Below are key points of Georgia's new constitution:
PM/Government
* The government becomes the supreme body of the executive branch, which directs and executes the country’s foreign and domestic policy and which is accountable before the Parliament;
* Prime Minister has the right to appoint and dismisses other members of the government, including defense and interior ministers (under the current constitution dismissal of these two ministers is an exclusive right of President). PM's resignation will automatically lead to the resignation of the government;
* Government’s powers are suspended as soon the mandate of newly-elected Parliament is approved, and not upon electing a new President, as it is envisaged by the current constitution;
* PM's candidacy is named by a political party, which will garner most of the votes in parliamentary elections;
* Government members are named by PM-designate;
* Government needs support of majority of MPs to win confidence vote;
* If government's powers are suspended for reasons other than parliamentary elections, President nominates PM's candidate proposed by a parliamentary majority. In case of absence of parliamentary majority, a candidate should be proposed by a largest parliamentary faction;
* If Parliament fails to give confidence vote to government twice, President will nominate PM's candidacy named by two-fifth of lawmakers; but if even in that case the Parliament fails to give confidence vote, President will have the right to dissolve Parliament and call early elections;
* It is only up to government to submit state budget to Parliament for consideration making these two responsible for entire budgetary matters, leaving out President; government will have a lead role and the Parliament's role will be limited in the budgetary matters;
* Gov't has right to request the Parliament ratification or denunciation of int'l treaties; President also enjoys with this right in some cases, but with the government's consent;
* President will not have the right to appoint or dismiss ambassadors without government's approval (it will no longer be up to the Parliament to approve ambassadorial nominations);
* The government (and not PM unilaterally, as it was envisaged by the initial draft) appoints and dismisses provincial governors, instead of the President as it is under the current constitution;
* PM will have the right of “counterassignation” of presidential decrees, which means that most of the presidential decrees will require confirmation by PM's signature. However, this right of PM will not apply to presidential acts issued during war; as well as acts concerning a decision to dissolve the Parliament; calling elections; signing drafts into law; appointing judges; in the initial draft no PM's counterassignation was required for the presidential acts on appointment of top military brass, but in the final text PM and the government will have a say in this process too;
* Gov't will have the right to request President to call for a referendum;
* President requires government's consent on holding international talks or in case of signing international treaties.
Non-Confidence Vote
* No less than 2/5 of the total members of the Parliament, e.i. at least 60 lawmakers will have the right to request for launching of non-confidence vote;
* The process will be deemed as started if more than half of MPs support it; this vote can only take place not earlier than 20 days and no later than 25 days;
* If as a result of this vote the process is endorsed, the Parliament shall, not earlier than 20 days and no later than 25 days, hold a separate vote on a nomination of new prime ministerial candidate, selected by at least 2/5 of MPs;
* If a new candidate is supported, then the President comes into play;
* The President should, within 5 days, either endorse the nomination or reject;
* In case of presidential veto on a new prime ministerial candidate, the Parliament will have the right to vote for nomination of a same candidate no earlier than 15 and no later than 20 days;
* But to override the presidential veto, the Parliament will need at least three-fifth of its members’ support, which is 90 MPs; while in other cases, such as vetoed laws (except of constitutional amendments), the Parliament will need only absolute majority (76 votes);
* If the Parliament fails to override the veto, president will have the right, within three days, to dissolve the legislative body and call for early elections.
President
* President will remain the head of state, a commander-in-chief and will represent the country (and not be a supreme representative as it is under the current constitution) in foreign relations;
* President will no longer direct and exercise domestic and foreign policy of the state - as the current constitution says. This authority will be delegated to PM and the government;
* A citizen of Georgia (and not natural born citizen as it was initially envisaged), who is at least 35 years old and has lived in Georgia for at least 5 years (instead of initial version of 15 years) and lived permanently in Georgia for last three years at the time of elections will be eligible to run for presidency;
* President will have no right to hold a decision-making post in a political party, although will retain the right to be a member of a party;
* President will have the right to appoint or dismiss chief of staff of the armed forces and other top military commanders only with agreement of the government;
* President will not have the right to initiate draft laws;
* President will not have the right to convene an emergency session of the Parliament;
* President will not have the right to call for a referendum;
* President will have the right to nominate members of telecommunications and energy regulatory commissions but only with an agreement of gov't;
* President will have the right to nominate head of government of Adjara Autonomous Republic, but only after consultations with political parties and with an agreement of central gov't;
* Issue of President's impeachment can be initiated by at least 1/3 of lawmakers. The issue will then be passed to the Constitutional Court. If the latter concludes that President's action contained signs of crime or violation of constitution, Parliament will have to vote whether to impeach or not President within 15 days. Votes of at least 2/3 of lawmakers will be required to impeach President.
Parliament
* PM will have the right to raise before the Parliament the question of confidence of gov't in relation to initiated draft law; the Parliament has to vote on the draft law within 14 days with one hearing (and not with three hearing as usually) or vote non-confidence to gov't;
* If the Parliament fails with vote of non-confidence it will not result into dissolving of the legislative body; it will mean that the draft law is adopted;
* Although the Parliament will have the right to raise a question of responsibility of an individual cabinet member, the constitution does not specify what follows next and what might be the result of such demand by the Parliament;
* Appointment of ambassadors will no longer require parliamentary approval;
* One fifth of lawmakers, instead of current one fourth, will be able to initiate setting up of parliamentary investigative commission or other type of ad hoc commission; but setting up of such commission will still require Parliament's resolution, which has to be passed with majority vote of lawmakers present at a session;
* Parliament will be able to overrule a presidential veto with majority vote of lawmakers, instead of currently needed support of two-third of Parliament members. However, this provision will not apply constitutional draft laws, when support of two-third of lawmakers will be required;
* Parliament's role in respect of budgetary issues becomes limited;
* Parliament will have the right to monitor budgetary spending through Chamber of Control - the main state audit agency; under the current constitution the legislative body can monitor state spending directly and in case of violations can demand suspension of such spending; the Parliament will be deprived of this right under the new constitution;
Other Provisions
* President, PM and Parliamentary Chairperson's post can not be held by a person with double citizenship (in the initial draft, the provision also applied to all senior governmental posts);
* Age requirement of judges will increase from current 28 to 30;
* Term in office of judges of lower courts will expire after reaching a retirement age; the provision does not apply to judges of Supreme Court;
* A probationary period of not more than 3 years will be introduced for judges;
* Revision of the constitution will become more complicated as a proposed amendment will have to be adopted by two-third of all MPs in two subsequent sessions with a three-month interval.
Neue Verfassung wurde verabschiedet
Parliament passed on October 15 with 112 votes to five amendments to the constitution with its third and final reading, which will significantly reduce powers of next president in favor of PM and the government.
This is the second time in last six years when the constitutional system has been revamped; the existing system, which was introduced in 2004, concentrated most of the powers in the hands of the President.
The new constitution will go into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who will be elected in the elections in October, 2013. The initial draft envisaged new constitution's enforcement from December 1, 2013, but the provision was amended and it now says that the new system will go into force as soon as the new president is sworn.
The final version of the text, passed on October 15, includes some other important amendments as well.
One involves provision dealing with eligibility for presidential candidacy. According to the adopted text a citizen of Georgia - and not natural born citizen as it was initially envisaged in the text adopted with second reading - who is at least 35 years old and has lived in Georgia for at least 5 years - instead of initial version of 15 years - and lived permanently in Georgia for last three years at the time of elections will be eligible to run for presidency.
Another change involves reducing by 5 days timeframe of last stage of non-confidence vote – the stage which comes in case of the presidential veto on prime ministerial nomination. The process of non-confidence may take 45 or 55 days, or in case of the presidential veto on prime ministerial nominee 77 days or it even take maximum 92 days. In the very initial draft this process could have taken maximum of 127 days.
Lawmakers from the Christian-Democratic Movement, which is a leading party in the parliamentary minority group, voted in favor of the new constitution. A handful of remaining opposition lawmakers, who are not members of any parliamentary group, was against.
Stichworte: Georgien, Innenpolitik, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
Parliament passed on October 15 amendments to the constitution with its third and final reading, which will significantly reduce powers of next president in favor of PM and the government.
The new constitution will go into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who is scheduled to be elected in October, 2013.
As soon as the new constitution goes into force in 2013, the government existing at the time will resign to give way to the Parliament, elected in 2012, to compose the new government.
Below are key points of Georgia's new constitution:
PM/Government
* The government becomes the supreme body of the executive branch, which directs and executes the country’s foreign and domestic policy and which is accountable before the Parliament;
* Prime Minister has the right to appoint and dismisses other members of the government, including defense and interior ministers (under the current constitution dismissal of these two ministers is an exclusive right of President). PM's resignation will automatically lead to the resignation of the government;
* Government’s powers are suspended as soon the mandate of newly-elected Parliament is approved, and not upon electing a new President, as it is envisaged by the current constitution;
* PM's candidacy is named by a political party, which will garner most of the votes in parliamentary elections;
* Government members are named by PM-designate;
* Government needs support of majority of MPs to win confidence vote;
* If government's powers are suspended for reasons other than parliamentary elections, President nominates PM's candidate proposed by a parliamentary majority. In case of absence of parliamentary majority, a candidate should be proposed by a largest parliamentary faction;
* If Parliament fails to give confidence vote to government twice, President will nominate PM's candidacy named by two-fifth of lawmakers; but if even in that case the Parliament fails to give confidence vote, President will have the right to dissolve Parliament and call early elections;
* It is only up to government to submit state budget to Parliament for consideration making these two responsible for entire budgetary matters, leaving out President; government will have a lead role and the Parliament's role will be limited in the budgetary matters;
* Gov't has right to request the Parliament ratification or denunciation of int'l treaties; President also enjoys with this right in some cases, but with the government's consent;
* President will not have the right to appoint or dismiss ambassadors without government's approval (it will no longer be up to the Parliament to approve ambassadorial nominations);
* The government (and not PM unilaterally, as it was envisaged by the initial draft) appoints and dismisses provincial governors, instead of the President as it is under the current constitution;
* PM will have the right of “counterassignation” of presidential decrees, which means that most of the presidential decrees will require confirmation by PM's signature. However, this right of PM will not apply to presidential acts issued during war; as well as acts concerning a decision to dissolve the Parliament; calling elections; signing drafts into law; appointing judges; in the initial draft no PM's counterassignation was required for the presidential acts on appointment of top military brass, but in the final text PM and the government will have a say in this process too;
* Gov't will have the right to request President to call for a referendum;
* President requires government's consent on holding international talks or in case of signing international treaties.
Non-Confidence Vote
* No less than 2/5 of the total members of the Parliament, e.i. at least 60 lawmakers will have the right to request for launching of non-confidence vote;
* The process will be deemed as started if more than half of MPs support it; this vote can only take place not earlier than 20 days and no later than 25 days;
* If as a result of this vote the process is endorsed, the Parliament shall, not earlier than 20 days and no later than 25 days, hold a separate vote on a nomination of new prime ministerial candidate, selected by at least 2/5 of MPs;
* If a new candidate is supported, then the President comes into play;
* The President should, within 5 days, either endorse the nomination or reject;
* In case of presidential veto on a new prime ministerial candidate, the Parliament will have the right to vote for nomination of a same candidate no earlier than 15 and no later than 20 days;
* But to override the presidential veto, the Parliament will need at least three-fifth of its members’ support, which is 90 MPs; while in other cases, such as vetoed laws (except of constitutional amendments), the Parliament will need only absolute majority (76 votes);
* If the Parliament fails to override the veto, president will have the right, within three days, to dissolve the legislative body and call for early elections.
President
* President will remain the head of state, a commander-in-chief and will represent the country (and not be a supreme representative as it is under the current constitution) in foreign relations;
* President will no longer direct and exercise domestic and foreign policy of the state - as the current constitution says. This authority will be delegated to PM and the government;
* A citizen of Georgia (and not natural born citizen as it was initially envisaged), who is at least 35 years old and has lived in Georgia for at least 5 years (instead of initial version of 15 years) and lived permanently in Georgia for last three years at the time of elections will be eligible to run for presidency;
* President will have no right to hold a decision-making post in a political party, although will retain the right to be a member of a party;
* President will have the right to appoint or dismiss chief of staff of the armed forces and other top military commanders only with agreement of the government;
* President will not have the right to initiate draft laws;
* President will not have the right to convene an emergency session of the Parliament;
* President will not have the right to call for a referendum;
* President will have the right to nominate members of telecommunications and energy regulatory commissions but only with an agreement of gov't;
* President will have the right to nominate head of government of Adjara Autonomous Republic, but only after consultations with political parties and with an agreement of central gov't;
* Issue of President's impeachment can be initiated by at least 1/3 of lawmakers. The issue will then be passed to the Constitutional Court. If the latter concludes that President's action contained signs of crime or violation of constitution, Parliament will have to vote whether to impeach or not President within 15 days. Votes of at least 2/3 of lawmakers will be required to impeach President.
Parliament
* PM will have the right to raise before the Parliament the question of confidence of gov't in relation to initiated draft law; the Parliament has to vote on the draft law within 14 days with one hearing (and not with three hearing as usually) or vote non-confidence to gov't;
* If the Parliament fails with vote of non-confidence it will not result into dissolving of the legislative body; it will mean that the draft law is adopted;
* Although the Parliament will have the right to raise a question of responsibility of an individual cabinet member, the constitution does not specify what follows next and what might be the result of such demand by the Parliament;
* Appointment of ambassadors will no longer require parliamentary approval;
* One fifth of lawmakers, instead of current one fourth, will be able to initiate setting up of parliamentary investigative commission or other type of ad hoc commission; but setting up of such commission will still require Parliament's resolution, which has to be passed with majority vote of lawmakers present at a session;
* Parliament will be able to overrule a presidential veto with majority vote of lawmakers, instead of currently needed support of two-third of Parliament members. However, this provision will not apply constitutional draft laws, when support of two-third of lawmakers will be required;
* Parliament's role in respect of budgetary issues becomes limited;
* Parliament will have the right to monitor budgetary spending through Chamber of Control - the main state audit agency; under the current constitution the legislative body can monitor state spending directly and in case of violations can demand suspension of such spending; the Parliament will be deprived of this right under the new constitution;
Other Provisions
* President, PM and Parliamentary Chairperson's post can not be held by a person with double citizenship (in the initial draft, the provision also applied to all senior governmental posts);
* Age requirement of judges will increase from current 28 to 30;
* Term in office of judges of lower courts will expire after reaching a retirement age; the provision does not apply to judges of Supreme Court;
* A probationary period of not more than 3 years will be introduced for judges;
* Revision of the constitution will become more complicated as a proposed amendment will have to be adopted by two-third of all MPs in two subsequent sessions with a three-month interval.
Neue Verfassung wurde verabschiedet
Parliament passed on October 15 with 112 votes to five amendments to the constitution with its third and final reading, which will significantly reduce powers of next president in favor of PM and the government.
This is the second time in last six years when the constitutional system has been revamped; the existing system, which was introduced in 2004, concentrated most of the powers in the hands of the President.
The new constitution will go into force upon the inauguration of the next president, who will be elected in the elections in October, 2013. The initial draft envisaged new constitution's enforcement from December 1, 2013, but the provision was amended and it now says that the new system will go into force as soon as the new president is sworn.
The final version of the text, passed on October 15, includes some other important amendments as well.
One involves provision dealing with eligibility for presidential candidacy. According to the adopted text a citizen of Georgia - and not natural born citizen as it was initially envisaged in the text adopted with second reading - who is at least 35 years old and has lived in Georgia for at least 5 years - instead of initial version of 15 years - and lived permanently in Georgia for last three years at the time of elections will be eligible to run for presidency.
Another change involves reducing by 5 days timeframe of last stage of non-confidence vote – the stage which comes in case of the presidential veto on prime ministerial nomination. The process of non-confidence may take 45 or 55 days, or in case of the presidential veto on prime ministerial nominee 77 days or it even take maximum 92 days. In the very initial draft this process could have taken maximum of 127 days.
Lawmakers from the Christian-Democratic Movement, which is a leading party in the parliamentary minority group, voted in favor of the new constitution. A handful of remaining opposition lawmakers, who are not members of any parliamentary group, was against.
Stichworte: Georgien, Innenpolitik, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
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