Latest news with #KakhaKaladze
JAMnews
9 hours ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
Two people were killed in the collapse of a residential building in Tbilisi
Collapse of a building in Tbilisi Two people were killed and another is in critical condition in hospital after a residential building collapsed in Tbilisi on July 14, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed. An investigation has been launched under Article 240 of the Criminal Code (violation of safety rules during mining, construction, or other work), which carries a penalty of a fine, corrective labor for up to 2 years, or imprisonment for up to 2 years. A year earlier, social media users had posted a video showing the condition of the now-collapsed building. Mayor calls the collapse an accident Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze described the building collapse as an accident. Speaking at the scene, he said the structure had been classified as fifth-category hazardous and deemed beyond repair. However, some residents refused the city's offer to temporarily vacate the building during its demolition and the construction of a new one, despite the mayor's office pledging to cover rental costs. 'A proposal was made guaranteeing the demolition of the building and the construction of a new one. Implementing this plan required 100% consent from residents, which, unfortunately, could not be secured,' Kaladze said. The next day, the mayor clarified that the building had in fact been categorized as third-class hazardous, a less severe designation. Union blames city hall The independent union of public servants 'Article 78 of the Constitution' recalled a decision adopted two years ago, which allows the municipality to redevelop dilapidated residential buildings without the unanimous consent of apartment owners. 'Even though Tbilisi City Hall and the district administration were informed about the deteriorated condition of the building, and its level of hazard had been determined, Kakha Kaladze now relies solely on the argument that 100% consent was lacking,' the union said. According to the union, Tbilisi City Council Resolution No. 21-1, adopted on January 27, 2023, has allowed for such redevelopment without unanimous consent for more than two years. The union also questioned why a parking lot had been set up in front of the collapsing building, and why commercial signage permits had been issued in recent years: 'What was City Hall thinking? Why did it allow businesses to operate inside a decaying building, set up a parking lot in front of it, and, having refused to rebuild it, fail to ensure the safety of both residents and passersby?' Ombudsman launches investigation The Public Defender's Office announced it would examine issues related to residential safety in the collapsed building. The office noted that despite the existence of a policy for replacing decaying residential buildings in Tbilisi, many families have had to live for years in hazardous conditions. 'These deteriorating buildings pose a danger to both residents and passersby. Years of research show that solving this systemic problem requires timely and effective action — something current legal guarantees and municipal programs are not equipped to deliver,' the ombudsman said. News in Georgia
Civil.ge
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Roof Overhang Collapse in Tbilisi Kills Two, Sparks City Hall Backlash
A roof overhang collapsed from a five-story residential building onto an outdoor market near Tbilisi's central Station Square on the evening of July 14, killing two, a man and a woman, and injuring another person, who was hospitalized. The falling concrete also crushed several parked vehicles on the sidewalk. The Interior Ministry has launched a criminal investigation into an alleged breach of construction safety regulations leading to deaths, charges punishable by up to two years of house arrest or two to five years in prison. Emergency crews, including firefighters and police, carried out search-and-rescue operations for five hours, continuing until midnight. Some residents of the building were relocated to hotels. Locals say the building had long shown clear signs of structural weakness. A video footage circulated on social media shows visible damage and rooftop gaps dating back more than a year, fueling backlash against the Tbilisi City Hall. 'This tragic incident is not just a personal tragedy, but part of the systemic problem that is structurally unsound buildings in our capital, for which full responsibility lies with City Hall,' wrote Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, on Facebook. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who visited the scene along with Georgian Dream Interior Minister Geka Geladze, acknowledged the building's unsafe condition but cited the city's unsuccessful efforts to reach an agreement with all residents to demolish and rebuild it. 'The offer was made to participate in the replacement program, under which the block would be demolished and a new one constructed,' Kakha Kaladze told the journalists, adding, 'But for this to proceed, 100 percent consent from residents is required, which unfortunately has not been achieved.' Critics, however, dismissed this as an insufficient excuse, noting that the victims were shoppers and passersby whose safety should have been ensured regardless of the building's ownership. 'Just a warning, just a small wooden barrier would have prevented this tragedy,' wrote Maia Kobaidze on social media. Her aunt, a vendor, was one of two people who died in the collapse. Also Read:
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
EU FMs express deep concern over 'deteriorating situation in Georgia'
European Foreign Ministers expressed they are "disturbed and deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Georgia," they wrote in a joint statement on Friday. It comes in a response to a progress report recently approved by the European Parliament on Georgia's accession process, in which the majority of EU lawmakers deplored the "backsliding of the rule of law as well as the growing Russian influence of the ruling party, Georgian Dream." The EU and NATO are concerned over the growing Russian intrusions in the South Caucasus region, the European Parliament claimed, adding that they are also concerned by the number of detentions carried out by Georgian authorities against journalists and some members of the opposition. At the end of last month, several key opposition figures were jailed as part of a months-long crackdown on dissent that followed a disputed election last October. Nearly all leaders of Georgia's pro-Western opposition are now behind bars, as protests continue against the ruling Georgian Dream party and its decision last year to halt Georgia's bid to join the European Union. The demonstrators, who have gathered daily in the capital Tbilisi, also say that the vote on 26 October that handed the ruling Georgian Dream party another term in power was not free or fair. The Georgian Dream has denied these accusations, the party's Secretary General Kakha Kaladze said the arrests had not been politically motivated, emphasising that politicians aren't exempt from the law. The joint statement by European foreign ministers condemned the detentions, claiming that they "contribute to dismantling of democracy in Georgia and rapid transformation towards an authoritarian system, in contradiction to European norms and values." They called on Georgian authorities to immediately release those who were unjustly detained, and urge them to engage in national dialogue with all relevant stakeholders. The statement concluded that recent developments in Georgia resulted in a strained relationship between Tbilisi and Europe, and that "the authoritarian and anti-European course of the Georgian authorities further threatens Georgia's democratic achievements." Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told Euronews in May that his country plays a 'vital role for Europe." 'Everyone should recognise Georgia's strategic importance for Europe, especially for the eurozone. Our role in the region is significant, and that's why the need for dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly acknowledged,' he added. Georgia applied for membership in March 2022 with Ukraine and Moldova, and received the candidacy in December 2023. Only some months later, growing concerns and disagreements between the EU and the Georgian government prompted the two sides to freeze the enlargement process.
Civil.ge
4 days ago
- Business
- Civil.ge
Tbilisi City Hall Orders Chinese-Made Metro Cars
Tbilisi City Hall has awarded a USD 150 million tender to local company GT Group to supply new metro cars from Chinese state-owned rail giant CRRC, Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced on July 10. The announcement comes some two years after an earlier deal to purchase cars from a Russian Metrovagonmash company, backed by EBRD funding, fell through amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions. The new project is funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with the delivery of a total of 111 cars expected to start in November next year. In 2021, Tbilisi City Hall announced plans to modernize the metro system, initially seeking to buy 44 subway cars worth nearly USD 50 million from the Russian manufacturer Metrovagonmash, with financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). That plan collapsed following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Tbilisi authorities said at the time EBRD had suspended payments to Metrovagonmash due to international sanctions, with Mayor Kaladze announcing in November the same year that the city would cancel the deal and seek other suppliers. In February 2023, however, officials said Metovagonmash remained the supplier, citing its lower bid and concerns over financial penalties. Ultimately, Tbilisi city authorities had to cancel the deal after the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Metrovagonmash over its role in Russia's military production in May 2023. Authorities launched a fresh tender in 2024, this time with the AIIB funding, seeking to purchase 97 subway cars. Critics say the latest tender was designed to favor CRRC and discourage European competitors. 'That company faces serious problems and restrictions in the United States,' Irakli Abesadze, head of the Center for Civic Participation, told Business Media Georgia. He said Czech-based Škoda Group submitted a symbolic bid of just one GEL per subway car, signaling it saw no realistic chance of winning. 'This is direct evidence that a major European manufacturer was interested but knew the outcome was predetermined,' Abesadze said , alleging the tender's terms were 'tailored to serve someone's interests,' leaving no space for fair competition. Early in 2024, the European Commission opened an investigation into the participation of CRRC, one of the world's largest rail suppliers, in a Bulgarian rail tender under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation, suspecting the company received state subsidies that distorted the EU's internal market. The company then withdrew its Bulgaria bid, leading the EU Commission to close the investigation. The winning local partner, GT Group, has also faced questions over its political ties. In a 2021 report , Transparency International (TI) Georgia said the company had received more than GEL 12 million (about USD 4,4 million) in simplified public procurement contracts in 2020, noting the company's ties to the ruling Georgian Dream party. Company owner Temur Ustiashvili donated GEL 60,000 (about USD 22,100) to Georgian Dream in 2016, while another owner, Giorgi Gvelesiani, donated a total of 120,000 (about USD 44,200) to Georgian Dream and fifth President Salome Zurabishvili's campaign between 2016 and 2018. The 2021 report said that prior to 2020, GT Group had secured more than GEL 100 million (about 36,9 million) in public tenders, with the watchdog saying such deals raised 'legitimate concerns about corruption and inefficient spending.' Also Read:
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU Parliament rejects Georgia's ruling party, demands new elections
The European Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that rejected the legitimacy of "Georgia's self-proclaimed authorities" and called for new parliamentary elections. The resolution blasted the "rigged" Georgian elections on October 26, citing significant irregularities such as voter intimidation, vote manipulation, and interference with election observers and media. The Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the vote, but pro-Western opposition parties refused to recognized the result. Many opposition lawmakers have declined to take their seats in parliament. Since the end of October, there have been massive street protests against the ruling party, which intensified when the prime minister postponed EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028. There have been violent riots, injuries and several hundred arrests. The police have been accused of violence and torture. The resolution, which passed with 400 votes in favour, 63 against and with 81 abstentions, calls for new elections within the next few months under international supervision and an independent election administration. It also urges the European Union and its member states to impose personal sanctions on Georgian officials deemed responsible for democratic backsliding, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. "Deeply regretting the ruling Georgian Dream party's abandonment of its path toward European integration and NATO membership, Parliament reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people's legitimate European aspirations," the resolution said.
