New Gubernator Intends to Seize Properties by New Methods

Despite personnel changes in Shida Kartli Regional Administration it is still difficult to receive public information from officials. The situation is further complicated by the fact that whole documentation on the district administration was taken to the law enforcement bodies. Although journalists say that it is not problem for them to enter the administrative building now, it has no sense to visit the administration. Nobody will issue any official document to journalists there.

New Gubernator of the Shida Kartli Region, Lado Gegelashvili initially met local non-governmental organizations. However, he is not hurrying to meet journalists yet.

Gegelashvili met representatives of the Gori based NGOs- Human Rights Center (HRIDC), Gori Discussion Club, “Young Lawyers Association, Gori Information Center, Shida Kartli branch of the “Multinational Georgia”, Society “Biliki”, Partnership Council and Center against Family Violence.

Representatives of the NGOs demanded to cancel the issuing of permit to enter the administrative building. They also demanded to attend the municipality meetings. Gegelashvili’s comments were the following:

“Soon everybody will be able to enter the administrative building. We must remove pots from the surrounding area of the building, but you must not consider that it is simple populism of my side. It will take two weeks to elect new governor. We will abolish permits too. I promise that everything will be settled within two weeks. Journalists will be able to get all kind of information. Municipality meetings will be public and the society will witness what is going on at the meetings. I am not keen on reading critical letters about us in newspapers and magazines,’ stated the gubernator. 

The question about entrepreneurs was also raised at the meeting. Participants wondered what would happen with those businessmen who were deprived from their properties under threat and blackmailing. Gegelashvili has definite position regarding the issue.

“Many people might have registered their properties illegally and afterwards local officials illegally registered those properties on their own names. Similar facts were numerous in the region. My predecessors had bad style of working-they were resolving problems through quarrels while everything could have been arranged according to the law. We will definitely discuss similar facts…If particular entrepreneur registered the property illegally; we would not leave it without reaction. Justice must be rendered,” added Gegelashvili.

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori