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Issue no: 859
• JULY 8 - 11, 2016
• PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY
PRICE: GEL 2.50
In this week’s issue... Hualing Merges to Create Third-Largest Bank in Georgia NEWS PAGE 2
Future NATO – Restoring Power and Purpose POLITICS PAGE 4
FOCUS ON KERRY VISIT
Azeri Banker under Indefinite Arrest for Politically Motivated Charges Faces Illness Alone
US Secretary of State John Kerry in Georgia to talk key bilateral and regional issues
POLITICS PAGE 5
PAGE 3
Abkhaz Opposition Storm Ministry Demanding Resignations, Referendum Delay BY TAMAR SVANIDZE AND NICHOLAS WALLER
M
ore than 1.500 opposition party supporters in Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia stormed the rebel republic’s interior ministry building on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Internal Affairs Minister Leonid Dzapshba and the postponement of a planned referendum on early presidential elections scheduled for July 10. According to the news website, Caucasian Knot, the protesters broke down the gates surrounding the interior ministry building in the de facto capital Sukhumi on July 5 and clashed with police. At least four people were seriously injured in the violence, according to reports from news portal Ekhokavkaza. Continued on page 2
Tbilisi Airport Buses to Operate 24 Hours
BBC, Getty Images
SOCIETY PAGE 12
Nina Ananiashvili Rounds-Up 164th Ballet Season, Looks ahead to the Next CULTURE PAGE 16
Georgia Joins European Stadium Security Convention SPORTS PAGE 19