By Vestnik Kavkaza
Georgian MPs intend to reduce their immunity to a minimum, Georgia Today reports. The chairman of parliament, David Usupashvili, , fully supports the idea. He addressed the bureau of the legislative body to correct the “absurd legal collision.” The newspaper explains that according to the Georgian Constitution, there is no need for the approval of parliament to initiate a criminal case against a MP, but it is necessary, according to the Criminal Code of the country. However, the parliamentary rules are even more absurd, as the parliament has no right to consider an issue on deprival of immunity of a deputy.
The newspaper thinks that the problem becomes acute, as the Georgian Prosecution plans to initiate a criminal case against another top official of Mikhail Saakashvili’s times, the former prosecutor of the Samegrelo region, MP Roland Akhalai. He is father of the former defense minister Bacho Akhalai who is imprisoned at the moment. Akhalai-father is accused of blackmailing and racketeering of local businessmen. However, the prosecutor cannot initiate a criminal case against him, as the Criminal Code doesn’t match the Constitution.
Usupashvili suggests consideration of the question as quick as possible. The author of the article believes that the United National Movement won’t support the amendments. Moreover, probably a part of the Georgian Dream won’t agree with its colleagues, as some MPs are involved in certain business activity.
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Construction of oil refinery plant, Star, by the SOCAR in the Turkish province of Izmir comes to an end. The vice-president of the company Suleiman Gasymov told this Halg Gazeti. He noted that the problem over a territory for construction of the oil refinery plant with the Turkish company of Buhar Energy is going to be solved. Buhar Energy got a license for using resources of the land where the plant is being built at the moment. However, earlier the holding of Pektim which will use oil produced in the built oil refinery was granted a permit for working on the surface. To make the situation clear Prime Minister of Turkey signed an order which says that all conflicts between projects of state importance are solved in favor of more important facilities, it gives an advantage to the STAR oil refinery.
SOCAR Turkey Enerji which is a branch of SOCAR plans to conduct negotiations with commercial and export-import banks and other interested sides about financing. The Mirror reports that earlier the company received offers from 20 banks which are ready to grant loans to construction of STAR oil refinery in Izmir. It is stated that the company plans to attract $3.5 billion for the construction.
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The Voice of Armenia reports that the government has decided to implement a new instrument for supporting information technologies, approving three drafts. Now start-ups in the IT sphere, which will include less than 15 employees, won’t pay taxes, except for the 10-per-cent income tax. Moreover, the companies will get grants for technical support.
The periodical reminds that the IT sphere was announced to be a priority 12 years ago by the governments, but the official position was that there is no need to create comfortable conditions for a certain sphere. However, for two recent years the governmental position has changed. It led to establishing of free economic zones in Armenia, where IT companies get special benefits.
