Georgia
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy summons Georgian ambassador over ailing ex-president
July 3 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he would summon Georgia’s ambassador to Ukraine over what he decried as the “public execution” of that country’s jailed former president who had appeared unwell and severely emaciated at a court hearing.
In his nightly video message, Zelenskiy urged Georgian authorities to allow Mikheil Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship, to come to Kyiv for medical treatment.
“The world once again has witnessed how the Kremlin, sadly at the hands of the Georgian government, is killing Mikheil Saakashvili,” Zelenskiy said.
“Ukraine has repeatedly called on the Georgian authorities to stop this public execution,” he said. “No authority in Europe has the right to execute people. Life is a fundamental European value.”
Zelenskiy said he had asked Ukraine’s foreign ministry to summon the Georgian ambassador and propose that the diplomat return home for 48 hours for consultations on the matter.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, writing on Telegram, said the ambassador would be summoned on Tuesday for a “tough conversation” and called on Georgia to end its “mockery” of the former president.
It was not clear whether the ambassador was being expelled.
Saakashvili, who served as president of ex-Soviet Georgia from 2004 to 2013, is serving a six-year sentence for abuse of power, a charge he and his supporters say was politically motivated.
In a video shot during a court hearing, an emaciated Saakashvili lifted his shirt to show protruding ribs while judges deliberated at another site.
Saakashvili has asked to be transferred abroad for treatment. He has staged multiple hunger strikes while in prison and alleges he has been poisoned.
The 55-year-old Saakashvili secured Ukrainian citizenship while working under previous Ukrainian government administrations in a variety of capacities.
He was originally tried and sentenced in absentia for abuse of power on cases related to presidential pardons issued while he was in office, and for allegedly ordering the beating of a political opponent.
He is currently on trial on separate charges of violently dispersing an anti-government rally in November 2007.
Saakashvili swept to power in 2004 after Georgia’s pro-democracy Rose Revolution ousted his predecessor. He launched anti-corruption reforms, but his outspoken nature frequently upset opponents.
He returned to Georgia in 2021 on the eve of local elections and was arrested soon after entering the country.
Reporting by Ron Popeski;
Editing by Bill Berkrot
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Georgia
Georgia Football Injury Report Per Kirby Smart Ahead of Georgia Tech
Head coach Kirby Smart updated the injury report ahead of the Georgia Tech game.
The Georgia Bulldogs earned another win this past weekend as they took care of business against UMass. Not only that, but Georgia also clinched a spot in the SEC Championship game after Alabama lost to Oklahoma. They will face the winner of the Texas vs Texas A&M game which takes place this week.
Before they focus on that though, Georgia has to go up against their in-state rival Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets gave the Dawgs a bit of a challenge last year, but Georgia gets them in Sanford Stadium for their final home game of the regular season. This year’s game will be played on Friday after Thanksgiving as opposed to Saturday when the game is traditionally played.
Head coach Kirby Smart met with the media on Monday to preview Georgia Tech and as always, he provided an update to the injury report. One notable player who suffered an injury against UMass was defensive lineman Christen Miller as he went down with a shoulder injury and did not return during the game. Here is what Smart had to say about his injured players:
Georgia Football Injury Report:
Other Georgia News:
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Georgia
This magical Georgia town is picked as a top Thanksgiving destination in the USA
Thanksgiving dinner costs are on dropping for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the cost of buying Thanksgiving dinner has decreased, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Helen, a town in Georgia, has been voted as the top Thanksgiving road trip destination for families in Georgia. Helen has also earned a spot in the top 5 destinations in the country.
This was revealed by a recent survey conducted by Gunther Motor Company. The survey, which polled 3,000 families, aimed to uncover the most sought-after Thanksgiving destinations for a 2024 road trip.
The survey found that families are looking for a quick and memorable road trip that blends the holiday’s festive spirit with a rare moment to relax and recharge.
“The drive to Helen offers plenty of pull-offs and overlooks, especially at spots like Unicoi State Park, where families can stop for hiking or a picnic beside tranquil lakes,” the study wrote. “Helen itself is known for its Bavarian architecture, but nearby towns like Sautee-Nacoochee and Clarkesville provide additional scenic beauty and history.”
What are the top five Thanksgiving destinations in the U.S.?
- Hāna, Maui, Hawaii
- Ducktown, Tennessee
- Helen, Georgia
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Summerhaven, Arizona
What are the other Thanksgiving destinations in Georgia?
- Ranked No. 52: Tallapoosa
- Ranked No. 55: Clayton
Georgia
Georgia Labor Commissioner, and My Friend, Bruce Thompson has Passed Away
Multiple sources are telling us this evening that Georgia Labor Commissioner, Bruce Thompson, has lost his battle with cancer.
I first met Bruce Thompson when he decided to seek the 14th Georgia State Senate District to succeed Barry Loudermilk, which would make him my State Senator. He was straight to the point. No pretense. He knew a lot about what he knew, and wasn’t afraid to say he didn’t know about what he didn’t. I instantly liked him.
Originally from Montana, Bruce wasn’t shy about sharing how Christ had changed his life. He knew that his relationship with The Lord meant that he wasn’t perfect, just forgiven. And he regularly expressed his gratitude for the Grace of his Lord and Savior.
He was a devoted husband and loving father. He leaves behind his wife, Becky, and two adult children, Faith and Max. To meet his children is to understand the man, and he was very proud of them both.
In business, Bruce was a serial entrepreneur. He ran businesses that developed software, installed pool covers, and sold insurance among others. It would not be fair to say that he had the Midas touch because all Midas had to do was touch something to make it turn into gold. No, Bruce was successful because he worked hard to make everything he did a success. In fact, this is a favorite photo I have of him when someone was a no-call-no-showed on one of his work sites. He threw on some old clothes in the Georgia heat and went to work.
A couple of years ago Bruce took a bold step and announce that he was going to challenge a Republican incumbent in Georgia’s Department of Labor. Elected Republicans simply do not challenge other elected incumbents. But it was clear that change was needed at that department as COVID had exposed how bad things could get when an important agency isn’t run well. He came into that office with a sense of urgency those who knew him had come to recognize as a key trait of his personality and work ethic.
Earlier this year Bruce announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And he decided to fight with all of the same spirit and determination that had come to define so much about him. And he did it with an up-beat and positive spirit. Not too long ago I texted him to see how he was doing. He responded, “Just rocking and rolling, brother!!! Jesus is in control, and I have a darn good feeling He isn’t done with me yet!”
As I look at the legacy Bruce leaves behind, those whose lives he made better through service to them, his wife, his kids, I think Jesus is going to continue to be working through Bruce Thompson for quite a while yet. No. Jesus isn’t done with you, Bruce. Not by a long shot. Not even now. Because of what He has done through you.
Farewell, my friend. I am better for having known you.
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