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www.georgiatoday.ge Issue no: 843 • MAY 13 - 16, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Drops 10 Spots to 111 for Environmental Performance NEWS PAGE 2 Council of Europe Launches Action Plan for Georgia (2016-2019) POLITICS PAGE 7 Georgian President Backs Georgian-born Marriage Bill, Zguladze Out as Ukrainian Refuses to FOCUS Government Purges Take Stance ON Reformists on Same-Sex TODAY PAGE 3 Unions SOCIETY PAGE 8 US to Activate European Missile Shield Shooting Dinosaurs: Ogden on the Georgian Film Industry BY NICHOLAS WALLER SOCIETY PAGE 11

he United States will activate Foreign Premieres of “They its European missile defense shield beginning Thursday will Return” by Director Zaza despite vehement protests from who see the sys- Nanobashvili Ttem as a direct threat to ’s security in Europe. CULTURE PAGE 12 The project has been a decade in the making as Washington looked to develop Young Pianist a ballistic missile defense shield for its NATO allies in Europe. The system was Sandro Nebieridze originally intended for possible Iranian- made medium-range rockets, but Moscow Wins Grand Prix in saw the development of the system as a direct threat to the credibility of its nuclear Moscow deterrence. Continued on page 2 CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS MAY 13 - 16, 2016 Casualties Mount in North Georgia Drops 10 Spots as Violence to 111 for Environmental Spreads in April-May Performance of an organized crime group known as the Kizily- BY NICHOLAS WALLER urt Gang. Six local policemen were later wounded in an insurgent attack at a security checkpoint in Chechnya he North Caucasus experienced a on May 9. Chechnya’s Interior Ministry said the dramatic spike in violence across the incident near the capital Grozny left three police region in April as shootouts and sui- offi cers severely wounded, though none was expected cide bombers claimed dozens of lives to succumb to their injuries. in the restive region. Islamic insurgents fi ghting in the isolated moun- TThe majority of the attacks took place in the tains of Chechnya claimed responsibility for the Scotland-sized republic of Dagestan on the Chechen attacks. The incident took place on the 12th anni- and Azerbaijani borders. versary of the assassination of then-Chechen Pres- At least nine people were killed and two others ident Akhmad Kadyrov, who was killed in a bomb- wounded in mid-April during intense weeklong ing at Grozny’s central stadium during a Victory clashes between armed Islamic insurgents and Day parade. Russian security service troops in Dagestan, accord- Chechnya and Dagestan have been the epicenter ing to reports by independent North Caucasus of a low-level guerilla war between insurgents news outlet Kavkaz Uzel. seeking to establish an Islamic state in the North Clashes occured in a village in Dagestan’s moun- Caucasus. tainous Sograti Gunib district when a 25-year-old The confl ict stems from the period following the man identifi ed as Akhmed Shamkhalov opened fi re brutal Chechen wars in the 1990s. on local police offi cials during a routine document After Moscow re-established control over the check. republic, many former secular independence fi ght- Shamkhalov was killed in the ensuing shootout ers turned to ever more brutal methods of combat- The EPI revealed the Nordic nations of Finland, BY NICHOLAS WALLER and was later linked by Russia’s FSB security ser- ing their erstwhile enemy, while embracing an Iceland and Sweden as the world’s most eco-friendly vices to a local militant group that had repeatedly imported form of radical Islamist ideology that had countries. threatened attacks on Russian interior ministry been brought by Arab volunteers in the early 2000s. Georgia’s South Caucasus neighbors Azerbaijan offi cials in recent months. he Yale Center for Environmental Law and Armenia were placed 31st and 37th on the list, A second deadly clash on April 14 in Dagestan’s and Policy’s recently published Envi- respectively. Dzhengutay Buinaksk district – an area closer to ronmental Performance Index (EPI) Azerbaijan’s relatively high rating is somewhat the regional capital Makhachkala – broke out when placed Georgia 111th on its list of 180 controversial with regards the heavily industrial- traffi c police operating in the area were fi red upon countries. ized areas along the Caspian Sea, namely the age- by a driver and passenger who were later identi- TThe ranking sees Georgia drop 10 places com- ing Soviet-era oil facilities near Sumgayit, where fi ed by local pro-Moscow offi cials as members of pared to its previous ranking in 2014 high rates of cancer and ground water poisoning a local insurgent group. The EPI index – fi rst published in 2006 – quanti- are common. Local offi cials in Dagestan on April 29 reported fi es and marks the environmental performance of Sumgayit is often listed as one of the top 10 most that a retired police chief from the region’s Shamil a country by analysing its policies towards nine polluted sites on Earth alongside Russia’s Dzhezhinsk District had been shot and killed by militants. major environmental issues. chemical weapons plant and Norilsk’s mining and Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee said According to the report, Georgia still lacks a smelting facilities, as well as Ukraine’s abandoned on May 4 that three gunmen had been killed in an coherent policy on a number of key environmental Chernobyl nuclear power plant. operation in Dagestan’s central Kizilyurt District. issues, including freshwater quality, toxic chemical Somalia, an East African country that has endured The committee identifi ed one the militants killed exposure, municipal solid waste management, wet- constant warfare since 1991, ranked last on the EPI in the operation as Omar Sabuyev, the alleged leader land loss and recycling. index, coming in at 180. US to Activate European Missile Shield Continued from page 1 sition to the system is based on the Kremlin’s inability to reach a level of parity with NATO’s “This system now gives us the capability to pro- conventional ground forces, which continue to tect our NATO allies in Europe,” US Deputy Sec- maintain a vastly superior edge in quality, supply retary of Defense Robert Work was quoted by and training over their Russian counterparts. Reuters as saying on May 11. He added that the Russia’s Defense Ministry in keenly aware that system, installed at an air base located in Romania, despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars is not directed toward Russia. on a massive military modernization overhaul after The Kremlin, however, has reacted with repeated a brief war with Georgia in 2008, Moscow’s nuclear threats to counter a US-led defense system with deterrent remains the country’s only reliable trump the deployment of Iskander medium-range tactical card. nuclear warheads in Russia’s exclave Kaliningrad The Romanian missile-defense site will form the region and in Crimea, which Moscow invaded and heart of a larger network of US warships that are illegally annexed from Ukraine in March 2014. armed with radar and missile interceptor systems. The issue of missile defense has been one of the The ships will jointly patrol the Black, Mediterra- most toxic bones of contention in US-Russia bilat- nean and Baltic seas on a rotational basis with other eral relations since the collapse of the . naval ships belonging to fellow NATO members. Washington has sought to assuage Russian fears A second missile defense installation located in over the years that the shield is not directed at or Poland is expected to go online by early 2018 capable of intercepting Moscow’s missile systems. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will Military analysts both in Russia and abroad believe arrive in Romania to attend the system’s launch on Russian President ’s strident oppo- Thursday. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 NEWS 3 Georgian-born Zguladze Out as Ukrainian Government Purges Reformists

Affairs,” said Avakov. came to prominence immediately after BY NICHOLAS WALLER Zguladze fi rst joined the Ukrainian the 2013-14 Maidan Revolution overthrew government as one of dozens of foreign disgraced former pro-Russian President – mostly Georgian – pro-Western, reform- Viktor Yanukovych, and powerful oli- n a move widely seen as a major ist politicians who were given key posi- garchs who have long-standing ties to blow to Ukraine’s reform move- tions in the post-Maidan Revolution corrupt old guard politicians and warm ment, the country’s Georgian-born government. The relations with the Kremlin. First Deputy Interior Minister group was tasked with fundamentally Ukraine’s deeply entrenched oligarch Ekaterina Zguladze tendered her overhauling Ukraine’s political culture class – led by Donetsk-based, pro-Russian Iresignation to the country’s cabinet of and steering the nation of 50 million out billionaire Rinat Akhmetov – has in ministers late Wednesday evening. of Russia’s orbit and towards Euro-Atlan- recent months forcefully pushed back Zguladze, a fi ery 37-year-old reformer tic integration. against any attempt to overhaul the coun- known by her diminutive “Eka”, previ- Ukraine’s corrupt, and often criminal, try’s corrupt post-Soviet political and ously served in the administration of Soviet-style police force was seen as a economic structure. former Georgian President Mikheil major obstacle towards implementing Saakashvili. She has been instrumental fundamental reforms. As she had previ- REFORMISTS OUT AMID in overhauling Ukraine’s notoriously ously done in Georgia during her six-year GOVERNMENT DISARRAY corrupt police force since being appointed term as First Deputy Minister of Internal As the post-Maidan governing coalition to her position in December 2014. Affairs, Zguladze carried out a compre- fell into disarray in the late winter and Zguladze did release a formal state- hensive overhaul of Ukraine’s traffi c early spring, leading reformers that included ment regarding her resignation. Her police that gained praise both in the the widely lauded US-born former Finance former boss, Internal Affairs Minister country and in the West. She also helped Minister Natalie Jaresko, ex-Economic and Arsen Avakov, later confi rmed that she rebuild Ukraine’s civic police and intro- Trade Minister Aivaras Aboromavicius of intended to step down in a Tweet late duced new Western-trained patrol units Lithuania, Georgian-born former Deputy Wednesday. – many of which included Ukrainian Prosecutor General David Sakvarelidze “Eka is stepping down as the fi rst Dep- women for the fi rst time – that quickly and his Ukrainian colleague Vitaly Kasko uty Minister. The government has satis- earned the trust of the local population. were all dismissed or forced from their fi ed her request. Sincerely: Big thanks posts and later replaced with individuals for your job,” Avakov posted on his Twit- OLD GUARD PUSHES BACK tied to Yanukovych. ter account. Rumors of Zguladze’s demise have cir- Zguladze’s resignation came only a day Avakov later said Zguladze would offi - culated throughout Kyiv in recent weeks after ’s reformist Deputy Gover- cially announce her resignation as well as top reformers in the government have nors, Maria Gaidar and Sasha Borovik as her decision to remain in Ukraine as been forced to resign or been removed – both of whom are closely aligned with a member of a group of advisors. from their posts. Georgia’s former president-turned “She (Zguladze) has accepted my Many analysts believe the moves are Odessa Regional Governor Saakashvili proposition to resign. She will continue part of a larger power struggle between – were forced from offi ce. to help reform the Ministry of Internal the Western-oriented reformists that Eka Zguladze meeting with police offi cials in Odessa, June 2015. Source: Mayak Continued on page 4

There are always celebrations in the ‘Georgian House’ restaurant: corporate events, birthdays and festive parties, weddings held in pomp… you will always see a lot of guests here. And just as it did in the 19th century, our refi ned interior creates a festive mood with its details and decor. A team of professionals stands ready to serve you at restaurant Georgian House, able to assist in the successful planning of your event- from the red carpet, a designer inte- rior, champagne pyramid, guest book corner, candies, a fi ery fountain, champagne show, special festive dishes, and hall layout and decoration, to a beautiful cake, projector, spe- cial festive lightning, sound equipment and a varied music program which is divided into Georgian and foreign blocks. Restaurant Georgian House is the fi rst high-class restaurant in Georgia and selects only professionals as its partners. Our customers trust us for our steadily high level service and delicious food. The confi rmation of this trust is in the awarding of our restaurant with the Golden Brand award. Georgian House became the most popular in Georgia in its business fi eld. At the 11th Golden Brand award ceremony, a team of experts named the restaurant Georgian House a selected brand. One more triumph and another stimulation for the team of Georgian House, working 24 hours a day to please. Come and visit us! You will be sure to feel that you have found your “Georgian House.” www.georgian-house.ge www.facebook.com/georgianhouse.ge GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS MAY 13 - 16, 2016 Georgian-born Zguladze Out as Ukrainian Government Learning from Purges Reformists Past Mistakes? Continued from page 3 vych’s feared Berkut riot police, who has been accused of widespread corruption who came in the name of a Messiah,” OP-ED BY ZAZA JGARKAVA Offi cials in the Poroshenko government and cracking down on protestors during said political analyst Soso Tsintsadze in have justifi ed the moves by citing a new the Maidan Revolution. his interview with the newspaper Rezo- law on barring dual citizenship for mem- In the aftermath of Zguladze’s resigna- nansi. Gia Khukhashvili, former ana- bers of the government. Critics, however, tion, speculation has now turned to how he pre-election campaign lytical adviser of the government, also have said the decision to enforce the law long her close ally Dekanoidze will will start on June 8 and last predicts the revolutionary development was aimed at purging foreign-born pro- remain in her post. According to Ukrain- until midnight on October of processes. However, he thinks that Western reformers from Ukraine’s polit- ian weekly the Kyiv Post, Dekanoidze’s 8. Voting will begin at 8am the street rallies will take place not before, ical establishment. attempts to implement comprehensive on October 8. but after the elections: “It is highly likely Zgualdze’s recent attempts to deepen reforms have been sabotaged by loyal- TThere is one month left until political that even those entities opposing each the reforms within the Interior Ministry ists closely linked with Avakov. parties can enter the ‘game’, but appar- other will come out to the streets in pro- has put her at loggerheads with Avakov News site Ukrainska Pravda reported ently the opposition have already set off, test to question the legitimacy of the and his associates, most of whom are on Wednesday, citing an anonymous with the United National Movement elections. The government might face a the thirst for power. At that time, too, backed by powerful oligarchs and source, that Dekanoidze could also be (UNM) announcing street protests aimed crisis that is hard to overcome. In the their method was to come together to Poroshenko, himself. fi red or demoted to the position of advi- at ex-premier Bidzina Ivanishvili and his midterm elections they had diffi culties get rid of the government, settling rela- Mounting accusations from the reform sor by the end of the week. construction projects, the Free Demo- managing even one election district tions among themselves only afterwards movement have grown louder in recent In a separate development on Wednes- crats’ complaining against the famous (Sagaredjo), so imagine managing the and beating groups that had different weeks as Zguladze and another Georgian day, another reformer closely associated ‘cable case’ and General Prosecutor Irakli volume of Sagaredjo district multiplied orientation and aspirations later. national, Ukraine’s National Police Chief with Saakashvili, Yulia Marushevska – Shotadze, while the non-parliamentary by 75,” said Khukhashvili. What do the pro-Western Alasania and Khatia Dekanoidze, have seen their efforts who gained fame as the Maidan Revolu- opposition threatens to protest the elec- Whether the roses will bloom in autumn the Republican Berdzeneshvili brothers to revamp the country’s law enforcement tion’s poster girl and who now serves as tion code. One wonders whether the and the predictions by analysts prove have in common with those ‘peasant- bodies blocked by the courts and the Odessa’s customs chief – was abruptly many protestors will unite against the true depends heavily on the unity of the working class’ powers who united against country’s Prosecutor General’s offi ce. reprimanded by Ukraine’s State Fiscal ruling government and if they do, when? opposition- something which can already President Saakashvili and fi nally gathered Police offi cers and law enforcement Service. The weight of protests is becoming be excluded at this stage. It is truly hard in the ? Obviously noth- members previously sacked or lustrated Roman Nasirov, the service’s director, more intense can be felt even in the to imagine that pro-Russian Patriotic ing other than their thirst for power. And for their ties to the Yanukovych regime recommended that Marushevska should political talk-shows. However, it is the Alliance and pro-Western National Move- we are already seeing the outcomes of have systematically been reinstated by be immediately removed from her posi- actions of the government that matter ment or pro-Russian Nino Burjanadze all of this as our government is incapable the courts or independent appeals boards tion for negligence and lack of formal more than the threats of the opposition, and pro-Western Irakli Alasania will and ineffi cient, while the development that are dominated by Yanukovych-era experience for the job. as it meets all with Olympian serenity. stand side by side. Perhaps this incom- of our country has ground to a halt. We offi cials. Nasirov was acting on the orders of Political analysts say the governmental patibility is the main reason behind the should assume that the oppositional par- Their reinstatement has led to increased Ukraine’s new Prime Minister and close mood resembles that of the pre-Rose calmness of the government. Maybe ties will not allow such mistakes to be pressure on the government’s reformers, Poroshenko ally Volodymyr Groysman, Revolution period, when Shevardnadze’s Georgian Dream is counting on that very repeated. many of whom are overruled or contra- who ordered a comprehensive audit of government acted as if nothing was non-united opposition, thinking it can As for the announced street protests, dicted by more powerful elements in the all staff decisions made at the country’s wrong while the situation went from bad easily beat them while they are divided. these have not yet spread beyond the judicial system and upper echelons of customs offi ces. to worse. Nevertheless, the government should by talk show studios. Obviously, the main the interior ministry. Both Saakashvili and Marushevska “Perhaps the government is taking into all means take into consideration the oppositional power, the UNM, has com- The former head of the national police’s spoke out against the review, claiming consideration the mistakes made in She- precedents that are far beyond this logic. pletely different plans: turbulent rallies security department, Georgian-born it was aimed at halting ongoing reforms vardnadze’s era. However, the impres- In autumn 1991, one ‘Large Coalition’ in the streets and pushing; using the Grigory Grigalashvili, was forced to at Odessa’s port and further curtailing sion is that nobody in the government was formed. Nothing united the subjects helpless silence, indecision and weak- resign and replaced by Avakov with Saakashvili’s waning influence over is thinking about anything and other apart from their hatred of President ness demonstrated daily by the current Yevgeny Koval, a man tied to Yanuko- national policy. than a single man – Bidzina Ivanishvili, Zviad Gamsakhurdia; their only drive government to its benefi t. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 POLITICS 5 Dr Michael Carpenter Talks NATO Aspirations and Warsaw Expectations

Georgia and Ukraine would become proud to say that the Alliance will expand BY ANNA KALANDADZE, VOICE OF members of NATO, this language further and, by inviting Montenegro, there is no AMERICA’S GEORGIAN SERVICE reaffi rmed in subsequent summits in better testament to that expansion. Chicago and Wales. Our policy has not changed; we have a robust series of tools DO YOU BELIEVE THE WEST n April 22, Douglas Lute, to support Georgia, including the Annual SHOULD MODIFY ITS STRATEGY US Ambassador to NATO, National Plan. NATO’s door remains TOWARDS RUSSIA TO Dr. Michael Carpenter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense with responsibility for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia while speaking in London, open and all support continues. I’m DETER MOSCOW? DOES, AS said that even if NATO’s GENERAL BREEDLOVE SAID, doors are open to new RUSSIA AND INSTABILITY ON bilities, such as a readiness action plan WHERE DO YOU SEE members,O it did not intend to expand in EUROPE’S SOUTHERN FLANK by NATO which has many different GEORGIA-NATO RELATIONS the near future. One of the reasons cited POSE SERIOUS THREATS components to it. The US just announced IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND was that it could destabilize Russia. To TO US AND EUROPEAN that we’re quadrupling our investment WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY discuss the growing threat coming from SECURITY INTERESTS? to help European allies to USD 3.4 bil- OUTCOME OF THE WARSAW Russia and Georgia’s NATO aspirations The tremendous There is no doubt that Russia’s aggres- lion, and that will go to a variety of lines SUMMIT FOR THE ALLIANCE ahead of the Warsaw summit, we sat sive actions in Ukraine have caused the of effort to enhance rotational force AND FOR AN ASPIRANT down with Dr. Michael Carpenter, Dep- number of Alliance to take a good look and reeval- posture in Europe by US forces, to include COUNTRY LIKE GEORGIA? uty Assistant Secretary of Defense with uate its security posture. There is a real more pre-positioning of war-fi ghting NATO and Georgia have a very close rela- responsibility for Russia, Ukraine, and troops that need, following Russia’s aggressive moves equipment- the most modern war-fi ght- tionship. Georgia is the second largest non- Eurasia, for an exclusive interview. in Ukraine, to enhance deterrence and ing equipment, especially on the Eastern NATO member contributor to the Resolute Georgia has defense of the Alliance. What you saw Flank of the Alliance and also other areas, Support mission in Afghanistan. 850 Geor- HOW DO YOU SEE ASPIRANT in Ukraine is a violation of the bedrock more training, more exercises. It will gian troops serve there without any caveats. COUNTRIES LIKE GEORGIA contributed in security of the international order, the include more investment in infrastruc- They also contributed to the Iraq mission. ON ONE HAND, AND ON THE inviolability of borders- something we ture to enable our forces to come in dur- Georgia is the only non-NATO member to OTHER HAND RUSSIA, TAKING Afghanistan are had considered sacrosanct since World ing the event of crises, and move rapidly. be a member of the NATO response team. MR LUTE’S STATEMENT, AND War II. So yes, the Alliance is adapting And lastly, it will invest in the resilience We deeply value Georgia’s contributions. WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT? really the best to the new threats it’s facing. As a mat- of our non NATO member countries and Going forward, looking at Warsaw, I expect US policy is that we fi rmly support Geor- ter fact, Russia’s security strategy pub- partners in the region to enable them to the Alliance will build off of the substantial gia’s Euro Atlantic aspirations and that soldiers that we lished last year labels NATO and US as withstand coercion and overcome vul- package that is underway with Georgia, and we stand by the message from the Buda- threats to Russia. So we are investing nerabilities that they face vis-à-vis aggres- this was declared in Wales. pest Summit in 2008 that affi rms that see out there in ensuring defense and deterrence capa- sive Russia. Continued on page 6 GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS MAY 13 - 16, 2016 Dr Michael Carpenter Where to Turn? Waiting for Talks NATO that Sigh of Relief

here: Georgia will never again have the Aspirations and OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE same sense of security it once had when it was conveniently parked in the soviet nest of nations, feeling as snug as a bug Warsaw Expectations he issue has already hit the in a rug. At that time, we felt quite com- point where one wants to fortable, save some of those worrisome Continued from page 5 vomit – it has taken us soviet quirks and kinks. The anti-soviet almost thirty years to decide revolution rendered us free as far as Source: www.willisfi nexglobal-news.com And bilaterally allies will continue to whether we want or need acquired liberty can go. Are we just sitting back and waiting for enhance the types of interactions that Tto be part of the western military alli- We now need to take urgent steps the manna from the sky to fall? Or are they have with Georgia. From a US ances and its economic unions to make towards effective cooperation with the we in fact playing a double game in search perspective, we’ll look to enhance the ourselves comfortable as a nation, and rest of the world, pregnant with all kinds of better ways of securing the military, types of training, exercises and interac- to steer clear of the dangers hanging of perils that may hit Georgia, too. But political, and economic safety of the tions we have with the Georgian Armed over our baffl ed heads like the sword of those steps are hampered by certain nation, courting both Russia and West Forces. Damocles. components of the political process cur- at the same time? And we are still where we have always rently taking place in Georgia. I am talk- Locally, Georgia is torn apart on the

HOW WOULD YOU been, making no substantial headway in ing about the nation-wide chasm con- issue of its geopolitical orientation within CHARACTERIZE US-GEORGIA REACTION, INCLUDING the chosen direction – the offi cially cho- cerning the country’s geopolitical a motley bunch of political powers, vehe- COOPERATION IN THE SANCTIONS, IN 2008 DURING sen direction being a beeline towards orientation. This nation does not know mently opposing each other. I have writ- DEFENSE/MILITARY SPHERES? THE RUSSIA-GEORGIA WAR NATO. for sure what it wants; this nation is ten about the issue on many previous I would characterize military-to-military EMBOLDENED RUSSIA TO We are told that we are right at the confused about its geopolitical affi lia- occasions but I have never been this relations as excellent. The tremendous MOVE INTO UKRAINE. threshold of it, but stepping over the tions; this nation is at a total loss in terms caustic and pessimistic before. My fury number of troops that Georgia has con- WOULD YOU AGREE? Rubicon is not yet allowed; we are prom- of making a choice between steering was triggered by the heated open con- tributed in Afghanistan are really the I think we’ve seen over the course of the ised wonders will happen, but the moon itself towards west or towards north. troversy between those powers. The best soldiers that we see out there. Geor- last 10 years an increasingly assertive is still very far away; we are praised for And the gist of the problem is that con- impression is that they almost wanted gia has seen 30 of its troops killed and and aggressive Russia. We saw that in our assiduousness in doing our home- sensus may not be expected in the next to eat each other alive on the subject of more than 300 wounded in action, so it Georgia. We certainly witnessed that in work, but the certifi cate of graduation umpteen years concerning our niche in Georgia’s belonging in NATO – the alli- has really contributed a lot that we greatly Ukraine and I think that the international is still locked up in Western political the family of nations, within which most ance which is not yet ready either polit- value. Going forward, I think there is community has recognized that in order vaults; we are patted on our scrawny members know almost exactly what they ically or technically to consider our scope for doing more in Georgia. So as to deter this type of aggression in future, shoulders during diplomatic receptions want, where they belong and what direc- membership for real, though it talks we approach the end of this Administra- signifi cant cost needs to be imposed on in the most infl uential capitals of the tion they wish to go. profusely and enthusiastically about the tion, we’ll be looking at what other train- Russia for behavior that transgresses world, but behind the impenetrable Where do we actually want to be? In possibility. ings we should put in place to augment international norms. So, as a response western doors, we are shown wagging the hands of the biggest western military It is said although that the majority of the Georgian deployment program- a in terms of intervention in Crimea, the fi ngers for wanting too much; we are alliance and economic union or in the our people are supportive of Georgia’s program that trains Georgian troops to US has actually lead a diplomatic effort tempted to challenge our former big déjà vu clutches of the still vibrant Rus- western orientation and consider them- go on an expeditionary mission, like the with not only our European partners, brother but nobody gives us assurances sian neo-imperialism? Maybe in neither! selves Europeans, these are only senti- one in Afghanistan, or to do counter- but also with others, including Japan, to of help if the Bear goes suddenly berserk; Why is the situation in this country so ments. The business is not yet here, and insurgency operations. All in all we’ll impose sanctions on Russia. And those we are complete on the maps within our dubious? Why is the nation split so pain- it is also said that it will take a while to be looking at what other capabilities sanctions are tied to its intervention in erstwhile geographic contours but this fully? Why are we vacillating so much arrive. When I say business, I mean Georgia will need for self-defense and Crimea, as well as subsequent interven- is only a craved-for picture of Georgia between the two sources of our security? Georgia’s actual membership in Euro- that will include additional training tion in the Donbas. It is clear that Russia with no sanguine forecast. Look how The answers come belatedly to these Atlantic structures, including NATO and modules. recognizes that if there are costs imposed rich we are with heartening pledges, but questions. We seem to be busier with the Eurounion in the fi rst place. If this it will change its behavior. So, I think utterly deprived of actual deliveries on sociological research of the ratings of happened, any controversy about the SOME EXPERTS SAY THE that this is the policy going forward and promises! our numerous political parties than with issue would be happily obviated, and we LACK OF THE WESTERN that it will serve us well. There is one irrefutable truth working the response to these crucial questions. would all sigh with relief. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 POLITICS 7 Council of Europe Launches Action Plan for Georgia (2016-2019)

he Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bul- pants of the meeting, which, among others, was garia and Chairman of the Committee attended by representatives of the foreign diplo- of Ministers at the Parliamentary matic corps accredited to Georgia and offi cials Assembly of the Council of Europe, from various government agencies. Daniel Mitov, and Deputy Secretary Discussions during the working meeting focused TGeneral of the Council of Europe (CoE), Gabriella on projects under the Council of Europe Action Battaini-Dragoni, paid an offi cial visit to Georgia Plan 2016-2019. Representatives from the Georgian on 9 May 2016. The offi cial launching of the Coun- line ministries spoke about the priorities of co- cil of Europe Action Plan for Georgia (2016-2019) operation with the Council of Europe under the was held within the framework of the visit. Action Plan. The Action Plan includes projects that have been Following the launching ceremony, the Bulgarian or will be carried out by the Council of Europe in and Georgian Foreign Ministers and the Deputy Georgia during the period 2016 to 2019, aimed at Secretary General of the Council of Europe held a promoting co-operation with the Government of joint press conference. Georgia towards strengthening human rights, “We enjoy express support from our strategic democracy and the rule of law. The Action Plan partner – the European Union, as well as from EU was adopted by the Council of Europe Committee Member States,” Minister Janelidze said. “We con- of Ministers in March 2016, through consultations tinue to make efforts to mobilize further support between the Government of Georgia and the Coun- for the effective implementation of this ambitious cil of Europe. Action Plan, and we are glad that a large part of Georgian Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze, the Action Plan for 2013-2015 has been fulfi lled suc- Bulgarian Minister Mitov and Ms. Battaini-Dragoni cessfully, according to our partners. It means that delivered their remarks during the launching cer- Georgia continues to effectively comply with its emony, which was followed by a working meeting commitments undertaken within the framework led by Director of the Council of Europe Offi ce of of the Council of Europe.” the Directorate General of Programs (ODGP), Ver- As part of their offi cial visit to Georgia, the Bul- ena Taylor, and Georgian First Deputy Foreign garian Foreign Minister and the Deputy Secretary Minister, Davit Zalkaliani. Ms. Taylor, Chairperson General of the CoE held meetings with the Presi- of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Nino Gvenetadze, dent of Georgia, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Deputy First Minister of Corrections of Georgia, Minister, and the Speaker of the Parliament in Tamar Khulordava, First Deputy Minister of Edu- which they highlighted the on-going reforms in cation and Science of Georgia, Ketevan Natriashvili, Georgia in the areas of democracy, human rights Deputy Minister of Regional Development and and rule of law. Discussions also focused on the Infrastructure, Tengiz Shergelashvili, Deputy Min- human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied ter- ister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, Revaz ritories. Javelidze, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Mamuka Vas- The guests also visited the occupation line near adze, and member of the Central Election Com- the village of Khurvaleti and laid a wreath at the mission, Zurab Khrikadze, addressed the partici- Fallen Heroes Memorial. GEORGIA TODAY 8 SOCIETY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 Road Safety Conference Georgian President Backs Marriage Bill, Addresses Key Issues Refuses to Take Stance on Same-Sex Unions

BY TAMAR SVANIDZE

eorgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Wednes- day refused to weigh in on the highly contentious issue of same-sex marriages Gin the country, but supported a recent bill defi ning civil unions as between a man and woman. At a question and answer session with public school students, Margve- lashvili said the issue of homosexual Shombi Sharp, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Offi ce in Georgia, addresses the conference. unions is “not a topic of discussion” and Photo: Zviad Adzinbaia any attempt to facilitate a national dia- logue on the matter is only a ploy by and transport through imposing speed resentative of the Education Ministry politicians to divert public attention BY ZVIAD ADZINBAIA limits and other kinds of bans. “All of said that they are engaged in making away from more pressing problems fac- which are accompanied by intensive road safety related issues a part of the ing the country. reached an agreement on this…those educational campaigns,” Laliashvili National Curriculum. “More than 20 percent of our land is speaking out about the issue of same-sex ithin the last year 90 explained, adding that complex Jumpstart, a local NGO, also introduced under occupation by foreign military marriages is nothing but a “tempest in people have died and approaches by government agencies will a new slogan for their ongoing awareness troops. Russian soldiers are stationed a teacup,” added Margvelashvili. another 3,834 were defi nitely serve as a precondition for a campaign, “Share the Road.” The cam- only 40 kilometers from Tbilisi. This is On May 5, a bill defi ning marriage as injured in Tbilisi as signifi cant reduction in road accidents. paign aims at changing human behavior not an important enough issue that it strictly heterosexual in nature was dis- a result of traffic Shombi Sharp, Deputy Resident Rep- regarding road safety through education. needs to be discussed. It’s not of anyone’s cussed and backed by the parliamentary Wrelated incidents. resentative of UNDP Georgia Offi ce, said For the GASR, this conference is no concern. Don’t let politicians manipulate committee for human rights. The session The Georgia Alliance for Safe Roads that the UN considers road safety a top inaugural event to addressing key road the situation and make you believe that was attended by LGBT rights activists, (GASR) hosted a UN Decade of Action priority globally. “The General Assembly safety-related matters as the organiza- this is an important problem facing the but the bill passed despite signifi cant for Road Safety conference on Tuesday, launched a decade of Action on Road tion fi rst united a group of volunteers country,” Margvelashvili said while vocal opposition from various sectors May 10, at Hotel Rooms in Tbilisi. The Safety. Here in Georgia, road safety is a and other local NGOs in late March, answering questions about European of society. event was organized in partnership with very important issue as many people die holding a rally to protest the rampant values in Georgia. Members of the ruling Georgian Dream the United Nations Development Pro- and many more are injured,” Sharp parking and road violations that occur Margvelashvili was quick to defend a coalition have come out for the new law gram (UNDP) and US Embassy in Tbi- declared. He said his Offi ce is very much on the pavements of the Georgian capi- new constitutional bill that defi nes mar- while the Republican Party, Free Demo- lisi, involving some key representatives encouraged to see a new national strat- tal, Tbilisi. riage as a union between woman and crats and United National Movement in of the government and various other egy and action plan on road safety from The protestors demanded that the man and said any controversy surround- most part opposed to the bill. organizations. the government of Georgia. “Civil soci- police enforce the existing laws on pedes- ing the law is meant as a smokescreen Same-sex marriage is already banned The conference addressed a number ety, such as GASR, is initiating a myriad trian rights and issue fi nes to those who to cover other main problems that plague under Georgia’s civil code, which defi nes of core issues which concern safe roads, of actions in Georgia, and, overall, we violate the regulations. The protestors the country, including poverty, unem- marriage as a voluntary union between transport accidents and victims of such are optimistic that we can make a dif- later took to Tbilisi’s streets and pro- ployment and corruption a man and woman. The wording of the accidents in Georgia. The speakers high- ference and save the lives of Georgian ceeded to tag illegally parked cars with “This issue makes me want to sit down Georgian Constitution, however, vaguely lighted that Georgia is one of the leading citizens,” the UNDP offi cial concluded. stickers demanding that the vehicle be and think about who I am and how my refers to the basis of marriage as the countries among EU states in terms of In his conference speech, Shalva Khut- moved. ancestors would have thought about this equality of rights and free will of two number of victims due to traffi c acci- sishvili, Georgia’s Deputy Interior Min- The participants of the Tuesday con- topic. Instead of thinking carefully about consenting adults. dents. Eka Laliashvili, Chair of the Board ister, spoke of pilot programs that his ference also included Davit Narmania, the issue, they (the opposition) are try- An initiative to legally defi ne marriage at GASR, said that in the EU, an average structure has introduced for about 30 Mayor of Tbilisi; Courtney Autrian, ing to force me into believing that being was originally proposed former Prime of 51 persons died per million citizens high schools in Georgia; educational Public Affairs Offi cer at the US Embassy Georgian means having a discussion Minister in March in car accidents in 2014, while in Geor- actions that are of paramount importance in Tbilisi; Giorgi Seturidze, Head of the about the defi nition of marriage. We’ve 2014, as part of an overall discussion gia, this number reached 140. in order to increase awareness on road Road Departments of Georgia at the already done that through a civil code regarding anti-discrimination laws. Laliashvili told GEORGIA TODAY that safety among youngsters. “Issues of road MIA; and Avtandil Talakvadze, Head of that says marriage is a union between a Rights groups in Georgia have argued in order to reduce car accidents in EU safety are not properly perceived in this the Emergency Situations Management woman and a man,” he said. that despite the legalization of same-sex countries, respective governments are country and, as a consequence, the num- and Coordination Department. “99.9 percent of the Georgian popula- marriages, gay and lesbian couples would carrying out suitable measures and ber of casualties is high,” Khutsishvili tion is in agreement regarding the defi - be unable to register their unions due implementing proper policies. The pol- stated. Georgia Today is proud to state its support nition of marriage. Georgian Law and to the country’s deeply conservative icies entail providing safe infrastructure In addition to the MIA initiative, a rep- for the Road Safety campaign: #ShareTheRoad the Georgian Parliament have already sexual and relationship mores. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 BUSINESS 9 PASHA Bank Named Fastest Growing Corporate Bank in Georgia n April 18th, 2016, for the second year PASHA Bank this award is proof that we are mov- in a row PASHA Bank was named ing in the right direction and that our team is doing the Fastest Growing Corporate Bank its best to reach new heights together,” said Shahin in Georgia by the Global Banking and Mammadov, CEO and Chairman of Board of Direc- Finance Review Awards. tors at PASHA Bank. “We strive to contribute to OA Baku-based fi nancial institution, PASHA Bank the growth and development of the Georgian and has been providing corporate and investment bank- regional economy through funding value accretive ing services to large and medium-sized enterprises projects while providing top-quality service both in Georgia since 2013. locally and regionally. We are committed to our In this short time, the Bank has been awarded long standing philosophy of doing business in an various international designations, one of them the ethical, reliable and sustainable manner. Interna- Global Banking and Finance Review Award. Since tional recognitions like this defi nitely help our its inception in 2011, it has aimed to refl ect the motivation and self-confi dence, which is so impor- innovation, achievement, progressive and inspira- tant for every young company.” tional changes taking place within the Global The Awards have evolved and grown to include Financial community. The Awards were created to those in Banking, Foreign Exchange, Insurance, recognize companies of all sizes which are prom- Pension Funds, Compliance & Advisory, Corporate inent in particular areas of expertise and excellent Governance, Brokerage & Exchanges, Project within the fi nancial world. Finance, Binary Options, Investment Management, “We are more than happy to win this award for Technology, Asset & Wealth Management, Exchange the second year in a row. For a young company like Traded Funds, Real Estate and other areas.

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Contact: www.edelbrand.ge Phone: 599 461908 GEORGIA TODAY 10 SOCIETY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 The One that Got Away, or Hostile Takeover: Etseri, Svaneti

DEAR DEBBIE LEE, I’m an amateur farmer in Upper Svaneti, with a couple of cows and seven or eight chickens. We had two roosters which grew up together and got along, but we gave the larger one away to distant neighbors because they didn’t have one. Now, the rooster of another, closer neighbor has started boldly invading my garden, fi ghting with our remaining, smaller rooster, and taking over his “harem”! The neighbor even told me the other day that his rooster had moved all my chickens onto his land for a while when I wasn’t looking! They didn’t stay there long, but the threat was obvious. The neighbor does have several hens, but not as many as I do, so I sup- pose that his rooster is after a larger fl ock of groupies with whom to stroke his own ego. He is a fi ne fellow, but this has got to stop. Whenever I’m out there, for morning or even- ing milking or other outside gardening work, I chase this foreign rooster back across the fence. But not fi ve minutes later he’s back again, beat- ing off his weaker rival and “jumping” my hens at every opportunity... I can’t be out there all day long guarding them against him! And his nature seems to be forcing him to behave like this, so while I don’t want to put up with it, am getting angrier and angrier to wanting to kill the monster, I can hardly actually blame him. Recently I tricked him into entering my barn, which he did with great trepidation, mostly because all the other chickens were in there too. Then I tried to shut him in there, but he squawked daringly past me out into freedom before I could shut the door. Eventually, with DEAR TORTURED, much stealth and care, I was able to repeat this successfully. I had blocked the little “manure You need to have a frank talk with your window” in advance, so that he couldn’t get out neighbors. I, too, googled “catching chick- via that, and after some minutes’ frantic chase, ens”; the most often recommended way I actually caught him! Took an awkward “cell- is actually at night, while they’re roosting, fi e” to prove it, too. either asleep or at least much less alert. Then I tied his feet together with some string, You need to persuade them to catch him and was preparing to tie him to a manger post; then, if you can’t do another “barn job” of but he “gave me the slip” because my string was your own, because he roosts in their barn, too humanely loose, and was gone again in a and then they must tie him up and get him fl ash! Much groaning and gnashing of teeth, out of the habit of invading, whatever that and some most evil thoughts of “coq au vin”. I may never be able to coax him back in there involves. If they’re really your friends, again now, my best way of catching him. I’ve they should see the necessity of this. You looked online for “how to catch a chicken”, but might also suggest that he is actually ruin- the ways suggested are for one’s own bird, not ing the life of your rooster, and mildly for an outsider, which is naturally much more threaten your use of stronger force against suspicious. I’m at my wits’ end, and my own him than merely chasing him off if they poor rooster is most depressed, while my hens don’t comply... Let me know how it goes! don’t seem to care who is their man! Help, Best of luck, please... Debbie Lee Signed, Tortured Tony

DEAR DEBBIE LEE, Well, after a few more “barn intervention” attempts, all failed because he’s on to me now, I did go and talk politely to the neighbor, who’s also a good friend. He got the mes- sage, was sympathetic, and told his son to get that rooster this evening and tie him up. SO... hopefully this is the end of it! Thanks much for your advice, and I’ll likely write to you again if ever I’m in a bind. Signed, Trouble-free Tony Ps Just a fi nal update: another neighbor tells me now that last year, it was OUR rooster attacking hers, even tearing his comb off! She had to “put him down”, but didn’t even feel fi ne with killing our rooster necessary to tell me until now, so I suppose that these goings-on are quite normal in the poultry kingdom... Who knew? And my wife even seems before the invader can, and letting him rule the roost as it were... So, I bow to superior knowledge.

Tony Hanmer runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with over 1300 members, at www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 SOCIETY 11 Shooting Dinosaurs: Ogden on the Georgian Film Industry Georgia needs to show the country for what it is in its fi lms- the hipster capital of Eastern Europe

improvement. ever, neither of these show Georgia the People in the fi lm industry must begin will rapidly lose interest. OP-ED BY TIM OGDEN Not that I’m pretentious in my cinematic way it is today. The turmoil of the 1990s to appreciate that it is an industry and Yet I remain optimistic for Georgia’s tastes; the only times I’ve sat through is over, and really, there’s been more than should be treated as such, otherwise cinematic future...but more gunfi ghts, arthouse fi lms have been to impress enough drama in the Georgia of the last prospective international co-producers car chases and dinosaurs, please. veryone knows that various lunatic arty girls in my youth fi ve or six years. I’m quite sure that for- are fi ercely proud of their (which was a price worth paying in the eign audiences who know little and less country, food and history; it end, to be honest). I’m more of a car about Georgia will fail to understand is made abundantly clear to chase and gunfi ght sort of chap. I’m not that the depressing circumstances of any visitor within hours of suggesting Georgian fi lms should have post-Soviet Georgia are now little more arrivingE in this country. Yet Georgians more of those, mostly because anybody than memory, and Tbilisi is now the are also enamoured with their cinema fi lming a car chase in this country would hipster capital of Eastern Europe. The industry, and with good reason. have diffi culty in conveying to the audi- Georgian Ministry of Economics is for- Georgians are an inherently dramatic ence which is the car chase and which ever banging the touristic drum, but people, which (from what I’ve seen) is passing traffi c, but I do think that people will be far more likely to visit makes them natural actors. Not that I’m Georgia needs to show the country for this place if they can see it for what it an expert; I studied drama at school what it is in its fi lms. looks like now as opposed to what it because I was useless at art and down- ‘In Bloom’ is a fi ne picture, and deserved once was. right dangerous in the design technology the accolades it got; the same can be said I also think Georgians should do more workshop, and had a small part on a for Zaza Urushadze’s ‘Tangerines’. How- comedy. Georgians are not a humourless Georgian soap opera last year (as a result people; far from it, in fact. Personally, of which I now have a devoted fanbase I’m not enamoured with Georgian com- of women aged over 70). edy as it is; even after jokes have been However, the experience at least taught translated and explained, I’m still left me when people are uncomfortable and wondering what was so funny. However, very aware that they are on camera... on a personal level Georgians rank along- mostly because I looked as though some- side the British and the Russians as the one had a gun to my head, while the People in the fi lm funniest people I’ve met. I’m sure Geor- Georgians around me performed with gians are capable of producing some ease. Even people off the street who were industry must natural, easy-going comedy movies, roped into being extras suddenly start- which refl ect their day-to-day behaviour ing acting (in every sense of the word) appreciate that it in ways that the contrived trash produced as though they’d been to drama school by people like Amiko Chokharadze never with Clooney and Depp. Damned con- is an industry and could. vincing they were, too. I suppose quality Speaking of behaviour, I regret to say actors are necessary due to the fact that should be treated that this is something which also needs Georgia does not have Hollywood’s mil- to change. Zaza Urushadze and his team lions at its disposal; there’s no room for as such, embarrassed themselves in Hollywood any graduates of the Nicholas Cage school by play-fi ghting in front of their waiting of acting here. otherwise limousine and then falling asleep dur- The Georgian fi lms that I’ve seen seem ing the Oscars ceremony; hardly the to attempt to paint a very realistic pic- prospective behaviour of professional people who ture of things in this country as they deserve to win such a prestigious award. are or were. Nana Ekvtimishvili’s ‘In international co- Likewise, the two bosses of a fi lm com- Bloom’ is a stark portrait of Georgian pany I once worked for here managed life in the chaos of the 1990s, while producers will to secure invitations to the London fi lm Rusudan Chkonia’s ‘Keep Smiling’ shows festival’s networking meetings which Georgian poverty, desperation and rapidly lose spanned a week, but spent the time get- misogyny at their best. ting drunk on complimentary wine and But if you ask me, there’s room for interest came back with no useful contacts.

Read. Learn. Enjoy.

Pick up a copy of Georgia Today Education at any BIBLUS shop or phone 229 59 19 Price: 2 Gel GEORGIA TODAY 12 CULTURE MAY 13 - 16, 2016 Foreign Premieres of “They will Return” by Director Zaza Nanobashvili

ith the blessing of Shooting began in 2008 with the pil- Georgian Catholi- grimage of the Anchiskhati litany, cos-Patriarch and mostly taking place in countries other direct participation than Georgia. of the clergy, the This year the group visited several Anchiskhati’sW canonical replica has European countries before Easter: In been traveling to holy places and Geor- Prague - Charles University, in Karlovy gian communities to make a pilgrim- Vary; the Serbian church in Frankfurt, age. Traveling with the icon is infor- in Belgium – Brussel’s Georgian Church mational literature and movies in and in Paris – the St. Nino Immigrants different languages with the aim of Temple. familiarizing those overseas with Geor- By the blessing of the Georgian Patri- gia and its sacred history. arch, the icon was accompanied by The movies were created by the pil- Tbilisi-Tskneti’s priest Ioane grim team head of Anchiskhati, direc- (Okropiridze). tor Zaza Nanobashvili. Generally, the The group was received warmly and movies are about Georgian sanctuaries, important meetings took place in which the pilgrimage of the Anchiskhati both Georgian and foreign students canonical replica, and immigrants. The were involved, sharing their thoughts director illustrates specifi cally forgot- and impressions. ten stories of Anchistkhati and Iveron At every meeting, after movies show- in fi lms which have been awarded at ings and events, interviews were held. Orthodox Film festivals on numerous The organizers of the meeting in occasions (F/F in Kiev “Pokrov” and Prague was the Iveria Community- F/F in Batumi “St. Andrew’s Cross” – namely Madina Kriz and Tamar Melik- for the best presenting of sanctuaries ishvili. and historical events). In Karlovy Vary: Asmat Shamatava, Nanobashvili’s movies have been through which the icon was invited to shown in more than 20 countries since the Orthodox Church in Karlovy Vary. 2008 in both Georgian and foreign In Frankfurt: the Serbian Church communities. Father Marco and the group’s perma- St. Nino church, Paris In recent years, besides Film Festivals, nent host, Aleko Kalandarishvili. the director has been invited to sym- In Belgium the Brussel’s Archbishop delivered a cordial speech to the par- honors and glory. This meeting was Mary icon. posiums and conferences, visits, cul- Dositeos blessed the showing of ish. Archbishop Dositeos also made a particularly important because the Father Archil and Father Ioane con- tural and offi cial meetings. Nanobashvili’s movies about immi- speech and blessed guests after watch- second part of the immigrant movie ducted the church service of Anchiskhati The documentary film “They’ll grants and the history of Anchiskhati ing the movie. was exactly about the emigration of for national welfare. The fi lm crew shot Return” Parts I and II is about immi- in the Brussel’s Residence Hall of St. And fi nally in Paris, with St. Nino 1921. very interesting material about the grant life; how they left the country, King Tamar. At the time, parliamentar- church Father Archil’s blessing, the Besides other various holy places, offspring of 1921 immigrants which will about their reasons for not going back ian Guguli Maghradze was on a visit icon was placed in the Emigration the litany Anchiskhati was also placed be put together for the next part of the and the current demographic situation to Brussels and also attended the meet- Church of St. Nino. Immigrants of 1921 in Mount Athos and visited Iveron upcoming premiere of the fi lm and in Georgia. ing. After watching the movie, she met the litany Anchiskhati with special on the celebration of Iveria’s Virgin shown to large audiences. On his recent travels abroad, the director took inter- views from many famous people and had an interesting meeting with Greek singer Iovanna which was later used in the second part of the fi lm. The group expresses its gratitude to organizers, representatives of embas- sies and hosts for the warm welcome and for its support of such important issues. The biggest problem that the group faced was transportation of the non- standard size icon and the equipment of the crew. The airline Wizzair resolved this problem selfl essly and gratuitously – (with the help of Tbilisi airport secu- rity service, Kutaisi airport and Wiz- zair’s employee Ms. Tamar Mshven- ieradze.) This is the second time this airline helped the group. First from Warsaw and now from Budapest in The group expresses its both directions, thereby contributing profound gratitude to airline to important work. The group expresses its profound gratitude to airline Wiz- Wizzair and its management zair and its management.

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 CULTURE 13

‘Anna’s Life’ Takes First International Prize

gian single mother called Anna, who, portrays the principal character of ‘Anna’s BY EKA KARSAULIDZE hoping to improve her own living con- Life’. The fi lm is a winner of a competi- ditions and the life of her autistic son, tion organized by the Georgian National who lives in a children’s home, decides Film Center. feature-length fi lm by Nino to go and fi nd work in the United States. The world premiere of ‘Anna’s Life’ took Basilaia ‘Anna’s Life’ However, the US embassy does not give place at the Göteborg International Film received a Merit Award at her a visa. Taking a risk, she then sells Festival (GIFF) in Sweden where it was the International Film Fes- her house and the gives money to an nominated for an Ingmar Bergman Award. tival ‘Construir Cine’ in unknown man who promises to get her The fi lm was also selected alongside 300 Argentina.A This is fi rst international the required visa. Inevitably, he turns others to be screened at the Beijing Inter- FOR SALE: BMW – 321 model recognition for the fi lm about the diffi - out to be an ordinary crook and the turns national Film Festival last month. Date of issue 1936 cult fate of a single mother. Anna’s life upside down. The 3rd International Film Festival PRICE 10.000 USD The Construir Cine International Film The two other main awards presented Construir Cine was held in Buenos Aires Festival itself has a consistent focus on were the Best Feature Film, which went with the support of the National Institute the subject of work and workers. This to ‘The Woman of Mud’ by Chilean direc- of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts of Argen- year’s festival presented 40 fi lms by tor Sergio Castro San Martin, and the tina. The main purpose of the festival is directors from Chile, Spain, France, Japan, Award for Excellence, which judges pre- stimulating the creativity of contempo- USA, Argentina and Georgia and took sented to Japanese fi lmmaker Naomi rary fi lmmakers and supporting the pro- place in Buenos Aires from May 2 to 10. Kawase for her work ‘A Bakery in Tokyo’. duction of independent fi lms which ‘Anna’s Life’ is a story of a young Geor- Georgian actress Ekaterine Demetradze describe the world of ordinary workers.

Learn about Georgian Cine CONTACT PERSON 557 12 38 90 Culture with the Monthly Expat CineClub

fulfi l this dream. From May 17, Tbilisi CineClub plans BY IVETA GEDVILAITE CineClub leaders Nonna Sagaan Gubler to have monthly movie evenings at Ami- (responsible for relations with directors rani cinema with the kind support of and protagonists) and Tobi Walsh Movie Distribution LTD. On Tuesdays n January a small group of movie (responsible for administration and or Mondays, movie fans will be able to fans from different countries who venue) have been arranging unforget- watch the best Georgian movies and are living in Tbilisi decided to table movie evenings since January- four Georgian creative documentary fi lms. launch the Tbilisi CineClub. The such meetings and screenings at Cine- After each screening, the fi lm director, main aim was to get a deeper Club to date: “In bloom” by Nana Ekvtish- protagonist, producer or fi lm critic will Iunderstanding about Georgian culture vili (presented by David Vashadze from answer questions from the audience. It’s and to get familiar with the best Geor- the Georgian National Film Center), a great chance to get to know Georgia gian movies. “Tangerines” (director Zaza Urushadze in a deep, interesting and entertaining Thanks to a Former director of the presented the fi lm), “Will there be a way. Georgian National Film center, Nana Theater up there?” (director, Nana The next fi lming to take place, on May Janelidze, and thanks also to the gener- Janelidze) and “Line of credit” by Salome 17, 7 pm, consists of two short fi lms. The osity of fi lm directors, it was possible to Alexi (with main actress Nino Kasradze). fi rst, the 30-minute-long ‘Buba,’ is a fi lm from the fi rst female Georgian director Nutsa Ghoghoberidze (1930, without dialogue but with Russian and English subtitles). The story weaves a folkloris- tic tale of 1930s Racha. The second fi lm “Felicita” is a 40-min- ute fi lm of Salome Alexi, granddaughter of the director (Salome’s mother Lana Ghoghoberidze is also a famous Geor- gian director). The story tells of a woman who is illegally working in Italy. Her husband dies in an accident and she is unable to attend his funeral. Salome Alexi and Lana Ghoghoberidze will join CineClub after the screening for a discussion. New movie fans are very welcome! Tickets cost 3 GEL and can be pur- chased in Amirani Cinema and on kinoafi sha.ge. GEORGIA TODAY 14 CULTURE MAY 13 - 16, 2016

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATRE VAKHTANG CHABUKIANI TBILISI VASO ABASHIDZE Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari representing Soviet-era cultural TBILISI BALLET ART STATE MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE and political repression in Georgia. THEATRE GABRIADZE THEATRE SCHOOL May 13-19 The exhibition hall is equipped Address: 182 D.Agmashenebeli Ave. Address: 13 Shavtelis St. Address: 1 V. Vekua with monitors where visitors can Telephone: 2 34 80 90 Telephone: 2 98 65 93 Telephone: 98 60 41, 93 12 63 THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE watch documentaries of various www.musictheatre.ge (Info Above) historical events. May 13 May 18 Start time: 12:30, 15:00, 17:15, 20:00 May 19 RAMONA LONELINESS Ticket price: 8-16 Lari ART PALACE MIDSUMMER NIGHT DREAM Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Mamuka Salukvadze Address: 6 Kargareteli Str. William Shakespeare English Subtitles OUR KIND OF TRAITOR Telephone: 295 35 63 TAVPARAVNELI CHABUKI Directed by Davit Doiashvili Start time: 20:00 Directed by Susanna White Manana Doiashvili Language: Georgian Ticket price: 10, 15 Lari Directed by: Lela Chincharauli Genre: Thriller May 10- May 17 Musical Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian ANDRIS AND MARIA LIEPA’S Art Director: Nino Ananiashvili Start time: 19:00 May 14 Lewis, Stellan Skarsgård EXHIBITION Start time: 18:00 Ticket price: From 8 Lari STALINGRAD Ticket price: 16 Lari Language: Russian Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Start time: 17:00, 19:45, 22:30 SHALVA AMIRANASHVILI Venue: Rustaveli Theater CINEMA English Subtitles Ticket price: 11-16 Lari MUSEUM OF ART Address: 1 Lado Gudiashvili St. Start time: 20:00 MOVEMENT THEATRE Ticket price: 10, 15 Lari AMIRANI CINEMA Captain America: Civil War Telephone: 2 99 99 09 Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Address: 36 Kostava St. (Info Above) www.museum.ge Mushthaid park May 19 Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Language: Russian Telephone: 599 555 260 www.kinoafi sha.ge MARSHAL DE FANTIE’S Start time: 22:35 May 10-15 DIAMOND Ticket price: 15-16 Lari EXHIBITION OF PAINTERS Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari Directed by Rezo Gabriadze May 13, 14 FROM RUSTAVI SILENT REHEARSAL MUSEUM English Subtitles May 13-19 Start time: 20:00 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze GALLERY Performance Ticket price: 10, 15 Lari CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR GEORGIAN NATIONAL Start time: 21:00 THE NATIONAL GALLERY Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe MUSEUM Ticket price: 15 Lari Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. GRIBOEDOVI THEATRE Russo SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. www.museum.ge Telephone: 2 93 43 36 May 15 Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 RECITATIVE IN THE CITY Jr., Scarlett Johansson www.museum.ge PERMANENT EXHIBITION May 14 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Language: English Niko Pirosmanashvili, David CASTING Start time: 21:00 Start time: 17:00 PERMANENT EXHIBITION: Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili and N. Kvijinadze Free Entry Language: Russian GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY sculptor Iakob Nikoladze Language: Russian Start time: 22:15 FROM 8TH MILLENNIUM B.C. Start time: 18:00 GEORGIAN STATE Ticket price: 11-16 Lari TO 4TH CENTURY A.D CHUBINASHVILI NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER Ticket price: 5 Lari PANTOMIME THEATRE Address: 9 Atoneli Str. Address: 37 Rustaveli Ave. THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE THE CAUCASUS NATURAL Directed by Clay Kaytis, Fergal Telephone: 2 93 15 38 May 15 Telephone: 2 99 63 14 HISTORY MUSEUM SCARLET SAIL Reilly COLLECTION RENEWED Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy May 5-18 Alexander Grin May 13 EXHIBITION Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss TAMAZ KHUTSISHVILI’S HOST AND GUEST Burgess, Jason Sudeikis Language: Russian EXHIBITION OF GEORGIAN PERSONAL EXHIBITION Vaja Pshavela Language: Russian Start time: 12:00 WEAPONRY Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili Start time: 11:45, 13:45, 15:00, 17:30 Ticket price: From 5 Lari NUMISMATIC TREASURY KOLGA TBILSI PHOTO Start time: 19:00 Ticket price: 8-12 Lari The exhibition showcases a long http://www.kolga.ge Ticket price: 10 Lari May 18 history of money circulation on the A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING May 13 LATE LOVE Directed by Tom Tykwer territory of modern Georgia from May 14 HERE TO STAY A. Ostrovsky Genre: Comedy, Drama the 6th century BC. to 1834. KRIMANCHULI Works by Fabian Weiss Language: Russian Cast: Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili Start time: 18:00 Sarita Choudhury MUSEUM OF SOVIET Curated by: Inga Schneider Ticket price: 5 Lari Start time: 19:00 Language: Russian OCCUPATION ROAD WALLAH Ticket price: 10 Lari Start time: 19:45, 22:00 Address: 3 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. Dougie Wallace May 19 Ticket price: 15-16 Lari Curator: Tina Schelhorn I AM NIKOLAI GUMILOV May 17 PERMANENT EXHIBITION AFGHANISTAN CHRONOTOPIA Poetry Fantasy PSEUDOCYESIS RUSTAVELI CINEMA Here, visitors can enjoy the State’s Simon Norfolk Language: Russian Directed by Luka Chkhaidze Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. personal fi les of “subversive” Curator: Tina Schelhorn Start time: 18:00 Start time: 19:00 Telephone: 2 55 50 00 Georgian public fi gures, orders to CTRL-X. A TOPOGRAPHY OF Ticket price: 5 Lari Ticket price: 10 Lari www.kinoafi sha.ge shoot or exile, and other artifacts E-WASTE CHAPTER III: INDIA Kai Löffelbein Curator: Tina Schelhorn FIRST PERSONAL IN GEORGIA. Sergo Edisherashvili Curator: Lika Mamatsashvili Openning: 16:30-17:30 Venue: Karvasla Museum

ANGUS LEADLEY BROWN New York, August 2008. My fi rst visit to New York ERROR IMAGES Opening: 19:00 Venue: Rooms Hotel Tbilisi

May 13 MARI NAKANI We Build, We Ruin Opening: 19:00 Venue: Didi Gallery

MUSIC

MOVEMENT THEATRE Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Mushthaid park Telephone: 599 555 260

May 17, 19 JAM SESSION WITH RESO KIKNADZE QUINTET Start time: 21:00 Free entry

May 18 TANGO MILONGA Start time: 20:00 Tango Lesson: 5 Lari GEORGIA TODAY MAY 13 - 16, 2016 CULTURE 15 Enjoy Immortal Painter Young Pianist Lado Gudiashvili during his 120th Sandro Nebieridze Birthday Celebration Wins Grand Prix in Moscow

BY EKA KARSAULIDZE

eorgian teenage pianist Sandro Nebieridze won the First Grand Piano Com- petition for young pianists in Moscow on May 5. GNebieridze shared fi rst place with Alex- ander Malofeev from Russia. Both pia- nists were awarded with a monetary prize of USD 5,000, as well as receiving a hybrid piano Yamaha Avant Grand. 15 artists from Russia, Great Britain, China, Japan, South Korea, Belarus and The Minister of Culture and Tbilisi Mayor at the opening of the fi rst exhibition of Lado Georgia attended the competition, how- Gudiashvili’s works ever, only seven young pianists made it through to the fi nal stage. 15-year-old Nebieridze studied at the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory Giorgi Danelia’s fi lm ‘Don’t Worry’ in Founder of the Competition, famous BY MAKA LOMADZE where he attended piano and composition classes which Gudiashvili himself dances most Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, said that impressively, said, “He was a very quiet the Grand Piano Competition is like the as well as scores for other instruments. ented,” said Matsuev. and innocent man. I am lucky to be famous International Tchaikovsky Com- At the Grand Piano Competition as his Nebieridze is a laureate of international his year Georgia is marking able to say I lived during his lifetime, petition, but for young musicians. “The main composition, he performed the contests including 2009 Musica. Sepash- the 120th anniversary of even getting to speak to him once or current young generation of musicians piece ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ vili Klavierwettbewerb, 2012 Balys Dvar- one of the greatest names twice.” is very special: these children are amaz- by Russian composer Sergei Rachmani- ionas International Piano Competition of local fi ne arts, one of the “Lado Gudiashvili belongs to those ingly talented and extraordinarily gifted. noff. in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2015 Astana Piano founders of the Georgian persons who have a big infl uence on a That is why I created this festival. My Matsuev joined an international jury Passion competition in Kazakhstan, and Trich art school, Lado Gudiashvili. A series society and its spiritual life,” said Zurab dream has come true because the level from Russia, Israel, Great Britain, Ireland, many others. of exhibitions are planned this com- Nizharadze, a well-known painter. “He of performances is simply fantastic,” said Sweden and Korea in struggling to choose The pianist has toured extensively in memorative year, the fi rst of which was simultaneously belongs to the East and Matsuev. a winner and so gave the fi rst prize to Georgia and Europe. In recent years, he opened on May 5 at his namesake exhi- the West, i.e. he is a bearer of a purely 15-year-old Nebieridze studied at the two competitors. “These young musi- has also participated in the Night Ser- bition hall near Kashueti Church off Georgian phenomenon. In his creative Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conserv- cians who appeared on stage are already enades festival in Batumi and the Mozart@ Rustaveli Avenue. works a particular system of values is atory where he attended piano and com- mature artists. They are 100% ready to Augsburg festival in Germany. He always The initial exposition represents his found that corresponds to our history, position classes. The talented musician play grand concerts; each has a great tries to include his own compositions painting and graphic works completed our present and future. Viva Lado Gudi- also composed opera and piano music, personality; each is phenomenally tal- in the program. in the 1940s. ashvili’s immortal art!” “Throughout the year people will have Lado Gudiashvili’s works are a must- the chance to visit four exhibitions depict- see. Especially keeping in mind that some ing different creative periods of the great consider it a miracle his works survived painter,” said Mikheil Giorgadze, Min- to this day. During the commonly known ister of Culture and Monument Protec- hijacking of an airplane in the 1980s (on tion at the opening. “It would be no which is based Dato Turashvili’s book exaggeration to say that Lado Gudiash- ‘Jeans Generation’), when a group of vili is one of the founders of the contem- Georgian youth tried to escape through porary Georgian arts. His creative herit- the Iron Curtain as a sign of harsh pro- age is our national treasure.” test to the Soviet rules, Gudiashvili’s “The huge heritage that Gudiashvili only grand-daughter, one of the hijack- left us deserves appropriate apprecia- ers, was pardoned when Lado’s daughter tion and esteem. Therefore, Tbilisi City threatened to destroy all the heritage of Hall is actively involved not only in her talented father. It is thanks to this fulfi lling this project but also in ensur- moment that Georgia got to keep this ing that as many Georgians as possible unique art treasure. are invited to see these pictures. We The next exhibition will showcase should bring our children, too, to get Gudishvili’s painting and graphic works them get acquainted with these works of the 1950s and will take place from June from early age,” said Davit Narmania, 22 to October 25. Only graphic works Tbilisi Mayor. will be on display during the third expo- Nani Bregvadze, a well-known Geor- sition that is planned for November 1 to gian female singer, said, “I remember November 15. The fi nal exhibition, sched- how Lado took a picture of me, as a part uled for December 1-30, will enable view- of a series, wearing clothing of different ers to see the works of his fi nal creative epochs. He left such a mark on this series period. that I cannot claim it as my own. I’m happy to be able to say I’ve met a great The fi rst exhibition will last until June 19. number of really interesting fi gures in Address: Lado Gudiashvili Street 11 my life, among whom Lado Gudiashvili Opening Times: 11:00 to 18.30 daily except stands out.” Mondays and offi cial holidays Buba Kikabidze, a very colorful Geor- Ticket Price: 5 Gel, 3 Gel for students and gian singer and actor who played in pensioners, Free for children under 6

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