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www.georgiatoday.ge Issue no: 841 • MAY 6 - 9, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... State Funding to Launch Program Supporting Start-Ups NEWS PAGE 2

Remembering the Lone Wolf of Ichkeria POLITICS PAGE 7 Scandalous Details from the London Trial of Vano Chkhartishvili PAGE 10 NATO discusses a new agreement for and Nothing We FOCUS Ukraine under Can’t Escape: the 28+2 format PAGE 3 The Easter ON NATO Epistle SOCIETY PAGE 11 Georgia Welcomed into EU’s ‘Late Love’ by the Greatest Russian Realist Playwright Research and Innovation Society CULTURE PAGE 13

BY EKA KARSAULIDZE Legend Nona Gaprindashvili’s Star Opens esearchers and innovators from Georgia will now be able to par- in ticipate in Horizon 2020, the EU’s framework program for research and innovation, under the same con- ditionsR as their counterparts from EU Member States and other associated countries. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Tamar Sanikidze, Georgian Minister of Education and Science signed the associaton agreement between Geor- gia and Horizon 2020 on April 29. Continued on page 2 SPORTS PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS MAY 6 - 9, 2016

State Funding to Launch Program Supporting Start-Ups Get Ready for Your Wedding with Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi Show

BY EKA KARSAULIDZE

BY EKA KARSAULIDZE ince the day it opened (in summer 2015), Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi has rime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kviri- hosted a large number of weddings. A kashvili, has announced a new start-up comfortable and pleasant location, relaxed funding program which will be available atmosphere and the whopping 800 square for any citizen with an innovative, excit- Smeters were clearly decisive factors for the future ing business proposal needing funding. newlyweds. Having already gained considerable AtP the fi rst stage, the program’s budget will consist experience in the wedding hosting sphere, the Hotel of 11 million GEL, and is expected to increase to 35 decided to arrange the fi rst Wedding Show in Geor- million GEL. gia. At a meeting with the government, PM Kvirikash- “No Wedding Exhibition has been held in Geor- vili noted that they have already started working gia before,” said Nino Chechelashvili, Marketing on the creation of this new fi nancial institution and Communication Manager of Hotels & Preference its key features. In a month’s time, it will be offi - Hualing Tbilisi. “But we decided to take the Euro- cially presented and operation begun through the pean example and create not just an exhibition, but Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency’s also a show, because the entertainment program (GITA) Technological Park (Tech Park). is one of the key moments in every wedding.” cakes from Georgia’s leading pastry shops; meet hotels is not so popular, Hotels & Preference Hual- “This is a very important reform which allows The fi rst Wedding Show will be held on the ter- fl orists making bridal bouquets and fl oral room ing Tbilisi by its own example is proving that it businesses, technology companies and institutions ritory of Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi on decorations; and consult with beauticians from can be an interesting and in-demand venue. For to launch their projects and obtain fi nancing with- 14 May from 12 to 6 pm, while the entertainment professional salons who will help you pick out the this purpose, Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi out any loans or credits,” said the PM. program will be held from 2 to 4 pm. Chechelash- right hairstyle and makeup. As part of the enter- will also present its own stand at the Show, where The fi nancing of innovative ideas is something vili explained that jazz bands, DJs, and Georgian tainment program, limousines, wedding dresses everyone can fi nd out more about the Hotel’s ser- very new in Georgia, yet the Prime Minister believes folk dancers will perform in the framework of the and jewelry will be exhibited from leading com- vices, taste its food, see a variety of wedding menus, that it will contribute to the development of the entertainment program allowing you to get a taste panies in the fi eld. as well as take part in personal info-tours to see country’s innovative potential. of which kind of musical arrangement you most Chechelashvili said that the Show is a unique the specially designed rooms that the Hotel offers “We have many examples where such projects fancy for your future wedding. Well-known illu- opportunity for those who are planning a wedding. for newlyweds. were the turning point of a country’s economic sionist Gia Paradashvili will also attend the Show, “There will be everything to help couples fi nd both The highlight of the evening will be a real mar- development and, from our side, this is the just the as will several photographers with a rich wedding the right services and the best products- all within riage ceremony. “The bride will be in an incredibly fi rst welcome step towards that goal,” PM Kviri- portfolio. one and the same space. Moreover, we’ll be offer- beautiful dress, jewelry, hold a bouquet and Tbilisi kashvili explained. 25 wedding-related companies will also display ing the chance to hold B2B meetings with repre- Wedding House’s staff will conduct the ceremony. The Partnership Fund and GITA will coordinate their products and services. Event agencies will sentatives of the companies in order to immediately Thus, at our Wedding Show guests will be the wit- the program with the involvement of international advise you how to properly design and plan your negotiate services and tariffs,” she said. nesses of the creation of a new family creation,” experts. wedding; you will have an opportunity to taste Despite the fact that celebrating weddings in Chechelashvili said. Georgia Welcomed into EU’s Research and Innovation Society

Continued from page 1 program for research and innovation,” said Moe- das. “EU research, science and innovation is open to the world for collaboration and we value work- Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and ing together with our partners to invest in knowl- Innovation program ever. With nearly 77 billion edge and innovation for the future. Georgia’s Euros of funding available over 7 years (2014 to association will bring a diversity of expertise and 2020), it promises more breakthroughs, discov- ideas, enriching our international research coop- eries and world-fi rsts by taking great ideas from eration.” the lab to the market. Horizon 2020 is seen as The Minister of Education and Science of Geor- a means to drive economic growth and create gia claims that this agreement once again proves jobs. The association agreement signed by Geor- what a great role science has in the country’s gia covers the years 2016-2020 and opens up development. “What we have achieved is that new opportunities for the country’s scientifi c Georgia has become part of a single European community. research area. This is not only an important step Participation in Horizon 2020 programs is now for the country, but brings with it a myriad of available for all Georgian scientists, researchers interesting proposals and opportunities for our and innovators, as well as Georgia-based legal scientists,” said Tamar Sanikidze, Minister of Edu- entities (universities, research institutions, non- cation and Science of Georgia. governmental organizations, small and medium In the seventh framework program (2007-2013) enterprises, business of companies, foundations, preceding Horizon 2020, Georgian organizations government agencies, and more). participated in 49 signed projects. They have “I’m very pleased to welcome Georgia into already participated in eight projects within the Horizon 2020, the world’s largest public funding framework of Horizon 2020. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 NEWS 3 NATO Mulls New Association Partnership for Georgia and Ukraine

“We are currently in the third stage of This is a move that will ultimately under- BY NICHOLAS WALLER the NATO integration process – which mine and fundamentally change the is an intensive dialogue, followed by regional balance of power.” Georgia’s implementation of the Part- Experts, however, argue that if Tbilisi s tensions between the West nership for Peace initiative. The fourth and Kiev join the 28+2 format, this would and Russia continue to step will be granting Georgia a MAP,” mean Russia will be further isolated in escalate, the NATO military said Vakhtang Maisaia, the former chair the Black Sea region as Bulgaria, Roma- alliance may look to bolster for Georgia-NATO relations. nia and Turkey consolidate their naval its ranks by signing a spe- Russian President Vladimir Putin has forces into a newly formed NATO Black Acial partnership agreement with Georgia threatened to use force to thwart any Sea Fleet. and Ukraine. attempt by any former member of the Georgia and Ukraine have already indi- Alliance members are currently dis- Soviet-led Warsaw Pact countries to cated that they plan to be active par- cussing the possibility of offering Tbilisi integrate with NATO. ticipants in the new maritime force. and Kiev a newly devised association Any attempt of rapprochement between The decision to offer Tbilisi and Kiev status under a 28+2 format that would NATO and the former Soviet republics, closer cooperation with NATO’s other see Georgian and Ukrainian armed forces according to most analysts, will make 28 members comes at a time when com- fully cooperate with NATO in the Black The alliance’s 28 current members have ers of a double standard towards former Moscow nervous and probably even ments from incoming Supreme Allied Sea region and along the two countries’ greeted Georgia’s and Ukraine’s plans Soviet republics. more unpredictable. Commander General Curtis Scaparrotti long militarized borders with Russia. to pursue formal membership with a mix Georgia previously attempted to secure Brussels recently established the asso- raised eyebrows after he said NATO must Any such offer would be a signifi cant of both enthusiasm and scepticism. East- a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) ciation membership status as a consola- be ready to respond to Russian provoca- move by the alliance as it would formally ern European members, the United States at the 2008 Bucharest Summit but was tion prize for Georgia and Ukraine instead tions with force if needed. integrate the two former Soviet repub- and the United Kingdom have enthusi- met with a fi rm rejection from Germany of the promised MAP, according to Mai- “NATO is facing a resurgent Russia lics’ militaries into the NATO command astically backed Tbilisi and Kiev while and France. Russia responded to Geor- saia. that is striving to project itself as a world structure without granting them full key members France and Germany have gia’s move by substantially bolstering NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alex- power…to address these challenges, we membership status. vehemently opposed the idea. its forces in the country’s breakaway ander Vershbow previously proposed must continue to maintain and enhance Both Georgia and Ukraine have pub- Opposition from Berlin and Paris has region of South Ossetia. The resulting the 28+2 format at an April security con- our levels of readiness and ability to fi ght licly stated their intention to join NATO drawn the ire of newer members Poland fi ve-day war in August of that year was ference in Kiev. The association agree- tonight, if deterrence fails,” said Scapar- and the European Union in the coming and the Baltic States, all former Eastern a major military defeat for Tbilisi and ment with Georgia and Ukraine will be rotti. years as part of their drive towards Euro- Bloc nations that border Russia. They set its NATO ambitions back years, modelled on a similar arrangement that Alliance members are already in the Atlantic integration. accuse the Germans and French of under- according to most analysts. NATO currently has with Nordic pow- process of re-deploying signifi cant num- Russia, however, has violently opposed mining Georgia and Ukraine’s security Georgia had hoped to receive a MAP ers Sweden and Finland, according to bers of rapid strike forces to Eastern any such move as it views NATO expan- to avoid antagonizing Moscow. Warsaw at this year’s Warsaw summit, but gov- Vershbow. Europe to bolster NATO’s defensive sion as a threat to its national security has openly criticized Germany and France ernment offi cials now acknowledge that Vershbow said the agreement must be capabilities. US, UK and German forces and an inherently anti-Russian, US-led for having supported closer cooperation the current political realities in the region implemented as soon as possible as “Rus- will carry out a major combat-ready campaign to weaken Moscow’s infl uence and the possibility of NATO member- mean that the new associate partnership sia plans to station nuclear weapons in training exercise with Georgian units at in areas where the Kremlin has histori- ship for traditionally neutral Sweden and is a major step towards eventual NATO the Black Sea region, including on the the alliance’s training facility outside cally played the role of imperial master. Finland, accusing the two alliance pow- membership. illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. Tbilisi later this month. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS MAY 6 - 9, 2016 Raising the Dead: The Voting List Conundrum

of which suggests that 3.7 million people OP-ED BY ZAZA JGARKAVA live in Georgia, out of which 78%, or 2.9 million, have the right to vote. After making these fi gures public, both state ow many voters are there units explained the difference by having in Georgia? Every four different methodologies for counting. years this question The Statistics Offi ce said that they tracked becomes particularly only those citizens who were in Georgia important and especially during the period of polls and not all Hbefore the parliamentary elections. This those people who have been granted an year is no exception, as this question has ID from the Ministry of Justice. already been raised. And left unanswered. It is hard to argue with the statisticians, The data from the Ministry of Justice however, whether the census covered all and that of the National Statistics Offi ce Georgia or not is hard to say as the doc- do not coincide. And the difference is umentation proving this has yet to be vast: as much as 600 thousand people. published by the Offi ce. If we take into The data from the Ministry suggests that consideration the results that Georgian there are 3.5 million voters, while the Dream got in the last parliamentary elec- Statistics Offi ce says there are only 2.9 tions, we will see that 1,181.862 votes were million. enough to gain them a win, while the Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani held National Movement got 867,432, coming a special briefi ng last week at which she in at second place. As the politicians claim, announced the new data. 3,539.949 is exactly this 600 thousand difference might the number of voters that the Ministry become vital in the parliamentary elec- has sent to the Central Electoral Com- tions of 2016 and might even trigger a mittee. Tsulukiani said that this record revolutionary development to the events, shows 98 thousand fewer voters than similar to 2003. recorded earlier and that this brings the guilty of initiating an apartheid law. government wants them on the electoral attention to those details, the main thing The electoral procedures have become probability of so-called ‘dead souls’ being “Those 98 thousand voters that were list. The government got rid of them is what the pre-electoral situation looks more and more complicated from elec- listed, to the minimum. removed from the so-called registration through Tsulukiani, exactly because of like. They recognize that there is a big tion to election. The case of listing has If we take into consideration the 5% address were not listed in this database. their negativity,” Katsitadze declared. improvement in this regard and that the even produced a revolution: when in election barrier the participating elec- These are the voters who have sold their Members of the parliamentary major- pre-electoral situation is not ‘hysterical,’” autumn 2003, at the end of the faulty toral subjects need to overcome, then apartment for various reasons, bank ity also commented on the lists. Gia said Guguli Magradze. government under President Eduard 98 thousand votes is truly an impressive loans mainly. These people do have IDs, Zhorzholiani thinks that the difference The main surprise around this epic Shevardnadze, the lists were so messy figure. However, what the Minister but the government tells them: “You lost might come from the methodology used. electoral list was not in the Ministry of that you couldn’t even differentiate the boasted to doing was regarded as an your apartment, now you lose your right “I believe that the lists presented by the Justice, but in the National Statistics dead from the living. So, as things stand, illegal action by opponents. The Chair- to vote.” The voters from this category Electoral Committee correspond to the Offi ce. A few days before the briefi ng by it’s not totally unimaginable that we man of the political party New Rights, are the ones who protest the most, the rules with which these lists were to be the Minister, the Offi ce published the might witness another revolution this Mamuka Katsitadze, declared Tsulukiani ones who lost their apartment, and no defi ned,” he said. “Americans do not pay results of General Census 2015, the data autumn. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 POLITICS 5 Former NATO Ambassador Urges Alliance to Counter Russian Narrative

BY NANA SAJAIA, VOICE OF AMERICA GEORGIAN SERVICE

ATO should actively counter the Kremlin’s claim that the Western military alliance is expanding with the aim of threatening Russia, says a former US ambassador to NATO. NRussia’s new national security strategy, signed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year, identifi es NATO expansion as the number one threat to Rus- sia. It says that the alliance, led by the United States, is intensifying military activities in NATO member countries and “moving military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders.” The Russian strategy paper also claims that, by implementing a “policy of con- tainment of Russia” through “political, economic, military and informational pressure,” NATO is Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker “attempting to maintain dominance in global affairs.” defend itself and its citizens; it claims that there Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker was a coup d’état in Ukraine and NATO was push- says that the Kremlin is continually pressing its ing Ukraine into NATO and Russia had to intervene narrative against the West, claiming that NATO in order to save Ukraine. All of this is completely broke its promises to Russia. wrong, completely false.” “Russia has this narrative that NATO promised Volker says if NATO lets this narrative stand to never expand and never to put military infra- without a forceful Western response, it will give structure on the territory of new members,” Volker the impression that the Kremlin’s argument has told VOA’s Georgian service. “Russia feels that merit. NATO is threatening Russia and it has the right to Continued on page 4 GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS MAY 6 - 9, 2016 Former NATO Ambassador Urges Alliance to Counter Russian Narrative Continued from page 5

He is urging NATO to take a unifi ed stance and develop a clear strategy toward Russia at its War- saw meeting in July.

RUSSIA CHANGES THE EQUATION Mamuka Tsereteli, director of the Central Asia and Caucasus Institute, a Washington-based think tank, says Russia’s strategy towards the West has changed signifi cantly in the past decade. “Russia is trying to change the European security architecture,” he told VOA. “In this new environ- ment, Russia would like to have a veto right on every country’s decision to join NATO or the Euro- pean Union. This is a violation of those countries’ sovereign rights to choose their future. Russia is trying to get consent from the West on this approach.” In the NATO-Russia Founding Act, signed on May 27, 1997, the alliance agreed that “in the current and foreseeable security environment,” NATO will carry out its collective defense mission using exist- ing military infrastructure “rather than by additional permanent stationing of substantial combat forces.” Since then, the security environment has changed dramatically. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia and recognized two of its regions – Abkhazia and South discuss these issues publicly. Ossetia – as independent states. In 2015, it annexed “Our leaders tend to duck away from these issues,” Crimea. The Kremlin has been supporting separa- Volker said. “They do not want to provoke a con- tists in eastern Ukraine for more than two years. frontational atmosphere with Russia, whereas Rus- In addition, Russia has violated many of the agree- sia is quite happy to have a confrontational atmos- ments signed with the West, including the Charter phere…By acceding Russia’s argument, or letting of Paris for a New Europe, the Vienna Document, the Russian narrative stand, it gives an appearance the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, the of credence to that narrative. It is very important Budapest Memorandum, and others. for Western leaders to push back very forcibly Volker says it is important to explain that NATO instead.” is a defensive alliance that is not threatening any- The Warsaw Summit is scheduled to take place one, and that NATO enlargement is a long process July 8-9. in which free people in independent countries work together to build their own security – not a NATO- A Georgian version of this story can be found at: led effort to acquire territories to encircle Russia. http://www.amerikiskhma.com/a/ceec-russia-nato-event- The West, he says, should continue to explain and at-senate/3297235.html GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 POLITICS 7 Remembering the Lone Wolf of Ichkeria

the small nations that languished under BY NICHOLAS WALLER Moscow’s rule have either died out or degenerated into intractable frozen con- fl icts and self-serving proxy wars. wenty years after Dzhokhar The Chechens’ inability to build the Dudayev’s death, Chechn- vital institutions that would have legiti- ya’s fi rst president remains mized their drive to form a proper state a powerful symbol of a time doomed their cause and their attempts when long-suppressed to gain international recognition after Tnational cultures burst into the open Dudayev’s death in April 1996. from the ashes of the Soviet Union. Dudayev’s emergence as a symbol of After nearly two decades spent in national liberation was unexpected. He various parts of the old Soviet Union, was a charismatic and fl amboyant leader one of the most enduring lessons that I, with his Clark Gable pencil-thin mous- as an outsider, quickly learned is that tache, perfectly pressed suits and long recent memory is relative in this region soliloquies on his nation’s historical of the world. destiny. Dudayev was the fi rst Chechen During the last week of April, two sig- in the Soviet Union’s history to become nificant anniversaries passed. Both a general, commanding a strategic bomber observed with wildly different degrees wing at the young age of 36. of fanfare as April 26 marked the 30th The Chechens and other Muslim pop- anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear ulations of the North Caucasus were disaster. Most of the international com- historically mistrusted and discriminated munity took the time to commemorate against by their Russian masters. the event and honor the tens of thou- Dudayev’s ability to shatter the ethnic sands of courageous souls who braved stereotype of Chechens was, in itself, no the horrors of a thermonuclear fi re to small feat. combat the world’s worst environmental His rise to the top of the Soviet military disaster. hierarchy and eventually to the presi- Five days before the Chernobyl com- dency of a tiny unrecognized Caucasus memoration, the 20th anniversary of the state was a meteoritic rise for a man who death of Chechnya’s fi rst president, had been deported with the rest of the Dzhokhar Dudayev, passed with little Chechen population in 1944, the year of notice. his birth, to the barren steppes of Kazakh- Though no less important in the recent stan. history of the region, Dudayev’s death Accused by Joseph Stalin of having and the subsequent failed attempt to collaborated with Nazi Germany, the Dzhokhar Dudayev in the Grozny Presidential Palace,Dec. 1994. Source: Associated Press carve out a functioning Chechen state, deportation killed a quarter of the love for Russian culture and language. Academy near Moscow - and later mar- General Dudayev had learned Estonian signalled the end of the post-Soviet Chechen population and added a par- Amused journalists who reported from ried a beautiful Russian poetess named and showed remarkable tolerance for period when wildly ambitious and often ticularly dark chapter in the 300 years Grozny at the start of the 1994-1996 First Alla. the small Baltic State’s growing nation- equally chaotic national liberation move- of enmity between the Chechens and Chechen War noted his fondness for He played scrupulously by the rules alism. Defying direct orders from Mos- ments sought to fi nd their place in the their Russian colonizers. quoting literary giants Mikhail Lermon- throughout his air force career and won cow, he allowed pro-independence Esto- world. Dudayev’s boyhood experience as an tov and Alexander Pushkin while the admiration from senior commanders for nians to demonstrate near his base and Twenty years on, most of the individ- exile - like many of those who would Russian air force carpet-bombed his his bombing tactics in Afghanistan. But refused to shut down Estonian television uals who were key contributors to the later join the Chechen independence besieged capital city outside. his allegiance to the Soviet state began stations and the new national parliament early 1990s independence movements movement - left an indelible mark. For Dudayev graduated from one of the to waiver in the late 1980s while com- comprised of democratically elected have all but been forgotten. And their most of his life, however, he was a thor- Soviet Union’s most prestigious military manding a strategic nuclear bomber unit anti-Communist deputies. romantic notions of independence for oughly Soviet man who professed his schools - the Yuri Gagarin Air Force in Tartu, Estonia. Continued on page 8 GEORGIA TODAY 8 POLITICS MAY 6 - 9, 2016 Remembering the Lone Wolf of Ichkeria Chechnya’s independence movement has died out The group continues to use Dudayev’s green Chechen fi ghter outside the Grozny’s or pushed to the fringes after many of its combat- Ichkerian fl ag, emblazoned with a lone wolf - a destroyed Presidential Palace, Jan. 1995. ants resorted to desperate acts of cruel terrorism. symbol that Dudayev himself chose - as the bat- Photo: Mikhail Evstafi ev Dudayev’s legacy as a tenacious, and at times talion’s colors. It is the same banner that fl ew over ruthless, defender of his people’s struggle has found the presidential palace during the horrifi c Battle a new audience in Ukraine after Moscow invaded of Grozny in 1995. and annexed the Crimean Peninsula and militarily Osmayev and the dozens of other Chechens who intervened in the country’s eastern Donbass region. fi ght on Kiev’s side in their on going war against Veteran Chechen fi ghters serve in a Ukrainian Russia, hope to one day return to their homeland Army battalion bearing Dudayev’s name and led and resurrect Dudayev’s dream of an independent by British-educated Grozny native, Adam Osmayev. Chechnya.

The Flight You Deserve BY AIR GEORGIA! International charter flights throughout

Continued from page 7 Russian bombardments. Gamsakhurdia’s remains the Caucasus region, Europe and Asia! were then returned to Georgia in 2007 and given This overt expression of nationalism triggered a state funeral by former President Mikheil Saakash- the nationalist in Dudayev’s character. As Moscow vili. lost control of the Baltic States, Dudayev retired By December 1994, Russia’s patience with Dudayev’s and went home to Chechnya and became the leader rebel republic had come to a head. Chechnya’s of the pro-independence National Congress of the crime-ridden economy was in ruins and its open Chechen People. borders with neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan Shortly after the abortive August 1991 coup against threatened Russia’s fragile fi nancial stability. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Dudayev Moscow’s decision to invade Chechnya and mil- deposed the Communist leadership in Chechnya itarily oust Dudayev from power was a fi asco that and was elected as president of the republic in cost the lives of tens of thousands of Chechens and November of that year. Russians. Their genocidal campaign to extinguish He quickly declared Chechnya independent from Chechnya’s independence movement reduced Russia and set the fl edgling country on a collision Grozny to a gruesome vision of hell on Earth. course with Moscow. Holed up in Grozny’s presidential palace, Dudayev’s Dudayev proved to be a controversial leader in single-minded stubbornness kept the Chechen Everywhere in a radius of 1500km! the three years between 1991-1994 when Chechnya resistance alive as it was continuously pounded by enjoyed de facto independence from Moscow. waves of Russian armor and air force attacks, but 3 hour non-stop fl ights! Backed by a robust security service and heavily all the while infl icting massive casualties on Mos- armed militias, Dudayev was able to suppress dis- cow’s beleaguered forces. Price samples for Your Private VIP Jet: sent and unrest in the republic and thwart Russia’s After two years of fi ghting and with his troops many attempts to overthrow him. driven into the same isolated mountain passages Tbilisi-Yerevan-Tbilisi: 3,500$ He struggled to gain international recognition that their forefathers had used as cover against the Tbilisi-Batumi-Tbilisi: 4,000$ from the start. No other foreign leader, except tsar’s armies a century before, Dudayev was killed Georgia’s controversial fi rst post-Soviet president, by a missile strike in April 1996 when Russia’s FSB Tbilisi-Baku-Tbilisi: 5,000$

Zviad Gamsakhurdia, recognized Dudayev’s newly security services honed in on his mobile phone named Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. signal. Share between 6 passengers: 5 VIP seats + 1 extra. Georgia and Chechnya often had a contentious Though his army would regroup and recapture and strained relationship in their early days of Grozny later that summer, Dudayev’s death was Don’t waste time waiting for regular economy fl ights- order Your Private VIP fl ight ANY TIME! independence. With the outbreak of war in Geor- the end of an era when the Soviet Union’s smaller gia’s Abkhazia region, Dudayev sent his most able nationalities dared openly to defy their former Just let us know when and where on: [email protected] fi eld commander, Shamil Basayev, to fi ght against imperial masters in the Kremlin. Georgian government forces. Basayev’s troops Inspired by the era’s mantra of perestroika and played a key role in helping the Russians and Abk- glasnost, Dudayev’s rise to prominence came at a haz rebel forces capture the region’s capital Sukhumi time when a whole host of charismatic and highly in 1993. controversial national leaders emerged from behind Dudayev, however, honored Gamsakhurdia’s rec- the crowd of grey bureaucrats that made up most ognition by allowing the disgraced ex-poet to take of the Soviet elite. refuge in Grozny after he was ousted from power That time has passed into the annals of history, in a coup in early 1992. After Gamsakhurdia was largely forgotten in the West and erased from the killed following his return to Georgia in December consciousness of the people who were intended 1993, Dudayev had his body interred in Grozny, to be the benefi ciaries of Dudayev’s and his con- where it was later buried in rubble from constant temporaries’ efforts. GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 POLITICS 9 Shifting Confl ict and Security Dynamics in the Caucasus

International experts during the GFSIS panel discussion. Photo: Meri Biniashvili

Georgia-Ukraine and Azerbaijan confl icts as they BY ZVIAD ADZINBAIA are driven by the Russian side. The experts agreed that there is no low cost solution and international community language in the process, including he Georgian Foundation for Strategic that of the OSCE, should be less timid. and International Studies (GFSIS) In his speech, Michael Cecire, Associate Scholar hosted a conference last Friday, April at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. spoke of 29, to discuss Confl ict and Security the enhanced cooperation between Georgia and Dynamics in the Caucasus. the US in military and intelligence spheres. At the TThe EU-fi nanced assembly brought together same time, the expert noted that while interest- leading analysts and scholars from Europe, Geor- ing, the Caspian oil and gas products are not a gia and beyond as well as representatives of the game-changing factor for the West and the over- international community, including Magdalena all concentration of western countries in the Cau- Grono, Europe and Central Asia Program Direc- casus region is declining. tor of the International Crisis Group. Panel speaker Nigar Goksel, Senior Analyst at In his introduction, Kakha Gogolashvili, a Senior Turkey’s International Crisis Group discussed Fellow and Director of EU Studies at GFSIS, Turkey’s engagement in the region, stating that, touched upon the confl ict situation in the Cauca- as the Syria crisis is the key diffi culty for Turkey sus and spoke on some key factors of Russia, Tur- to deal with, the country is unable to show an key and Iran in the process of peace and stability active role in the Caucasus. Richard Giragosian, in the region. Director at Regional Studies Center added to this Tom de Waal, Senior Associate at Carnegie point by emphasizing that Turkey’s declining Endowment for International Peace, went on to engagement in diplomatic and political processes describe the Nagorno Karabakh confl ict and the in the Caucasus should be reconsidered in the recent escalation of the dispute between Azerbai- future. jan and Armenia, underlining the importance of The event was co-organized by the GFSIS (Ron- the Minsk Group, which is ‘less active and infl u- deli Foundation) and the Stockholm International ential than it should be.’ “When a proposal is made Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). within the Minsk Group meetings, it is relatively easy for one of the parties to reject it,” de Waal ANALYSIS BY GEORGIA said, going on to describe the existing situation TODAY’S ZVIAD ADZINBAIA in the confl ict transformation as ‘poverty in peace The Caucasus region, with its chequered past, has processes.’ often been a battlefi eld for diverse regional pow- Discussions regarding Georgia’s occupied regions ers, currently representing Iran, Turkey and Rus- and restoration of the Incident Prevention and sia. The three countries, former empires, sought Response Mechanism (IPRM) at meetings in the to gain infl uence in the West and East, with Geor- Gali region were said to be a positive sign. The gia representing a geographical crossroad for decision to restore IPRM meetings in Gali was them. Hence, Georgia, ‘stuck’ between these giants, made in March at the 35th round of the Geneva has experienced a myriad of interventions, assim- International Discussions. However, Russia’s key ilations, annexations or other kinds of existential role in protracting the confl icts of Abkhazia and threats. South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region was accentuated. In this current era, as Georgia is relatively pro- Some experts noted major similarities between tected by International Law and her partners, such as the US and the EU, it has become a diffi cult task for a regional force to enter the country and occupy it in spite of strategic aspirations. How- ever, these circumstances did little to contain Russia from occupying 20 percent of Georgia’s territory and further invading Georgia in August 2008. The Minsk Group is Moreover, Iran, following the western-lifted sanctions, is expected to reengage greatly in the less active and region in the foreseeable future. Even if the his- torical sentiments of Iran, Turkey or Russia may infl uential than it have, as some think, been rehabilitated, the region of the Caucasus still remains in the midst of diver- should be gences between the current regional powers. Scandalous Details from the London Trial of Vano Chkhartishvili have never seen any proof that any other from the Georgian criminal law per- BY MAIA MISHELADZE HOW DID CHKHARTISHVILI ACQUIRE BADRI person apart from Badri was the even- spective- money laundering and cor- PATARKATSISHVILI’S SHARES? tual owner of Nile Trust activities, ruption, which is a punishable action The verdict of Judge Peter Smith reads including companies. Before the com- and is subject to imprisonment. This he dispute of the Badri that the plaintiff gave power of attorney panies asked me to give testimony for conclusion was made by the judge Patarkatsishvili family to Giorgi Kavtaradze, a Georgian lawyer this dispute, I had never heard the name after interrogation about the episodes against businessman who was known to Badri Patarkatsish- of Vano Chkhartishvili and knew noth- of the Tbilisi universal store purchase Vano Chkhartishvili is vili and who started working for Vano During the entire ing about his existence.” and its alienation by Chkhartishvili, approaching its end with Chkhartishvili. He was given the right The plaintiffs presented signifi cant Chkhartishvili claimed of the build- theT family having won the court case to manage the property and activities interrogation documentation to the London court, ing purchased by Patarkatsishvili for in Great Britain. Chkhartishvili tried of the plaintiffs. Chkhartishvili assigned which undermined Chkhartishvili’s USD 900 thousand that he paid part to appeal the lost case but the court Kavtaradze the task of using the power process you have position. In the end, they presented of it - USD 450 thousand with the prohibited his doing so. The losing of attorney to transfer shares from documentation created for the Liech- amount that he kept in a safe and side is now appealing the prohibition plaintiffs to his own property or com- been trying to tenstein bodies and signed by Badri another half taken as a loan from the at a higher instance court in London. panies controlled by him. Plaintiffs say Patarkatsishvili. bank. At that time an MP, Chkhartish- However, before that, let’s have a look that he did not pay anything to transfer convince me that The main witness of Chkhartishvili vili has not indicated this amount in at what happened at the London court. ownership of the shares and that the was Joseph Key who has been prohib- his property declaration. This is what The trial took place in Great Britain majority of the transfers were made in Georgia ited from fi ling a suit to the British Judge Smith writes in his conclusion: and was on-going for 20 days, led by within one month of Badri Patarkatsish- courts. Judge Peter Smith evaluated the “As a political fi gure, there was an “lie detector” Judge Peter Smith, judge vili’s death. robbing a testimonies and evidence of the defend- expectation that Vano would submit of the Royal Court of Justice, world ant side in the following way: the property declaration. In the dec- famous for judging high profi le cases. ACTIVITIES THAT WERE THE deceased friend “In my opinion, witnesses called by laration of 2004 or 2005, he would Judge Smith’s portfolio includes a SUBJECT OF THE DISPUTE: Vano Chkhartishvili were inadequate refl ect the purchased real estate and variety of well-known “white collar” Blue Tropic owned a 92.85% share of is a common and some obviously undermined Vano’s declare cash, which he did not do. He cases starting from the Qatar Royal the Georgian company JSC Poti Mill, testimony, especially Joseph Key who either violated Georgian law or lied Family and ending with the bestseller registered on the Georgian stock tradition was characterized in the fi nal testimony to me.” “Da Vinci Code.” Authors of the Patar- exchange. According to the plaintiffs, of plaintiffs as a well-known swindler The majority of deals about owner- katsishvili suit at the London court on March 5, 2008, Giorgi Kavtaradze, and as having been was in court at the ship rights or share management were companies owned by the Patar- following the instructions of Vano On December 30, 2004, with a real expense of the Badri Patarkatsishvili authority reinforcement were made katsishvili family – ‘Blue Tropic Ltd’ Chkhartishvili, put the shares up for estate purchase agreement, ‘Coppella’ family, in order to build self-PR. Vano quickly a short time following Badri and ‘Coppella Ventures Ltd.’ The sale at 4.95 Gel each. On the same day bought 3,577 sq.m. land in Lilo for 200 Chkhartishvili called Mr. Key even Patarkatsishvili’s death. At a London defendant was a former business part- the shares were bought by the company thousand USD from Zurab Alavidze and though he knew that in various courts court, Vano Chkhartishvili explained ner of Badri Patarkatsishvili, Ivane ‘Sonata Alliance Group Ltd’ registered ‘GEDEONI LLC’ along with the 610.9 of the world there were condemnatory that he did this in order to save the (Vano) Chkhartishvili who was inter- in Georgia, which is owned by ‘Sonata sq.m. buildings on this land and the 138 decisions against him. Based on all that, property. However, after hearing tens rogated by Judge Smith for four days. Alliance Inc’ a company registered on sq.m. land plot on Kolmeurneoba Square, the conclusion is that Key in fact is not of witnesses, and reviewing much evi- the Seychelles Islands, in the benefi ciary Tbilisi, for USD 100 thousand . a trustworthy witness.” dence, Judge Peter Smith concluded: WHAT IS THE CASE ownership of Vano Chkhartishvili and On August 16, 2006, Giorgi Kavtaradze Judge Smith also outlines: “As for ALL ABOUT AND WHO his family members. in the name of ‘Kopela,’ signed a real Chkhartishvili, Vano gave testimony IS INVOLVED? The ‘Coppella’ fraud: ‘Coppella’ had, estate purchase agreement, with which for almost four days; he was counter The suit concerned real estate in Geor- in 2004, purchased a universal store ‘Kopela’ alienated the abovementioned interrogated by lawyer Smouha. He gia and shares in companies registered building located in Tbilisi, at 2/4 real estate to ‘Sonata Alliance Georgia said that debts of Poti Tsiskvilkarkhana in Georgia. According to the documen- Rustaveli Ave., from Zurab Alavidze Ltd’ and to the company ‘Management made up USD 5 million, the purchase tation, shares in the plaintiff companies and ‘GEDEONI LLC’ for USD 900 thou- Consulting’ owned by Vano Chkhar- was made quickly without checking are owned by the discretional ‘Nile sand. On 17 August 2007 Universal tishvili. The latter sold property to the proper legal and fi nancial situa- Trust,’ among benefi ciary owners of Store was sold to ‘Movat Georgia’ for ‘Smart Group,’ in which at that time 51% tion. Creditors, once fi nding out that Some [witnesses] which was Arkadi (Badri) Patarkatsish- USD 12 mln 275 thousand. ‘Movat Geor- of shares were owned by Vano Chkhar- the owner of the control package of vili, the Georgian billionaire who died gia’ transferred the money to the Geor- tishvili and 49% by his son Mikheil shares was billionaire Badri Patarkat- undermined in February 2008 leaving property to gian branch bank account of ‘Coppella,’ Chkhartishvili. On March 6, 2008, Giorgi sishvili, started bothering him and his widow and daughters. Ivane Chkhar- which was opened at TBC Bank. Thir- Kavtaradze signed another purchase organizing protest rallies in front of Vano’s testimony, tishvili is a Georgian businessman and teen days later, on August 2007, Giorgi agreement in the name of ‘Kopela’ with his house. This is why there was an former state offi cial who had business Kavtaradze, following instructions of which ‘Kopela’ alienated the land in Lilo agreement that he would be respon- especially Joseph relations with Badri Patarkatsishvili. Vano Chkhartishvili, transferred USD along with buildings on it to ‘Sonata sible for the development of Poti Tsis- 10 million from the amount received as Alliance Georgia Ltd’ for GEL 361 thou- kvilkarkhana and the profi t would be Key who was a result of this sale, from the account sand. In this case again, the property shared 50/50…” of ‘Coppella’ to the account of ‘Sonata was sold at a very low price and the Judge Peter Smith writes in his con- characterized in Alliance Inc.’ amount was not paid. clusion: “Based on Vano’s testimony I On January 17, 2007, ‘Kopela’ purchased Chkhartishvili does not object that fi nally conclude that benefi ciary owner the fi nal testimony a 100% share of ‘Georgian Tobacco some of the mentioned deals truly took of the Poti Tsiskvilkarkhana was Badri Manufacturing LLC’ registered on the place but he puts under question the but he gave Vano the authority to man- of plaintiffs as a The majority of Virginia Islands of Britain from Avtandil outcomes and demands put forward by age the company and receive 50% of Tsereteli. At the end of 2007, upon Vano the Badri Patarkatsishvili family. profi t as a salary. Vano had not invested well-known deals about Chkhartishvili’s instructions, Giorgi The conclusion of the judge reads: any money in the Poti Tsiskvilkarkhana Kavtaradze, in the name of ‘Kopela,’ “The entire documentation proves that and eventually became the benefi ciary swindler ownership rights signed the purchase agreement of the activities behind these companies in owner of it. I do not share his testimony. shares, according to which, ‘Kopela’ the end were subordinate to offshore In my opinion, Vano made up the tes- “Vano appropriated illegally. Accord- or share sold its shares of the ‘Georgian Tobacco trusts (company, which conducts medi- timony to show that he took the respon- ing to English law, this is illegal Production’ to ‘Sonata Alliance Georgia’ atory functions and is based on trust sibility and deals were changed. Before appropriation but there has been no management for GEL 107,170. On June 3, 2008, ‘Sonata relations), the eventual benefi ciary that, in the project, Badri invested the material demand in this dispute, Alliance Georgia’ sold shares of the owner of which was Badri Patarkatsish- money and the work was done by Vano. which is a ground of suit considered authority ‘Georgian Tobacco Production’ to ‘Smart vili, which is proven by the following This was an attempt to justify appro- by British law. It should be confi rmed Group.’ At present, 100% share of Smart documentation. On October 24, 2007, priation of all shares. In my opinion, that Vano’s action is illegal and suits reinforcement Group is owned by a Panama company Badri Patarkatsishvili was assigned by deals related to the Poti Tsiskvilkarkhana on possible illegal actions like this called Pasquino Management Corp. At the Liechtenstein law (based on which were just as the plaintiffs described. In are not limited with the aging con- were made the time of sale-purchase it was owned ‘Miselva’ was registered) to indicate particular, Badri invested the initial straints in Georgia.” by: 51% Natia Chkhartishvili (Vano’s benefi ciary owners of the plaintiff. He amount of USD 1.5 million and this Judge Peter Smith gave a hard verdict quickly a short daughter) and 49% Mikheil Chkhar- and Mr. Baker signed legal status dec- company was in his ownership through to Chkhartishvili – he is required to tishvili (Vano’s son). larations. Baker is a higher court lawyer Nile Trust. Vano’s task was to receive reimburse all costs of the court trial time following Before March 2008, ‘Coppella’ owned of England and Wales and works as a half of the profi t after paying the credit in London, which might total several 66% of shares in ‘PrometCo’ as well as professional attorney of the owner. Cur- of Badri.” million USD. However, no less hard Badri ‘JSCo.’ Each share was sold to ‘Sonata rently, he is the managing director of This is how Vano Chkhartishvili is was the moral verdict of the judge: Alliance Georgia Ltd’ for GEL 66 thou- the specialized trust company of Liech- evaluated in the fi nal decision of the “During the entire interrogation pro- Patarkatsishvili’s sand. The shares were sold at a signifi - tenstein, which was earlier called ‘Mis- judge. cess you have been trying to convince cantly lower price and again, the amount elva Establishment.’ Judge Peter Smith raised the question me that in Georgia robbing a deceased death was not paid. In his testimony, Baker explains: “I as to whether Vano’s conduct was legal friend is a common tradition.” GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 SOCIETY 11 Nothing We Can’t Escape: The Easter Epistle

The Epistle openly emphasizes the activity is one of the greatest obligations importance of employment and says our people have, says the Patriarch. with no reservation that all will be good Indeed it is! This must be a purely gov- with us if people have access to jobs ernmental sphere of obligation and that can support them and their fami- society might only have a correct atti- lies. One of the points of major concern tude towards what the State is doing. in the Epistle is the problem with kids Men and women in the street could living on the streets and who should certainly afford alms for those kids, but not be left to the discretion of street nobody is sure about the moral side of rules and lifestyle. My interpretation of this kind of charity – would this be a this part of the Patriarch’s Easter appeal right thing to do or not? Let the dead to His wide parish, comprising the entire bury their own dead, as the Bible says, nation, is that part of the country’s which, to my mind, means that our needs potential might be in the children who have to be taken care of accordingly, are today left to the mercy of the street but not neglecting our spiritual calling but tomorrow might present themselves in the meantime. And the fi nal accord to our society as honest taxpayers and of the Easter Epistle: there is no situa- movers of the nation forward. Includ- tion you can’t escape – simple but truly ing those wayward kids into useful encouraging!

The Georgian Orthodox Patriarch delivers his Easter Epistle

ing candles on Easter or Christmas night the act of repentance has its particular OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE is not enough to be a good Christian. manning in our existence. Unless the faith – no matter how strong Another precept which I heard in the it might be – is supported by wits to Epistle: we have to get closer to God! ood things are well appre- understand and willingness to listen to This should partly mean, as I under- ciated in this culture and sermons and epistles, the efforts of a stood, that we are not capable of getting bad ones are taken with spiritual leader are doomed to be in rid of our sinister disposition, being the fear and apprehension. vain and will never trickle down to an slaves of our unbridled passions. We We are emotionally moti- acceptable human behavior in favor of need to learn how to observe our own vatedG and impulsively operating folks, society in general and a churchgoer in conduct in general and how to practice and this is either good or bad – I don’t particular. analytical thinking, discerning clearly really know. One of the Patriarch’s valuable mes- between good and evil. His Holiness What I know for sure is that we are sages was that sin has not only a perni- said that living righteously means suc- oversensitive in our reactions to some- cious but also a destructive infl uence cessfully merging in ourselves our body else’s words and behavior and on us. We need to hear this on an eve- physical, mental and spiritual lives. blunder-prone in judgments, especially ryday basis, because even if we are It is also noted in the Epistle that we in quick ones. We are Christians –Ortho- aware of the destructive nature our sins, should not get used to a blurry and dox – who diligently go to church and we are still headed for it either con- confused way of thinking and must not listen to sermons and epistles as they sciously or unconsciously because this use vulgar language to express ourselves. occur, but I am not sure how well we is a regular and hardly avoidable human How timely and relevant a remark! Our are learning from those inspirational proclivity. Who would know better than society is unwittingly, if not deliberately, precepts. us how sinful we have been or are pres- destroying the Georgian language – its The other day, I watched and listened ently? And although it is said that the strength and fl exibility, its richness and – on the television– to the Patriarch’s sin confessed is a sin redressed, its effect loftiness, its inner depth and the poten- Easter Epistle and I came under the may not be remedied that easily. Some- tial to serve the nation in every possible impression that the ideas sounded in it body has to be instilling the sin’s con- respect, and make us feel proud because were very much part of our contempo- sequences in our minds on a regular we are one of those nations of the world rary secular life and absolutely fi t into basis. This is exactly what the Patriarch who use their own tongue and writing. the model of rational human behavior is doing by emphasizing the destructive We hear and read vulgarisms in the which we lack here in Georgia. It character of our sins. It is obvious that street, on the television and radio, in occurred to me that standing in church not sinning is a far better idea than fi rst newspapers and magazines, which do for hours faithfully holding long burn- sinning and then confessing it, although us no credit or honor.

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 SOCIETY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 A Likely Gamble: Mestia, Svaneti

along. Roza and Vitia have decided to expand, in BY TONY HANMER a big way, by building their own hotel in Mestia. The guest house has done well, growing in popu- larity and success year after year, and this is a don’t go to Mestia much at the moment, as logical next step. my car’s in need of some repairs and most It’s one which must put quite a lot of stress their of our shopping is best done lower down, way, I would think, judging by the scale of it: a three where things are quite a bit cheaper. But story building with more than twenty bedrooms, when I do fi nd myself there, if I have time I most with ensuite bathrooms, as well as a restau- Ialways try to catch up with old friends from my rant and a separate sauna. Nice piece of land, with years in Svaneti and especially from the school good views of the town and surrounding mountains, year my wife and I spent there before moving to no possibility of the immediate views being blocked. Etseri. Some fruit trees going in too, for shade, and patio Our main hosts there were Vitia Chartolani and seating as well as some really nice large windows his wife Roza Shukvani, who run Roza’s guest house. from the restaurant via which to sample those I have written about them here several times before, landscapes. about how wonderful our months with them were I have also written about a certain well-renovated and the lasting friendship we have made with their large hotel in the town, which though beautifully very kind family. done was a major disappointment on more than This last visit was a few weeks ago, my fi rst oppor- one occasion in terms of service. I complained, tunity to see how their new venture is coming not in angry tones but to say, You need to know

that this type of thing will only hurt your PR, so Now, when Mestia is without the attention of please improve it. I don’t expect that Roza and Saakashvili and his frequent, highly energetic vis- her people will have similar issues with their ven- its and renovation projects, when many people are ture, as they were unfailingly superb in serving indeed wondering what will happen next- parila- us and making us feel at home. This, I think, has mentary elections in the fall, big ramifi cations- Roza been a huge reason for their rise to the top in and Vitia are saying, We will push forward with Mestia’s fi ercely competitive hospitality business our dreams. Not that we need to become million- of the last few years since Saakashvili fi rst rolled aires, but we’ve found something we’re good at and in for business. have a passion for. I can only agree with them and This article isn’t just a plug for some of my favorite wish them every success, because I expect that people in Mestia. It’s to say that they believe that their fl ourishing will indeed have a positive effect what they are doing can be not only successful but on the whole of Mestia. Go for it! also meaningful. It can affect the mood and atmos- phere of the whole place, inspiring others to dare, Tony Hanmer runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook hiring quite a number of other people in construc- group, now with over 1300 members, at tion, fi nishing, service, interpretation, guiding, and www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ so on. My wife and I felt the same about our little He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: shop experiment in Etseri; about which more soon. www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

Contact: www.edelbrand.ge Phone: 599 461908

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 CULTURE 13 International Jazz Day – Easter Gift from the Ministry of Culture

cert,” he said, going on to reveal a fan- tastic piece of news: “We have received e-mails from UNESCO informing us that Tbilisi is being discussed in the fi rst category of potential venues for the next International Jazz Day. If not in 2017, hopefully, this will happen in 2018.” ”It is already a ritual to celebrate Inter- national Jazz Day annually. This is our victory,” said Gaioz Kandelaki, ‘godfather’ of jazz in Georgia. “Where before I was coming to jazz concerts with my friends, now one of them has brought his grand- daughter with him. Even back in 1989, when we had a festival in Tbilisi, we saw great interest from the Georgian youth, Photo by Gela Bedianashvili however, due to the subsequent wars, it fell out of the schedule. Now, we have musicians following in the footsteps of two great festivals (Tbilisi and Black BY MAKA LOMADZE their countrymen Arturo Sandoval, Sea) that are included in the lists of many Paquito D’Rivera, Ignacio Berroa, and civilized countries.” others, creating a multicolored and rich GEORGIA TODAY also spoke to Dini hey say there are very few musical heritage within the last 5 years, Virsaladze, famous female jazz pianist: countries where so many included in around 150 albums. “Rubalcaba is one of my favorite per- youngsters go to jazz concerts As a prologue to the main show, at the formers. He was here quite recently and as they do in Georgia. This Event Hall, the Orchestra of the National gave a great concert and a master-class. is the victory of Georgian Plural Guards under the Armed Forces I’m very happy that this time he is with Tjazzmen who risked their lives and posi- performed such popular jazz hits as: ‘In a band who are stars in their own right.” tions, who did not fear the Soviet years the Mood’ by Joe Garland, ‘Blue Rondo This was the 5th anniversary since Irina and held jazz concerts from the late 1970s. a La Turke’ by Dave Brubeck, and ‘Can- Bokova and Herbie Hancock founded The tradition is continued by the latest taloupe Island’ by Herbie Hancock. the International Jazz Day. The hub of FOR SALE: BMW – 321 model generation. In November 2011, the United “We all want to live in a jazz world the event was Washington DC and namely Date of issue 1936 Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cul- where we all work together, improvise the White House, where President Obama PRICE 10.000 USD tural Organization (UNESCO) offi cially together, and are not afraid of taking and the First Lady of the United States designated April 30th as International Jazz chances and expressing ourselves,” says hosted outstanding global stars: Herbie Day in order to highlight jazz and its dip- Herbie Hancock, jazz guru, co-founder Hancock, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Diana lomatic role of uniting people from all of the International Jazz Day, and Ambas- Krall, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Hugh corners of the globe. In Georgia, Interna- sador of Goodwill of UNESCO. Masekela, and others. From this list, tional Jazz Day was also marked. Entrance to the gig was free. “Since almost all have been to Tbilisi. The event to celebrate International 2014, the Ministry has been an organizer The fi rst International Jazz Day was Jazz Day, a concert featuring ‘Volcan,’ and initiator of the Day,” Giorgi Aptsi- held in 2012 in Paris, New York and New was supported by the US Embassy in auri, Head of the Culture Popularization Orleans, annually shifting its central Georgia, the Ministry of Culture and Division under the Ministry of Culture place in different cities of the world, Monument Protection and Tbilisi City told us. “This year, there was a record hosting galas ample with legendary jazz Hall. The world-famous band ‘Volcan’ in terms of the number of countries musicians, singing about peace, toler- unites Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Grammy- which marked the Day – 196 in total. We ance and freedom. Last year, the Japanese CONTACT PERSON 557 12 38 90 award winning Afro-Cuban Pianist, Joze invited representatives of the central city Osaka hosted the main occasion Armando Gola on guitar, and Horacio authorities, diplomats, central and dedicated to the International Jazz Day. ‘El Negro’ Hernandez on drums- Cuban regional musicians to the Tbilisi con- Which city will be the next – Tbilisi? ‘Late Love’ by the Greatest Russian Realist Playwright

and who almost single-handedly created chant Ivan Shanin, and shoe-maker Ser- BY MAKA LOMADZE the Russian stage repertoire, is the author gey Volkov, all attracted by the idea of of 47 plays. Russian national revival (narodnost). It He was also considered to be a driving was then that Ostrovsky, initially a West- he Tbilisi Alexander Gri- force for the new, authentic Russian lit- ernizer, started to drift towards Slavo- boyedov State Russian erature. The so-called “Ostrovsky circle” philes. It was in the Rostopchina Salon Drama Theater will play united many of his non-literary friends, that he fi rst met the young Ivan Turgenev. host to a premiere of ‘Late among them actor Prov Sadovsky, musi- This weekend’s melodrama, staged by Love’ by famous Russian cian and folklorist Terty Filippov, mer- Nugzar Lortkipanidze, is in two acts. playwrightT Alexander Ostrovsky on May The stage painter is Jeiran Pachuashvili 6, 7 and 18. while the musical decoration belongs to Alexander Ostrovsky is the most fre- Giorgi Kakuberi. The actors are: Oleg quently read and staged dramatist in Mchedhlishvili, Natalia Voriniuk, Irina Russia, considered as the greatest rep- Kvijhinadze, Vasil Gabashvili, Dmitri resentative of Russian realism. Never- Sporishev, Irina Meghvinetukhutsesi, theless, unlike those of his contemporar- Zurab Chipashvili, Nana Darchiashvili, ies Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Turgenev, Mikheil Gavasheli, Davit Kotov, Demetre Ostrovsky’s works are little known out- Nakopia, and Vladimir Novosardov. side of Russian-speaking countries. The “I have tried to make the performance two that are fairly well-known in the look graphic and very simple, but at the West got there mostly because they were same time supreme and romantic,” says adapted for operas: ‘Katya Kabanova’ the director Nugzar Lortkipanidze. “What (based on ‘The Storm’), and ‘The Snow is the difference if the love is late or Maiden’ by Rimsky-Korsakov. Ostrovsky early? Those in love are always young. wrote mostly of the conservative ‘old However, with Ostrovsky, love is not late Russia’, the traditional Russian society— because the heroes are older, but because of the everyday life of merchants and they realized it later.” poor city dwellers— in short, the subjects that seemed to attract little interest in Start times: 18:00 the West. Ostrovsky, who lived in the Address: Rustaveli 2 19th century during the Russian Empire Ticket price: 5 Gel GEORGIA TODAY 14 CULTURE MAY 6 - 9, 2016

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATRE MOVEMENT THEATRE Genre: Drama, Romance Language: Russian ART PALACE Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Jeremy Irons, Start time: 12:00, 13:00, 16:1, 19:30, 22:35 Address: 6 Kargareteli Str. GABRIADZE THEATRE Mushthaid park Shauna Macdonald Ticket price: 8-14 Lari Telephone: 295 35 63 Address: 13 Shavtelis St. Telephone: 599 555 260 Language: Russian Telephone: 2 98 65 93 Start time: 16:10, 22:15 MUSEUM April 8 – May 8 May 6, 7 Ticket price: 11-16 Lari Exhibition May 7 INTRO GEORGIAN NATIONAL THE TREASURES FROM RAMONA Directed by Kakha Bakuradze MOTHER’S DAY MUSEUM GEORGIAN NOBLE FAMILIES SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Start time: 20:00 Directed by Garry Marshall Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. English Subtitles Ticket price: 15 Lari Genre: Comedy, Drama May 10- May 17 Start time: 20:00 Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 ANDRIS AND MARIA LIEPA’S Ticket price: 10, 15 Lari May 8 Hudson, Julia Roberts www.museum.ge EXHIBITION RECITATIVE IN THE CITY Language: Russian May 12 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Start time: 15:30 PERMANENT EXHIBITION: GALLERY THE AUTUMN OF MY SPRING Start time: 21:00 Ticket price: 9, 10 Lari GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY FROM 8TH MILLENNIUM B.C. Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Free Entry THE NATIONAL GALLERY TO 4TH CENTURY A.D English Subtitles THE MODEL Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 20:00 GEORGIAN STATE Directed by Mads Matthiesen www.museum.ge Ticket price: 10, 15 Lari PANTOMIME THEATRE Genre: Drama THE CAUCASUS NATURAL Address: 37 Rustaveli Ave. HISTORY MUSEUM Cast: Anders Frithiof August, Mads PERMANENT EXHIBITION Telephone: 2 99 63 14 COLLECTION RENEWED GRIBOEDOVI THEATRE Matthiesen Niko Pirosmanashvili, David EXHIBITION Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. Language: Russian Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili and Telephone: 2 93 43 36 May 6 Start time: 19:30 sculptor Iakob Nikoladze ST. GEORGE Ticket price: 11-12 Lari EXHIBITION OF GEORGIAN May 6, 7 Revaz Mishveladze WEAPONRY April 21 – May 10 LATE LOVE Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili RUSTAVELI CINEMA NUMISMATIC TREASURY F63.9 A. Ostrovsky Start time: 19:00 Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. The exhibition showcases a long EXHIBITION BY Language: Russian Ticket price: 10 Lari Telephone: 2 55 50 00 history of money circulation on the CONTEMPORARY ARTIST Start time: 18:00 www.kinoafi sha.ge territory of modern Georgia from Ticket price: 5 Lari May 10 the 6th century BC. to 1834. ZURAB ARABIDZE TERENTI GRANELI Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari May 8 Revaz Mishveladze MUSEUM OF SOVIET April 26 – May 11 EXHIBITION SCARLET SAIL Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili May 5-12 OCCUPATION Alexander Grin Start time: 19:00 Address: 3 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. “REVIVED HISTORY” Georgian National Museum’s Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Ticket price: 10 Lari CRIMINAL restored Jewish collections Language: Russian Directed by Ariel Vromen PERMANENT EXHIBITION Supported by Rothschild Grant Start time: 12:00 CINEMA Genre: Action, Crime, Drama Here, visitors can enjoy the State’s Ticket price: From 5 Lari Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan personal fi les of “subversive” Georgian public fi gures, orders to CHUBINASHVILI NATIONAL AMIRANI CINEMA Reynolds, Gal Gadot May 8 shoot or exile, and other artifacts RESEARCH CENTER Address: 36 Kostava St. Language: Russian VAUDEVILLE, VAUDEVILLE representing Soviet-era cultural Address: 9 Atoneli Str. Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Start time: 17:15 Directed by Vakhtang Nikolava and political repression in Georgia. Telephone: 2 93 15 38 www.kinoafi sha.ge Ticket price: 11-12 Lari Musical Comedy The exhibition hall is equipped Language: Russian with monitors where visitors can May 5-18 Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari BEFORE I WAKE Start time: 18:00 watch documentaries of various TAMAZ KHUTSISHVILI’S Directed by Mike Flanagan Ticket price: From 5 Lari historical events. PERSONAL EXHIBITION May 6-12 Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Kate TUMANISHVILI THEATRE IOSEB GRISHASHVILI TBILISI DIDI GALLERY Address: 164 D. Agmashenebeli Ave. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Bosworth, Thomas Jane HISTORY MUSEUM - Address: 36 Kostava Str. Telephone: 2 34 28 99; 2 35 70 13 Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Language: Russian KARVASLA www.tumanishvilitheatre.ge Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Start time: 20:15, 22:30 Address: 8 Sioni St. May 5-12 Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Ticket price: 13-14 Lari Telephone: 2 98 22 81 SANDRO ANTADZE’S SOLO May 6, 7, 8 Jr., Scarlett Johansson EXHIBITION * Premiere Language: English MOTHER’S DAY May 5-12 THE HIGH FLIGHT ZORN Start time: 18:45 (Info Above) PHOTO EXHIBITION BY AND MUSIC EVENT BY ETHNIC Language: Russian Language: Russian Nino Kharatishvili PROMINENT GEORGIAN AND WARRIORS Directed by Nino Kharatishvili Start time: 16:00, 18:45, 19:00, 22:15 Start time: 12:15, 22:00 DAGESTAN ARTIST MANABA Language: German Ticket price: 10-14 Lari Ticket price: 8-14 Lari MAGOMEDOVA MUSIC Georgian Subtitles The exhibition will feature about Start time: 20:00 THE CORRESPONDENCE CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR 70 photos shot in Dagestan and TBILISI CONCERT HALL Ticket price: 10 Lari Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore (Info Above) Georgia in 1950-1970. Address: 1 Melikishvili St. Telephone: 2 99 00 99

May 10 A STUDIO Start time: 20:00 Ticket price: 80-150

May 12 CONCERT SUPPORTING SINGER JABA BOJGUA Start time: 19:00 Ticket price: 10-20

TBILISI ART HALL Address: 26 Ts. Dadiani Ave. Telephone: 551 60 08 44

May 7 GOGOCHURI SISTERS SOLO CONCERT Start time: 18:00 Ticket price: 10 Lari

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

May 10, 12 JAM SESSION WITH RESO KIKNADZE QUINTET Start time: 21:00 Free entry

May 11 TANGO MILONGA Start time: 21:00 Tango Lesson: 5 Lari GEORGIA TODAY MAY 6 - 9, 2016 SPORTS 15 Chess Legend Nona Gaprindashvili’s Star Opens in Tbilisi

pion from 1962 to 1978. Thanks to her BY EKA KARSAULIDZE universal style of play, she could fi ght on equal terms with men at international tournaments and holds the unique sta- ive-time world chess cham- tus of being the fi rst female chess player pion Nona Gaprindashvili awarded the title of Chess was awarded her name on a among male competitors. Star in the yard of Tbilisi’s She stands alongside Maia Chiburda- Chess Palace, which is also nidze, , and Nana Iose- Fnamed after her. The ceremony coin- liani as a famous Georgian woman chess cided with her 75th birthday on May 3. player, all of them gaining the greatest Despite her age, she still continues to victories in the international arena. gain victories for Georgia in interna- Gaprindashvili was honored as Chess tional tournaments. Champion of the Soviet Union fi ve times “Nona Gaprindashvili, for all Geor- between 1964 and 1985 and won 11 chess gians and for many people in the world, Olympiad tournaments from 1963 to 1992. is a symbol of two things: victory of She was offi cially recognized as the great- Nona Gaprindashvili, the world’s fi rst fi ve-time chess champion intelligence and a fi ghting spirit. For est Georgian female sportsperson of the and the President of Georgia, me, she is a person who should be hon- 20th Century in 1999 and has served as ored,” said Prime Minister Giorgi Kviri- Honorary President of Georgia’s National granted the Order of Excellence of our country. Over the years, she has Gaprindashvili continues to gain vic- kashvili at the award ceremony. Olympic Committee since 1996. Georgia in 2015. consistently strived to create a worthy tories – she is the winner of four Wom- Born in the western Georgian city of She has been highly recognized in “Nona Gaprindashvili has made an heritage and popularization of Georgia en’s World Senior Championships in Zugdidi in 1941, Gaprindashvili became Georgia, and not only had Tbilisi’s Chess invaluable contribution to the develop- around the world,” said President of 1995, 2009, 2014 and most recently in the world’s fi rst fi ve-time chess cham- Palace named after her in 2001 but was ment of sport and social activities in Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. November 2015.

UEFA European Championship in Gudauri Marco Polo xcitement, entertainment and Alpina will offer special prices during live broadcasting in the alpine Euro 2016. Partner companies booking mountains 2000 meters above one room can get a second room free of sea level! charge. We will be offering free beer to On 10th June, Hotel Gudauri our special guests and everybody who EMarco Polo will be organizing the Grand joins. An online gambling company will Opening of UEFA Euro 2016 and inviting give an opportunity to place bets in the along a number of Georgian football hotel for those lovers of games of chance. celebrities. For the whole month through- In case of partnership your company out the championship, people from will have an opportunity to: various spheres will be invited, includ- • hold promotional activities ing Rugby players, journalists, bankers, • create its own fan club doctors, artists and foreign tourists. • distribute advertising material Media will actively cover these events • be mentioned as a partner on our and a large screen for live broadcasts Facebook page will be installed on the hotel terrace. • get support for arranging other adver- Hotel Gudauri Marco Polo and Hotel tising projects

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