The Telegraph Names Georgia Top Travel Destination for UK Airlines

Issue no: 889 • OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Tbilisi Marathon to Take Place in City Center NEWS PAGE 2 Obama Calls Donald Trump’s Admiration of Putin ‘Unprecedented’ POLITICS PAGE 6

Separatist Commander, Alleged War Criminal Killed in Ukraine’s Donbass FOCUS POLITICS PAGE 7 ON EU RELATIONS & GEORGIAN VALUES Neuter and Spay Day with Ambassador Janos Herman discusses Mayhew International in Tbilisi EU-Georgia relations, values and bilateral cooperation PAGE 8 SOCIETY PAGE 10 Boris Akunin Meets Georgian The Telegraph Names Georgia Top Readers SOCIETY PAGE 10 Travel Destination for UK Airlines Tabliashvili’s Fairytale beyond

he UK daily newspaper The Tel- Illusions egraph has named Georgia a top CULTURE PAGE 13 travel destination in an article titled: ‘17 amazing places UK airlines should wake up and launch Product Tfl ights to.’ The article names 17 top destinations within Management 9,000 miles of London that need to be con- nected to Britain and can be reached from Workshop for Britain with just a single fl ight, and recommends British airline companies to launch direct fl ights Performing Arts there. The article recommends readers visit Geor- Professionals in gia “one of the oldest countries in the world,” and cites one of the tourists: Adjara "These days, its fi ne Art Nouveau buildings CULTURE PAGE 15 and pretty, traditional balconied houses are what some would call shabby chic. Yet new hotels and shopping malls are springing up and gentrifi cation is under way in its more historic districts. Tbilisi feels like a city fi nally coming into itself. In other words, get here fast before everyone else does!" Georgian-born British singer Katie Melua is also quoted in the article. "It's steeped in history – the Old Town, with its twisting alleys, is particularly fascinating," she says. "It's a city that's very much off the beaten track. Not many tourists have been there, which makes it all the more worth visiting." GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016

Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili

Georgia’s PM Initiates Changes to Constitution by Creating Special Working Group

ports the initiative of the PM, saying he is ready to BY THEA MORRISON participate in the creation of a working group. According to the Head of the President’s Admin- istration, Giorgi Abashishvili, the President welcomes eorgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kviri- the initiative and is ready to establish a special work- kashvili initiated the creation of a ing group which will involve the participation of the special working group that will be President, PM and the Parliament Speaker. engaged in the process of making “The PM’s initiative will end speculations about amendments to the Constitution fol- the constitutional majority and will be of high Glowing the elections. legitimacy,” said Abashishvili. The initiative was announced by the PM at today’s The opposition party United National Movement cabinet sitting, whereby he stated that the ruling (UNM) stated the constitutional majority repre- Georgian Dream (GD) wants a constitutional major- sents a threat for Georgia and urged voters not to ity in order to fulfi ll its promises given to the pop- support the ruling team. ulation. “I call on everyone who does not want the estab- “GD is winning with an absolute majority, which lishment of a one-party regime in this country to fi rst of all is a huge responsibility for us before the go out to the polling stations in the second round country and before voters,” he said, going on to and vote for the UNM candidates and, by doing underline that the constitution needs amendments, so, defend Georgian democracy,” the leader of the but that the process should be carried out through UNM, Davit Bakradze, said. broad public involvement and without any haste. Moreover, a group of civil society members Kvirikashvili also commented on the statements released a statement yesterday calling on pro- of the opposition, which said that if the GD gets a Western political parties which were unable to pass constitutional majority, there is a danger that the the 5 percent threshold in the fi rst round, to sup- country may turn away from democratic principles. port opposition candidates in the second run-offs. According to the PM, such statements are specu- “A constitutional majority could damage the lations ahead of the second round of elections. democratic process. It allows the ruling party to “These are totally unhealthy and artifi cial specu- change the Constitution and violate the balance of lations. A constitutional majority is a big respon- powers between the branches of government,” the sibility for the government, which aims at imple- statement reads. menting ambitious plans for the country’s As a result of Georgia’s October 8 parliamentary development,” he stated. elections, the ruling team already has 67 guaran- According to Kvirikashvili, civil society will be teed seats in Georgia’s 150-seat parliament. If the actively involved in the process of carrying out GD manages to win in at least 46 out of 50 major- changes to the Constitution, in order to transform itarian districts during the October 30 second round it into a democratic and European one. elections, it will gain a constitutional majority in Georgia’s President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, sup- the new parliament. Tbilisi Marathon to Take Place in City Center

24,000 GEL (USD 10,200) last year, which was BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI matched and doubled to 48,000 GEL (USD 20,400) by Heidelbergcement. The funds were spent on the rehabilitation of a he Georgian capital Tbilisi will host special care center for people with disabilities in its ﬁ fth annual marathon on October Rustavi, an industrial city south of Tbilisi. 23 as hundreds of runners gather on Registration for the Tbilisi Marathon will remain the city’s main thoroughfare Rustaveli open until October 22. Avenue to take part in the event. TOrganized by German building company Heidelbergcement, the race will include a 21-kilometer half marathon, a 500-meter Kids’ Run for children ages 6-11 and a 100- meter sprint for 12-15-year-olds. Held under the aegis of the Tbilisi Municipality, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the German Embassy in Geor- gia, the event hopes to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise funds for at-risk children, said Michael Hampel, the General Director of Heidelbergcement in the Cau- casus. All proceeds for the event will be donated the Children’s Hospice in Georgia. The Tbilisi Marathon managed to raise GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 NEWS 3 EU Is Ready to Work with Tourism Administration New parliament of Georgia Presents Bureau for

BY THEA MORRISON Conventions and

n the recent Foreign and Security Policy 2016 report of the European Exhibitions Council, the European Union (EU) expressed readiness to work with will also focus on promoting the business BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI the new, democratically elected tourism potential of the country abroad. Iparliament of Georgia and called on all Ketevan Bochorishvili, Deputy Minis- MPs of the new parliament to work ter of Economy and Sustainable Devel- together for Georgia’s interests. he New Conventions and opment noted that diversifi cation of the The document was published on Octo- Exhibition Bureau ‘Meet- markets is needed in order to transform ber 17 and focuses on continuing the georgia.ge’, introduced by Georgia into a four-season touristic des- quest for solutions to the acute crises in the Georgian National Tour- tination country. the EU's neighborhood, whilst protect- ism Administration ‘Meetgeorgia.ge’ is said to have been ing and defending human rights, and on T(GNTA) at Courtyard Mariott Hotel created following world best practise in building and strengthening peace and Tbilisi this week, aims at fostering the the tourism sphere and according to stability globally. devlopment of business tourism in Geor- reports and studies undertaken by USAID The EU welcomed the October 8 par- gia, seeking to become a hub for inter- in the years of 2012-2014 about business liamentary elections in Georgia, which, Foreign and Security Policy 2016 of the European Council reads that the EU is ready national meetings, exhibitions, confer- tourism development opportunities in to cooperate with Georgia’s new parliament. Source: CNN according to the report, were held in a ences, tours and various other events. It Georgia. generally peaceful and orderly way. Moreover, the EU expressed its readi- Union governing its relationship with “Besides some incidents of violence ness to support Georgia's efforts to over- the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azer- near and in polling stations, the pre- come the consequences of confl ict in baijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and liminary assessment of the OSCE/ODIHR Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkha- Ukraine, intended to provide an avenue Election Observation Mission found the zia and South Ossetia, including through for discussions of trade, economic strat- elections to be competitive, well-admin- the activities of the EU Monitoring Mis- egy, travel agreements, and other issues istered and respectful of fundamental sion (EUMM) and the EU Special Rep- between the EU and member states. freedoms,” the document reads. resentative (EUSR) for the South Cau- The document reads that in its rela- Also, the EU looks forward to working casus and the crisis in Georgia. tions with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, with the democratically elected new “The EU will remain fi rmly committed the EU will continue to focus on the parliament and government once the to its policy of supporting Georgia's implementation of the respective Asso- electoral process is completed, as the sovereignty and territorial integrity ciation Agreements (AAs), which will second round of elections is to be held within its internationally-recognized help to steer reform processes in these in 50 single-mandate constituencies on borders,” the report reads. countries. The AA entered into force on October 30. According to the document, a demo- July 1, 2016 for Georgia. “We call for all representatives elected cratic, stable and prosperous Eastern Photo: Foreign and Security Policy 2016 to the new parliament to work together Neighborhood (EaP) will remain a pri- of the European Council reads that the in the interests of Georgia,” the report ority for the EU. EU is ready to cooperate with Georgia’s Presentation at Marriott, Giorgi Chogovadze, says. EaP is an initiative of the European new parliament. Head of Tourism Administration GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 Socrates & Volski

“RECORDED” BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

hey met the other day on Rustaveli Avenue in Geor- gia’s capital city of Tbilisi by chance, right after the parliamentary election bellsT tolled in a new era in the land of Colchis and Iberians. But the country had not yet had a chance to fully con- template the developments in the nation’s political future. As such, the accidental encounter between the philosopher and the politician was rather opportune, and carried a clairvoyant charge – descriptive enough to let the temporar- ily on-hold nation go into pertinent deliberations.

Socrates: Goodness gracious, what a propitious crossing of roads! Would my fi rst question: Have you fi nally found grows into oligarchy that wants to have friend be willing to enter into a brief the way into the realm of justice that the face of democracy but the whole dialogue with me, making the incipient must be done? tandem ends up as regular tyranny. Our denotative alteration of Georgian poli- Volski: It is my advantage to be just annals are full of evident paradigms of tique a dominant theme? and disadvantage to be unjust – this is the sort, but I am a good learner from Volski: The meditations of geniuses what I have learnt from the great Socrates, the mistakes of others- therefore you on my favorite subjects, especially that having turned the thought into my reign- need not be concerned about me in this you have just mentioned, have always ing political credo because I have always regard. been my greatest of infatuations. had it in my bones that the most blessed Socrates: Good enough! And fair Socrates: Because my focus on subject life is that of the just man and the most enough, too, but I wonder if you have matter is always specifi c, let me pose the miserable life is that of the unjust man. ever pondered the subject of a society Socrates: You have well dealt with my which decays and passes through each intention to probe into your intelligence. government in succession, eventually Allow me graciously to emerge with resulting in a bunch of rotten and cor- another question of consequence with- rupt individuals with a voracious appe- out procrastination: you claim and intend tite for power and wealth. to mould yourself into one of the nation’s Volski: How many times should I guardians, do you not? Then, do you emphasize that I am your adherent? And remember that guardians should be edu- a very talented and diligent student too, cated in the following four virtues – wis- for that matter! Isn’t it Socrates the Great dom, courage, justice and temperance? who loudly stated that we the politicians Volski: We are not young as a nation at times let our passions rule our actions but we are still budding in politics, this or way of thinking, although they should being the reason for the want of extra be controlled? Incidentally, we cannot wisdom- but we have enough courage control all, and we are not even willing to do justice with temperance. to control everything, hence some cor- Socrates: Then, why do you not engage rupt animals have their way every now each person in the occupation that suits and then. him best, thus making him and others Socrates: But you must fi ght the evil happy? as fi ercely as you can. Volski: Again, I am resorting to your Volski: Not I, but the state! And you wisdom when saying that the power of forget that this should be done on just the state that still persists should not be grounds. too much to let the people be engaged Socrates: Perhaps! On the other hand, rationally, which I think will be well at times power is concentrated in the remembered should I fi nd myself at the hands of a strong leader and the people helm someday. allow themselves to be commanded by Socrates: Your balanced reasoning such a superior as hates to be subject of leads me to recall the judgment of a criticism. philosopher-king who must as a rule be Volski: As my friend Socrates would intelligent, reliable and willing to lead a put it, we all need to learn how to better simple life. our image and behavior by allowing Volski: Do I lack simplicity of life as ourselves to be subject to criticism with- a good family man? Or should I be bor- out being hurt and by subduing our pride rowing intelligence from a learned and ignorance. scholar? You mentioned reliability? That’s Socrates: Attaboy! Who taught you my recognized forte! this much in my absence? Socrates: It has always been my con- Volski: You are never absent, my lord. viction that a certain amount of unfeigned You are conspicuously seated on my modesty would never hurt a politician bookshelf. Perennially! in use. From what do you think tyranny is generated?  Socrates – Famous Greek Philoso- Volski: I know the pernicious sequence pher, Volski – Well-known Georgian quite well. It starts with timocracy which Politician RENT YOUR DREAM APARTMENT IN TSKNETI Very cosy one bedroom 75 sq.m apartment in Tbilisi area with spectacular view over the mountains. Located in Tskneti, a prestigious, quiet, green and safe neighborhood 15 minutes drive from the city center. The bright and sunny apartment is newly furnished and comes with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Comfortable and stylish living-room, cozy bedroom with closet and king-sized bed. 20 sq.m terrace overlooking the mountains. Relax while enjoying the view and unwind with a glass of wine on the balcony as you watch the sun set. Parking & WiFi available. If you are looking for the perfect place to live, this is the apartment for you! Only long-term residents should apply. Ideally suited for a couple or single. Price: 700 USD per month For more information contact: + 995 595279997 GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 POLITICS 5 Politically Active? The Ambitions of the Georgian President

“Last Supper” held in the borough of Probably because he was unable to sum- OP-ED BY ZAZA JGARKAVA Dusheti saying that, “A great deal and mon the support of society on time, but great conspiracy is being worked on. now, after the elections, all the condi- Every weekend the leaders of the UNM, tions are ripe and he can make his polit- he second round of Geor- Bokeria and Machavariani, meet in Dush- ical move,” Gamzardia said. gia’s 2016 parliamentary eti at Margvelashvili’s house and negoti- Political analyst Vakhtang Dzabiradze elections has yet to be held, ate the creation of a new political center.” also holds no doubts about the political but the media is already Both media and the leader of the Labor potential of President Margvelashvili. talking about the next elec- Party were deceived then, since the con- He believes that it would be right for Ttions- the presidential ones. frontation between the Prime Minister the pro-Western powers to consolidate The main focus right now of the fourth and the President continued in such around him. “When the President took government of Georgia is the President direction that President Margvelashvili a number of decisions opposing Geor- and the events taking place in his Admin- did not deviate towards any political gian Dream, and here I do not mean istration. The press has been openly power. Naturally, the “new political entering the Presidential Palace, I asked discussing the fact that President Marg- center” went unformed. a question– does the President have the velashvili is inviting the leader of the Although today the relationship ambition to get involved in politics more defeated Free Democrats party, Irakli between the President and the new pre- actively? And to be honest, he is a young Alasania, to the Security Council to mier is signifi cantly better- President man, why shouldn’t he want to take part occupy a post which has been vacant for Margvelashvili feels no threat of being more dynamically in the management quite some time. They also report on kicked out of the Presidential Palace nor of the State and to unite politicians the cooperation between the President is he banned from taking part in any around him for this purpose? However, and other “faces” of the oppositional international offi cial meetings, this does the main issue here is whether he will wing. Political analysts believe that the not mean that the “Margvelashvili prob- take the steps in this direction or not... President has become more active lem” has been solved for Georgian Dream. If Margvelashvili intends to enter poli- because of the upcoming presidential The announcement about future consti- tics more actively, he needs a political elections. tutional changes has once again proved organization and not just a few leaders Rumors about the formation of a new the confrontation between him and the around him, therefore, by inviting only political center around the President are ruling party is ongoing. The GD plans Alasania, he is making a mistake,” Dza- nothing new. The local media was spread- its revenge by making changes in the biradze said. ing information about secret negotia- Constitution, seeking to deprive people The President prefers to keep silent tions, allegedly about the formation of of their right to elect a president and to about the alleged formation of a new a new political alliance, held between grant that to Parliament, where it itself political center at this stage. Alasania President Margvelashvili, one of the holds the majority. It is easy to foresee himself has denied receiving an offer leaders of the United National Move- the political future of President Marg- from Margvelashvili. However, this does ment (UNM), Giga Bokeria, and Irakli velashvili if these changes are really not mean that Margvelashvili has given Alasania, even as far back as during made. Does the President have any political number of times. He has driven the up on a political future. Garibashvili’s premiership. According to the new legislation he resources to repel this attack? As Archil political process before the elections As such, we should not strike off the A TV announcement made by the will not be able to raise his candidacy Gamzardia, an analyst close to Georgian quite well and he does have certain possibility that one day soon, the Presi- leader of the Labor Party, Shalva Nate- for a second term and he will not be Dream, says – he does: “The attempt to resources he could use to form a new dent may unexpectedly call a briefi ng in lashvili, added to the newspaper articles, elected by the parliamentary majority form a new political power around Pres- political center. Why didn’t he take this which he will publicly announce: “I am in which he revealed the details of the – this will mean a political knockout. ident Margvelashvili has been voiced a step before the parliamentary elections? forming a new political party.” GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 Georgia’s FM Participates in European Conservatives and Reformists Group Conference

BY THEA MORRISON

Obama Calls Donald Trump’s eorgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil Janelidze Admiration of Putin ‘Unprecedented’ took part in the European Conservatives and Reform- Georgia. He said that when he became ists Group Conference on BY NATIA LIPERTELIANI president, Russia had already invaded GOctober 19 in Krakow, Poland. the territory of Georgia and created fro- Janelidze was invited as a special guest zen confl icts there. Russia’s new Presi- to the conference dedicated to the devel- n Tuesday, in a press con- dent had taken a more constructive track opment of security in Poland and Euro- ference with Italian Prime and showed more respect, despite hav- pean Union (EU) new member states. Minister Matteo Renzi, ing different values, and tried to fi nd While delivering his speech, Janelidze President of the USA, ways for mutual cooperation. underlined the importance of security Barack Obama, called Don- “We initiated a new START treaty; we issues in the Euro-Atlantic area and the aldO Trump’s profound admiration of assisted Russia with respect to its ascen- decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Janelidze met with the Polish Delegation in Krakow Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘unprec- sion to the WTO. We worked on some Organization (NATO) to strengthen the edented.’ common international challenges self-defense capabilities of the Alliance nomic policies and democratic parlia- held a meeting with Minister Maciere- "Mr. Trump's continued fl attery of Mr. together, and when the previous presi- partner states. mentary elections have proved that wicz during which the sides discussed Putin and the degree to which he appears dent was replaced with Mr. Putin, I met “It is clear from the existing challenges Georgia is an important and reliable bilateral defense cooperation between to model many of his policies and with him and we discussed, again, ways that we need a common strategy and partner for the West in the region,” he Poland and Georgia. approaches to politics on Mr. Putin is in which we could constructively work joint efforts to ensure peace and security said. Macierewicz reiterated his support unprecedented in American politics," together,” Obama said. in the Euro-Atlantic area," Georgia’s FM The participants of the conference towards Georgia’s sovereignty and ter- Obama said. During the press-conference Obama stated. noted that Russia is carrying out “aggres- ritorial integrity. Obama went on to express his concerns outlined the political importance of Janelidze also mentioned the decision sive policies” in the region, which was Janelidze also met with the Head of over the Republican Party’s changed Russia, but also stressed the importance of NATO, made at the Warsaw Summit expressed in its military invasion and the Polish delegation, Ryszard Antoni policy towards Russia. of maintaining international rules and this summer, to increase practical coop- annexation of Georgian territories dur- Legutko, who positively assessed Geor- "Mr. Trump rarely surprises me these democratic values. eration with Georgia and to help it ing the 2008 August War, and the annex- gia’s October 8 parliamentary elections days," Obama stated. "I am much more “Russia is a large, important country increase its self-defense capabilities. ation of Crimea. and noted that Georgia has an important surprised and troubled by the fact that with a military that is second only to “I am sure that the most effective way The conference was also attended by place in the top fi ve of economically free you have Republican offi cials — who ours and has to be a part of the solution to strengthen security in Europe is to the Minister of Defense of Poland, Antoni countries. historically have been adamantly anti- on the world stage rather than part of extend the security umbrella in the Black Macierewicz, members of the European The President of the European Con- Russian and in fact have attacked me for the problem," Obama said. “But their Sea region,” Janelidze stated. Parliament and local experts. servatives and Reformists Group, Syed even engaging them diplomatically — behavior has undermined international Moreover, the Minister underlined Janelidze was invited to the conference Kamall, also expressed his fi rm support now supporting, and in some cases norms and international rules in ways Georgia’s important role in the region by the Vice-President of the European to Georgia. The sides discussed Geor- echoing, his positions. It's quite a rever- that we have to call them out on. And in the promotion of safety, as well as in Parliament and the leader of the Euro- gia’s cooperation with Great Britain, with sal." anybody who occupies this offi ce should the direction of democratic and economic pean Conservatives and Reformists Kamall noting that Great Britain is an Obama also stressed Russia’s undemo- feel the same way because these are val- development. Group, Ryszard Czarnecki. important strategic partner and ally of cratic and aggressive acts in Ukraine and ues that we fought for and we protected.” “Implemented reforms, liberal eco- After the conference the Georgian FM Georgia in many directions. GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 POLITICS 7 Separatist Commander, Alleged War Criminal Killed in Ukraine’s Donbass

BY NICHOLAS WALLER

ore than two years after the war in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region began, one the confl ict’s most notorious pro-Russian commanders was killed in a bomb blast earlierM this week while returning home with a bodyguard. Arseny Pavlov, a Russian citizen who gained fame under the anomalous nom de guerre “Motorola”, was killed with one of his bodyguards by an impro- vised explosive device (IED) while in the lift of his apartment block in the Russian-controlled separatist city Donetsk last Sunday. Born in Russia’s subarctic Komi Republic, the ginger-bearded and gap-toothed Pavlov joined the Moscow-backed rebels in the Donbass in March 2014 shortly after being convicted of car theft in the southern Russian city Rostov-na-Donu. He later went on to lead the separatist Sparta Battalion, made up mostly of Russian citizens with criminal backgrounds and ties to ultranationalist organizations in the Russian Federation. Ukrainian-based human rights groups and the OSCE accused Pavlov and his Sparta Battalion of war crimes – including the summary execution and torture of Ukrainian soldiers – committed during and after the battles of Ilovaysk, the Donetsk Air- port and Debaltseve in late 2014 and early 2015. In an April 2015 taped interview with the Kyiv Post’s senior reporter Oleg Sukhov, Pavlov admit- ted to personally executing 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war. His admission prompted London-based Arseny Pavlov was killed in a bomb blast earlier this week while returning home with a bodyguard. Source: Sergey Loiko NGO Amnesty International to call for an “inde- close friend of Pavlov, the half-Georgian Mikhail The war in the Donbass region has claimed more territory it originally controlled at the onset of the pendent investigation into the actions of other Tolstykh, who goes by the Georgian nickname than 10,000 lives and left nearly one million people war. pro-Russian units operating in the Donbass”. “Givi,” has vowed to “kill a million civilians and as refugees since hostilities began in April 2014. Supporting Ukraine’s once beleaguered military Details of the 33-year-old Pavlov’s biography destroy every Ukrainian city” to avenge Pavlov’s Despite having won key battlefi eld victories, Rus- are scores of volunteers from around the former remain sketchy, though it is known that he served death. sia and its separatist allies in the region have been Soviet Union, including dozens of Georgians, as a teenage conscript in the Russian Armed Forces Tolstykh is listed on the EU and US sanctions list unable to score a decisive tactical victory against Chechens, Moldovans and Azeris – all of whom in the 1999-2001 Second Chechen War. after being caught on tape torturing Ukrainian Ukraine’s military and have lost 80 percent of the fought against Russia and its allies in the 1990s. According to Pavlov, he got his nickname "Motorola" soldiers captured at the Battle of the Donetsk Air- after working with equipment manufactured by port in February 2015. the US-based telecom company while serving as It remains unclear who is responsible for Pavlov’s a wireman in the Russian army in the North Cau- death. casus. A video appeared online, purportedly from a Pavlov was known to enjoy the personal backing Ukrainian nationalist group calling itself the “Mis- and close friendship of two of Russia’s most noto- anthropic Brigade”. rious ultranationalists, politician and Russian MP The group claimed it had killed Pavlov and its Vladimir Zhirinovsky and former FSB Colonel Igor members say they have infi ltrated the highest ech- Girkin – the latter of which Pavlov served under elons of the Russian separatist command structure in the early stages of the Donbass War. and threaten to target both Zakharchenko and Tol- Zhirinovsky allegedly bought Pavlov’s apartment stykh, as well as rebel political leader Igor Plotnit- and a car in Donetsk. sky. Girkin, who is believed to have ordered the shoot Ukraine’s SBU intelligence services, however, down of Malaysian Flight 17 and the execution of believes Pavlov may have been eliminated by the pro-Ukrainian civilians in the Donbass, attended separatist commander of an Abkhaz Battalion. Pavlov’s wedding to a local Donetsk-born girl in The SBU claims Akhra Avidzba, the commander the summer of 2014. of the pro-Russian 15th Abkhaz Volunteer Brigade, Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko ordered Pavlov’s death after the latter attempted condemned the attack on Pavlov and vowed revenge to arrest several individuals under Avidzba’s com- against the Ukrainian government. mand. "As I understand it, (Ukrainian President) Petro Pavlov’s death is the latest in a series of unex- Poroshenko has violated the Minsk ceasefi re and plained killings involving key commanders in the declared war on us…I want to be clear about this. pro-Russian separatist forces. We will avenge this act of terrorism," Zakharch- More than half a dozen principal separatist com- enko was quoted as saying in a television broadcast. manders have been assassinated by unknown assail- Fellow pro-Russian separatist commander and a ants since September 2015. GEORGIA TODAY 8 POLITICS OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 A Transformation in Georgia, Led by the Georgians

trade between us, there are new Georgian BY RENE SCHULTHOFF exports coming to the European Union market. There has already been a signifi cant impact in the area of agriculture he Head of the European and rural development, there are hundreds Union Delegation to Geor- and even thousands of cooperatives formed gia, Ambassador Janos Her- with European Union support, there are man, explains in an inter- new Georgian products emerging in agri- view how common values culture. We hope very much that we can Tand shared interests are driving forward contribute also with direct support to the the partnership between Georgia and private sector, promoting small and the EU. medium-sized enterprises, providing good condition loans to them. And there is also WHAT ARE THE SHARED VALUES the visa liberalisation that will deliver a THAT UNDERPIN THE EU’S signifi cant impact for the Georgian pop- RELATIONS WITH GEORGIA? ulation. Janos Herman, Head of the The values that we promote in Georgia By promoting better conditions, jobs, European Union Delegation are the same values that we promote in trade, economic development, small and to Georgia the European Union. There is no differ- medium-sized enterprises, more mobil- ence between the two. They are democ- ity between us, people-to-people con- racy, the rule of law, human rights, a the basis of our cooperation. there are energy connections, pipelines, the impact of the Georgians, and the deci- tacts, study opportunities for young market economy. In fact one can say that Essentially what happens is that Geor- transport, roads, new ports, and other sion of the Georgians to move closer to people in the EU, and easier conditions these are the values on which the Euro- gia tells us, ‘I would like to come closer economic opportunities also for our com- the European Union. Under this sign, there for travel, like the visa liberalization, we pean Union itself is built. to you’, and we say, ‘yes, you can do it, panies? Yes, we are interested in that, so is a very ambitious transformation in are gradually moving into the second Actually, I wouldn’t say we are promot- and we will help you’, and this is based we are working together on that. This is Georgia – the legal system, the governance phase of our cooperation, where it is not ing these values in Georgia: it is more both on our values and our interests. a cooperation that is based on common, system, the judiciary, the public adminis- just a transformation, it is also already precise to say that Georgia wants to come Is the European Union interested in a shared interests, on shared values, but tration have already gone through a very the fi rst benefi ts of creating a new Geor- closer to the European Union and it is prosperous and democratic Georgia that also on a clear understanding that there important transformation, this is visible. gia that will better serve its citizens. the conviction of the Georgian people is stable and which can be a partner of are important interests on both sides. I hope we are now entering into the that this should be done based on com- increasing importance in many aspects, second phase of our association. As we This interview was produced by the EU Neigh- mon values. Common values are very not only in our bilateral cooperation but WHAT IS THE REAL IMPACT OF now implement the agreement in all its bors East project important from a political point of view, also having an impact in the region, radi- EU SUPPORT TO GEORGIA? components, we feel the time has come Rene Schulthoff, is a German journalist, Pub- but also from a practical perspective, ating progress and stability in the region, The impact is visible. But if you look at to make the Georgians themselves, the lic Information Expert, Humanitarian Affairs because when we build up our coopera- with Georgia functioning as an important the transformation of the country, it is not wider population feel the impact, and the Offi cer and Strategic Communications Man- tion, the association with Georgia, the link between Asia and Europe, where the impact of the European Union, it is fi rst signs are there, we have increasing ager integration into the internal market, this is a process that is much more solid if it is underpinned by a clear understanding of the two sides, Georgia and the Euro- pean Union, sharing fundamental values.

DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VALUES IN EUROPE AND GEORGIA? No, I don’t think so. I think there is a very clear determination in Georgia to put these values at the heart of our cooperation. Even within the European Union, there are differences among member states concerning different approaches to some values, which are shared by all of us. What is particular in Georgia is that they strengthen the presence of these values inside Georgia as part of a general approximation between us, and yes, if they are facing obstacles or dif- ﬁ culties in some areas, they are not so different from the obstacles and difﬁ culties we might also have here and there inside the European Union. But of course Georgia has started later, so in that sense they are coming from further away, and are facing some problems, which in our own processes inside the EU have already been solved. So the difference is not so much about the substance of the values, but about the content of a value-based cooperation. It is more linked to the fact that Georgia is introducing the institutional framework and the legal basis for a con- sequent implementation of these values somewhat later than our member states.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA IS IMPORTANT FOR EUROPE? It’s important to both sides. All good cooperation should be based on a clear understanding of the interests of both sides, so I don’t think it would be right for us to build up cooperation with partner countries which cannot be linked to clear European Union interests. The main interests of the European Union are very clearly expressed in our basic documents, the European Neigh- borhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership: we are interested in democracy, prosper- ity, rule of law, and security in the countries which are our neighbours, whether to the east or to the south. Is Georgia interested in this? Yes, of course, and I think that this is

GEORGIA TODAY 10 SOCIETY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 Neuter and Spay Day with Mayhew International in Tbilisi

university and then we went to see the municipal BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI shelter and, basically, it’s grown from there. We’ve come back every year since then and our visits comprise of vet training, support of some of the ollowing The Mayhew International’s local charities, helping in the Trap, Neuter, Vac- visit to Tbilisi and a Neuter and Spay cinate, Release program, and also, more recently, Day held last Sunday at the Tbilisi Agrar- we’ve started working with the Agrarian University ian University Veterinarian Clinic, offer- to try and suggest improvements to the Veterinary ing free neutering for street and shelter Science degree- what we’ve found out is that in dogs,F GEORGIA TODAY spoke with Caroline Yates, veterinary schools there is very little understand- CEO of Mayhew Animal Home about The Mayhew ing about cats and dogs, with a considerable holes International activities in Georgia. We discussed in the curriculum. Georgia is not alone in this- it’s the possibilities of solving the issue of street dogs the same throughout Eastern Europe and former that to a large extent remains unsolved not only in Soviet Union countries. It’s rather concerning when Tbilisi, the capital, but throughout the country. you have inexperienced people conducting surgi- The Mayhew Animal Home is one of the few cal procedures! animal welfare organizations that provides veterinary trainings in Georgia, having regularly sent its ARE THERE ANY VISIBLE CHANGES vet teams to Tbilisi over the last few years. The SINCE YOUR LAST VISIT? organization managed to successfuly collaborate Oh, absolutely! There’s still a lot to do, but there with city authorities, local NGOs and the Agrarian is visible change. In fact, we would say that Tbilisi Agrarian Vet Clinic Students during an University of Georgia- the only establishment so City authorities have been very open to our sug- operation. Source: Irakli Dolidze/GT far offering veterinary training and shelter man- gestions. That’s why we come back - because they’re agement training in the country. showing willingness to change. people don’t want puppies, so the street dog pop- have some Georgian students at the end of next ulation grows. year, but when we come here we can reach many WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST more. They may not do practical work immediately, COME TO GEORGIA? DIFFICULT THING IS TO CHANGE, IN YOUR OPINION, IS TBILISI but they can participate in events like these, in The Mayhew Animal Home operates a study pro- A POLICY OR AN ATTITUDE? A DOG-FRIENDLY CITY? lectures, and the same goes for vets and vet assis- gram for vets from overseas who want to do some- There have been new legislations and policies There are lots of Georgians who love their pets tants at the Tbilisi municipal shelter as well. thing about the issues in their own country. One of brought in… How that is enforced is always a prob- and you do have lots of dog owners. The problem the fi rst vets we had in 2009 was Marika Chkhikv- lem not only in Georgia but in every country you lies in understanding the issues that a large quan- HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE THE ishvili, who came for an intensive study course in go to. The most diffi cult thing is to change the atti- tity of street dogs may bring, so you need to explain RECENT NEUTER AND SPAY DAY? spaying and neutering. She was one of our best stu- tude of people and the understanding of why there it clearly to the general public and share the solu- Because of our relations with the Agrarian Uni- dents. When she became the Head Vet at the Agrar- are dogs on the streets, where they come from and tion. The major challenge is to get local communi- versity Veterinarian Clinic, we’ve trained quite a ian University Veterinarian Clinic not only were we how we can deal with it in a sustainable, humane ties onboard. few vets here who will then show their practice to happy, but we thought maybe we could help. We way. There must be a long-term approach. Taking the students. It’s always good that they see high fi rst came to Tbilisi in 2013, just to see what was an animal from the street to the shelter is not DO YOU PLAN TO TRAIN standard surgery, a humane way of dealing with going on, since we knew from Marika that things enough. The main thing that people fail to realize GEORGIAN STUDENTS AT MAYHEW and handling the animals. If you can change the were quite bad, with lots of dogs on the streets and is that dogs roaming the streets come from owned INTERNATIONAL, UK? simple things, it can have a big impact on the way no organized structure in place to deal with them. dogs that are not sterilized or castrated, often freely We want to start accepting more students and we’ve people carry a dog, inject them, and care about When we came, we did some training here at the let out onto the streets. Dogs get pregnant and even made our building bigger. We will hopefully them before and after the surgery. UNFPA: Most Georgian Families Still Prefer Sons to Daughters Boris Akunin Meets tions and discriminatory laws block her path for- BY NATIA LIPARTELIANI ward. By age 10, she may be forced to marry. She may be pulled out of school to begin a lifetime of Georgian Readers childbearing and servitude to her husband. At 10, he United Nations Population Fund she may become property, a commodity that can (UNFPA) has published its 2016 report be bought and sold,” says the report. BY NATIA LIPARTELIANI on the State of the World Population. The new United Nations 2030 Agenda aims to In Georgia the continued widespread ensure sustainable, equitable, inclusive develop- harmful practice of gender-based sex ment that leaves no one behind. The 15-year plan Tselection was identifi ed. promises to help transform the futures of millions n October 18, one of Russia’s most According to the report, if a family has only one of 10-year-old girls who have traditionally been left widely read contemporary authors, child, most Georgian respondents say they would behind. Grigory Chkhartishvili, who is of prefer the child to be a boy rather than a girl. Georgia has a reputation for being a patriarchal Georgian origin and works under the In concrete numbers: 46 percent of Georgian society. As the UNFPA report suggests, stereotypes pseudonym Boris Akunin, visited citizens would prefer a boy, 45 percent say the sex concerning gender roles still run deep in Georgian Georgia.O does not matter and only 9 percent would prefer society. Custom has established Georgian men as The Georgian National Book Center, together to have a girl. wage-earners, the heads of households and the with Ilia State University, hosted his meeting with The report claims that in some parts of the world, upholders of familial honor. readers. a 10-year-old girl already begins making choices Children are taught from an early age to asso- Chkartishvili discussed his work, his visit to Geor- that will infl uence her education. ciate certain things like toys, colors, and songs gia and the Russian-Georgian political and cultural “But in other parts of the world, a 10-year-old with gender. Domestic activities like cleaning, relationship. girl’s horizons are limited. As she reaches puberty, cooking, taking out the trash and taking care of The author, also an essayist and literary transla- a formidable combination of relatives, fi gures in babies are all seen to be fi rmly in the realm of tor, is one of the best-selling suspense writers in her community, social and cultural norms, institu- women’s work. Russia, famous for his detective stories set in the same country in the 19th century. He was born in Georgia, but, aged two, moved with his family moved to Moscow where he has lived ever since. “Boris Akunin” is not just one of Russia’s most popular novelists: he has recently emerged as a powerful voice in his country’s opposition move- activities in Russia; nothing will change. The mobil- ment and has been an avid critic of President Putin’s ity of people is too low and not enough people Domestic and Foreign Policy. actually want change.” Growing up in Russia with a Georgian surname As such, he says, it is better to distribute ideas had its pros and cons for the writer. At school he and mobilize people through his writings. would often fi nd himself the victim of bullying and Georgian readers asked why he has never men- years later he became the victim of ‘the main bully tioned Georgia in his writings. To that, he answered of Russia’ (so he refers to Russia’s current president that he needs to explore places that are used for Vladimir Putin) who told citizens that Akunin was his novel settings in detail, as those locations need the enemy of the Russian people due to his ethnic to give him particular emotional vibes and sensory origin. reactions. Right now he is working on a new novel In the spring of 2014, the writer, who owns an and plans to visit several locations throughout his 18th-century chateau in Brittany, France, announced country of birth. that he plans not to return to Russia until the At the close of the meeting, the writer was awarded [political] climate and atmosphere change. an honorary doctorate degree by Ilia State Univer- “I do not see the point of carrying out political sity. Source: Women UK GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 SOCIETY 11 The Nightly Grind: Ogden on Georgian Medics from doing her job. Contracts have to OP-ED BY TIM OGDEN be honored; if someone cannot honor the terms of their contract, they should lose their job. This is, after all, how the y wife is a doctor, and civilized world – which Georgia so des- a few times a week she perately wants to become a part of – has to work the night functions. shift at her hospital. I understand the issue with it, of course. One would have If bosses begin fi ring people for having Mthought that after six years in this coun- diffi cult and secretly insecure husbands, try, I might have understood exactly what they might soon have no employees left. that entails, but my original suppositions I personally believe, however, that the were proved strikingly wrong. threat – or perhaps one or two examples An old girlfriend of mine works as a – ought to be enough to kick things into doctor in the UK and she too has to work gear. I hope so, anyway. the night shift. She arrives at work in the As things stand, fi rst and foremost the evening, works through the night, and situation is not fair on doctors who are then goes home in the morning. I imag- prepared to work (and whose husbands ine this is more or less the same drill in are prepared to let them work) these Europe and North America, but the crippling night shifts, but this also cre- practice does not extend to Georgia. ates a danger to patients who may fi nd My wife goes to work in the morning themselves being treated by people who at nine o'clock, and then works her reg- have not slept in almost two days. ular working day; she is then expected The West has been holding Georgia's to work all through the night, and then hand in almost every professional sphere all through the next day. If she is lucky, since 2003 (and whether Georgia deserves she will have grabbed an hour of sleep, to be treated like Europe's drooling but she is not always so fortunate. The cousin is a debate for another time), but night shift in Georgia is simply working by and large the medical sector has not the night between your two working had the attention of other sectors such days. as the military, and it's my belief (and I As I have written elsewhere on these could well be wrong) that it doesn't need pages, I have the highest regard for Geor- it. At the risk of repeating myself, Geor- gian medics, and would rather fi nd myself gian doctors are amongst the best I've under the care of a Georgian doctor than encountered (and I've found myself anybody employed by Britain's NHS. proved completely wrong. men who openly boast about their rep- nowhere near as widespread in other damaged in some way in every country However, I would hesitate to trust the Many doctors in Georgia are female, utation as the greatest lovers of the Soviet countries – but the idea that men actively between Canada and Japan), but the best judgement of any physician who has not but according to my wife (and others Union would secretly have such low forbid their wives from working at night doctor in the world will not necessarily slept in 36 hours regardless of their coun- who work at other hospitals) their hus- confi dence in their abilities that they surprised me. make the best manager or leader. Per- try of origin or practice, especially if bands forbid them from working the cannot even trust their wives to work at This also leads on to the question of haps Europe should send more of its they work in a fi eld such as cardiology. night shift. night. As loathe as they are to let their Georgian management. The fact that a medical experts to Tbilisi to put the I originally supposed that these appall- I hesitate to discuss the issue of Geor- women go out with friends at night, this woman's husband forbids her from screws on Georgian medicine, so a hand- ing shifts were forced on her due to a gian men and their values once again, kind of base male jealousy is not exclu- working at night should not be an excuse ful of doctors don't have to do the work lack of qualifi ed doctors, but again I was but it seems to me bitterly ironic that sive to Georgia – though admittedly for a female doctor (or anything else) of fi fty. GEORGIA TODAY 12 SOCIETY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016

ROUTING FLIGHT NUMBER WEEK DAYS DEPARTURE ARRIVAL TK 379 02:35 04:05 TBILISI - ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT TK 387EVERYDAY 06:35 08:05 TK 383 22:55 00:30+1 TK 386 01:40 04:55 ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT - TBILISI TK 382EVERYDAY 18:10 21:30 TK 378 21:15 00:30+1 TK 381 1/2/4/5/6/7 04:25 05:50 TBILISI - ISTANBUL SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT TK 381 3 05:05 06:30 ISTANBUL SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT - TBILISI TK 380 EVERYDAY 19:40 22:55 TK 391 1/2/4/6/7 10:35 11:40 BATUMI - ISTANBUL TK 393 1/3/4/5/7 20:15 21:20 TK 390 1/2/4/6/7 06:25 09:20 ISTANBUL - BATUMI TK 392 1/3/4/5/7 16:20 19:20 Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] What Can ITIFLIS 7.5x6cmSay? ING.indd 1 13/06/16 15:16 what I'd do if these were confi scated... my beloved Russia for the Caucasus. BY TONY HANMER but they weren't. My precious frames The Svans were calling me home to a stayed with me. Photo-journalism isn't place I'd never been but would settle my preferred style, but it had to be down in, married and landed at last. I t's been nearly six years since I then. own property nowhere else but in Geor- emailed Georgia Today enquir- St Petersburg a year later, and much gia, and a house only in these mountains. ing about writing regularly for of northern and western Russia by train Now, as Georgia considers the reality them, and since being accepted for the next seven years, were exhila- of its after-election period, with the soon after that I've not missed a rating for me, but probably more like American event looming in a few weeks, weeklyI issue. Usually my articles are terrifying for the average Russian. it feels like the world may be rushing about what's happening in our village Hyperinfl ation ate away at ruble sav- into change faster than we can imagine. or elsewhere in Svaneti, but sometimes ings, until a house price was enough for That's what satellite TV and the inter- I write about other places I happen to a loaf of bread. Shops had to learn com- net bring us, even tucked away up here be in, such as Zimbabwe, Canada or the petition and customer fi ckleness as they in our splendid isolation as autumn's UK. began stocking a bewildering variety glowing colors and the occasional early Having lived in seven countries and of goods, unknown previously. Available, snow almost make me weep for beauty been to a total of 41, with three conti- but affordable too? every time I poke my head out the door. nents under my belt by the time I was Cutting across a top corner of Kazakh- We're in a small village with a single four, it has been a wild ride, never dull. stan in 1993, going from Moscow to concrete road running through it, no "Luck" put me in Moscow in August Novosibirsk, I expected my train stop shops, DIY infrastructure, but we can 1991 when the coup d'etat was happen- to reveal camels and spice mounds, a still learn about world news seemingly ing against Mikheil Gorbachev, my only Central Asian dream. No, just another as it happens, anywhere, instantly. visit to the USSR. I had no Russian lan- former Soviet city of concrete! And I check my word count as I'm writing guage ability at the time but knew it preparing to move to Baku, Azerbaijan this, but that's just for convenience. I was history unfolding. Expecting to get in 1999, I concentrated on the Shi'ite never lack for something to say, even if the last few shots from my last roll of idea, instead of the right one. No head- it's not exactly "what happened this fi lm, I ended up having to go to a poorly to-foot black with just the eyes showing week". Sometimes it's a bit meta, or stocked shop in the city center to buy women here! This wasn't Iran, it was, recursive, or about itself, but that may more on August 19. again, post-Soviet. not be irrelevant, sometimes. One of On the 20th, my friends and I fl ew But Baku for six months, fascinating these years this will all, or mostly, end out; my cargo pants' pockets were bulg- as it was, was just a way-station on my up in a book, my love song to Svaneti ing with nine rolls, and I had no idea route to Svaneti, the reason I had left and the odd other place. But especially Svaneti.

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with over 1350 members, at www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRe- naissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

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Pick up a copy of Georgia Today Education at any BIBLUS shop or phone 229 59 19 Price: 2 Gel GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 CULTURE 13 Tabliashvili’s Fairytale beyond Illusions

Tabliashvili sees the function of an art- life. In her, all the signs of universal ist in making human beings and the uni- beauty are accumulated. God created verse better. “A good storyteller should Woman after Man, so she is much more have a good listener, too. For me, as an perfect a creature than a man is, though artist, the pain that stays on the canvas the latter has his own advantages com- is a remedy. For every painter, the puz- pared to the former. Appearance, I think, zle to solve is the maximal concurrence is the only supplement to make a wom- of form and content. However, one does an’s essence perfect in order to culminate not exclude the other. For me, an expres- her depth and charm.” sionistic approach is more topical. Impressionism is the thirst for life, for One can see Giorgi Tabliashvili’s works on: instance, Cezanne painted with depth, http://bu.com.ge/geo/news/story/158- volume, love of life…” 14-oqtombers-shaqro-babuas-tsignis-magha- GEORGIA TODAY asked the artist ziashi-giorgi-tabliashvilis-gamofena-gaikhsneba which comes ﬁ rst for him in painting figures, particularly female figures– WHERE: GrandPa Shaqro Bookshop, 17b appearance or inner beauty? “First and Chavchavadze Ave., Vake foremost, a woman is the mother of new WHEN: Closes October 21

However, his maturity is evident, too, to psychology. The laws of art are based BY MAKA LOMADZE well read in his abovementioned mes- on the laws of nature and he universe. sages. All of them belong to nature – color, “I try to make my audience fi nd their proportion, geometry… Here, purely iorgi Tabliashvili is a hum- own selves,” Tabliashvili told GEORGIA intuitive things are also involved– the ble painter in his 30s who TODAY. “I also try to fi nd and reveal so-called 6th sense. I try to fi t my paint- has a gift from nature and myself. My aim is to make people feel ings to my disposition as much as I can ,seemingly, cannot stop spiritual connections. A painter should and to see the inner essence of this or working. As the German be very educated; from pure geometry that object; to tell the story.” Gphrase goes, work sets you free. He says he is open to inner freedom, which in turn produces genuine art pieces. GEOR- FOR SALE GIA TODAY went to meet him at his solo exhibition at newly opened Grandpa 9,8 ha non-agricultural, privately owned parcel for Shaqro Bookshop. Having worked in different group exhi- industrial use bitions, and also with several solo exhibitions abroad to his credit, Giorgi says (cadaster code # 01.19.26.004.088) that, “Art is a way to free yourself from the captivity of an illusory world and is located next to Tbilisi Airport rather the process of creative searching for truth, hidden in the details of objects (It is possible to divide it into several parts) and events, apart from those attractive deceptions. This is my way to catharsis, if you will – an attempt to reach self- Address: Airport settlement, Samgori district, Tbilisi forgiveness and to forgive others, as well as an attempt to feel harmony and the Tel: +995 599 529 529 beginning of the universe.” The exhibition features the painter’s [email protected] old and new works including the largest wall of the bookshop itself, featuring FOR SALE: BMW – 321 model angels hanging books on a washing-line Date of issue 1936 and phrases written above them: “Heaven starts on Earth,” “Live to tell, “Escape PRICE 10.000 USD your cage- be individual,” “Dare to feel good.” The series of angels, girls with birds, and horses demonstrate that the painter has retained a childish purity and clean- ness… His pictures are rich in color, particularly his peculiar crimson and dark azure and are quite phantasmago- ric. Even though he has combatted illusions, I dare say the painter still sees the beauty even in this sometimes quite grey world of ours. CONTACT PERSON 557 12 38 90 GEORGIA TODAY 14 CULTURE OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER October 23 JUSTE LA FIN DU MONDE Cast: Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, SHINDISI SCREENS KETUTA GEORGIAN TALE OF KING SALTAN Directed by Xavier Dolan Thomas Jane ALEXI-MESKHISHVILI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Cast: Nathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Genre: Action, War IN COLLABORATION WITH OF ARTS GIFT IN TBILISI Start time: 12:00 Marion Cotillard Language: Russian LEVAN CHOGOSHVILI October 15 – November 25 Ticket: 5 GEL Genre: Drama Start time: 11:45, 19:30, 19:45 Language: Russian Ticket: 8-14 GEL MUSIC October 21 GABRIADZE THEATRE Start time: 19:30, 22:30 A LONG BREAK Address: 13 Shavtelis St. Ticket: 13-14 GEL MUSEUM TBILISI ZAKARIA Data Firtskhalava Telephone: 2 98 65 93 PALIASHVILI OPERA AND Directed by Vano Khutsishvili KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS GEORGIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE Start time: 20:00 October 21 Directed by Travis Knight MUSEUM Address: 25 Rustaveli Ave. Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave., AUTUMN OF MY SPRING Cast: Charlize Theron, SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Telephone: 2 99 04 56 Griboedov Theater Rezo Gabriadze Art Parkinson, Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Matthew McConaughey Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 October 26 October 22, 23 English Subtitles Genre: Animation, www.museum.ge VAKHTANG MACHAVARIANI KING LEAR Start time: 20:00 Adventure, Family AND William Shakespeare Ticket: 10, 15, 20 GEL Language: Russian PERMANENT EXHIBITION: GEORGIAN PHILHARMONIC Directed by Zura Getsadze Start time: 19:30, 22:30 GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY ORCHESTRA Start time: 20:00 October 22, 23, 27 Ticket: 13-14 GEL FROM 8TH MILLENNIUM B.C. Participants: Address: Tumanishvili Film Actors MARSHAL DE FANTIE’S TO 4TH CENTURY A.D Vakhtang Machavariani, Megi Theater, 164 Agmashenebeli Ave. DIAMOND RUSTAVELI CINEMA Chikhradze Rezo Gabriadze Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. October 25 EXHIBITION OF GEORGIAN Start time: 19:30 Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Telephone: 2 55 50 00 FELICITAS WEAPONRY Ticket: 10-40 GEL English Subtitles www.kinoafi sha.ge Libby Scala Mono Play Start time: 20:00 NUMISMATIC TREASURY TBILISI CONCERT HALL A one-woman show written & Ticket: 10, 15, 20 GEL performed by Libby Skala Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL The exhibition showcases a long Address: 1 Melikishvili St. October 21-27 Mandolin music by Steven May MOVEMENT THEATER history of money circulation on the Telephone: 2 99 00 99 Directed by Janice L. Goldberg Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., territory of modern Georgia from MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR New York, United States Mushthaid park the 6th century BC. to 1834. October 21 PECULIAR CHILDREN Start time: 17:00 Telephone: 599 555 260 DOCTORS FOR DOCTORS Address: Tumanishvili Film Actors Directed by Tim Burton June 11 – March 11 (2017) AND FRIENEDS FOR DOCTORS Cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfi eld, Theater, 164 Agmashenebeli Ave. October 21 EXHIBITION "MEDIEVAL Concert Samuel L. Jackson RECITATIVE IN THE CITY TREASURY" Start time: 18:00 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy October 27 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Ticket: 10-20 GEL AS MANY DEMONS Language: Russian Start time: 21:00 June 16 – December 16 AS YOU LIKE Start time: 14:15, 17:00, 22:30 Free Entry THE EXHIBITION HIPPODROME PARK Based on Jerzy Pilch’s story Ticket: 9-14 GEL “NEW DISCOVERIES - Address: Old Hippodrome “Wieledemonów” October 22, 23 GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY” Directed by Jašek Glomb INFERNO * Premiere October 22 Batumi Drama Theater (Info Above) THE TEMPEST September 27 – September 22 (2017) GESAFFELSTEIN, Start time: 20:00 Start time: 14:30, 22:15 Start time: 20:00 EXHIBITION AKA MIKE LEVY Address: Tumanishvili Film Actors Ticket: 9-14 GEL Theater, 164 Agmashenebeli Ave. Ticket: 15 GEL "STONE AGE GEORGIA" Gesaffelstein, AKA Mike Levy, is a Paris-based DJ-producer who KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS GEORGIAN STATE CINEMA MUSEUM OF SOVIET reconnects hard techno to its (Info Above) PANTOMIME THEATRE OCCUPATION industrial roots. Start time: 12:30, 15:00, 19:30, 22:00 Address: 37 Rustaveli Ave. Address: 3 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 22:00 AMIRANI CINEMA Ticket: 8-14 GEL Telephone: 2 99 63 14 Address: 36 Kostava St. Ticket: 50 GEL Telephone: 2 99 99 55 PERMANENT EXHIBITION October 21 MASTERMINDS SPORTS PALACE www.kinoafi sha.ge Directed by Jared Hess TERENTI GRANELI IOSEB GRISHASHVILI Address: Kostava Str. Cast: Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili TBILISI HISTORY MUSEUM Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari Jason Sudeikis Start time: 19:00 KARVASLA October 22 October 25 Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime Ticket: 10 GEL Address: 8 Sioni St. OKEAN ELZY CORIOLANUS Language: Russian Directed by Tim Van Someren Telephone: 2 98 22 81 World Tour October 22 Start time: 12:00, 17:15 Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Mark Gatiss, “Bez mej” ST. GEORGE Ticket: 8-12 GEL Hadley Fraser October 15-27 Start time: 19:00 Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili EXHIBITION "HERE THERE. Ticket: 40 GEL Start time: 19:00 Language: English JACK REACHER: Start time: 20:00 NEVER GO BACK MATTERS OF LOCATION, Ticket: 10 GEL TBILISI EVENT HALL Ticket: 17 GEL Directed by Edward Zwick CONTEMPORARY Address: 1 Melikishvili St. Cast: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, GEORGIAN ART" GRIBOEDOVI THEATRE Telephone: 2 99 00 99 Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. October 21-27 Danika Yarosh October 19-28 Telephone: 2 93 43 36 INFERNO Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime October 22 Directed by Ron Howard Language: Russian EXHIBITION "NEW BABYLONIANS" BLUES SUMMIT October 22 Cast: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Start time: 12:45, 15:00 KOKA & T.BLUES MOB ENGLISH DETECTIVE Ben Foster Ticket: 8-10 GEL GALLERY Start time: 19:00 Agatha Christie Genre: Mystery, Thriller Ticket: 15-20 GEL Directed by Vakhtang Nikolava Language: Russian USS INDIANAPOLIS: MEN OF Start time: 18:00 Start time: 22:00 COURAGE THE NATIONAL GALLERY FABRIKA Ticket: 5 GEL Ticket: 13-14 GEL Directed by Mario Van Peebles Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. www.museum.ge Address: Ninoshvili Str.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION October 22 Niko Pirosmanashvili, David FABRICATION OF MUSIC Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili and Korina Ruba, sculptor Iakob Nikoladze. Levan Tskhadadze Start time: 22:00 June 24, 2016 – June 24, 2017 Ticket: 30 GEL NIKO PIROSMANASHVILI’S WORKS “YARD CLEANER” AND MOVEMENT THEATER “EAGLE SEIZING A HARE” Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Mushthaid park September 28 - September 28 (2017) Telephone: 599 555 260 PIROSMANI’S ROE AT A STREAM October 25, 27 October 5-26 JAM SESSION THE CONTEMPORARY Leaders: CERAMIC ARTISTS' EXHIBITION Reso Kiknadze (sax), "CLAY WALL PIECE" Nika Gabadze (guitar), Misha Japaridze (bass), October 7-23 Irakli Choladze / Gio Kapanadze THE EXHIBITION “TO SEE A (drums) WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND” Start time: 21:00 BY IRAKLI BUGIANI October 26 NECTAR GALLERY TANGO EVENING Address: 88 Bochorishvili Str. Milonga La Kumparsita Start time: 21:00 October 11 – November 5 Ticket: 5 GEL GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 CULTURE 15 WHERE to Go, Stay, Eat, Drink and Buy in October e are proud to present the fourth successful edition of the new magazine for tourists- Where.ge, Wdesigned to guide you around city and country and introduce you to little-known facts and well-known sites. This autumn issue you can get to know the world of Churchkhela, made using pressed grape juice, then ﬁ nd out more about the top grape-growing region it comes from, Kakheti. Editor Katie Davies takes you to the best museums and churches in that same region while Tim Ogden reveals his top museums in the capital, Tbilisi, and blogger Tatiana Rem- neva explains why the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum should be on your “must-see” list while here. Our Svaneti-based writer Tony Hanmer has a double treat for you this issue- describing the ins and outs of not just one of the top Georgian souvenirs- the Svan hat -but also the culinary secrets of the far-off mountainous region in which he resides. Turn to page 84 for our recommended coffee and tea spots and to page 102 to discover the best places to shop for a unique Georgian carpet. Our special guests (one for each sec- tion) entertain and inform with their top Go, Stay, Eat, Drink and Buy choices, this month including the General Managers of top hotels Hilton Batumi and Ambas- sadori Tbilisi, MAQRO Construction Chief of Project Development, Oguz Kaan Karaer, OK! Fashion Editor Gvantsa Salakaia and Maia Tsereteli, Executive house museums, and from Georgian to idze Street and in the Abanotubani and Director of KMS Georgia. Asian cuisine. Keeping to tradition, Sharden areas for your copy of WHERE. Our comprehensive listings give you Where.ge continues to cater for all tastes Otherwise, grab your free copy of WHERE quick reference guides to the vast options and budgets. at one of the hotels or café-bars in cen- available throughout the country- from Interested? Head on down to the sou- tral Tbilisi. Feel free to contact WHERE guest houses to 5 star hotels, galleries to venir shops in the Old Town- on Lesel- management via E-mail: [email protected] Product Management Workshop for Performing Arts Professionals in Adjara

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

s part of the Performing Arts Support Program in Adjara, and as part of ﬁ ve years of cooperation between the British Coun- Acil and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Adjara Autonomous Repub- lic in Georgia to strengthen the capacity of the Georgian theater sector by introducing UK expertise, on 15-17 October a Production Management Workshop was held. The British Council invited David Evans, British expert and Head of Pro- duction at the National Theater, Wales. During the three-day training, special attention was given to the production process, from initial idea to ﬁ rst perfor- mance and beyond. an organization that promotes sustain- Dance Theater. Participants were familiarized with the able practice across the industry. Participants in the recent workshop British experience of production man- Evans has worked in 31 countries includ- were impressed with the detailed dis- agement- its terms, basic requirements, ing Jamaica, Japan, Russia, Australia and cussions on planning and budgeting. pre-production, rehearsals, production Brazil and has worked with many com- “I got some great tips and theoretical and post-production processes. panies visiting the UK, including the knowledge which I plan to implement David Evans is a Director/Trustee of Romanian, Moldovan and Ukrainian in my work,” said one attendee. “It was the Association of British Theater Tech- National Operas, the Dance Theater of very useful to hear the British Experi- nicians and a founding member of SiPA, Taiwan and the Alvin Ailey American ence.”

PUBLISHER & GM Journalists: Photographer: ADDRESS Reproducing material, photos George Sharashidze Tony Hanmer, Giorgi Pridonishvili 1 Melikishvili Str. and advertisements without Zaza Jgarkava, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia prior editorial permission is COMMERCIAL Maka Bibilashvili, Layout: strictly forbidden. DEPARTMENT Karen Tovmasyan, Misha Mchedlishvili Tel.: +995 32 229 59 19 The author is responsible for Commercial Director: Dimitri Dolaberidze, E: [email protected] all material. Rights of authors Iva Merabishvili Maka Lomadze, Webmaster: F: GeorgiaToday are preserved. The newspaper Marketing Manager: Tim Ogden, Joseph Larsen, Sergey Gevenov is registered in Mtatsminda Mako Burduli Vazha Tavberidze, ADVERTISING & district court. Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Circulation Managers: SUBSCRIPTION EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: Nino Gugunishvili, David Kerdikashvili, +995 595 279997 GEORGIA TODAY Editor-In-Chief: Thea Morrison, David Djandjgava E-mail: marketing@ Reg. # 06/4-309 Katie Ruth Davies Natia Liparteliani georgiatoday.ge