Issue no: 1085 • SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Bakhtadze to Fox TV: Georgia-US Co-operation at All-time High NEWS PAGE 3 Georgia’s Alliance of Patriots in Crisis as Faction Chair Quits Party POLITICS PAGE 4 FOCUS The Church Remains Politically Neutral ON HINDSIGHT POLITICS PAGE 5 An exclusive interview with former US Ambassador to Introducing the Tbilisi Georgia, John Teft PAGE 6 Free Zone BUSINESS PAGE 7 Minister of Education Discusses The Final Frontier: Bitcoin Mining Remains Accreditation Concerns with Profi table, Regardless of ASIC Size University Rectors

BY JOHN MERCURIO

istorically, hardware advancements in bitcoin mining have yielded better profi t margins. The move to ASICs from CPUs and GPUs brought processing bitcoin trans- needs to change. these newer chips is (according to multiple SOCIETY PAGE 11 Hactions to a new level and made old hardware Consider the car engine. For years, people experts) astronomical. obsolete, meaning those with the fastest and assumed that higher engine volumes meant Bitfury is leading the way by focusing on smallest chips brought home the most value. “faster” engines, and faster cars. That is, of improving all performance characteristics of Welcome to Georgia, The But as hardware becomes more complex, that course, until the advent of turbo-charged, hybrid our next generation of hardware. We are look- Musical: First Show of the will no longer be true. In short – hardware supe- and electric vehicles. The small volume of a 1.6- ing at all factors, including silicon packaging, riority will be measured by more than nanom- liter Formula-1 engine is irrelevant if the race chip effi ciency, optimal power distribution, cool- Season Sells Out! eters. Investors must start looking at overall car can achieve 300kmh. In this case, and as will ing designs and speed of development. We think performance. soon be the case with mining hardware, second- that this will lead to a turnkey solution that CULTURE PAGE 15 The economics of crypto-mining are rather ary technical characteristics don’t tell the whole delivers the best ROI for our customers – regard- straightforward. Mining equipment and infra- story. Performance characteristics will. less of ASIC size. A FASCINATING SHOW TO SEE IN TBILISI! structure costs are considered capital expendi- In the ever-competitive market for mining In 1993, Intel upended the entire microproces- tures (CAPEX) while operational expenditures ASICs, we’ve already seen a similar effect. Cus- sor market when they released Pentium. Pentium (OPEX) primarily consist of electricity costs. tomers, understandably, have expected a serious microprocessors were not any smaller than their The success of a mining operation is then based performance increase when they moved from existing products, but unbelievably faster and on two fundamental parameters – your cost per 16nm ASICs to 7nm ASICs. But one by one, min- more effi cient. The “Pentium” effect is coming terahash/second (TH/S), which is really the ing vendors fell short. Mining machines based to the crypto mining industry soon. Bitfury is price of your equipment; and your Joules per on 7nm technology not only demonstrate unim- ready. terahash (J/TH), which indicates the power effi - pressive results, they also have identical perfor- Are you? ciency of your hardware. mance characteristics to the massively deployed INFO & TICKETS: GET 15% DISCOUNT!DISCOUNT! Missing from this equation is the cost/ben- and well-known 16 and 14nm ASICs. John Mercurio is the acting chief communications offi cer www.musical.ge Use code GT15 during THIS TUESDAY Tel: +995 577 55 00 33 checkout at tkt.ge/musical efi t analysis of technological innovation. That The cost, however, of producing and releasing at The Bitfury Group AT MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE THEATRE, TBILISI GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 Ministry of Education Meeting with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE

n Monday, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Levan Kharatishvili held a working meeting with the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities (HCNM) Lamberto Zannier. Kharatishvili briefed Zannier on programs and projects implementedO for the ethnic minorities in the fi elds of education, science, culture and sport. The meeting also focused on the ongoing reform of the education system spearheaded by Minister Mikheil Batiashvili. Zannier received compre- hensive information on all aspects of education in Georgia and on the basic aspects of the new reforms. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed on the necessity of deepening cooperation and taking specifi c steps for- ward. Zannier will be visiting Georgia until September 21. Within the frame- work of the visit, the Commissioner will meet with the President of Geor- gia, Chairman of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other government offi cials. Zannier will also hold meetings with the CEC Chair- person, Public Defender, and UN Offi ce in Georgia, in addition to meetings with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, civil society organiza- tions, and members of Georgian national minority groups. Photo: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport World's Highest Georgian Restaurant Opens in Dubai

including penovani khachapuri and BY ANNA ZHVANIA khinkali, all served by professional danc- ers. Hosting live folk music events and serving Georgian wine, the restaurant odi, the highest-up overlooks Dubai with spectacular views. Georgian restaurant in Every three months, Georgian art is to the world, opened in be put on display there. As the offi cial Sofitel Downtown description of the restaurant states, "We Dubai on the 31st fl oor. also source the freshest, organic ingre- MModi is the venture of famous Georgian dients from Georgia, thus encapsulating chef, Guram Baghdoshvili. The restau- a complete Georgian dining experience, rant serves traditional Georgian cuisine, right here in the heart of Dubai". GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 NEWS 3 US Department of State Praises Georgia’s Anti-Terrorism Efforts

BY THEA MORRISON

n the Country Reports on Terror- ism 2017 , the United States Depart- ment of States says that the Gov- ernment of Georgia is “generally capable of detecting, deterring, Bakhtadze to Fox TV: Iand responding to terrorist incidents.” The document reads that Georgia is a longstanding member of the Global Coa- Georgia-US Co-operation lition to Defeat ISIS, adding it continued its strong engagement with the United States across a range of counterterrorism- at All-time High related issues. It also says that Georgia participated and still continues its aggressive policy. BY THEA MORRISON in numerous bilateral exercises and “Russia occupies two historical regions remained a solid US security partner. November 21 anti-terrorist operation in Tbilisi. Image source: guardian.ng of Georgia… Many locals had to leave “In May, US and Georgian leadership Georgia improved infrastructure in fi ve more people were detained by the SSSG these territories because of this,” signed the Agreement of the United land border sectors and also established in connection with the case. eorgian Prime Minister Bakhtadze said, noting that the Govern- States of America and the Government a Risk and Threat Assessment Unit, The report added that Georgia is a Mamuka Bakhtadze told ment of Georgia is fully committed to of Georgia Concerning Security Meas- which operates in line with the European member of the Council of Europe’s Com- Bret Baier, the host of Spe- peaceful resolution of the confl ict. ures for the Protection of Classifi ed Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model, mittee of Experts on the Evaluation of cial Report with Bret Baier “Unfortunately, Russia is still trying to Information, establishing a legal founda- and signed the Tactical Memorandum Anti-Money Laundering Measures and on the Fox News Channel, undermine our peaceful initiatives,” he tion for bilateral intelligence sharing that with the NATO Maritime Command, the Financing of Terrorism, a Financial Gthat his country's relationship with the stressed. will strengthen counterterrorism coop- promoting cooperation and information Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional United States is at an 'all-time high' and As for Georgia’s aim to become a NATO eration and enhance the Georgian mili- sharing between NATO and Georgia’s body. Also, Georgia’s fi nancial intelli- that he is 'encouraged' by President member, the PM says it is the country’s tary’s interoperability with North Atlan- Joint Maritime Operations Center. gence unit, the Financial Monitoring Trump's 'dialogue' with Putin. main priority. tic Treaty Organization (NATO) member “This makes Georgia a non-operational Service of Georgia, is a member of the Bakhtadze says Trump’s decision to “Although our economy is not large, states,” the report reads. partner of the NATO-led Operation Sea Egmont Group. have a dialogue with Russia is a good we are spending over 2% of our GDP on The US Department of State says the Guardian, one of NATO’s activities to “Georgia’s anti-money laundering and step, adding there is no other alternative. our armed forces… Our soldiers are fi ght- State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) counter terrorism…The Georgian gov- countering the fi nancing of terrorism “But we should also take into consid- ing international terrorism… We are the has the lead in handling terrorism-related ernment approved and implemented the legal framework remains largely in com- eration the regional context because largest per capita contributors to the incidents and is generally well equipped Joint Action Plan on the Management pliance with international standards, in turbulence is growing but direct inter- international missions, so…if Georgia and well trained. of Crisis – Extreme Situations in the Field particular with updated FATF recom- action with Russia is at the highest level joins NATO, this will make the region “In 2017, Georgia’s law enforcement of Civil Aviation,” the document says. mendations,” the document says. possible: it is really very positive and more predictable and sustainable, which bodies signed a Memorandum of Under- The US Department of State also men- As for the Europe in general, the report fruitful,” he said. is in the best interests of Russia,” standing on Improving the Effi ciency of tions the November 21-22 special anti- says the EU faced a number of ongoing “Under President Trump's administra- Bakhtadze stated. Interagency Cooperation in the Law terrorist operation held by the SSSG in terrorist threats and concerns in 2017, tion, the US-Georgia Security Coopera- Enforcement Sphere, which provides for Tbilisi, which repelled the future terror- including from foreign terrorist organi- tion has never been as strong as now Bakhtadze: “If Georgia joins NATO, this will the creation of an Operational Head- ist activities of the ISIS member Akhmet zations operating out of Iraq and Syria, and we truly appreciate this,” Bakhtadze make our region much more predictable and quarters on the Management of Extreme Chatayev and his group. One member foreign terrorist fi ghters returning to said. sustainable — which is in the best interest of Situations, in the event of a terrorist act," of the terrorist group was detained, two Europe to conduct attacks, and home- He also spoke about Georgia-Russia Russia. #SpecialReport pic.twitter. the document reads. were killed, and Chatayev detonated an grown terrorists who were inspired or relations, adding the northern neighbor com/7mOn02v5l6 — Fox News (@FoxNews) Moreover, the report underlines that explosive, killing himself. Later on, fi ve remotely directed by ISIS. has occupied 20% of Georgian territory September 19, 2018 GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 Future of Russia (Part II): Foreign Pressure Instrumental for Changes could be instrumental to there being any changes. BY EMIL AVDALIANI There are some arguments for this theory. The current crisis between Russia and the West, the product of many fundamental geopolitical dif- ussia has undergone fundamental ferences in both the former Soviet space and else- changes following the collapse of the where, will remain unabated at least for the coming Soviet Union in 1991. These changes years. The successful western expansion into what have taken different shapes and range was always considered the “Russian backyard” from demography to foreign policy, halted Moscow’s projection of power and dimin- fromR rising discontent within the population to a ished its reach into the north of Eurasia – between more troublesome economic situation. fast-developing China, Japan, and other Asian Thus, the decline of Russia as a power continues countries and the technologically modern Euro- and is made up of several interconnecting trends. pean landmass. I have written that Russian demographic trajecto- But this too might not be enough. Direct Russian ries indicate that the Russian population, which military involvement in foreign countries is what has been decreasing, is set to decline even further Image source: collinsfl ags.com the Russians fear most. Westerners hoped that the in the coming decades. In 2012, the Kremlin esti- Russian troops would be bogged down in Syria, it mates projected that Russia’s population would spent on special security agencies and the state the February and October revolutions. During the did not happen. Similarly, many thought Ukraine diminish to 107 million people by 2045-2050. army. Soviet Union, the war in Afghanistan was one of might have turned into the major battleground, but This demographic decline in itself results from However, though these trends are important, they the defi ning moments in the decline of the fi rst it does not seem so. several factors such as low fertility rate and the are still somehow simplistic and lacking the under- Communist state and its eventual disintegration. Thus, nowadays, we see how Russia is lagging HIV crisis. Moreover, the number ethnic Russians standing of how the Russian mindset works. If the This brings to mind current geopolitical circum- and how much has it lost throughout the last sev- is in decline as opposed to the Muslim population. political sovereignty in the West emanates from stances in and around Russia. As said, internally eral decades in the former Soviet space. But inter- The Russian decline is also characterized by gen- below, in Russia the government relies on coercive the country experiences problems, but they do not nal problems alone do not suffi ce for radical changes eral technological underdevelopment – the process measures to control the vast country. Not only is suffi ce to make the Russian government change in Russia. In fact, Russian history shows that foreign which began in the last decades of the Soviet Union this state of affairs not anathema to most Russians, the course the state has taken. Like in previous military pressure is fundamental and this is what and accelerated in the 1990s. but they expect their leaders to be tough-minded historical examples, foreign pressure on Russia Russia does not have for the moment. Even inside the country, although it seems that and heavy-handed. Hence the Kremlin’s lack of all is quiet and comfortable, the situation is tense serious concern over the anti-government demon- in the regions. Ethnic minorities might raise their strations which, in contrast to their over-dramati- voice once the center – Moscow – experiences deep zation by the Western media, refl ect a small frac- economic troubles. tion of the Russian population. In fact, from a wider historical perspective, Rus- Respect and obedience to authority is also a dis- Georgia’s Alliance of sia has always been backward in technological and tinct element of the sociopolitical ethos of Russian economic aspects. Even after the fi rst two Five-Year society, which is neither overly democratic nor plans under Joseph Stalin in the 1930s, when the fully European nor despotically Asian. country experienced almost a doubling of the However, it should be noted that although his- Patriots in Crisis as industrial output in comparison with previous torically Russia has been always backwards in years, Soviet Russia still lagged signifi cantly behind comparison to Europeans and experienced similar the European states. Further back, in the Romanov internal problems in earlier centuries too, it is still times, Russians were backwards in economics and the foreign policy realm that has been instrumen- Faction Chair Quits Party other crucial components of state development. tal in causing disturbances in Russia and the sub- There are many other components of the modern sequent weakening of the country. “decline of Russia” model. Inter-elite fi ghting in War with Japan in 1904-1905 ushered in the 1905 the Kremlin is important, so are the huge expenses Revolution, while twelve years later, WWI caused Non-fulfi llment of a Restraining Order Now Considered Crime

Image source: Tabula ex-teammate will stay in the parliamentary faction BY THEA MORRISON because this will leave the party without a faction in the legislative body. If the APG faction collapses, it will bring fi nancial eorgia’s Alliance of patriots (APG), damage to the party because faction members have which is often referred to as “the sat- higher salaries than ordinary MPs. The faction ellite of Russia” in Georgia, saw their head has GEL 5,468 per month, while the deputy- faction Chair and one of the most head has GEL 4,738. The monthly salary of an aver- active members, Nato Chkheidze, age Georgian MP is GEL 4,623. Gquit this week. Moreover, the faction has its own budget funding, Chkheidze is the founder of Iberia TV, which its own offi ce, vehicles allocated by Parliament and might be closed down because its donor company also its own business trip fund. When the faction Omega Group has fi nancial crises, owing GEL 51 members go on a vacation, they also get bonuses million to the state budget for not paying taxes. In to their salaries. addition, Iberia journalists speak about pressure Faction members also have the right to give more from the government through the creation of fi nan- speeches during the parliament session than regu- cial problems for Omega Group Company. lar MPs. “TV Company Iberia is in trouble. Almost 1500 Inashvili believes that the faction Chair has sub- people are employed in the Omega Group ... Unfor- jective views about the issue of supporting Iberia tunately, I could not hear the voice of the Alliance TV and if she leaves the faction too, “this will not of Patriots supporting the TV station… because of be a tragedy.” this, I cannot see myself in this political union and “Let us face reality. If Chkheidze quits the faction, I am leaving the party,” Chkheidze announced at we will stay in Parliament as independent MPs but ensure that nonfulfi llment is not taken lightly. the parliament session on September 19. will continue to work as teammates. Even after BY SHIRIN MAHDAVI In statements made by Mezvrishvili, the changes Chkheidze added that Iberia TV feels support falling apart, we will be the patriots of Georgia,” are already in the works. Drafts have been made from the NGOs, Public Defender and parliamen- she stressed. for the amendments to the law. The guidelines of tary and non-parliamentary opposition parties, Inashvili also added that she had enjoyed a very eputy Minister of Internal Affairs the restraining orders have been strengthened mak- who aim to protect media and business, but her interesting relationship with Nato Chkheidze for Natia Mezvrishvili has announced ing it more diffi cult to make contact. In addition, party did not do anything to express solidarity. She two years of mutual work and this would continue. that not fulfi lling a restraining order offenders face more criminal responsibility for says she is also leaving the faction and will serve The Alliance of Patriots of Georgia managed to in Georgia is now considered a crime reoccurring domestic criminal activity. These new as an independent MP in Parliament. gain fi ve seats in Parliament during the 2016 par- and not simply an administrative amendments are among the efforts being made to Vice-Speaker of Parliament and member of the liamentary elections in Georgia. They registered Doffense. In the coming future, amendments will prevent domestic violence and give justice for those APG faction, Irma Inashvili, confi rmed that Chk- a 5-member faction too, which will fall apart if be added to the Law on Domestic Violence to who have been affected by such crimes. heidze had left the party but said she hopes the Chkheidze quits the post of the faction Chair. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 POLITICS 5 The Church Remains Politically Neutral

BY SHAWN WAYNE

atholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II urged the clergy to refrain from polit- ical statements and criti- cism of politicians. Recently, severalC clerics have sharply criticized the candidate for the presidency of Geor- gia Salome Zurabishvili for her position on the legalization of marijuana. Zura- Parking Fines bishvili in this election is supported by the ruling party Georgian Dream. "Unfortunately, due to the approach of the elections, some of the divine serv- ants make statements of political content and at the same time incorrectly men- tion a certain political person in public Increase space. I call on the pastors and abbots citizens to use municipal parking, BY SHAWN WAYNE to refrain from such actions. I want to "Kaladze said. remind them that the Church has always The Mayor of Tbilisi stressed that there been and will be politically neutral. "- is no way stricter laws for this will hin- said Ilia II's appeal on the website Patri- bilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze der the economic activities of the popu- archate of Georgia. has begun an initiative to lation - there are many places in the city Earlier, the Patriarchate of Georgia increase the penalty for where you can legally work. made a sharp statement about the idea business activities in munic- The Mayor recalled how effective the of growing cannabis in the country, even ipal parking areas. The amendments to the Law on Occupational for medical and cosmetic purposes. After TTbilisi Transport Company has already Safety were. Since August 1, labor inspec- the Georgian Orthodox Church and the started to fi ne offenders, but based on tors inspect facilities or enterprises for Catholicos-Patriarch expressed dissat- the fact that the fi ne is small - 10 GEL safety, and at the same time, strict fi nes isfaction, the ruling party decided to (about $ 4), the law is still being violated. are established. postpone consideration of the issue in "In the city, unfortunately, there are "Many were skeptical about this the parliament. streets where municipal parking places approach, saying that raising fi nes we Salome Zurabishvili criticized the are occupied illegally for different busi- allegedly could not solve this problem, Church's interference in state affairs, ness activities, such as cars with a trailer, but the result is obvious, and here I want after which some priests urged the fl ock which often open close to a tourist bureau to say that this is not the result that we not to vote for her. or visa services. There are cases where want to ultimately achieve, however, Presidential elections will be held in parking spaces are fi lled with cars for building safety is signifi cantly improved," Georgia on October 28. rent, which leaves no possibility for Kaladze concluded. GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 Former Ambassador Tuft: From Tbilisi to Kyiv to Moscow

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

n an exclusive interview with GEORGIA TODAY and Realpolitik Talk Show, the liv- ing legend of American diplomacy (there’s no other way to pay proper homage to the man who has served his country without Iblemish as an ambassador in Lithuania, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia.), John Teft reminisced on his Georgian tenure, which happened to involve the 2008 August War. Being one of the speakers at a massive two-day conference in Tbilisi organized by the McCain Institute and Economic Policy Research center, Teft charted his diplomatic jour- ney in a speech aptly titled "From Vilnius to Tbilisi to Kyiv to Moscow.” When speaking about the 2008 war with us, the veteran diplomat stressed he didn’t have to strain his memory to recall who actually started the war, something a number of Georgian Russia has to pull its politicians, of a relatively younger age compared to the octogenarian US envoy, have been rather troops out of both oblivious of. South Ossetia and WHEN I INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHO WERE IN GEORGIA IN THE 90S, THEY Abkhazia. Calling ALWAYS NOTE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW. WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU SEE BETWEEN HOW IT WAS them independent WHEN YOU WERE HERE, AND TODAY? states is ridiculous Driving in from the airport, the fi rst thing you notice is all the cars; the traffi c is much worse, and beautiful downtown Tbilisi is getting more clogged amazing how much Georgia has achieved in a that gets bombarded on the Georgian people. I DID THE RUSSIANS CATCH YOU, up with traffi c all the time. But that's also sympto- relatively short historical time; yes I know 20% of was pleased that not just politicians are deter- THE WEST, UNAWARE? matic of the US, as Washington is far worse now the population is below the poverty line and I've mined to stay the course and to keep the Western No. We knew things were heating up and I can't say than it ever was. If you stop and think back to heard a lot of problems and various complaints path that this country has followed for the last 25 that I was surprised by it. Now whether people in Georgia of 1991, and even in the years afterwards made to the government, but this is still a democ- years. Washington or the European capitals were, is hard for with the civil war and everything else, it's pretty racy, the country is still improving, it has developed me to say, as I wasn't there, but the fact is that there really good relations with the US and the West. It’s WHAT ARE YOUR RECOLLECTIONS were a lot of other things going on: it was the last year very fortunate that today an overwhelming number OF THE 2008 AUGUST WAR? of the Bush administration and they were very much of Americans support Georgia and Ukraine in the I'll be honest with you: I'm in the process of trying focused on Iraq and Afghanistan and it was also the struggle going on with Russia over territorial integ- to put together material for a book not just about time of the Olympics. At our embassy [in Tbilisi], we rity. that, so I’ll just say in general that you know it was were very clear, and we reported as fully as we could clear to us in the run-up to August 2008 that the to Washington on all the things we had observed Rus- DO YOU THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH Russian side was bringing troops by rail, and there sia doing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It's amazing how much FORTUNE OR DID GEORGIA EARN IT? were other provocations. There was no question Georgia in most part earned it over a period of in my mind that that the confl ict that developed COULD ANYTHING HAVE BEEN Georgia has achieved time, and I'm not singling out any particular pres- was in effect precipitated by that pressure. Espe- DONE TO PREVENT IT? ident or government in this. I was pleased when cially as you look back on that period now through This is one of those what ifs that's really hard. There in a relatively short several politicians from the different groups who the prism of the Russian actions in Ukraine, it's are some people who are critical of President Saakash- spoke to us yesterday made the point that pro- pretty clear that it was all part and parcel of a larger vili for sending troops into Tskhinvali, the implica- Russia parties right now are made up by less than effort to reassert Russian control and infl uence in tion being that if he hadn't done so, then things historical time 10% of the population despite all the propaganda what the Russians call the near abroad. would have been better. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently reiterated in an article in The Washington Post that Lavrov [Sergey Vik- torovich Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia] on the phone [at the time] said that even though the offi cial propaganda line is that we want to help those poor Ossetians, to save our peacekeepers, we're trying to take down the government. They were trying to get a regime change and it was pretty clear from the facts on the ground that he admitted it and so I think the plan was to certainly move ahead along that line.

IF, AS YOU SAY, THE PRIME INTENTION OF RUSSIA WAS A REGIME CHANGE, SHOULD IT NOT STOP THE DISCUSSION OF WHO STARTED THE WAR? To a certain extent you can make that point, but I've never had a question of who provoked the war in my own mind. A number of other things that have emerged since the war basically confi rm that and, as I said before, if you look at the war in Geor- gia in the hindsight of what happened in Ukraine, it is pretty clear where the pattern is.

REGARDING THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, ONE OF THE TENETS OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT WHEN IT CAME TO POWER; SEEN FROM YOUR TIME IN MOSCOW AS AN AMBASSADOR, DO YOU THINK IT SUCCEEDED? Russia has to pull its troops out of both South Osse- tia and Abkhazia. Calling them independent states is ridiculous and I think in order to normalize it, the Russian government really has to go back to a status quo ante. We have to try to fi nd a way where the people in Ossetia and Abkhazia can come together with the Georgian people, where territo- rial integrity is restored and the rights of minorities as well as the majority of the people are all respected and observed; easier said than done, but I think that's the only way this is going to be solved. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 POLITICS 7 The Story of One Georgian Village

is under tight control, which also depends on inter- BY EMIL AVDALIANI nal instability in Abkhazia. In Khurcha, it also becomes clear that the passage over the Enguri bridge, as well as other places, is bout 330 kilometers (roughly 200 restricted. Abkhazians use unoffi cial routes to enter miles) west of the Georgian capital Georgia in search of better fi nancial and health of Tbilisi lies the city of Zugdidi, the care opportunities. Fearing a mass exodus, Abkhaz administrative center of the country's President Raul Khajimba announced in an offi cial Samegrelo region. Another 10 kilom- statement that Sukhumi would crack down on Aeters or so west of Zugdidi, Georgian government movement from Abkhazia. As it is, Sukhumi has control ends and the breakaway territory of Abk- made it onerous for travelers to get the necessary hazia begins. This region declared its independence documents to leave the breakaway territory. in the early 1990s, and, following a war with Geor- In Gali, a massive distribution campaign of Rus- gia, Russia recognized it as independent in 2008. sian passports to ethnic Georgians living in Abk- The Enguri River delineates about one-third of the hazia is ongoing. The campaign sometimes stops line of demarcation between Georgia and Abkha- due to fi nancial constraints. Russia's economic zia, leaving only a handful of connection points problems could also explain why Abkhazia has between the two. One bridge leads to the village been receiving limited funding from Moscow lately, of Khurcha – the only settlement beyond the river much to the detriment of its coffers. In other ways, that remains under Offi cial Tbilisi's control. however, Moscow's infl uence in Abkhazia is strong. Crossing the river into Khurcha, I was suddenly There have been reports that the Abkhazians began struck by how advantageous Abkhazia's geographic appointing ethnic Abkhazians to many government position is compared with that of South Ossetia, positions that ethnic Georgians had traditionally another breakaway Georgian territory. South Osse- fi lled. The Georgian language has been almost tia lacks natural barriers to defend it. Abkhazia, by entirely replaced by Russian in the classroom, even contrast, is buffered by the Enguri River as well as in areas with large Georgian populations. Many the Kodori Gorge — a narrow passage in the ter- Abkhaz schools teach only an hour of Georgian ritory's northeast that Abkhaz forces can close off language and literature per week, causing parents to keep out Georgian troops. in the area to consider relocating to Samegrelo. Near the village is the fi rst Russo-Abkhaz military The location of Khurcha village says a lot about outpost, adorned with signs warning visitors to Russian military bases in Abkhazia (2011-2016). Source: Wikipedia the Abkhaz problem. The geography explains why stop and stand at the end of this road. Speaking Abkhazia is insular and this creates disadvantages. with Khurcha's residents, I gathered that these Abkhazians are allowed to cross into Georgian vices. Visitors from Abkhazia's Gali district can A major problem is that geographically Abkhazia military outposts, and the guards who man them, territory over the bridges. Many Abkhazians travel more or less easily travel to Zugdidi. Sometimes is separated from Russia by the Caucasus mountain are a source of even greater concern for locals than to Samegrelo for business or to seek medical treat- on the way back into Abkhazia, guards ask them range which essentially precludes any possibility the prospect of losing territory. In May 2016, an ment in Tbilisi, since it is a more convenient and to pay 50 GEL (about $20) for entrance. The amount of Abkhazia joining Russia in the longer term. Rela- Abkhaz outpost guard killed a Georgian national affordable option than traveling to Russia. In fact, demanded varies depending on which guard is on tions between the two might prosper, but that is in Khurcha; many witnesses claim the guard crossed the Georgian government has built a number of duty, and some charge as much as 100 GEL: a big unlikely to change the constraints posed by geo- into the village from Abkhazia. hospitals for Abkhazians in need of medical ser- sum for the locals. Overall, the line of demarcation graphic conditions. BUSINESS Introducing the Tbilisi Free Zone ADVERTORIAL

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 [email protected] +995 32 229 59 19  Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY 8 BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 Halfway Through the Harvest

to a total of 130 wineries to produce this BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE year’s vintage. So far, 50 companies have been involved in the harvest, the largest numbers from Gurjaani, Telavi, and he grape harvest in Geor- Kvareli, and a total of 325 companies are gia’s eastern Kakheti region registered with the Headquarters. offi cially began the fi rst Despite major hailstorms throughout week of September. Kakheti the region, NWA Chairman Andro is often called Georgia’s Aslanishvili reported that the harvesting Tcradle of wine for its abundance of wine is taking place uninterrupted. Approxi- grapes and winemakers. mately 500 hectares of vineyards were The 2018 Harvest Coordination Head- affected by hail storms this week, dam- quarters opened on August 20, operated aging around 3,000 tons of grapes. Staff by the National Wine Agency (NWA) members from the Coordination Head- the Ministry of Environmental Protec- quarters visited the damaged crops in tion and Agriculture, and the Offi ce of Sagarejo, Gurjaani, and Sighnaghi munic- the Governor of Kakheti. Interested grape ipalities on Wednesday. The damaged growers of all sizes can register with the grapes are still viable for winemaking Headquarters to store and process their and the Harvest Coordination Head- harvest, increasing accountability and quarters staff has arranged for them to origin traceability. Such steps move the be sold to three different wine factories. process closer to European standards, Another major hailstorm hit Kakheti which will eventually allow Georgian in mid-August, just as the Headquarters farmers to export their products to the was opening, infl icting particular dam- European Union as part of the Deep and age to grapes in the Telavi and Akhmeta Comprehensive Free Trade Area between municipalities. Many farmers feared for Image source: bpn.ge Georgia and the EU, signed in 2014 as this year’s crop, but an emergency team ing that the state cannot provide com- and noting that much of their crop had ally some level of hail damage regardless. part of the Association Agreement. was immediately mobilized to survey pensation otherwise. Headquarters staff been so badly damaged by the hail that Due to the current state of the wine The Harvest Coordination Headquar- the damage and coordinate a response. facilitated communication between it was impossible to use even for wine. industry, its growth and successes, the ters is reporting that more than 100 Minister of Environment and Agricul- farmers and wine companies, again There was a small rally in protest of the government of Georgia determined that thousand tons of grapes have been pro- ture, Levan Davitashvili, visited the arranging special purchase deals for aid provided, asking for more support. the 2018 harvest will be refl ective of full cessed at the facility so far this season. Coordination Headquarters and spoke hail-damaged grapes. Some farmers were Kakheti employs an anti-hail rocket market price conditions – the fi rst in the Revenue from the harvest has reached with local farmers. He urged them to unsatisfi ed with the offi cial response, system that is used to break up the clouds last 10 years without government subsi- 155 million GEL. The grapes will be sold always insure their harvests emphasiz- however, calling the offer “unacceptable” that carry hailstorms, but there is usu- dies for grape growers. Georgia’s Meat Market in products which were labelled as ‘con- Many say that fi ning these companies bazaars and markets, the animals are taining beef/pork’ and so they were fi ned is insignifi cant and ineffective, and that slaughtered and sold almost the same 1000 GEL (around $400). This is not the the penalties given to companies for day and then consumed. Georgia does fi rst time the FSS uncovered products such violations are not severe enough not provide for matured meats in gen- containing horse and donkey meat that and do not serve to prevent them from eral, except for companies such as Blau- were falsely labeled, as, back in 2017, 12 doing so again in the future. The local enstein Georgia. companies were fi ned for similar reasons. distribution and handling of meat is just Blauenstein Georgia has been operat- It is quite possible that, should they con- not on standard and should be given ing in Racha since 2008, and started duct another search again, that they will more attention, especially with tourism producing meat products in 2015, hoping fi nd similar results. on the rise. Georgian cuisine does not to fi ll the gap left by other providers by Georgian legislation does not specifi - necessarily contain meat, with most offering matured and ripened meat closer cally forbid the sale of horse or donkey dishes containing vegetables, cheese and to a western standard. They plan to invest meat; however, if either is included in a egg, except for khinkali the famed meat more, and it is understandable why, due food item, it must be indicated. Suppli- dumplings. to the shortcomings of the country with are not always up to standard. In short, ers sometimes fail to do so however, The meat market is growing, slowly, regards to high-standard meat and the BY SHAWN WAYNE there is a major gap to fi ll. because these kinds of meat are not and does need improvements. Georgia increasing demand from youth and tour- Earlier this year, the Food Security popular in Georgia, with few consumers is a major exporter of both cattle and ists. Service of Georgia (FSS) collected a willing to buy products labelled as horse/ sheep, yet it still imports over 20% of its Meat production has quite a way to go he quality of meat available number of food products from Tbilisi donkey meat. The FSS has been conduct- meat. The consumption of meat in Geor- in Georgia and small improvements in Georgia is lacking com- stores, and of the 20 items collected, 9 ing studies and tests like this since March gia takes place less than four days after won’t be enough; there is a massive gap pared to many western were found to contain horse and/or don- 2017. Samples of ready-made dishes and the actual slaughtering of animals, with that needs to be fi lled. The older gen- countries, with meat cuts key meat. That is a staggering result and other items are taken from food vendors no time made to mature the meat, often eration does not mind the meat quality predominantly being sold naturally unacceptable, however, not and stores and an analysis is conducted leaving the meat in a very tough state. provided at bazaars and markets but, Tin bazaars and markets with no specifi c much is being done about it. in accredited laboratories. The agency In the West, the tenderness of meat plays with the increasing westernization of regulation. There are stores that sell Seven companies were found to have has discovered several violations since a big role in the quality, but n Georgia it Georgian standards, meats are becoming processed meat products, but these too been selling horse and/or donkey meat it started operating. is not regulated in the same way. In high on the list of demands for change. Night Buses to Run in Tbilisi on Fridays & Saturdays

King Tamar Avenue (Goodwill hyper- ing the daytime. BY THEA MORRISON market), Mayor Kaladze presented the Night Crossing of the right bank of the Mtk- Economy concept in April. He says that vari River and Giorgi Saakadze I Exit, any economic activity that starts at 8pm bilisi City Hall announced Crossing of Vakhushti Bagrationi and and lasts until morning is considered a that night buses are to run Agladze streets, ‘Night Economy,' and involves various in the capital from 00:00 Dinamo Arena stadium, Davit Agh- directions, including transport and com- to 06:00 on Fridays and mashenebeli Avenue #106, munications, restaurant and hotel busi- Saturdays from September The First Republican Square, ness, culture industry, trade and tourism. T21. Freedom Square metro, Nikoloz He added that the decision to encour- Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the Baratashvili Street “Konka”, age night capital was made after study- night buses will operate within the Tbi- Europe Square, ing the experience of such big cities as lisi City Hall Night Economy project 7, Vakhtang Gorgasali Street - Sulphur Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Barcelona, from metro station Akhmeteli Theater Baths, Tokyo, Vilnius, Zurich and many others, to Varketili metro station. The interval Dodashvili Square, which generate great income from night- between the buses will be an hour. Isani metro station, life activities. The night buses will make stops at the Varketili Metro Station. The project is expected to benefi t ordi- culture representatives. It also envisages districts, recognizing that all parts of the following locations: The buses will show the sign “Night nary citizens, tourists, small and medium development and promotion not only of capital need to be equally attractive to Akhmeteli Theatre metro station, Bus" and will cost GEL 0.50, as it is dur- businesses, large investment units and the central part of the city, but also the tourists. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 BUSINESS 9 EU-Sponsored Labor Standards Conference in Tbilisi BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE

n September 19-20, the European Union held a seminar at the Biltmore Hotel in Tbilisi on the topic of labor standards and workingO conditions in the country. The purpose of the event was to share opin- ions on legislation and the best labor practices of international organizations. The seminar discussed labor standards in relation to the economic association and free trade area opened by the Asso- ciation Agreement between the EU and Georgia, which was signed in June 2014. It also facilitated knowledge exchanges on concrete examples of enforcement practices in the EU and other countries, including by European companies that work internationally. The seminar brought together repre- sentatives of key Georgian stakeholders in the subject area, including members of the Parliament of Georgia, relevant social partners such as the Georgian Image source: Tbilisi City Hall Trade Union Confederation and the The EU organized the seminar in an Directorate General for Employment, Hall and local municipalities in relation tistics show, the stricter approach has Georgian Employers’ Association, civil effort to promote fair and equitable, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the Euro- to labor safety. City Hall recently initi- reduced the amount of violations in terms society organizations, subject experts, European-style labor standards in Geor- pean Commission, Jordi Curell, and the ated legislation that put into place new of construction safety. As a result of tight- labor practitioners, and social partners gia. The convention emphasized that Minister of IDPs of the Occupied Ter- labor protection regulations, and Elosh- ening regulations, the number of accidents from EU Member States, other countries improving labor standards, working ritories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs vili noted that the new regulations have at construction sites has been signifi cantly closely associated with the EU, and the conditions, and labor market institutions of Georgia, Davit Sergeenko, discussed signifi cantly reduced the number of reduced. Protection of labor safety requires International Labor Offi ce (the perma- are an asset for increasing productivity, how to continue dialogue and coopera- violations in the construction industry. a complex approach from both the author- nent secretariat of the International enhancing skills, and enhancing the tion around these issues between Geor- The regulations increase fi nes for vio- ities and local municipalities. We welcome Labor Organization). Part of the conven- added value in the global value chain. gian and European entities in both the lating construction labor standards from the fact that the Tbilisi City Hall is involved tion focused on business, facilitating the Sustainable development goals are also public and private sectors. 3000 GEL to 30,000 GEL. Additionally, in this important process, because the exchange of EU labor best practices and better on a platform of strong, well- Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi Ilia Eloshvili companies previously received a warning right to a safe working environment one legislation between European companies enforced labor standards. also attended the seminar. He spoke to for violations of safety standards, and of the highest categories of human rights,” and Georgian businesses. The Director for Labor Mobility at the attendees about the role of Tbilisi City now they are immediately fi ned. “As sta- said Eloshvili. GEORGIA TODAY 10 BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 San Diego State University Georgia Hosts 2018 Convocation Ceremony in Tbilisi You need to focus on your aims and BY ANA DUMBADZE goals, because it can transform our lives not only in Georgia but throughout the world, through the types of skills you he San Diego State Univer- will get. I am looking forward to work- sity of Georgia warmly ing with you.” She also stressed the welcomed freshmen importance of the fact that almost 40%of through the 2018 Convoca- the new students are young women. tion Ceremony. “Having both women and men who TAs it is widely known, a positive and are educated in STEM will create a team energetic start is quite important for science that we need to address global achieving success, especially when it problems,” she elaborated. comes to the new academic year. Moti- SDSU, through funding from the US vating students for the new challenges Government’s Millennium Challenge is not an easy task, but it was well-achieved Corporation, offers internationally at the San Diego State University Geor- accredited Bachelor of Science programs gia’s Convocation Ceremony, a special in the fi elds of science, technology, engi- event that signifi es the beginning of a neering, and mathematics (STEM) in university career and brings new stu- Georgia. As the MCC Chief Operating dents and their families together with Offi cer Jonathan Nash noted, MCC is faculty and staff. proud of the progress achieved through On September 19, San Diego State Uni- the incredible partnership with SDSU versity (SDSU) Georgia hosted its offi cial in Georgia, the government and partner Convocation Ceremony to mark the start universities and they are excited to see of the new academic year and accept what comes next. new students into its programs. The joy- “I am thrilled to assist in welcoming a ful and simultaneously quite important new cohort of students of SDSU Geor- event was attended by the 9th permanent gia. SDSU is the only American univer- President of SDSU, Dr. Adela de la Torre, new academic year, wishing them a suc- Patsuria, advised the new students to from Tbilisi and all regions of Georgia sity in Georgia offering the STEM Pro- Vice Prime-Minister and Minister of cessful university career and bright future use all the opportunities, study well and are represented. 38% of the new cohort gram. MCC is proud to be a part of this Regional Development and Infrastruc- and stressed the importance of SDSU’s achieve the best results. is female. SDSU Georgia continues partnership. Today it is the 4th cohort, ture, Maya Tskitishvili, Minister of Edu- collaboration with Georgia. One of the most exciting parts of the attracting the top scorers from the the largest one, with 230 students. We cation, Science, Culture, and Sport, “We have a record number of students event was the Oath Taking Ceremony, National Exams (NAEC). are honored to continue to grow in future. Mikheil Batiashvili, U.S. Embassy Chargé engaged in our programs this year. Besides when all the students jointly recognized According to Dr. de la Torre, one of the STEM education is a way to the future d’Affaires, Elizabeth Rood, Millennium admitting such a large quantity of stu- SDSU’s successful past and experience main reasons Georgian students become and it will offer a lot of chances for stu- Challenge Corporation Chief Operating dents, we enrolled 14 students with per- as the key to their promising future and more and more interested in studying dents to take advantage of the new and Offi cer, Jonathan Nash, and Millennium fect scores in General Aptitude, Math, expressed gratitude for the contribution at SDSU is that they realize that the emerging economic opportunities here Challenge Account Georgia Chief Exec- Chemistry, and English into our programs. of their families and friends who have opportunities the university offers are in Georgia. I congratulate Georgia, I utive Offi cer, Magda Magradze. President I am thrilled that students’ interest assisted them to become new members important for a promising career and congratulate San Diego State University, de la Torre and a delegation of SDSU towards STEM and SDSU is constantly of the SDSU community. for the country’s future. and I am excited to be here today,” Nash Deans from the Colleges of Science and increasing, both qualitatively and quan- At the end of the event, the anthem of When asked about her impressions and told reporters. Engineering were special guests of the titatively. This is very promising for the the university, SDSU Alma Mater, was expectations about Georgian students, The history of SDSU began in the late event. future of Georgia. We wish success to performed. Dr. de la Torre noted that she is looking 19th century. It is one of the biggest and At the beginning of the event, the all our new and old students in this aca- SDSU has been in Georgia for four forward to collaborating and assisting most popular universities in California, national anthems of Georgia and the demic year!” Güven noted. years, and compared to the previous them on their way to success. USA. United States were performed. Dr. de la Torre led the offi cial ceremony years, the number of the students has “I would tell Georgian students that it SDSU Georgia graduates will receive The Convocation Ceremony was hosted of accepting new students to the Uni- signifi cantly increased. In 2018, SDSU is important to understand that no mat- an American degree. These programs by Halil Güven, Dean of SDSU Georgia. versity’s programs. accepted 230 students into its interna- ter what your background is or which will support the development of con- The honorable guests and attendees of Successful students of SDSU addressed tionally accredited American degree region you are from, you have many struction, science, and technology fi elds the ceremony addressed freshmen, con- the audience and welcomed the fresh- programs in Georgia. The 4th cohort, opportunities to access the SDSU pro- along with Georgia’s human capital gratulating them on the beginning of the men. One of the Georgian students, Tekle like the previous one, is diverse: students grams, to become a creator of the future. capacity for economic growth. Running a Call Center in Georgia Yes. There are big American companies BY SHAWN WYANE here that opened call centers years ago, and they will continue to open here- it’s just easier. hese days ever more foreign investors are looking into DO YOU THINK THIS opening businesses in Geor- BUSINESS BENEFITS THE gia. Call centers are espe- PEOPLE OF GEORGIA? cially popular an area and Yes. I hire mostly students, but we have Thave been for a few years now. GEORGIA almost 40 people employed here, and TODAY sat down with the owner of we are just a small company. We’re grow- dispatch call center DsPro to fi nd out ing rapidly and will require more employ- what it takes to open and maintain a call ees in future. The thing is, we can afford center in Tbilisi. to pay our employees a more than aver- Jacob, originally from Israel, runs a call age salary, which is the plus side for center with his business partner Shlomi employees in most foreign businesses, here in Tbilisi. and for a lot of the employees we pro- vide medical insurance as well, meaning TELL US HOW YOUR CALL they only need to pay 25 GEL per month CENTER CAME TO BE and we pay the rest. I moved to America over 10 years ago where I had a small shuttle business in HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE New York. The business failed after six OPENING A BUSINESS months and I decided to move back to LIKE THIS IN GEORGIA TO Israel in hopes of furthering my studies SOMEWHERE ELSE? ers. When you’re an individual, internet ers, such as customer service: oftentimes improved, however, and overall it is nice in IT. I started working for a dispatch They say it’s easy to open a business is quite cheap in Georgia, however, for when you call a specifi c service and ask to be here. I think for most business company there which grew quite fast here, which at the end of the day it is a business they charge more than triple for someone who speaks English, there owners at the end of the day they stay and I became a manager and was sent regarding all the paperwork and so on, that amount for no reason at all. is no-one, or they just hang up! because they make money here. back to America to open a store. Later, but after that it gets diffi cult. Dealing back in Tel Aviv, I worked in a call center with everything else is problematic, for DO YOU THINK THERE ARE WHAT’S YOUR OVERALL ANY ADVICE BUSINESS-WISE that wanted to expand, and a colleague example, dealing with the banks is hard STILL IMPROVEMENTS THAT EXPERIENCE OF GEORGIA? FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO of mine got sent to Georgia and I joined because they are reluctant to give mer- CAN BE MADE IN GEORGIA First of all, Georgia is a beautiful place, OPEN A BUSINESS HERE? him. After running a center for another chant accounts and ask a lot of questions IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE and I think a lot of business owners As I said, at the end of the day it is easy company here, Shlomi and I saw the because they are afraid of people want- FOREIGN BUSINESS OWNERS? decided to start a business here because to open a business here, but you will opportunity and potential in Georgia, ing to launder money, which is fair on Georgia wants foreign business owners of that. There are some things that bother require a lot of patience in order to actu- and so decided to start our own dispatch the one side I guess, but in my case, I here, and they do encourage them to me, like ineffi cient inspection of vehicles, ally run the business. Just like in any other company. had the contracts in place and all the invest and work here. But I think they fi nes that are quite small compared to country, there will be problems, and deal- paperwork ready which proved I was should improve the banking regulations other countries, and the regulation of ing with them will take time. Essentially, DO YOU THINK THE simply looking for an account for the here for business owners. The overall the quality of food that you buy in stores don’t expect it to be easy, you still need CALL CENTER BUSINESS business. The other thing is the utilities: infrastructure still needs some improve- is really not where it’s supposed to be. to work in order to make a success out IS POPULAR HERE? internet is bothersome for business own- ment to support foreign business own- These are things that can easily be of it, just as you do in any project. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 SOCIETY 11

Photo: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Minister of Education Discusses Accreditation Concerns with University Rectors sity education programs continues, and several international organizations. Their BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE universities that have already completed goal is to “quickly and effectively inte- the accreditation process will receive grate into the European Higher Educa- the results within the established dead- tion Area,” Batiashvili said. inister of Education, lines, promised Batiashvili. The author- The ministry has said it will consider Science, Culture and ization process was adjusted under the extending the amount of time given to Sport of Georgia, new minister’s administration due to universities to meet accreditation stand- Mikheil Batiashvili, met “faults in the course of the previous pro- ards, and is involving the Council of Monday with the rec- cess and current authorizations,” reads Rectors, and local and international Mtors of higher education institutions, a ministry statement. higher education experts in the evalua- both public and private. They discussed Batiashvili took offi ce in mid-July as tion process. A statement from the min- the challenges surrounding the accred- part of a major cabinet reshuffl e under istry said that Batiashvili “believes that itation process for educational programs Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze. He the procedures for ensuring the quality and how to improve it. initiated several reforms, including dis- of higher education should not be puni- The ministry released a statement say- missing many senior officials. The tive. On the contrary, the ministry should ing that their work “continues to increase accreditation reform process has been be supportive to universities in order to the quality of higher education,” and the conducted in close cooperation with the help them improve their quality. Accord- meeting was a part of this continual effort. International Network for Quality Assur- ingly, the ministry will evaluate their The accreditation process for univer- ance Agencies in Higher Education and progress and help them in the future.” Georgia & Albania Sign Info Protection Agreement

Photo: State Security Service of Georgia

ment covers the exchange and mutual exchanged and created in the process of BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE protection of classifi ed information. The cooperation between the two countries. two met in Tbilisi during an offi cial visit It also serves as a solid legal basis for by Tola, accompanied by a delegation the exchange of classifi ed information he State Security Service from the Classifi ed Information Security between Georgia and Albania in the of Georgia shared on its Directorate. They signed the agreement fi elds of security, law enforcement, for- Facebook page Wednesday on behalf of the Government of Georgia eign relations, and other spheres. that the Head of the Service, and Council of Ministers of the Repub- Gomelauri and Tola also had a discus- Vakhtang Gomelauri, lic of Albania, respectively. sion which emphasized the importance Tsigned an agreement with the Director The purpose of the Agreement is to of further enhancing cross-country coop- of Albania’s Classifi ed Information Secu- establish legal norms regulating mutual eration on issues of security, and outlined rity Directorate, Dorian Tola. The agree- protection of the classifi ed information plans for future cooperation. GEORGIA TODAY 12 SOCIETY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 Cannabis, The Talk of the World of CBD, the non-psychoactive compo- OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE nent in marijuana, as an ingredient in what it called “functional wellness” bev- erages. Coke is expected to develop the eorgia is a classic country product fi rst for sale in Canada, prepar- of radical attitudes. This ing it for the United States once it is fully is just part of our national legal. The giant is positioning itself for psyche, but that’s OK, we’re the long-term, having estimated that fi ne with it. The current cannabis-infused drinks could become Gapple of public discord here is marijuana: a $50 billion annual market in the United should we grow it or not in the remains States. Aurora Cannabis, the Canadian of our beautiful land? The problem is Medical Marijuana Producer, has also that the government wants it and the expressed interest in cannabis drinks. nation doesn’t. In essence, cannabis is a In a word, a lot is going on in this area very lucrative business and will be for right now and it is thought that it has decades, in line with current hemp appre- incredible potential. Constellation ciation. Brands, the maker of Corona beer and In America, more and more states are Tequila, announced last month that it is legalizing marijuana even though it is investing an additional $4 billion in the still illegal federally. Marijuana is no Canadian cannabis company Canopy longer a gateway drug and can be taken Growth. One of the Heineken affi liates as a scheduled medication. The Ameri- called Lagunitas already has a drink can political establishment is slowly infused with THC and it can be pur- considering removing the classifi cation Image source: kwch.com chased at marijuana dispensaries in which means that pharmaceutical com- CBD, produces all those medical benefi ts is undetectable unless one takes a blood legalization jovially comment that the California. panies will eat this up and allow mari- but most people do not want to deal with test. Employers in the United States are only bad thing about it is that it has a In Georgia, the picture is totally differ- juana to be sold over the shelf in differ- the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, no longer even testing for marijuana bad reputation. There have been many ent: even if it is presumed that medically- ent forms - pill, liquid, or otherwise. The choosing only the pure CBD as a medic- because many people registered medical misconceptions about marijuana being oriented hemp might be profi table for main reason marihuana is still federally inal remedy. Concerning smoking mar- marijuana cards and use it for their own a gateway drug. Drugs like cocaine and the country, our people’s reaction to it illegal in the State is the psychoactive ihuana, people in general do not enjoy health benefi ts. Examples of pre-existing others have nothing in common with is extremely negative. The government component of the THC (tetrahydrocan- it, but they do like to use a vaporizer. conditions include stress, glaucoma, marijuana. Marijuana and other psycho- is inclined to make big money on medic- nabinol) in it. But there are certain sup- They say it’s clean, and it doesn’t smell. cancer. All of these medical conditions active plants that are in the same plant inal cannabis but the public opposes the plement companies currently operating In America, this is the most popular form grant you access to being a registered family, have been used for millennia for idea, and they both have strong argu- in the market that extract the THC, leav- of smoking marijuana today. It comes as marijuana user in the dispensary data- both medicinal and recreation purposes, ments. So, the consideration of the issue ing in the product only CBD (canna- pocket-sized electronic cigarettes. The base in any particular state where it is though this is certainly not enough rea- might be postponed for the very remote bidiol), an oil which is free from the users press a button, inhale, and start legalized. son for its outright legalization. future. It’s almost impossible in Georgia psychoactive component and has all of feeling it within minutes. What the vapor- In terms of the good and bad, it is com- Coca-Cola made a statement the other to say 100% what is good and what is the health benefi ts. THC, mixed with izer smokers most like about it is that it pletely relative. Supporters of marihuana day that it is closely watching the growth bad. That’s how life is here! Sprouting like Weed: Etseri, Svaneti The night before that, my best friend in tor. While I can understand that there all, I do make and responsibly consume warned about this and experienced it BLOG BY TONY HANMER the village came over for a long-overdue may be some medical need to use mar- my own liqueurs); just aware of the for a while as well. And partly because chat. He’s a father of three little ones, the ijuana or one of its derivatives for pain effects of overdoing certain substances I have no wish to make it easy for local oldest in grade 2, and is not optimistic control, and have never suffered such a on my community and particularly its people to get their hands on them and aving attended the fi rst about recent changes in local society. “Tony, need, more than this I am led to believe young families. The drinking is bad profi t myself thereby. They’re not neutral day of school in Georgia, when you walk around Mestia now, a cloud is only harmful to health in the long run. enough, when it leads to widows and things, in my eyes. I see a downward yesterday as I write this, of marijuana smoke is in the air,” he says. We already have enough of a problem orphans, usually because of being com- slide with the latest changes in narcotics I now have cause to refl ect. “I came down tough on one of my friends, with jobless young men and drinking in bined with driving. What will this new law here, so shall I say nothing? It was the usual welcome saying that if he doesn’t quit smoking the the village; should we add this new thing tendency lead to? I hate to be the one toH our 71-strong village school, with an stuff, I’ll ban my children from being any- to that list of issues too? saying “Mark my words,” followed by “I Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since infl ow of 7 youngsters into grade 1, not where near him. He took it hard, but then There are anti-smoking campaigns and told you so…” But I, too, am pessimistic. 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a a bad haul, but unusual in that this year he did what I asked and gave up! What do anti-drug use campaigns in the school, And I’m a member of this community, weekly writer for GT since early 2011. He there will be no one in grade 12; we sim- I want with that kind of thing around my which I think is great, but I also still see not just a passer-through. runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook ply don’t have anyone in that class. My family? It’s being grown all over the place so many male school leavers getting We don’t sell cigarettes or alcohol in group, now with over 1900 members, at wife now has a higher grade of teacher around us now! For nothing good!” straight into tobacco and from there into our shop at all, partly because these www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenais- certifi cation, having earned a hard-won We talked some more about this trou- other, stronger things. As if they can “addictive” items tend to send their con- sance/ 10 in her summer exam; the school direc- bling trend, agreeing that it will indeed afford such lifelong addictions and their sumers on the prowl whenever the need He and his wife also run their own guest house tor now has a doctorate, too. And eve- change things for the worse if left overall health effects! for a fi x joins with the end of current in Etseri: ryone’s a year older, a little or a lot taller. unchecked, greed being a likely motiva- Not intending to sound Puritan (after supplies: day or night, anytime. We were www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 CULTURE 13 Tbilisi Spring/ Summer Fashion Week Updates

BY SHIRIN MAHDAVI

he upcoming spring/summer 2019 Tbilisi Fashion Week commences in a month. Updates on the anticipated event are devastatingly scarce, but with a little close attention, some Tdetails can be uncovered. The Tbilisi Fashion Week website as well as the Week’s instagram pages have given virtually no information on next month’s shows, at least not in any forthright manner. By scoping out the Tbilisi Fashion Week instagram page and paying close attention to the tagged pages in the posts, however, news about collections and designers being fea- tured have been revealed in the past week. According to recent posts, the following design- ers/brands will be making an appearance during the October fashion week. Collections from Mos- Sayya is titled ‘Colorful Zombie.’ No images have cow based clothing brand Miro will be featured in been blatantly revealed yet for these pieces, but the shows. Ukranian designer Luba Makarenko bright colors and perhaps neons are expected. and Makarenko’s line Sayya will unveil collections Chkhikvadze’s designs are within the fairy tale in Tbilisi. And perhaps most proudly, the Georgian realm according to photographs posted. Dark designer Keti Chkhikvadze plans to debut new col- colors, fl oral prints, unexpected silhouettes, and lections in the upcoming shows. puffed sleeves will grace pieces in Chkhikvadze’s The style of Miro’s collection for Tbilisi Fashion collection. Week is somewhat unclear at this moment, but the The fashions walking the Tbilisi runway this themes of Makarenko and Chkhikvadze’s work October have not all been revealed, but from the have been hinted at. Makarenko’s collection from updates so far, this season’s looks are sure to intrigue. Dazed Digital Recaps Tbilisi’s Summer of Techno Protests

Photo: Dazed Digital, Barclay Bram servative hooligans [that was only once], where BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE LGBTQ+ lives are severely marginalized – was a place where electronic music had become so inte- gral to the lives of some young people that they ashion and culture magazine Dazed pub- were willing to risk neo-Nazis and baton-wielding lished an article Friday summarizing police to demand their right to it?” Tbilisi’s summer of protests and night- One of Bassiani’s founders, Tato Getia, is quoted club culture. questioning why the Georgian government does “The story of Tbilisi’s Bassiani night- not support the electronic music scene, maintain- clubF reveals the complex relationship between the ing that the clubs should be a source of pride. country’s police, drug laws, music scene, and “Before… no one knew Tbilisi, no one had any idea LGTBQ+ youth,” opens the piece by Barclay Bram. what was happening in Georgia. Now, the world is It goes through the story of the night popular elec- aware of us and people come from all over to these tronic dance club Bassiani was raided, on Saturday, clubs. And they still hit us here! Why?” May 12, from the perspective of that night’s DJ, Bram goes through Georgia’s “draconian” drug HVL (Gigi Jikia). laws, the pro-drug legalization movement White Bram, however, dives further into the history of Noise, and the city’s attitude towards the LGBTQ+ Tbilisi’s nightlife, attempting to untangle the web community. of events that led to the May 12 raids and subse- The very existence of radically inclusive dance quent protests. He asks, “How was it that Tbilisi clubs in the current political environment makes – a city of less than one million people in a country “clubbing in Tbilisi...inherently political,” Bram buffeted by war, where the average monthly salary concludes. only just peaks above $400, where vegan restau- For the full article, titled How Techno Became rants get targeted by sausage-throwing ultra-con- the Sound of Protest in Georgia, click here. GEORGIA TODAY 14 CULTURE SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE Rooney Mara THE NUN August 25 – October 14 THEATER Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama (Info Above) Georgian National Museum and Address: 182 Agmashenebeli Ave. Language: Russian Language: English Project ArtBeat present Maia TBILISI INTERNATIONAL Telephone: 234 80 90 Start time: 16:30 Start time: 20:00 Naveriani's exhibition ‘Gone FESTIVAL OF THEATER Ticket: 14 GEL Language: Russian Here Today Tomorrow’ at the September 23 September 25 Start time: 13:00, 17:30, 22:30 Svaneti Museum of History and WELCOME TO GEORGIA ALPHA Ticket: 14-19 GEL Ethnography. THE EIGHTH LIFE (FOR BRILKA) Directed by Albert Hughes Thalia Theater, Germany A musical, theatrical play and romantic comedy telling a story Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Natassia MUSEUM GALLERY Directed by Iete Stekeli Malthe, Leonor Varela Writer, adaptation: Nino Kharatishvili about Georgia and its people by combining song, dance, culture, Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama GEORGIAN NATIONAL THE NATIONAL GALLERY Starring: Lisa Hagmaisteri, Language: Russian Frantsishka Hartmani, Mirko traditions, history, national MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. costumes and local cuisine. Start time: 15:00 MUSEUM Telephone: 215 73 00 Kraibihi, Mari Liokeri, Karin Ticket: 12 GEL Noihauzeri, Barbara Niusi, Musical Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. Language: English, some Georgian Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 September 11 – November 25 Sebastian Rudolfi , Maia Shone, THE PREDATOR Andre Shimanski. (with English subtitles) www.museum.ge EXHIBITION Start time: 20:00 Directed by Shane Black BERNINI'S SCHOOL AND THE Georgian, English Subtitles Cast: Yvonne Strahovski, Olivia Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 50-80 GEL Exhibitions: ROMAN BAROQUE Munn, Jacob Tremblay GEORGIAN COSTUME AND After the works of Leonardo da Ticket: 15-60 GEL Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror SHALIKASHVILI THEATER WEAPONRY OF THE 18TH-20TH Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Venue: Rustaveli Theater Language: English Address: 37 Shota Rustaveli Ave. CENTURIES Botticelli, Titian and other great Start time: 19:45 Italian artists, the Georgian September 26 Telephone: 595 50 02 03 Language: Russian NUMISMATIC TREASURY National Museum and the Embassy FREUD'S CIGAR Start time: 17:15 Sthlms Musik Teater SMT, Sweden September 21, 22 Ticket: 14-15 GEL Exhibition showcasing a long of Italy in Georgia present the Directed By Andrias Bunstra Roma Rtskhiladze and Pantomime history of money circulation on the exhibition Composer: Ian-Erik Seefi sa Theater territory of modern Georgia from A SIMPLE FAVOR MUSIC Starring: Ionas Nierbe THE WISHING TREE Directed by Paul Feig the 6th century BC. to 1834. Actors: Andersh Holts, Sara Kilman where pantomime is combined Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Vilbe with experimental music Henry Golding STONE AGE GEORGIA IN THE DENSE FOREST Georgian, English Subtitles Start time: 20:00 Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery Address: Tskneti, The last stop Start time: 20:00 Ticket price: 20 GEL Language: Russian ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURE Telephone: 514 07 50 00 Venue: Marjanishvili Theater Start time: 19:30, 19:45 GABRIADZE THEATER Ticket: 12 GEL NEW LIFE TO THE ORIENTAL September 22 September 26 Address: 14 Shavteli Str. COLLECTIONS WILL GATES MARTIAL ART IN DANCE Telephone: 2 98 65 93 THE NUN DJ SENDNUDES Zhaoliangart, China Directed by Corin Hardy UNKNOWN COLLECTIONS OF Start time: 17:00 Directed By Tsiao Liani September 21, 22, 27 Cast: Bonnie Aarons, Taissa THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL Ticket: 15 GEL Writer, adaptation: Tsiao Liani RAMONA Farmiga, Jonny Coyne MUSEUM– INDIA, CHINA, JAPAN Designer: Vu Di Revaz Gabriadze Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller September 22 Composer: Thruoutin Directed by Revaz Gabriadze Language: Russian May 26 – September 30 GENERALI MINERALI, Choreographer: Tsiao Liani English Subtitles Start time: 19:45 THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC DJ IS TYPING Starring: Li Yu, Cao Pei Zhong, Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 13-14 GEL OF GEORGIA - 100 YEARS Start time: 22:00 Gong Xingxing, Zhang Kun, Ticket: 20, 30 GEL Ticket: 20 GEL Zhang Zhenguo, Liao Yuan Wu, CAVEA GALLERY September 27- October 7 Thruoutin, Song Zhao September 23, 25, 26 Address: 2/4 Rustaveli Ave. The EuroArt and ArtEcho SOUNDS OF GEORGIA Georgian, English Subtitles An animated documentary fi lm Telephone: 200 70 07 Foundations (directed by Dali Start time: 20:00 REZO Ubilava de Graaf), together with its September 21 Ticket: 15-60 GEL Directed by Leo Gabriadze Every Wednesday ticket: 8 GEL Georgian and foreign partners, is Regular mini-concerts of traditional Venue: Griboedov Theater Start time: 20:00 September 21-27 organizing Georgian live music in Old Town Ticket: 15 GEL THE EXHIBITION OF AURELIEN will make you get to know and fall RUSTAVELI THEATER JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN VILLETTE'S in love with Georgian character Address: 17 Rustaveli Ave. CINEMA Directed by David Kerr ‘RESOLUTION OF SILENCE – and culture. Telephone: 2 72 68 68 Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Olga ABKHAZIA’ Start time: 17:00 www.rustavelitheatre.ge AMIRANI CINEMA Kurylenko, Emma Thompson, Jake Tickets: 23 GEL Lacy MUSEUM OF SOVIET Venue: New Tifl is, 9 Agmashenebeli September 26 Address: 36 Kostava St. Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure OCCUPATION Ave., Wine bar ‘Wine Station’ EVENING OF GIORGI Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Language: English Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. ALEKSIDZE www.kinoafi sha.ge Start time: 15:15 Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 September 26 CHOREOGRAPHY Language: Russian www.museum.ge Start time: 17:00 Act I Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL Start time: 22:30 Tickets: 23 GEL BALLET MINIATURES September 21-27 Ticket: 16-19 GEL Music by J. S. Bach, A. Corelli, PERMANENT EXHIBITION Venue: 2 Ivan Turgenev Atr., Tbilisi deep yard C. Chaplin, A. Piazzolla, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO THE PREDATOR IOSEB GRISHASHVILI I. Dunayevsky, E. Denisov, O. AGAIN (Info Above) TBILISI HISTORY MUSEUM September 27 Messiaen, I. Kechakmadze, D. Directed by Ol Parker Language: English Shostakovich, G. Kancheli Cast: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Start time: 22:30 - KARVASLA Start time: 17:00 Act II Meryl Streep, Dominic Cooper, Language: Russian Address: 8 Sioni St. Tickets: 23 GEL GIYA KANCHELI’S ‘DIPLIPITO’ Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard Start time: 12:30, 15:00, 22:00 Telephone: 2 98 22 81 Venue: Europe Sq., 2 D. Megreli Str., CONTEMPORARY BALLET ON Genre: Comedy, Musical Ticket: 10-19 GEL Hotel ‘Nata’, Terrace THE THEME OF PHAEDRA Language: Russian September 18- October 4 With participation of Giorgi Aleksidze Start time: 21:45, 19:15 A SIMPLE FAVOR Exhibition OTIUM Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet and Ticket: 11-15 GEL (Info Above) ‘MUTUAL FRUSTRATION’ BY Address: Near Turtle Lake Guest Artists. Language: English ETER METREVELI Company Artistic Director– DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T GET Start time: 21:30 September 27 Mariam Aleksidze FAR ON FOOT Language: Russian September 19- October 4 SALIO Start time: 20:00 Directed by Gus Van Sant Start time: 17:30 Exhibition DJ REMBO Ticket: 7-25 GEL Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Ticket: 16-19 GEL UNITY IN DIVERSITY. BRISTOL Start time: 23:00 & TBILISI: 1988 -2018 Ticket: 30 GEL The exhibition showcases the development of the cultural, MTATSMINDA educational and civic relationship Address: Mtatsminda Hill between the two cities from the beginning to the present day. September 21 EZO FESTIVAL September 22- October 6 SEASON AFTER PARTY Exhibition Lineup: ‘EVERY RELATION HAS ITS eZo Stage: OWN IDEOLOGY’ Deka, 1-hour Session Feat. Bakur BY ILIKO ZAUTASHVILI Metreveli, Kid Jesus, Kozmana, Irakli Shonia, Tetso, Naut, Kazzy SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI Jazz/Jeronimo, Moku-Moku, Terika MUSEUM Caffe Stage: Rabati Fortress, 1 P. Kharistchirashvili Residents Night, Audio space, Ako Str.1, Akhaltsikhe von unten, Dj Tomwildculture, Gabunia, Rati, Vasil The Georgian National Museum Start time: 18:00 presents the renovated exhibition Ticket: 20-30 GEL spaces at the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, which see the addition LOPOTA LAKE of recently discovered exhibits, RESORT & SPA and technical updates according to Address: Kakheti, Lopota Lake modern museum standards. Resort & Spa

SVANETI MUSEUM OF September 21 HISTORY AND The second festival: ETHNOGRAPHY JAZZ AND WINE KAKHETI Address: 7 A. Ioseliani Str., Mestia, Start time: 17:00 Georgia. Ticket: From 500 GEL GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2018 CULTURE 15 2018 Tbilisi Photo The 167th Season of the Festival Hosts Exhibition Tbilisi Opera & Ballet State Theater Opens of Renowned Lithuanian BY MARIAM MERABISHVILI

n October 2, the 167th opera Photographers season will be opened with Abeselom and Eteri, a per- formance dedicated to the memory of Zurab Sot- kilava,O a Georgian Operatic tenor and soloist of the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilsi Opera and Ballet State Theater, People’s cible force that overcomes not only social Artist of the USSR, tutor, honored acad- inequality, but also death itself.” It is a emician of the Bologna Music Academy fusion of Georgian folk songs and 19th and a man boasting numerous roles and century romantic classical themes. the awards at the theater. The cast has already been announced, Abeselom and Eteri is a famous three- and is to include Gocha Datusani, Teimu- act opera written by Zakaria Paliashvili rad Gugushvili, and Khatuna Tchok- and librettist Petre Mirianashvili based honelidze. Alongside them will be the on a medieval Georgian folk poem Ete- soloists, choir and orchestra of the Opera riani. and Ballet State Theater, ballet troupe The fi rst premiere was performed in and Georgian National Ballet Sukhish- February 1919 at the Georgian National vilebi. Opera and Ballet State Theater, quickly Within the new season, one of the fi rst becoming popular amongst the Georgian premieres will be Keto and Kote by Vic- audience. The main theme of the opera tor Dolidze in November, which will also represents “love that is a great, an invin- be memorable for the Georgian audience. Welcome to Georgia, ages, both foreigners and locals. and daily life through their photo col- BY LIKA CHIGLADZE Giedrius Puodžiunas, the Ambassador lections. I think Georgian and Lithuanian of the Republic of Lithuania to Georgia people understand each other better The Musical: First Show welcomed the guests and stressed the than any other countries. Even the fact ne of Georgia’s most importance of the event. that in 1918 neither of us was creating a awaited cultural events, “Today is a special event since this year new country but recreating the state we of the Season Sells Out! the Tbilisi Photo Festival, marks the 100th anniversary of the estab- lost a century prior, makes us closer. Our is back, this year taking lishment of both Georgian and Lithuanian countries share many similarities from place in the Old Town. statehood. The audience saw a short their history, so it’s easier to understand ThisO year marks the 9th edition since presentation of those 100 years and may and love each other. We are open for the establishment of the festival, and as have noticed a few familiar faces and invitations and proposals. I’d personally a part of it, a Lithuanian photography places, since some of the photos were like to come back here just as a photog- evening was held in Fabrika on Septem- shot in Tbilisi. The screening presented rapher one day, because the country is ber 15. great artists and great names. We are beautiful and calls to me as a photogra- This year both Lithuania and Georgia proud of our school of photography. The pher,” Cesonis told GEORGIA TODAY. are celebrating the 100th anniversary of exhibition brought many people, lovers The Lithuanian photo exhibition was the establishment of their republics and of art and photography here and served followed by the traditional Night of Pho- in relation to this symbolic occasion, as demonstration of a beautiful friend- tography in the heart of the Georgian Lithuania presented a collection of 100 ship between these two countries,” the capital, in Betlemi District, one of the unique photo books of Lithuanian pho- Ambassador told GEORGIA TODAY. oldest and the most authentic parts of tographers to the newly-established Gintaras Cesonis, the Chairman of the Tbilisi. On Saturday, September 15, eight Tbilisi Photography and Multimedia Union of Lithuanian Art Photographers large media screens were set up in the Museum library. and curator of the exhibition, also deliv- streets of Betlemi District overlooking The event, entitled “The Phenomena of ered a speech and expressed his happi- the city. The works on show were pro- Lithuanian Photography (1918-2018),” fea- ness at seeing the beautiful installation vided by over 20 different festivals, agen- tured a photo screening and installation of Lithuanian books donated to the cies, organizations and publications, of 100 Lithuanian photography books. On Georgian side. including the Angkor Photo Festival, La one hand, the fi eld of photography in “Collaboration is very important Nuu de Fotografi a, Ria Keburia Gallery, Lithuania was shaped by western Euro- between these two countries, between British Journal of Photography, Noor dances performed live on stage by 19 ADVERTORIAL pean infl uence and on the other by the artists, between galleries, and museums,” agency, Lensculture, Delhi Photo Festi- actors who will take you on a journey Soviet cultural context. As such, the Lith- Cesonis noted, adding that his kind of val, Vasa Project, Latvian Museum, as from Maro’s wine cellar to the feast table, uanian photographic experience was a event is a way to get to know each other well as Georgian photographers. where you’ll be welcomed with world- fascinating evolutionary process, as artis- better. “During our visit to Tbilisi, we Tbilisi Photo Festival was co-founded heck out the latest news on renowned Georgian hospitality for an tic aesthetics gave way to the idealistic met some curators and agreed to organ- by French photographer, currently Photo the top tourist sensation, evening of humor, romance and a taste dogma of the Stalin period, to the birth of ize a Georgian photography day in Lith- Editor in Chief at the French daily news- Welcome to Georgia – The of true Georgia and all its traditions. the humanistic “Lithuanian School of Pho- uania next year, and I think it will be paper Liberation, Lionel Charrier, and Musical, whose second sea- Most dialogue is in English and includes tography,” and the new forms that have only the beginning of exchanges and the Georgian photo curator and journal- son opened on September numerous interesting facts about the emerged since the fall of communism. mutual projects. Donating books was a ist Nestan Nijaradze. It was fi rst launched 18.C The show was premiered in February country that every Georgian is proud of. The screening of 100 years of Lithuanian spontaneous proposal from our side in 2010 in partnership with Les Rencon- 2018 at the Music & Drama State Theater Venue: Music & Drama State Theater, photography is the fi rst time Tbilisi Photo while meeting the Director of Tbilisi tres d’Arles. Eight editions later, it has in Tbilisi. During the fi rst season, the 182 Aghmashenebeli Avenue, Tbilisi Festival has showcased such a rich col- Photo Festival during the photography become not only the most important show was played 18 times for more than Upcoming shows: lection of masters in a single event. The festival in France. Sincerely, the idea photo festival in the region but one of 2000 international guests from 60 dif- September: 25 photo exhibition displayed the works of came from the heart and I’m really happy the major annual cultural events in the ferent countries. October: 2, 9, 16, 23, 31 30 distinguished and renowned artists. the gesture was so warmly accepted. Caucasus. Welcome to Georgia – The Musical is November: 6, 13, 21, 27 Apart from photo screening, the attend- This is probably the biggest Lithuanian The Festival aims to be a central meet- a 95-minute theatrical play and romantic December: 4, 11, 18 ees were able to personally look through photography book collection in the world ing point for photography from Asia, comedy telling a story about Georgia and the Lithuanian photobooks exposed at outside of Lithuania. In the screening, Iran, Turkey, Europe, and the Arab world its people by combining song, dance, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ the venue. each photographer tried to uncover the - and to showcase the best of world pho- culture, traditions, history, national cos- musical.ge/ The evening was attended by numer- identity of the country they are living in tography as well as to promote emerging tumes and local cuisine. The play features Instagram: @musical.ge ous photography and art lovers of all and the relationship between the person regional photography. around 17 traditional Georgian songs and www.musical.ge

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