Issue no: 1039 • APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Tatunashvili's Family Demands Results of Autopsy NEWS PAGE 2 The Bucharest Summit Revisited POLITICS PAGE 5 Anaklia City Makes Productive Visit to the United Arab Emirates

FOCUS POLITICS PAGE 12 ON THE MISSILE Georgia Expects Group of Investors from UAE THREATS BUSINESS PAGE 13 An analysis of the growing tensions surrounding the Keeping a Perspective on Racism Syria confl ict PAGE 4 SOCIETY PAGE 16 Image source: AFP Georgia Plans Large-Scale Celebrations to Mark 100th Anniversary of Democratic Republic

BY THEA MORRISON

n connection with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the First Demo- cratic Republic of Georgia, around 100 events will be held both inside and outside the country. IThe DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire, which began with the Russian Revolution of 1917. However, after four years it collapsed and in 1921 became a Soviet Republic. Continued on page 2 Photo: Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze

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Free day pass to co-working 1 Free Month Offi ce Meeting room for whole day at one hour price Choose your deal and contact us at [email protected] to redeem your voucher. GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Tatunashvili's Family Demands Results of Autopsy his body, including an amputated index rauli National Forensics Bureau con- BY THEA MORRISON fi nger on his right hand. ducted a medical examination of Tatu- Tamar Avaliani, lawyer of the deceased nashvili’s body. The experts of the Bureau man’s family, says that three weeks have believe it necessary to conduct an exam- he family of Georgian citi- passed since the autopsy was carried ination according to international stand- zen Archil Tatunashvili, out, adding they are waiting for the ards. who died in custody in a “adequate” result. Georgia’s Minister of Reconciliation detention facility in Geor- “The forensic medical expertise results and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelash- gia’s occupied Tskhinvali should have been out within two weeks. vili, does not exclude that international Tregion (South Ossetia) on February 23, Three weeks have passed and we have experts will be involved in the process. is demanding to see the autopsy results. yet to receive a response. According to “The need for the involvement of for- The puppet regime at fi rst refused to preliminary data and visual examination, eign experts in Tatunashvili's case will hand Tatunashvili’s body over to Geor- Tatunashvili had multiple injuries which be known after the fi nal results of the gia-proper authorities following his death indicate that he was tortured,” the law- examination…Our task is to determine in custody in unclear circumstances. yer stressed. all circumstances in which the young However, late on March 20, his body was Avaliani also underlined that the entire man's life was ended. Naturally, this Photo: Tatunashvili’s house in village Tsilkani. Source: 1TV transferred to the Georgia-proper side case is based on the autopsy result, add- process will have continuation, both of the boundary line and on March 24, ing the family expects the investigation European Human Rights Court (ECHR) Psycho-Rehabilitation Center Empathy, political and legal,” said Tsikhelashvili. he was buried with military honor at “will be fair, comprehensive and effec- in Strasburg. which was involved in the examination De facto Tskhivali rejects all allega- Mukhatgverdi military cemetery on the tive.” The Levan Samkharauli National Foren- of Archil Tutunashvili's body, said that tions, adding Tatunashvili was “suspected outskirts of Tbilisi. “The family of Tatunashvili has no sics Bureau says they have no results they have not received material to pre- of sabotage and murder of civilians” Offi cial Tbilisi has not yet stated offi cially information regarding the investigation. yet, adding the examination is still under- pare a conclusion. during the Georgia-Russia August war that Tatunashvili was killed. However, the They are demanding and waiting for the way. Mariam Jishkariani, Director of the in 2008. President of Georgia and the majority of identifi cation and punishment of the “The expertise has reasonable terms Center and an international expert, stated They say their "law enforcers" used opposition MPs and human right activists perpetrators,” she added. and it will continue until the completion they are waiting for the results of National physical force against Tatunashvili when have openly accused de facto Tskhinvali According to the lawyer, if the inves- of the study," stated Eka Chumburidze, Forensics Bureau. he attempted to escape, adding he fell of murdering Tatunashvili, as the 35-year tigation of the case proves ineffective in Head of Public Relations Department of On March 20-21, the Forensic Medical down the stairs and died two hours later old had multiple injuries and bruises on Georgia, the family will address the the National Forensics Bureau. Expertise Department of the Samkha- in hospital. Georgia Plans Large-Scale Celebrations to Mark 100th Anniversary of Democratic Republic Continued from page 1 tion’s awareness about the importance ent countries visiting Georgia to par- countries will light up in the colors of Shota Rustaveli. of May 26. ticipate in the event. Georgia’s national fl ag - white and red. According to the Minister, the remark- The Vice-Premier and Minister of For- On 26 May, the descendants of the “The Ministry intends to create a dip- Janelidze added that UNESCO will host able date in Georgian history will also eign Affairs of Georgia, Mikheil Janelidze Georgian historian diaspora living abroad lomatic museum, and on May 26, it will a joint concert of famous Georgian art- be celebrated in the Council of Europe stated that on Georgia’s Independence will attend the events of the Independ- present to the public numerous interest- ist and UNESCO Peace Ambassador (CoE) headquarters. Day, May 26, special events will take place ence Day in Tbilisi, and have meetings ing exhibits about the history of Georgian Eliso Bolkvadze and Georgian folk Celebrations will also be held at the in Akhaltsikhe, in the south-west of Geor- with representatives of the Georgian diplomacy,” he added. Ensemble Basiani. Leuville Georgian estate, a historical gia, on the territory of Rabati Castle. government, scientifi c and cultural cir- In connection to this important date A special event will be held in the Chateau Estate around 27 kilometers Furthermore, according to Janelidze, cles. for Georgia, the Government of Lithu- United Nations (UN) headquarters in from Paris, where the fi rst Government public lectures, photo exhibitions, and Janelidze noted that Diaspora Days will ania will open Tbilisi Street in Vilnius New York, featuring the presentation of of Georgia settled in exile after fl eeing open-door days in the capital Tbilisi will be celebrated in Tbilisi between May on May 26. a special stamp dedicated to the 850th their home in 1921, when the Russian soon be launched to raise the popula- 27-28, with 300 representatives of differ- Furthermore, 26 sights in various foreign anniversary of iconic Georgian poet Red Army entered Georgia. 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[email protected] DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE www.sanjhachulha.ge +995 596 56 13 13 sanjha chulha Indian restaurant +995 32 256 03 13 Branch 1 - 130 Agmashenebeli Ave., Tbilisi, 0112, Georgia Branch 2 - 41 Pekini Str., Tbilisi, 0160, Georgia GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 An Explosive Mix – Analysis of the Western-Eastern Power Gamble in Syria French in Paris while proclaiming his support for a military operation in Syria. The Saudi position has weakened over the last months. After the confusion over the resignation of Lebanon’s prime minister, which was allegedly instigated by the Saudis yet withdrawn days later as Lebanese politicians kept a cool head, refusing to let foreign politics interfere their political debate, the Saudis are being careful when spearheading new military efforts. Their decision to remain outside the spotlight is spurred by the endless proxy war in Yemen as well as France’s new efforts to involve them- selves in Middle Eastern politics. Hid- ing behind Western military efforts may also give the Saudis the confi dence to win a potential confrontation, while being unaccountable if the Syrian civil- war should turn out against their wishes. One of the most underestimated actors in this new rise of tensions may be France and its prepotent President, Emmanuel Photo: Saudi Crown Prince MBS and French President Macron Photo: Syrian President Assad and Russian President Putin Macron. Having grabbed the opportunity mined to eliminate the Iranian military to resolve the Lebanese prime minister intervention in Syria would force Brit- port coming from Macron and May, ANALYSIS BY BENJAMIN MUSIC presence in the area. A simple calcula- standoff, Macron generated new momen- ish media to focus on foreign policy which usually follow up on their prom- tion which could turn the tables up- tum for French Middle Eastern policies. rather than internal power gambles. ises. America is worried to lose the side-down again in the war: “We don’t His subtle and soft power decisions to Another actor on the sidelines these hegemony in the Middle East, which t may not be something that care how the Syrian civil war ends, but fi nance museums in the Gulf or help days is Turkey. Having intervened in has been fading since the Iraq war. strikes the eye, as we are used to the current outcome is unacceptable.” political standoffs have made Macron the north of Syria to contain Kurdish Afghanistan is a disaster and an Amer- hearing atrocious news from Surrounded by Hezbollah in the north, one of the fi rst point of contacts for Arab forces, the main thorn in Erdogan’s side ican intervention is unlikely to solve Syria. But the recent verbal, and Iranian-backed and heavily armed, Israel leaders in search for Western allies, is Assad and the Kurds fi ghting for an the problems in Syria either. One aspect partially already physical hos- fears additional Iranian-backed militia especially with Downing Street and the independent state. Over recent years, which shouldn’t be forgotten is the Jew- tilitiesI between Russia, US, Israel and along the Syrian border after the war is White House being run by a powerless Turkey has developed its own national ish lobby in Washington. If Israel is Iran, in conjunction with the involve- over. In addition, Hezbollah gained much and an incalculable leader, respectively. strategy for the Syrian confl ict. Initially adamant about their threats and deter- ment of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France more autonomy over the recent years Just days before the recent surge in ver- profi ting from ISIS oil exports, Turkey mined to oust Iranian forces from Syria, and the United Kingdom, are all taking from Tehran, which makes them an bal attacks, Paris was center to an eco- distanced itself from NATO and the the White House may feel forced to act place in an Arab nation whose state- almost better enemy than Iranian forces nomic summit to finance Lebanese West and met with Russia and Iran to in a stronger manner. ments haven’t been echoed through in Syria, which are directly commanded development projects. Macron succeeded discuss Syria on multiple occasions. Yet As of going to press, Putin is playing global news outlets the recent days at by the Islamic regime at the Persian Gulf. in arranging billions of additional funds he dislikes Assad and hopes to oust him. the smart diplomat, demanding proof all. The rather small country in the These forces are a red line for Israel, as for the small Mediterranean country More important for Turkey is the fi ght of the chemical attack and denouncing Levant developed from an internal Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, through the coming years. Recent com- against the Kurds rather than engaging Trump’s “Twitter Diplomacy,” calling revolution of sectarian groups, whose Avigdor Lieberman, have reiterated in ments made by the French President in the power gamble. Additionally, the on Netanyahu to stay out of Syria to different military advances and losses various statements. The absence of West- also show a great determination to enter AKP follow a strategy of national pride, avoid further destabilization. Their have dominated media coverage initially, ern allies in toppling Assad forced Israel the Syrian civil war. Calls between the not wanting to side with either the West chemical attack may have been an in a global playground of virility. to enter the confl ict by targeting an Ira- White House and France have taken or the East, entering the game with their attempt by the Russians and Assad to The last few days have been messy, as nian military presence three days ago, place, assuring mutual support. It remains own national strategy of creating a test the waters and to see the likelihood the involved presidents and prime min- peppering up this conglomeration of to be seen if Macron’s efforts, covered stronger hegemony in the Middle East. of the West responding, but Putin also isters follow their own personal desires, different interests. The Israelis have also under a humanitarian blanket, will com- If escalations continue, Turkey is knows that the interest in Syria before disregarding any responsibility they found their perfect prime minister for plicate the confl ict or generate solutions, expected to operate behind the lines to the alleged attack was minuscular, pav- might have towards the international such a standoff, as Netanyahu throws as his team has done in Lebanon. I tend increase its infl uence. ing his way to victory with Assad. Right community. Syria has been turned into threats at Iran on a repeated basis, stat- to speculate the former. Which brings us to the main actors, now, he is keeping his eyes open but, an “after-work bar,” where things out- ing Wednesday that Iran shouldn’t “test There is still one actor totally disre- the US and Russia. The US is consid- as always, his options are the most dubi- side the legal norm are allowed and Israel’s resolve.” In addition, the situa- garded by the wider public, which is ered an incalculable nation under Trump, ous. He may just wait until the West confrontations are sought without tion gives Netanyahu a perfect distrac- the United Kingdom. Theresa May but looking closer, the “deep state” still calms down enough to turn their back thought of the consequences. The dan- tion from internal political turmoil- police reminds one of a school child trying to controls his actions quite heavily. Trump on Syria again. ger, besides the pointless rowdiness on questioned him last month on various be one of the cool kids in fear of miss- and his twitter account are quick in And so the bar fi ght enters a new stage, the backs of Syrian lives, is the very corruption cases. As if this is not enough, ing out. The Skripal case is still not condemning military actions in Syria with it being unknown if the different likely escalation of the confl ict to areas the Israelis are able to distract from the forgotten and the British public longs and are also quick in threatening the actors will go out onto the street in their outside of Syria. As so often happens Gaza riots taking place in parallel, which for national pride, creating the perfect other parties involved, but his desire to squabble, bringing passersby into the in bar fi ghts, the exact starting point have been causing international outcry, excuse for May to engage in the confl ict. not intervene with ground forces has fray…or whether they’ll keep to their seems almost forgotten as the confl ict now occupying the international com- Following on the heels of Macron and been made clear. The power game he little fi ghts inside the walls of Syria. The goes on. And if remembered, no one munity with avoiding a destabilization Trump, May met with top national secu- is playing could be understood as a police forces patrolling the bar, called really knows who started it or if every- of the Syrian civil war. rity advisors to work out plans for dif- repetition of the game he played with the UN, seem to be on vacation or have thing they said was really meant in the Iran is perfectly following up on Isra- ferent military options. According to Kim Jong-Un at the beginning of the perhaps simply realized that their baton way it was taken. el’s fears. The Ayatollah regime fi nally recent news reports, U-boats and “Tom- North Korea crisis last year. After a is not strong enough. Opposite the Syr- What exactly are the interests turning sees itself able to gain a direct foothold ahawk” missiles are already positioned spike in tensions, relations normalized ian bar, China and others are seated the confl ict into such a chaotic mess? in the Mediterranean Sea. Through a in the Mediterranean Sea, ready for a and a meeting between the two leaders observing the fi ght whilst calmly nego- Starting with the place of the theater, Shia government in Iraq and Hezbollah potential mission. This confl ict allows is in sight. The alleged chemical attack tiating a new way of infl uence with Assad has clearly vowed to take the in the south of Lebanon, Syria enables May to strengthen her position again, forced Trump to be interested in a con- other uninvolved states. country back under his control, being a direct land link all the way to Euro- which has been a reoccurring solution fl ict which he rather desires to forget on the verge of defeating the opposition pean waters. Iran, which is in constant for British prime ministers trapped in on his daily agenda. The worrying thing Keep updated with the latest news on georgi- forces which are pent-up in remaining battle with Saudi Arabia to establish internal politics. Like Netanyahu, an about his recent comments is the sup- atoday.ge. areas in the north and the south of the Middle Eastern hegemony, could pocket country. Their infrastructure is cut and a fundamental victory painful for the only supplies from allies keep them Al Saud royal house. Iran is meddling alive. Backed by Iran and Russia, Assad’s in numerous states in the region, from main purpose may be the clearest one: obvious options such as Bahrain to less to take full control of the pre-civil war obvious ones as Georgia, where Iranian Syrian territory. However, having websites pop-up speaking directly to destroyed ISIS, the Kurdish forces in the Azerbaijani minorities in the south the northeast, and the Turkish forces of the country. Iran knows, however, along the border, still have a powerful that a direct military confrontation with position to defend themselves. Surviv- Israel or Saudi Arabia will create fur- ing this civil war with just Russian and ther turmoil in the region, something Iranian support, an Assad-controlled which is not in their interest as it would Syria will basically become a Russian/ mean less actual control of the Middle Iranian foreign policy outpost with East. In addition, Hezbollah repeatedly militia and spies; a situation undesired stated their intention to maintain peace by all neighboring states. in Lebanon, thus questioning their sup- These developments forced Israel to port for Israel if Lebanon is not directly actively enter the confl ict to demon- involved in the confl ict. So far, Iran’s strate their unwillingness to accept such most obvious military efforts are lim- an outcome. Their basic rule of non- ited to proxy wars in Yemen and Syria. engagement is only maintained when The Saudis are quite calm these days. ensured that Iranian forces won’t get a Their crown prince and actual political Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 hold in Syria. However, as Assad is win- thread-puller Mohammad Bin Salman, 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] ning with Iranian help, Israel is deter- or MBS, has been hiding behind the GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 POLITICS 5 The Bucharest Summit Revisited of relations between the EU, NATO and ing of Abkhazia. So, in Georgia, this idea EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY DOING SO IT “DROVE PUTIN HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK Russia but a kind of militarization of INTO A CORNER.” WHAT that it had been promised NATO acces- VAZHA TAVBERIDZE THE PROMISE OF NATO Russian foreign policy where Russia DO YOU MAKE OF IT? MEMBERSHIP PRECIPITATED sion and in December 2008 there would started pursuing its foreign policy goals It’s a pretty widespread view in Europe THE 2008 WAR IN GEORGIA? be a new conversation around MAP, through military means. It was grossly and the US that Russia was defensive It probably accelerated the risks of war. created a sense of urgency to do some- eorgia has been waiting 10 underestimated in 2008, but of course around Ukraine and Georgia. But you Probably more the fact that at the NATO thing about the confl ict zone. There was years for NATO to come this came back into the center of the know Russia had red lines for the West Bucharest Summit, Georgia and Ukraine a kind of boiling tension on both sides. good on its promise, given foreign policy agenda in Europe with to cross. A lot of people say that, includ- came very close to a MAP [Membership at the 2008 Bucharest Sum- the wars in Ukraine and Syria as well as ing Kissinger and other British, Amer- Action Plan] and there was that the com- DO YOU THINK THE WEST mit, that Georgia (and with the propaganda cyber war that so ican, French and German politicians muniqué saying that we will reconvene MISCALCULATED IN GIVING GUkraine) would one day become mem- defi nes the foreign policy debate in the and former senior diplomats. What you in December. So Russia thought at that THE NATO PROMISE? bers of the Alliance. Not that having a USA and Europe today. just quoted from Scheffer is nothing time that ok, they came very close to the It’s only natural for Georgia to want to war in 2008 (ditto for Ukraine) helped new- we hear it often. There’s no such membership action plan and we have till be protected by NATO. But at that time matters, but still. How big was the Bucha- THAT FAMOUS PROMISE thing as a Russian red line that is stable: December to derail it. I was in Georgia a in 2008, my reservations regarding the rest Summit for Georgia? A major mile- GIVEN TO GEORGIANS it shifts. For a long time, Russia was few days after the NATO summit, in early extension of a MAP to Georgia and stone that had a geopolitical impact or AND UKRAINIANS THAT saying it was against NATO enlargement April. I travelled to Tskhinvali, to Tama- Ukraine was more based on domestic simply a foreshadowing for what was to THEY WOULD JOIN NATO; but that it didn’t mind EU enlargement. rasheni, in Kurta, and to the Georgian political grounds. If you want a state come? What is its importance and legacy HOW MUCH OF A GAME Then in June-July 2014, they suddenly controlled territory. I met the de facto inside NATO, you want to make sure now, ten years later? We asked Dr. Nicu CHANGER WAS IT? started being not just against EU enlarge- South Ossetia foreign minister and the there’s a political consensus behind the Popescu, Senior Analyst at the EU Insti- It defi nitely fed the already-existing Rus- ment but even against the free trade head of the Georgian administration, move, and that fi ve years from now you tute for Security Studies and author of sian paranoia about NATO. The growing area between Ukraine and the EU. The Sanakoev. When I came to Georgia again won’t get a surprise government. That a multitude of books and articles on the concerns and fears that at some point second fact showing that Russia is not in July I had a pretty good sense of what was the case for Ukraine: imagine if Post-Soviet sphere, to explain it all in an NATO could enlarge to Georgia and purely defensive and that it’s not just was happening. Ukraine got MAP, got accepted in NATO exclusive interview for our “Messages Ukraine were there even before this defending its geopolitical interests in I remember around April 2008, people and then had a president like Yanouko- from Brussels” series. promise was given; but then this prom- its immediate neighborhood, is Russia’s were saying that Russia was moving its vich. If Georgia and Ukraine had got ise exacerbated those fears. reaction to western interventionism, railway troops into Abkhazia to rebuild MAP in 2008, it would have been mas- 10 YEARS ON AND LOOKING mostly about Syria; what Russia did the railways there, making it much quicker sively discredited by the election of BACK, WHAT WERE THE FORMER NATO SEC GEN JAAP with Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, is just for Russian troops to move into the Yanoukovich in 2010. That would have MAIN IMPLICATIONS OF DE HOOP SCHEFFER, WHO WAS Russia reacting to western intervention; region, potentially towards Georgia, if kept Ukraine out of the process. It THE BUCHAREST SUMMIT? IN CHARGE IN 2008 RECENTLY the bombing of Serbia in 1999, the west- need be. Some in Georgia at this time wouldn’t have suspended Georgia from It has been a heavy decade for Georgia SAID, “THE WEST SHOULD HAVE ern intervention in Iraq. Russia says it’s were saying urgent action was needed, MAP, but it would still have politically as well as for European security. You RESPECTED THE RED LINES OF against western intervention; but the perhaps a preemptive attack on Abkha- discredited the process. can’t delink the NATO Bucharest Sum- RUSSIA“ AND ”NATO SHOULD last western military intervention was zia or South Ossetia; some were suggest- Georgia at that time didn’t yet have a mit with the war in Georgia. Looking NOT HAVE COMMITTED TO Libya in 2011. In the last 10 years, despite ing partitioning Abkhazia. That June, systematic election-based changing of from 2018, the two events come together, THE MEMBERSHIP OF UKRAINE the West becoming less interventionist, Saakashvili went to Sochi to meet Med- government. AND GEORGIA” BECAUSE BY signaling not only a complete breakdown Russia is ever more dissatisfi ed. vedev to discuss the potential partition- Continued on page 6 GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 The Bucharest Summit Revisited Continued from page 5 RUSSIA IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2008 WAR. WHAT COULD THE WEST By 2008, the only power change witnessed in HAVE DONE BETTER IN TERMS OF Georgia was a move from Gamsakhurdia to She- NEGOTIATION, CONFLICT PREVENTION vardnadze to Saakashvili through revolution or AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT civil war. This hinted at a potential stability prob- WHEN IT COMES TO GEORGIA? lem for the future. Were the people sure that Geor- In 2002, the EU launched the Neighborhood Policy. gia could change government through elections The South Caucasus was not included, but from and would the future government be as committed day one there was the idea that you cannot stabi- to NATO as Saakashvili was? lize the European neighborhood without doing Georgia also had the problem of the confl icts, something about the confl ict zones. Around 2004, and this is not the case in Montenegro, for exam- the Russians came out as categorically against the ple. Georgia was also linked to Ukraine. Georgia Policy, and the Europeans accepted it and dropped is and was performing much better than Ukraine, the confl ict resolution from their top priority list; but it was still part of the same kind of policy pack- they said, “let’s try to do something around the age for better or worse; probably it did a disservice confl ict zones without really making it a big prior- to Georgia, but that was the reality. Then you had ity because we don’t want to irritate Russia.” That the Russia factor. There were a number of argu- was their line. If you ask me, that was one of their ments that made and still make Georgia a more biggest mistakes and it exploded in 2008. One of complicated case than the Balkans. the main diplomatic things that should have been done and was not, was in 2005 when there was an WE STILL SEE GERMANY AND FRANCE OSCE border monitoring mission in Georgia- Rus- AS EXAMPLE SKEPTICAL COUNTRIES sia vetoed it. Georgia invited the EU to deploy and TO GEORGIA’S GETTING MAP. take over and the EU refused and there was no WHAT DO YOU THINK GEORGIA consensus due to several member states being CAN DO TO WIN THEM OVER? unwilling to irritate Russia. The EU sent a “border” Unfortunately, in purely diplomatic terms, there’s support team of six people; so it was a small thing almost nothing to be done about persuading most and they were based in Tbilisi. If there had been a NATO member states in this regard, mostly due to major international presence on the ground, deployed the general sense of geopolitics, due to wars, because in 2005, this would have signifi cantly minimized of the adamant Russian opposition. The best thing the risk of a war in 2008 because it would have Georgia could do is be ready to use the window of President of Russia, Vladimir Putin and Former NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer constrained the behavior of both Russia, South opportunity when it opens. We don’t know when down of trust with Turkey. If Georgia was a NATO thinks and does in Syria. If you needed to defend Ossetians and Georgians. The EU chose not to be this will happen, it depends on the major changes member, I’m not sure the West and Georgia could Georgia, you either send reinforcements by land active in the confl ict, not to irritate Russia, and in Russian-western relations. We saw the Baltic entirely rely on working on the same page with through Turkey or by air over Turkey or through then sent this monitoring mission after 2008 any- states using the 1990s well to fast forward, and we Turkey in military and diplomatic terms when it the Bosporus, which again depends on Turkey. So, way. saw Georgia, Moldova, the Balkans, Ukraine miss- came to any need to defend Georgia. If there was even in pure military terms, this breakdown of trust ing the 90s “window” as they were engaged in civil a problem between Georgia and Russia, how could between most NATO member states and Turkey This article was prepared in the scope of “Messages from wars. Georgia needs to be ever-ready, with a func- troops be sent into Georgia? Could you be 100% because of Syria, because of the Turkey-Russia Brussels” series, a project by European Alliance for Geor- tioning state, defense sector, and political system. sure that the Georgian, American and European relationship, because of the Turkey-Iran relation- gia, a Brussels-based advocacy organization dedicated security calculations and security desire to defend ship, complicates things even more Georgia-NATO to “Bringing more Georgia into Europe.” DOES THIS FORMULA STILL APPLY IF Georgia from Russia coincide 100% with those of relations. WE ARE TIED TO UKRAINE WHEN IT Turkey? That’s a big question. Putin has just been COMES TO OUR ASPIRATIONS ON to Ankara, Putin had the summit between Iran and IN AN ARTICLE YOU WROTE IN 2009, EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION? Turkey where they discussed the future of Syria. YOU WERE CRITICAL ABOUT THE The bigger problem for Georgia now is not so much The West was excluded from that discussion and EU CONFLICT PREVENTION POLICY being tied to Ukraine; it’s Turkey. Both the US and there are certainly big differences in what most IN GEORGIA. YOU CALLED ON THE most European states are seeing a signifi cant break- NATO members think about Syria and what Turkey WEST TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON Putting Aside the West & Russia- in Need of a Third Choice and border problems, although it was bent under the burden of communist ideology. Now that Georgia is an independent free nation, it is butchered into sev- eral territories – either occupied or functioning on its own – with shattered and unattended borderlines. So, what is preferable – to be part of the bad and oppressive Soviet Union, with an intact territory, or to be free and independent with a huge chunk of the once integral territory dead and gone? As tricky as this crucial historical question sounds, nobody has the answer to it. Nobody! Not one Geor- MZA CHITILI gian political scientist, active politician, regular civil Remembering those who perished. Image source: servant or even the wisest man or woman in today’s globalchick.blogspot.com “Mza Chitili” produces vegetable and fl ower seedlings. "Mza Chitili" is the fi rst company in society. This question is unanswerable; and even if Georgia, which is making both, normal and grafted seedlings. For grafting we are using the it was, nobody would agree to face the risk of a ruined latest Italian technologies and robots. OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE reputation if one ventured to respond. Of course, the WG Techno ideal answer would be to have Georgia untouched, "Mza Chitili" was founded by WG Techno. WG Techno is the fi rst and largest supplier of with its historical lands, that are currently within the contemporary irrigation systems in Georgia, company aslo produces polyethylene pipes in n the wake of April 9th, triggered by the spo- jurisdiction of a couple of foreign countries, regained. Tbilisi, which exports to the neighboring countries. radic bunches of fl owers and wreaths that were On top of that, throw freedom and independence, laid on the tragic-day memorial in front of the and developed capitalism into the bargain, plus mem- Government House in Tbilisi, I started to think. bership with NATO and the EU and simultaneous No more crowds there – just the authorities friendship and fruitful cooperation with Russia. andI occasional political activists, turning up on reg- Wouldn’t this be wonderful? But this is all wild day- ular annual basis in the newly-born mournful national dreaming and naïve wool-gathering. In harsh reality, tradition. I saw it all in 1989, accompanied by my this nation is badly suffering from what it has lost as American friends and colleagues, poised to make a a result of the collapse of the USSR, as vicious and documentary about the soviet military machine crush- oppressive a regime it was. ing peaceful demonstrators in Georgia. The fi lm was This is the political paradox I am talking about: the shown in the United States shortly after the tragedy past model of existence was bad, yet Georgia was had taken place to let the wider world conceive the whole; the current model of existence is good but Our Branches Rafael Agladze St 37, Tbilisi, Georgia +995 322 30 98 90; fi nal wriggles of the soviet monster. It was truly hard Georgia is not totally united. If the given is that we Tskhinvali Highway 4, Gori, Georgia +995 599 63 60 30; to shoot, edit and interpret, but it was all done in could have our territories back provided we embraced Agmashenebeli Avenue 47, Tsnori, Georgia +995 555 41 87 06; adequate order and style; we were still alive, and the Russia rather than the West, what would an average Rustaveli st. 70, Marneuli, Georgia +995 322 18 08 40; www.mzachitili.ge nation was still functioning as well as it could. Georgian say to this? Would an average Georgian [email protected] The nation endured this infl icted pain and it came agree to forfeit national freedom and independence fb.com/mzachitili out of the other side. I am still around too . . . If any- for restored territories? This is where doubts start fb.com/wgtechno thing kills me someday soon, it would not be poten- eating away at all of us, as we feel that we cannot have tial future tragedy, old-age or a malady. The killer of both national independence and territorial integrity. this good old curmudgeon is going to be a series of We cannot have both because our land coveter is too meditations on the subject of the state of the nation big, too powerful, too strong headed, too imperial, after the demise of the Soviet Union. too voracious and too full of grudge against Georgia. This ‘killer thought’ is derived from the analysis of And the friendly West with its endless international a political paradox we have received as a consequence formats, meant to help us, is right in the middle of of the fall of the evil soviet empire. The crux of the the boring and exhausting Sisyphean toil. Now the WG Techno has ISO 9001:2015 certifi cation for design, sales and installation of irrigation paradox I am talking about is that in soviet times, question is, which priority will preponderate out of systems. Sale of components (pipes, pumps, fi ttings) for water supply system. Georgia was a wholesome land with no territorial those awful alternatives.

GEORGIA TODAY 8 POLITICS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Beneath All Russia’s Misfortune Lies Ukraine mine the notion of the so-called “Slavic OP-ED BY EMIL AVDALIANI Union” and would leave Russia with just its Belarus brethren. For the US/European Union (EU) he recent spike in the US- keeping Ukraine is a strategic impera- Russia confrontation once tive as it tries to prevent the resurgent again shows that a com- Russia from projecting its infl uence in promise fi tting both par- its immediate neighborhood. Restora- ties’ interests will be tion of Russian infl uence over the unlikelyT to happen. Recent US sanctions Ukraine territory would increase Mos- against the Russian oligarchs, as well cow’s power over the Black Sea and the as Washington’s political decisions South Caucasus and will threaten East- across Eurasia, once again refl ect the ern European security. notion that Donald Trump as a sole Even in Georgia, which does not fea- fi gure could not have changed the White ture high in relations between Moscow House’s foreign policy as there are far and Washington, differences remain as too many fundamental differences deep as ever. The country remains pro- between the two sides. Still, neither western and the US has been open in analysts nor politicians forget that the its support for the country’s territorial foundation for the Russia-West con- integrity. However, differences go far frontation in the 21st century is Ukraine. deeper than Tbilisi’s pro-western course: We need to bear this in mind when Rus- in Russia’s view, Georgia can become a sian policy moves are considered across military basis for NATO expansion in Eurasia and elsewhere. the region, which will fundamentally For Russia, Ukraine is important both undermine Russian positions in the On a wall in Sevastopol, Russian President Vladimir Putin builds a new Crimea under Russian colors. Image source: euobserver. economically and strategically: even Caucasus overall. com/ Loreline Merelle without Poland or the Baltic States, Russia and the US also disagree on in over 400 years, Russian state build- seldom express that. domestic policy issues, Vladislav Surkov, Russia retains the status of a “Eurasian many other fronts. Syria and North ing notions are surpassed by the Euro- We often forget that Ukraine, and less in a recently published piece wrote that Empire”. Without Ukraine, Russia will Korea are just several of them. Although, pean models. so Georgia, are the questions around Russia’s attempts to marry Europe ended increasingly become a state with more overall, it is unlikely that Washington But beyond the “civilizational” also which revolve all Russian foreign policy after the Ukraine crisis. Now, Russia borders in Asia than in Europe. This and Moscow will militarily collide, lies a more fundamental issue - economy. actions: attempts to bargain military will be facing long-term isolation. A will in turn make Russia more heavily Trump’s statements via twitter refl ect In previous articles for GT, I have writ- gains in Syria for advantages in Ukraine. striking admission on a part of the mem- involved in long-term Islamic confl icts how deep anti-Russian sentiments are ten how the EU and US are marching Without Ukraine, Russia will be geo- ber of the Russian ruling elite. along its entire southern border. in America. True, for Russian core inter- to the east, far deeper and far more graphically far retracted into the Eura- Moscow needs Ukraine and the res- Although there have already been sev- ests, Syria does not represent problem fundamentally (through economic coop- sian continent, far from Europe, not toration of all relations between Russia eral examples of Slavic countries (Slo- number one, but Ukraine does. Syria is eration and elite co-optation) rarely, if entirely in Asia. In fact, Russia might and the US/EU will rely upon this coun- venia, Poland, Czech Republic, etc.) far, Ukraine close enough to cause Rus- ever, seen in the past Russia-West rela- be seeing a deep geopolitical isolation. try. Unless one of the powers makes joining the EU and NATO, Ukraine fol- sian civilizational fears. tions. And the Russians are worried, In fact, this is what many in Russia signifi cant concessions, the relations lowing their path will irreversibly under- Civilizational because for the fi rst time but to their credit, Putin and others already think. Putin’s long-time aide on will be fundamentally strained.

GEORGIA TODAY 10 POLITICS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Freedom House: Georgia Heading in the Wrong Direction “In Georgia, billionaire Bidzina Ivan- BY MÁTÉ FÖLDI ishvili stepped down as prime minister after one year in 2013, but he retains control over the ruling Georgian Dream ith the not so subtle party, which features employees of his plastering of Bidzina companies in its highest ranks. Ivanish- Ivanishvili on their vili’s political vendettas and development Facebook cover plans for the capital Tbilisi continue to photo to mark the loom over Georgian politics,” reads the Wannouncement, Freedom House has overview of the report. released its new report “Nations in Tran- Meanwhile, the country-specifi c report sit 2018: Confronting Illiberalism.” The on Georgia states that 2017 “was, overall, report offers a country-by-country anal- a period of slight setbacks for Georgia’s ysis of the progress and setbacks for democratic development. Georgian democratization in the post-Soviet states, authorities found it diffi cult to strike a along with the other European former balance between the contradictory goals communist countries. of advancing democratization on the one According to the report, Georgia’s democ- hand and consolidating power on the racy score worsened in 2017 in comparison other.” Photo: Freedom House to previous years, with it’s overall score “The trend of half-hearted democratic now at 4.68 compared with 4.61 in the 2017 reforms that started after the 2012 elec- Azerbaijan and a high-profi le case in its grip on power,” the report said. sition parties can stem their trend of & 2016 reports and 4.64 in 2015. tions has stalled in recent years. Geor- which a foreign company faced punitive With regards to the outlook for 2018, fragmentation and close ranks in prepa- The ratings are from a scale of 1 to 7, gia’s democratic transformation will fi nes after a deeply fl awed judicial pro- the report states that, “Georgia will not ration for parliamentary elections in with 1 representing the highest and 7 the remain incomplete so long as the pri- cess.” experience any political earthquakes in 2020. For GD, which has mastered the lowest level of democratic progress. Said orities of the country’s ruling elites are The report added that while Georgian 2018. The year will be shaped by the craft of popular semi-democratic poli- scores are a refl ection of the consensus split between democratization and stay- Dream are usually receptive to public upcoming presidential election, which tics, the main challenge in 2018 will be of the authors of the country report, ing in power,” it continued. and international concerns, as a semi- will mark the last time a Georgian pres- tackling the economic and social hard- Freedom House, and its academic advi- The report also states that the decline democratic regime, they will yet face ident is directly elected by the people. ship that feeds public dissatisfaction sors. The overall score comprises an in the Independent Media rating is the some issues: “While GD often put party However, after the recent constitutional more than any political issue. The crum- average rating for separate categories: result of “apparently politicized edito- interests ahead of the need for demo- amendments, the president’s powers bling of the safety net that GD carefully national democratic governance; elec- rial policies at the Georgian Public cratic reforms in 2017, the authorities have dwindled further, and the ruling established after 2012 may erode the toral process; civil society; independent Broadcaster, continuing pressure on the never crossed any red lines and pulled party has the ability to overturn presi- party’s public support and reduce its media; local governance; judicial frame- critical television channel Rustavi 2, and back in most cases when they encoun- dential vetoes through its parliamentary chances in the 2020 elections. Georgia’s work and independence; and corruption. ownership consolidation among pro- tered strong domestic and international supermajority. Therefore, even in the civil society will continue exerting its Scores in Georgia in all of these catego- government private television stations.” resistance. … However, in future, GD will rather unlikely event that an opposition infl uence in political processes through- ries remained unchanged with the excep- The decline in the Judicial Framework face the dilemma of confl icting interests candidate wins the presidency, the pres- out 2018, but it is unclear whether Geor- tions of independent media and judiciary, and Independence category is due to that is characteristic of most semi-dem- idential election will not substantially gia’s media landscape, which suffered where the country experienced a decline “illegal deportation of dissident Azer- ocratic regimes: a genuine consolidated change the political balance in the coun- from political interference in 2017, will of 0.25 in both. baijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli to democracy would ultimately endanger try. It remains to be seen whether oppo- recover in 2018.” GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 POLITICS 11 Strengthening Governance & Improving Public Services

business-oriented public services, we cannot expect investors to have long- term commitments with respect to Georgia,” Antia notes. “Effective governance, leading to pro- vision of reliable public services, is the most genuine denominator when speak- ing about the overall effect of key ingre- dients of a rule-based order and entre- preneurial economy,” Victor Kipiani, partner and co-founder of MKD, tells us. “Driving state institutions to work better and be result-oriented is to make the country a better place in which to live and work, both for its nationals and expats. Putting it in a simple way: if you are not happy with the environment you live in; if you are hesitant about the true impact of your work or unsure how your efforts resonate through effective governance (read: public services), then clearly there is a big disconnect between a state and its nationals legal-wise and in terms of emotional bonds. And, in fact, we often seem to assume that effec- tive management in the public sector has the same basic qualities as effective management in the private sector.” He notes that public halls, both central and regional, contribute a lot to solidi- fying those bonds and making businesses and individuals feel that the state cares and supports them in every possible way. “In a very practicable meaning, the famous concept of a “one-stop” public service delivery, with 450 services deliv- ered in one accessible spot, speaks elo- quently for itself. On top of this is the concept of a unifi ed business services' hall aimed at making doing business easier and more cost-effective. Among other initiatives, these are the very Mariam Antia Victor Kipiani material steps to illustrate a real sense which we operate.” of accountability from public institu- as it helps to solidify nation-wide sta- hinged in the opening the doors for INTERVIEW BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES MKD is just a few years younger than tions and making them responsible for bility by making a still impoverished greater participation in political and the modern Georgian state, which developing business and infrastructure.” country less susceptible to internal economic processes and, as a result, regained its independence back in 1991, “Such junctures facilitate breaking shocks and external impacts. This is accomplishing greater inclusivity. “This galoblishvili Kipiani so it has had a fi rsthand view of Geor- through the soviet legacy to give citi- even truer for Georgia which tries to is where we are still observing the stum- Dzidziguri (MKD) has gia’s path to democracy, its attempts at zens a sense that the state is their own develop as a vibrant democracy in an bling point, as the middle-class is in its been at the forefront institution building, and has witnessed but not something which is detached environment hostile to institutional embryonic stage, the vestiges still exist of the Georgian legal waves of reforms aimed at reshaping from their daily needs and expectations. building and rule of law,” Kipiani says, of somewhat monopolistic business market for more than the government institutions for strength- Such a ‘dynamic fl ux’ serves not only a going on to highlight that the ultimate elites, plus there is a lack of access to twoM decades, emerging as a strong, ening the governance and improving mundane fl ow but a wider agenda too, success of Georgian reforms is heavily much needed fi nances to start and grow highly competitive and well-respected the public services. a business, all causing a virtuous circle Georgian law fi rm, providing a full range “Even though Georgia ranks as the by not introducing up-to-date dynam- of legal services to its clients. The fi rm leader in the region of Eastern Europe ics and achieving the mentioned inclu- is proud of the external recognition it and Central Asia for the rule of law, and siveness,” he adds. has gained through client assessments the corruption perception index is rel- “Among the instruments of modern- in a range of international research- atively low, there is still a room for izing the political and economic system, based guides for the legal profession, greater improvement in these areas,” and apart from a well-know toolkit of which regularly list MKD amongst the Mariam Antia, Member of the Manage- political leverages and initiatives, there top performing law fi rms in Georgia. ment Board, lawyer, tells GEORGIA is a reversing of the legislative pendu- However, in today’s realm, along with TODAY. “Increased transparency and lum towards downsizing the red tape being a law fi rm of highly recognized straightforward accountability, broader and reforming the public services, legal practitioners, it also views itself disclosure requirements in both public essentially by putting it on the authen- as a law fi rm concerned with defending and private sectors, in our view, would tic premises of meritocracy and trans- the system of justice. GEORGIA TODAY help to enhance Georgia’s profi le as an forming it into a bona fi de service pro- spoke to three members of the fi rm to attractive investment destination - a vider,” Kipiani says. “Any other attempts fi nd out more. place with predictable rules of the game to develop the Georgian economy would “We, as a fi rm, are willing to have for local and international businesses miss the mark of sustainability and measurable impact on positively chang- alike.” inclusiveness; that, in turn, risks failing ing the Georgian legal ecosystem, pro- What she says they observe in Geor- to replace old economic realms with moting equal justice and rule of law gia is that the general notion that the new ones while undermining and desta- through advocacy, policy research or law should apply equally to all, without bilizing power relations in politics. In other initiatives,” says Tamara Tkeshe- exception, and that the law reigns view of these challenges, which are so lashvili, Member of the Management supreme, is understood. “Nevertheless,” characteristic to systems in transition, Board, lawyer. “We are strong believers she says, “the application of this prin- girdling the Georgian pace of fi nally in helping and giving back to the local ciple in daily life still seems challenging. transiting from "drifting" to an institu- community by participating or initiat- The diffi culties are caused both by a tionally-based net of economic and ing actions aimed at supporting the rule lack of uniform application and enforce- political "free fl oats" by deeper critical of law.” ment of laws by the courts, and by the junctures is an undeniable pass to the MKD provides job training opportu- perception that the laws are not always point of emerging as a modernized nities for law students, and exercises clear, or for the benefi t of the public. country with an innovative and com- “strategic social investment” by sup- Rather, at times, they are viewed as petitive business habitat. At the same porting legal education, contributing tools for arbitrary manipulation.” time, however, we all should bear in to shaping the students as competitive MKD recognizes that, in terms of law mind that modernizing the economic legal professionals. enforcement, the implementation of the fundamentals is good, but this should “Many of our staff members are rules and ensuring of judicial independ- not be as like paying lip service to involved in teaching at various law ence is the key challenge. The govern- democratizing political life and empow- schools, dedicating their time and efforts ment and the general public must take ering fairly broad sections of society. to sharing their practical experience to all necessary measures to ensure the Otherwise, you would not be able to the students in an academic setting,” strengthening of the effi ciency of the engineer prosperity and, consequently Tkeshelashvili tells us. “We, as a busi- justice system and development of a will fail to make the nation impervious ness, defi nitely see our role in the strong institutional framework for an to the extent admissible nowadays, to advancement of the rule of law, and we impartial and highly professional judi- social unrests or outer aggressions, be are well aware of the intertwining nature ciary. “Without fair and predictable they through exercise of either soft or of the relations with the community in justice system and user-friendly and smart power.” Tamar Tkeshelashvili GEORGIA TODAY 12 POLITICS APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Anaklia City Makes Productive Visit to the United Arab Emirates

n April 8-11, representa- Keti Bochorishvili, and Mr. Phillip Rich- tives of Anaklia City paid ard, Director of International Affairs of a working visit to the the ADGM. First Vice-Prime Minister, United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy and Sustainable (UAE). In the framework Development of Georgia, Mr. Dimitry ofO the visit, a memorandum of mutual Kumsishvili, and Chairman of the ADGM, relations between the Abu Dhabi Global Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, attended the Market (ADGM), the main fi nancial signing ceremony. center of Abu Dhabi, and Anaklia City After establishing diplomatic relations was signed, aiming to facilitate the in 1992 between the two countries, the deepening of relations between the relationship has been growing continu- sides as well as economic cooperation. ally in the economic, administrative and The memorandum was signed by social spheres. The new agreement Executive Director of Anaklia City Ms. between Anaklia City and the ADGM

will help share experience in fi nance, Anaklia City’s executives also made service, regulations and other directions visits to large logistics and industrial and is a basis for future relations. parks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Meet- “Today, we held a very important ings were held with the top management meeting with the ADGM to share the representatives of the KIZAD – Khalifa experience collected in this economic Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi and Zone- zone,” Mr. Kumsishvili said on the day sCorp, as well as with the world’s best of the signing. economic zone of 2017 – DMCC – Dubai “ADGM is a global fi nancial center Multi Commodities Centre. Ms. and leader for fi nding innovative ways Bochorishvili held meetings with lead- to develop business,” Bochorishvili ing real estate development companies noted. “This cooperation is a very impor- and the largest investment agencies in tant step for deepening knowledge the United Arab Emirates, such as between these two zones, as well as in EMAAR, Eagle Hills, Al Ain, Al Shafar terms of progressing relations and properties, etc. Anaklia’s investment attracting investments.” potential and future cooperation per- According to ADGM’s Executive Direc- spectives were discussed in the frame- tor, the signing of the memorandum work of the meetings. with Anaklia City is also good for them: "Our visit was very important for the “We are ready to strengthen our coop- development of the Anaklia Special eration and strengthen our international Economic Zone concept and for partner partnership with Anaklia City, which companies to take an interest in it. The can become a leading economic zone United Arab Emirates is famous for through the innovative and international creating the economic zones in the platform of ADGM.” world, enabling it to create hundreds Representatives of Anaklia City held of thousands of new jobs in the last 20 a meeting with one of the largest global years. We have held meetings with suc- port and special economic zone opera- cessful economic zones, as well as those tor - DP World. The meeting was arranged in the fi elds of industry and logistics, in Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), at fi nancial, trade and other services. Our the head offi ce of DP World. Directors goal is for the Anaklia Special Economic of logistic parks and economic zones, Zone to be exceptional in its integrated, and leading team for business develop- state of the art infrastructure as well as ment attended the meeting. Represent- the effi cient business operations and atives of the DP World stated they found services. I have to note that this project the project details very interesting and has unprecedented support of the Geor- had decided to visit Georgia soon. gian and the UAE governments,” Ms. “Strengthening the role of Georgia Bochorishvili noted. alongside the One Belt, One Road ini- Anaklia City started working on devel- tiative will be studied and the partici- oping Anaklia City and Special Economic pation of DP World considered in the Zone in June 2017. In this period the process, especially oriented on Anaklia company managed to make connections Port,” said Minister Kumsishvili after with more than 100 international com- meeting the Crown Prince of United panies and started partnership with Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin many of them. Cooperation Agreements Zayed Al Nahyan. have been signed with the world- The Georgian Delegation attended the renowned, largest and most advanced AIM conference, at which the Minister Incheon Economic Zone (South Korea), spoke about the Georgian economy and the Khorgos Economic Zone (Kazakh- its investment opportunities. Notably, stan), and various international logistics Bilateral Investment Treaty came in and transport companies, including the force that will further increase the Korean company Pantos Logistics and investments from the UAE to Georgia. European company Gebrüder Weiss. CEO of Anaklia City Keti Bochorishvili The work on the Master Plan of the presented the project Anaklia City and Anaklia City has already begun, and the the Special Economic Zone and differ- leading British company BuroHappold ent opportunities for the companies. Engineering is working on it. GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 BUSINESS 13 Georgia Expects Group of Investors from UAE

Fuckup Nights is Coming to Tbilisi wine to tourists. BY THEA MORRISON that has to be recalled: we tell them all. Beso Papiashvili, Co-founder and CEO, "Several important delegations will visit BY MÁTÉ FÖLDI Started in Mexico in 2012, today Fuckup Taxify Georgia; Nino Daraseli, Founder, Georgia to explore new investment oppor- Nights happen in more than 80 coun- online platform AT.ge; and Niko Ner- tunities," Kumsishvili said, adding the tries and more than 250 cities,” reads gadze, Journalist, Former Editor-in-Chief, group of investors and busi- sides focused on the issue of accelerating es, you read the headline the event description. Playboy Georgia magazine sharing their nessmen from the United Arab the signing of a free trade agreement correctly. No, it’s not some Entrepreneurs, executives, managers, fuck ups with you. Emirates plan to visit Georgia between Georgia and the Gulf countries. pagan, raunchy, sex-fi lled, creative professionals — Fuckup Nights While the event will be held in Geor- in order to explore Georgia’s It was noted that the good will of the immoral debauchery that’s if for anyone and everyone who wants gian, the Q&A and networking will be investment potential. governors of the United Arab Emirates about to ‘dirty’ the ‘sacred to learn from the failures of others and multilingual. The event is co-organized AGeorgia’s Ministry of Economy and is of utmost importance in this regard. Ymoral’ of our beloved capital. Rather, kickback with a beer and fi nd a new by Tbilisi Startup Bureau, Impact Hub Sustainable Development reports that The meeting also discussed reforms it’s an exciting business event of sorts way to entertain themselves. Tbilisi, Fabrika Hostel and Fabrika • the First Deputy Prime Minister and and achievements that the Georgian side where people come together to share Fabrika will play host to the fi rst edi- ფაბრიკა, and sponsored by Karva Beer, Minister of Economy Dimitry Kumsish- has in terms of economic development. their stories of professional failure. tion of this event on April 13 at 19:00. Blue Ocean Success Library, Kedari vili participated in the meeting held The decision to set up a joint economic Every month, with events around the Speakers for the event “are personali- Ventures, Scoot Scoot, Camora Base- between President of Georgia Giorgi committee and an investment group, world, Fuckup Nights gets three to four ties, who are not afraid to try; they failed, ment. Margvelashvili and Sheikh Mohamed that will facilitate cooperation between people to stand-up in a room full of learned, continued their journey, bin Zaid al Nahyan during the offi cial countries, was assessed by the sides as strangers and share their own profes- achieved success, and are ready to share Seats are limited, so make sure to get those visit to the United Arab Emirates. an important step. sional fuckups. “The stories of the busi- their stories with you.” And on Friday tickets quickly at: Eventer.ge, biletebi.ge or The Press Service of the Ministry of Georgian President Margvelashvili and nesses that crash and burn, the partner- night it will be Vakho Vakhtangishvili, TKT.ge Economy says that the sides considered Ministry Kumsishvili have already com- ship deal that goes sour, the product Co-founder and CEO, Leavingstone; #sharethefailure the opportunity of offering Georgian pleted their visit to the UAE.

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Address: 2 Tergdaleulebi St., Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), Georgia Tel: +995 322 25 77 70 Mail: [email protected] FB: @PortaCaucasiaKazbegi GEORGIA TODAY 14 SOCIETY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Georgia’s Defense Ministry Launches Education Project at Schools Tbilisi Neighborhoods The MoD is implementing the project BY THEA MORRISON in cooperation with the Ministry of Edu- cation and Science of Georgia. The presentation of the project was eorgia’s Ministry of Defense held in Public School 175 of Tbilisi, opened to be Rehabilitated (MoD) has launched a new by Georgia’s Defense Minister, Levan educational project at pub- Izoria. lic schools named Our “This is an unprecedented project Army, which will raise aimed at providing information to Geor- Gstudent awareness of Georgia’s military gian students about the military system system. of our country. The project is also tar- The project started on April 10 and geted to increase a patriotic spirit in our within its frames, military servicemen youth which will be achieved through of Georgian Armed Forces will deliver the real communication of teenagers lectures on the defense sphere in public with servicemen,” Izoria stated at the schools throughout Georgia. presentation. The MoD reports that the representa- Deputy Education Minister Lia Gigauri tives of the armed forces will meet 11th noted that, at the initial stage, the project and 12th grade students throughout the involves 150 public schools, adding in country and will inform them about the the future it will be expanded. history, goals, Defense Ministry reforms, “From 2019, all public schools of Geor- and NATO-Georgia relations. The lec- gia will be included in the project. The tures will also cover such fi elds as oblig- students are very interested in such atory military service and contracted activities,” she said. service, the reserve and mobilization Gigauri explained that the duty of every concept, international missions and citizen is to protect the security of their exercises, and many other topics related country, adding that the project will enrich Photo: State Construction Company to Georgia and its military self-defense. the knowledge of students in this direction. rehabilitation works are complete. Furthermore, it was announced that BY BENJAMIN MUSIC "The fi nalization of the infrastructural Ponichala and Gldani would undergo renovation and improvement is planned similar rehabilitation works. Deputy for 2019," Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze Mayor of Tbilisi Irakli Bendeliani umerous neighborhoods announced today. His statement elabo- explained the details by pointing to the in Tbilisi will undergo rated on the exact locations of theworks, bridges connecting Upper and Lower large-scale construction while estimating the total allocated budget Ponichala. The renovation of the bridge works in the upcoming at several million GEL. will consume an extra 2.3 million GEL. months. This week the On Ioane Petritsi Street, underground Contrary to the works at Ioane Petritsi preparationsN have fi nished prior to start- communications and kerbstones will be Street, the works in Ponichala are ing the overdue rehabilitation of streets, renovated, while the street’s asphalt layer expected to be fi nished by the end of bridges, walkways and other aspects of will be renewed. 2018. Gladni is the most expensive pro- parts of Tbilisi’s infrastructure. The Mayor emphasized the total revi- ject, totaling 8 million GEL for a total During rush hour, the city usually suf- sion of traffi c schemes, which will be sup- revamp of the Gladni bridge, which is focates in its own smog, a situation to be ported by the traffi c police as they have expected to take the longest. worsened by the upcoming works. How- fi rst-hand experience of congestion and The various projects are expected to ever, with the old adage "you can't make bottleneck spots on various streets. City slow down traffi c. Commuters are thus an omelette without breaking eggs," there Hall has said it will invest 2 million GEL advised to plan in additional time during is light at the end of the tunnel after the in improving Ioane Petritsi Street alone. rush hour.

GEORGIA TODAY 16 SOCIETY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 Keeping a Perspective on Racism and blades or not, these men must be arrested for assault. This ugly incident, however, does prove a point that I have been making for some time – that as Tbilisi modernizes, the attitudes of certain sections of the pop- ulations of both the city and the country as a whole will become clearer. Soon, it will no longer be accurate to speak of ‘Georgians’ in the way in which foreign- ers have become accustomed to in years past; this sort of racist assault would be far less likely to happen in the Vake, Saburtalo, Vera and Sololaki parts of Tbilisi. Two friends of mine were threat- A screen grab from a video showing a number of white men confronting and attacking black students outside a sports fi eld in Tbilisi's Digomi neighborhood on April 8. Image ened with knives here two years ago, but source: rferl.org it was on the other side of the river close to Marjanishvili, the side which has not have called the police with complaints seen anywhere near as much develop- OP-ED BY TIM OGDEN of domestic violence have reported a ment as other sections of the city. similar reluctance to do their job. This, This isn’t anything unusual for any I suppose, is a consequence of the police capital city, and I think it is important everal days ago, several videos being made up mostly of working-class for all sides involved to keep some per- of Georgians assaulting a group Georgian men, who, as a group, gener- spective. There are racist people every- of black youths were spread ally have particular ideas about race, where, after all, barely a year goes by on social media and Georgia’s sexuality, gender and being asked to without the American police shooting principle television networks. tackle crimes committed by other work- unarmed black people. Furthermore, SThe Georgian perpetrators allege that ing-class Georgian men. despite modern-thinking and LGBT the black young men had been aggres- I also think it unlikely that a group of Georgians thinking the West is a liberal sive to a group of Georgian children black young men would be aggressive paradise, a gay friend of mine was ver- playing football on a public pitch, and towards Georgian children: I’m sure they bally abused in a street in England while their assault on the foreigners was in are very aware of what the harvest would walking with his partner. To be fair, defense of their children. The victims be, ie. something like the incident which Georgia struggles more with ethnic and claim all they wanted to do was play happened anyway. Dare I say it’s far more sexual minorities than other places due football, but the Georgians wanted the likely a group of Georgian children saw to their relatively new status in this pitch for themselves and so kicked them the black lads playing football, decided country, but even the ‘tolerant’ countries off it…quite literally. One of the Georgian they wanted the pitch for themselves, of the West suffer from prejudice. men (who looked about sixty) launched and told their fathers and all their mates Would a gay person be at risk of harass- a fl ailing kick at one of the black lads that they had been insulted (if they even ment on New York’s 5th Avenue or Lon- that knocked him down. needed to); that’s well within the realms don’s Piccadilly Circus? Unlikely. But rural It is encouraging to see that there has of possibility, for the Georgian child is Kentucky or the backstreets of Manches- been a torrent of comments from Geor- the most entitled, arrogant creature on ter would perhaps be a different story. gians condemning racism and publicly this planet. Their conceit makes the Nationwide, Georgia has a long way to apologizing for the behavior of their Chinese look modest. go before minorities are treated as equals, countrymen. Less heartening has been Whether the Georgian men were car- but so does everywhere else: perhaps the sight of other Georgians supporting rying knives or guns is another aspect the very idea of total equality is nothing the attack – mostly men, but also women. left unresolved; there has been mention but a liberal dream that will never come Exactly whose fault this was remains to of threats made with fi rearms, and it has to pass. But the denunciation of the attack be properly established; the victims of been alleged some of those involved in by many young Georgians gives me hope the attack claim that although they called the altercation were carrying knives. for the future, and the intolerance faced the police, the offi cers were unwilling However, it can clearly be seen that one by minorities in Europe and America to help, and implored them to just forget man in the video is wielding a metal bar, should be remembered, so as not to about the incident. I’m inclined to believe and that others landed punches and kicks compare this country with a Western them. Female acquaintances of mine who – whether they were carrying fi rearms ideal that does not, in fact, exist. Georgian-Jewish Relations Granted Status of Intangible Cultural Heritage Monument

BY THEA MORRISON

26-century-long unique relationship between the Georgians and Jews has been given the Status of Intangible Cultural Herit- Aage Monument. The information was released by Geor- gia’s Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, according to whom Georgia has already addressed UNESCO for the relationship to be recognized as an intangible herit- Jews settled before the 26th century on remarkable examples of the Georgian- age monument on an international level. Georgian soil and since then we have Jewish friendship. “I congratulate you on this day. We been jointly creating a common cultural “It is important that this day became celebrate it with great joy,” the PM stated heritage which enriches us both - Jewish the basis even of more friendly and at the Davit Baazov Jewish History and Georgian cultures,” Kvirikashvili said. remarkable relationship between the Museum in Georgia, where a special The Prime Minister expressed grati- two peoples,” Kvirikashvili said, high- reception was held. tude to all the people who contributed lighting that Antisemitism has never Head of the museum, Givi Gambashidze, to the development of the friendship existed in Georgia. showed various exhibited items to the between Georgian and Jewish people, Jews are among the oldest communi- Prime Minister and told him the history including Jamlet Khukhashvili, a well- ties in Georgia, their migration traceable of the museum. known sports commentator and public back to the country during the Babylo- “It is our greatest wealth that the fi rst fi gure, noting that he is one of the most nian captivity in the 6th century BC. GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 SOCIETY 17

Peel me a Mango: Cancun, Mexico We decided to do a mix of restaurant-hopping and cooking for ourselves, splurge and save, with a few special excursion treats afforded by the sav- ings. This served our budget and interests well, as we wanted to see more of local life than fi ve-star hotels would offer, but also to experience some of the really special things too. The markets include several shops called Botan- ica, which seem to offer a range of products from simple natural remedies to outright spiritualist and occult items. Their signage affi rms this, with Death a prominent personage. Catholicism has fused most interestingly with the ancient local religions. Day Two saw us take a local bus to the free beach zone tucked between endless hotels with their more exclusive, although not unavailable, fronts. But ours had permanent huts for shade, fi rst come fi rst served, and we nabbed one of these. Slather on the sun cream to our winter-white bodies, and plunge into the Caribbean, the sheer intense hues of which, greens and blues, were a delightful assault on eyes much too attuned to half a year’s snow’s rather more limited palette of white through deadly cold glacial. The salt air’s smell, salt water on the tongue, and crash of the small but powerful waves added to the entire sensory experience. An Eden, really, although summer’s 45-degree heat can be missed. Spring is just right. And the local serpent, BLOG BY TONY HANMER the crocodile, sticks to the lagoons, which is one less worry in the sea. The sun cream, however, was either out of date e hit the ground running, shed or not nearly enough, as we discovered by evening. our multiple clothing layers for Parts of us turned virtually lobster red, and we had the 30-degree warmth, got to add painkillers and aloe gel to our treatment, through passports/customs at along with more of the cream, a second source the airports and onto a bus for which seemed to stop any further burning. Typical Wthe station near our basic hotel in Cancun center. British tourist, I looked! It did not spoil our week, I had only initially booked this for the fi rst two though, mercifully. More adventures to come. days of our seven, to see whether we’d like it, which we quickly decided we did. So I booked the remain- Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti ing days and we had our home base. It included a since 2007, and been a weekly writer for GT since early swimming pool, continental breakfast and free 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook unlimited Wi-Fi, though only one of its reception group, now with over 1800 members, at www.facebook. guys speaks reasonable English. This, we are told, com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ is tolerable out here away from the city’s real Hotel He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: Zone, but in that place English knowledge is a must www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti in the hospitality industry. Mexico, for local comparison, has about 28 times the land area of Georgia, and with 120 million peo- ple, some 30 times its population, too (and in both cases, roughly a quarter of them in the capital city, so… about 30 million in Mexico City). Cancun is a city of about 630,000, on the Yucatan peninsula, this being originally a major center for the Maya people (about which more in future). The city began to be developed as a tourism hotspot almost from nothing by the national government in 1970, so it’s very young and has sprung up very fast. Since it was about midday by the time we settled in, we opted for a foot tour of the local area to ori- ent ourselves rather than racing off to the sea just yet. There are many indoor and outdoor markets here, with a bewildering variety of fruits and veg- etables and more, a good collection of which my wife bought to show at our village school in Svaneti and wow the children and her colleagues. Some of these I knew from either Zimbabwe or Indonesia, such as mangoes, avocados or the huge jackfruit. Others we were seeing for the fi rst time and had to ask what they were called. At least someone was usually on hand to help us with our nonexistent Spanish. GEORGIA TODAY 18 CULTURE APRIL 13 - 16, 2018

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER April 14 READY PLAYER ONE TOMB RAIDER IOSEB GRISHASHVILI SHAKESPEARE SONNETS Directed by Steven Spielberg Directed by Roar Uthaug TBILISI HISTORY MUSEUM Performance of William Cast: Letitia Wright, Olivia Cooke, Cast: Alicia Vikander, Hannah - KARVASLA TBILISI OPERA AND BALLET Shakespeare's sonnets Hannah John-Kamen John-Kamen, Walton Goggins Address: 8 Sioni St. THEATER Start time: 20:00 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Genre: Action, Adventure Telephone: 2 98 22 81 Address: 25 Rustaveli Ave. Ticket price: 15 GEL Language: Russian Language: Russian Telephone: 2 00 44 66 Start time: 16:30 Start time: 17:00 April 12– 22 GABRIADZE THEATER Ticket: 10 GEL Ticket: 9,10 GEL EXHIBITION April 14 Address: 13 Shavtelis St. UKRAINE & GEORGIA, VALUES TURANDOT Telephone: 2 98 65 93 IN TRADITIONS Starring: Irine Ratiani, Anzor RUSTAVELI CINEMA MARY MAGDALENE Khidasheli, Bing Bing Wang, Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. (Info Above) April 15, 19 SIGHNAGHI MUSEUM Besik Gabitashvili, Aleksei Telephone: 2 55 50 00 Language: Russian AUTUMN OF MY SPRING Address: 8 Rustaveli Alley, Sighnaghi Shapovalov, Philipe Gachava, Paata www.kinoafi sha.ge Start time: 14:30, 22:30 Rezo Gabriadze Telephone: 223 24 48 Sukhitashvili, Vano Galuashvili, Ticket: 14-19 GEL Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Tamaz Saginadze. Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL English Subtitles April 21 – May 31 Musical Director- Zaza Azmaiparashvili April 13-19 WINCHESTER Start time: 20:00 EXHIBITION Conductor- Alberto Veronesi (Italy) (Info Above) Ticket: 20, 30 GEL DOLLS OF JAPAN Director- Alfonso Signorini (Italy) RAMPAGE Language: English Scenographer- Carla Tolomeo (Italy) (Info Above) Start time: 22:15 GALLERY MOVEMENT THEATER Costumes- Fausto Puglisi and Leila Language: Russian Language: Russian Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave. Start time: 14:30,17:00,19:45, 22:30 Start time: 20:00 Fteita (Italy) DIMITRI SHEVARDNADZE Telephone: 598 19 29 36 Ticket: 9-14 GEL Ticket: 14-19 GEL Start time: 19:00 NATIONAL GALLERY Ticket: 15-100 GEL Address: 11 Shota Rustaveli Ave. April 13 MARY MAGDALENE READY PLAYER ONE THE STORY OF A MURDERER Telephone: 215 73 00 April 15 (Info Above) (Info Above) Directed by Ioseb Bakuradze TURANDOT Start time: 19:45 Language: English Start time: 20:00 March 30 – April 18 Starring: Nana Kavtarashvili, Zaza Ticket: 13-14 GEL Start time: 14:00 Ticket: 15 GEL EXHIBITION Zaalisvhili, Bing Bing Wang, George Language: Russian ASK FOR IT ANYWHERE Chelidze, Otar Shishinashvili, Gia DEATH WISH Start time: 22:00 April 19 Makharadze, Paata Sukhitashvili, Directed by Eli Roth Ticket: 13-19 GEL ERTI GALLERY SIMBIOSIS George Mchedlishvili, Aleksandre Cast: Bruce Willis, Vincent Address: 19 P. Ingorokva Str. One-act choreographic sketch MUSEUM Dekanoidze. D'Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue Director and Choreographer: Musical Director- Zaza Azmaiparashvili Genre: Action, Crime, Drama April 3-21 George Ghonghadze Conductor- Alberto Veronesi (Italy) Language: Russian GEORGIAN NATIONAL BLACK I SEA Start time: 20:00 Director- Alfonso Signorini (Italy) Start time: 17:15, 19:30 MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA LEVAN SONGULASHVILI & Ticket: 10 GEL Scenographer- Carla Tolomeo (Italy) Ticket: 10-14 GEL MUSEUM CHRISTIAN AWE Costumes- Fausto Puglisi CINEMA Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. New York-based visual artist Levan and Leila Fteita WINCHESTER Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 Songulashvili's recent works in Start time: 19:00 Directed by Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig www.museum.ge conversation with Berlin-based AMIRANI CINEMA Ticket: 15-100 GEL Cast: Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook, artist Christian Awe in Berlin, Address: 36 Kostava Str. Finn Scicluna-O'Prey GEORGIAN COSTUME AND Germany. Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Genre: Biography, Fantasy, Horror WEAPONRY OF 18TH-20TH TBILISI VASO ABASHIDZE www.kinoafi sha.ge MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE Language: Russian CENTURIES GALLERY CONTAINER THEATER Start time: 22:30 Address: 10 Sh. Radiani Str Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 GEL Ticket: 13-14 GEL NUMISMATIC TREASURY Telephone: 599 01 38 38 Address: 182 D.Agmashenebeli Ave. April 13-19 Telephone: 2 34 80 90 Exhibition showcasing a long READY PLAYER ONE history of money circulation on the April 11-14 www.musictheatre.ge RAMPAGE (Info Above) territory of modern Georgia from Lasha Beraia’s Exhibition Directed by Brad Peyton NEW YORK-LONDON-TBILISI April 15 Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Start time: 22:30 the 6th century BC. to 1834. WELCOME TO GEORGIA Ticket: 13-14 GEL The majority of these paintings Morgan were exhibited at the Art Expo A musical, theatrical play and Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi EXHIBITION STONE AGE romantic comedy telling a story CAVEA GALLERY GEORGIA New York 2017 and in London at Language: English The Brick Lane Gallery about Georgia and its people by Start time: 20:10 Address: 2/4 Rustaveli Ave. combining song, dance, culture, Language: Russian Telephone: 200 70 07 ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURE MUSIC traditions, history, national Start time: 16:45,19:30, 22:15 costumes and local cuisine. Ticket: 9-14 GEL Every Wednesday ticket: 8 GEL NEW LIFE TO THE ORIENTAL Musical April 13-19 COLLECTIONS REPUBLIC Address: Rose Revolution Sq. Language: English, some Georgian MARY MAGDALENE Telephone: 240 22 00 (with English subtitles) Directed by Garth Davis RAMPAGE MUSEUM OF SOVIET Start time: 20:00 (Info Above) OCCUPATION Cast: Rooney Mara, Joaquin April 14 Ticket: 60-80 GEL Language: English Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor NINO KATAMADZE & INSIGHT Start time: 19:45 Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 Genre: Drama The audience will be the fi rst to Language: Russian www.museum.ge SHALIKASHVILI THEATER Language: Russian hear an original collaboration Address: 37 Shota Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 14:30,19:30, 20:00 Start time: 12:00, 14:15, 17:00, 20:00, 22:15 between Nino Katamadze Telephone: 595 50 02 03 Ticket: 9-14 GEL Ticket: 10-19 GEL PERMANENT EXHIBITION and Kordz and experience extraordinary sounds. After the concert, guests will be accompanied by the music set of Kordz. Start time: 23:00 Ticket: 40-200 GEL

SPACEHALL Address: 2 A. Tsereteli Ave.

April 14 TREEBAL: SONIC ENTITY IMAGINARIUM ACIDWAVE OBRI & NEVER THE SAME AKA ZEN DECORATIONS & VISUAL: BOTN Decoration+Visuals team (Thessaloniki, Greece) Start time: 23:00 Ticket: 20-40 GEL

TBILISI SPORTS PALACE Address: 26 May Sq. Telephone: 233 33 11

April 15 GORAN BREGOVI Start time: 23:00 Ticket: 31.50-108 GEL

TBILISI CONCERT HALL Address: 1 Melikishvili Ave. Telephone: 99 00 99

April 19 GEORGIAN TREASURE Charity concert of Georgian Folk Song and Dance State Academic Ensemble ‘Erisioni’ in support of the Monk Andrew Foundation Let’s build a ‘Happy House’ together Start time: 19:00 Ticket: 15-30 GEL GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 13 - 16, 2018 CULTURE 19 Tbilisi Jazz Festival 2018 n April 28-30 the 21st Tbilisi Jazz Korkotashvili (vocals), Mikheil Japaridze (bass), Festival will be held, as per tradition Luka Topuria (key), Gigi Tsintsadze (guitar) and hosted within the Tbilisi Concert Gio Kapanadze (drum). Hall. The festival program, envisages Director of Eastern Promotion George Keresel- a master class of famous jazz per- idze told GEORGIA TODAY that apart from spring, formersO for Georgian students and numerous con- autumn and summer festivals, there might be one certs featuring world famous musicians. in winter, too. Eastern Promotion is planning to According to the organizers, from 2018, the Tbi- organize a winter jazz festival outside of Tbilisi, lisi Jazz Festival will be held annually at the end of perhaps in one of the winter resorts. Alongside April instead of autumn and will be coincided with this news Kereselidze told us that the celebration another important date for jazz lovers: International of International Jazz Day is very important for jazz Jazz Day. lovers, which is why the Tbilisi Jazz Festival is On April 28, the American jazz Trio "Bad Plus" being held on April 28-30. will open the Festival at the Event Hall. Hailing “It is very important that Georgian artists have from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the trio consists of such a great opportunity to play alongside the bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Orrin Evans and greatest bands and share their music with Georgian drummer Dave King. Their music combines ele- public and visitots,” he said. ments of modern avant-garde jazz with rock and International Jazz Day is an International Day pop infl uences. declared by UNESCO in 2011. It is celebrated annu- On April 29, the American group "Naturally 7," ally on April 30. Jazz Day is chaired by the brain- an American music group with a distinct a cappella child of jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambas- style they call "vocal play," will entertain the audi- sador, Herbie Hancock. The celebration is recognized ence. According to group leader Roger Thomas, on the calendars of both UNESCO and the United their music is "the art of becoming an instrument Nations. Jazz day is celebrated by many countries using the human voice to create sound." They throughout the world with different concerts. simulate the sounds of an instrumental band using Among them is Georgia, which will celebrate this only their voices, mouths and distortion effects. important date from 2018 with the 21-year tradition On April 30, on International Jazz Day, the 21st of the Jazz Festival. jazz festival will be closed by the incredible Miles Festival nominee: TBC Bank's Personal Banking Service Electric Band, with special guest famous saxophon- TBC STATUS; ist, Ravi Coltrane. chance to enjoy the talent of the Sandro Bibich (bass/vocals), Gigi Tsintsadze (guitar), Daniel Adi- Supporters of the festival: Ministry of Culture and Sport Also during the Festival, audiences will get the Trio will be accompanied by Sandro Kvachadze kashvili (drum); the Conservatoire Jazz Band - Liliko of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall. Georgian Actor Merab Ninidze to Appear in Homeland TV Series

ferent scenes of the series. BY THEA MORISON Ninidze was also fi lmed in BBC crime drama series McMafi a, in the role of Vadim Kalyagin, a member of the Russian Mafi a. The new series amous Georgian actor Merab Ninidze was aired this winter on BBC One. will appear in the seventh season of Homeland it is an American spy thriller televi- the popular American TV series Home- sion series developed by Howard Gordon and land. Alex Gansa based on the Israeli series Prisoners The IMDb has already included him of War, which was created by Gideon Raff. It fol- Fin the cast list. lows CIA offi cer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), The Georgian actor is participating in the 9th top in her fi eld despite being bipolar, making her episode of the season 7 'Useful Idiot,' where he volatile and unpredictable. plays the role of a senior Russian intelligence The series has received positive reviews, with chief. We'll only get to his voice, but in the next its fi rst two seasons gaining near universal praise. series the audience can expect to see him in dif- It has also won several prestigious awards.

PUBLISHER & GM Journalists: Website Manager/Editor: ADDRESS Reproducing material, photos George Sharashidze Tony Hanmer, Zaza Jgarkava, Tamzin Whitewood 1 Melikishvili Str. and advertisements without Maka Bibilashvili, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia prior editorial permission is COMMERCIAL Dimitri Dolaberidze, Layout: strictly forbidden. DEPARTMENT Maka Lomadze, Misha Mchedlishvili Tel.: +995 32 229 59 19 The author is responsible for Commercial Director: Joseph Larsen, E: [email protected] all material. Rights of authors Webmaster: Iva Merabishvili Vazha Tavberidze, Sergey Gevenov F: GeorgiaToday are preserved. The newspaper Marketing Manager: Nugzar B. Ruhadze, is registered in Mtatsminda Anuka Poladishvili Nino Gugunishvili, Circulation Managers: ADVERTISING & district court. Thea Morrison David Kerdikashvili, SUBSCRIPTION EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: David Djandjgava +995 577 14 14 87 GEORGIA TODAY Editor-In-Chief: Photographer: E-mail: Reg. # 06/4-309 Katie Ruth Davies Irakli Dolidze [email protected]