ON GIFT Survey Results the 21St Georgian International Festival of Arts in Tbilisi Closes with Hofesh Shechter

Issue no: 1101 • NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Ruling GD Distrusts Edison FOCUS Research Pre-Election ON GIFT Survey Results The 21st Georgian International Festival of Arts in Tbilisi closes with Hofesh Shechter. Tickets: www.biletebi.ge PAGE 11

NEWS PAGE 2 Controversy: Christina Pushaw on the Elections POLITICS PAGE 4 Re-Doing Justice

Kaladze’s Weekly Priorities: Setting the Record Straight on Protests & New Year’s Decorations

BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE POLITICS PAGE 5 Treatment for Patients with ach week, the municipal government of Tbilisi holds a meeting at City Hall. Metastatic Breast Cancer to Preceding this week’s meetings, Mayor Kakha Kaladze remarked on several be Available from 2019 topics of interest. BUSINESS PAGE 7 E"I want to address the population,” the Mayor opened, “we are ready to serve you. Have faith in us. We will do our best to make tomorrow’s Georgian Passengers Tbilisi better: more convenient and well-managed infrastructure, many green spaces, and ecologi- Stranded in Milan Reveal cally clean, organized public transport. Every one of us will give their maximum effort, together Big Wizz Air Fail with the inhabitants of our city, to this end.” Kaladze then addressed the ongoing protests Image source: Tbilisi City Hall SOCIETY PAGE 8 by Zaza Saralidze and Malkhaz Machalikashvili him, saying that claims that he and his staff were tion of which will always be a priority [for us] in front of the old parliament on Rustaveli Ave- restricting expressions of protest on Rustaveli among Georgian society,” Kaladze fi nished. nue. The protests escalated earlier this week Avenue were “a very big lie.” He explained that Moving on, Kaladze drew attention to a meet- when City Hall wrote a letter to the protesters he fi rst received a letter from Saralidze in early ing held earlier in the week with commercial asking them to vacate the area by December 15 November informing City Hall that they planned banks on the topic of green initiatives. “I am so the city could set up the annual Christmas to continue the protest until December 31, and very pleased that during the meeting, repre- tree. Kaladze insisted that Tbilisi City Hall is City Hall answered three days later with the sentatives from banks expressed their readiness not prohibiting the protesters from setting up December 15 deadline. He continued into an angry to participate in the implementation of projects tents, and that City Hall’s actions were in line speech, blaming opposition media for stirring the planned within the Green Tbilisi initiative in with the law and noted that they subsequently pot before the runoff elections later this month. various forms. In the near future, the banks plan publicized all the documents to ensure society "For me, personally, and for our team, human a complete replacement of their vehicle fl eets was properly informed. dignity, human rights and freedom of expres- with electric and hybrid cars,” Kaladze said. He called out the “slanderous propaganda” against sion, are the most important values, the protec- Continued on page 2 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 Ruling GD Distrusts Edison Research Pre- Election Survey Results

decided who to vote for. surveys. You should ask those who com- BY THEA MORRISON As a result of the full allocation, Rustavi2 mission such studies and if the difference reported the results were as follows: is even 30%, it does not matter today," Grigol Vashadze - 56%; Salome Zura- she said. he Georgian Dream (GD) bishvili - 44%. Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Irakli ruling party says they do The organization also asked the Kobakhidze, who also leads Zurabish- not trust the results of the respondents who they voted for in the vili’s election headquarters, says that survey, conducted by the fi rst round of elections. The answers both surveys conducted by the Edison market research and exit were: Salome Zurabishvili - 34%; Grigol Research mismatch the reality. Tpolling company Edison Research, ahead Vashadze - 33%; David Bakradze - 8%; “We will see what society thinks after the runoff of the October 28 Presidential other candidates - 5%; No-one - 3%; the elections, when the fi nal results are Elections of Georgia. Refused to answer - 17%. announced. The people will make their The survey was commissioned by the Rustavi 2 released the results of an choice and I want to call on everyone to opposition-minded Rustavi 2 TV. It was Edison Research poll on October 4, be active,” he said. conducted on November 1-9 and includes according to which Grigol Vashadze's Meanwhile Kakha Kaladze, Tbilisi interviews with 2000 respondents over rating was 22% and Salome Zurabishvili Mayor and Head of Zurabishvili’s elec- the age of 18. - 15%. However, after the fi rst round, tion headquarters in the capital, says the The results, published by Rustavi 2, Zurabishvili got 38% and Vashadze 37% surveys of Edison Research are a “big read that the majority of the interviewed of votes. lie and an attempt to mislead the popu- was always different,” the Mayor stressed. understand the power of elections. In people would vote for the candidate of Zurabishvili does not trust the research lation.” United Opposition candidate Vashadze 2003, people changed the corrupt gov- the United Opposition, Grigol Vahsadze of the international organization and “These polls are a common lie and a says the Edison Research poll results ernment and in 2012 they got rid of the – 38%, and 34% for the GD-backed can- states that she had no expectations from manipulation of public opinion. If we revealed that it always makes sense to authorities who were controlling the didate, Salome Zurabishvili. 18% of the the survey. look at the past years, the surveys told us fi ght to the end. State. The same will happen during these respondents stated they have not yet "I do not expect anything from these one thing but reality after the elections “As time passes, society is coming to elections too,” he said. Kaladze’s Weekly Priorities: Setting the Record Straight on Protests & New Year’s Decorations

Continued from page 1 Vice-Mayor Irakli Khmaladze with city services.” Kaladze also noted that Finally, the Mayor drew attention to Year and we are ready for this,” said solving the hotline problems. hotline operators receive information the city’s preparations for New Year. Kaladze. The Mayor appealed to all He also reminded the population of "There are some problems with the from city departments and there needs "We had specifi c places, parks, squares businesses at street level in the city, City Hall’s promise to completely work of the hotline: citizens’ calls are to be better information fl ow. “A citizen that were decorated by various com- asking them to decorate their facades replace city buses with new, cleaner coming and they cannot respond prop- who comes to City Hall should not be panies [last year]. We want this tradi- for New Year to spread holiday cheer buses by the end of 2019. erly. On the one hand, more hotline staff standing in a queue or waiting months tion to continue this year. The business throughout the city. New Year lights Next, Kaladze addressed issues con- should be added, and on the other hand, for a response. This is categorically community is already active: they want have already been installed in some cerning the City Hall hotline and tasked we should strengthen the resources of unacceptable,” Kaladze urged. to have different places for the New parts of Tbilisi. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 NEWS 3 European Parliament Adopts Resolution on Georgia also remain areas of concern, MEPs BY THEA MORRISON stress,” the European Parliament press statement read. Of the 2018 presidential elections in he European Parliament Georgia, the MEPs welcomed the “com- adopted a draft resolution petitive nature and the absence of cases on November 15 on the of violence.” implementation of the Georgia’s Minister of Economy, Giorgi Association Agreement by Kobulia, says the adoption of the reso- GeorgiaT at the plenary session. lution means recognition of the progress 528 MEPs supported the document, made by Georgia in recent years. As for 97 voted against and 34 abstained. the corruption issue, the Minister says The document welcomes the effective the country is actively fi ghting the exist- implementation of the visa-free regime ing risks. for Georgian citizens since 27 March “This is great support for and recog- 2017; takes note of Georgia’s compliance nition of our country in terms of reforms, with visa liberalization benchmarks and development and the progress we have encourages regular monitoring thereof made. The most important thing is that in order to ensure continued compliance. it shows we have a greater future and The resolution also recalls with regret potential,” he said. that after ten years, Russia still contin- Davit Sergeenko, Minister of IDPs, ues its illegal occupation of Georgian Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Geor- territories. The MEPs reiterated their gia also commented on the issue. He unequivocal support for the sovereignty says the country fully fulfi lls the respon- and territorial integrity of Georgia and sibilities and requirements under the emphasized the importance of proac- Association Agreement with the EU. tive communication to Georgian citizens “Georgia is one of the leading coun- about the tangible benefi ts and goals of tries on its way to the EU and the EU the Eastern Partnership. expresses not only political support but In addition, the European Parliament also a readiness to provide fi nancial expresses support for Georgia in its support to our State,” the Minister said. pursuit of a policy of peaceful confl ict Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka resolution, reconciliation and engage- Bakhtadze also thanked the MEPs before ment and its constructive participation Image source: ecf.com the voting. in the Geneva International Discussions; ulations residing in occupied regions and social improvements for Georgians indexes. Nevertheless, it says that high- “I am proud that the government's welcomes the Georgian efforts to main- and fostering people-to-people contact who are affected by poverty, unemploy- level elite corruption remains a serious efforts have received an unprecedented tain dialogue with Russia; and praises and confi dence building between divided ment and economic emigration. issue. positive evaluation from the European the initiative entitled ‘A Step to a Better communities. The European Parliament acknowl- “High-level corruption, full independ- Parliament, and that Georgia was Future’, presented on 4 April 2018 and The MEPs call on the Georgian author- edges Georgia’s results in fi ghting low ence of the judiciary, the depoliticiza- described as the most successful coun- aimed at improving the humanitarian ities to continue ensuring stability, further and mid-level corruption leading to a tion of media content, labor and human try in terms of Euro-integration,” the and socio-economic conditions of pop- democratic reforms, as well as economic good regional ranking in perception rights and environmental protection PM said. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 Controversy: Christina Pushaw on the Elections LEVERAGE COULD VASHADZE THE ELECTIONS. WOULD THAT HAVE HAD AGAINST ASSAD? NOT MEAN HE’D EXPECT WHAT GOVERNMENT IN THERE TO BE SOME KIND OF GEORGIA WOULD HAVE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEEN ABLE TO PREVENT IT? IVANISHVILI TO FACE? My point was that I don't think it's fair If it's proven that Ivanishvili was work- to imply that Vashadze can be working ing as a foreign agent for Russia, then in Russian interests when this was his yes, but I don't know enough about how legacy as Foreign Minister: constantly he came to power to say. I heard this raising awareness, drawing international recording with Naryshkin, and fi nd the attention to the occupations and push- Georgian side making this negotiation ing for them not to be recognized. really suspicious. Russia is still at war with Georgia, so what possible reason HIS OPPONENTS SAY THAT would there be for such a conversation IF HE WERE PRESIDENT, IT regarding Georgian domestic politics? WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR But I’m not personally going to say that SAAKASVHILI’S RETURN. Ivanishvili should be in jail or that he That’s an oversimplifi cation, but his ulti- should be exiled; I don't think anyone mate mission, like Saakashvili’s, is to can say that and I don't think Misha is make Georgia independent from Russia going to be in an offi cial position to put to the extent possible, to bring it closer anyone in jail because he's not the gov- to NATO and to strengthen bilateral ties ernment- I mean, he would return as a with the US. Saakashvili has always private citizen but, again, I'm not speak- championed the same causes and so I ing for him directly; this is my analysis think bringing Saakashvili back is not an of the situation and I do think more end in itself: the end is Georgia's path investigation is needed into this conver- to the West. sation and into possible collaboration to many people who were angry with ous for your country's public standing between the Russian government and EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY the government, angry with the corrup- in the world. You have court cases in Georgian Dream, because the Russian VAZHA TAVBERIDZE DO YOU SEE SAAKASHVILI tion in Ukraine. They didn't feel they international courts about this confl ict RETURNING? side has also talked about their role in had a person who was willing and ready and they will use her words against your Yes. Nothing is inevitable, but I know the Georgian elections. to speak out and risk everything, risk country and against everyone in this how much he wants to return, and I know s she, as her critics claim, a lob- prison, deportation, intimidation, eve- country. Vashadze supports exactly the how much many people in this country YOU THINK SAAKASHVILI byist for ex-President Saakashvili? rything, risk his reputation on the world opposite and foreign policy than her and want a change, and I do think after six WOULD RETURN AS A What’s her main motivation when stage but Saakashvili did it. It's not just this is one big reason I'm on his side. years you learn who the really loyal peo- PRIVATE CITIZEN WITH NO it comes to Georgia? Why does about political ambitions or about hold- ple are, and I think he’s learned who he POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS? she consider Zurabishvili the “big- ing offi ce, it's about starting a movement. VASHADZE’S OPPONENTS can trust and what mistakes he made. I'm not saying “no political:” he's always Igest threat for Georgia since Putin”? BRING UP CONTROVERSIES He has paid the price and had plenty of going to be associated with politics and Does she see Saakashvili returning and DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF ABOUT HIS RELATIONS time to refl ect. If he did come back, as he's always going to be a political animal. if so, what would that spell for the cur- A LOBBYIST OF SAAKASHVILI? WITH RUSSIA, THAT HE WAS I'm confi dent he will, then he would This is what he was born to do, but he rent government? Political consultant No. I'm very open about my support for EDUCATED IN RUSSIA, HE likely help usher in a new era for Geor- would not be in the government. I know Christina Pushaw sat down with GEOR- him, not unlike many of the lobbyists WAS A RUSSIAN CITIZEN AND gia. His focus is to help Georgia because he's interested in the well-being of Geor- GIA TODAY to share her insights on the who did not register with FARA and MAINTAINED CLOSE RELATIONS right now he sees Georgia is in a bad gia, has many ideas for Georgia and elections. tried to conceal their affi liations and EVEN AFTER THE 2008 WAR. situation. I think many Georgians also would want to promote those ideas and their payments; I am not getting paid I don't believe in this guilt by associa- see it's in a bad situation, particularly the interests of Georgia. He would fi nd IT’S FAIR TO SAY THAT and I'm not concealing who I support. tion, that because you went to university because of [Zurabishvili]. She's not the ways to make those visions for this coun- YOUR VISIT GOT QUITE in Russia you must be a Russian agent, main reason, but her rhetoric is the try a reality regardless of whether he A PUBLIC REACTION. SO, IS BEING PAID A because that would eliminate most of catalyst for a lot of popular discontent. was in the government or not, but I can't WHY ARE YOU HERE? DECISIVE FACTOR? the political class in the world. I don't speak to his specifi c political ambitions I was surprised by the amount of atten- No, and I know people who were lobby- like to speculate about the past when I WE SPOKE OF MISTAKES, AND because I'm not him. tion my visit got, especially on social ing for the current government without know what their positions are today. In SAAKASHVILI HAS BEEN DOING media. I’ve been in Georgia many, many getting paid, though still registered with my understanding, Vashadze does not LOTS OF “MEA CULPAS” LATELY. WHAT WOULD THE times before and I actually lived here FARA as lobbyists, but the reason I’m a hate Russia or Russian people, he defends IS IT TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? WESTERN REACTION BE IF for two years. I came here to mark the little bit different and not technically his country's own interests and he thought That's for Georgian people to decide. In SAAKASHVILI CAME BACK? establishment of the western platform considered a lobbyist under this law is to defend Georgia's interests in part terms of my interest in Georgia, I see he It's actually impossible to speak of a initiative: it’s a platform that unites 16 because I'm not working for anyone through cultural cooperation [NOTE: has always been on the right path and I “general West” because there are so NGOs that support Georgia’s western who's running for offi ce in Georgia or he wrote to the Kremlin one month after don't think he's wavered at all from his many disagreements in the West inter- development and its democratic path. who is holding offi ce in Georgia or any the August 2008 War to set up a Geor- pro-Western course, seeking closer ties nally, so let me speak from the American foreign country. gian concert]. with any US administration. Any politi- perspective. I think the American offi - YOU DON’T HIDE YOUR cian can make mistakes, any leader who cials are being very careful not to take ALIGNMENT WITH THE WHAT’S YOUR TAKE GEORGIANS WHO ENJOY has accomplished as much as he did any particular sides at such a sensitive PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. ON THE ELECTIONS? LEGENDARY STATUS IN must have made mistakes. Humility is time in Georgia's history before the TELL US ABOUT IT. I support Vashadze based on the fact RUSSIA, FOR EXAMPLE SINGER good and necessary for any politician to election; but they cannot support Zura- It’s not formal. I’m not paid by anybody. that I've talked to him. He's given me VAKHTANG KIKABIDZE, stay relevant. bishvili. I think it will set off red fl ags I happen to share the vision of [ex-] three specifi c points that I completely ARE STILL REFUSING TO if she wins, not only because it seems President Saakashvili when it comes to agree with in his platform, mostly with HOLD CONCERTS IN RUSSIA. IS HE READY TO FORGIVE IF quite unlikely that she could win a free Georgia’s democratic, western develop- regards to foreign policy and relations PATRIOTICALLY DISPOSED HE COMES BACK? WOULD HE and fair election given the polling num- ment. I think what he did is unprecedented with the West, because that is my pri- PEOPLE APPLAUD THIS, GO ON A REVENGE SPREE? bers right now but also because she has in the whole post-Soviet space. But the mary concern when it comes to Georgia, REJECTING THE CONCEPT OF I don't speak for him, but I can tell you said things that are counter to our inter- platform isn’t connected to his party, if being a foreigner myself: he is strongly FOSTERING CULTURAL TIES AND what Vashadze told me when I met with ests in this part of the world. So, to the that’s what you’re asking. supportive of Georgia's closer bilateral PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE RELATIONS. him on this trip, which is that Saakashvili extent that we are between a party which ties with the United States, particularly You need to look at what the Vashadze is not interested in revenge, just the has nominated a candidate that speaks YOU ONCE SAID HE WAS THE in the strategic military area. He gener- policy actually was and not speculate opposite: he is interested in moving for- against our interests and somebody who BOLIVAR OF EASTERN EUROPE. ally supports Georgia's pro-western path, about what he wanted to do with Russia. ward as a country. Being focused on has consistently supported our interests, The reason I compared him to Simon if we can call it that, the path towards After the war, when he was Foreign Min- revenge means moving backward, and I it's clear who they would support. The Bolivar is because he has been politi- closer ties with NATO and Europe, and ister, he formed and constantly pushed think that was a mistake Georgian Dream narrative is not so cohesive when it cally active in two countries. I don't this is something that I have always sup- this pioneering anti-occupation policy, made when they came to power in the comes to Georgia; people don't really think you can compare anyone else ported as it's in my country's interests he visited Assad to ensure that Assad fi rst few years: focusing too much on know that much about Georgia or focus among the Eastern European politicians as well. But like many people in this would not recognize the Russian occu- punishing the previous ruling party and on the interests which people in the of today to Saakashvili in this way, sim- country, I'm more against Salome than pation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia not delivering on the promises they made State Department, Pentagon, White ply because he has deep connections I'm for anyone because I think Salome as separate countries. He was the one to the Georgian people. House etc have always shared, and not with Ukraine, far beyond political: even is one of the biggest threats to this coun- who was knocking on every door around I believe Misha is angry, but I don’t only in the Trump administration but his educational background, his com- try since Putin. the world to ensure that these occupa- believe he's coming back for revenge: I in the previous administrations too. pulsory military service and then his tions were not recognized. believe he's coming back to prove that Georgia is a crucial ally in a complicated work in Georgia. What he did has even WHY DO YOU THINK THAT? he can still contribute to the future of and diffi cult part of the world: you have been recommended by our Congress Because, although the President's Offi ce ARE YOU PUTTING THE BLAME this country. I think his motivation is to Russia, you have Iran, you have Turkey, in the Helsinki Commission as a model by your constitution has pretty limited AT THIS GOVERNMENT’S prove wrong all the people who have with whom we don’t have the best rela- for reforms in Ukraine. power, the President is still an important DOOR FOR ASSAD’S smeared his name and reputation and tions right now- and this is making public face of Georgia in the rest of the RECOGNITION OF SOUTH to prove he will leave a good legacy in Georgia even more important to us. So, YOU CAN HARDLY SAY THAT world, so if you have somebody who is OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA? Georgia and will be remembered fondly I would say the American Republican SAAKASHVILI’S UKRAINIAN repeating the Russian state TVs offi cial No, I blame Assad. But I do credit Vashadze by his own people and by the world; this Party, Democratic Party they're not ADVENTURE WAS SUCCESSFUL. narrative about the confl ict in Georgia for ensuring that even some of the most is his motivation and this is a certain talking about Georgia and pushing a That's your opinion, and it depends how in 2008, when you know Russian inter- pro-Russian abhorrent leaders in the type of revenge which is the best revenge: narrative on Georgia because we have you measure success. Of course, he wasn't ests already pushed this narrative, Geor- world would not cross this line. living well, doing the right thing. other things to focus on, but decision- successful in winning offi ce, but there gia must push its own side of the story makers in all branches of government, was already a lot of popular discontent because it was already being drowned IS THAT TO VASHADZE’S HE CLAIMS IVANISHVILI IS regardless of their political affi liations, and he acted as a lightning rod to con- out by the Russian lobby. If you have a CREDIT OR TO THE CREDIT OF A KREMLIN-CONTROLLED do agree Georgia is an important ally solidate this discontent; to give a voice Georgian agreeing with this, it is danger- THE CIRCUMSTANCES? WHAT OLIGARCH WHO MANIPULATED of America. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 POLITICS 5 Re-Doing Justice deliberation. And a solid response will OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE likely need the serious involvement of political science. Nor is a random jour- nalistic effort like this is going to untie f Georgia is a democracy, whether the Gordian Knot. The plainest expla- full-grown or still maturing, then nation I might suggest is that society’s we will have to live with the attitude towards the law enforcement unending wrestle between the mechanism, which has been ridden by ruling side of the political pro- public distrust for a very long time now, Icess and its opposition. Both of them particularly in the soviet era whence will be in action and in the limelight generic misconceptions and overall for as long as they are politically ade- public fear towards those who wrote quate and professionally reasonable. and enforced law was overwhelming. And the voting electorate will always The soviet-time injustices have been fi gure as a helpful tool in their adroit explained and were understood as the hands for confi rming periodically the cruel vicissitudes of life. What is hap- public consent, allowing the rulers to pening now is more problematic to rule and the opposition to oppose. This conceive, because the long-and-hard- is just the nature of a democratically fought-for freedom of speech and all organized society, and we all know those democratically-based values were that. won to be enjoyed by the generations What we might not be aware of is to come. whether it is all working as it should at Why, then, are we still under the spell this stage of national development. The of disbelief towards those who put law impression from a foreign perspective to life? Is it the lamely enforced law that like mine, is that all the ingredients of keeps us from locking justice within democracy are present. Some elements the confi nes of the court room? The last have gone a little awry, and certain 30 years of Georgia’s political life is components are being slightly crippled, deeply and painfully marked with crowds but this is OK: we are, after all, not yet in the streets and tents in front of the completely there; we are still crawling government house. The necessity for towards a better political end. textile bedrooms in the cold and rain, The weirdest physical part of Georgian as a token of the discontent of a certain politics is that we have been trying in portion of our society, speaks volumes the last 30 years to squeeze the course about our style and ability to take care Image source: 1TV of democratic maturation indoors, but of our everyday dilemmas by the pow- it persists, inexplicably, to stay under ers that be only where they are assigned Perhaps, but, again, who is qualifi ed can be changed. And the alteration in main administrative building of the open skies. The people’s will in this to deliberate and make rulings. enough to tell us how to kill the pitch- the content of law enforcement and the country, where our happiness should country is being expressed not within I sense the arrival of democracy on dark gap between the twisted image of public attitude to it is simply inevitable. be carved and our prosperity hammered the walls of governmental premises, this ancient land with all my wits and law enforcement and the latent public If the change happens, we will never out of the good decisions that are being built and exploited for this particular body, but I also know that there is some- distrust in it? The same question was again see our people so terribly tired made by those who are residing in it, purpose, but somewhere beyond the thing wrong with it. Can we right this once asked in the western world, and and disillusioned by politics, our avenues having been put there by our electoral structures of all the branches of the wrong to the benefi t of the entire nation the answer was that everything is in the blocked, the crowds raging, police dis- power. Justice done will correct every system. Why? This question will not so that suffering recedes and the justice people’s hands, without the willpower banding the incensed throngs and the wrong that has been stuck as a sore in take for answer a simplistic grassroots triumphs without unwanted sacrifi ce? and determination of whom, nothing tents obtrusively sitting in front of the our eyes for too long. GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 Second Round of Elections to Be Held on November 28

Opposition, are taking part in the second round of BY THEA MORRISON elections. The CEC also stated that Georgian emigrants will be able to vote until 12 am on November 28, while he Central Election Commission (CEC) the elections in Afphanistan, for Georgian peace- of Georgia decided at the session that keepers there, will take place on November 26. the second round of October 28 Pres- The elections will be held in 73 electoral districts. idential Elections will be held on According to the CEC, 3,637 polling stations through- November 28. out the country will be opened and 11 polling sta- TCEC said that November 28 had been declared a tions can be created in exceptional cases. Number non-working day throughout Georgia. of polling stations abroad will be 57 in total. 3,504,082 Salome Zurabishvili, independent candidate, people are registered in the list of voters, 14,795 backed by the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD), voters are registered abroad. In total 3,518,877 and Grigol Vashadze, candidate of the United Georgians are registered for the runoff. Gov't Increases Financing of Defense Ministry by GEL 80 mln

BY THEA MORRISON

n 2019, the fi nancing of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia will increase by GEL 80 million ($29.58m) and in total amount to GEL 870 million ($321,686m). The information was released by the Finance IMinister of Georgia, Ivane Machavariani, while presenting the draft budget 2019 to the parliamen- tarians. lion GEL ($2.218,524) is provided for the growth of Machavariani says that according to NATO stand- salaries of low-level employees and also for partial ards, a country must spend 2% of the GDP on fi nancing of the establishment of a real-time defi n- defense. ing system of the operational-technical agency. In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), The Emergency Situations Management Service it will get GEL 644 million ($238,121m). Compared will receive GEL 87.6 million ($32.39 m) from the to the previous draft budget, the ministry will get budget, including 5.5 million ($2.03 m) GEL for the GEL 500,000 ($184.877) more this time. increase in salaries of fi refi ghters and rescuers. As for the funding of the State Security Service The minister told the MPs that the next year's (SSS) GEL 136 million ($50,286,559) will be allo- budget was planned by the government on 4.5% cated from next year’s budget, out of which 6 mil- economic growth. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 BUSINESS 7 Treatment for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer to be Available from 2019

with 4th stage breast cancer will get in the regions and have 4th stage breast BY ANA DUMBADZE medicines such as Perjeta-Herceptine cancer. Within the framework of the at an 80% discount. campaign, the stories of a few patients The patients, doctors and supporters with breast cancer were published in he European Breast Cancer gathered at the press conference once social media. Their open letters were Coalition, Europa Donna again summerized the existing problems. sent to the representatives of govern- Georgia, held a press con- Ana Mazanishvili, President of Europa mental institutions to tell them about ference within the frame- Dona Georgia, Khatuna Chachava, the patient requirements. work of an informational Head of Organizational Section of Health- On November 12, Minister of Health Tcampaign “Target for Life,” the aim of care Department, Maka Asatiani, Direc- of Georgia David Sergeenko, stated that which is to support patients with meta- tor of pharmaceutical company “Rosh from January 1, the provision of breast static breast cancer. Georgia” and other invited guests cancer medicines is expanding and treat- Through Europa Donna Georgia, thanks addressed the audience. ment of patients with all stages of breast to the support of the Ministry of Health, Representatives of Tbilisi City Hall, cancer is going to become available. treatment of HER2 positive breast can- Tbilisi City Council, NGOs and business “Financing the corresponding medi- cer is to become available in the Geor- companies, specialists, doctors, campaign cines for the treatment of breast cancer gian regions. supporters and patients were also invited was one of the main problems in the On the decision of the Ministry of to the press conference. regions. Through collaboration between Health, from January 1, 2019, the provi- According to the current statistics, healthcare institutions and Ministry of sion of breast cancer medicines is to breast cancer is the most common ill- Health, we achieved our goal. The Min- expand. Through the joint collaboration ness in Georgia. The patients and sup- istry of Health is starting to fi nance the of the government and private sector, porters with problems related to this treatment of patients with breast cancer. In 2015, the campaign “Target for Life” European Coalition "EUROPA DONNA" treatment of patients with all stages of illness joined the campaign “Do not dif- Timely treatment is important for such was launched. The campaign was aimed founded in 1994 in Milan, the main goal breast cancer will be available. Through fer,” launched on October 15. The cam- patients. Through the agreement, the at increasing awareness about breast of which is to fi ght breast cancer. The an agreement between Ministry of Health paign was aimed at increasing the avail- duration of patients’ lives will increase cancer and providing support for ensur- organization has been trying to save sick and a pharmaceutical company, patients ability of treatment for women who live and their living conditions will improve. ing access to targeted therapy. At the women since the day of its establish- Breast cancer is not a judgment! We have beginning of 2016, Tbilisi City Hall and ment. Members of "Europe Donna Geor- proven it many times already through City Council launched a co-fi nancing gia" are certifi ed lawyers of the European the support and empathy towards each program for patients with early stage Coalition "EUROPA DONNA", as well other. We should not lose hope or moti- breast cancer (I, II, III), which also cov- as women who have been healed from vation to fi ght. We lose the battle against ered patients with metastatic breast this illness. One of their main goals is to illness when someone reduces our rights cancer. At the fi rst stage, the above- assist patients with breast cancer and to live, when we are divided according mentioned program included only the spread the relevant education among to certain characteristics: #donotdiffer, residents of Tbilisi; in 2018, Adjara region Georgian women to timely prevent the it should not happen again,” notes Ana started targeted treatment of patients disease. The aim of the organization is Mazanishvili, President of Europa Donna with metastatic breast cancer with cor- to prevent the disease, protect the inter- Georgia. responding medicines. Throughout the ests of women with breast cancer, increase The breast cancer program started in whole of Georgia, the implementation access to healthcare based on high qual- February 2016 with the aim to expand of the program was still at the discussion ity guidelines to reduce the incidence the affordability of corresponding med- phase. of breast cancer deaths and increase ications. "Europa Donna Georgia" joined the recovery rates. The Irreversible Choice ment and opposition are getting ready outcome than a revolution. erless Authoritarianism”. On the one hand, Who will follow Ivanishvili towards a OP-ED BY ZAZA JGARKAVA for a completely different date, not Novem- Everyone remembers the coalition of he established control over all govern- revolution and who won’t is the main ber 28; it seems as if the presidential elec- Georgian Dream in 2012, a union of a few mental branches, enabled a massive con- question, not only for the opposition but tions are a prelude before the crucial political subjects that claimed victory stitutional majority in parliament and the whole Georgian Dream too. Today, he Central Election Com- upcoming battle; political apocalypse in over the United National Movement and also a large majority in the municipalities, the 115 MPs of GD are distributed over mittee (CEC) has decided the face of a civil war has been announced. came to power. The parliamentary elec- he completely cleaned the political pitch eight fractions. This union is inhomoge- to hold the second round of The ruling party leaders are threatening tions in 2016 saw an already unifi ed party and every more or less experienced pol- neous and isn’t necessarily based on any elections on November 28, chaos and turmoil to follow if Grigol as the GD took part in the election as an itician was put aside, but … he left in the level of loyalty for Ivanishvili. There was a Wednesday, in the middle Vashadze gets elected. But what does independent party. As they proudly ranted hands of his main opponent “nuclear” a time when the parliamentary list was ofT the working week. The only thing the electing a president deprived of any rights at the time, they were now without “extra resources such as: popularity, respect, created by Bidzina Ivanishvili, now-Mayor government can do to guarantee people have to do with “civil war” or revolution? burden”, by which they meant the Head infl uence, talent and a creative broadcast- Kakhi Kaladze and ex-premier Giorgi head out to the boxes is to make it a hol- GD leaders Pokhadze, Volski, Beselia, of the Parliament and his party Republi- ing TV station! In such paradoxical cir- Kvirikashvili. The ones they chose made iday and put the fi nal dot to the Presiden- Mdinaradze, Talakvadze and others give cans, Gubaz Sanikidze’s forumers and the cumstances, authoritarianism as well as it into parliament. These people have dif- tial elections 2018. Everything else is now no explanation. A Leninian explanation Free Democrats. Bidzina Ivanishvili dictatorship will inevitably come to ruin. ferent ideas and political goals, and it up to the voters and who they will choose is that revolutions happen in places where became sole leader of the party, winning Of course, Mikheil Saakashvili would seems that Ivanishvili’s statement about – Salome Zurabishvili or Grigol Vashadze. the government can no longer manage almost everything he could have won, never make such a silly mistake of ena- the “return of the old” meant that he Before the CEC announced the offi cial the way it could, while the people do not and his party was presented with the bling the existence of such a popular doesn’t trust the ones that were chosen date of the second round, an activist of wish to live the same way any longer. parliamentary majority. However, instead oppositional TV station. The moment he by Kvirikashvili and Kaladze, and in the the Georgian Dream said in Telavi that Apparently, this is what GD is trying to of a political renaissance for Ivanishvili, did, it was over! The only thing is that he future battle he needs loyal people. To it would be November 11, later, the same hide from us: this is why they are hiding he has been left in political decadence. had the discernment to feel the momen- what extent the Dream will fall apart after date was spoken by the Tbilisi Mayor the real reason behind the alleged upcom- Within the last six years, Ivanishvili has tum and “follow” the process in 2012. the elections is unknown, for now, the Kakha Kaladze. Only afterwards was the ing revolution. However, there are other created one of the most vicious and par- Obviously, Ivanishvili is not planning to only thing we can say is that if Grigol offi cial date made public. reasons as well, ones that threaten the adoxical systems known to the political do the same and is asking his apprentices Vashadze gets chosen, this process will There is a feeling that both the govern- ruling party with a much more dramatic science: “Feeble Dictatorship” or “Pow- to announce a revolution. accelerate and become irreversible. The long-term delivery service of 25 to 50 kilograms sacks from China. With the organic responsibility of the Trading Company "HanLin" from Alashankou.

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 Tel/Fax: 86-0909-699-5859 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY 8 SOCIETY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 Georgian Passengers Stranded in Milan Reveal Big Wizz Air Fail

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY AMY HOW HAS WIZZ AIR JONES & KATIE RUTH DAVIES HANDLED THE ISSUE? Horribly, in a totally inhumane way. They work for people, but they have no people talking to people. And no assistance in a crisis, which is ast week, Georgians headed en masse very insulting. I’m happy we have a low-cost to Florence, Italy, to watch the Georgian airline in Georgia, but this doesn’t mean that they rugby team play Italy- friends, work col- can treat us like animals. Why is it so diffi cult to leagues and families, of all ages. Social show responsibility and respect by at least media came alive after the match with responding to us? theL news that 25 Georgians expecting to fl y home on a Wizz Air fl ight to Kutaisi had been left stranded WHAT NEXT? at Milan airport. Some of those passengers now We have the contact details of the 30 people who wish to sue the airline. We spoke to one of them, were left stranded at Milan airport waiting for an Natia Amiridze, Producer of ‘Welcome to Georgia- offi cial response from the company. But this never The Musical,’ to fi nd out more. happened. We saw several articles in Georgian “We were a group of nine friends who went to media initiated by a PR agency that works for Wizz Florence to support the Georgian rugby team. The Air in Georgia. The response is stupid: they claim game was on November 10. We planned to fl y back we got lost at the airport or refused to pay for our on November 12, but they wouldn’t let us on the luggage, which is insane as we had all checked our plane and left us stranded at the airport without luggage in long before the fl ight was due (and we information or assistance. More than 25 other peo- have proof of this). And we were defi nitely not lost. ple were left in a situation like ours: families, friends, So, this makes us even angrier, and when we heard work colleagues, all travelling for leisure or work.” this had also happened to others, we became more motivated to bring this case to a conclusion. Now TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. we’re getting ready to sue the company for com- We got to the Milan Malpensa airport two hours pensation. before the fl ight, some of us by bus, others by train. We all met up at the airport. The queue was huge WHAT ACTION HAVE YOU and there were just two Wizz Air employees at the When we arrived at the gate, we were met with this airline.” No other explanation, nothing. Then TAKEN SO FAR? registration desk. We all had online boarding passes, total chaos. Two women, airport employees, told we were told that our luggage was being removed We contacted some “Air Help” companies and law- so we just had to check our luggage in. The process us that they had to close the gate, speaking in Ital- from the aircraft and we had to re-enter Italy. yers, tried to get a boarding denial paper from the was super slow, the employees were talking on the ian. There were around 30 people at the gate ask- airport; basically, collecting proof of what we’d all phone all the time. Then they ran out of boarding ing what to do. Some of our friends got on the fl ight, SO, YOU WERE ESSENTIALLY been through (videos, photos, interviews, numbers, pass paper, so they stopped the check-in process then the Italian staff asked if there were any infants LEFT STRANDED? etc.). Now we’re getting ready to sue Wizz Air. while one of them went to the offi ce to get the with us and when we said no, they closed the gate, Yes. After getting our luggage back, we were left We’ve talked to several Georgian broadcasters paper, but it took 20 minutes. Once we’d checked telling us that our luggage would be taken off the in the departure lounge looking for someone who which are ready to cover the story. in our luggage, we went to the gate through secu- plane. They were angry about the situation and could help us get new tickets or just to answer our If Wizz Air continues to lie to passengers and not rity and passport control. None of us spent any asked us to complain directly to Wizz Air because questions about what had happened. But it appeared take responsibility for what happened, together time in the duty-free shops: we were in a rush. it was, as they said, “a very common situation with Wizz Air has neither an offi ce nor a contact person with legal procedures, we will have to start a media at Milan airport. We tried to reach the company campaign to cover the stories of other people who on the phone, but no-one picked up. We asked the have suffered at the hands of this company. Many airport administration if we could get a “denied of them have already reached out to us and said boarding paper” so that we had proof, but this paper they are ready to talk about their experiences. We has to be issued by the airline. We heard several hope the company will take responsibility and versions of what had happened from airport staff: change its attitude. 1. A new luggage regulation at Wizz Air is pro- longing the check-in process. But instead of getting COMMENTS FROM OTHER PASSENGERS: more employees on the desk, they still had just Iveri Chelidze: “Me and my friend were at the two, making it impossible for them to manage eve- airport at 15:45. We were standing in line for a very rything in time. long time. Wizz Air staff was on the phone several 2. Overbooking. times trying to stop the registration procedure… We had to rent an apartment in Milan for two more WHAT INCONVENIENCE days, we fl ew back home to Kutaisi with Wizz Air, DID THIS CAUSE YOU? but had to buy tickets and we were not able to We got no response from Wizz Air, which I fi nd a contact the company. When we checked in on that totally inhumane attitude towards so many people. day [November 14], there were fi ve employees No meal or water vouchers were offered, no accom- manning the Wizz Air check-in desks, so it seems modation was offered, no guidance was given about they changed their procedures after we all got what the next steps should be or about possible stranded.” fl ights. Most of us had to buy new tickets for the Sofi Todadze: “My father and I had to stay in next fl ight. Each ticket cost us around 400 Euros. Milan for two extra days. We fl ew to Georgia with But the ones who couldn’t afford it went into Milan. Wizz Air, but we had to buy tickets on our own. I heard some got home only a few days ago because There were eight other people with us who were they had to buy cheaper tickets. stuck. None of them heard anything from the com- We spent more than 12 hours at the partly-closed pany.” airport with no contact persons. We tried to con- Paata Beltadze: “My son and I were at the air- tact Wizz Air on the morning of our new fl ight, but port four hours before the fl ight. The line was huge. still silence. We were late for work, some of us had At one point, they ran out of boarding pass paper, left cars at Kutaisi airport, my husband and I had so they couldn’t print the passes. We were waiting the Welcome to Georgia - The Musical show on for someone to bring this paper to the desk and Tuesday with 132 guests, that might have been can- asking for more staff to be brought to the registra- celled because of us missing it.... tion desk, but they were saying it was all ‘fi ne.’” GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 SOCIETY 9 Pliers Please: Tbilisi me is worth money. After a cleaning of all my teeth, a 2D X-ray and the 3D scan, they presented their fi ndings and recommendations, and being here in the city anyway, I decided to go for what was necessary to do quickly. Svaneti is a long way from such good dental care! 5 or 6 injections of painkiller, them- selves hardly felt, numbed my mouth, lips and even my nose to the point where they felt like they belonged to someone else when I touched them. Then the fun work began, involving the dentist himself and his assistant pulling, prying, plying as required while I just lay there and tried not to laugh at the strangeness of it all. They got the two teeth out, and then some rather fi ne stitches were required. Then some fake bone paste to adhere to the now toothless areas, to support them; this stuff took more than half of the total cost of the couple of hours’ work. Not much room to maneu- ver in my rather small mouth! I had asked in advance to have the two offending items given to me, which they were, bloody and rooted, in a tiny Ziploc bag. The dentist wrote me a prescription for some nice strong powdered painkiller, antibiotics and chamomile tea to swish my mouth with and keep swelling down. I walked out of there with my tongue beginning its probing of the new spaces, hoping that this would be the last extrac- tions I’ll need for a long time. The implants to replace them come much later, likely spring next year; I’ve foregone tempo- rary ones, realizing that I’ll fi t in just fi ne in a rural Georgian setting with my Pirate here fi rst. Jack look for a while. I’ve sterilized and BLOG BY TONY HANMER I did, however, obtain my original 3D cleaned the removed teeth, and they’re computer tomographic fi le, showing now drying in the sun. My wife has clearly the extent of bone loss in certain politely declined my offer to turn them his could have been one of parts of my gums and arguing for the into earrings for her. those situations which is urgent removal of a front and a back Now if I can just learn to get past an metaphorically referred to tooth. I had gone to the dentist because annoying tendency to lisp due to the gap by that feeling you have of a wobbly and sore right front tooth, where my front tooth used to be, all will when your tongue has to and then all this came out too. be well! I might pick up a whole new Tget used to that strange empty spot in Now, I’m one of the people who is whistling technique into the bargain. your mouth when a tooth has just come blessed not to be at all afraid of visits to out. You know, loss of something impor- the dentist’s offi ce. I chose one which Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since tant and comfortable to you. Instead, it’s came recommended by a number of 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a the thing itself, the extraction of a couple Tbilisi expats online, and it’s also the weekly writer for GT since early 2011. He of actual teeth. main one used by the American Embassy runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook No, I didn’t take any selfi es of my recent here, which says a lot. (They told me it group, now with over 1900 members, at dental surgery in progress, which would turns into a circus at Embassy staff rota- www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenais- have started a worldwide craze and infu- tion time, given the extremely low rates sance/ riated the medical community. There’s compared to those in the USA.) My wife He and his wife also run their own guest house enough “selfi eshness” in the world already. wasn’t impressed by their prices, but I in Etseri: I made that word up now; you saw it was impressed with the care, which to www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti "Aggravating Circumstances" Charges Made against Shepherd Accused of Killing American Family

BY THEA MORRISON

he Prosecutor’s Ofﬁ ce of Georgia (POG) have laid charges against 19-year-old shepherd Malkhaz Kobauri, who is accused of killing TAmerican family Ryan and Lora Smith and their 4-year old son Caleb in Khada Gorge, Georgia this summer. The POG stated that Kobauri has been charged with raping Lora Smith and murdering her "in aggravating circumstances." “The investigation has received important conclusions from expert analysis and questioning of Malkhaz Kobauri… and the Prosecutor has ﬁ led additional charges: the rape of Lora Smith and killing her in aggravated circumstances,” cle 137, paragraph I (involving rape, or to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. the POG stated. sexual intercourse by use of violence, The Smith family lived in the town of Kobauri has been charged under Article threat of violence or abusing a victim's Marneuli, south of Tbilisi, for seven years 109, paragraph I, II,III, (involving murder helpless condition) of the Criminal Code and were well respected members of the in aggravating circumstances), and Arti- of Georgia. If proven guilty, he faces up local and expat community. GEORGIA TODAY 10 CULTURE NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER November 17 CINEMA STONE AGE GEORGIA First Performance in Georgia STALINGRAD ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURE Performers: Revaz Gabriadze GIFT - GEORGIAN INT’L AMIRANI CINEMA NEW LIFE TO THE ORIENTAL Pavel Vernikov- violin, Directed by Revaz Gabriadze FESTIVAL OF ARTS IN TBILISI 36 Kostava Str. COLLECTIONS Svetlana Makarova- violin, English Subtitles TEL (+995 32) 299 99 55 Boris Andrianov- cello, November 16 Start time: 20:00 www.kinoafi sha.ge MUSEUM OF SOVIET Sandro Nebieridze- piano, SHOW Ticket: 20, 30 GEL OCCUPATION Trinity Cathedral Choir Hofesh Shechter Company Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL 4 Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 20:00 November 18 The entrance. Clowns. Exit November 16-22 TEL (+995 32) 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 Ticket: 15-55 GEL Choreography and Music by RAMONA www.museum.ge Revaz Gabriadze Hofesh Shechter FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE DJANSUG KAKHIDZE Performed by Shechter II Directed by Revaz Gabriadze CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD PERMANENT EXHIBITION English Subtitles TBILISI CENTER FOR MUSIC Start time: 20:00 Directed by David Yates & CULTURE Ticket: 10-50 GEL Start time: 20:00 Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine November 6-30 Ticket: 20, 30 GEL 125 Aghmashenebeli Ave. Venue: Rustaveli Theater Waterston, Dan Fogler The Georgian National Museum, TEL (+995 32) 296 12 43 Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy in cooperation with the Katyn TBILISI ZAKARIA November 21, 22 Language: English Museum, the division of the Polish November 17 PALIASHVILI OPERA AND Animated documentary fi lm Start time: 13:00, 22:00 Army Museum in Warsaw and the TBILISI SYMPHONY BALLET THEATER REZO Language: Russian Polish Institute in Tbilisi, present 25 Rustaveli Ave. Directed by Leo Gabriadze Start time: 16:40, 19:40, 22:15 ORCHESTRA the exhibition Maestro- David Mukeria TEL (+995 32) 299 04 56 Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 10-14 GEL KATYN - IT HAS BEEN AN Ticket: 15 GEL Horn players– Beqa Berikishvili UNUSUAL MORNING November 18 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and David Sharikadze. DON QUIXOTE MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE Directed by Bryan Singer GALLERY Program: Ballet in three acts THEATER Cast: Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello, W.A Mozart and R.Strauss, Prima Ballerina: Lali Kandelaki 182 Agmashenebeli Ave. Mike Myers symphony No.101, ‘The Clock’ by J THE NATIONAL GALLERY (fi nal appearance) & world ballet TEL (+995 32) 234 80 90 Genre: Biography, Drama, Music Haydn and Symphonic poem ‘Les star: Brooklyn Mack (USA) Language: English 11 Rustaveli Ave. Preludes’ by F. Liszt. TEL (+995 32) 215 73 00 Start time: 20:00 November 21 Start time: 14:30, 19:00 Start time: 19:30 Ticket: 10-70 GEL WELCOME TO GEORGIA Language: Russian Ticket: 10-30 GEL A musical, theatrical play and Start time: 22:20 September 11 – November 25 EXHIBITION GRIBOEDOVI THEATER romantic comedy telling a story Ticket: 12-15 GEL KELLER BAR BERNINI'S SCHOOL AND THE 2 Rustaveli Ave. about Georgia and its people by 36 M. Kostava Ave. TEL (+995 32) 2 93 43 36 combining song, dance, culture, CAVEA GALLERY ROMAN BAROQUE traditions, history, national 2/4 Rustaveli Ave. November 22 November 16, 17 TEL (+995 32) 200 70 07 October 9 – January 17 (2019) costumes and local cuisine. KAHABERI AND KHANUMAS' SAINT PETERSBURG CULTURAL NIKO PIROSMANI’S RENEWED Musical NEW PROJECT NIGHTS IN TBILISI Language: English, some Georgian Every Wednesday ticket: 8 GEL EXHIBITION DON QUIXOTE November 16-22 Start time: 20:00 With English subtitles Ticket: 20 GEL Directed by Zherom Kaplan Start time: 20:00 October 10 – October 5 (2019) Choreographer: Iohan Kobborg FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE EXHIBITION Ticket: 50-80 GEL TBILISI STATE Start time: 19:00 CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD MASTERS OF GEORGIAN ART CONSERVATOIRE Ticket: 40-100 GEL MOVEMENT THEATER (Info Above) 8 Griboedov St. 182 Aghmashenebeli Ave. Language: English ARTISTERIUM, TBILISI 11TH TEL (+995 32) 2 93 46 24 SHALIKASHVILI THEATER TEL (+995) 598 19 29 36 Start time: 13:45, 16:30, 19:30, 22:00 INTERNATIONAL 27 Rustaveli Ave. Language: Russian CONTEMPORARY ART November 22 November 16 Start time: 13:30, 16:45, 19:15, 22:30 EXHIBITION AND ART November 16 Ticket: 10-19 GEL ASTIGMATISTS PIANO RECITAL KRIMANCHULI Directed by Ioseb Bakuradze November 9-19 Start time: 18:00 Comedy genre novels based on OVERLORD Mute Movie, Comedy Ticket: 10 GEL Georgian national motives Directed by Julius Avery Exhibitions: Start time: 20:00 Start time: 16:00 Cast: Wyatt Russell, Mathilde ARTISTERIUM AS IT IS Ticket: 10-15 GEL Curated by Magda Guruli TBILISI BAROQUE FESTIVAL Ticket: 20 GEL Ollivier, Pilou Asbæk RUSTAVELI THEATER Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery 17 Rustaveli Ave. November 16, 17 November 17 Language: English BLACK MILK, OSTRAVA TEMPEST CONTEMPORARY TEL (+995 32) 2 72 68 68 Roma Rtskhiladze and the Start time: 14:15 www.rustavelitheatre.ge Pantomime Theater Directed by Ioseb Bakuradze Language: Russian Daniel Balabán, Pavel Forman, THE WISHING TREE Start time: 20:00 Start time: 19:45 Tomáš Koudela, František November 16 Theater combined with Ticket: 15 GEL Ticket: 11-19 GEL Kowolowski, Jirí Kudela, Petr experimental music Lysáck, Nicolai, Václav Rodek, GERMAN MUSIC CONCERT Start time: 20:00 November 20 MUSEUM Ivo Sumec, Jirí Suruvka, Ivana In program: G.F.Handel, F.J.Haydn, Ticket: 20 GEL Jam Session Štenclová, Dan Trantina, Marek J.S.Bach Musical art director - Sandro GEORGIAN NATIONAL Schovanek (Czech Republic). Start time: 19:30 GABRIADZE THEATER Nikoladze MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA Curated by Pavel Forman and Ticket: 10-30 GEL 14 Shavteli Str. Special Guest – Kemo MUSEUM Tomáš Koudela TEL (+995 32) 298 65 93 Every Tuesday 20:30-23:00 3 Rustaveli Ave. November 19 Free Entrance TEL (+995 32) 299 80 22, 293 48 21 GEORGIA 2018 ITALY MEETS ENGLAND November 16 www.museum.ge Exhibition of the VAADS students: In program: Charles Avison TBILISI CIRCUS MARSHAL DE FANTE’S Anna Jibladze, Anastasia Francesco Barsanti, Antonio 1 Heroes’ Sq. DIAMOND Exhibitions: Akhvlediani, Giorgi Geladze, Knika Vivaldi, Francesco Durante, Revaz Gabriadze GEORGIAN COSTUME AND Grzdelishvili, Mari Kalabegashvili, William Boyce, Tomaso Albinoni, Directed by Revaz Gabriadze November 17, 18 WEAPONRY OF THE 18TH-20TH Salome Chigilashvili, Salome Giovanni Battista Sammartini. English Subtitles AUTUMN SHOW CENTURIES Jokhadze, Shotiko Aptsiauri. ‘GEORGIAN SINFONIETTA’, Start time: 20:00 Start time: 17:00 CHRISTOPH MAYER Ticket: 20, 30 GEL Ticket: 10-25 GEL NUMISMATIC TREASURY Curated by Salome Jokhadze. Where: Georgian National (CONDUCTOR) Museum, Tbilisi History Museum Start time: 19:30 (Karvasla), 8 Sioni Str, Tbilisi. Ticket: 10-30 GEL November 16-26 DIMA FILATOV (UKRAINE), November 22 PERSONAL EXHIBITION K ART ON AN EVENING WITH HARMONIE Dédicace Gallery, 27 Athoneli Str. IN VIENNA Dry Bridge, Tbilisi. In Program: Franz Krommer, Start time: 19:00 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang November 18 Amadeus Mozart. Presentation of the Artisterium ENSEMBLE ZEFIRO 11/2018 catalogue. Start time: 19:30 Georgian National Museum, Ticket: 10-30 GEL Tbilisi History Museum (Karvasla), 8 Sioni Str.. SPACEHALL Start time: 17:00 2 A. tsereteli Ave.

MUSIC November 22 DECODER : STEVE BUG / HOSH / RUSTAVELI THEATER KOBOSIL 17 Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 23:30 TEL (+995 32) 272 68 68 Ticket: 30 GEL www.rustavelitheatre.ge TERMINAL November 19 34 Abashidze Str. GIYA KANCHELI TSUTISOPELI November 19 IDEM ET IDEM POWERPOINT KARAOKE World Premiere- TBILISI VOL. 6 MIDDELHEIM Start time: 20:00 T.S.D. Ticket: 15 GEL GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2018 CULTURE 11 GIFT Closes with Hofesh Shechter Company lation, and interweaving storylines. The show was even better the second time round and moved some audience members to happy tears! We then welcomed the next show of the festival: Astigmatists, directed by Ioseb Bakuradze at the Movement Theater. The feel-good production was created in the style of silent movies and performed by a talented cast of fi ve. The physical comedy told the story of a some- what dysfunctional family, and what happens when you see the world a little differently. On October 22, we welcomed Charles Landry, a British author and international advisor on the subject of creative cities. He gave a fascinating talk at the Tbilisi City Assembly on the Art of City Mak- ing, in association with the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA). The following weekend, we welcomed the Dmitry Krymov Laboratory from the Moscow Theater “School of Dramatic Arts”, presenting their show Bezpridan- nitsa (Without a Dowry). These, along with culturally enriching round-table talks, fi lm screenings, public lectures and folk parties combine to create the most exciting program the festival has seen thus far. I'm so sad that we've come to the end Images: Ilia Baburashvili of the festival. GIFT has been such a wonderful experience for me. As a young District Theater to a packed auditorium. singing. I was in my element! Tenore Denmark and the UK. It was the fi rst person starting my career in the arts, I BY HOLLY TAYLOR-ZUNTZ Ritual dances from all over the world, Murales sang at their closing concert on time in Georgia for all of them, so I made couldn't have hoped for a better oppor- live sound and beautiful costumes com- Saturday evening, along with plenty of sure to take them for some traditional tunity or a more welcoming team. Not bined to create a multi-sensory journey Georgian and international ensembles. Georgian food and wine that evening. only have I seen some of the best inter- riday 16 November is the fi nal for the audience. Week two of the festival, we welcomed The Krumple, graduates of the Lecoq national theater of my life here, but I've day of the 21st Georgian Inter- The fi nal performance of the festival the renowned Russian director Dmitry school in Paris, brought their innovative also learned about working behind the national Festival of Arts (GIFT) will take place at the Rustaveli Theater Krymov, who bought his production of piece “Yokai, Remedy for Depair.” The scenes, helping the performers and crew in honor of Michael Tuman- on Friday 16 November. British dance the classic Russian play Bezpridannitsa Royal District Theater hosted Yokai, an to get everything ready for curtain up. ishvili. The festival has been company Hofesh Shechter Company will (Without a Dowry) to the Rustaveli exceptionally beautiful piece showcas- I'm so grateful to have had this oppor- runningF for a month, bringing interna- perform their piece entitled "Show" for Theater, performed by students of the ing the artists’ physical talent and imag- tunity and I hope I can come back next tional theater, fi lm, song, dance and cul- the second time, having performed to Moscow Theater “School of Dramatic inations wonderfully. They captured the year! For now, Tbilisi, it’s breaking my tural discussions to the city of Tbilisi; a an excited audience on Wednesday. The Arts”. Apparently, this is a play that every audience with intricate object manipu- heart, but I have to love and leave you. wide range of productions promoting dance performance is composed of three Russian kid has to study at school, but European understanding and culture to acts: The Entrance, Clowns and Exit and coming from England, I had never heard Georgian and international theater-goers. revolves around a group of anarchic of it, so wasn’t sure what to expect. It Alan Lucien Øyen and his company performers as they play their parts in a turned out to be a beautiful example of Winter Guests brought their kabuki- macabre circus of comedy, murder and theatrical parataxis, or as Hans-Thies fl amenco mash-up Simulacrum; the Ingri desire. Lehmann describes it, “the de-hierarchi- Fiksdal Company bought their anthro- The previous week at GIFT, we cele- zation of theatrical means”. As a non- pological dance-concert, State. There brated all things Italian. Our Italian Focus Russian speaker, I was very grateful for was also an Italian Focus, Sardinian Cul- opened on November 2 with a presenta- this! Krymov used video projection, ture Days, with Tenore Murales sharing tion on contemporary Italian Theater, music, song, costume, and a well-timed their polyphonic singing, and Sardegna ‘Rispondi al Futuro’, held by Michele wind machine to tell the story as well Teatro performing Macbettu, Shake- Panella. The talk was surprisingly well as words. And as you would expect from speare’s classic Macbeth, in Sardinian. attended, with people spilling out the a Russian laboratory theater, the actor's We also welcomed the Hofesh Schecter door! During the talk, we heard from physicality and expression were fl awless. Company from the UK, and several Tenore Murales, a group of fi ve Sardin- Keely and Du, written by American renowned Georgian and Russian plays. ian singers, who bought their unique playwright Jane Martin in the 1980s, was Let’s take a look back at some of the form of polyphony to the festival. translated into Georgian and directed highlights of this year’s GIFT. That evening, Sardegna Teatro’s Mac- by GIFT’s own Artistic Director Keti The last week of GIFT 2018 kicked off bettu opened at the Rustaveli theater. Dolidze. Performed in the Liberty Theater, with the culture-clashing "Simulacrum" Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth, performed the piece concerned itself with the con- at the Marjanishvili Theater. Bought to in Sardinian, with Italian and Georgian tentious issues of rape, abortion, religion Tbilisi by Norwegian director Alan subtitles. It was an outstanding piece of and suicide. Though it may not sound Lucien Øyen and his company Winter theater, weaving rituals of ancient Sar- like the cheeriest way to spend a Mon- Guests, the piece was a meeting of Argen- dinian traditions in with the medieval day evening, the piece skillfully negoti- tinian dancer Daniel Proietto and 77-year- Scottish play. At the end, the performers ated the emotional topics. It’s sad and old Japanese fl amenco legend Shoji got an instant standing ovation from the frustrating that, though written 30 years Kojima. Themes and narratives from whole theater. ago in America, this play is still relevant both of the performer's lives were inter- The International Symposium on Tra- today, in any country. It was certainly a woven with detailed studies and pres- ditional Polyphony was on at the State brave choice to program the play here entations of each impressive art form, Conservatoire. Now in its 9th year, the in Georgia and at this time, and I think fl amenco and kabuki. symposium brings together singers and the audience appreciated that. Our Norwegian focus continued with musicologists from all over the world On October 15, we welcomed the six choreographer Ingri Fiksdal's dance- for fi ve days of concerts, lectures, fi lm members of the international collective concert, "State," performed at the Royal screenings and plenty of impromptu The Krumple, from Norway, France,

PUBLISHER & GM Journalists: Website Manager/Editor: ADDRESS Reproducing material, photos George Sharashidze Tony Hanmer, Zaza Jgarkava, Katie Ruth Davies 1 Melikishvili Str. and advertisements without Maka Bibilashvili, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia prior editorial permission is COMMERCIAL Dimitri Dolaberidze, Layout: strictly forbidden. DEPARTMENT Vazha Tavberidze, Misha Mchedlishvili Tel.: +995 32 229 59 19 The author is responsible for Commercial Director: Nugzar B. Ruhadze, E: [email protected] all material. Rights of authors Webmaster: Iva Merabishvili Thea Morrison, F: GeorgiaToday are preserved. The newspaper Sergey Gevenov Marketing Manager: Samantha Guthrie, is registered in Mtatsminda Anuka Poladishvili Amy Jones, Circulation Managers: ADVERTISING & district court. Ana Dumbadze David Kerdikashvili, SUBSCRIPTION EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: David Djandjgava +995 597 97 21 12 GEORGIA TODAY Editor-In-Chief: Photographer: E-mail: Reg. # 06/4-309 Katie Ruth Davies Irakli Dolidze [email protected]