British Speedboat Killer on the Run in Georgia Is Arrested Continued from Page 1 Drawn Criticism

Issue no: 1119 • JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Memorandum of Understanding Signed between Anaklia City & the Law Society of England & Wales

NEWS PAGE 3 WEF 2019 & the Strategic Outlook of Eurasia POLITICS PAGE 6 Rekan Group Looks to the ON THE NATO VISIT Future with Batumi View Positive messages come following the Georgian BUSINESS PAGE 7 President's visit to Brussels PAGE 2 FOCUS Enjoy the Healing Waters of the Tskaltubo British Speedboat Killer on Balneological Resort the Run in Georgia Is Arrested

BY AMY JONES

British man convicted of killing a woman in a speedboat crash in London in 2015 has been arrested in Tbilisi. After months evading SOCIETY PAGE 8 justice, he handed himself into Apolice in Georgia on 23 January. 31-year-old Jack Shepherd had been living in Tbilisi since March ‘Sakartvelos Respublika’ - 2018. The tragic death of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown 100 Years in Print occurred on 8 December 2015, when she met CULTURE PAGE 9 Shepherd for a date. The pair, who met on dating website OkCupid, had a lavish meal at The Shard before Shepherd took her on a speedboat National Museum of on the river Thames. The boat hit a submerged log, ﬂ inging the pair Georgia Hosts Exhibition into the water. Shepherd clung to the hull and survived the crash whilst Brown died from cold 'Red Terror & Georgian water inhalation. She was pulled from the water unresponsive and unconscious and later died in Artists' hospital. Continued on page 2 Photo source: Rustavi 2 CULTURE PAGE 11 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 Zurabishvili Says Georgia is Ready for Integration into NATO

area that links us with the EU and our BY THEA MORRISON partners,” she said. While delivering his own speech, Jens Stoltenberg announced he will be com- eorgia’s President Salome ing to Georgia in March. Zurabishvili says the coun- “I’m looking forward to it. I know that try is ready to join NATO. Georgia is a beautiful and hospitable Zurabishvili made the country. I will discuss our partnership statement after meeting with the Georgian government and withG NATO Secretary General Jens political leaders. I will also attend a Stoltenberg in Brussels, during her fi rst NATO-Georgia training. Our message offi cial visit abroad. is that our mutual partnership is getting Zurabishvili said that Georgia has stronger. This benefi ts both NATO and already made a decision regarding its Georgia,” Stoltenberg said. Euro-Atlantic aspirations and the path The NATO Secretary General under- in that regard had been written in the lined that Georgia, as all sovereign and new Constitution of the country. democratic states, has the right to “The consensus about this issue is become integrated into NATO. He very important. I will talk about this repeated that it was upon the alliance with all partners in bilateral formats. I members to decide when Georgia joins will repeat that Georgia wants and is NATO and that nobody has the right to ready for integration into NATO and interfere with the process. that Georgia has carried out all the “We will never tolerate big nations, required reforms to do so,” Zurabishvili for example Russia, attempting to bring stated. others into its sphere of interests,” the At the joint press-conference with NATO Chief said. Stoltenberg, the Georgian President Stoltenberg underlined that the part- said her country is grateful for the sup- nership between the Alliance and Geor- port received from the Alliance. gia brings more stability and a more “Georgia's path to NATO integration secure environment. refl ects the choice of the Georgian “I look forward to working with you Image source: President’s Press Offi ce nation. Our path is very successful, because Georgia is moving ever closer which ensures more security in Geor- while its two regions Abkhazia and trusted and active partner of NATO. she added. to NATO membership,” he told the gia, more willingness and the modern- South Ossetia are occupied, is of crucial “Georgia is actually trying to be an She also spoke about the need for more Georgian President. ization of its defense forces," she said. importance. exemplary partner. It is a trustworthy security in the Black Sea region. Zurabishvili visited Brussels on Janu- Zurabishvili said support of Georgia’s She noted that Georgia has proved its partner thanks to its contribution to “It is very important for us that the ary 21-23. It was her fi rst offi cial visit territorial integrity and sovereignty, commitment and also that it is a very the NATO peacekeeping missions,” Black Sea remains a stable and secure abroad in the rank of President. Opposition Claims GD Did Not Support ‘Magnitski List’ at PACE Meeting to why they did not support the list. He but then Parliament went ahead and BY THEA MORRISON says the only two lawmakers from Geor- adopted a resolution. gia who supported the resolution were “This List was supported not just by members of European Georgia, Davit PACE but also by the European Parlia- eorgia’s Parliamentary Bakradze and Giorgi Kandelaki. ment, the parliaments of Ireland and Minority party European At a special press-conference on Lithuania, and US Congress. As such, Georgia (EG) claims that Wednesday, Kapanadze said that a seri- serious questions have arisen about GD the members of the ruling ous discussion was underway about the and the steps taken by them regarding Georgian Dream (GD) Magnitski List within the format of the this issue,” he added. Gparty did not support the so called Mag- Parliamentary Assembly of the Council The ruling team rejects the accusations. nitski List at the meeting of the Parlia- of Europe. He noted that GD members Tamar Chugoshvili, First Vice-Speaker mentary Assembly of the Council of were not even participating in it. of Parliament of Georgia, says she sup- Europe (PACE). “This is not only about the Otkhozoria- ported the resolution on the Magnitski PACE adopted the resolution on the Tatunashvili List; this is a resolution List at the PACE meeting. Magnitski List, which includes the Otk- which calls on Russia and other occupant She said that when the Otkhozoria- hozoria-Tatunashvili List created by countries to ensure the protection of Tatunashvili List was being added to the Georgia. The resolution calls on Euro- human rights. Yet the Georgian author- Magnitski List, it had two co-authors pean countries to impose sanctions ities have not even expressed their posi- from the opposition and two from the against those countries and people who tion,” the opposition MP claims. ruling party. Image: European Georgia member Sergi Kapanadze. Source: 1 TV violate human rights, including in the Kapanadze explains that the Otkhozo- “Three votes were carried out on this my name was not seen. Maybe it’s a with grave crimes committed against occupied territories of Georgia. ria-Tatunashvili List was adopted upon resolution, two on changes and one in technical error,” the Vice-Speaker said. citizens of Georgia in the breakaway The EG party member Sergi Kapanadze the initiative of European Georgia and relation to the resolution itself. I sup- The Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List con- Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions demanded an explanation from GD as with resistance from the ruling party, ported all of them but in the last case tains 33 persons convicted or charged since the 1990s. British Speedboat Killer on the Run in Georgia Is Arrested Continued from page 1 drawn criticism. Firstly, many are angry On 23 January shortly before he handed that he is able to claim legal aid for his himself into police, Shepherd gave an Video footage fi lmed on a mobile phone trial. Secondly, the Court of Appeal interview on Rustavi TV. He described during the date reveals Brown shouting granted him permission to appeal against the incident as a “tragic accident.” “The they were going “so fast.” The boat was the conviction on 19 December 2018. He boat had faults, but experts invited by my over double the 12-knot speed limit. applied for permission to appeal in August defense established that these faults devel- Shepherd decided not to face the con- 2018 whilst on the run. oped when the boat was removed from sequences by skipping bail before his Charlotte Brown’s family have been the water. Charlotte was driving the boat court appearance in July last year. He outraged by the slow reaction of the Brit- when the accident happened but unfor- notifi ed his lawyers that he would not ish police. “He’s still on the run, he hasn’t tunately, this fact was forgotten and the attend his trial at the Old Bailey in mid- served a day of his sentence and he’s been media did not mention it either,” he added. May. Despite remaining in telephone allowed to still be in communication with Although his identity has not been contact with Shepard, his lawyers, Tuck- his lawyers,” her sister Katie told the BBC offi cially confi rmed, extradition proceed- ers Solicitors, denied knowing of his before he handed himself in. ings will begin straightaway. He will whereabouts throughout the trial. After records showed Shepherd was in begin serving his sentence upon arrival Police admitted that Shepherd may Tbilisi, Georgian police and the British in the UK. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, have fl ed abroad after he was found guilty Met Police worked together to bring him Charlotte’s father Graham Brown said of manslaughter by gross negligence to justice. “The Georgian authorities are “I feel very emotional at the fact that my following his trial. He was sentenced to actively cooperating to identify Jack Shep- daughter will get some justice...He’s done 6 years in prison. herd in Georgia and after that to imple- the right thing and thank goodness he The handling of Shepherd’s case has ment relevant legal measures.” has handed himself in.” GEORGIA TODAY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 NEWS 3 Memorandum of Understanding Signed between Anaklia City & the Law Society of England & Wales

n January 17, Anaklia City and to protect everyone's right to have signed a Memorandum of access to justice. It promotes England Understanding with the and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice Law Society of England and the vital role legal services play in and Wales, which will our economy. becomeO Anaklia City’s strategic partner The special economic and legal status in developing the legal framework for of Anaklia is deﬁ ned by the Constitution the Anaklia City and Special Economic of Georgia. The Law Society will be Zone projects. The meeting was attended actively involved in the process of estab- by the founder of Anaklia Development lishing a special legal framework for the Consortium, Mamuka Khazaradze and Anaklia Special Economic Zone. The the Deputy Vice President of the Law legal framework of Anaklia City will be Society of England and Wales, David based on the best practices of interna- Greene. The MoU was signed by the tional business in order to be able to CEO of Anaklia City, Ketevan Bochorish- provide a fair, transparent and ﬂ exible vili and Deputy Vice President of the legal environment which will allow com- Law Society, David Greene. panies to make long-term forecasts and The Law Society is a professional body enjoy predictability of the legal environ- that represents over 180,000 solicitors ment. in England and Wales. It exists to rep- The Law Society will also be involved resent, promote and support solicitors, in developing Anaklia's corporate gov- so they in turn can help their clients. As ernance structure, to ensure a modern an organization, the Law Society works and balanced system, providing the to ensure that no-one is above the law ground for the proper and sustainable

development of Anaklia City. important role in this process for Anak- in Georgia. Our members are interna- “We are actively cooperating with the lia Port and maritime legislation to drive tional in their outlook and this project Law Society and its members, who will the industry development.” will provide an opportunity for our be our strategic partner to establish the “We are delighted to have signed a members to work alongside their Geor- legal environment for Anaklia's Special Memorandum of Understanding with gian colleagues in the best interests of Economic Zone project,” Bochorishvili Georgia’s Anaklia City JSC and to help their clients.” said. “Our legal framework will be based develop the special economic zone and The Law Society and its members were on the best international practices and disputes resolution center based on Eng- actively involved in the process of estab- ensure the needed attractiveness to lish common law,” Green said. “The Law lishment of the Astana International encourage multinational companies to Society of England and Wales is com- Financial Center (AIFC). They have been select Anaklia. We will also work with mitting to sharing best practices in Eng- actively cooperating with the AIFC Court them to develop the legislation that will lish common law with our Georgian team and the AIFC is the ﬁ rst to estab- attract various large multinational com- colleagues and working together to pro- lish a commercial court based on the panies working in both industrial and tect and strengthen the independence principles of English Common Law on service industries. Indeed, there is an of the legal profession and rule of law a territory of the post-Soviet Union. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 Viktor Erofeyev on his New Book ‘Good Stalin’ & his 2018 Deportation from Georgia ern Russian author writing a book on EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY Georgia and Stalin. So, I think it was some VAZHA TAVBERIDZE sort of error made by the Ministry.

WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST eknowned Russian writer VISIT GEORGIA FROM Viktor Erofeyev was banned ABKHAZIA AND AVOID from entering Georgia on THE REPERCUSSIONS? November 23. As it was later The fi rst two visits took place in 2011-12, ascertained, this it was due and back then I didn’t really know I was toR the fact that the writer had violated supposed to do it from the Georgian the Law on the Occupied Territories, border. That was my political foolish- which presumably refers to his attend- ness. In 2017, I did know, but it was just ance at the Festival "Rendezvous with for one evening to visit my friends and Russia" held in the de facto Republic of I fl ew straight to Sochi. It wasn’t politi- Abkhazia in October 2017. cal or anything; however, I understand After he visited Abkhazia, Erofeyev that from the perspective of the Georgian published several articles on the state of government, I made a mistake and broke events in the de-facto state, including a the law. I’m not denying that. widely-read column in the New York In 2017, after two visits to Abkhazia, I Times, which included a particularly was allowed into Georgia, in the company interesting comparison in which he of the famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. described the situation in Abkhazia as a We were to attend the opening ceremony sort of “Political Darwinism:” “A big fi sh, of the Museum of Contemporary Arts. I Russia, is trying to swallow Georgia, while didn’t think this law had such a zero-sum the smaller fi sh, Georgia, was trying to approach to it. I think they could also swallow Abkhazia,” he said. What he calls have taken into consideration that I Political Darwinism, Georgians call sep- see it from the Abkhazian perspective. AGREE, IS CONTRARY TO for my trouble. To be honest, up until wouldn’t have a full understanding of all aratism. GEORGIA TODAY spoke with Could you call this separatism? Probably. THE NON-RECOGNITION the very last moment, I expected a phone this and maybe let me off with a warning Viktor Erofeyev, whose book ‘Good Sta- But then again, it’s no different from POLICY THAT BOTH GEORGIA call to come in from the Ministry or or something. I’m not a government offi - lin’ was recently published in Georgian. what we’re seeing in Europe nowadays- AND THE WEST FAVOR. somewhere and reverse the decision. cial and nor am I a Russian politician. If “To put things into proper perspective take Spain, for example. I wanted to You know, the issue here is that the longer But it didn’t work out and we, me and I made a mistake, I, once again, offer my let us start from the very beginning, shall explain this phenomenon [in my article]. Abkhazia remains in isolation, the more my friends, had no time to make calls sincere apologies to the Georgian people, we?” he told us. “German magazine, I also discovered that there was an option likely it is to be swallowed by Russia, and try to somehow settle the matter. as I would very much like to continue to ‘Mare’ asked me to go to Abkhazia and for Abkhazia to choose the European and trust me, Moscow is not one to turn cooperate with Georgia and the Geor- recount my impressions. This wasn’t an path too, rather than being ever-rooted down a slice of pie this delicious. That THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAYS gians. The title of my own speech was easy decision to make, as I knew that I’d to Russian infl uence. And that’s what I was the leitmotif of my article. THAT YOU WEREN’T ALLOWED ‘The Infl uence of Georgia on my Works’ have to enter Abkhazia from the Russian wrote about in the New York Times, that TO ENTER BECAUSE OF YOUR and I hope this says something about me. side, thus violating all that is dictated by even in Abkhazia, not everyone is happy YOUR ABKHAZIAN VOYAGES EARLIER VISITS TO ABKHAZIA. I sincerely hope this situation will be historical truth and law on the Georgian with how things worked out. Russia MIGHT HAVE COST YOU And this is illogical, because I was in resolved somehow and I’ll be able to come side. I met various people in Abkhazia: bosses them around and they aren’t par- ENTRY INTO GEORGIA. WERE Abkhazia before May 2018, the month I back. Ghia Khancheli, the legendary the now deceased President Bagapsh, ticularly enjoying it. To be frank, I don’t YOU GIVEN EXACT REASONS visited Georgia without any problems Georgian composer and a great man, the historian Lakoba, who had a starkly remember the exact arguments, but I FOR YOUR DEPORTATION whatsoever. I had been to Abkhazia three called me and said that the government different perspective on things that tran- did argue for more Western involvement LAST NOVEMBER? times, but all those visits were before wasn’t right in this case. I respect and spired in the 1990s and since, foreign in Abkhazia.” Not exactly. However, I must say that May, and if I was allowed to enter Geor- love this man and can’t help but think he peacekeepers and so on. It broadened the people who were performing the gia in May, then what was the justifi cation is right. But, once again, I do not have any my perspective on the confl ict. Where YOU WROTE “THE WEST procedure were civil and friendly, even for their refusal to let me do so in Novem- claims or pretenses against the govern- before I’d seen it all through the painful SHOULDN’T MAKE AN if they couldn’t explain the reason I ber? The border guards were surprised ment. All I want is to be able to maintain prism of war between brothers, Geor- OUTCAST OF ABKHAZIA,” wasn’t being allowed to enter the coun- when they found out my book was about contacts with my Georgian friends and gians and Abkhazians, now I came to WHICH, I THINK YOU’LL try. They showed genuine compassion Georgia. It’s not every day you get a mod- to publish my books in Georgian. Georgian PM & President of Azerbaijan Discuss Joint Projects

including economic ties, strategic part- BY AMY JONES nership, and joint transport and infrastructure projects. They spoke of Geor- gian and Azerbaijani potential of n 22 January, Georgian receiving cargo shipment from Central Prime Minister Mamuka Asia. Bakhtadze met with Ilham In addition, the two leaders discussed Aliyev, President of Azer- the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipe- baijan to discuss projects line project and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars ofO strategic importance between the railway project. two countries. The meeting was held Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia within the World Economic Forum David Zalkaliani also attended the meet- Photo source: Government of Georgia (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. ing. mon vision concerning strategic issues. infrastructural projects which carry rent situation on the world into account,” The pair discussed bilateral relations, “Georgia and Azerbaijan have a com- We are involved in joint transport and geopolitical importance taking the cur- stated Zalkaliani following the meeting. SUBSCRIBE!

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 [email protected] +995 32 229 59 19  Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 POLITICS 5 The Case for Georgian Woman in Syria & Iraq

Image source: The Clarion Project

key role in inspiring women from Georgia to move BY AMY JONES to Iraq or Syria. Irada Garibova and Ana Sulei- manova from Karalja village in Eastern Georgia left their husbands and traveled to Syria as their ince the beginning of the Syrian and Iraqi husbands were not religious. Their husbands were confl icts, tens of Georgian citizens have “more concerned about their businesses than the traveled to Syria to participate. However, jihad,” reads the report. there has been little discussion about the Nonetheless, the vast majority of Caucasian involvement of women in said confl icts. women captured after the loss of territories and SOn 23 January, the Georgian Foundation for Stra- withdrawal of jihadi groups had followed their tegic and International Studies (Rondeli Founda- spouses to the region. In accordance with sharia tion) held a public discussion in Tbilisi on women law, women were excluded from fi ghting and deci- from Georgia in the Syrian and Iraqi confl icts to sion-making processes. Instead, they were confi ned highlight the important issue. to their homes and charged with caring for the Research by Aleksandre Kvakhadze, a research household. Many women lived isolated lives void fellow at the Rondeli Foundation, found that 17 from communication, with total dependence on Georgian women were located in Syria or Iraq, 12 fi ghters. Aside from Diana Ramazanova from Dag- of whom are ethnic Kists from the Pankisi Gorge estan, who detonated a suicide bomb in a police region to the south of Tusheti. A further four were station in Istanbul, Caucasian women were not Azerbaijani from the Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli reported to have participated in hostilities. regions and one woman was an ethnic Georgian As IS has lost its territories, the future of Geor- who converted to Islam. No women from Adjara, gian women in Syria and Iraq is uncertain. Having the area with Georgia’s highest Muslim population, lost their husbands or protectors, the women are are known to have traveled to Syria or Iraq. extremely vulnerable. 19 Russian-speaking women What exactly motivated the women to head to were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Iraqi the confl ict? With an average age of 26 and at least court after being captured. It is likely that this a high school education, the question of motivation includes women from the Caucasus. In addition, is extremely signifi cant. Mia Bloom, professor and one woman from Georgia was sentenced in Iraq, author, believes the main factors are revenge, along with her children. redemption, relationship, respect and rape, rather The future of these women is unclear. The leader than radicalization. Many women travel to confl ict of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has organized the zones for marriage and family relationships. return of some North Caucasian women from Syria Indeed, respondents interviewed by the Rondeli and Iraq, whilst women returning to Dagistan were Foundation in Pankisi Gorge explained that fi nan- arrested upon their return. It is also thought that cial support was an important motivational factor. some women are avoiding returning to Georgia Another respondent noted that many secondary fearing the risk of arrest. Given their minimal school girls had romantic feelings or empathy for involvement in the brutalities of confl ict and their those fi ghting in Syria when the confl ict was more vulnerable positions, perhaps rehabilitation would active. Escape from domestic abuse is also thought be more effective than imprisonment. Perhaps by to be a reason for some of the women. telling their stories, the women could even prevent Ideological indoctrination nonetheless played a others from following the same path. Donald Tusk: “EU-Georgia Partnership is Outstanding”

BY AMY JONES

n 22 January, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili met with EU President Donald Tusk as part of her trip to Brussels. Tusk spoke of the strong relationship between Georgia andO the EU. In an offi cial statement released after their meeting, Tusk announced that the “EU-Georgia partnership is outstanding and far-reaching.” He mentions the successful introduction of the visa-free Photo source: Twitter regime in 2017, which has allowed over 300,000 towards the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgians to travel visa-free to the EU so far. He Georgia. also underlines the strong trade partnership between Tweeting about the meeting, Zurabishvili said, Georgia and the EU. “Outstanding meeting with @eucopresident Don- Zurabishvili and Tusk discussed the Association ald Tusk, who stood, once again, for Georgia’s Agreement between the EU and Georgia during #sovereignty and #TerritorialIntegrity. #Georgia their meeting. “The agreement has brought sig- and the #EU are great partners. I look forward to nifi cant benefi ts to our citizens and has the poten- working together to enhance our #partnership dur- tial to strengthen further Georgia's social, economic, ing my term.” political and institutional resilience,” reads Tusk’s Donald Tusk will visit Georgia in July 2019, when statement. the 2019 Batumi Conference celebrates the 10th In addition, Tusk re-affi rms the EU’s support anniversary of the Eastern Partnership. GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 WEF 2019 & the Strategic Outlook of Eurasia tadze, “our answer to this most painful BY AMY JONES challenge is of course consolidation of our democracy and the rapid and sustainable development of our economy.” n January 23, Georgian For this reason, Georgia is looking to Prime Minister Mamuka join NATO to improve stability and pre- Bakhtadze participated in dictability in the region, thus making the discussions on the strate- country more attractive to investors. The gic outlook of Eurasia at Prime Minister sees predictability and theO World Economic Forum (WEF) held stability as key factors to unlocking the in Davos, Switzerland. high economic value of the region. The discussion ‘Eurasia in a new global However, Vali Nasr, a Dean and Profes- context’ focused on economic prospects sor at the School of International Rela- in the region. The Prime Minister par- tions, highlighted the uncertainty of ticipated in the discussion with the vice Georgia’s accession into the EU and chairman of SUN Group, a Dean and NATO. “There are a lot of things up in Professor from the School of International the air,” he said, going on to state three Relations, the Austrian Minister of For- of those reasons: First, he questions the eign Affairs and Integration, and the appetite of the EU to move eastwards President of the European Bank for Recon- given its current circumstances. Secondly, struction and Development (EBRD). Russian occupation in Ukraine, South During the talk, Bakhtadze underlined Ossetia, and Abkhazia has shown the the regional importance of Georgia due West’s reluctance to deeply involve to its location at the crossroads of Europe themselves with Russia. and Asia. “We regard ourselves as a Finally, he mentions Turkey’s role in bridge from Europe to Asia,” he said. the region. Although Turkey was once “Our historical roots are European and moving closer to NATO and Europe, our outlook is European. But at the same Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan now time, Georgia is located at a crossroads spends more time in Moscow than in of civilizations. We would like to facili- any other European city. It is unclear tate trade between Asia and Europe, how Turkey would react were Georgia between China and the European Union. Image source: Mamuka Bakhtadze Twitter to join the EU and NATO. Georgia is the only country in the region mentioned the construction of the Anak- with the West, Bakhtadze underlined the strategic partner,” he said, “US-Georgia Despite potential tensions in the region, that has a free trade agreement with both lia Deep Sea Port to help Central Asia country’s commitment to join the Euro- relations are on an all-time high level.” the discussions underlined the huge the EU and China.” trade with the rest of the world. This pean Union and become a full member Despite the economic potential of the potential there. By developing its infra- Thanks to its location at the crossroads month, the EU pledged a EUR 233 mln of NATO. In addition, he discussed Geor- region and the strengthening of Geor- structure, diversifying its economy and of Europe and Asia, Georgia has excel- investment for the project, which is set gia’s relationship with the US and its gia’s relationship with the West, stability improving its stability, Georgia could lent potential to become a transportation for completion in 2020. importance for security and the economy remains an issue. “Russia is taking aggres- become a successful transport and busi- and logistics hub in the region. Bakhtadze When speaking of Georgia’s relations in Georgia. “The United States is our sive steps against Georgia,” said Bakh- ness hub in the region. 2019: Where to Expect Russian Moves

to Russian geopolitical infl uence in the BY EMIL AVDALIANI coming years. Economically and militar- ily, the country relies on Russia. This lack of diversifi cation is the source of peaking about Russian attempts both stability and instability for Minsk, to increase its infl uence in but a crucial point here is that in Belarus Eurasia, suggestions can be there is room for Russia to increase its made with regards to the next infl uence. This could happen through couple of years. asking Minsk to station Russia militia SThere are three traditional (major) on its soil. In the coming months there vectors of Russian geopolitical infl uence will be a good excuse for that as the US which the country exercised throughout is likely to withdraw from the Interme- the centuries: the western front – East diate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Europe, Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic States; The US will probably try stationing its South Caucasus; and the Central Asian high-tech missiles on the European con- region. tinent, which will make it urgent for I will start with Russia’s western front. Russia to use Belarus and the exclave Moscow’s infl uence over the past 18 or land of Kaliningrad as forward-defense so years has diminished substantially. ground. Ukraine is largely lost and though it is In the South Caucasus, it seems that fashionable to talk about how Russia has Russian infl uence has certainly reached re-emerged as a major power in the its limits in Georgia. Simply put, the region, proven by the annexation of Russians gained most of what they wanted Crimea and the war in Donbas (Eastern from Georgia in 2008. There is little Ukraine), the point here is that Russia chance that any future Georgian govern- has added yet another antagonistic coun- ments would turn to Moscow (become try to its border. pro-Russian) as public backlash will be There is little chance that Russia will signifi cant, resulting in major distur- be able to enhance its position in Ukraine, bances for any decision-maker. There is unless military force is used. However, also, as I argued in previous issues of even then, from the long-term perspec- GT, little room for a signifi cant political tive, it will be tougher for Russia to con- rapprochement between Tbilisi and Perhaps the only country there Russia Nagorno-Karabakh, but Baku’s alliance ence is minimal, to say the least. The front Ukrainian military power, a re- Moscow. The two might talk to each hopes to increase its stance is in Azer- of convenience with Moscow will still only power Moscow will consider as its invigorated western front (through other on increasing economic activity, baijan, but from the regional perspec- be short-lived. Azerbaijan is simply too rival is China, but the two countries have economic sanctions and diplomatic or even work on security issues, but tive any major concession from Baku well-positioned (oil revenues and a good larger geopolitical competitors – namely moves). larger questions such as Tbilisi turning to Moscow will be contingent upon geographic position) to be easily infl u- the US – which they want to constrain In the Baltic States, Russians can hope to Moscow, are diffi cult to see in the Azerbaijan gaining further advantage enced by Russia. in Eurasia. for very little to increase their infl uence longer-term perspective. in the Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict. And Thus, from two crucial regions, Russia This free space which Russia has in in the region. The NATO/EU umbrella In Armenia, too, it is unlikely that there there lies the complication for Moscow: will likely work hard to attain a bigger Central Asia is in fact a result of the is powerful enough to stop the Russians. are spheres where Moscow wants to fur- the more it allows Baku to get back ter- stance: in Belarus and Azerbaijan. geopolitical shift which the country has In addition, there is also a historical ani- ther increase its infl uence. Russia already ritories around Nagorno-Karabakh, the In a striking comparison with the west- been experiencing over the last decade mosity of local populations towards the possesses huge infl uence through owning less, in the longer run, Azerbaijan will ern border or the South Caucasus, Rus- or so. Simply put, Russia has little room Russian state which hampers Moscow’s vital infrastructure (railways and pipe- be susceptible to Moscow’s infl uence. sia will have a much freer hand in deal- for maneuver in the west, so it is turning projection of power. lines) as well as its own military base in Sure, Azerbaijan might accede to joining with the Central Asian region. This to the east, which makes it likely that Thus it leaves us with the only country Gyumri. What Russia wants is to keep ing the Eurasian Economic Union in is the space (consisting of fi ve countries) Russia will increase its military and eco- – Belarus – which could be susceptible the existent status quo in Armenia. exchange for Russian support for where the EU/NATO and the US infl u- nomic capabilities in the region. GEORGIA TODAY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 BUSINESS 7 Rekan Group Looks to the Future with Batumi View

and comprises the fi rst hypermarket, a Rekan Group. Batumi View is a dream BY KETEVAN KVARATSKHELIYA complex of motels, a bowling area, fuel project located on the Black Sea coast station and restaurants. New City became at the beginning of the 7km-long Boule- the starting point for commercial pro- vard which was built in 1881 and repre- ekan Group is a group of jects labelled under the name ‘Mega sents one of the most attractive tourist leading companies special- Mall’ and spread throughout different destinations in the city. It has recently izing in the fi eld of invest- cities of Iraq. The fi rst Mega Mall opened been modernized by the establishment ment and construction. in 2014. of cafes, restaurants, children's parks, Throughout its existence, Other signifi cant projects launched by benches and sculptures. Batumi View is RekanR Group has carried out various Rekan Group include Kirkuk Mall with the fi rst building there, situated only projects in the tourism and recreation a 5-star hotel; the Roj Commercial Tow- 20m from the sea. industry, marketing and housing, as well ers; and residential complex ‘Greenland,’ Batumi View offers apartments and a as in the fi elds of telecommunication on an area of 1250000m2 in Erbil and 5-star hotel for a luxury life, with incred- and infrastructure, most commonly integrating up to 500 villas and 740 apart- ible views and a great variety of facilities, implemented in Erbil and Iraqi cities. ments including shopping areas, restaurants The capital of the Rekan Group reaches The Group also has a number of other and cafes, entertainment areas for chil- a total sum of $500 million. projects in different fi elds being carried dren and a swimming pool and fi tness Since its inception in 1997, Rekan Group out in other cities inside and outside of center. The given project guarantees a in reconstruction and investment has Kurdistan, including the Rekan Cement tranquil environment and comes with been chaired by Engineer Ahmed Ali factory in Al – Muthana and the residen- 24/7 security, front desk service and a Aziz Rekani, who also leads the Kurdis- tial projects New Town in Thi Qar and private car parking area. tan Contractors Association. Over the Pel City in Duhok. Rekan Group also The total land of the Batumi View pro- past 10 years, the company has linked constructed the Rekan Hospital in the ject consists of 15,000 m2 and is divided the Group to the implementation of pro- city of Erbil. into three residential blocks and one jects of the highest levels of importance. On December 25, 2014, the Rekan Group hotel. Apartments start at 30m2. Prior to founding Rekan Group, Mr. launched its very fi rst overseas invest- By launching the Batumi View project, Rekani occupied the position of Presi- ment in the Republic of Georgia. The the Rekan Group aims to to create the dent of the Kurdistan Contracting Union Group commenced the project as a result highest performance levels for any prop- for 10 years. He was rewarded for the of purchasing 15,000 m2 of land in the erty under its management, through Best Enterprise by the Europe Business city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. utilizing the most sophisticated and Assembly in Oxford in December 2013. Batumi is a major tourist destination appropriate practices. The fi rst major project of Rekan Group and one of the most outstanding ‘jewels’ This will deliver signifi cant new returns was launched in 2005 in Erbil - the New of Georgia. It is also one of the oldest on investment for owners while keeping City Modern Shopping Center, which cities in the country. customers happy in the best traditions stretched across an area of 24,000 m2 Batumi View is a major project for the of the hospitality industry. GEORGIA TODAY 8 SOCIETY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 Enjoy the Healing Waters of the Tskaltubo Balneological Resort variety of medical, recovery and relaxa- tion procedures to customers, including: mineral water baths, massage, hydro (udnerwater) massage, under-water horizontal spine stretch, body mud- masks, electrotherapy procedures, hydr- ocolon therapy, and more. The number 1 and 6 buildings of the JSC Balneoresort Tskaltubo Springs are built right on the mineral waters and come with fi ve healing mineral water pools, 33 individual suite-bathrooms, 17 hydro massage and three horizontal spine stretching suites. The visitors are offered a great variety of treatments for diseases related to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, central and peripheral nervous systems, gynecological diseases, urological diseases, skin diseases and endocrine diseases. Aside from being used as a treatment (33-35 degrees C) allows it to be used for your ills, the healing procedures can BY KETEVAN KVARATSKHELIYA without preheating, meaning age has no also be pleasant and relaxing. And more- relevance. the resort is located close to a number Biologically active microelements of famous Georgian sights, meaning your eorgia offers a wide range have been discovered in the mineral bathing experience can be just one part of incredible destinations waters of Tskaltubo, which include: of a fabulous stay in Western Georgia. and resorts, attracting iodine, bromine, manganese, lithium, There is also a large recreational park travelers from all over the boron, copper, zin, and strontium. These located on the territory of the resort, world. Some of these places represent important constituents for giving visitors the chance to enjoy some Gare interesting not only for their location maintaining a healthy life. The role of magnifi cent nature. or sightseeing opportunities, but due to special gases – nitrogen, radon, helium Balenoresort Tskaltubo offers treat- their exceptional features. and argon, found in the waters of ment in radon baths, which guarantees Tskaltubo is one of the most outstand- Tskaltubo, should not be undermined incredibly positive results for a number ing and rarifi ed Georgian balneological either. In addition, the creation of the of illnesses. The periods for the effect resorts. Dating back to the 12th century, Tskaltubo waters is recognized as one to be visible of radon therapy are highly it is renowned for its unique healing of the oldest (100-150 thousand years), dependent on the form of the disease, waters that have distinctive stable physio- in the formation of which contempo- the stage it is at and the condition of the chemical traits and belongs to the weak rary hydro-chemical processes have organism. Results are usually seen after 2. Underwater (hydro) massage 9. “Circular” shower radon, chloric-hydrocarbon-Sulphur, and been involved. completing a treatment course and 3. Healing pool aerobics 10. Mechanotherapy in water natrium-calcium-manganese group of Tskaltubo has been welcoming and reaches maximum affect after 1.5 - 2 4. Classic healing massage 11. Peloid therapy waters. The high effi cient healing-pro- mesmerizing visitors since 1892 and is months and lasts from half a year to 1.5 5. Horizontal spine stretches in mineral 12. Hydro colon therapy, and MORE. phylactic impact of the waters derives well-known for the care the high-qual- years. water Balneoresort Tskaltubo welcomes from their complex composition and ifi ed team of professionals have been The resort provides the following treat- 6. Electrotherapy (physiotherapy) guests of all ages. The ecommended combination of major salty components. giving to guests. ment procedures for its customers: 7. Gynecological irrigation duration of resort treatment for best The natural temperature of the water Balneosresort Tskaltubo offers a wide 1. Mineral water baths 8. “Charcot” showers effect is between 14-21 days. Road Rules: Zugdidi, Samegrelo slip by my accent if nothing else that I BLOG BY TONY HANMER was a foreigner. Where from? Canada. Crazy to choose to live in Svaneti? Undoubtedly, but there it was. nother sign that Georgia is The men working there told me that, “on the road” to European- no fear, not only would they let me in izing its standards: periodic quickly, but they would do it that very vehicle inspection, aban- evening: long after work was supposed doned in 2004 as a corrupt to fi nish! I was very grateful for this, and Ascam, has come back, much better than indeed, that was how it unfolded. There before. were, however, two issues outstanding The idea is to only allow inspection- which the inspection turned up: one was passed vehicles on Georgia’s roads. These a faulty fog light, the other something have been accepted, after offi cial exam- under the car, which they wrote down ination of their various parts and systems, for me. I must get this pair of things as being reasonably roadworthy and safe repaired before they could conclude the to operate. My car’s time had come, so inspection. I had a month to do so; if I drove the 110 km down to Zugdidi, again the car failed, it would be declared capital of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, which unroadworthy. I told them I’d get the has the nearest inspection point and the issues dealt with tomorrow, as that long only one in that city. road home still awaited me. As car number 16 in the line, joining it Off to the local branch of Tegeta Motors at midday, I didn’t have much hope of the next day, which is in Rukhi, on the getting the thing done that day. Two hours road towards Gali and Abkhazia, which later, the line hadn’t moved at all, and cars I had never before driven. Three hours in front of me were abandoning their and 240 GEL later, my repairs made, I positions with little expectation of suc- returned to the inspection point; passed; cess. I decided to do my shopping run fi nished my shopping; and began the (without which one doesn’t go all the way journey home. Unfortunately, as my car to Zugdidi in the fi rst place), made arrange- is “of a certain age” (from 2008), this 61 ments with local friends to stay the night, GEL procedure must be repeated yearly. and drove away, thinking I would leave Oh well, at least it was out of the way my insured car at or near the front of the for now. line for tomorrow, a thing which no one I knew from a careful perusal of weather else reportedly was willing to do. Work- reports that my trip back into Svaneti ing hours: 9 am to 6 pm. would be far snowier than the one out cealed on the snowy road: rock-falls are week. Stay tuned, readers. group, now with over 1500 members, at Returning with a half-full car near 6 two days earlier. This was indeed the a common fact of life in these mountains. www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenais- pm, I discovered the line still active, case. I also had my fi rst fl at tire since There was no bump or jolt, just a new, Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since sance/ inspections ongoing. Letting them know buying the car over two years ago and worsening vibration. 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a He and his wife also run their own guest house my intentions and that I had a long road putting new tires and quite a few thou- And how things went downhill from weekly writer for GT since early 2011. He in Etseri: ahead of me in the morning, I also let sand km on it. Likely from a stone con- there that evening is a story for next runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti GEORGIA TODAY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 CULTURE 9 ‘Sakartvelos Respublika’ - 100 Years in Print

gian language which is currently under BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE the threat of relentless contamination with violently introduced barbarisms, stylistic shoddiness and grammatical ’m not always into the business faults. It was also noted that the weath- of Op-ed; I sometimes do the news, ered paper is a classic example of the and that is a wonderful respite for printed art, which better than any other me because I enjoy the stuff. comparable edition in the country puts ‘Sakartvelos Respublika’ translated the reader right in the swim of all the Ifrom Georgian into English, means most important matters that make up porting members who will protect the ‘Republic of Georgia,’ this being the name the Republic’s life, and always brings to future of the beloved paper and fi nd a of a century-old Georgian-language daily the surface the topics that nurse the sure way for its survival. The proposal newspaper which has served the nation Georgian national ideals, helping our was heeded and accepted informally, as faithfully, earnestly and competently people to maintain their national iden- which means that the situation is not as was possible through a hundred years tity, notwithstanding the storming assault completely discouraging. of political vicissitudes, economic ills of the overwhelming globalization. The attention of the audience was and social tornadoes. The aged paper It was also emphasized that the paper caught by the suggestion that concerned has hit every possible news-making event is fi nancially crippled so badly that it the young readership, with the editor or personality that this country has can hardly survive without substantial of the paper promising to fi nd a way to known in the last hundred years, and it pecuniary support, which is not readily go straight to the hearts and minds of is still doing the job with vigor, truth and available at present. The National Acad- Georgia’s youth, who are unaware how dedication. emy of Science happens to be one of the helpful a source of knowledge ‘Sakart- Last Thursday, the main conference rarest donors willing to support the pre- velos Respublika’ is - and knowledge is hall of the National Academy of Science, cious publication. Comparison was made the key to success. Nobody knows if headed by its executive vice-president with the pre-perestroika ‘good old times’ this grownup talk will ever reach young Academician Roin Metreveli and the when the circulation of the paper reached ears, but the idea was made clear and Editor-in-Chief of the celebrated news- almost one million copies per issue – stated loudly enough to be heard by all paper, Spartak Kobulia, hosted the edi- amazing for just a fi ve-million-strong present. Youth is in love with electronic tion’s centennial jubilee. Present were population at the time! media, but hard-copy usefulness is also the patriarchs of national science and One of the speakers regretfully under- corroborated by the continual publica- journalism who are still in envious cre- lined that the newspaper has a feeble tion of the greats of the world like the ative shape and perfect mood to keep connection with the modern young New York Times and Washington Post, the motherland hearing their precious readership who do not seem to be a and many others like them. No televi- words of wisdom, among them the famous ‘reading’ but a ‘watching’ generation, sion, no radio and no internet have suc- newspaper’s erstwhile editors Nugzar interested not in reading in general but ceeded in overpowering them. ‘Sakart- Popkhadze and Armaz Saneblidze, and only in using the watchable media of velos Respublika’ will share their fate! of course its perennial presence and mass communication which makes it Incidentally, this jubilee is one of the patron Guram Gogiashvili. easier and quicker to acquire the neces- great national trinity of celebrations, Enthusiastic speeches, analytical efforts, sary information. To respond to the dire the other two being the 100th birthday brief comments, deserved laudations, generic disposition, instigated by fi nan- of the Tbilisi State University and the sporadic regrets, slight criticism and cial frustration and an even worse pros- centenary of the independent Republic hopeful predictions were all in place. pect for acquisition of funding, an opti- of Georgia. Yes, ‘Sakartvelos Respub- The well-spoken fl oor holders under- mistic voice of hope sounded all of a lika’, the Tbilisi State and the independ- lined that ‘Sakartvelos Respublika’ had sudden in the hall: let us create a board ence of Georgia are peers. Happy birth- always fought for the purity of the Geor- of trustees made up of hundreds of sup- day to all of them! Charities to Benefi t as Tbilisi Burns Supper Reaches Historic 10th Year BY DONNIE MUNRO

ow a fi rmly established highlight on Tbilisi’s social calendar, the Tbilisi Gala Benefi t Burns Supper and Ball is to be staged for an Nhistoric 10th year at the Funicular Ball- room on February 2. Three charitable causes – Temi Com- munity (caring for a wide range of vulnerable people), Catharsis (helping the homeless elderly by providing hot meals) and Dog Organization Georgia (providing shelter for stray animals along with sterilization, vaccination and adoption programs) - will share the proceeds from an event brimming with culture, and which last year raised over 40,000 GEL. to the (in)famous Scottish delicacy. band, which also includes Isobelle Hodg- All across the world, from Melbourne Various accomplished speakers have son on piano and Maggie Adamson on to Montreal, Burns Suppers are held on been carefully hand-picked to ensure the fi ddle, fl y in all the way from Scot- or around January 25, as it was on this that, despite being a few thousand miles land every year especially for the event. day that Scotland’s most famous poet from Burns’ native Scotland, there will In between the Military Two-Step, Robert Burns was born in 1759. The Tbi- be an authentic fl avor to the evening. Dashing White Sergeant and other won- lisi version was fi rst initiated by Fiona Taking on the role of Master of Cere- derfully-named Scottish dances, there Coxshall in 2010, and she devotedly monies for a second time is William will be a live auction (including an album organized eight unforgettable editions Dunbar, who quite fi ttingly shares his signed and donated specifi cally for the before leaving Georgia. A committee of name with a renowned Scottish makar event by Nina Ananiashvili, Artistic various nationalities maintained the tra- poet of the late 15th / early 16th century. Director of the State Ballet of Georgia dition last year, staging the ninth edition, This will be the fi fth year in a row that and paintings by Maka Gotsiridze and and this year we reach the 10-year mile- Tbilisi’s Burns Supper, of which the main Levan Mosiashvili) and a grand-prize stone. sponsors are AmCham Georgia and raffl e (including generous prizes donated A long and memorable night of deli- PMCG, is being held at the Funicular by Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Pal- cious food, drink, and lively dancing will Ballroom, where head chef Jorge da Silva ace, Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel be relished by hundreds of guests to has again dreamt up a sumptuous gour- Batumi, and Hotels & Preference Hual- celebrate the life and works of Burns met four-course meal to be complemented ing Tbilisi). whose poems and songs have been by sensible quantities of Georgian wine Some disco dancing concludes the revered all over the world for centuries. and Scottish single malt whisky. event, which always runs into “the wee The evening is punctuated by a hand- Once suitably nourished, guests are hours” of the morning. ful of traditional toasts, among them the summoned to the dance fl oor by Nicol *A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS Address to a Haggis, which entails the McLaren and the Glencraig Band for ARE STILL AVAILABLE. Email: burn- recital of a poem that Burns dedicated some Scottish country dancing. Nicol’s [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY 10 CULTURE JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER CINEMA CAVEA GALLERY IOSEB GRISHASHVILI MUSIC 2/4 Rustaveli Ave. TBILISI HISTORY MUSEUM - KARVASLA TBILISI ZAKARIA TEL (+995 32) 200 70 07 AMIRANI CINEMA 8 Sioni St. SOUNDS OF GEORGIA PALIASHVILI OPERA AND 36 Kostava Str. TEL (+995 32) 298 22 81 BALLET THEATER TEL (+995 32) 299 99 55 Every Wednesday ticket: 8 GEL January 25 January 25-31 25 Rustaveli Ave. www.kinoafi sha.ge November 29 – January 20 SING AND DRINK TEL (+995 32) 2 99 04 56 Georgian National Museum in Mini concerts in the cozy Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL HOLMES & WATSON the framework of the Project atmosphere of Old Tbilisi, which is January 26, 27 January 25-31 (Info Above) “Contemporary Art Gallery” presents a mix of traditional Georgian music, LA TRAVIATA Language: Russian THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF LIA featuring different genres: folklore, Giuseppe Verdi GLASS Start time: 14:00 BAGRATIONI A MAD TEA-PARTY a capella, guitar, as well as new Music Director of the production- Directed by M. Night Shyamalan Ticket: 11-15 GEL Georgian pop and city songs. Zaza Azmaiparashvili Cast: Sarah Paulson, Bruce Willis, MUSEUM OF SOVIET Start time: 17:00 Conductor- Filippo Conti Samuel L. Jackson GLASS OCCUPATION Tickets: 23 GEL Venue: New Tifl is, Director- Laurent Gerber Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi (Info Above) 4 Rustaveli Ave. TEL (+995 32) 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 9 Agmashenebeli Ave., (Switzerland/Italy) Language: Russian Language: English Scenographer- Massimo Bellando www.museum.ge Wine bar ‘Wine Station’ Start time: 19:30, 22:00 Start time: 16:30, 22:00 Randone (Italy) Ticket: 13-14 GEL Language: Russian Costume Designer- Ester Martin December 11 – March 1 DJ. KAKHIDZE CENTER FOR Start time: 13:30, 19:30 Exhibition MUSIC & CULTURE (Spain) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Ticket: 11-19 GEL RED TERROR AND GEORGIAN 123a Agmashenebli Ave. Choreographer- Nina Ananiashvili Directed by Bryan Singer Start time: 19:00 ARTISTS Cast: Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello, AQUAMAN Ticket: 200-300 GEL GALLERY January 26 Mike Myers Directed by James Wan Concert dedicated to the famous Genre: Biography, Drama, Music GABRIADZE THEATER Cast: Amber Heard, Jason Momoa, Russian composer Language: Russian THE NATIONAL GALLERY 14 Shavteli Str. Nicole Kidman SERGEI RACHMANINOFF Start time: 19:45 11 Rustaveli Ave. Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra will Ticket: 15 GEL TEL (+995 32) 215 73 00 January 25 Language: English play his 2nd symphony and 5th REZO concerto for piano and symphony MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS Start time: 19:15 January 23 – February 24 Animated documentary fi lm orchestra Directed by Josie Rourk Language: Russian FELIX VARLAMISHVILI (VARLA) Directed by Leo Gabriadze RHAPSODY ON PAGANINI’S Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Start time: 22:30 SOLO EXHIBITION Script: Revaz Gabriadze THEME Jack Lowden Ticket: 16-19 GEL On display for the fi rst time, more Genre: Animation, Biography The soloist: Vato Jordania Genre: Biography, Drama, History than 60 artworks of the author kept Conductor: Maestro Giorgi Jordania Language: Georgian BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY in the Georgian National Museum English Subtitles Language: Russian Start time: 19:30 (Info Above) and private collections. Start time: 20:00 Start time: 21:34 Tickets: 10-30 GEL Ticket: 15 GEL Language: English Ticket: 15 GEL KHIDI Start time: 16:15 V.Bagrationi Bridge, Right January 31 January 25, 26 HOLMES & WATSON Ticket: 13-19 GEL Embankment SOUNDWAVE Directed by Etan Cohen Presents: RAMONA MUSEUM Revaz Gabriadze Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Every Tuesday, from 15:00-20:00 JAY-JAY JOHANSON and KID JESUS Directed by Revaz Gabriadze Ralph Fiennes Until February 20 Start time: 20:00 English Subtitles Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime GEORGIAN NATIONAL Multidisciplinary exhibition project Tickets: 40-50 GEL Start time: 20:00 Language: Russian MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA IN-BETWEEN CONDITIONS CAFE MZIURI Ticket: 20, 30 GEL Start time: 19:30 MUSEUM ‘In-between conditions’ displays Mziuri Park Ticket: 15 GEL 3 Rustaveli Ave. 18 work contributions expressing MOVEMENT THEATER cultural impulses affected by TEL (+995 32) 299 80 22, 293 48 21 January 27 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave. GREEN BOOK political or social forces. www.museum.ge SAKVIARO FOR CHILDREN TEL (+995 32) 598 19 29 36 Directed by Peter Farrelly Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala WINDOW PROJECT Great fun with invited guests Exhibitions: GALLERY Start time: 12:00-14:00 January 25 Ali, Linda Cardellini GEORGIAN COSTUME AND 7 Tatishvili Str. DON JUAN Genre: Biography, Comedy, History WEAPONRY OF THE 18TH-20TH TEL (+995) 577 55 35 53 TBILISI STATE Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Language: Russian Start time: 22:00 CENTURIES CONSERVATOIRE Composer: Sandro Nikoladze VAKHTANG KOKIASHVILI’S 8 Griboedov Str. Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 13-14 GEL NUMISMATIC TREASURY SOLO EXHIBITION Ticket: 10-15 GEL SECOND ORDER January 25 SERENITY STONE AGE GEORGIA ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURE Classical music cognitive program: January 31 Directed by Steven Knight DÉDICACE GALLERY NEW LIFE TO THE ORIENTAL KEY KEYS LEADER IGGI Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne 27 Atoneli Str. COLLECTIONS TAMAR LICHEL Story By Jemal Karchkhadze Hathaway, Diane Lane Start time: 16:00 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Genre: Drama, Thriller January 29 – February 11 Ticket: 10-50 GEL Music: Sandro Nikoladze Language: Russian December 6 – February 28 (2019) KOTE JINCHARADZE’S Start time: 20:00 Start time: 22:15 WISDOM TRANSFORMED INTO EXHIBITION January 29 Ticket: 10-15 GEL Ticket: 13-14 GEL GOLD SAND GLASS Piano Music Evening: ALEXANDER VASADZE In Program: works by Scarlatti, Haydn, Beethoven, Liszt and Prokofi ev Start time: 19:30 Ticket: 5 GEL

MOVEMENT THEATER 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave. TEL (+995 32) 598 19 29 36

January 29 JAM SESSION Every Tuesday Musical art director- Sandro Nikoladze Entry: Free

BASSIANI 2 A. Tsereteli Ave.

January 25 HOROOM: CLAUDIO PRC NEWA, FRANCOIS X, KVANCHI Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 20-30 GEL

January 26 ZENAARI: STEVE HAUSCHILDT NUM Start time: 19:30 Ticket: 10-30 GEL

January 26 HOROOM: COSMIC LOVE ROTATION, KRAUMUR Start time: 23:55 Ticket: 10-20 GEL GEORGIA TODAY JANUARY 25 - 28, 2019 CULTURE 11 National Museum of Georgia Hosts Exhibition 'Red Terror & Georgian Artists' or expatriation were forced to live in and countries, Kotetishvili dared to carve BY LIKA CHIGLADZE conditions of limited freedom of expres- a statue of a man on his knees, demon- sion and their creative life suffered under strating a devastated and unhappy man Tsarist and later Communist Russia. living in the Soviet Union.” he red inscription reads: The exhibition Red Terror and Georgian All fi ve artists presented on the fi rst “This kind of verdict was Artists represents the creativity of the fl oor are exceptional personalities who often heard in the court repressed artists and the general atmos- contributed to Georgian culture. Dimitri when innocent people, pub- phere of 1930-40s Georgian art. Shevardnadze is the founder of the National lic fi gures and artists were “The exhibition incorporates two parts. Gallery of Georgia, having himself col- Texecuted by the Soviet Regime.” Welcome The fi rst focuses on fi ve artists that expe- lected almost all the artworks by Niko to the Red Terror exhibition. rienced the worst pressure and were shot,” Pirosmanashvili (Pirosmani). He also There are many names of Georgian art- Eka Kiknadze, the head of the National actively took part in establishing the Tbi- ists, both contemporary and from the Gallery and organizer of the project, told lisi Academy of Arts with Henryk previous century, that are known inter- GEORGIA TODAY. “The works of Dim- Hryniewski. Shevardnadze also founded nationally, yet there are many that have itri Shevardnadze, Petre Otskheli, Vakh- a program of museum management in been in the shadows for years, forgotten tang Kotetishvili, Richard Sommer and Georgia and was both initiator and par- as a result of Soviet rule. To remember Henryk Hryniewski are being exhibited ticipant of the cultural life of Georgia in and reintroduce the great representatives on the fi rst fl oor. The second part of the the 1920-30s. of Georgian art of the 1920s-40s, the Geor- display is devoted to Georgian artists of Yet another victim and important per- gian National Museum for the fi rst time the 1920s-1940s. Through these works, sonality whose bold and cutting-edge presents the exhibition ‘Red Terror and we aim to show how the Soviet regime artworks are presented at the venue is Georgian Artists.’ and its ideology infl uenced art. The exhi- Petre Otskheli, recognized as a modern- The mass repressions known as the bition clearly shows the transformation ist and one of the most progressive artists “Red Terror,” a powerful weapon directed of the artists, how they worked before of his time, not only in Georgia but inter- towards total control, touched upon all and after the severe repressions. The Red nationally. layers and ages of society. The mass Terror was especially painful for the art- “The second part of the display show- repressions hit both Georgian and foreign ists who worked in the 1910s and so were cases how artists were infl uenced by the artists living in Georgia, whose creative able to experience Georgia as an inde- totalitarian regime and shows the contrast and public activities had them standing pendent country with easy access to between their paintings, before the occu- as the vanguard of the country’s art pro- Europe, until they were separated from pation and after it. This can be clearly cesses. Great Georgian artists such as it by the Iron Curtain. When the Bolshe- seen in famous Georgian artist Elene Petre Otskheli, Dimitri Shevadnadze and viks came to power, the artists were given Akhvlediani’s two works, the fi rst painted Vakhtang Kotetishvili fell victim to the the order to portray the Soviet regime in in the 1920s in a free manner, where the Soviet rule and were shot for their work. a good way and therefore they were artist’s style and signature is visible, while These are artists who stood out for their restricted from freely expressing them- the second artwork, named ‘Abastumi individuality and courage, and distinct selves in their artworks. They were forced Resort’ was made in 1940 on order,” styles and ideas that were not acceptable to lie and create an illusion of the cruel Kiknadze said. “At that time, Soviet cen- to the Soviet authorities. Foreign artists reality,” she added. sorship approved and supported only who lived and worked in Georgia, Henryk One highlight of the exhibition is that naturalist paintings. At the venue, one Hryniewski and Richard Sommer, were visitors will be able to discover sculptor can see examples of Soviet censorship accused of either counterrevolutionary Vakhtang Kotetishvili. “He is known to and the artworks that were criticized or activities or espionage and were executed society as a splendid writer, but he is less prohibited due to their distinctiveness. like their Georgian counterparts, while known as a sculptor,” Kiknadze told us. At the time, jury members instead of art Kiril Zdanevich, Ivane Pataridze and Vas- “His wooden statue of a man on his knees critiques, representatives of the Com- ily Shukhaev spent years in expatriation. represents a symbol of that epoch and munist Workers’ Party, evaluated the Ria Mikadze and Nino Zaalishvili were people persecuted and oppressed by the paintings not from an artistic or aesthetic charged as “family members of public totalitarian rule. We chose his sculpture point of view but based on how it coin- enemies.” People saw the repressions take as the main hero of the exhibition, since cided with Soviet ideology.” everything they had, sometimes even whereas all the artists in 1930s were The exhibition is on at the GNM on their lives. Those who survived execution ordered to paint happy Soviet citizens Rustaveli Avenue until March 1. First Offi cial Georgian Library Opens in New York icans who are interested in Georgia, its 923 new libraries [or book boxes] in the BY LIKA CHIGLADZE culture and literature, and who want to villages of Georgia.” discover more. The Georgian delegation also met the “There is huge interest towards Geor- Head of the Library of Congress during he National Library of Geor- gia that is evolving, and this library will their time in the US to discuss important gia has offi cially opened a serve the needs of book lovers who want issues and possible future collaboration. Georgian library in the to get a deeper insight into our country,” They reached an agreement to bring a Queens Library in New Kekelidze said. “The opening of a Geor- Georgian archive of high importance to York. The Georgian side gian corner is an important occasion, Georgia: that of Valeri Chalidze, a well- Tstarted working on this project three since for quite a long time Georgia was known Soviet dissident and human rights years ago. Hundreds of Georgian books, considered part of Russia. Now, those activist deprived of his USSR citizenship fi lms and audio recordings have been who still think that we belong to Russia in 1972 while on a visit to the US, who taken to the library and the Delegation will realize that we are different coun- passed away in 2018. of the National Library, Levan Taktak- tries with very different cultures and “His archive now belongs to the National ishvili and Maia Simonishvili, led by the literature.” Library of Georgia,” Kekelidze informed Head, Giorgi Kekelidze, went on a special Kekelidze told us that the NY opening us. “During Soviet rule in Georgia, his visit to New York (NY) to attend the represented the 60th Georgian corner name was associated with anti-Soviet opening ceremony. GEORGIA TODAY opened in libraries around the world, activities and his books were prohibited. spoke to Giorgi Kekelidze about the pro- among them Madrid, Barcelona, Bari, Among the works issued by Chalidze ject. Frankfurt, Munich, Potsdam, Paris, Nice are hitherto unpublished materials “This is the fi rst offi cial Georgian cor- and Istanbul. retrieved from the Trotsky Archive at ner in the US,” he told us. “With the help “Additionally, we are continuing to Harvard University, as well as the mem- of my coworker Maia Simonishvili, who books translated into English as well as since Queens Library NYC is an inter- open new libraries in the regions of oirs of Trotsky, and Chalidze's own works is the coordinator of the project, we original language books.” national and very important library. The Georgia to make books more accessible about the Trotskyite opposition of the brought around 100 publications to the The library is not intended solely for Georgian corner library within it is set to the local inhabitants,” the Library 1920s and 1930s and the post-Stalin dis- library at the fi rst stage, both Georgian Georgian emigrants, but for everyone, to attract the diaspora as well as Amer- Head told us. “To date, we have opened sident movement in the USSR.”

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