Tbilisi Metro Resumes Work the Strike Itself Means Workers Refusing to Per- by THEA MORRISON Form Their Duties As a Form of Protest
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Issue no: 1055 • JUNE 8 - 11, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... Fundraising Training for Festival Organizers in Adjara NEWS PAGE 2 Possible EU-Russia Rapprochement FOCUS POLITICS PAGE 4 ON DEMANDS What Does the EU Preach? – The MEP Bishop Explains All FOR CHANGE POLITICS PAGE 6 Will Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani be next to leave the Estonian MEP on the Way gov't team? PAGE 3 forward for Georgia’s Photo: sputnik-georgia.com European Aspirations Tbilisi Metro Resumes Work the strike itself means workers refusing to per- BY THEA MORRISON form their duties as a form of protest. It was the third time Tbilisi City Court ruled against the metro workers, highlighting that a bilisi metro employees have agreed strike during working hours would paralyze to return to work after a three-day traffi c in the capital. Indeed, although the buses strike which created serious prob- were announced as free of charge to ride on lems throughout the capital. from June 3, the move did little to alleviate con- On June 6, the workers had another gestion and overcrowding as city-dwellers waited Tmeeting with Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and at bus-stops during rush hour to squeeze on an agreement was reached that the salaries of already-full buses to get to and from work. Tbi- the workers will increase from 2019. On May 21, Tbilisi City Court made a decision lisi Metro serves around 400,000 people every POLITICS PAGE 8 The employees demanded a 45% increase in which stated that metro workers could go on day. their salaries, yet, later, they agreed to resume strike only during out-of-offi ce hours. Opposition United National Movement (UNM) The Kavkaz Jazz Festival work if an agreement was made that their sala- The union of metro workers ‘Unity 2013’ claimed member Zaal Udumashvili says the budget of ries would defi nitely be increased from January the decision of the court was the equivalent of the capital saw around a 600,000 GEL loss in SOCIETY PAGE 11 2019. a restriction of their right to express protest, as the days of the metro strike. New Musical Project Sounds of Georgia Offers Tourists Mini Concerts Chat with us CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS JUNE 8 - 11, 2018 Fundraising Training for Festival Organizers in Adjara he British Council-Georgia’s training and mentoring. cases and innovative models of collabora- successful partnership with This is the third such training for fes- tion between the British Festivals such as the Ministry of Education, tival professionals in Adjara. The previ- the Edinburgh , Fringe, Brighton , Unlim- Culture and Sport of the ous training conducted in July 2017 was ited, and Gloucester festivals. Adjara Autonomous Repub- dedicated to the development of a mar- It is hoped that projects implemented Tlic is ongoing within their Memorandum keting plan and in June 2017, participants by the British Council will signifi cantly of Cooperation. of the training session acquired the contribute to turning Adjara into a Hub On 5, 6, 7 and 8 June, they are organ- knowledge, understanding and a practi- of international festivals, enabling mil- izing a Fundraising Training conducted cal framework enabling them to write a lions of people all over the world to dis- by Owen McNeir, the representative of festival and event management plan. cover this beautiful part of Georgia. FEI - Festivals and Events International. One of the highlights of the program, the The British Council is the UK’s inter- The training will enable participants to ‘Festivals for Development Conference’ national organization for cultural relations get familiar with fundraising tools, trends for governmental institutions and festival and educational opportunities. It creates and methods which are often built on organizers, was held in Batumi on 14 March. friendly knowledge and understanding collaboration and shared interests. It was organized to raise awareness about between the people of the UK and other Owen McNeir is a Marketing and Devel- the importance and contribution of festi- countries. Using the UK’s cultural opment professional with a successful vals to cultural and economic development, resources, it makes a positive contribu- track record delivering short-term results and their role in the development of cre- tion to the countries it works with – chang- and long-term sustainability in the Arts ative and cultural industries. Key person- ing lives by creating opportunities, build- & Culture through strategic planning, alities of UK festivals presented the best ing connections and engendering trust. EuroDIG 2018 in Georgia Examination Report Confi rms Tatunashvili Was Tortured BY THEA MORRISON he forensic examination report released on June 5 reads that deceased Geor- gian citizen and former soldier, Archil Tatunashvili, Following several successfully con- Tdetained in late February by de facto BY SHAWN WAYNE ducted forums on internet governance South Ossetian forces, was likely tortured (GeoIGF) in Georgia that received pos- as more than 100 injuries were infl icted itive international feedback, the organi- on his body before death. However, the eorgia’s capital of Tbilisi zational committee of the EuroDIG report does not mention what caused is hosting the European decided to hold the 11th EuroDIG 2018 his death. Dialogue on Internet Gov- in Georgia. Tamar Avaliani, the representatives of ernance (EuroDIG) 2018 Georgia’s Economy Minister Dimitry Non-Governmental Organization Human on June 4-6. Kumsishvili offi cially opened the forum. Rights and Monitoring Center (EMC) GOver 500 guests representing European In his speech, he talked about the pros- and lawyer of Tatunashvili’s family, says Tatunashvili’s father says he has ques- Georgian men were detained by occu- countries and European structures are pects for development of the telecom- that the report does not mention some tions for the forensic examination bureau, pant forces on February 22 and taken to now in Tbilisi to discuss all the issues munication sphere in Georgia and the important injuries, including a gunshot claiming the report is faulty. a breakaway Tskhinvali detention facil- related to internet management and the steps being taken in this direction. to his head. “Several injuries which I saw and many ity. The next day, the de facto law enforc- development of the digital economy, “The Government of Georgia strongly “The nose was sewn back onto the other people too, are not mentioned in ers released information about Tatu- including human rights protection on cares about the development of the tel- body, which was not mentioned in the the document. I will go there and ask for nashvili’s death. The puppet regime the internet, freedom of expression, ecommunication sphere by using inno- report, also, the left temple of the fore- answers,” Giorgi Tatunashvili, father of stated he died of heart failure but later copyright protection, data protection vative techniques and technologies. In head was deformed, which was not men- the murdered 35-year-old soldier stated. said he had resisted the guards and fallen regulations (GDPR), cyber security, recent years we have made important tioned either,” the lawyer says. Tatunashvili says he is sure his son was down the stairs and was taken to hospi- access to the internet and content, devel- steps to speed up the development of She added that the family is expecting brutally tortured and then killed by a tal, where he died. opment of the telecommunication infra- information and communication tech- the fi nal report of the complex examina- shot to the head. De facto authorities of South Ossetia structure, accessibility of the internet in nologies (ICT)”, Kumsishvili said. tion by August, which in September will “I saw the photos of the examination. handed the body to the Georgian side the communities, domains, protection This is the fi rst time that the forum is be submitted to the Strasbourg Human He had severe injuries and bruises all only on March 20. After the autopsy, of children’s rights, digital economy, held in the Eastern Partnership country Rights Court, along with the lawsuit over his body. His limbs and fi ngers were Tatunashvili was buried with military e-commerce, block chain, digital literacy, and the second occasion when it is tak- against the Russian Federation regarding also broken,” he added. honor at Mukhatgverdi Brothers Cem- innovations. ing place in a non-EU country. the case. Archil Tatunashvili and two other etery near Tbilisi. Tbilisi Celebrates National Day of Italy with outstanding Creativity, Fashion Shows & Exhibitions he Embassy of Italy in Geor- Italian photographer and mountaineer in its turn is much more than just a life- gia celebrated the National Vittorio Sella’s photos of 19th Century style: it is a harmonious blend of tradi- Day of the Republic of Italy Georgia and the famous Italian photogra- tions, innovation, technology, elegance on June 4 by hosting an event pher and portraitist Max Cardelli’s recent and functions. The popularization of the for various guests, featuring landscapes and portraits showcased in a Italian lifestyle rule and concept “Made Texhibitions, fashion shows and numerous photo exhibition; a photo gallery of true in Italy” serves the promotion of a new surprises. The Silk Factory Studio was the Italian art masterpieces related to gas- initiative “Italian June,” with the par- host venue, a backdrop to a real kaleido- tronomy and a photo exhibition of the ticipation of local companies that import scope of Italian creativity: Italian fashion “Young Talents of Italian Architecture” and sell Italian products on the Georgian trends presented in a fashion show organ- project competition winner. market and, throughout the month of ized through a partnership with CNAFa- The celebration of the Italian National June, offer various promotions and dis- dermoda and Italian design concept dis- Day is related to the concept “Vivere counts to customers.