Tbilisi Pride: “I'm Worried People Might Die”
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Issue no: 1161 • JUNE 21 - 24, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... UNDP, Government of Sweden Promote Extended Producer Responsibility in Georgia NEWS PAGE 3 A Round-Up of the Week’s Political News FOCUS POLITICS PAGE 4 ON RUSSIA Georgia to Accelerate Outcry as visiting Russian MP oversteps the mark PAGE 2 Privatization of State Property POLITICS PAGE 4 Presentation of Entrepreneur June Issue & Website Tbilisi Pride: “I’m Worried www.entrepreneur.ge BUSINESS PAGE 6 People Might Die” First Bolnisi Int’l Forum Takes Rural Development Seriously BY AMY JONES SOCIETY PAGE 7 ith the fi rst ever Pride taking The IMMAGICA Exhibition: place in Tbilisi this week, reactions from both the gov- a Journey into Forgotten ernment, right-wing groups and Church have revealed a Forms of Beauty Wdark underbelly and readiness for violence in Georgia. On 15 June, businessman Levan Vesadze, who is known for his extreme hate speech and pro- Russian views, recorded a video address calling on “real” men to create a “people’s legion” to patrol Tbilisi’s streets. “We will not allow the LGBT activists to hold any public action, wherever this happens, in movie theaters, in parks, in the streets, in the mountains or at the lakes,” he said in his video address on June 15. “We will come to you every- where, we will break through any cordon and we will overwhelm you.” Continued on page 3 Image source - Tbilisi Pride CULTURE PAGE 11 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS JUNE 21 - 24, 2019 On the Scandal of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy gia, as a state should stop operating in BY KETEVAN KVARATSKHELIYA this Assembly.” AND THEA MORRISON The Ambassador of Ukraine to Geor- gia left the reception held within the Interparliamentary Assembly on Ortho- he arrival of a Russian doxy in protest when Sergey Gavrilov delegation, headed by was delivering his speech. Sergey Gavrilov, the Mem- Ambassador Igor Dolgov said that he ber of the Parliament of did not want to hear the speech of the the Russian Federation Russian offi cial. The Ukrainian diplo- Tand the President of the General Assem- mat underlined that Russia continues bly of the Interparliamentary Assembly occupying Ukraine and Georgia and it on Orthodoxy, which was taking place contradicts all international norms. in Tbilisi June 19-23, was met with pro- Zakaria Kutsnashvili, member of the tests at the Palace of State Ceremonies parliamentary majority, has apologized in Avlabari and has become a matter to the Georgian nation. of strong debates and even confronta- "I understand that the society was tions. irritated to see the Russian Deputy in Gavrilov's addressing the audience Giorgi Antsukhelidze, Giga Otkhozoria, responded. Euro-Atlantic aspirations. the chair of the Speaker of Parliament from the seat of the Georgian Parlia- Archil Tatunashvili and other victims The members of the ruling party also Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi of Georgia. I want to apologize to the ment Speaker especially escalated the of the Russian occupation, at the ses- stated that seeing the Russian MP on soon announced that, due to the recent public. I realize I should have more tension, and was followed by large-scale sion hall of the Parliament of Georgia. the high tribune was devastating and developments, the Assembly had been intensively worked in the international demonstrations of public and the oppo- Gavrilov, who is also the Chairman of had not been agreed to. cancelled and that the delegation from secretariat," said Kutsnashvili. sition parties, who were claiming that the Committee on Issues of Public Asso- Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Russia would leave. After the assembly The Interparliamentary Assembly on taking into account the occupation ciations and Religious Organizations of Kobakhidze stated in his opening speech was canceled, the demonstrators moved Orthodoxy (IAO.) is an interparliamen- policy of Russia, such developments the Federal Assembly of the Russian that despite their Orthodox Christian- to the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel where tary body, set up upon the initiative of are intolerable. Federation, the State Duma, stated he ity, it is the Russian political leadership the politicians were supposed to be. the Hellenic Parliament. The protesters accused Gavrilov of never participated in any hostilities in that stands behind the occupation of Sergei Gavrilov had to leave the Hotel Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, fi ghting against Georgia during the war Abkhazia and says he believes that Rus- the two Georgian regions. with the help of guards and Georgian Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, in the 1990s in occupied Abkhazia. They sia and Georgia should resume relations "It is regrettable that the most painful police, as the protesters had blocked Finland, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, highlighted that Gavrilov initiated a in many directions. problem of our country - violation of the entrances and were throwing bot- Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, draft law in 2011 providing assistance "I think we should contribute not only territorial integrity -is the result of the tles and eggs at him. Romania, the Federation of Russia, Ser- to de-facto authorities of Georgia’s two to tourism and business but also to cul- political leadership of our neighboring Kakha Okriashvili, the Chairman of bia, Montenegro, Slovakia and Ukraine, Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia ture, and I want to answer to the fake state professing the same Orthodox the Faction “Georgian Dream – for as well as, groups of Members of Par- and South Ossetia. news released by the Georgian media. Christianity," he addressed the Assem- Regional Development” has demanded liaments from: Australia, Asia, Africa The demonstrators stressed that MP I have never participated in any hos- bly participants. preterm elections and said that all those and the USA were participating in the Gavrilov is Putin’s “ideological ally” tilities on the territory of Abkhazia. It’s Kobakhidze stressed it is unacceptable responsible for organizing the Assem- 26th General Assembly of the IAO in and he should not have been allowed a lie,” he said. that in the 21st century Russia carries bly should leave the majority. Tbilisi. into Georgia. The organizer of the rally The Russian MP also responded to out such an aggressive policy against “I am responding to the recent devel- At time of going to press, citizens of was the civil movement “Russia Is Occu- the question as to whether he feels Georgia. opment in the Georgian Parliament and Georgia, joined by a number of public pant.” uncomfortable while in the country, “Georgia will not be defeated with want to express my views in this respect,” fi gures have blocked the Rustaveli Avenue, The members of the United National 20% of which is occupied by Russia. violence because today's political course stated Okriashvili. “The Interparliamen- protesting the day’s incident and demand- Movement party displayed the EU and “I have no discomfort at all. I am very of the Georgian people is our historic tary Assembly on Orthodoxy must not ing the government take responsibility Georgian fl ags, as well as photos of happy. Georgia is my homeland,” he choice,” he added, underlining Georgia’s continue. Furthermore, I believe, Geor- for it. GEORGIA TODAY JUNE 21 - 24, 2019 NEWS 3 UNDP, Government of Sweden Promote Extended Producer Responsibility in Georgia -waste management under Organization (PRO). the Extended Producer The project builds on the achievements Responsibility (EPR) in Geor- on the previous work undertaken by gia is the focus of a new pro- UNDP, the Government of Sweden, the ject launched this week by Ministry of Environmental Protection Ethe United Nations Development Pro- and Agriculture, and GEO in 2017-2018 gram (UNDP) and the Government of to promote EPR as part of Georgia’s Sweden, in cooperation with the Geor- Waste Management Code. gian non-governmental organization The project activities will be imple- GEO (Georgia’s Environmental Outlook) mented in close partnership with the and the Ministry of Environmental Pro- key national and international stakehold- tection and Agriculture. ers – governmental institutions, the pri- The kick-off meeting on 19 June brought vate sector, civil society and international together representatives of the Georgian agencies. Government, civil society and interna- Every year, Georgia generates around tional agencies. 900,000 tons of municipal waste. This Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister waste contains up to 1,000 non-hazard- of Environmental Protection and Agri- ous and hazardous substances which culture of Georgia; Nino Antadze, UNDP pose a threat to human health and the Environment & Energy Team Leader in environment. Georgia; and Khatuna Zaldastanishlivi, EPR is a policy approach successfully Program Offi cer at the Embassy of Swe- implemented throughout Europe. Under den, addressed the participants of the this instrument, producers and import- meeting with welcome remarks. ers take responsibility for the collection Khatuna Gogaladze, Head of the GEO, and treatment of specifi c waste. presented the main directions of the In Georgia, the principle of Extended planned activities, as well as the pros- Producer Responsibility is part of the pects and challenges associated with the Waste Management Code, adopted in introduction of Extended Producer December 2014. EPR enters into force Responsibility (EPR) in Georgia. from 1 December 2019 for the following The 16-month initiative aims to sup- specifi c waste streams: port the practical implementation of the - packaging waste (plastic, paper/card- Image source: UNDP Georgia EPR principle in e-waste management board, wood, metal, glass), its introduction requires a relevant legal Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle the project, such as the EPR Manual, once it enters into force on 1 December - waste electrical and electronic equip- framework and adequate awareness of as required by the Waste Management e-waste volumes: status and future trends, 2019.