TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #006 (4810) MessengerTUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Politics GD party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili Ballet, politicians, and national consciousness: leaves politics Should art be free from the political agenda?

FULL STORY ON Page 2 Israeli Ambassador concerned by the Anti- Semitic sermon of several Georgian priests

FULL STORY ON Page 3

“I have decided to finally retire from politics and fully distance myself from the reins of power. I am leaving BY KHATIA BZHALAVA the post of Party Chairman, as well as the party itself, and am returning to my pre-2011, private lifestyle,” reads Ivanishvii’s open letter. illionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder Band the head of the ruling Georgian movement of the country along the Euro- tion in the process. The billionaire be- business has significantly improved. Dream party has released an open letter Atlantic course chosen by the Georgian lieves that both of his tasks have been The letter reads that the current team yesterday, announcing his departure people and putting an end to Mikheil accomplished. of Georgian Dream party “is a unity that, from politics. Ivanishvili states in his let- Saakashvili’s ‘violent, inhumane, and Ivanishvili’s letter is critical towards with its patriotism, dedication, intellect, ter that the ruling party is staffed with undemocratic’ regime in a lawful man- and the previous solidarity with its fellow citizens, and pro- individuals who can replace his “hard ner, through election. According to government. The letter stresses that dur- fessionalism, is in every way on a par with work, authority, and skills in a worthy Ivanishvili, the opposition at that time ing Georgian Dream’s rule, a previously the governments of European states.” manner.” did not have the resource to change the severe situation especially in terms of “I leave politics with the hope that even According to Ivanishvili, the results of government without his direct participa- freedom of media and independence of that part of today’s opposition which, the 2020 parliamentary elections in Geor- through a lack of political will, inexperi- gia were unprecedented in the history of ence, or spinelessness, ended up within the country as the ruling party was able the zone of influence of the evil and its to obtain the mandate to rule from the main architect, will become convinced of people for a third term. He noted that this the futility of an inappropriate attitude victory is the clearest, most distinct, and toward the interests of the homeland due indisputable recognition of party mem- to political selfishness and one man’s bers’ joint efforts. The letter reads that unbridled desire to seize power,” com- the electoral success of the GD party was mented Ivanishvili about the opposition logical and expected. “The ruling team parties who refuse to take up their man- truly is the best option that has no alter- dates in parliament. “I am certain that native in terms of features and charac- these parties are aware of the hopeless- teristics among all political actors that ness of their current position and that exist today,” reads the letter. they will overcome this influence, that Ivanishvili announced his decision is, they will fight for their future, which, about leaving the post of party chairman, in turn, will be a prospect for Georgian as well as the party itself. He believes democracy,” he added. that his mission has been accomplished Yesterday, the GD party held a politi- and therefore, has decided to retire from cal council meeting at the party office. politics and fully distance himself from Kakha Kaladze, Secretary-General of the the reins of power. According to ruling party stated after the meeting that Ivanishvili, he is leaving politics proud, the convention of the Georgian Dream- victorious, and grateful to the people. He Democratic party would be held is confident that the Georgian people will on January 16. The convention, which appreciate his decision, which, according will be attended by up to 400 delegates to him, is dictated by the same interests The new chairman of the Georgian Dream party will be chosen on from all over the country, will elect a new that led him to enter politics. Chairman of the party. At the decision of Saturday, January 16, at the party’s convention. Current executive The letter reads that the purpose of his the political council, Irakli Kobakhidze entry into politics in 2011 was to fulfill secretary of the party, Irakli Kobakhidze has been nominated for the will be nominated for the post of Party two main goals – ensuring the unhindered post of the chairman of the ruling party. Chairman. P2 Politics The Messenger TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 Ballet, politicians, and national consciousness: Should art be free from the political agenda?

BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM tions as not particularly patri- otic, at the very least. It seems hen the prima ballerina of like Ananiashvili herself was WGeorgia and the Artistic anticipating the criticism on the Director of the Georgian Na- patriotic grounds to break out, tional Ballet, Nina Ananiashvili as she stated in an interview announced that she would be with the Radio Free Europe/ taking up the offer to head the Radio Liberty that her decision Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera was concerned with the “creative and Ballet (while retaining the work only”. She went on to re- leadership over the State Ballet assure the audience that she re- of Georgia), it came as a shock mains to be a “big supporter” of to everyone. It did not take long her country and that she does until the criticism started to rise not think that her actions could against the renowned dancer, be used as a tool by the “Rus- with even an ex-President sian propaganda” to undermine Saakashvili commenting on the Georgia. situation that was unwrapping Should one’s art mirror one’s at the time when he was inter- national identity? viewed. However, on top of the Many artists would probably expected wave of public disap- agree that whether they like it proval, a historical, and, indeed, or not, at some point, or rhetorical question has been throughout their lives, they raised – should art be separated maintain a certain degree of in- from politics, and does it, truly, fluence by the country of their have no borders? origin. Such influence can be Prima ballerina or a political both positive or negative ( al- figure by proxy? though the former is much more Nina Ananiashvili was born common than the latter), and in 1963, in , where she one’s art can be either inspired was enrolled in one of the city’s by or even mirror the realities ballet schools. She then pro- of one’s Homeland. It is, there- ceeded to study at the Bolshoi fore, easy to link such notion to Ballet Academy, and upon the artists’ responsibility, as a graduation, Ananiashvili joined public figure, social influencer, the troupe. or the messenger of the creative Shortly after, Ananiashvili’s tal- art to uphold the principles and ent became known in almost the overwhelming moods of the every part of the world – her country where they come from “Swan Lakes” and “Sleeping – especially if the artist pro- Beauties” and dreamy “Juliette“ claims affection and a deeply would leave the audience ap- rooted patriotism towards this plauding for a good 30 minutes country. after the performance had ended. On the other hand, one can In 1988, Ananiashvili mar- say that art exists outside of the ried then-Minister of the Foreign borders and above politics. In Affairs, , and Nina Ananiashvili, Courtesy State Ballet of Georgia the end, the only people that the gave birth to the daughter Elena artist is truly answering to is in 2006. The achievements of various renowned choreogra- and impresario of Ananiashvili, going situation is even more their respective audience, and this dancer are countless and phers who worked with the Geor- Grigol Vashadze, has enjoyed uncertain, since in December such audience, regardless of who speak for themselves – one of the gian ballet troupe and took the close political ties with an ex- last year Vashadze has an- they are and where they are com- first Soviet dancers to perform SBG to tour across the US on President and the founder of the nounced his decision to leave the ing from, should be feeling and as a guest soloist with the New numerous occasions. In the long United National Movement – chairmanship of the UNM processing the creative processes York City Ballet, principal list of Ananiashvili’s regalia, you Mikhail Saakashvili. Deputy party, and although Mrs. that are offered to them in uni- dancer at the American Ballet will find Georgia’s top cultural Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ananiashvili stated that her de- son. As of right now. Theatre, and the principal award – The Oracle of Art, as the Minister of Culture, Monu- cision had nothing to with the Novosibirsk theatre has tempo- dancer of the . well as the People’s Artist of ment Protection, and Sport, and prior decision of her husband, rarily suspended the contract Upon her return to Georgia in Georgia award, and the People’s later – the chairman of the such a decision is quite ambigu- with Ananiashvili on the 2004, Ananiashvili took up a lead Artist of Russia award. UNM, Vashadze has long been ous at the very least. grounds of her premature an- over the State Ballet of Georgia From first sight, it might one of the closest associates of Political and personal ties nouncement about heading the and has successfully staged seem like a success story of a Saakashvili. Moreover, aside, there is one more, a much theatre to the media, which the more than 60 full-time ballet talented artist – something that Ananiashvili herself became the more significant factor that can- theatre has found disrespectful productions, saw a renewal of the we, traditionally, prefer to take godmother to the ex-President’s not be overlooked in this context. toward the troupe that state funding, partnered with out of the context of the political son, Nikoloz. One might argue With the occupation of Georgian Ananiashvili was not yet intro- disputes or the country’s na- that this alone would be a rea- territories, and in the aftermath duced to. As the situation is fro- tional agenda. But art and poli- son enough to not take up an of- of the 2008 war, to which zen, one question remains quite Weather tics are more intertwined than fer of joining a theatre in Russia Vashadze himself referred to as hot – does art unite or divide? one might think, especially in if nothing else then to simply a decision that Moscow will And either way, does it even Tuesday, January 12 the post-Soviet hemisphere. avoid jeopardizing the political never be able to wash away from, matter? Until recently, the husband career of one’s spouse. The on- one may see Ananiashvili’s ac- Day Showers High: 10°C published by Nino Metreveli Night Showers The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 4°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with Mariam Mchedlidze article or news item please those of the newspaper. 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BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM Ambassador, this was not the tion, agriculture, and high-tech, only occurrence, as two weeks as well as organized numerous is Excellency Ran Gidor, prior to the incident with the humanitarian projects and as- Hacting ambassador of Is- Deacon Ilia Karkadze, Metropoli- sisted in Georgian fight against rael to Georgia has recently tan of the Kutaisi-Gaenati Dio- the spread of COVID-19 pan- taken to Facebook to express his cese and the member of the Holy demic. On top of that, Georgia concerns about the anti-Semitic Synod, Ioane Gamrekeli “had has been one of the primary des- rhetoric that was spotted in the delivered his own highly contro- tinations for Israeli tourists, as Christmas sermons of several versial and problematic sermon, a record, 200 000 of them vis- Georgian priests. He began by parts of which could have been ited Georgia in 2019 making it saying that in his New Year con- interpreted as anti-Semitic”. “the biggest group of any coun- gratulations to the country, he The Ambassador said that af- try which is not an immediate expressed his sincerest hope that ter spending several years in Geor- neighbour to Georgia”. the friendship between Georgia gia, he is confident that the ma- With the upcoming Interna- and Israel communities will be jority of people here do not share tional Day of Commemoration of strong as ever in 2021, and there such alarming views, and, to the the Holocaust on January 27th, will be no place for anti- contrary, have peacefully coex- and as a “son of a 91-year-old Ho- Semitism, racism, and bigotry isted with the Jewish community locaust survivor”, the Ambassa- in the Georgian. “Unfortunately, for more than 2 millennia, and the dor has called upon the Georgian I was wrong” – wrote the Am- Jewish community was subjected government and Patriarch Ilia bassador. to a much lesser and a rarer anti- II to publicly condemn the hate- He went on to say that on Semitism, than the communities ful sermons and anti-Semitic January the 4, a Deacon of the elsewhere in the world. speeches. The Georgian Minis- Kutaisi Trinity Cathedral, Ilia His Excellency Ran Gidor has ter of Foreign Affairs David Karkadze, voiced the “anti- also reminded that in reciproc- Zalkaliani responded on his Semitic conspiracy theories” that ity to the kindness of Georgian Tweeter page by saying that not were “reminiscent of some of the people, Israel has invested in the even the slightest expression of worst blood-libels and anti-Jew- Georgian economy by training anti-Semitism may find its place ish hate propaganda of 1930s more than 1,500 Georgian citi- in the “hearts and minds of Geor- Europe”. According to the Israeli H.E. Ran Gidor zens in Israeli medicine, educa- gians”. Government extends coronavirus-related restrictions until February 1st allowed to operate, (only agrar- At this stage, Georgia is work- ian markets continue to func- ing on purchasing Pfizer, tion), Private and public kinder- Moderna, or AstraZeneca gartens are closed, schools, vo- coronavirus vaccines. According cational schools, and higher edu- to Gabunia, obtaining Chinese cation institutions (except medi- vaccines is not on the agenda as cal education programs) are fully they have not been authorized by switched to online mode. stringent regulatory authorities According to the Deputy yet. Health Minister Tamar Yesterday, Georgia reported Gabunia, Georgia only considers 551 new infection cases, 880 re- purchasing vaccines authorized coveries, and 23 deaths. Since by stringent regulatory authori- the first outbreak of COVID-19 ties. The vaccine should be in the country, there have been qualified by the World Health a total of 239,780 confirmed Organization and should have an cases, 226,215 recoveries, and international acknowledgment. 2,796 fatalities.

Restriction on the movement of municipal transport as well as the operation of shopping malls remain in force.

BY KHATIA BZHALAVA that the restrictions imposed by the government have been effec- he Minister of Economy and tive in stabilizing the situation, TSustainable Development the rate of infection is still high. Natia Turnava announced yes- Thus the Inter-Agency Coordina- terday that the targeted restric- tion Council has decided to ex- tions and regulations in the tend targeted restrictions, which country will remain in force un- include suspension of municipal til February 1. The minister transport in big cities and clo- noted that the two-three weeks sure of shopping malls. Restric- left before the end of the month tion on movement from 21:00 till will be used for active commu- 05:00 throughout the country nication and meetings with rep- still remains in force. Besides the resentatives of the business sec- mentioned restrictions, in big tor to ensure the safe opening of cities of Georgia including both transport and business in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, February. Rustavi, Gori, Poti, Zugdidi, and According to her, even though Telavi, as well as the ski resorts At this stage, Georgia is considering purchasing Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca the statistics of daily cases show Open and closed markets are not coronavirus vaccines.