July 17 - 23, 2015

WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY www.georgiatoday.ge Price: GEL 2.50 Georgia Today 24 p. ISSUE No.775 RRRussiaussiaussia CrCreeeepingping CloserCloser IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE What the Greek Bailout Agreement Looks Like PM Tsipras and Greek negotiating team accept BUSINESS HEADLINES bailout, harsh terms and all, with the Eurozone having made only slight US Donates 85 concessions. P.2 Million USD to South Caucasus P.11 Tea: a Potential New signposts on South Ossetian ABL leave farmland and BP pipeline under Russian control. Gold Mine of P.6 Georgian Value of Prague Good Cop Agriculture? P.4 Talks Tires and Tickets: Questioned Bad Cop Reclaiming the Amid South Amid South Zugdidi Incident Prompts Expats Sidewalks in to Reveal Police Concerns FLIGHT SCHEDULE Ossetia Border Tbilisi Controversy Foreigners come forward with their own tales of Citizens fight for their No progress to report: negligent or even aggressive right to walk on sidewalks "Russia does not trade its P.4 treatment from police in while City Hall works on allies,” PM Medvedev says. P.6 Georgia. P.8 new parking schemes. P.17 2 JULY 17 - 23 POLITICS WWhahatt thethe GrGreekeek BailoutBailout AgAgrreementeement LooksLooks LikLikee By Joseph Larsen FEW CONCESSIONS BY “possible longer grace and payment pe- EUROZONE riods” which could be extended to Months of bitter negotiations be- The statement shows that Eurozone Greece in order to make its debt more tween Greece and its Eurozone credi- negotiators made only slight conces- sustainable. tors are nearly over. Early Monday sions from the June 26 proposal. morning the two sides agreed on a cash- The EUR50 billion privatization REBELLION IN SYRIZA RANKS for-reform agreement that will provide fund will be managed by the Greek au- Tsipras and the Greek negotiating Greece with an EUR86 billion bailout thorities, an easing of previous demands team accepted the bailout, harsh terms allowing it to meet its debt obligations that it be “transferred to an existing ex- and all. But getting the agreement for the next three years. ternal and independent fund.” through Greek parliament came at the Most importantly, the troubled Furthermore, only one part of the cost of alienating much of the party’s Mediterannean nation will remain in the fund must be earmarked to pay down base. Eurozone. It will be the third bailout Greek debt. The previous proposal de- “With this deal, the public mandate program extended to Greece since 2010. manded that the full EUR50 billion be and the proud ‘No’ of the Greek people The agreement comes with a cost, used for debt reduction. in the referendum is canceled,” railed however. Barely a week after voting to The Eurozone also pledged to “work Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, reject the Eurozone’s bailout conditions Greeks protest the country’s bailout agreement with the EU near the steps of the closely with the Greek authorities to one of Syriza’s staunch leftist members. in a stunning July 5 referendum, the parliament in Athens on July 13. mobilise up to EUR35 bn (under vari- Lafazanis was one of 38 Syriza mem- Greek people will be forced to swallow never left the negotiating table; it is still Measures include privatizing the ous EU programmes) to fund investment bers, including former Finance Minis- yet another round of harsh austerity at the negotiating table.” country’s electricity transmission net- and economic activity” over the next ter Yanis Varoufakis and Deputy Labor measures including tax increases and Sixty-one percent of voters checked work, liberalizing markets for products, three-to-five years. This is widely seen Minister Dimitris Stratoulis, who voted spending cuts. the “no” box, but it did little to streng- professional services and labor, and cut- as the most significant concession made against the agreement. Greek banks currently remain closed, then Greece’s position vis a vis its ting spending on public administration, by the creditors. The agreement was passed with 229 and Greek Economy Minister George ceditors. among other measures. A previous German proposal that votes in Greece’s 300-seat parliament, Stathakis has predicted that it will be “a The Euro Summit Statement issued Perhaps most difficult to accept for Greece be given a five-year “time-out from with Tsipras being forced to rely on sup- couple of months” before capital con- on July 12 set out the list of reforms and Syriza’s staunch leftist base, the deal will the euro area” if a deal wasn’t reached was port from opposition parties PASOK and trols are fully lifted. fiscal measures, that Greece had to require the government to place EUR50 also removed from the final text. New Democracy, both groups his party implement, on Wednesday evening be- billion in state assets in an “independent Dashing the hopes of many Greeks defeated in parliamentary elections ear- THE ANATOMY OF AN fore negotiations could begin on a fund that will monetize the assets who hoped that Tsipras could success- lier this year. AUSTERITY PACKAGE Memorandum of Understanding (the through privatisations and other means.” fully negotiate a write-down of some of The full text of the Euro Summit Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras conclusion of which would result in the Half of the proceeds (EUR25 billion) Greece’s debt, both the agreement and Statement can be accessed here: https:// and his left-wing Syriza party lobbied actual dispersal of bailout funds). will go to recapitalizing Greek banks; the previous proposal take the same hard www.google.ge/?gws_rd=cr,ssl- hard for the public to vote “no” in the The four preliminary points include the remainder will be divided between line: “nominal haircuts on the debt can- &ei=VISnVbHmL-4fiywPXl4- referendum on whether to accept a set increasing tax revenue, implementing paying down Greece’s external debts not be taken.” CIAQ#q=News-+Armenia+News- of economic reforms proposed by the pension reform, introducing automatic and funding growth initiatives. However, the final text mentions +Agency Eurozone on 26 June. spending cuts in case budget surplus tar- The move was intended to gain le- gets are missed, and ensuring full inde- verage in negotiations, with Tsipras tell- pendence of the national statistics office. ing a state-run TV station that “the The document contains a second list Former PM Zhvania’s Death greater the number of no [votes], the of required reforms that must be imple- greater weapon the government will mented in order for the Memorandum have to re-launch negotiations. Greece of Understanding to be agreed upon. Still a Mystery 10 Years On

By Steven Jones

The death of former Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania has been a con- troversial subject for Georgian society for several years. The current govern- ment promised a full investigation of the case prior to the 2012 elections, with many claiming that Zhvania’s death was not accidental and alleging that the United National Movement, then in power, had been involved. The Georgian prosecutor’s office has accused two members of Zhvania’s former private guard of neglecting their duties to protect the former PM, who was found dead in a private apartment on Feb- ruary 2, 2005. “I am a prosecutor and embarrassing topics do not exist for me. The defendants violated the law, official regulations, internal regulations and se- curity requirements. The General Inspec- Zurab Zhvania, Georgian Ex-Prime Minister. tion delivered a report that Kharshiladze of state security protocol, according to to the car but then realized it would be and Dzadzamia did not perform their which they were committed to provide absurd for Zura to be found in a strange duties in a proper way,” Revaz Nadoi, the security to a high-ranking official,” de- flat in such a condition, so we took Georgian prosecutor commented. clared the prosecutor in the courtroom. Usupov’s body back to the flat. I had “We have heard that the accused are Kharshiladze, the head of Zhvania’s already called Baramidze (Interior min- going to break their silence and tell truth private guards says: “February 2, 2005 ister that time), after which I phoned the in court. They have changed their evi- was a normal working day. I went to President. When law enforcers came the dence five times. The word of a man, work and then back home. Dzadzamia public became aware of the situation. I who has changed his evidence five called me at about 03:30 saying some- had no intentions of saying these words times, is worthless. They are guilty and thing was wrong. I went to the Saburtalo publicly, let Zura’s soul forgive me,” must be punished,” Nadoi underlined. district from Gldani, it took 10 minutes”. Koba Kharshiladze said. The former PM Zhvania according When I got to the flat, the door was Zhvania’s widow says the suspects to the prosecutor’s office was taken to locked, so I entered through a window. are lying: “The apartment was not sup- an unknown place and Kharshiladze and Zura was sitting in an armchair. We plied with natural gas at 3:00 AM. They Dzadzamia (private guards) were obli- checked his pulse and then performed are simply rambling, saying Dzadzamia gated to provide Zhvania with security CPR on his lifeless body. No signs of called Kharshiladze.” but did not. According to Nadoi “in fact, violence were visible at the scene,” The former PM’s brother Gogla they abandoned him”. Kharshiladze recalls. Zhvania also accuses the ex-government “All this resulted in a terrible inci- “The situation was like this: Usupov in covering the ‘authentic facts’. dent. The PM died under vague circum- (Governor of Kvemo Kartli Region, Zhvania’s death remains a cloudy stances; this means Kharshiladze and who died along with Zhvania), and chapter in Georgia’s recent history and HAVE YOUR HAIR CUT AT OUR SALON Dzadzamia did not fulfill their obliga- Zhvania were naked. We dressed and it may still be some time before a uni- AND GET HAIR DIAGNOSTIC AS A GIFT! tions properly and must be held account- cleaned the bodies, as any other person versally accepted version of events ma- able. They violated the special service would do. Then we took Usupov’s body terializes.

4 JULY 17 - 23 LAW

The ISET Policy Institute (ISET-PI, www.iset-pi.ge) is an independent think-tank associated with the International School of Economics at TSU (ISET). Our blog carries economic analysis of current events and policies in Georgia and the South Caucasus region ranging from agriculture, to economic growth, energy, labor markets and the nexus of economics, culture and religion. Thought-provoking and fun to read, our blog posts are written by international faculty teaching at ISET and recent graduates representing the new generation of Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian economists. Tea: a Potential Gold Mine of Georgian Agriculture? By Tamari Giorgadze ner of Georgia, also led to plummeting willing and able to adjust their product to and Irakli Kochlamazashvili production levels, and, many of the aban- the requirements of the already-established doned tea factories were robbed, with their Georgian tea brands, such as Gurieli, could The first tea bushes appeared in West- capital exported out of the country (mostly be integrated into their supply chains. ern Georgia in 1847, and since then tea as scrap metal). However, this would require a sustained production has played a significant, yet Due to the protracted halt in harvesting, effort on the part of the farmers to ensure widely unknown, role in Georgia’s history. tea plantations became overgrown. Re-cul- consistent quality. The humid and subtropical climate of tivating them is costly, approximately 7-8 Another way forward, currently sup- Western Georgia in the regions of Guria, thousand lari per hectare. The meager in- ported by the ENPARD project, is the cre- Samegrelo, Adjara, Imereti and Abkhazia comes of local farmers (about 495 lari a ation of farmer cooperatives that could join are ideal for harvesting tea, and this was a month on average (Geostat, 2013)) are in- forces in sorting, blending, packaging and fact eventually recognized by businessmen sufficient to finance rehabilitation efforts. branding unique tea varieties. In contrast outside Georgia. With a commission to Farmers’ uncertain and low income in com- to the rest of Europe, in Georgia, modern produce tea in the country, Lao Jin Jao, an bination with relatively high interest rates agricultural cooperatives – as opposed to Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (2015). *Preliminary figures for 2014. experienced tea farmer, arrived from set by private banks are key barriers for Soviet era collective farms – are a rela- China in 1893. By 1900, the tea he was farmers’ access to credit. Moreover, banks steady jobs and income generation oppor- tea leaves mature more slowly, eliminat- tively recent phenomenon. Perhaps one of producing was world-class in quality, win- do not accept tea plantations or processing tunities. The art and science of tea produc- ing any bitterness in the tea’s aftertaste. the reasons farmers drug their feet on for- ning the gold medal at the Paris World equipment as collateral, and the over- tion would continue to be passed down from Georgia is already producing high-qual- mal cooperation is the (wrong) associa- Expo, a competition in which all countries whelming majority of small-scale farmers generation to generation, keeping intact ity tea that is exported to countries like tion of this concept with the forced col- producing tea (apart from China) partici- are unwilling to risk losing their private Georgia’s social and cultural uniqueness. Germany, but, production volumes not lectivization experience under the USSR. pated. Since that peak, the history of tea property to take out a loan. Revitalizing the tea sector would also sufficiently large for large-scale export. The Tea Forum, which ISET-PI orga- in Georgia has been tumultuous, moving Due to these financial constraints and help diversify Georgia’s agricultural pro- It is dumbfounding to think that Geor- nized in Kutaisi early July 2015, was in- from the emphasis on quality to over-pro- the lack of necessary resources to reha- duction and thus help insure farmers gia is currently a net importer of tea given strumental in dismantling such an associa- duction and exploitation, and finally to bilitate overgrown plantations, the amount against price fluctuations of alternate the industry’s history and potential. In tion. The majority of farmers appear to un- practical abandonment. However, the pro- of land fit for harvesting tea is plummet- crops, such as hazelnuts and blueberries, terms of trade volume, 357 more tons of derstand the benefits of operating as a co- spective Georgia has of once again pro- ing. According to Tengiz Svanidze from while also promoting bio-diversity and tea is imported than exported (2014). In operative. The CARE consortium under the ducing tea of the caliber achieved in 1900 the Tea Producers’ Association of Geor- food security. This is a serious issue given value, (negative) net exports totaled more ENPARD project (which ISET is part of), is an important fact to keep in mind when gia, approximately 20,000 hectares of land the current tendency, observed in Guria than 6 million USD in 2014. is currently supporting two tea cooperatives. thinking about what potential tea has in were still suitable for tea harvesting in and Samegrelo, to uproot tea plantations In light of the above trade figures, it is Other proposals will be reviewed in the Georgia today. 2013; in May 2015 this quantity was and plant hazelnut trees instead. Triggered easy to see that Georgian tea producers have coming months. Most of these are micro halved to about 10,000 available hectares. by an exceptionally good season (and very not be able to capture their own domestic factories specializing in the production of THE GEORGIAN TEA INDUSTRY Compare this to the 67 thousand hectares high international prices) for hazelnuts, market. Why this is the case? Why should high quality tea. The money granted by IN SOVIET TIMES AND TODAY under tea plantations in the 1980s, and one this tendency runs the risk of putting too Georgia import tea when local production ENPARD will be paid back into a fund to In the early 1920s, Georgia’s new sta- sees the extent to which this sector has many eggs in one basket. potential can fully meet domestic demand? finance additional cooperatives, allowing tus as a Soviet Socialist Republic led to the shrunk. Disorganization has led to practi- The relatively low risk of tea due to its Some answers are provided by a study to further expand farmer cooperation. Al- government taking an active role in the cal abandonment, and the main challenge ability to withstand relatively severe of the tea value chain which has been re- ready today, 27 tea cooperatives are regis- development and exploitation of the tea nowadays is to keep intact whatever weather conditions is an additional ben- cently undertaken by ISET’s Agricultural tered in Georgia (including one second- industry. The volume of tea produced was knowledge and capital still remain. efit, safeguarding farmers against bad har- Policy Research Center within the EU-fi- level cooperative, uniting several produc- ratcheted up, and by mid-1900s Georgia vests. Moreover, high quality teas that can nanced ENPARD project. A key issue for tion-focused cooperatives), and the num- was a leading producer of tea within the THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC be produced in Georgia would be com- the sector, so it appears, is the lack of ap- bers are steadily increasing. USSR, providing approximately 95% of the SIGNIFICANCE OF TEA petitive on world markets. According to propriate linkages between producers and Georgia currently stands at a major produce distributed across the Soviet Union PRODUCTION the Ministry of Agriculture and private other actors in the value chain. According crossroads as far as the future of its tea (Nakhutsrishvili, 215). High production In many villages of Western Georgia stakeholders, Georgian tea could fill the to the Ministry of Agriculture, Georgia’s industry is concerned. If overgrown plan- yields came at a high cost: the compromise tea harvesting was a way of life. It formed niche market of bio-clean produce that is has about 15,000 small-scale tea growers, tations are not systematically re-harvested, of quality. Traditional hand plucking meth- the social fabric that towns such as in demand in advanced economies. cultivating less than 1 hectare of land. While and appropriate supply-side linkages are odology that emerged in the 1890s was re- Tsalenjikha in the Samegrelo region were constituting the overwhelming majority of not formed, small-scale tea farmers will placed by mass mechanical harvesting. The built upon. Tea production is a labor in- THE YET-TO-BE-REALIZED tea producers in Georgia, these farmers face shift to other crops, and the tea sector harvested quantity peaked in 1985 at tensive art, and in the 1980s about 180,000 POTENTIAL OF GEORGIAN TEA major problems in the “sorting, packaging would suffer its final blow. The govern- 152,000 tons, a colossal volume of produc- people were involved in the tea value Georgia is one of the Northern-most & branding” department. As a result, most ment could clearly play a role in deciding tion compared to the 1,800 tons produced chain. The collapse of tea production has tea harvesting regions in the world. Per- of them cannot get their product to any the future of the sector. The Ministry of today (Hall 61; Geostat data 2014). had the most detrimental effect on these haps surprisingly for some, cool weather market outside of their respective villages. Agriculture has recently formed a com- Between the fall of the Soviet Union tea farmer communities. As a conse- conditions at night and during winter Not having long-term contracts with buy- mittee to develop a strategy for the tea in- and today, the tea sector in Georgia has quence, many families fell into poverty. months serve as protection against diseases ers further down the value chain, small dustry, but, as yet, no concrete plans are practically collapsed for both political and The most able among tea farmers migrated – greatly reducing the need in pesticides. farmers have no incentives to invest in the available for professional review and pub- politico-economic reasons. With the fall to Turkey, mostly for seasonal work in the At least for the time being, Georgian tea quality of their products, and, moreover, are lic discussion. of the USSR, the government could no Turkish tea sector. is ecologically clean also because Geor- looking for opportunities to shift to other Given the extent to which the art of longer play a supervisory and organiza- The glorious past of the Georgian tea gian farmers rarely use (expensive and crops (such as hazelnuts). harvesting tea is cherished and respected tional role in tea production. Neither was industry suggests that reviving the tea sec- difficult to access) herbicides. in Western Georgia, it would be a shame it fit for the task of helping re-orient the tor could bring huge economic and social The combination of cool climate and MOVING FORWARD to let the sector fail. This is not a senti- Georgian tea industry to new markets. The benefits to Western Georgia’s rural com- acidic soil provides Georgian tea with a Broadly speaking there seem to be two mental judgment. The benefits of reviv- war of 1993-1995 in Abkhazia, a key tea- munities. It could be key to alleviating ru- unique chemical composition, particularly ways forward in reviving the tea sector. ing the industry are also plain when look- harvesting region in the northwestern cor- ral poverty by providing families with fit for green tea: given these conditions, First, those small-scale farmers who are ing through a purely economic lens.

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected]

6 JULY 17 - 23 POLITICS Value of Prague Talks RRussiaussia CrCreeeepingping CloserCloser Questioned Amid South sides for restraint and the use of existing mechanisms such as the Geneva Interna- Ossetia Border Controversy tional Discussions and the Incident Pre- vention and Response mechanism (IPRM) to defuse tensions. Individual countries, such as Ukraine and Lithuania, also released relevant statements, con- demning the Russian actions. However, as international society is currently occupied with the Iran nuclear talks and Greek bailout negotiations, dealing with the Russian occupation pri- marily falls to the Georgian government and Georgian society. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) in its first statement on the issue condemned Hand-made signs protesting the creeping border near the South Ossetian ABL. Photo by Teona Surmava/GT. the actions aimed against peace and se- curity, which “violated the fundamental By Nino Japarashvili Gvaladze, stated: “This changes nothing. principles of international law.” Later, Zurab Abashidze [Georgian PM’s special representative for relations with Russia] and We don’t need physical access to main- Tamar Beruchashvili, Minister of Foreign Gregory Karasin [Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister]. Soon after Georgia signed an air de- tain [the pipe].” Affairs, met with the Head of the Euro- By Zaza Jgharkava nalist in Prague, upon leaving Hotel “Dip- fense agreement with France, and Marking borders by putting barbed pean Union Monitoring Mission in Geor- lomat”. NATO’s multi-national training “Fragile wire fences was first started by the ad- gia (EUMM) and expressed concern over The 4-hour meeting of Zurab The Georgian diplomat’s point was Spirit” began in the country, Russian oc- ministrative boundary line (ABL) guard the illegal placement of signposts. MFA Abashidze [Georgian PM’s special rep- beyond debate. Moscow’s strategy has not cupational forces illegally placed sign- troops of the Russian Federation Secu- officials also informed the diplomatic resentative for relations with Russia] and changed for the last 20 years. A Russian posts marking the so-called “state bor- rity Service in April-May 2011, when corps of Georgia and emphasized that the Gregory Karasin [Russia’s Deputy For- political scientist Konstantin Zatulin der” on the territory adjacent to the vil- fences were installed in the immediate process within Georgia’s territory also eign Minister] concluded in Prague on phrased the essense of Russia’s attitude in lage of Tsitelubani of Gori municipality, vicinity of the villages of Didi Khurvaleti violates the provisions of the 12 August July 15 where the main topic of discus- the following way: “Let’s have relations and the village of Orchosani, occupied and Kveshi, southeast of Tskhinvali 2008 Ceasefire Agreement. On July 15, sion was the process of borderization of with Georgia as if there was no problem Akhalgori district, near Georgia’s main (South Ossetia’s administrative center). the MFA handed a note of protest to the the occupied region of South Ossetia. with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and let’s highway. Later, a new wave of intensified fencing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo- Before the meeting of Karasin and have relations with its former autonomies These markers, placed on July 10, cut efforts by the Russian Federation took tentiary of Switzerland to Georgia for Abashidze, the situation at the Adminis- as if there is no Georgia.” part of the farmland of the Georgian lo- place from February 2013 in the village submission to the Russian side. Illegal trative Boundary Line (ABL) intensified Later, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry cal population and lay claim to 70% of of Ditsi: metal fencing posts were in- borderization was also discussed at the after one part of the ABL was pushed Medvedev put the Georgia policy of the the village, insolently appropriating 10 stalled in late May about 120 meters into Abashidze-Karasin meeting in Prague on further into Georgian territory meaning Kremlin in the following words: “No mat- hectares of agricultural land. As a result Tbilisi administered territory. Also, in the July 15- bilateral talks which do not nor- that part of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline ter what you do, what kind of concession locals in the area have lost their agricul- village of Dvani, moving the administra- mally cover political issues. Georgia will found itself outside Georgian control, you make, in response we are ready to talk tural land and their livestock - in many tive boundary line deeper into the Tbilisi further discuss the incident in the frames close to the village of Khurvaleti. The with you about trade, culture, sports, vi- cases their only livelihood. Furthermore, controlled area resulted in cutting off lo- of the Geneva format. controversial step also pushed the ABL sas but Abkhazia and South Ossetia are as a result of the illegal border installa- cal residents from an irrigational water Alongside the official diplomatic ef- nearly half a kilometer closer to the main not issues of bargaining. Russia does not tion, certain segments of the Baku-Supsa supply. forts, Georgian societal groups actively east-west highway of the country. trade its allies,” Medvedev said. pipeline (near Orchosani) now falls International society has showed its protested against the illegal Russian ac- Before the meeting in Prague, views According to the political opposition within the territory under Russian con- support to Georgia regarding the fact. On tions. On July 14, Georgian media repre- were expressed in both Tbilisi and Mos- in Georgia, the format of the meeting with trol. The pipeline, also known as the July 13, John Kirby, spokesperson of the sentatives held a protest rally “No to Oc- cow that South Ossetian authorities had Karasin itself lacks logic. “The situation Western Route Export Pipeline (WREP), US department of State, said Russia cupation” in the village of Khurvaleti and initiated the fresh border tension. In fact, is very dangerous and is getting worse at 833 km in length and with a capacity should fulfill all of its obligations under participants took down the Russian sign- if the South Ossetian (as well as daily, as we have seen today. This is why of 145,000 barrels a day, runs from the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw posts which claimed “Republic of South Abkhazian) separatists were and are afraid it is necessary to abolish this harmful for- Azerbaijan to the Georgian Black Sea its forces to pre-conflict positions. The Ossetia.” The Young Diplomat’s Club of of anything, it is the possibility of an agree- mat, make a diplomatic step, take the dip- terminal of Supsa and is operated by Brit- EU issued a statement on July 15, saying Georgia and other youth organizations ment between Georgia and Russia at the lomatic initiative and fully focus on the ish Petroleum (BP). “the installation of new demarcation sign- also organized protests against the “creep- expense of their interests. Nevertheless, it Geneva format,” said the UNM’s Giga “We’ve lost most of our fields. Rus- posts along the administrative boundary ing occupation” of Russia. Young Geor- is very doubtful that border guards would Bokeria. In fact, when establishing the sians said we are no longer allowed line of Georgia’s breakaway region of gians gathered with NATO and EU flags fulfill orders from Tskhinvali to erect negotiation format parallel to the Geneva there,” a farmer from one of the villages South Ossetia has led to tension in the in Khurvaleti, near the occupational line. barbed wire without receiving an order format three years ago in order to nor- affected by the creeping occupation told area.” The statement re-affirmed the EU’s A demonstration is expected to be held from Moscow. Therefore, Moscow’s role malize relations with Russia, the Geor- Georgia Today journalist Teona Surmava. full support to Georgia’s internationally in front of the Georgian State Adminis- and motivation has been the subject of gian Dream government should have BP Chief Spokesman in Georgia, Gia recognized borders and called on both tration building in Tbilisi on July 18. widespread speculation. been aware that it would be fruitless. At the meeting of Abashidze and The latest Prague meeting finally con- Karasin, the Georgian diplomat claimed firmed that Russia has achieved what it Burjanadze’s Russian Roulette he had to raise the border issue because wanted – Tbilisi has accepted this for- of “pressure from Tbilisi” but there was mula where trade is facilitated providing By Zviad Adzinbaia no progress to report on this front. the two elephants in the room, Abkhazia “We should not be naïve and expect and South Ossetia, are not mentioned. Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Demo- that after some meeting Russia will So the flow of mineral waters and cratic Movement, left for Moscow on change its politics towards Georgia. wine over barbed wire fences continues, July 10 upon the invitation of Russian Therefore, I did not expect that I would but when these fences start to move fur- State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin. convince him and someone would feel ther south, the number of Georgians will- Despite the adversarial relations be- ashamed, take the signpost and go back ing to suffer territorial losses for the sake tween Georgia and Russia since 2008 and to Moscow. We had no such expecta- of economic benefit will reduce further Russia’s occupation of over 20 percent tions,” Abashidze told the TV Imedi jour- still. of Georgia’s territory, Burjanadze was to participate in a round table called “World and regional security challenges of the 21st century” organized by Russia’s For- eign Ministry (MFA). Some questioned the credibility of Russia organizing such meetings, when Burjanadze playing Putin’s gamble. it itself represents one of the main chal- democratic country but it does not mean and more and more Georgians do not lenges to international law in the region. it should be a member of any certain or- perceive Russia as their enemy.” Burjanadze, who is widely criticized in ganization to do so.” Being given more airtime than she Georgia for being anti-western and there- “We should realize that nobody is would ever likely receive in her home fore perceived as pro-Russian, held high- waiting for us in NATO. NATO integra- country, Russian news outlets reported level meetings in the Federation Council tion is unrealistic,” she added. that Burjanadze perceives Georgian re- and the Russian MFA. Senior experts and Georgian citizens formers’ involvement in Ukraine’s mod- “If we restore confidence with Abkha- have been heavily critical of Burjanadze’s ernization processes as “humiliation by zians and Ossetians and Russia fulfills a visit with many even considering it a clear Ukraine’s government, which slapped positive role, we will regulate the con- admission of Burjanadze’s role in Georgia in the face by appointing its flict,” stated Burjanadze in her interview Russia’s ideological so-called “fifth col- former officials to the Ukrainian govern- with NTV, the Putin-affiliated media umn”. After openly stating her Russian ment.” source in Russia. aspirations in 2007 and attempting a coup Upon her return to Georgia, Burja- Details of Burjanadze’s meeting with against the legitimate government, nadze’s already ailing political credence Naryshkin were not revealed publicly Burjanadze was targeted by then Presi- is unlikely to have been boosted by the with the Georgian policitian simply ad- dent Saakashvili who aimed to limit her Moscow visit unless her assertion of mitting that “painful issues were dis- activities. growing sympathy towards a Russian, cussed.” In spite of Russia’s occupation of ter- rather than a European, path among Geor- Burjanadze also stated that NATO in- ritories in Georgia and Ukraine, Burja- gian citizens is accurate. tegration is unrealistic for Georgia add- nadze insists that “the attitude of the With very little to lose, Burjanadze ing “Georgia should be a western-type, Georgian people is gradually changing can afford the gamble.

8 JULY 17 - 23 SOCIETY Good Cop Bad Cop Zugdidi Incident Prompts Expats to Reveal Police Concerns By Katie Ruth Davies forward with their own tales of negli- rect detailing of a statement. This was gent or even aggressive treatment from seen in the case of the Spaniards last Last week Georgia Today published police in Georgia. month: “The translator, “whose com- the troubling story of an attack in June “I was treated worse than my (Geor- mand of English was questionable”, al- by an unknown number of Zugdidians gian, with no relatives in the police as tered numerous facts about the attack and on a Spanish couple as they were camp- far as I know) attacker.” later stated that these were unimportant.” ing for the night before heading up to A native English speaking gentleman Other foreigners have said that they have Mestia. The result left not only frac- said: “I got beaten up and forcibly evict- been ‘bullied’ by police into withdrawing tured limbs and sutured head wounds ed by my [drunk] landlord two years a complaint (in one young man’s case by (and a sense of suspicion and disappoint- ago - he struck me over the head with a threatening him with deportation) and in ment towards police officers and doc- panduri (a Georgian folk guitar), miss- another by a tiring repetition and twist- tors involved), but sent out a shockwave ing my eye (and possibly my brain) by ing of facts until the complainant feels that resounded through the ex-pat com- mere centimeters, gave a few swings with too numbed to pursue the issue, signing munity. The Ministry of Internal Af- a saw for good measure, smashed my the incident off as “no problem.” fairs (MIA), on seeing the story in Geor- cellphone so I couldn’t call for help, and “Yes, Westerners will often get the gia Today, launched an immediate inves- there were traces of my blood all over red-carpet treatment but not everyone, tigation and the Georgian Tourism Ad- the floor (though the police didn’t take and nowadays even that is far from a ministration asked to contact the Span- any samples and never asked me to give sure thing.” ish couple directly. Hardly surprising any)… I still had a week left on my rent That said, one ex-pat lady has had that they would want quick closure with but it was an oral contract, and the re- quite the opposite experience and claims the European Youth Olympic Festival ceipt showing I’d transferred money to she feels safe and lucky: “In the small and the UEFA Super Cup on the near him, along with most of the other evi- town of 13,000 in which I live, when horizon. But why did they start investi- dence (including said panduri and other police see us, they always ask if we’re gating only after the incident was ex- destroyed property - without which ok and make sure that none of the local posed in the media? Did the Zugdidi there wasn’t much basis even for a civil drunkards are disturbing us.” Another police who interviewed the victims not case) ended up in the trash. The police, gentleman spoke of nostalgia for the report the incident to the MIA? Were who gave the guy plenty of time to clean the media or anybody else. These [Span- we’re foreign.” Saakashvili regime of order and discipline they [the local police] trying to protect up the evidence, were no help at all, nei- ish] guys are lucky they at least got their “Isn’t giving a false statement perju- but said of today’s police that they seem relatives or friends who they knew to ther were the neighbors (one of whom story aired.” ry? Yet the police were encouraging me to “go the extra mile for foreigners here, have been involved? Or did they see it responded to my cries of help by com- Another ex-pat, who asked to remain to do just this.” although unfortunately it can sometimes as an insignificant issue, a blip on the plaining about the noise), nor the em- anonymous, told Georgia Today how The language barrier seems one of the depend on a person’s skin color.” radar of the otherwise warm image of bassy (who gave me the address of a she and her spouse have had people most problematic issues for foreigners All in all, foreigners can rest assured Georgian hospitality? cheap hostel) or “honorary consulate” throw stones at them as they walk their here wishing to take up an issue involv- that Georgia is a safer place to live than Following on from the Zugdidi at- (who didn’t even bother responding) of dog. When asked if they had ever re- ing police. In most cases the police will many western countries, but there is no tack exposed last week, Georgia Today the countries I’m a citizen of. Needless ported the abuse, she replied: “Why? arrange for a translator, although even this question that the police do need stricter heard from other foreigners who came to say there was not a whimper from The police wouldn’t bother because does not necessarily guarantee the cor- regulation… and a few English classes. MIA Investigation Rejects Paris 2015: Georgia Steps Up its Alleged Police Assault in Efforts to Combat Climate Change By Nino Japarashvili of the Latvian Presidency of the EU which hit the capital city Tbilisi on June Turtle Lake Council, and respective Environment 13 killing 21 people and dozens of zoo Climate change is on top of the inter- Ministers of six EaP partner countries animals, and which resulted in GEL 100 national agenda for the end of 2015. From (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, million financial damage, helped the coun- November 30 to December 11 Paris will Moldova and Ukraine) to discuss areas try to become more alert on environmen- be hosting the 21st Session of the Con- of common interest and shared challeng- tal issues. ference of the Parties to the UN Frame- es on environment, including the imple- On June 27, Grigol Lazriev, Head of work Convention on Climate Change mentation of multilateral environmental Climate Change Department of the Min- (COP21), otherwise known as “Paris agreements. istry of Environment and Nature Protec- 2015”. The conference is crucial, as it in- Georgia’s complicated relief is quite tion of Georgia, in his presentation “New tends to achieve a new international agree- fragile towards natural disasters caused Climate Change Agreement: Georgia’s ment on the climate, applicable to all coun- by climate change. Geographical location, Intended Nationally Determined Contri- tries, with the aim of keeping global warm- meteorological conditions, high anthropo- bution (INDC)” at the EU-funded project ing below 2°C. logical pressure on the environment and “Clima East” Riga workshop, said Geor- The European Union has already limited mechanisms to minimize the dam- gia plans to step up its efforts to combat By Steven Jones B., the officers did not harm Lika Kiki- pledged to slash its emissions by at least age create conditions for disasters such climate change. For the first time Geor- ani and he denies being subjected to any 40% by 2030. Last year world’s two big- as floods, heavy rains, erosion, drought, gia’s INDC includes GHG mitigation The Georgian Ministry of Internal physical abuse by police officers him- gest economies, the United States and wildfires and heat waves. In the last de- commitment. Affairs has released a statement saying self,” added the statement. China also signed a game-changer agree- cade, Georgian mountainous regions, such The country “is committed to reduc- they have already completed an investi- The statement maintains that Kiki- ment which envisages the two countries as Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhu- ing unconditionally 15% of its GHG gation into the case concluding that Lika ani’s claims about being severely beaten working together to meet respective emis- mi, Achara and Guria, have been affected emissions below business as usual (BAU) Kikiani was not assaulted by police near and suffering multiple injuries as a re- sions targets. As part of the agreement, by natural disasters. In fact, between 1995 by the year 2030. Emissions intensity Turtle Lake. sult are groundless: “It was established China raised its goal for non-emitting and 2011 the total amount of damage oc- per unit of GDP will be reduced by “Due to the high public interest pro- that medics from the ambulance crew power sources (nuclear and renewables) curred in consequence of geological and around 37% from 2013 to 2030. As for voked by the incident that happened in did not detect any visible injuries and to 20% of total energy production, to be hydro–meteorological natural disasters the conditional reduction, the 15% com- the vicinity of Turtle Lake, the Minis- offered to transport her to the hospital, achieved by 2030. President Barack amounted to GEL 2.338.5 million, accord- mitment could increase up to a 25% in a try of Internal Affairs of Georgia con- which she declined. This was entered in Obama said the United States would cut ing to the National Environmental Agen- conditional manner, subject to a global ducted an inquiry shortly after the vid- the ambulance activity records”. its own emissions by more than a quarter cy of the Ministry of Environment Pro- agreement addressing important topics eo from Lika Kikiani was disseminated Kikiani, who initially published a vid- by 2025. tection of Georgia. including technical cooperation, access to on the internet and checked all the cir- eo address to Georgian public, allowed Georgia has been part of international But being a developing country with low-cost financial resources and technol- cumstances that Lika Kikiani depicts in media representatives to make video re- climate change efforts since its indepen- 92% of its electricity generated by envi- ogy transfer,” Lazriev said. the video mentioned above,” said the cordings of injuries apparently inflicted dence. The country ratified the United ronmentally sound hydropower, 43% of Georgia cannot avoid disasters caused statement. on her body. Kikiani, manager of a near- Nations Framework Convention on Cli- the Georgian territories covered by for- by climate change, but full commitment “The General Inspection under the by club “Vitamin”, also believed that the mate Change in 1994 and the Kyoto Pro- est eligible for support, and with national to the global efforts to combat the phe- MIA has procured video evidence and incident may have been captured on tocol in 1999. In 2010, the country asso- greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions only nomenon, and national political insurance- interviewed every person involved in the CCTV. ciated itself with the Copenhagen Accord. about 0.03% of global emissions, climate related mechanisms, will be necessary to incident. It is noteworthy that Lika Kiki- The alleged victim, 21-year-old man- Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, has also joined change and environment have not been dampen the negative effects of natural ani herself refused to give any explana- ager Kikiani, demands an independent the Covenant of Mayors Initiative of the key issues of political discussion inside disasters and to minimize financial risks tions and did not go to the General In- investigation of the incident. The Head EU aimed at significantly reducing green- the country. The recent deadly flood, in the years and decades to come. spection,” the statement says. of Turtle Lake’s Security Service says house gas emissions by 2020. According to the information, Kiki- that no one has requested the CCTV Currently, Official Tbilisi is also co- ani had alleged that she was physically material, which Kikiani believes in itself operating on environmental issues with assaulted by up to 20 police officers and gives grounds for further investigation. regional countries, under the common EU named – Grigol B. – who allegedly helped Ana Natsvlishvili, Chairwoman of policy framework, the Eastern Partner- her and was severely beaten by officers Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association ship (EaP). The recent informal EaP dia- afterwards. “It is worth noting that vid- (GYLA) said that the Prosecutor’s Of- logue in Minsk on June 29 allowed Jo- eo footage reviewed by us clearly shows fice should pursue the video recordings. hannes Hahn, Commissioner for the Eu- that Lika Kikiani and Grigol B. freely Kikiani has speculated that police ropean Neighborhood Policy and Enlarge- entered and left the Vake Police build- may be attempting to delay the investi- ment Negotiations; Karmenu Vella, Com- ing. She also politely waves farewell to gation so that CCTV records are auto- missioner for the Environment, Maritime the police officers. According to Grigol matically deleted. Affairs and Fisheries; and representatives Photo of COP21, from http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/

JULY 17 - 23

Yoga Ananda BRICS Center: Flexible and SCO Offers All Summer Long Summit P.13 Business Results P.13 US Donates 85 Million USD Think-Tank: First Quarter Say Significant to South Caucasus Decrease of Remittances By Baia Dzagnidze creased by 23.2% compared to the same period of last year. Looking at specific By the end of 2015, remittances to countries, transfers from Russia reduced Georgia are expected to decline by $330 by 42.4%, while remittances from million, reports the local independent Greece and Italy dropped by 18.1% and think-tank PMCG in its Economic Out- 11.6% respectfully. look and Indicators report adding that con- “According to the conservative view- sidering the exchange rate and a multipli- point, if remittances maintain this current er effect, this will represent nominal GDP trend, the volume of 2015 remittances (GEL) reduction of no more than 1%. The remittances during January - May will be reduced by $40 million from By Eka Karsaulidze itarian needs and symbolizes the Unit- The organization states that in the period decreased by 23.2% compared to Greece and by $290 million from Russia ed States’ solidarity with the democrat- first quarter of 2015, 72% of the GDP the same period of last year. compared to last year,” reads the report. According to the US Foreign Aid ic aspirations of the NKR people,” said come from remittances. The top five [as] Greece and Russia have an econom- However, there were some positive project 2015-2016, approved by the Ap- Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the Arme- countries that transfer money are Rus- ic crisis, while Italy sees a slight eco- trends amid the overall reduction as re- propriations Committee of the US Sen- nian National Committee of America sia (37%), Greece (16%), Italy (10%), nomic growth.” mittances from the US increased by ate, the US intends to allocate USD 85 (ANCA). the US (9%) and Turkey (7%), “which The report notes that the remittances 26.2% while transfers from Turkey rose million in total to three republics of the US Foreign Aid is given to a variety does not give the grounds of optimism during the January - May period de- by 21.9%. South Caucasus for various programs. of recipients, including developing Azerbaijan will receive economic aid countries, countries of strategic impor- in the amount of 8,778,000 USD, Ar- tance to the US, and countries recover- Garibashvili: “Georgia is Not Just Looking West” menia – 20.06 million USD, and Geor- ing from war. The government channels By Joseph Larsen said that “This is further evidence that ter Nodar Khaduri signed the AIIB’s gia – 54 million USD, according to Ra- about half of its economic assistance Georgia is not just looking West. My founder’s agreement. The country’s politi- dio Liberty. At the same time, Yerevan through a specialized agency, the Unit- Next month Tbilisi will host economic country has always been a regional hub cal and business community see member- can count on 1.7 million USD for a for- ed States Agency for International De- ministers from 57 countries for the first and a gateway between Europe and Asia, ship as an affirmation of Georgia’s unique eign military financing program and 600 velopment (USAID). Government- round of negotiations for the launch of which is why I am so strongly in favour status as a bridge between East and West. thousand USD for an international mil- sponsored foreign aid began a system- the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank of a Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.” Tbilisi will also host the Tbilisi Silk itary education and training program. atic fashion after World War II. Today, (AIIB). Georgia is a founding member The bank will use its capital of Road Forum on October 15-16, an event According to the Armenia News the US government operates five major of the Chinese-led institution. USD500 billion to provide preferential sponsored by the Asian Development Agency, the committee also expressed categories of foreign assistance: bilat- On August 24-25 Tbilisi will host the loans for infrastructure projects in mem- Bank, the AIIB’s sister organization. solidarity with Senator Mark Kirk for eral development aid (the largest ministers of each AIIB member country, a ber countries, including Georgia. AIIB Georgia remains committed to inte- Humanitarian Assistance of the occupa- amount), economic assistance support- group that includes Asian heavyweights member officials hope the bank will is- gration with NATO and the European tion regime of separatists in the Nagor- ing US political and security goals, hu- China and India as well as western econo- sue its first loans by the end of the year. Union but enjoys strong economic rela- no-Karabakh Republic (NKR). manitarian aid, multilateral economic mies like France and the United Kingdom. Georgia became the institution’s 45th tionships with non-Western countries “This program aims toward human- contributions, and military aid. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili member on June 30 when Finance Minis- such as China, Iran and Azerbaijan. 12 JULY 17 - 23 BUSINESS What would food pairs be like if they were actual couples? Everyone likes coupling. couch, watching romantic com- Mornings go with coffee, cine- edies. You have a feeling there HotelHotelHotelHotel ma with popcorn, and football is absolutely nothing that they do with beer. We mix and match, not do together. but ultimately some couples just 10. The jealous couple: Fish SympatiaSympatiaSympatiaSympatia work better together. This ap- & Chips SympatiaSympatia plies to many cases, the first be- They are so paranoid about ing love relationships and a close the other cheating; they check second, foods. Still, there are each other’s phones and stalk the pairings and pairings: some are Facebook profiles. The are al- unpredictable, some eccentric, ways asking about their ex, still some odd, some explosive and worrying they are not over them. some just perfect. Foodpanda The jealous couple: Fish & Chips You always feel their distrust (www.foodpanda.ge) loves pair- you come across one of these cou- of people, and yet, when they are and competitiveness when you ing foods and analyzed their re- ples. It’s a combination of the in truce they are such an invigo- are around them. lationship as if they were actual above two categories – one part rating duo. 11. The unexpected couple: couples. oversharer, one part socially silent. 6. The secret affair couple: Melon & Prosciutto 1. The socially silent couple: She’s totally head over heels in Chocolate & Salt You have no idea how these 4, V. Daraselia Str. Spaghetti & Meatballs love with him, becoming all syr- Giveaway details: Paranoid two work so well together, but Tbilisi, Georgia The socially silent couple is upy and gooey, while he’s not all glances around the room, secre- they definitely do. They are dia- actually only silent about one top- that bothered, really. He just sits tive hand touching, giggling, and metrically opposed. She likes to Tel: (995 32) 2 99 55 88, 2 37 05 90 ic – their relationship. These two there, without really putting any looking intensely in the eyes. This read, he doesn’t even have a mag- Tel./Fax: (995 32) 2 37 62 63 are social media-active across effort into the relationship. She’s pairing can’t go unnoticed as they azine at his place. He’s sporty, she Hotel’s network www.sympatia.ge multiple platforms, posting self- totally in love daydreaming about bring out each other’s flavors. can’t even be bothered to take the “Sympatia” E-mail: [email protected] ies, having brunch with friends on their wedding day, meanwhile he’s They think people don’t know dog out for a chilled walk. She’s Instagram, etc. But this couple has on Tinder, keen on meeting differ- they love each other, but every- fiery and passionate, he’s calm no social media posts about each ent people and clearly not ready body knows really. and comforting. He’s really, re- other. If you didn’t know they are for a commitment. 7. The effortlessly cool cou- ally tall, she’s tiny. in a relationship you might as well 4. The awkward couple: ple: Cheese & Wine think they are single. My guess is Peanut butter & Jelly They look like best friends, About foodpanda either they’re both trying to play They are quite clearly not fight like brother and sister and foodpanda, together with its Car Rent it cool (while being horrified by good for each other, and it’s a dance like a duet. The most as- affiliated brands hellofood and the idea of commitment), or they pretty unhealthy relationship, but tounding characteristic is the bal- Delivery Club, is the leading just want to keep their options somehow they just can’t keep ance between independence and online marketplace for food de- Tel: 599 16 16 70 open. away. No matter how many times interdependence. They have clear livery, being active in more than 2. The PDA (Public Display you tell them that it’s not a clever boundaries; they are separate peo- 40 countries across five conti- of Affection) couple: Burger & idea to be with each other, they ple with separate interests, and nents. The company enables res- from 35 euro per day Fries ignore all advice and invest on in when they come together their taurants to bring their menus Ugh. Whether these two are a dysfunctional union, and act all qualities are amplified. online and extend their custom- fighting or are just going to the Romeo & Juliet about the situa- 8. The power couple: Straw- er base. For consumers, food- Tours to all direc- supermarket, they can’t stop tion. berries & Cream panda offers an online market- talking about each other. These 5. The always-arguing cou- She’s the most beautiful girl, place with the widest gastro- tions of Georgia oversharers’ posts are the most ple: Chocolate & Orange he’s the most hansome boy. They nomic range from where they (with driver and recurrent you see when scrolling It’s the couple you have long are proficient in multiple sports, can choose their favorite meal through your news feed. They given up in trying to separate or they have super white teeth and on the platform or via the app Guide) for 4 per- spend more time kissing than reunite. They might even make they wear matching clothes. Oh, that is available for free on App- son from 40 euro. talking. They’re the type who you pick sides. These two love and they are usually blond and Store and Google Play. Nissan pathfinder – will go to a party and will spend each other, but in such strange slightly posh. The brand began its opera- 2004, 4X4, AT the whole time just the two of ways. Both are strong, opinion- 9. The couple that never goes tions in Georgia in 2014, and al- them, making out or just being ated and autonomous and don’t out. Ever.: Milk & Cookies ready spans over 70 restaurants ridiculously happy. like to be told what to do. None They are so wrapped up with throughout the largest cities in 3. The couple where one is of them surrenders or admits de- each other that you forget if the country, including Tbilisi, way more into it: Pancakes & feat easily. They act completely you’ve seen either of them the last Batumi, Kutaisi, Mtskheta and Maple Syrup different when they are apart and month. They always go for the Rustavi. It’s instantly obvious when hang out with dissimilar groups stay-in option to cuddle on the www.foodpanda.ge PASHA Bank Named Fastest Growing Corporate Bank in Georgia 2015 Mercedes-Benz Viano – 2004 Toyota RAV 4 – 2000, PASHA Bank was named the Bank has been operating in grown to include those in Bank- 4X4, AT Fastest Growing Corporate Bank Georgia for over two years al- ing, Foreign Exchange, Insur- in Georgia 2015 by the Global ready and it was named the Fast- ance, Pension Funds, Compli- Banking and Finance Review est Growing Corporate Bank in ance & Advisory, Corporate Awards. Georgia 2015 by Global Bank- within the Global Financial com- Governance, Brokerage & Ex- PASHA Bank is a Baku- ing and Finance Review Awards. munity. The awards were creat- changes, Project Finance, Bina- based financial institution oper- Since its inception in 2011, ed to recognize companies of all ry Options, Investment Manage- ating in Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Global Banking and Finance sizes which are prominent in par- ment, Technology, Asset & Turkey providing a full range of Review Awards have reflected ticular areas of expertise and ex- Wealth Management, Exchange corporate and investment bank- the innovation, achievement, cellence within the financial Traded Funds, Real Estate, Cor- ing services to large and medi- strategy, progressive and inspi- world. porate Social Responsibility and um-sized enterprises. PASHA rational changes taking place The Awards have evolved and other areas. EBRD Facilitates Large Carbon Credit Deal in Georgia Enguri Hydro Power Plant sequently issued and sold by En- from Enguri HPP has increased concludes sale of carbon cred- gurhesi to Norwegian utility Stat- by 10 to 15 per cent, leading to its to Norwegian utility kraft. significant emission reductions. Engurhesi Ltd, the state- The important feature of this Part of these emission reduc- owned operator of Enguri hydro- deal is that this is the first time that tions also compensated for the power plant (HPP), recently con- part of the costs involved in con- environmental impact of the cluded the first sale of carbon cluding the carbon project devel- Bank’s 2015 Annual Meeting credits. This deal crowns years opment cycle are recovered under and Business Forum in Tbilisi, of investment, which led to the ductions going forward. the CPADF. Cost recovery is which was recently certified project’s registration under the The deal was supported by the linked to the successful sale of as a carbon neutral event Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Devel- European Bank for Reconstruc- carbon credits, hence the EBRD- The EBRD is the largest in- opment Mechanism (CDM) to- tion and Development (EBRD) takes the carbon project develop- stitutional investor in Georgia wards the end of 2012. The fi- through its Carbon Project and ment risk. In doing so, it seeks to with over ˆ2.5 billion invest- nancial closure of this transac- Asset Development Facility increase the participation of its cli- ments in more than 184 tion in difficult market circum- (CPADF), which provided techni- ents in the global carbon market. projects. In addition to being a stances has a strong demonstra- cal assistance to help Engurhesi The EBRD has financed the leading investor in many sectors tion effect. This is a major mile- decide on a sales strategy as well rehabilitation of Enguri HPP, of the Georgian economy, the stone for Engurhesi, which is as the verification of emission re- which now produces over 40 per Bank also provides advisory now well-positioned to generate ductions realised between January cent of the electricity consumed services and is committed to additional financial revenues 2013 and August 2014. Over in Georgia. As a result of the re- helping attract additional invest- from the sale of its emission re- 400,000 carbon credits were sub- furbishment, the overall output ment to the country. BUSINESS JULY 17 - 23 13 BRICS and SCO Summit Results IFAD Media Tour in Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Ministry of Agriculture conducted house construction) and the “Georgian a media tour in Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Products Renaissance” (nut processing) region with the support of the Interna- which was financed in frames of a co- tional Fund for Agricultural Develop- financing project. Other activities the ment (IFAD) journalists participated in included: ob- A media tour was organized by the servation of the Zugdidi-based labora- Ministry of Agriculture on July 3 to tory of the Ministry of Agriculture; July 5th, inviting central and regional Nosiri-based greenhouse farm; and the media representatives to the Semegre- Mechanization Center in Abasha town lo-Zemo Svaneti region. Otar Danelia, where the journalists were presented the Minister of Agriculture, personal- with the Georgian plough. ly introduced the journalists to com- The journalists were also given the pleted and ongoing projects in the Se- chance to see the new greenhouse farm megrelo-Zemo Svaneti area in the di- in Samtredia, “Imereti Greenery” Ltd, rections of agricultural crediting, agri- a subsidiary of the Dutch company cultural insurance, and safety of goods, “Foodventures”. agricultural cooperation, ministry lab- Greenhouse farms were built in No- oratory and helping the matters of the vember, 2014, in Samtredia, on thermal scientific-research center. water deposits. The company produc- In order to service the agricultural es 800 000 lettuces annually for the production development goal, various local market. The greenhouse farming By Eka Karsaulidze In addition, the leaders called for ac- nization in one form or another. One projects (beneficial agricultural credit- received financial aid from both benefi- celeration of the UN and IMF reform, potential future member is Iran. ing project, processing plan co-financ- cial agricultural crediting and the Inter- The Shanghai Cooperation Organiza- condemned unilateral sanctions, strong- The leaders at SCO agreed to work tion (SCO) and the BRIC (Brazil, Rus- ly condemned the crimes of the Islamic together to fight terrorism and create a sia, India, China and South Africa) sum- State (terrorist organization ISIS) and Development Fund and SCO Develop- mits completed the work in Ufa city, called for sides to abide by the Minsk ment Bank. They expressed support for Russia, which took place on July 8-10. Agreement in Ukraine. the most ambitious infrastructure initia- tives of China – the creation of the Silk BRICS SCO Road economic zones, called for obser- The importance of the BRICS sum- Participants of the SCO summit (Rus- vance of the treaty on non-proliferation mit lies in the great potential of devel- sia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, of nuclear weapons, and approved the oping countries and their serious impact Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) showed that strategy of the SCO’s development by on the global situation. “All member the organization aims to become a plat- 2025. countries of the BRICS may offer an form where traditionally bitter rivals can “Ufa brought together the heads of alternative way of development. And we solve the world’s major political and eco- 15 states, who represented several con- feel the need for cooperation, especially nomic problems. India and Pakistan, tinents: Eurasia, South America and Af- in the economic field,” said President of which are the main rivals in the region, rica. Each of these countries has its Russia, Vladimir Putin. began the procedure of entry into the unique development way, its model of ing project, the “Produce in Georgia” national Fund for Agricultural Devel- The main event of the BRICS sum- organization as full members, and Ar- economic growth, a rich history and cul- program) are being carried out under the opment (IFAD). mit was the creation of 200 billion USD menia and Azerbaijan, which has had ture. And the power and the enormous initiative of the Ministry of Agricul- The media tour was carried out un- first financial institutions in the frame- nearly three decades of debate about the potential of the BRICS and the SCO lies ture. In their frames, 136 new plants der the financial support of one of the work of the associations. Also at the fi- fate of Nagorno-Karabakh, joined the on these countries diversity and conjunc- have been financed. From these, 20 were largest donors in the agriculture sector, nal press conference, Mr. Putin stated organization with the status of dialogue tion of traditions,” said President Putin. built in the Samegrelo region, which the International Fund for Agricultural his intention to create a new payment partners, alongside Cambodia and Ne- were financed with $24.5 million and Development (IFAD). system, an alternative of the Visa and pal. BRICS1 – the BRICS’s logo from created jobs for 1000 people. 30 plants During the media tour, the project MasterCard which currently serve 97% “The SCO expansion will radically google.com were expanded and re-equipped, fi- head for IFAD, Lali Durmishidze, brief- of the population in Russia. change the geopolitical landscape of the BRICS2 – the BRICS Leaders and nanced by $4 529 000 and creating 1272 ly talked about the activities of IFAD In the framework of the summit a dec- Eurasian region and will connect SCO Leaders of the invited states, in Ufa from jobs. in Georgia, as well as their ongoing and laration was signed which reflected the countries with the economic and politi- www.narendramodi.in In the frames of the media tour the future projects. She also showed jour- issues that are in the focus of the interna- cal potential of the Arabian Peninsula BRICS3 – the BRICS Leaders from journalists observed two new plants – nalists finished activities in frames of tional community such as the Syrian con- with the help of Pakistan’s existing land google.com the “Produce in Georgia” financed “Sti- the “Agriculture Support Project flict and civil war in the Democratic Re- and sea routes,” said Prime Minister of BRICS4 – Ufa city’s logo at the mor Representation in Georgia” (green- (ASP)”. public of the Congo and Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. BRICS and the SCO summits from dp.ru problems of the environment, the fight It was also reported that 11 states BRICS5 – Ufa city during the BRICS against corruption, and drug trafficking. have shown interest in joining the orga- and the SCO summits from dp.ru Geostat Reveals Highs and Yoga Ananda Center: Flexible Lows of Prices in Georgia By Nino Melikishvili Offers All Summer Long According to Georgia’s National Sta- tistics Office (Geostat), the monthly in- flation rate amounted to 0.02 percent. The prices for food and non-alcoholic bever- ages decreased 1.9 percent, contributing - 0.59 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation. However, people still pay more for fruit. The prices for fruit and grapes increased by 5.6 percent while prices are continuing to drop for milk, cheese, eggs and vegetables. In June 2015 costs related to hous- ing, water, electricity, gas and other fu- By Tatia Megeneishvili fers for their clients. who plan to go somewhere else but want els were 0.7 percent lower than in May “We have weekend trip offers for our to keep training while they are in the 2015. In the same time frame, clothing The popularity of Yoga is increasing clients and not only at a reasonable price. city,” explained Dilanyan. and footwear costs dropped by 3.3 per- every day around the globe, and Georgia On the weekends we organize trips to Anana Yoga Center welcomed the cent while the prices rose for alcoholic 5.7 percent over the year), health (in- is no exception. The founder of Ananda different resort zones, accommodating summer season with two new teachers: beverages and tobacco by 13.8 percent creasing by 7.4 percent) in which cate- Yoga Center, Edita Dilanyan, says that participants in the best hotels surrounded Zaza Barkalaia and Zura Kazishvili. and 8.7 percent respectively. gory the prices rose for medical prod- with the interest grows demand for qual- by incredible nature. Yoga tours unite “We have always been proud of the In June 2015 the annual inflation rate ucts, appliances and equipment, and ity and flexibility, too. people and we try to combine the pleas- fact that all our trainers and teachers are equaled 4.5 percent. The rate was main- hospital services. “In the modern world, people are fi- ant and the practical. This is a commu- highly qualified. Both of them [our new ly formed by price changes for food and Geostat also noted that the cost of nally realized how important a healthy nity where everyone feels at home,” additions] are professionals of high lev- non-alcoholic beverages (increasing by transport has increased by 3.1 percent. lifestyle really is. Proof of this can be Dilanyan said. el and are a worthy addition to our great found in the fact that this year the world, “Last year we had a contract with staff,” said Dilanyan. for the first time, celebrated the Interna- Geocell Purple Umbrella beach, where Ananda Yoga Center also added Latin- FOR RENT tional Day of Yoga. Georgia also joined we held open air trainings. This year we American dances with well-known dancer the other 100 countries taking part in added the SECTOR 26 beach club where, Juliana Bargnar to their service. Soon they 1600 sq.m. capital farm and 50 hectare arable land the event. With the Embassy of India in throughout the summer, we’ll be hold- plan to start Zumba classes, too. Armenia and Georgia, the United Na- ing group trainings.” “Our center is a veteran in the yoga Address: Tetri Tskaro region, Iraga Village tions (UN) in Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall, Ananda Yoga Center also offers two field in Georgia. I am very proud of our (65 km from Tbilisi) Yoga Ananda Center also was among the week atonements for clients who are lack- achievements. However, we always try organizers,” stated Dilanyan. ing in time and plan to leave the city on to improve and add more and more ser- According to Dilanyan, Ananda vacation. vices for our clients,” concluded Dilan- Center has a number of tempting of- “It is an economy package for those yan. Tel: (+995) 577 250905; (995) 599 947722

SOCIETY JULY 17 - 23 15 “Ride for Women’s Rights” visits Georgia Today Meets Ride for Women’s Rights Georgia to Promote Gender Ride for Women’s Rights By Meri Taliashvili tion about women’s condition here. It was just a vacation. But when we enter Equality and Women’s Rights Georgia Today met the Dutch cy- a new country we enter with an open clists and interviewed them about their mind and start meeting with various or- time in Georgia. ganizations focusing on women to learn Q: What do you hope to change in as much as possible about women’s women’s lives by cycling? rights, and then we share the informa- Carlijn Bettink, 25, graduate of tion with our followers. In Tbilisi, we Medical Anthropology & Sociology: We met with the UNFPA and UN Women. founded our organization “Ride for Besides the capital, we are going to cycle Women’s Rights” in 2013. Its main pur- through rural areas to talk to women, pose is to raise awareness of women’s although the language barrier has to be rights worldwide. And we are doing this taken into consideration. Some people by cycling 14000 km. We started in Sep- speak English, some can’t. At this mo- tember in 2014 in Indonesia. After cy- ment we don’t know much about the cling in Georgia we are cycling through situation [here] but we hope to learn Turkey and then back to the Netherlands. about it during our trip. We are staying It takes four hundred days so we have 4 in Tbilisi for a few days and then we are months left. cycling from Tbilisi toward Batumi and Q: There are many other ways to then into Trabzon, Turkey. After finish- On July 10, 2015, the Netherlands- pass [in one go] when on the road is Child marriage primarily deprives a raise awareness for women. Why did ing cycling we plan to give lectures back based charity NGO “Ride for Women’s around 70-80km. girl of the opportunity to receive edu- you decided to cycle? in Holland about the issues in order to Rights” (R4WR) traveled to Tbilisi, to “After graduating from university, cation and make informed decisions A: Cycling is very popular in Hol- expand on it. Since gender issue is a meet with the UN Women Represen- we wanted to engage in something truly about her future. A girl who is 12 land. Since an early age we have used worldwide problem, we don’t confine tative in Georgia, Assistant Represen- meaningful. We also wanted to travel, years old today will in 10 to 15 years bikes a lot. All we wanted was sport and ourselves to only cycling: it’s better to tative of UNFPA Georgia, Members of so we combined the two and set a goal be shaping the future development of physical challenge to raise awareness of involve as many people as possible. the UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel, UN of traveling with bikes around the globe the country. Therefore it is of utmost the issue. With the bicycle we can visit Q: What have you changed regard- Youth Delegate – Georgia and Youth with the cause to create awareness for importance to create an environment many places throughout the countries we ing the issue so far, and what do you Activists, in order to receive first-hand women’s rights in our home country, the which will enable girls to fully real- pass. We come outside the tourist areas, hope for? information on women’s and girls’ Netherlands, as well as all the countries ize their potential.” rights and the gender equality situation we pass through on our journey. Many Another issue discussed at the in Georgia, as well as share experiences people take much of the women’s rights meeting was gender-biased sex selec- and youth vision on gender-related is- and equality in our region for granted, tion practice. Besides being a radical sues in the country. The meeting took so we wanted to know about the experi- strategy of gender discrimination, pre- place in the Round Garden, in front of ences of those women, who are often natal sex selection will also lead to the UN House in Tbilisi. Within the unable to make different choices and future population imbalances. Accord- frames of the meeting, an outdoor practice their rights,” said Monique, one ing to UNFPA research, it had already photo exhibition on Youth, Healthy of the members of R4WR. been estimated that in 2010 about Lifestyle and Gender-based Violence While discussing the different gen- 25,000 girls aged 0-19 years were was organized. der-related issues in Georgia, the Assis- missing from the country’s population R4WR was founded by four young tant Representative of UNFPA Georgia owing to the sex imbalances at birth women from Amsterdam who “are Country Office, Ms. Lela Bakradze told that had occurred since the 1990s. committed to creating awareness for the members of R4WR: Most probably, the main source of women’s rights worldwide and inspir- “Along with the violence against change will be the transformation of ing others to join the efforts in better- women, the practice of early marriage cultural attitudes resulting in a decline ing women’s lives”. R4WR has three is also present in Georgia. Qualitative in son preference and strengthening main focus areas and believe that ev- research conducted in 2013 by UNFPA substantial gender equality. ery girl and woman should have the showed that it is practiced across the At the end of the meeting, the young right to Family Planning, Gender country among different ethnic groups, women from R4WR were handed the Equality and Education. They started although its causes and practices vary gifts from the UN Agencies, including a fascinating 400-day trip last Septem- and largely depend on geographical and informational materials, T-shirts and ber in Jakarta, Indonesia, and aim to cultural factors,” added Ms. Bakradze. bags. R4WR left for Yerevan the very cycle all the way to the Netherlands, “Unfortunately, the seriousness of child same day, planning to return to Geor- which means cycling some 14,000 ki- marriage and its negative impact on gia from Armenia and head to Turkey. thus we get attention by cycling. Gen- A: What we noticed is that the lometers and passing through 22 coun- girls’ future and sustainable develop- Their journey is expected to come to erally, we cycle around 70/80 kilo women we talked to are very happy to tries in total. The distance that the girls ment is not fully recognized by society. an end in October this year. meters per day and stay in different vil- share their stories. There are places lages and places every night. where women are empowered and have Q: Have you made contact with or- changed some things but people don’t Heading for a Hot Summer in Batumi… ganizations to help with your trip or know about it and we are trying to bring you are doing it on your own? attention to it. They are very happy that “Heat Batumi 2015” is a special A: We have connections with two we continue to hear their voices. Batumi summer season project which International NGOs: “Plan Interna- Through social media, we spread the covers a two-month schedule of various tional” and “Care International.” Before information about what’s going on in the festivals and entertainment events in a we started cycling we contact their Neth- countries regarding women in a positive non-stop fashion. erlands offices to tell them we were go- sense. What was the history and what it From July 6th to September 15th, each ing to cross several countries and to ask is now; how women made a difference week Batumi will play host to various kinds if they had projects or offices in those or empowered themselves. of events which will be communicated un- countries. But we also contacted other First of all, we want to learn about der an umbrella brand of “Heat Batumi”. organizations en-route. If there is a Georgia from Georgian women. Of The project opened on July 6th with Dutch Embassy, we go there and to other course, there will be change but it doesn’t its week-long Georgian folk art celebra- organizations to get information and mean that we want to create change. We tion, hosting various ensembles and vocal visit projects focused on women em- want to give people some sort of motiva- and dancing groups on Batumi’s open powerment. Besides cycling, in every tion. In other countries women told us stage and in the Batumi Summer Theater. country we take photos and videos of that we gave them strength and motiva- The 60 days of Heat Batumi will cover women and girls we meet to show why tion. We want women to be free in the over 200 events hosting 259 foreign art- they and their lives are inspiring to us. sense of what they want to be. And we ists from over 20 countries. With up to Q: Is it your first trip in Georgia? hope to achieve this here as well. 2000 participants overall, Heat Batumi Monique van der Veeken, 25, gradu- Lastly, we would like to tell people will be split into 11 thematic weeks, with ate of Culture, Organization & Manage- to follow our ride via our Facebook page each and every one of them having a ment Logistics: We had visited Georgia R4WR and become part of our move to unique topic and artistic accent. Heat before but we didn’t get much informa- fight together for women’s rights. Batumi is suitable for people of all ages and allows visitors to plan their vacation based on what they wish to see most with FOR RENT fun going down all day long. The Batumi City Hall and City Coun- Apartment in Vake (behind the Vake Swimming Pool) in an cil are the executors of the project, along ecologically clean environment with beautiful views. with the Ministry of Culture and Monu- th ment Protection of Georgia, “The Invest- The 120 sq. m. duplex apartment on the 10 floor, newly reno- ment Fund for Culture Development”, vated, with a new kitchen, fireplace, balconies. National Administration for Tourism and the Adjara Tourism Department. “Heat Batumi” is a government project that has Price: 1100 USD the goal of promoting Adjara’s tourism potential on one hand and the entire coun- Tel: 577521020 Tekla (English) try as a whole to inner and outer target 597000109 Dato (Georgian) audiences on the other.

SOCIETY JULY 17 - 23 17 Tires and Tickets: Reclaiming “Don’t Violate Road Rules” Campaign Takes Place in Telavi the Sidewalks in Tbilisi whether the law should allow for park- ing on a sidewalk even as an exception but it is clear that a large majority of driv- ers whose cars are parked on Tbilisi’s sidewalks are violating the law even in its current wording,” Erekle Urushadze, researcher of Transparency International Georgia (TI) and a volunteer activist of the Guerrilla Gardening Movement, wrote in a blog for TI. The C.T. Park website announced that a car parked close to a sidewalk, on a road with a “No Parking” sign, is prohibited from doing so and is liable to have a fine By Beqa Kirtava part in the event, which was attended by imposed as well as having the vehicle the representatives of the National De- removed to a pound. According to GeoStat, the number of partment of Roads, the Georgian Police By Tamar Svanidze with this very positively. They also under- Civil activities just impulse changes, road accidents reached an approximate and local government officials. During stand that sidewalks belong to pedestri- however to approve these changes re- figure of 6,000 in 2014, becoming the the gathering booklets, containing infor- Citizens of the Georgian capital often ans, not cars. For this uncontrolled park- quires the active involvement of the lo- highest sum in 6 years. Thus it must mation regarding road safety both for the complain that Tbilisi has become a city ing Tbilisi is one of the worst cities for cal government and the good will of the come as no surprise that numerous gov- drivers and the pedestrians, were given for cars, not for people, where sidewalks walkers and we should urge ‘free-for road legislative body of the country. ernmental and non-governmental orga- out to the attendees. are used as parking spots and even, on culture’ where drivers follow the rules,” At the beginning of the year Tbilisi nizations are actively engaged in rais- Later the same day, another event occasion, as additional traffic lanes. said Mariam Kanchaveli, member of the Mayor Davit Narmania discussed the ing awareness of the general public with was held to demonstrate the effective- Yet at the beginning of last week some Guerrilla Gardening Movement. achievements of 2014 and plans for 2015 regard to this issue. ness and convenience of reflectors, young Georgians found a way to reclaim The Guerrilla Gardening Movement with local businessmen and government On July 15, 2015 the National De- which enables drivers to see pedestri- the city sidewalks. They laid out four tires is not alone in fighting against violations officials, announcing that to fix the ille- partment of Roads, in association with ans (equipped with those reflectors) across the pavement, filled them with of the rights of pedestrian free movement. gal parking problem on narrow side- the Partnership for Road Safety and the from a distance of 150 meters. Those earth and flowers and left a letter to neigh- There are even two Facebook cam- walks, Tbilisi City Hall will construct a World Bank, organized a special infor- who took part in this event were given boring shops asking them to take care of paigns, named “Introducing Shameless multi-story car park in order to help ease mative event in Telavi, within the frame- free reflectors. the flowers and water them. Drivers” and “Parking Gurus” (see Issue traffic woes, as well as the issue of park- work of “Don’t Violate Road Rules” The National Department of Roads, Later, the Guerrilla Gardening Move- #741, 13.11.2014 of Georgia Today), ing on the sidewalks. campaign. the Partnership for Road Safety and the ment in Tbilisi joined the effort to reclaim which collect photos about serious vio- “There are many places with narrow Many individuals including school World Bank plan to organize many more the sidewalks with the ‘flower tires,’ free- lations of parking and traffic laws in or- footpaths where the parking of cars has students and actors of Telavi Theater took such events in the near future. ing said sidewalks for pedestrians. For der to name and shame bad parkers in created additional discomfort for pedes- their activities, members of the Move- online posts. trians. I want to implement the relevant CULTURE ment were fined 150 Gel by police for Uncontrolled parking creates prob- services to timely resolve this issue,” the ‘littering’ the city center with old tires. lems not only for pedestrians but also for Tbilisi Mayor noted in January 2015. Playwrite Inc. Using Kickstarter “Parking is not allowed in this area, disabled persons moving in wheelchairs Narmania highlighted that new park- and yet they [cars] are still parked here. as well as for people carrying children in ing system would be a competitor to City to Bring their Performance We tried to impose a nice partisan order,” strollers. Sometimes you need Park; the sole company to currently pro- Guerrilla Gardening Movement wrote on Spiderman’s power to squeeze through vide parking and similar services in Model to Youth in Georgia their Facebook page. the narrow space left between cars parked Tbilisi. PlayWrite is hoping to take a giant, als expressed interest in bringing “We are going to appeal the fine im- on sidewalks. The Tbilisi Mayor pointed a finger at ocean-bounding step towards making PlayWrite to the region. After a year posed on us. It was not littering. We just A private company named C.T. Park the previous government which had their tried-and-true model available to of in-depth discussion via email, placed tires; we did not litter the street. is the only business which aims to con- given permission for authorized people youth everywhere, using the crowd- FaceTime and Skype, it became clear Chavchavadze Ave was selected as a venue trol parking areas on the Tbilisi roads, and to park on more than 2,000 of Tbilisi’s funding juggernaut, Kickstarter. This that a the five-member team from the because there was no parking allowed but has been doing so for several years now. sidewalks. campaign will bring five remarkable Georgian Centre for the Psychosocial cars are still standing [in the way of pedes- The municipal government gave the Within seven months of this accusa- women from Tbilisi, Georgia to Port- and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture trians]. As soon as we arrived and began company the right to implement Article tion, Tbilisi City Hall press office said land, OR this October to learn how to Victims (GCRT) and Social Change our activity, five police crews stopped in 37 of the Georgian Law on Road Traffic that City Hall had canceled 300 parking lead PlayWrite’s life-changing work- Supporters (SCS) is the right fit to rep- front of us. We got the impression that this and issue fines to offenders. places in central Tbilisi and at the same shops for youth-at-the-edge. licate PlayWrite’s model. was an attempt at intimidation. Therefore, “According to Article 37 of the Geor- time the creation of new parking facili- The country of Georgia has been Last September, along with Pro- we intend to appeal,” Guerrilla Gardening gian Law on Road Traffic, parking a car ties was in progress. wracked with violence since declaring gram Director Lyndsay Hogland, Movement representative Nata Peradze told on a sidewalk is prohibited except for Further plans on how to create an ef- independence from the Soviet Union Livingston went to Tbilisi to meet the Liberali magazine. cases where an appropriate sign is in- fective mechanism to prevent the current in 1991, and young people are espe- GCRT/SCS team face-to-face and “Our first ‘Guerrilla action’ was on stalled on the sidewalk and the relevant chaos on Tbilisi roads and sidewalks is cially vulnerable to its effects. There spent two weeks with them. After wit- Chavchavadze Avenue and people meet marking is present. It is debatable expected to be presented soon. are few resources to help them cope nessing their work in Children’s CULTURE with their trauma, and PlayWrite wants Houses (like group foster homes, in to change that. which 10-12 children are in the care Bruce Livingston, PlayWrite’s of 2-3 adults), Livingston and Hogland Films about Tbilisi, Part 1 founder and Executive Director, devel- were confidant this partnership would By Tsiko Inauri/Focus magazine oped a unique and highly successful be a success. 10-day playwriting workshop, steeped “Elene, Tina, Anka, Nato and Sopo In this two-part series we will offer in recent research advancements in in- are incredibly talented, skilled, and you five films that best depict old and terpersonal neurobiology and experi- savvy women, devoting their working new Tbilisi: the streets, human relation- mental psychology. Serving youth-at- life to bettering the lives of trauma- ships, problems of its citizens, and their the-edge in Portland for over a decade, exposed young people in Georgia. ideas. The first film recommendation we young playwrights use dramatic nar- They function beautifully in American have for you was directed by Armenian rative to work through their own emo- culture as well as their native Geor- Sergo Parajanov who lived and worked tional conflicts toward healing and gian culture, and are passionate about in Georgia, and which tells the story of resolution. the chance to bring PlayWrite to their ethnic Armenian poet living in Georgia, Livingston’s connection to Georgia country.” Sayat Nova. emerged 2 years ago, but it is rooted in This training is an endeavor that The Color of Pomegranates / 1968 a relationship nearly four decades old. reaches beyond PlayWrite’s budget, so Director: Sergei Parajanov With two degrees in Anthropology, Livingston has turned to Kickstarter to Starring: Sopiko Chiaureli, Melkon The Color of Pomegranates / 1968 Livingston spent the 1970s teaching in raise the $28,789 needed to bring this Alekyan, Vilen Galstyan, Giorgi banned its screenings and Parajanov was 2006 and which became one of the most Shiraz, Iran. One of his best students, venture to fruition. In accordance with Gegechkori, Spartak Bagashvili, Medea sentenced to five years in a hard labor commercially profitable films in the se- Manouchehr Shiva, went on to become Kickstarter guidelines, if the funding Japaridze camp in 1973. Nowadays, The Color of ries. a Fulbright Scholar in Tbilisi in 2012. goal hasn’t been reached by July 29th, Genre: Drama, Biograpy, Music Pomegranates is regarded as one of the “Tbilisi, I Love You” unites ten dif- After watching Livingston’s TEDx all pledges are cancelled and the project The film reveals the life of ethnic best works of the 20th century, together ferent novels and is a collection of vari- talk on YouTube in June 2013, Shiva doesn’t move forward. Livingston is Armenian poet, singer and troubadour, with Kalatozov’s Jim Shvante (Salt for ous stories written and directed by na- was convinced PlayWrite’s model hoping to make an international appeal Sayat Nova, who lived and worked in Svanetia, 1930). tives of Tbilisi. We see the familiar city, would be of immense value to Geor- that supporting this project has the ca- Georgia. It tells the story of the poet’s Tbilisi, I Love You / 2014 recognized views, relationships that we gian youth, and contacted his mentor, pacity to impact countless youth in a childhood, first love, old age and death. Directors: Nika Agiashvili, Irakli are used to and real characters and sto- asking about replication. Excited by the huge, life-changing way. These events are depicted in the context Chkhikvadze, Levan Glonti, Aleksandre ries. The world premier took place on possibility of taking PlayWrite, Inc. in- To learn more about this project, of images from Parajanov’s imagination Kviria, Tako Shavgulidze, others. 20th February 2014 and received the ternational, Bruce responded that it visit tinyurl.com/Playwrite and Sayat Nova’s poems. Sopiko Starring: Ia Sukhitashvili, Nutsa praise of critics. “Tbilisi, I Love You” would take a team of passionate, Chiaureli plays six roles, both female Kukhianidze, Giorgi Kipshidze, Ron was nominated at numerous interna- smart and sensitive individu- and male, and Parajanov takes part in Perlman, Malcolm Mcdowell, Sara tional film festivals and Georgian audi- als with grit and perse- almost every aspect of the film. “The Deaumon, etc. ences had the chance see the film in verance to actualize this Color of Pomegranates” was acclaimed The film “Tbilisi, I Love You” is part movie theatres. endeavor. as a masterpiece by Federico Fellini, of Cities of Love franchise (concept by Check out the next three recom- Using Shiva’s Geor- Jean-Luc Godard and Michelangelo Emmanuel Benbihy) that started with mended “Tbilisi” films in next week’s gian network, a grounds- Antonioni. Nevertheless, the Soviet state the film “Paris, Je t’aime,” released in Georgia Today. well of over 240 individu-

CULTURE JULY 17 - 23 19 Legacy of Legendary Aviator Alexander Kartveli Inspires Georgians

By Maka Lomadze opportunities to tell the rest of the world ture this plan can come true. It is a time how important our role is in modern civi- of challenge for Georgia’s security and On July 14, at the Georgian National lization history.” stability in the region. As Minister Academy of Sciences, Alexander Katuna Tortladze, Vice Minister of Khidasheli mentioned a while ago, Kartvelishvili known as Alexander Foreign Affairs, mentioned other Geor- Alexander Kartveli was the first man Kartveli (Georgian), a famous aviation gians who also helped to found US-Geor- from Georgia who supported US secu- constructor and pioneer in the Ameri- gian relations: “Michael Gregor, aircraft rity and it’s time to think about return- can aviation history, was remembered, engineer and Army General John- ing the favor.” within the framework of a lecture that Malkhaz Shalikashvili who was the first Ramaz Bluashvili was a student sev- bore his name on Georgian-US rela- foreigner on such a post. Since the first eral years ago in the US when he came tions. As highlighted by the US ambas- day I learnt about this project, it was across Alexander Kartveli’s name and sador, he was the founder of modern US- something that captured my imagina- found out that he was a celebrated sci- Georgian relations. tion, because there is something so com- entist. He spent hundreds of hours in Originating from a noble family, pelling about the story of this young NASA, the pentagon, reading materials Alexander was sent to France to pursue engineer going to United States, devel- that are not easily available. “I believe his studies, where he graduated from the oping some of the most important that his name will be a big stimulus for Highest School of Aviation in Paris. Af- aircrafts in world military aviation his- youngsters, as sciences need popular- ter starting out as a pilot, he suffered a tory, and only later it was discovered ization, as nowadays there are very few serious injury after which his focus that he was Georgian, not a Russian. For children who will tell you they wish to switched to the design and construction me it was a natural thing to try to sup- become physician, astronaut, or choose of aircraft. port this project in terms of supporting any other scientific sphere. He is the During his time in France, the Soviet Georgian-US relations. He noted with man who tells us that we, Georgians, Union had been established, consuming Alexander Kartvelishvili, a famous aviation constructor and pioneer in the American regret that he did fully fulfill his mission also can be producers and not only us- Georgia in the process, which meant aviation history as he did not manage to take A10 to ers of technologies, planes, telephones, Kartveli was not to return to Tbilisi. Georgia and presented as a gift a golden would have been his 120th birthday and Georgia but did not exclude that in fu- etc.” said Bluashvili. Already by 1924, at the age of 30, lion, which dates back 5000 years. we will hold a number of events to mark one of his aircraft – the legendary P47 - The Alexander Kartveli Society was this.” broke a world speed record. Another established in 2013. Lela Kartvelishvili, Davit Narmania, Mayor of Tbilisi notable creation of his was the A10, president of the society, said: “There stated: “He was born in Tbilisi, there- Borjom-Kharagauli National which is still being used by the Ameri- is little information about our glorious fore, we will do all we can to support can forces today and will continue to be ancestor. We are glad that his name has the popularization and the research of Park to Open Book Corner produced until at least 2025. been actualized recently, and even more the road our great aviator has taken.” The Agency of Protected Areas Roin Metreveli, Vice-President of the so in the format of Georgian-US rela- Tina Kidasheli, Minister of Defense, (APA) and the Ilia Chavchavadze State Georgian National Academy of Sciences, tions development. The bas-relief was mentioned: “Alexander Kartveli’s story University have signed a memorandum opened the meeting: “It is so important created and we intend to install it on shows us very vividly what Georgia lost to establish a book corner at the tourist to have such names nowadays, when the façade of the former Aviation Fac- by becoming a Soviet country. He is one information center of Borjom-Kharagauli Georgia is striving for broad democracy tory of Tbilisi. Zviad Tsikolia, designer, of those exceptional Georgians of whom National Park enabling visitors to read and our young men are fighting for the created the trademark watches P47, we are extremely proud. Our Ministry in Georgian, English, Russian, French and US security, as there is no other way which also partly serves to popularize expresses its readiness to support this German. out and all countries will have to con- Kartveli’s legacy. We plan to hold Geor- society in his name. Such Georgians will The APA plans on opening similar tribute,” he thanked the US ambassador gian aviation week annually and dedi- lead our way to Europe, US and the civi- book corners in Lagodekhi and Mtirala for his positive disposition towards cate it to Alexander Kartveli. Next year lized world and use these wonderful National Parks. WHAT'S ON IN TBILISI

CINEMA RUSTAVELI CINEMA THE EXHIBITION IS DEDICATED POPIASHVILI GVABERIDZE July 19-26 AMIRANI CINEMA Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. TO THE HISTORY OF THE ANTI- WINDOW PROJECT 12:00-23:00 – exhibition-fair of Address: 36 Kostava St. Telephone: 255 50 00 OCCUPATIONAL, NATIONAL-LIB- Address: 37 Rustaveli Ave. Georgian crafts, folk games and Telephone: 299 99 55 www.kinoafisha.ge ERATION MOVEMENT OF GEOR- Telephone: 577 55 35 53 Georgian cuisine. www.kinoafisha.ge GIA AND TO THE VICTIMS OF THE July 19 July 17-23 July 18 SOVIET POLITICAL REPRESSION 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Kvemo July 17-23 ANT-MAN ONE-DAY CHARITY EXHIBITION THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD. Kartli, Lechkhumi UNFRIENDED Directed by Peyton Reed TO SUPPORT YOUNG 22:00 – evening concert, Directed by Levan Gabriadze Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, GEORGIAN ARTISTS Corey Stoll SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Sukhishvilebi Cast: Heather Sossaman, Matthew ANA JIKIA AND GVANCA Bohrer, Courtney Halverson Genre: Action, Sci-Fi OF GEORGIA JISHKARIANI. July 20 Genre: Horror, Thriller Language: Russian Address: 3 Rustaveli Ave. 18:30-22:00 – Folklore – Imereti Start time: 11:50, 14:30, 17:10, Telephone: 2 99 80 22 Language: English GALLERY NECTAR Evening concert – Robi Kukhianidze Start time: 20:00 19:50, 22:40 Address: 16 Agmashenebeli ave. and The Outsider Language: Russian Ticket price: 7.50 – 12.50 Lari July 17 Telephone: 2950021 Start time: 17:50, 19:50, 22:40 THE SCREENING OF VIDEO July 21 Ticket price: 9.50 – 12.50 Lari JURASSIC WORLD ARTS: “IRINA GABIANI – 18:30-22:00 – Folklore – Guria, Directed by Colin Trevorrow July 21-22 RECENT VIDEOS” CATRIN BOLT, Samtskhe-Javakheti INSIDE OUT 3D Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Evening concert – Region Directed by Pete Docter, Howard, Ty Simpkins Opening: 18:00 GIORGI OKROPIRIDSE PRINZGAU/PODGORSCHEK Ronaldo Del Carmen Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi July 22 The four artists who are all living in Cast: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen Language: Russian ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Samegrelo Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama Start time: 19:30 Vienna work completely differently, 22:00 – evening concert, Bakur Language: English Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari June 27 – October 31 both formally and conceptually. The Burduli, Nika Kocharov Start time: 15:30 “GEORGIANS IN WORLD WAR exhibition and art-works are both UNFRIENDED Ticket price: 8.50 – 9.50 Lari II” IS AN EXHIBITION experimental. July 23 (Info Above) DEDICATED TO THE 70TH 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Kakheti, MINIONS 3D Language: Russian NATIONAL LIBRARY OF Pankisi, Svaneti ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY Directed by Colin Trevorrow Start time: 20:30, 22:30 GEORGIA 22:00 – evening concert, Frani OVER FASCISM. Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari Address: 7 Gudiashvili St. Howard, Ty Simpkins Telephone: 2 97 16 61 July 24 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi MINIONS 3D IOSEB GRISHASHVILI TBILISI 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Poti, Shida Language: English (Info Above) HISTORY MUSEUM - KARVASLA July 17-19 Kartli Start time: 19:50 Language: Russian Address: 8 Sioni St. TBILISI ZOO EMPLOYEE SOPHIO 22:00 – evening concert, Mgzavrebi Language: Russian Start time: 16:30 Telephone: 2 98 22 81 TATARASHVILI’S Start time: 22:20 July 25 Ticket price: 9.50 – 10.50 Lari CHARITY EXHIBITION-SALE TO Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Mtskheta- SERGO PARAJANOVI – “21ST SUPPORT TBILISI ZOO TERMINATOR GENESIS Mtianeti, Racha Opening: 18:30 TERMINATOR GENESIS (Info Above) CENTURY DREAM” 22:00 – evening concert, Nino Directed by Alan Taylor Language: Russian Katamadze and Insight GALLERY GIPA Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Start time: 22:30 Clarke, Emilia Clarke Ticket price: 11:50 – 12.50 Lari Address: 7 Ietim Gurji St. July 26 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi THE NATIONAL GALLERY Telephone: 2 245 75 45 18:30-22:00 – folklore, Ajara Language: Russian MAGIC MIKE XXL Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. 22:00 – evening concert, Niaz July 18 Diasamidze and 33a Start time: 14:10 (Info Above) www.museum.ge Ticket price: 8:50 – 9.50 Lari Language: Russian GIPA PRESENTS STUDENTS Start time: 11:45 EXHIBITION CAFE CALLERY June 17- July 17 Address: 34 Driboedovi st. MAGIC MIKE XXL Ticket price: 7:50 – 8.50 Lari UNLOCK Directed by Gregory Jacobs THE EXHIBITION “THE Venue: Rooms Hotel Tbilisi, 14 Cast: Channing Tatum, Joe CAUCASUS FRONT THROUGH July 24 MUSEUM Kostava st. Manganiello, Matt Bomer NINO JORJADZE’S CAMERA BARBARA PREISINGER MUSIC (SLICES OF LIFE - BERLIN) Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music MUSEUM OF SOVIET LENS” IS DEDICATED TO THE Language: Russian TOMMA OCCUPATION 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WWI. ART GENE Start time: 12:30 FACE/AGE CONTROL Address: 1 Rustaveli ave. Address: Ethnographic Museum Start time: 23:00 Ticket price: 7:50 – 8.50 Lari Telephone: 2 99 80 22 PIROSMANI’S 150TH Telephone.: 291 70 78 Ticket price: 10 Lari

SOCIETY JULY 17 - 23 21 Clunk & Tinkle, Herd of Hell: Etseri, Svaneti By Tony Hanmer So my ideal run up and back down the mountain, still a definite theoretical As I promised in my last article, I possibility, looks like this: Neither over- would have more to write about the sub- cast (chance of rain) nor cloudless (too ject of herding one’s cows up and down hot), just a bit of cloud to cool things off mountains, a daily summer occurrence and make better landscape photos. The in Svaneti. This new writing is mostly ground as dry as it can be; there are places happening because our carefully arranged where mud is permanent, from streams, deal with the paid herder fell through af- but that’s okay, I’m in rubber boots. I find ter exactly one evening of his work, de- all 12 or 13 cattle together, late enough faulting back to my neighbor and myself. that they’re ready to come down without I’m doing said herding until I leave for a a struggle or truancy but not so late that month in Canada, and he’s doing it in my to within sight of the village... left them cows weren’t even his! with the steers (castrated bulls), who we descend into darkness. We don’t meet absence. Not ideal, but what can one do? there, and went back up for the other Okay, stay with the Belled One. The don’t need to come down at all unless wolves or bears—I’ve never seen either, At least the neighbor gave me a couple group. All this with a lot of shouting and neighbor gave my own cow a bell too, they’re needed for pulling work. I’ve also but their skins are on display in a few of training runs, going up the mountain sweating and some backsides feeling the an antique one which goes “clunk;” his learned not to worry about this; I have local homes. I’m getting close to this per- with me and marking a few tree trunks wrath of my walking stick, as is done is from a car part, and has a melodious enough things to focus on, and he shows fect run, and warming up to my role as with his axe to help me remember the way. here. ring to it. Whatever, at least both sounds up sooner or later. well, leveling the steep learning curve And so far I’ve only had one run which When I finally emerged into my are different from each other and from I also added a free altimeter to my into something that doesn’t send my included a bit of rain; other than that it’s neighbor’s yard, I was stressed to the any other bell. Now I can hear them long smartphone, and thus I can report that our blood pressure soaring through the Apo- been dry, which makes a big difference to max., not to mention furious at my before I see them, and can follow them house is at 1550 m above sea level, while plectic Ceiling. Cows, I’ve got your num- the mood of the thing. But it hasn’t been charges’ charges. They were playing with when they disappear too! the top of the cows’ feeding range is at ber. Just remember who eats whom, all smooth, oh no. Not by any means. me! I complained. Yes, he said, but you Also, half of the disappearing is sim- 2000 m. Next I’ll try adding an app which alright? My first few solo runs I was about an were a bit early, they weren’t done stuff- ply a momentary caprice by one or an- shows my actual walks taken and their If you’d like to see some more recent hour early on a sunny day, and the cows ing their four stomachs, and next time you other animal, taking a parallel path into times and distances, to give me a better photos from my morning (edge of the vil- simply weren’t ready to be told to come must stick with the cow who has the bell the forest for a few meters instead of stay- idea of these things. Each way currently lage) or evening (up the mountain) herd- down. I had wanted them home in good on her, and the rest will, sooner or later, ing on the well-trodden path. A few sec- takes me about 70 minutes, going at a ing runs, head over to www.facebook.com/ time for the sake of those (including join her. (One group had led me a merry onds or minutes later, they’re back with sweat-inducing clip. hanmer.house.svaneti and there they are. myself) who milk them, so we wouldn’t chase through low-hanging forest the herd. Relax, it’s all just a head game, have to do this in encroaching darkness. branches, bent double, while thick mud don’t let them get to you! Tony Hanmer runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with Too bad! The group of about 25 split into from stream overflows simultaneously Of our little personal “herd” of three, over 1000 members, at two, then one of these bifurcated further, did its sucking best to pull the boots right one is a bullock of a year and a half, not www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ . leaving me a tough choice which set to off my feet as I struggled to keep up and castrated and thus heading into rebellious He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: follow and try to force down. I made my not start shouting obscenities at the top teenagerhood. He sometimes doesn’t www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti choice and persuaded my group at least of my lungs. Did I need this?) And... the even come down, preferring to overnight

Art Gene: Presenting a True Feast of Georgian Culture

Photo showing Art Gene 2010 from the Art Gene facebook page. By Maka Lomadze them: we included modern bands in evening shows, and folk groups earlier, On July 19-26, the Art Gene Festi- so they had to listen to both! Our great- val awaits Georgians and foreigners est achievement was that folklore be- alike; Tbilisians and those from the re- came fashionable!” Tamriko gions, all of whom are invited to a spe- Melikishvili told Georgia Today. cial occasion that unites the whole coun- “The main novelty is that this year try in a unique focus – Georgian tradi- our main topic is Library and Literacy. tions. It is often said that though Geor- We signed a Memorandum with the gia is quite small in its territory and Georgian National Library. It was sym- population, it is very diverse in its re- bolic that the festival was opened in fa- gions; in landscape, local people and mous Georgian writer Davit Kldia- character. All these diversities are re- shvili’s house museum in his village, flected in the colorful expression of cul- Simoneti. Then, we continued in Surami ture and arts as well. Art Gene, founded with 5000 attendees, which shows how in 2004, has managed to raise interest much those people miss such occasions among the Georgian youth who once in the regions,” Solomon Gogashvili, only cared for modern music in folk presenter and co-organizer, told us. Re- culture. Many of them since decided to portedly, a lot of materials – films, vid- stay in the regions, which is a rare thing eos, albums, magazines – have been and a big business in the present epoch collected within these years of the of urbanization, where they get better festival’s existence and the Georgian acquainted with unique musical poly- National Library will take care that they phonic traditions and realize that it is are all preserved for those who wish to their duty to continue and preserve these get acquainted, any time. traditions. The main focus of Art-Gene is Geor- In Tbilisi this energy can be best ex- gian traditions – food, beverages, folk perienced at the Art Gene Festival which medicine, singing, dancing, crafts, eye- cumulates at the Ethnographic Museum catching multicolored canvases, paint- down from Turtle Lake (Kustba). ing… The concerts of famous troupes The founders are the Georgian paint- such as the Sukhishvili National Ballet ers Tamriko Melikishvii and Giorgi will whet the taste buds, followed by Baramidze. “Tbilisi was just recovering Zumba, Nino Katamadze, Robi Kukhia- from those ‘hard days of 1990s’. Giorgi nidze, Bakur Burduli, “Reggaeon” and, lived in Great Britain then. When he finally, 33a and Niaz Diasamidze; all in came, we thought that the country badly store for listeners as a delicious cultural needed something new and interesting. dessert. We began to travel and collect singers. Art Gene will give you the sense that The majority of locals didn’t even know you have traveled around Georgia in the meaning of the word craft! In those terms of both material and spiritual cul- days, Georgian youth only listened to tural heritage, without ever leaving the modern music, but we set up a trick for capital city.

SPORTS JULY 17 - 23 23 BeacBeachh RRugbugbyy BlossomingBlossoming inin BaBatumitumi Englishman’s vision being realized on Black Sea coast By Alastair Watt from all across England and Wales, adopt played with local Georgians in Poti and an “attitude over ability” approach and Batumi. As the Georgian Beach Rugby Fed- Lynn outlines the club’s plans for a Many years on, that British-Georgian eration prepares to host the Batumi Beach wholesome week in Georgia. rugby connection remains alive and well Rugby Festival 2015 on July 25-26, “One of the main ethos of the Bulldogs as shown by the efforts of Lynn and his England’s Anthony Lynn will arrive in Rugby is helping local communities when Bulldogs, which now have a Georgian the country pleased to see the continuing we go on tour. While we are in Georgia, we edition. growth of an occasion that started out as are going to coach rugby with Rheas “We have also helped launch a Geor- his brainchild eight years ago. Union which has projects throughout gian Bulldogs team to create links with Originally from Northallerton in the Georgia that help children with special our team and hopefully support them with northern English county of Yorkshire, needs and to help them with integration equipment and of course they’ll play with Lynn now finds himself living in the into Georgian society. They have a base the same ethos. Next year we are look- rugby heartland of Gloucestershire, a fit- in Tbilisi at Rheas Squirrels Café. Then ing to bring a women’s squad to play a ting location for a man immersed in the doing the same in Batumi with the 7s and beach rugby to help support oval ball game. Mayor’s office working with children with women’s rugby in Georgia. We want to Now working as Grassroots Director special needs,” states the Englishman. continue our great bond with Georgia and of Touraid, an organization which uses Other teams at this year’s event in- rugby,” added Lynn. the medium of rugby to assist vulnerable clude teams from Kutaisi and Tbilisi with Of course, all rugby enthusiasts are children in the developing world, it was VTB Bank and ProCredit Bank both rep- looking forward to the World Cup which during a previous role that Lynn arrived resented, in addition to sides from the host times from abroad. For example, the UK cally about the beach rugby event. starts in September in England and Lynn at the idea of a beach rugby tournament city Batumi as well. amateur teams are really organized and “It is growing in popularity every will be perhaps the most interested of the in Georgia. Lynn recognizes the passion for rugby sometimes have their calendars arranged year and the municipality supports vari- locals when Georgia play their opening “I was on a visit to Georgia whilst I in Georgia and acknowledges that his a year in advance, clearly Georgians are a ous sports, as you can see in the city, es- match against Tonga only a few miles was working with a charity IRB SOS kit idea would never have come to fruition bit different in this regard!” said Dugladze, pecially rugby,” said Chavleishvili. from his home. aid helping less advantaged children with without the dedication of many Geor- whose wife Pam Kemsley, an experienced Indeed, after many years of Batumi’s “For me personally, it’s going to be rugby kit. We had just finished a tourna- gians. amateur rugby player herself, is also con- rugby team having to play ‘home’ great to see Georgia play in the ment in Poti and had a swim in the black One such devoted Georgian is the tributing to the event. matches outside the city, construction of RWC2015 at my local world cup venue sea then chatted to some of the coaches Georgian Beach Rugby Union’s Zura Her company Education and Training a 2500-capacity stadium is well under- at Kingsholm in Gloucester and seeing about my experiences of beach rugby in Dugladze, who also works for rugby International Georgia will be assisting way in the city, with a beach rugby sta- some of my rugby friends in England,” Italy and its place in rugby development equipment supplier Rhino, and he hopes with guests and providing translation dium being built next door. said the upbeat Lynn whose club pro- and the idea was born,” recalls Lynn. that the event, which will involve ten where necessary. Other partners of the There are great similarities between duced an excellent short video of last And since then, the Georgian Beach teams this year, can attract more interest event include WMTR and Kemsley an ancient Georgian game known as Lelo year’s tournament. Rugby Union has been established and from abroad in the coming years. Tours. (after which the national team are nick- The video was dedicated to the staged several summer tournaments, at- “Next year we’ll have a women’s com- The main organizers though are the named, also the name for a try in rugby memory of Guram Gugenishvili, the cel- tracting one team from the UK this year petition, and we have already had some Georgian Rugby Union, the Georgian in Georgian) but Chavleishvili asserts that ebrated kickboxer who was killed in a – the Bulldogs, of which Lynn himself is interest from Kazakhstan and Ukraine. If Beach Rugby Union and the Batumi rugby was properly established in the car accident earlier this year. Gugenishvili a member. we are organized well in advance then this Municipality whose Deputy Chairman country in the 19th century, courtesy of had competed at last year’s beach rugby The Bulldogs, made up of players improves the chances of bringing in more Irakli Chavleishvili speaks enthusiasti- touring British navy personnel who event. CULTURE BookBook RReevieview:w: KKvvacachihi KKvvacachantirhantiradzadzee By Joseph Larsen Eventually he finds himself serving another’s blood. The flames from the in the Russian army, fomenting revo- fires will reach the heavens, rivers will (Kvachi Kvachantiradze by Mikheil lution against the Tsar, and on the run run red, and the groans of the dying Javakhishvili, translated into English from the Bolsheviks. He remains the with deafen the land. A new earth will by Donald Rayfield and published by same through it all: without integrity be born: alien and unfamiliar, strange Dalkey Press in 2014.) or scruples, always looking to “crack a and puzzling.” If you want to breathe in the essence new big job” without ever stopping to The book’s most beautiful passage of Georgia in literary form, Kvachi ask why. doesn’t concern its namesake at all. Kvachantiradze is a good place to start. The protagonist’s persona is made Javakhishvili tells the story of Russia’s Georgian author Mikheil Javakhishvili’s of hot air. He goes by the false name of history through a parable of two broth- magnum opus is a boisterous picaresque Prince Napoleon Apollonovich Kva- ers, sons of Russia’s Mongol mother bringing to life one of the country’s most chantiradze, his family’s aristocratic and Scythian father. Ivan is swarthy, compelling fictional characters. The main character is Kvachi Kvachantiradze, an anti-hero evoking other unwholesome literary rogues like “Brother will attack brother, father – son, and Thackeray’s Barry Lyndon and they will not be sated by one another’s blood. Balzac’s Lucien de Rubempré. Kvachi is the perfect picaresque protagonist: The flames from the fires will reach the heavens, born to a family of innkeepers in dusty, provincial Georgia – “on a deceitful, rivers will run red, and the groans of the dying false, and treacherous day” – he is des- with deafen the land. A new earth will be born: tined by hook or by crook to become a great man. alien and unfamiliar, strange and puzzling.” For Kvachi’s father Silibistro that means becoming a titled aristocrat. For our amoral anti-hero, it means amass- title is begotten by purchase, not pedi- austere, and Asiatic; Peter is dainty, ing fame, fortune, and women in un- Author Mikheil Javakhishvili was executed by the Soviet state in 1937. gree, and his public image is con- self-indulgent, and European. Their limited quantities: “Life is a struggle. structed by an army of paid journalists. personal conflict is made to represent What you can grab from it is yours, noblewoman out of her entire fortune. women. Here they are given the chance Kvachi’s self barely exists, but it the revolution. what you can’t is lost.” Kvachi’s misdeeds are appalling, to ditch the double-dealing, move back speaks to him while he sits in the Peter Javakhishvili himself was a victim Kvachi spends his youth occupied but some are too whimsical to be eas- to Georgia and become honest men. and Paul Fortress, awaiting execution of that terrible revolution, declared an in small-time swindles. It is here the ily condemned. One of his first Only Gabo and Sedrak accept the offer: for sabotage against the Russian army: “enemy of the people” and executed in reader realizes that the boy from swindles is selling the same grand pi- “Gabo and Sedrak had reverted to “You still don’t recognize me: I’m 1937 for speaking out in support of a Samtredia (a town in Imeretia in west- ano to three different buyers. Later he being Asiatics, they lagged behind the Kvachi Kvachantiradze, Silibistro’s writer who chose suicide rather than de- ern Georgia, a region famed for its and his men rob a bank by posing as a world and lost their civilized habits … son.” nounce his counterparts. He originally people’s hard-drinking, hot-blooded crew filming a bank robbery scene. On the other hand, they were living in “Don’t be silly. I’m Kvachi.” intended the story to be published in ways) is less lovable than supposed. The novel plays upon Russian ste- their own country, breathing its air, “I’m Kvachi Kvachantiradze, and serial format, which explains the book’s He cynically cons his elderly land- reotypes of the shifty, uncouth Cauca- ploughing its soil and, feeling and sens- I’m not fake Ashordia gentry, or a fake peculiar layout: a stream of short chap- lady out of her home, leaving the poor sian. Kvachi and his circle of friends ing its mystery, they suffered its griefs prince, or a fake lord in waiting, nor a ters, each named for the main woman penniless. Eventually Georgia Beso, Chipi, Jalil, Ladi, Sedrak, and and enjoyed its delights.” pickpocket, pimp, or traitor.” character’s present exploit. grows too small for the larger-than-life Gabo spend most of their time exact- Like any great historical epic, This tale is a biting social criticism. Ultimately, the ill-fated author plays Kvachi. He makes way for Odessa. ing revenge on the Russian people who Kvachi does more than entertain us Only an amoral man like Kvachi could a cruel game with the reader, enchant- There his misdeeds become darker. have so wronged Georgia. In the pro- with tales of a charismatic fraudster. make a fortune in the corrupt, blood- ing us with Kvachi’s charm just to bring He attempts to rape a classmate and cess they themselves become crude Javakhishvili uses the main character stained Russia of the Tsars and Bolshe- us crashing back to Earth with his shock- impregnates another young girl, only caricatures: liars, thieves, murderers, to chart Georgian and Russian history. viks. The author uses the title charac- ing depravity. This libertine is anything to cruelly abandon her. Later exploits and blackmailers. Kvachi is born in 1890, comes of age ter to express his own views on the but worthy of celebration. But this much in Saint Petersburg, Paris and London Midway through the novel, Kvachi during revolutionary upheaval, and revolution: is certain: Kvachi Kvachantiradze is a see Kvachi commit countless murders and his band of ruffians are living in later becomes a member of Grigori “Brother will attack brother, father character who can neither be ignored nor and scams, including blackmailing a Paris, up to their elbows in cash and Rasputin’s inner circle. – son, and they will not be sated by one forgotten. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Katie Ruth Davies Address: 1 Melikishvili Str. Reproducing material, photos and COPY EDITOR - Alastair Watt Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia JOURNALISTS: Zviad Adzinbaia, Joseph Alexander Smith, Joseph Larsen, Katie Ruth Davies, Beqa Kirtava, advertisements without prior editorial GENERAL MANAGER - George Sharashidze Alastair Watt, Tony Hanmer, Eka Karsaulidze, Baia Dzaginadze, Zaza Jgharkava, Meri Taliashvili, Teona Surmava, Tel.: (995 32) 229 59 19, 294 55 24 permission is strictly forbidden. The Ana Lomtadze, Maka Bibilashvili, Nino Melikishvili, Nina Ioseliani, Tatia Megeneishvili, Karen Tovmasyan, Nino Gegidze, Advertising, Subscription: author is responsible for all material. Dimitri Dolaberidze, Nino Japarashvili, Maka Lomadze, Tamar Svanidze, George Abashvili, David Lolishvili. 597 970444; 597 955565 Rights of authors are preserved. 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