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Where Does Georgia Stand? Hidden Gem of Georgia

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Where Does Georgia Stand? Hidden Gem of Georgia Issue no: 1141 • APRIL 12 - 15, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... SovLab Calls for Autopsy of 150 Corpses Found in Batumi NEWS PAGE 2 De Facto Abkhazia to Deprive Georgians of Right FOCUS to Inherit Property ON JACK SHEPHERD'S POLITICS PAGE 4 LAST GEORGIA INTERVIEW Georgian Wine Shows Find out Jack's last Great Potential on the words and thoughts before being put behind Japanese Market bars in British prison PAGE 6 SOCIETY PAGE 7 Samtskhe-Javakheti: a A Europe in Crisis: Where Does Georgia Stand? Hidden Gem of Georgia tarian yoke and thirty years of democratic progress, our European aspi- Preserving an Ancient ration is inseparable from the consolidation of liberal democracy.” Zurabishvili believes that Europe will both protect and progress Geor- Megalithic Culture gia by bringing improvements such as new commercial opportunities, access to Erasmus programs, and the introduction of European regula- tions for health and safety. In addition, Europe plays an integral part in preventing Russia from continuing to encroach on Georgian territory. Georgians predominantly support the European idea: “Georgians have been supporting EU membership with 80% for years,” writes Zurabish- vili. However, despite Georgia’s pro-Europe stance, many EU member states are becoming increasingly eurosceptic and turning towards pop- ulism and nationalism. Since the turn of the century, the number of Europeans voting for populist parties in national votes has risen from 7% to more than 25%, according to research by The Guardian. In 1998, only Switzerland and Slovakia had populist governments. Two decades later, another nine countries do. Continued on page 4 Image source - Emerging Europe BY AMY JONES St Marine Church of Tmogvi Fortress. Photo by Giorgi Maghradze CULTURE PAGE 11 urope is in crisis, begins the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili in her op-ed published in Le Monde, a French newspaper. Indeed, a steady increase in populism and the Creative Education divisive effect of Brexit is destabilizing European ideals. Yet nonetheless, Georgia is steering itself towards the EU more Studio Revolutionizing the Ethan ever before. “The European choice is easily made,” writes Zurabishvili. “Europe is Georgian Music Scene synonymous with freedom: after seventy years under the Soviet totali- CULTURE PAGE 11 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS APRIL 12 - 15, 2019 Prime Minister Bakhtadze Takes the Floor at PACE up,” Bakhtadze pledged. BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE In the midst of the anger and hurt caused by the occupation, however, Bakhtadze emphasized that the only eorgian Prime Minister solution to the confl icts is a peaceful Mamuka Bakhtadze visited one. “Our joint victory will come only Strasburg this week. On when our IDPs are able to return to their April 9-10, Bakhtadze made homes, bridges between people are fully an appearance at the Coun- restored, the rule of law and human Gcil of Europe, accompanied by David rights is ensured throughout the whole Zalkaliani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, territory of Georgia,” he said, going on Tamar Chugoshvili, Deputy Speaker of to note the Georgian government’s pol- the Parliament and Archil Talakvadze, icies to improve the quality of life for Leader of the parliamentary majority. people in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali He held a number of bilateral meetings region, offering economic and social during the visit, including with Liliane benefi ts, such as the new Step2Better- Maury-Pasquier, President of the Parlia- Future program, although such programs mentary Assembly of the Council of are rarely taken advantage of. Europe (PACE), and Thorbjørn Jagland, “Today, from this stage, I would like to Secretary General of the Council of Image source: Government of Georgia send a message to all our Ossetian and Europe. On Wednesday April 10, Abkhaz citizens - our every success is Bakhtadze gave a speech to the Assem- the April 9, 1989 massacre when Soviet rights and freedom of expression, and rights to return to their homes. The erec- your success! And the only future that bly, addressing the Council of Europe’s troops descended on peacefully protest- defending minority groups. tion of barbed-wire fences, and the sup- we see together is with you – united in Parliamentarians on the occasion of the ing Georgians in the center of Tbilisi with He also noted last autumn’s election pression of the local population are daily peace and prosperity,” Bakhtadze pro- 20th anniversary of Georgia’s member- tanks and riot gear. “Their fi ght was not of the fi rst female president in the coun- issues. The situation on the Georgian claimed. ship in PACE. fruitless,” said Bakhtadze, “as, after two try’s history, Salome Zurabishvili, and occupied territories is nothing other Another topic the Prime Minister The speech opened, dramatically, with years, we gained independence.” the fact that at the end of last year Geor- than a humanitarian catastrophe.” breached is that of Russia’s non-payment a live rendition of the classic Georgian “Peaceful demonstrations are no longer gia adopted major reforms to the Con- He spoke aloud the names of Georgian of its PACE membership fee. To highlight folk song Chakrulo, sung by the men’s dispersed by the government in the stitution, which, he said, now provides citizens killed by occupying troops, warn- the issue, the Government of Georgia polyphonic choral ensemble ‘Rustavi,’ country. Human rights protection is the for better, more democratic governance. ing that “we still deal with threats of abduc- donated 500,000 EUR to the PACE budget which Bakhtadze explained is “a marker top priority,” the Prime Minister stressed. Georgia’s two main challenges, accord- tion, torture and murder of Georgian voluntarily “as a sign of gratitude” for the of Georgian identity” through its diver- Most of the speech was dedicated to ing to the Prime Minster, are territorial citizens today.” He also thanked the Coun- Council’s support over the last 20 years. sity of tones. the theme of democracy, and Georgia’s occupation and poverty. To addresses cil for their support of the Otkhozoria- Bakhtadze closed his well-received Bakhtadze began his speech recogniz- “irreversible” democratic advancements. these challenges, the government is start- Tatunashvili sanctions list, which identifi es speech with the famous quote from for- ing the support of PACE and other allies, “Georgia has an ambition to become the ing with systematic education reforms individual human rights violators on the mer Georgian Prime Minister Zurab which has led Georgian to achieve “unim- role model of democracy in the region,” – likely to have a stronger impact on occupied territories of Georgia. Zhvania, which he spoke before PACE aginable goals over the past 20 years.” said Bakhtadze. He continued, saying reducing poverty than freeing the occu- “The Russian Federation tries to under- in 1991: “I am Georgian and therefore I “Georgia has managed to make a dramatic that “Both PACE and Georgia can be pied territories. mine our peaceful initiatives, with... am European.” On the same day, Zhva- transformation, and today we are a coun- proud of our democratic achievements,” On the subject of the occupation, diversions they try to block all our efforts, nia’s name and his famous quote were try on the rise,” he added. and affi rming the country’s commitments Bakhtadze told PACE, “20% of our ter- with ethnic discrimination they try to inscribed on a star outside the Palace of The Prime Minister dedicated his speech to the values of the Council of Europe ritory is occupied by Russia. We have fully eradicate the Georgian identity, but the Council of Europe in Strasburg, to “those killed for freedom,” nodding to – combating corruption, ensuring human 300,000 IDPs who are deprived of their this won’t happen: we will never give France. SovLab Calls for Autopsy of 150 Corpses Found in Batumi 2. If anthropological and criminal created which was tasked to work on this BY THEA MORRISON examination and research are not being issue but ultimately proved ineffective. conducted, expert groups should be able The Batumi and Lazeti Eparchy stated to study the remains. the place where the graves were found he Soviet Past Research 3. If these are the remains of victims was given to the Patriarchate of Georgia Laboratory (SovLab) has of the Soviet period, the State should for temporary use, adding four graves addressed the state author- give this fact a legal framework - to ini- were found there with a total of 150 ities and representatives of tiate an investigation in a prescribed human remains. the Batumi Eparchy to con- manner and to ensure that the process The clergy have announced that the Tduct an anthropological-criminal inves- is documented. corpses will be reburied, in the same tigation and comprehensive autopsy of Otherwise, the Soviet Past Research place they were discovered, on April 21. 150 corpses found on the territory of the Laboratory believes that it is unreason- It is unknown whether the reburial military base in Georgia’s Black Sea able and premature to claim these corpses ceremony will be a religious or civil one, coastal city Batumi. are of the victims of the 1937-1938 Soviet as the remains have not been identifi ed. The organization, which aims to make terror. The Eparchy claims that the excavation a proper analysis and exploration of the Information about the discovery of a process started openly in 2016 and the state Soviet totalitarian past, has given three mass grave was released on April 5 on agencies were actively involved in it. recommendations to the State and the the offi cial website of the Batumi and The statement reads that with the Image source: Batumelebi Church: Lazeti Eparchy. cooperation of the Ministry of Health a 1. Provide public access to materials The remains of 150 people were found other opinions circulating.
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