Géorgie 1985-1995 Economie et transition Kevin Tuite hiver 2014 Uprisings & protests in the Georgian SSR • Uprising against Soviet rule in Aug-Sept 1924 (10K + killed in fighBng or executed aerwards) • Demonstraons on 3rd anniversary of Stalin’s death, 6-9 March 1956 (100-200 killed by Transcaucasian Military District troops) • Demonstraon in support of the official status of the Georgian language, 14 April 1978 AWempted hijacking of Aeroflot airliner, 18-19 November 1983 (3 hijackers & 5 others killed at airport; 3 hijackers & priest executed 3 Oct 1984) The Perestroika Years (1985-1989) • Economy • Society • Culture & educaon • Religion « Taux de change » mulBples: 1. Rouble vs. $ (taux officiel, marché noir) 2. Heures de travail (1 R = 0,5-1 h) 3. « Indice des prix à la consommaon » Prix de la nourriture en 1985-86 • Prix officiel en roubles sovéques • Prix en $ selon le taux de change officiel • Prix en $ selon le taux du marché noir • Heures de travail (salaire mensuel de 300R) Prix du transport et de produits culturels Prix du marché noir (produits importés) • Burda: catalogue de mode avec patrons de couture Social rituals: the banquet (supra) • (L) Birthday party in Tbilisi, Janury 1986 • (R) impromptu supra inside medieval church in SvaneB, June 1988 Pre-perestroika Georgian cinema • 1980 La migraon des moineaux (Beghurebis gadaprena, Temur Babluani) • 1981 Le nageur (Motsurave, Irakli Kvirikadze) • 1983 Les montagnes bleues (Tsisperi mtebi, Eldar Shengelaia) • 1983-86 RepenBr (Monanieba, Tengiz Abuladze; début du tournage, avec Gega Kobakhidze dans le rôle du fils [condamné à mort en 1984 pour sa parBcipaon dans le détournement d'un avion]) The making of Robinzoniada (My English grandfather, Nana Jorjadze, 1986) • Collaboraon between Nana Jorjadze (director) & Irakli Kvirikadze (scriptwriter) • Refiguraon of “prisoner of the Caucasus” trope • Post-Soviet remake as “1001 recees du cuisinier amoureux” Things fall apart, phase I (1988-89) • September-October 1988: first public demonstraons in Tbilisi; reemergence of Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Merab Kostava as leaders of naonal movement • 18 March 1989: Lykhny Assembly in Abkhazia • 9 April 1989: 20 demonstrators killed by Soviet troops in Tbilisi • July 1989: ethnic riots in Sukhumi, triggered by opening of separate Georgian university branch (18 killed, nearly 500 wounded) • 23 November 1989: Gamsakhurdia aempts to lead demonstraon of Georgians in Tskhinvali; impeded by South OsseBans blocking roads. Violent clashes break out • Jaba Ioseliani organizes Mkhedrioni paramilitary group Phase II: Gamsakhurdia presidency, 1990-1991 • 28 October-11 November 1990: Parliamentary elecBons in Georgia, won by “Round Table - Free Georgia” party (Mrgvali magida – Tavisupali Sakartvelo), 155 of 250 seats (Communists win 64 seats). Gamsakhurdia elected Chairman of Supreme Soviet of Georgian SSR. • Autonomous status of South OsseBa abolished. • Feb 1991: Jaba Ioseliani imprisoned. • Feb-March 1991: Georgian soldiers aack OsseBan irregulars in Tskhinvali. • 31 March 1991: Referendum on independence. 99,5% in favor; boycoWed by Abkhazians and OsseBans. • 26 May 1991. Gamsakhurdia elected president of Georgia, winning 87,6% of vote. • December 1991: Gamsakhurdia’s former PM Tengiz Sigua and Naonal Guard commander Tengiz Kitovani release Ioseliani from jail, mobilize fighters for coup d’état Phase III: Abkhazian war & return of Shevardnadze, 1992-1993 • December 1991 – January 1992: Armed conflicts in Tbilisi force Gamsakhurdia to flee to Chechnia. • Shevardnadze brought back to Georgia from Moscow (March); signs peace treaty with South OsseBa (June); elected head of state (October 1992) • August 1992 – September 1993: War in Abkhazia (8-10K killed on both sides); ends with flight of Shevardnadze from Sukhumi & de facto independence for Abkhazia. • Mkhedrioni fighters parBcipate in Abkhaz War, also aack Gamsakhurdia supporters in Mingrelia (Western Georgia). • 31 December 1993: Gamsakhurdia dies (alleged suicide) in Mingrelia. Economy: 1989-1992 • 1989-1992: Georgian remains in ruble zone, although US$ also circulate • Jan 1992: most price controls liEed aer ouster of Gamsakhurdia; 350% price rises in 1stQ 1993, 40-50% in four subsequent quarters 1993: ruble replaced by the coupon • 1993: Russia stops shipping rubles to Georgia • 5 April 1993: Georgian “coupon” introduced, at par with ruble (then approx. $1US). By end of April, 40% of commercial shops & 2/3 of bazaar sellers did not accept it; others charged 25-60% markup over ruble price 1993: Pluralité monétaire • June 1993: coupons refused by many private sellers; fall to 2.5-3 per ruble. Mainly accepted in state shops selling raoned goods (bread, sugar, buWer) & public transport • 1 July 1993: coupon becomes only legal tender. In pracBce, R used for most daily purchases, US$ for durable & imported goods, special favors, also savings. • Despite inflaon of coupon, Georgian government aempts to maintain price stability for bread, electricity and gas through subsidies. 1993-1995: Hyperinflaon • 24 July 1993: Russia recalls pre-1993 rubles • Inflaon: prices in coupons up 100% in 3Q 1993; 750% in 4Q; 15600% in 1994! • By Sept 1994, the coupon trades at 2.4 million = $1 (unofficially, closer to 5 million) • September 1994: Government tries to halt inflaon by cung consumer subsidies. On 17 Sept, price of 1kg bread jumps from 700 to 200,000 coupons (285-fold increase), then 280K in December 1995: Coupon replaced by the lari • Lari introduced 25 Sept 1995 at 1 million Cpn, 4000 R, $0,8. • Prices stabilize: 57% inflaon in 1995, 14% in 1996, down to 5% by mid-97 Prix en 1996-2000 comparés aux années 1985-86 Prix par rapport aux salaires, 1986-1996 Salaires en 1996-2000 comparés aux années 1985-86 Pouvoir d’achat (professeur d’université) 1985: 300R = 1000kg concombres = 6000 billets de bus 1996: 40L = 80kg concombres (12,5 x moins) = 200 billets de bus (30 x moins) Société (1992-1995) • Deux “classes”: les chasseurs et les chassés • Corrupon (gouvernement, police, professions) • Conséquences pour les praques de mainBen des réseaux sociaux (banquets, hospitalité) Films sur la Géorgie des années 90 • Eux (Isini, Levan Zakareishvili, 1992) • Le soleil des insomniaques (Udzinarta mze, Temur Babluani, 1992) • Le Svan (Svani, Ioseb Jachvliani, 2007) • L’autre côté (Gaghma napiri, Giorgi Ovashvili, 2009) • Eka et Naa, Chronique d'une jeunesse géorgienne (Grdzeli nateli dgheebi, Nana EkvBmishvili, 2013) .