Issue #1262

Issue no: 1262

• SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

FOCUS ON THE GEORGIAN SCHINDLER

Monument dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust was opened by the Israeli House and the Municipality of Oni

PAGE 2

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In this week’s issue...

Corona Updates: The Highest Number of Daily Cases Since April NEWS PAGE 2

How (and Why) Russia Won POLITICS PAGE 4

Georgia’s Selfie POLITICS PAGE 4

Economic Contributions and Fresh Choices: Georgia Welcomes the Newly Opened Carrefour in Zugdidi BUSINESS PAGE 6

CENN Supports Digital & Green Growth of the Caucasus Tourism Sector BUSINESS PAGE 8

Meet the Change Shapers: Changing How We Connect

BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

T

he past few decades have seen a revolution in how we communicate, creating a world where we can see friends and family across the world at the click of a button. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the shift towards teleworking, with more workplaces using technology to communicate with their colleagues.

The future potential of augmented and virtual reality has been much-discussed, transforming the way we connect with each other as well as interact with our physical environment.

At the same time, tech leaders are envisioning a future where holographic communication will become the new frontier.

Yet the rapid change in how we connect with one another has its downsides. Experts worry about the impact of screen usage and social media, which is more relevant than ever as the first digital generations grow older. Will these new modes of communication affect our ability to create meaningful relationships, and is there any going back from the alwayson culture fostered by instant messaging?

Continued on page 2

Photo: Mirian Salzman

New Old Chavchavadze Avenue – Putting the Horse Ahead of the Cart?

SOCIETY PAGE 9

Playing Poker in Georgia SOCIETY PAGE 10

After Batumi, Tbilisi Hosts Night Serenades Concert CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

Itsik Moshe: Opening of Oni Holocaust Monument Impacted Israel & Jews Worldwide

BY ANA DUMBADZE

O

rganized by the of Israeli House and Oni Municipality in cooperation of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, a monument dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust and the “Georgian Righteous Among the Nations,” Sergey Metreveli, who was recognized by the Yad Vashem - the World Holocaust Remembrance Center was opened in Oni on September 2. It is located in the center of the town, on the boulevard near the House of Culture.

The event was held in the framework of the European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) and was supported by the The European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ)/Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe. The European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) is held simultaneously in more than 20 countries across Europe.

During the Nazi occupation of the North Caucasus town of Kislovodsk in 1942, Sergey Metreveli, who worked at the Kislovodsk Winery, helped two Jews to flee, and took them to Racha. This is how Emil Zigel and Arkady Rabinovich survived death. The remaining Jews in Kislovodsk were shot by the Nazis.

In 2004, the Yad Vashem - the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem awarded Sergey Metreveli the title of Righteous One ("Hasidei Umot Haolam") and immortalized his name. In

2015, the Israeli House, with the support of the Knesset, made a documentary about Sergey Metreveli and Emil Zigel. The film premiered at the Hasbara event organized by the Israeli House in Tbilisi.

Representatives of Georgian state agencies and Israeli guests attended the opening ceremony of the Metreveli monument.

Davit Chikvaidze, Mayor of Oni Municipality; Itsik Moshe, Head of the Israeli House; MK David Bitan, Chairman of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs and member of the Israeli Knesset (live broadcast); Elene Gedenidze, Acting Head of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, and Davit Saganelidze, Executive Director of the Partnership Fund addressed

the audience.

Itsik Moshe noted the significance of the opening of a memorial to Holocaust victims in a part of the post-Soviet space where there was no Holocaust, a move that impacted Israel and Jews worldwide.

Israeli House is working to establish ties between Georgia and Israel, and immortalizing the “Georgian Schindler”'s name, and including this monument, and Oni Jewish cultural heritage in general, in the European route is another strong bridge between Georgia, Israel and world Judaism,” he said.

Davit Chikvaidze, Acting Mayor of the municipality of Oni addressed the audience at the opening of the monument, saying he is glad that the Sergey Metreveli monument has been opened in Oni;

that he is the only Georgian who is officially recognized as Righteous among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem. He noted that this is a historic day and thanked the Israeli House for implementing this idea. He also congratulated the Jewish people on the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana).

The participants at the opening ceremony of the monument were greeted with a live broadcast from Jerusalem by MK David Bitan, Chairman of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs of the Israeli Knesset.

Israeli House plays an important role in deepening Israeli-Georgian relations,” Bitan said. “The opening of the Holocaust Memorial and the Georgian Schindler's monument is another example of the solidarity of the Georgian people with Israel and Judaism.”

He also highlighted the opening of Israeli cabinets in Georgian universities by the Israeli House. It is noteworthy that MK David Bitan personally participated in the launch of a Holocaust History course in two Georgian universities with the support of the Israeli House.

The Knesset multi-party delegation participates in almost all events of the Israeli House.

After the opening of the monument, the participants moved to the Oni Synagogue, which turned 125 this year, is the third largest synagogue in Georgia, and is recognized as a cultural monument of national importance, being and architecturally unique building in the South Caucasus.

It was noted that the newly opened Holocaust monument, along with the Oni

Synagogue, will become part of the Council of Europe-certified Jewish Cultural Heritage Route. It will also be a new tourist attraction in the region that will attract foreign tourists, including those from Israel and world Jewry.

Israeli House, the official representative of the European Route of Jewish Heritage of the Council of Europe in Georgia, has created the Oni-Lailashi Route of Jewish Heritage,” Itsik Moshe told the audience.

In future, a sign will be placed on the house of Sergey Metreveli in the village of Utsera, which was the shelter of the two Jews he helped survive.

At the end of the day, as part of the European Days of Jewish Culture, a photo exhibition depicting Jewish cultural heritage in Georgia was opened by the Israeli House at the Oni House of Culture, and singer Kristi Japaridze and the folk group of the Oni House of Culture performed several Jewish songs. A documentary about Sergey Metreveli, shot by Israeli House with the support of the Knesset, was screened.

The opening of the Holocaust Memorial and the Georgian Schindler Monument in Oni and, in general, the pro-Israel activities of the Israeli House, was covered in an article by the English-language Israeli edition ‘The Jerusalem Post.’ The publication focuses on the main direction of the ‘Israeli House’, Hasbara, and calls the model of the organization “unique.”

Israeli House is working on Hasbara with the EAI (European Alliance for Israel), and Israeli politicians are supporting the opening of the organization in 100 countries.

Corona Updates: The Highest Number of Daily Cases Since April

BY TEAM GT

T

hirty-eight new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Georgia on Wednesday, and 20 more on Thursday, bringing the total number to 1568.

The Wednesday 38 was a record high in Georgia since April 16, when 42 cases of coronavirus were detected.

Marina Ezugbaia, the Medical Director of the Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital, explained the sources of the new cases, saying 22 of the Wednesday 38 were from the cluster of Batumi confectionery 'Dona,' 7 cases are contacts of infected patients, and 4 are imported cases, of which 2 patients are truck drivers. Of the Thursday cases, one was a medical practitioner, and 7 are imported cases, of which 4 are truck drivers. The sources of 9 cases are yet to be established.

She added that 262 active patients infected with coronavirus are being treated in 'COVID Centers' throughout Georgia.

"The number of recoveries increased by 9. The recovery rate, based on today’s

ABKHAZIA

data, is 81.6%. 262 active patients are being treated in COVID Centers. Of these, 3 critically ill patients and 15 patients in severe condition are being treated in intensive care units, while the condition of the remainder is moderate and mild," Ezugbaia explained.

Despite a small coronavirus outbreak in Batumi, the city will not be closed, the Head of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze announced Wednesday. Instead, extended testing for coronavirus has begun on the spot.

“There are three laboratories in Batumi and 1600-1800 tests can be taken daily.

There is no alternative to extended testing,” he noted.

The so-called operative headquarters of occupied Abkhazia reported that the region registered 29 new COVID cases on Tuesday of 194 coronavirus tests carried out.

To date, 359 COVID cases have been confirmed in Abkhazia. 125 of the coronavirus patients have already recovered, and four cases have been fatal.

SCHOOLS

STATISTICS As of Wednesday, the number of recoveries had increased by 17, to reach 1270; people were in 14-day mandatory quarantine and 239 under medical observation; 19 people had died of the virus in the country.

MESTIA Quarantine restrictions were lifted in Mestia Municipality, Georgia's Svaneti region, on September 2.

It was closed on August 10 due to an

increase in coronavirus cases and a difficult epidemiological situation. The decision was made after 17 cases of the virus were detected simultaneously on

the spot.

Thermal screening and population testing was carried out in the municipality during the period.

Despite the 38 new coronavirus cases detected Tuesday-Wednesday, the postponement of the school process in Georgia is not being considered, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced at Wednesday’s meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council.

"The education process in schools should start on September 15. The Ministries of Education and Health should be fully mobilized for this. Our responsibility here is high to ensure that there is no risk to the learning process. This requires strict adherence to appropriate measures in educational institutions," said Gakharia.

The head of the government then called on the relevant services to tighten security measures throughout the country.

Meet the Change Shapers: Changing How We Connect Continued from page 1

DANGER OR OPPORTUNITY: WHAT CONSEQUENCES DOES THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS HAVE IN STORE FOR THE DIGITAL INDUSTRY? On August 27, The Economist, supported

by Mission Winnow, held a webinar to learn more about how we connect with one another, how it is changing, and what this means for the most sociable species on the planet.

The event gathered outstanding professionals and speakers worldwide, namely: Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President of Global Communications

at Philip Morris International; Johann Butting, Vice-president at Slack’s EMEA; Helen Joyce, Executive editor of Economist Events and Polly Curtis, Former editor at Tortoise Media.

Marian Salzman opened the discussion and stressed the vitality of the pandemic in helping us ponder the miscellaneous ways of managing and using time.

“We finally killed the agrarian clock,” she said. “This idea that we should rise up with the sun and wind down our workday as the sun sets; instead to recognize that we have a 24-hour day with plenty of time to learn, to grow, to work and to relate. So it becomes a very fluid

situation in which you can take those hours and get so much more into a day, or night. During the pandemic, I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and my workday finished at 1:30; it was absolutely luxurious all the extra things I could get into a day.”

A crisis of this kind is unique in the way it forces us to put our habits on hold. Johann Butting said the challenge for companies was to reimagine their business models to survive this type of unpredictable crisis, seeing them urged to rely on creativity and collaboration, and to devise flexible business models.

"The office is no longer the gold standard for productivity,” Butting noted. “A

lot of teams have been shown to be more productive during the pandemic than ever before. What we are left to ponder is the nature of the new gold standard: if the office is no longer the one, what can replace it? I think the answer would surely include a combination of reimagined office space, a remote working strategy, and the right toolsets to support employees.”

Salzman noted that the pandemic has shown that firms that value transparency and objectivity often serve as the most effective in the end.

“Companies that are thriving right now are those who put their employees first, the communities in which they

exist next, and commercial objectives third. For me, the chief lesson was the injection of humanity: corporations had to become enormously soulful and respectful of the fact that we are all in this together.”

“The pandemic has taught us to better mitigate and only hear what we need to hear; to learn how to tune out, go into our world and manage to participate in those conversations that matter to us and disregard what we consider clutter,” Salzman said. “Learning how to zone out or tune out might be the next extension of the mindful movement. It is vital not to bother with what you consider unimportant.”

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

How (and Why) Russia Won

BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

W

estern naivety and a lack of solidarity has allowed Russia to behave “like a powerful rogue state,” argues author and former Guardian Moscow correspondent Luke Harding.

He told the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) that Russia was more interested in zero sum foreign policy games than reaching mutually beneficial compromises, and that only the emergence of a new, politically empowered generation can alter this mindset.

IT TOOK THE DOWNING OF THE MH17 AIRPLANE IN 2014 AND THE SALISBURY POISONINGS IN 2018 TO STIR THE WEST TO ACTION AGAINST RUSSIA. HOW COME TWO WARS, IN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE, WERE NOT ENOUGH TO PROMPT A PROPER SHOW OF STRENGTH? What it shows is that successive Western governments have really failed to get a grip on what I call the “Russia problem”.

In the 21st century, Russia has behaved like a powerful rogue state: be it the gobbling up of Georgian territories in 2008, the annexation of Crimea, or the spectacular assassination operation which we’ve seen much closer at home, from Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, to Sergey Skripal in 2018, and the deployment in Syria, which we don’t even talk about anymore. It’s clear that Russia under Putin has become an aggressive and revisionist power that sees the world in neo-imperial terms, believes in spheres of influence, believes that smaller countries like Georgia should be rolled over by bigger ones like Russia. So the challenge is quite clear: how do you deal with this? And thus far, the West has been found wanting when it comes to having a coordinated response. In 2008, we could have had at least some sanctions, which would have made some difference. But there is a clear lack of political will for that and it’s a problem because Putin waits for a response and when said response never comes, he obviously carries on what he’s doing.

Actually, I think Georgia was a really, really big moment. In 2008, I was personally posted by the Guardian to Tbilisi: I was in Gori, in South Ossetia, along the

HOW MUCH DESIRE IS THERE IN THE WEST TO CONTAIN RUSSIA ON THOSE TERMS?

frontline, so I saw everything that took place with my own eyes. And in these difficult times, the response was not adequate from the West. And I’m not saying there should have been a fullblown military confrontation with Russia, nobody wants that and nobody asks for that, but there were certain things that could have been done and weren’t.

Sanctions could have been introduced back then and weren’t.

Not much. Depends who you talk to.

From Trump? Zero. From Boris Johnson?

No: he’s interested in the Black Sea, he’s interested in the Russian investments, he hates the European Union, as does Putin. From the EU, from Merkel, from people who have more understanding of that world, yes, there is some pushback. But it's definitely not a great moment for Western solidarity.

HAD THE WEST REACTED STRONGLY, DO YOU THINK THAT SUBSEQUENT EVENTS WOULD HAVE TRANSPIRED AS THEY DID? I think most of it would still have happened in Georgia, yes. The problem was with the complete mismatch at the theater of war between Georgia and Russia. It was pretty clear almost immediately that the Georgian air defenses had been smashed and the Russian forces were in complete control of the sky, and were bombing not just military targets but also civilians, which I witnessed myself in Gori. But the West’s biggest mistake was that there wasn’t a bigger price for Russia to pay: in the end, it was a very small price. Had there been a stronger response, a pushback from Western countries, sanctions against officials, maybe even to the extent of the expulsion of Russia from the Swiss banking system, I don’t think Crimea would have happened. I think what happened in Crimea was a direct consequence of what happened in Georgia.

IN YOUR LATEST BOOK ‘SHADOW STATE: MURDER, MAYHEM, AND RUSSIA'S REMAKING OF THE WEST,’ YOU STATE THAT “THE WEST SEEMED TO THINK RESTRAINT WOULD LEAD TO RESTORED RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. IT DIDN’T”. THIS LINE OF THINKING HAS BEEN EVERPRESENT, WITH ONE ATTEMPT AFTER ANOTHER FAILING. YET THE WEST PERSISTS. WHY? There has been a naïve belief which has indeed persisted for a long time, the Obama administration’s reset attempt being just one example, that Putin and the KGB personnel around him are interested in mutually beneficial solutions.

They’re not. They play classic zero-sum games. They would rather have lose-lose than win-win. I remember talking to a

ARE PEOPLE (AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE MAJORITY OF THE GEORGIAN POPULATION) WHO HOPE THAT WITH PUTIN’S EVENTUAL EXIT, FORCED OR NATURAL, THINGS WILL IMPROVE BOTH IN AND WITH RUSSIA, GUILTY OF WISHFUL THINKING?

Luke Harding, author and former Guardian Moscow correspondent.

(Photo: Courtesy of L. Harding)

British official after the 2008 war and he uttered a most remarkable phrase: “The problem with Russia is that they don’t think the way we think they should think.”

They think that whatever is bad for the West, and Georgia counts as part of the West, is good for Russia, and vice-versa.

Putin is a real practitioner: he is a believer in the Leninist idea that Moscow is in a state of continuous semi-war; in which it's not just ok, but necessary to send assassins around. And this serves them well to weave a glorious narrative to distract what has been years of chronic mismanagement and stagnation and appalling mundane corruption. There has always been a great deal of corruption in Russia… it has reached a metastasis stage under Putin, where you have a bone-fide feudal situation where 20 or 30 leading families own billions, and teachers, nurses, university lecturers basically live on almost poverty wages.

But then they also have this Soviet stoicism, which makes them put up with almost anything.

BUT THEN YOU GO HOME AFTER YOUR MISERABLE DAY,

YOU SWITCH ON THE TV AND THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY’VE GOT CRIMEA BACK AND IT GIVES YOU THIS SENSE OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE STATE THAT CALLS THE SHOTS IN THE WORLD. That kind of propaganda does indeed work, especially among less-educated people. They are most susceptible to this kind of propaganda and, let’s face it, the Russian regime has got pretty good at it. They perfected their techniques in Russia, and now, like a rock band, they’re touring the world. And then these trolls, who have been trolling on tochka.ru, suddenly started trolling on the Guardian, or the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or Der Spiegel in German. Their propaganda operations might be crude, but to some degree, they work. And we’ve seen this recently with COVID: anything that divides Western society, Russian propaganda will find and try to exploit. And the way out of it is containment: dialogue, facts, reasoning don’t work with Russians, so all that remains is trying to contain them.

It's essentially all about whether the system created Putin or Putin created the system. A chicken or egg question, if you must. And while the optimist in me says that when Putin is gone there will be some form of elite upheaval and maybe we can get something a bit more plural, a bit more decent, as a result, the realist in me says we will get another short man with a plethora of complexes, probably in his sixties, from Putin’s inner circle…. But I’d like to finish this on an optimistic note and say that we live in an era of fast times, and there is a new generation of Russians coming, and they get that life is actually better elsewhere than Russia, they get they are particularly unlucky in their government and in their ruling elite. They aren’t stupid, you can’t fool people forever. And I would like to believe that Russia’s salvation lies not in Putin’s demise as such, but in this new generation, who don’t have the same complexes. And whenever that happens, that is going to be a better thing for Russia and a better thing for Georgia as well.

This publication was prepared under the "Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes Project" implemented with the financial support of the Foreign Ministry of Norway.

Georgia’s Selfie BLOG BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

S

ome say I am way over three thousand years of age, and I want to believe that. There is a lot of competition in the region on longevity, and I tend to emerge as the best among my peers, although the age of a nation should not have anything to do with the quality of its life today. Western nations, for instance, are much younger, but their standard of living is a lot higher than mine. Well, I have my own dimensions and I am OK with them: socially, I am expansive, physically – exhausted, morally – confused, attitudinally – peppery, territorially – shrinking, economically – doddering, demographically – dwindling, politically – overcharged, psychologically – bubbling, philosophically – vacillating, geographically – lucky, technically – catching up, futuristically – overcast, and on a cultural level – foppishly self-confident. This is the way I feel as the 21st century is still young.

My people are inclined to think they deserve more than they currently enjoy, always keeping in mind my national antiquity and the uniqueness of my culture, but the modern Free World’s mindset somewhat contradicts my thinking: while I blame my predatory neighbor for having unlawfully bitten off my territory, which I want back among my assets forthwith, the Free World prompts me not to move a finger undiplomatically until the predator humanizes itself enough to see me whole again. I have the patience to wait and see what happens, but the Free World is not coming up with any specific guarantees for my revitalization. The Free World is leaning towards the belief that I am more or less an organic part of it, but the fact is that the Free World is somewhat freer than me to embark on the agendum of its own perspective and faith.

Whatever is left after a 100-year forceful tailoring, my people have a small but beautiful piece of land, fertile enough to feed themselves and even nourish others, but I don’t possess enough hands or will to have it work as productively

as other little darlings like me do around the world. After being pushed back from my northern seashores, I still have access to deep waters of the globe, but my navigating potential is still in expectation for major development. I have plenty of schools for my young to go to, but, amazingly, the education I give them is almost impossible to translate into my people’s wellbeing. I have plenty of work for the working part of my population, if they want to labor, but most of them ogle jobs elsewhere, beyond my borders. I certainly produce something to sell, but I have no way to reach the worldwide marketable fame so that my products turn into universally known brand names.

I dream of having my labor force operate faster and stronger to produce more and better, but I have no ability to provide it with tangible incentives. I want my ideological elite to go for deeds sooner than for words, but I don’t have enough power to cut their oversize gullibility and overblown promises in favor of genuine national prosperity. I feel I am losing ground under my feet on an eve-

Image by Tony Hanmer

ryday basis for reasons like my demographic fragility, territorial contraction, uncertainty in developmental vectors, ideological and rational mendicity, but I am not able to stop the avalanche of depressing multifaceted absurdity in almost every walk of life.

Add to that the fact my cultural accomplishments are valuable enough to sell well, but I mostly use them to entertain my own folks rather than push for international commercial display.

The funniest part of the whole deal is that I am formally independent and free, but there are very few things I can do freely and independently. I know there

are some practicable ways out of the frozen instant, but the wisest part of the nation is either mum or unheeded. The Free World knows well who I am and what I represent, and likes me much, and even sees me in partnership and cooperation, but it seems not very expeditious in action and appears reserved in thinking, and I wish I could believe that it has enough reason to cling to this subtle attitudinal verge.

I don’t need much! I only demand to be clearly noticed and seriously reckoned with, so that my truly valuable potential to live and let others live is not buried and forgotten as often happens with talent.

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6

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

Economic Contributions and Fresh Choices: Georgia Welcomes the Newly Opened Carrefour in Zugdidi

products at affordable prices.

The new Carrefour store offers customers a wide variety of high quality food products and household goods.

These include food and healthy eating, baby care, health and personal care

BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

s Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia, celebrates the opening of its 24th branch in Georgia, it continues its prominent legacy of community-minded retail, rooting the brand in the soil, traditions and culture of the markets it operates in and serves. Opening now at Agmashenebeli Street N6 , in Georgia’s Samegrelo region, the brand is taking more steps to making its diverse offering and opportunities more accessible to shoppers across Georgia.

Since Carrefour’s establishment in the country in 2012, the brand has provided Georgians with quality, variety, and value — introducing a completely new and unrivalled shopping experience to the region. Carrefour has brought an extensive range of more than 40,000 food and non-food products — characterised by high value and low pricing

— to Georgia.

Crucially, the opening of the new branch on Agmashenebeli Street N 6 helps Carrefour to maintain its position as one of the leading contributors to the Georgian economy, uplifting the local supply chain directly and indirectly — particularly in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic. The scope and size of Carrefour’s vast network and considerable presence across a number of markets sets it apart as a large-scale job creator, with the brand’s stores generating lasting employment for over 2,000 Georgian professionals.

Christophe Orcet, Country Manager of Carrefour Georgia at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said: “I’m delighted to see us growing so fast. In addition to creating unique shopping experiences for our customers, we are especially pleased to be uplifting local manufacturers and suppliers through our success. As always, we strive to deliver the best possible retail experiences and customer journeys in and across all of the markets we operate in. In doing so, we prioritise

items; as well as exclusive French products made by Carrefour and much more.

The new Carrefour branch, located at Agmashenebeli Street N6 in Zugdidi, will serve customers every day from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

unbeatable value, quality and sustainability. Additionally, we pride ourselves on strengthening the communities we serve. We believe that our continued expansion will help us to create more value, choice and jobs for the people of Georgia.”

The ongoing expansion of retail brands such as Carrefour will be vital to the survival, recovery and eventual growth of local businesses and suppliers postCOVID-19. It will lay the foundations for a brighter and more sustainable future for the region, providing muchneeded financial support for people and communities in need.

To this point, the new Zugdidi store is slated to create more employment opportunities. In doing so, it will increase the value and improve the quality of the entire supply chain by supporting local suppliers and farmers. This move underlines the Carrefour’s commitment to safeguarding the food security and production of the communities it operates in, while offering its customers more access to healthy, high-quality

Discourse (Not Only) on the Region. Part I ANALYSIS BY VICTOR KIPIANI, GEOCASE CHAIR

O

ur world is so dynamic that every week that passes seems to leave so much new material for discussion and analysis that we practically need to rank it before being able to choose the most interesting.

I have mentioned several times in my previous papers that the world has begun to follow a path whose guidelines and orientations we can largely only assume.

The same could be said of the complex South Caucasus region, which is at the intersection of opposing interests.

As a result, all our attempts to evaluate certain events and to forecast how they will evolve, even in the medium term, require both close observation and extreme caution. Quite understandably, I will begin this conversation with our region and indeed in our immediate neighborhood, where a new and developing phase of confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is directly linked to Georgia’s internal stability and external sustainability.

MORE ON THE RECENT FLARE When speaking about recent developments, it is clear that any possible escalation of military actions in the Caucasus poses an open threat to regional security, as well as to Georgia’s essential regional and international interests. That this surely relates to the renewed confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan which began on July 12 has become a subject of active

discussion and assessment. Yet it seems that this phase of the conflict is somehow different from previous ones, and that any evaluation of the recent escalation requires us to identify new factors related to current realities. Let us begin with the fact that the confrontation between the two sides this time started in the Tavush/Tovuz region, i.e. far from the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. This new loca-

tion has added a further and very thought-provoking dimension to the conflict.

However, this shift of the armed conflict beyond the Nagorno-Karabakh region is not the only new circumstance that needs to be analyzed.

I must at this stage underline the fact that I am not seeking to assert anything with this analysis but only to express possibilities and assumptions that I

believe are necessary to this topic’s development, and without which the scope of discussion would be limited and the discussions themselves impoverished.

However, let us start by posing a question which in my view is fundamental: is this new eruption of the conflict linked to attempts to rearrange the region’s energy map?

Continued on page 7

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

Discourse (Not Only) on the Region. Part I Continued from page 6 This question is anything but rhetorical if we consider the fact that three main energy arteries pass through the new region into which the conflict has now expanded, and even a short analysis of their individual significance immediately provides new answers.

We are already very familiar with one of these energy arteries: the Baku-TbilisiCeyhan pipeline (BTC), which transports Azerbaijani oil to the Mediterranean.

The second main artery is the TransAnatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), which pumps Caspian gas from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to Southern Europe, where the pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP) project that will stretch northwards into the heart of Europe. Finally, the third artery is the Baku-TbilisiAkhalkalaki-Kars railway line which provides the crucial link of a transport corridor stretching from Europe to China via the Caspian and Central Asia. Even this very brief description of these extremely important links indicates their enormous economic significance for the region; but if we now consider the fact that all three are in direct competition with Russian interests (particularly the first two), it is easy to see why the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan have a clear geopolitical and geoeconomic dimension.

At this stage, I would like to bring some figures to our readers’ attention which can help to clarify the general picture.

In 2019, Azerbaijan exported 230 million barrels of oil to Europe worth approximately $15 billion, and gas export that year reached approximately 12 billion

cubic metres, earning the country a further $2.6 billion. As an exporter of oil and gas to Europe, Azerbaijan has therefore clearly become Russia’s main competitor, and the level of their competition will increase over the next few years when TANAP begins to operate.

PROXY OR ELSE? Speaking about a “proxy context” of the conflict is a very delicate subject matter and we can only speak of possibilities.

The fact that the big picture is continuing to evolve also prevents us from making any affirmations, but some current circumstances and developments can and indeed must be thoroughly discussed.

Let us begin by noting that much has already been written about RussianTurkish relations and the specificities of their recent ‘partnership’, and this has naturally given rise to many comments.

I might have to repeat certain nuances, but in order to formulate the main message, I will refer to the strange, mosaiclike regional ‘quartet’ of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Russia continues to consider the South Caucasus to be within the area of her vital interests. Indeed, even in the eighteenth century, Potemkin was already arguing that Russia’s destiny was decided to her south. In principle, Moscow’s perception of the situation has remained practically unchanged, but its approach has naturally evolved in practical terms. What is clear is that Russia’s declared interest in the South Caucasus is based upon her exercising sufficient control over the region to maintain her influence and ensure the stability of her southern border region.

But Moscow’s interest in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean is no

less strong, and these interests pass through the South Caucasus and the wider Black and Caspian macro-region.

Russia’s desire to maintain her powerful influence over Armenia also explains her strategic and political approach to the South Caucasus.

It is no secret that any kind of regional decision or action Yerevan wishes to make or undertake is done in agreement with Moscow. Certain sources explain the events of 12 July according to the same reasoning, and therefore exclude the possibility of any Armenian ‘contingency’ or ‘autonomy’. That said, any responsible attitude towards this issue prevents us from substantiating this consideration.

In parallel, Russia’s regional policy cannot accept Turkey’s recent efforts to establish a certain degree of hegemony over the Black and Caspian macro-region.

It is noteworthy in this regard that some researchers see current events as evidence of the Turkish government’s desire to carry out a project of neo-Ottoman ambitions. I believe that the grounds for employing such a bold term are quite debatable, but many essential tendencies of Turkey’s domestic and foreign policies are certainly worth discussing.

In any event, this matter is obviously multifaceted, but what is obvious is Ankara’s readiness to co-operate ever more closely with Baku. This degree of readiness is also linked to several practical tasks: On one hand, Ankara is trying to maintain energy relations with Moscow, as the so-called TurkStream project eminently illustrates. Yet at the same time Ankara’s mission is also to reduce energy dependence on Russia, and in this sense TANAP and other pro-

7

PM: Over 200 Worldwide Have Shown Interest in Work From Georgia Program

BY ANA DUMBADZE

jects contribute to the goal of greater diversification. In general, at both the political and the ideological level, Turkey’s attitude towards Azerbaijan is based upon the declared principle of ‘one nation, two states’.

Recent events are also expected to lead to changes in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, which for the past two decades has been based upon the goal of maintaining a balance between Russian and Turkish interests. This approach was based upon the belief that, if Azerbaijan was to maintain her internal stability and be able to carry out a regional policy, Baku needed to obtain Russian non-interference as a minimum and Turkish benevolence and support.

At present, it is quite likely though that Azerbaijan will seek to correct her balancing act, especially in the nearest future. The reasons for this correction are likely to be the unsolved territorial dispute with Armenia, Russia’s ambiguous attitude towards this decades-old conflict, the implications of Yerevan’s membership of the CSTO and Turkey’s growing regional role and ambition.

And by the way, when considering the Karabakh conflict and its regional neighbours, one must not forget the energy alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

This alliance has been further strengthened by TANAP, limiting the export capacities and profits of Russia’s energy carriers and decreasing Russia’s aggressive ambitions in the region due to a lack of necessary resources. It is impossible that this important element of the regional picture would go unnoticed by the United States and NATO. To be continued in next week’s GT.

T

he program 'Work from Georgia' has exceeded expectations and at this time, more than 200 people from around the world have shown interest in the program, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakaria announced at Thursday's government session.

The head of the government instructed the National Tourism Agency to pay special attention to the program. "'Work from Georgia' was an initiative of the Tourism Agency, which was met by skepticism by many of us. The idea of the program was that since Georgia is one of the most successful countries in terms of virus management, we are offering the citizens of 95 countries the chance to work from Georgia for at least 180 days.

The result has exceeded expectations.

We have already received more than 200 applications from all over the world, from America to Singapore," he stressed.

As part of the strategy of the gradual opening up of the country, the Coordination Council of the Government in July took the decision to set up a special entry regime for foreign citizens wishing to come and work remotely from Georgia.

The project is intended for foreigners who are freelancers who work remotely or can manage their businesses from any part of the world.

Based on the initiative, a citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter Georgia for the long-term should fill in a mandatory electronic application form and obtain the preliminary confirmation required for border crossing.

The program 'Work from Georgia' has already been uploaded on stopgov.ge for use.

Address: 24 Zandukeli T: 595 50 39 30 facebook.com/thaiboxtbilisi

THE NEW CRAFT OF TASTE

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GEORGIA TODAY

SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

CENN Supports Digital & Green Growth of the Caucasus Tourism Sector the achievements made, I still see so much untapped potential here. After the struggles of the past few months, I think future travelers will be searching for deeper, more meaningful experiences that take them beyond the must-sees and into local communities. There’s never been a better time to invest in Georgia’s ecotourism potential,” she says, adding that there are three regions in particular – Kakheti, Samtshke-Javakheti and Shida Qartli – where she can see agritourism flourishing in the coming years.”

Emily Lush, Bughdasheni Managed Reserve

Emily Lush, Nazys Guest House, Pankisi

KAKHETI

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

T

he tourism industry is vital to the economies of most countries. Any doubts about the truth of that statement were dissolved by the reality of COVID-19, with the world having seen various states quickly reopening their borders, as far as possible, in the wake of the world pandemic. The restrictions that have come as a result of the pandemic have switched many working platforms, forcing real-life experiences to adapt to remote realities. At this time, digital tourism is becoming ever-more interesting, as it provides a tech-driven way for people now stuck at home, longing for their next trip, to research, plan, and experience their future vacations.

Those employed in the hospitality sector could use this time to develop their businesses by improving their digital tourism services: in our simplified, fullof-choices modern times, only properly marketed businesses survive.

In this article, as we focus on the rural and adventure-touristic potential of Georgia, and the importance of digital technology use for the purpose of touristic development, we will tell you about two projects: ‘Digital Caucasus,’ and the ‘Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development’ (SEED) program for ‘Green Growth in Borderline Communities’, both implemented by CENN.

DIGITAL CAUCASUS This project is supported by a Grant awarded by USAID’s E&E Bureau, Economic Development, Governance and Enterprise Growth (EDGE) Project.

Digital Caucasus envisions Synergies and the Digital Transformation of SMEs (small and mid-sized enterprises) for Smart Economic Growth in the Caucasus Tourism Sector.

The idea of the project, which officially kicked off on July 1st and is planned to wrap up in September 2021, came about Emily Lush, Khertvisi Fortress

in the wake of the pandemic as the Caucasus region, like the rest of the world, struggled with a crippled tourism industry. The challenge for the Caucasus tourism sector is to find the best way to promote the rural, eco and adventure tourism potential of the region.

By encouraging its digital transformation, this project aims to ensure the economic growth of the tourism sector in the Caucasus region. The Digital Caucasus project works to support the growth of SMEs involved in the sustainable tourism value chain. The project targets selected regions in Georgia, as well as in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and promotes the online presence of the Caucasus region by creating a Caucasus Tourist Destination Portal. The project supports up to 250 SMEs from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to improve their business operations and increase their sales.

In Georgia, the Digital Caucasus project focuses on the regions of Adjara, Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Kakheti.

The Digital Caucasus project also creates strategic partnerships between regional and local authorities in the target areas and national administrations active in the fields of tourism, protected areas and forestry. Furthermore, it streamlines gender integration and women’s engagement in the tourism sector by supporting female-owned and femalemanaged businesses.

A BLOGGER’S VIEW ON GEORGIA’S TOURISM POTENTIAL Blogger Emily Lush shared with GEORGIA TODAY her views on Georgian agrotourism potential.

“I’ve been travelling to Georgia since 2017. As a blogger, I always try to seek out new stories by visiting places away from the tourist trail. My website, Wander-Lush.org, has a strong focus on responsible tourism and cultural immersion, so my adventures often take me to remote and rural locations.

“Georgia’s tourism landscape has changed a lot since my first visit. For all

Emily notes that most tourists are familiar with Kakheti as Georgia’s cradle of wine. Comparing the Tusheti highlands with the surreal landscapes of Lagodekhi and Vashlovani in the south, Kakheti clearly has a lot to offer beyond its vineyards.

“As well as a variety of climates and scenery, Kakheti is also very culturally diverse,” she tells us. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Pankisi Valley learning about Kist history, Chechen cuisine and Sufi rituals. Agritourism has already taken root in the valley, and Pankisi is a great example of how responsible tourism can be used as a tool for social change.”

Emily says she sees a huge potential for homestays and community managed projects to grow in Kakheti region and elsewhere.

“As long as there are families willing to open their hearts and homes to travellers, to share their traditions and take pride in their heritage, Georgia’s cultural diversity will always be one of its greatest strengths.”

SAMTSHKE-JAVAKHETI Emily tells us she was first drawn to visit southern Georgia because of the history wrapped up in the fortresses and cave cities around Samtshke-Javakheti.

“I had no idea how beautiful this part of Georgia is. In summer, it’s one shimmering lake after another. Between Paravani, Tabatskuri and Bughdasheni Managed Reserve, this could be Georgia’s own Lake District. A network of hiking trails and village guesthouses could be set up to link these beautiful lakes together,” she suggests. “The stunning volcanic backdrops and abundance of wildlife and birds are huge assets.

“I always enjoy visiting Poka St. Nino’s Monastery and Convent, where the nuns draw on natural ingredients and local honey to craft food and beauty products.”

SHIDA QARTLI “Like most tourists, I’ve passed through Shida Qartli many times when crossing the country,” Emily notes. “There is a huge potential for towns and villages in this region to establish themselves as stop-off points between east and west.

Uplistsikhe is well-known, but Khashuri, Surami and Rkoni all have historical points of interest too.

“One of my favorite social enterprises in Georgia, Ikorta Enamel Jewelry, works in Shida Qartli, supporting IDPs in Tserovani. Agritourism could be a perfect complement to their work, helping extend their impact to more families,” she tells us.

“I strong believe that every traveler to Georgia should take the time to learn about the nation’s history and events of the recent past. Shida Qartli offers lots of opportunities to learn about lots of different chapters of Georgian history while also showing that the past doesn’t have to define your future.”

THE SEED PROGRAM FOR GREEN GROWTH IN BORDERLINE COMMUNITIES As long as it is properly managed, sustainable tourism will be the premise of improving the livelihoods and inclusion of many, protecting cultural heritage and natural resources, and employing young people, granting them new opportuni-

ties and giving them the needed skills, all the while promoting international understanding and dissolving gender barriers as the tourism sector opens more doors to women’s leadership. SEED is a program that serves these missions.

Funded by the EU, under the EU4Youth program and implemented in Georgia

by CENN, the ‘Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development (SEED) program for Green Growth in Borderline Communities’ empowers disadvantaged youth to successfully transition from education to work in Georgia and Armenia by developing their social entrepreneurship and Green Innovation skills.

The program targets the municipalities of Gori, Akhmeta, and Ninotsminda, locations which are underrated touristic destinations, which creates problems in the regions. Shida Kartli, for example, has great agricultural potential, and should be promoted on the touristic routes as such. The Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Ninotsminda municipalities in particular should become better known for their nature conservation areas and unique landscapes, an eco-tourism mustsee.

The SEED program will encourage young locals from these regions and municipalities to act and use the full touristic potential of the country for the improvement of their communities. The SEED program’s targeted areas in Georgia suffer problems that could be solved were these locations better promoted to tourists. One of the biggest challenges in these regions is the high-level of unemployment, yet the recreational and agroentrepreneurial touristic potential is great. Local youth, unemployed and limited in opportunities, has little choice but to become easy targets to crime and extremism. The situation is even worse for girls, who are not only limited based on the social and economic life in these villages, but are also rarely given the ‘authority’ to make their own decisions and seek employment.

With this reality in mind, it becomes ever clearer that youth need to act to promote the naturally blessed and beautiful regions properly, with results that can benefit everyone.

One of the SEED program’s target areas is the municipality of Akhmeta, and specifically Pankisi Gorge. Tourism in picturesque Pankisi was long unimaginable due to its stigmatized reputation of being an unsafe place. It took one eager and smart woman to start the destigmatization process, and now her guesthouse is so packed, you might have to wait to get a room there.

Nazy Dakishvili talked to us about her journey to becoming a businesswoman in Pankisi, and shared with us her view on the importance of promoting the place, and employing locals.

“At the age of 23, I decided to abandon my career as a lawyer in Tbilisi and focus my all energy on setting up a guesthouse in Pankisi Valley and promoting tourism to change the reputation of the valley.

Disproportionate and sensationalized media coverage focusing on Pankisi Valley had damaged the image of the welcoming Kist community, ensuring that tourists would never choose it as a travel destination, especially considering that travelers were advised to avoid the area entirely.

“Moving here was a life-changing decision. I was motivated by my wish to provide an income for my family and contribute to the positive development of the Kist community, Pankisi Valley and Georgian society.

“With over 90% unemployment in the valley and no opportunities, life is a struggle for both young and old, educated and skilled. So, I’d say, starting was hard,” Nazy tells us.

“As our business grew, we began to employ more people and created job opportunities for guide-work, interpreting, horse riding, driving, cooking and cleaning. We began employing local unemployed young people and adults.

With my experience, I started to help other women to set up their own guesthouses through training and support.

Today, there are nine guesthouses in the valley,” Nazy says.

“More information about tourism potential should be published by the media. We need to start seeing, valuing and using the resources which our country has,” Nazy states.

“Sustainable tourism plays a crucial role in the development of the local community, she adds. “In 2013, I launched our business on Facebook and other social media platforms to promote local events, cultural tours, horse treks and key local attractions to reach a wider audience.” Nazy also runs TripAdvisor. co.uk, Booking.com, Airbnb.com profiles for her guesthouse.

We ask the businesswoman how she thinks Pankisi should be promoted, and she replies: “Pankisi Valley, as well as the Kakheti region as a whole, has great tourism potential. State and private sectors need a united effort in tourism development and promotion. Georgia is becoming more popular. It is necessary for every enterprise and organization involved in the tourism and hospitality industry to master marketing approaches.

Pankisi Valley alone proves how ethnically and culturally diverse Georgia is, and this should be promoted.”

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

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THE ISET ECONOMIST A BLOG ABOUT ECONOMICS AND THE SOUTH CAUCAUS

www.iset-pi.ge/blog

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.

New Old Chavchavadze Avenue – Putting the Horse Ahead of the Cart?

BY TAMAR SULUKHIA

I

magine a Tbilisi where the Mayor rides a municipal bus, a football star passes you on a scooter, and your favorite guitar player locks up his bike at the entrance to a restaurant; not because they don’t have fancy cars (they do!), but because they believe these alternatives are healthier, more environmentally friendly, greener, and more convenient. This really sounds like a European city!

One issue on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days in Tbilisi, along with August holidays and the risks of COVID19,isthenewly-rehabilitatedChavchavadze Avenue, which was recently reopened to traffic. Why is this issue so “popular”?

Well, Chavchavadze Avenue is one of the main arteries through the city center, the main street in Tbilisi’s most prestigious neighborhood, Vake, and it had been closed to traffic for several months since last year due to major road reconstruction. This, necessary closure was quite painful, and Tbilisi residents could not wait to see Chavchavadze reopen as it would bring the city “back to normal.”

Finally, in the middle of summer, it happened: the central avenue was open for traffic...but not quite back to normal!

Chavchavadze reappeared in a new and very different way: prioritizing public transport flow with a dedicated bus lane and a brand-new bike lane, at the expense of regular vehicle traffic, which was significantly narrowed to a single lane.

Anecdotally, many Tbiliselis (Tbilisi residents) who had been waiting for the “new old chapter” in the history of Chavchavadze Avenue with excitement are now concerned by the new circumstances. So, what’s going on? Does Tbilisi not need a solution to its urban traffic? Is the Chavchavadze project an experiment towards such a solution; and if so, did it fail, or are Tbiliselis simply conservative and shortsighted and thus unable to appreciate this newly-suggested approach?

Private car ownership has been growing dramatically in Georgia since the 1990s, obviously from a very low base of around 15 private vehicles per 1000 inhabitants in the 1980s up to 268 in 2018.

The growth in the number of vehicles has been most dramatic in Tbilisi: currently, it is estimated that there are around 500,000 vehicles in the capital city of around 1 million inhabitants. Tbilisi streets are packed with cars, and parking solutions are quite poor (no off-street public parking functions in the city as yet). Urban transport regularly ranks among Tbilisi residents’ key concerns: we worry about the increased time spent in traffic jams and increased emissions from vehicles resulting in depreciating air quality.

Clearly, this trend is in no way different from that in any of the other capital cities in the region. Almost all the growing economic centers in the region are plagued by the same issue: growing economic activity in major cities results in increasing vehicle ownership rates, more severe traffic jams, and deteriorating air quality with negative impacts on economic activity, the environment, and public health.

Cities around the world are looking for a solution. There are many great examples in Europe and elsewhere of how cities are dealing with this urban traffic dilemma. Cities develop strategies and organize collective actions to become greener, more efficient, more sustainable, and more livable. One of the key elements of such strategies, excluding physical improvements in infrastructure and technology, is incentivizing people to switch from private car use to public transport, which requires building an efficient and integrated transport vision embracing (i) planning and infrastructure solutions (such as zoning, building bike- and pedestrian-friendly streets, new crossings, and new infrastructure), (ii) improved rolling stock, (iii) technology and management (traffic light solutions, integrated traffic management system), (iv) legal-regulatory solutions to build complex incentive frameworks,

policies and mechanisms, to discourage car ridership and encourage greater use of public transport, biking and walking; and last but not least (v) public education to make people move from cars to other modes of transport. It is critical for achieving the desired, long-lasting results in the strategy that implementation should embrace all these elements, not just fragments of them.

Take Copenhagen, a high-income European city, where the majority of trips are completed either by bike, bus, or on foot rather than by car. Moreover, the city has the ambition to have 75% of local trips be done by bike, public transport, or on foot by 2025 (2025 Climate Plan).

This was achieved through an integrated city-wide approach and the commitment of residents of all ages, not an isolated intervention on one street or the intervention of a small team of officials.

Populations of all ages and groups share a common vision, and for this reason alone, an increase in private car ownership rates over the course of a couple of years in Copenhagen did not result in an increase in traffic issues on its streets.

This clearly contributed to Copenhagen being named the “Healthiest Capital in Europe” in 2020.

For more than a decade, international financial institutions such as the World

Bank, Asian Development Bank, EBRD, and others have been actively nudging Tbilisi towards the timely implementation of a long-term sustainable policy to improve urban transportation. Many related actions have been taken in the last 15 years, including: investments in infrastructure in the center of Tbilisi to re-organize and improve traffic flow, increased excise tax on cars (since 2017), mandatory vehicle inspection (since 2018), and the development of guiding strategic documents such as the Sustainable Urban Transport Plan. Furthermore, the Tbilisi government plans to introduce dedicated bus lanes on all main transport arteries of the city, procure a new bus fleet, and make riding public transport a pleasant experience.

The Chavchavadze Avenue rehabilitation project went along these lines.

Besides the rehabilitation of old and run-down underground infrastructure, it targeted very ambitious outcomes: improving traffic flow and encouraging a shift towards greater use of public transport and biking in the surrounding area. Prioritizing public transport over vehicles in the heart of Vake was an ambitious aim. However, isn’t the toll too high on cars and their drivers, and could the tradeoffs somehow be more balanced? Should the happiness of

pedestrians, public transport users, and bicycle riders necessarily come at the cost of car drivers’ happiness? Some possible solutions are simple and even low-to-no cost to enable cars to move on Chavchavadze faster than now. One such solution is more effective regulation of traffic lights along the Avenue: a slightly longer green light for cars. It would increase the throughput of traffic on the street and help decrease traffic jams and painful waiting times at every crossing.

It seems, however, that the main obstacle in Tbilisi is the growing number of cars, as well as increasing use of motorized vehicles for short-distance travel.

Does the key to solving this issue lie in improving public attitudes towards other forms of transportation? If so, then public education could help in reducing the number of cars in the city by exposing more people to alternatives. Why should I walk or take public transport for this particular trip instead of using my car?

This is a key question, and it would be beneficial to help people answer it! In fact, answers may vary, but at least some of the ideas below should encourage people to avoid starting their cars, and use other modes of transportation instead: • help improve the air quality in your city, or even more so, take personal actions to contribute to reducing emissions locally and globally (people need to know the targets), or; • using public transport, you travel much faster than by car (well...not always true), or; • walking is healthy and may help you live a longer life; • public transport is not a bad experience at all, or; • many prominent Tbilisi residents do this (well, in fact they don’t yet) and you should follow their example.

Leading by example could make a huge difference, seeing city officials and famous Tbiliselis walking down the street or taking public transport (not once, but regularly) would be very encouraging and help popularize alternative solutions.

I hope this is possible!

Free Money that Georgia Refuses OP-ED BY PETER ROBERTS

O

riginally from Rotterdam, Netherlands, I have come to love Georgia, it’s wonderfully hospitable people and its rich culture. Last year, in October 2019, I decided to stay here permanently. Georgia’s visa policy makes this very easy, granting citizens of many countries (including mine) an automatic one-year tourist visa. Allowing such a long tourist visa is one of the smartest policies of any country.

All my work can be done over the internet with business partners overseas; I’m a “digital nomad”. With my monthly rent, I am financially supporting my Georgian landlord and her family, and of course spend all my money every day

on Georgian businesses.

God Bless Georgia for keeping me safe.

During the pandemic, I am safer here than almost anywhere else in the world, and I have no current need or desire to return to my country.

Now the problem: my one-year tourist visa expires in October 2020. Under normal circumstances, I would just do a “border run” to Armenia or Turkey and get a new one-year visa upon coming back. But obviously, with borders closed, that’s no longer possible.

The downside of their visa policy is that Georgia is the only country I know of that does not allow tourist visa renewals. I can understand, since a one-year tourist visa was once thought generous enough. But that is now ancient history.

We are now in a COVID world, and their visa policy urgently needs to be updated.

The Georgian government did announce

in March 2020 that it would grant limited consideration to foreigners who were “on the territory of Georgia by March 14, 2020 and could not leave the country before the expiration of his/her legal stay in Georgia. These foreigners are authorized to stay on the territory of Georgia until July 31, 2020”. But that does not apply to me and many others since my visa expires in October 2020 and I am not yet obligated to leave (but will be soon).

The government tells me my only option (aside from leaving) is applying for a “residence permit,” but while that is possible for me in principle, in practice it is too much of an expense and hassle.

Now, with great fanfare (including using foreign public relations firms to promote), Georgia has announced a “Digital Nomad Visa” to entice foreign-

Image source: cogscoworking.com

ers to come and stay long-term. This is a smart policy and will certainly help Georgia’s economy once word gets out.

But they forget the digital nomads already here and that Georgia is essentially asking them to leave!

I suggest the Georgian government mandate an automatic additional oneyear visa extension to foreigners who

are already here on a one-year tourist visa. Doing so costs the government NO money, NO quarantine, and NO hassle.

It’s a cliché to say, but would truly be a win-win. This would prevent people like me from leaving and help Georgia’s economy.

It’s “free money” on the table that Georgia is currently refusing.

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GEORGIA TODAY

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Playing Poker in Georgia

G

eorgia is an intriguing destination… somewhat mysterious, in fact. The country shares its borders with Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia. Once it was the Soviet Republic of Georgia, and people would have struggled to find it on a map. Not now, though, because it’s a hot tourist destination. Georgia’s diverse landscape, which sees the country sitting between the Caucasus mountains, the Black Sea, and deserts, is one of the draws to the country, as is the wine, which is part of Georgia’s national identity, and the capital, Tbilisi.

What you might not know is that Georgia has a relatively warm attitude towards poker. In its days as part of the former Soviet Union, the state would have banned this and other forms of gambling. Today is a different story, however, and this article looks at how and where you can play, Georgia’s laws on poker, and why players may wish to try online poker tournaments.

HOW AND WHERE TO PLAY POKER IN GEORGIA Players who head to Tbilisi can easily find a cash game. They’ll find several casinos in the city that offer them. Some of these are open 24 hours a day, allowing players to have that flutter whenever the fancy takes them. No Limit Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo are the main types available.

Players don’t have to make a beeline

for the capital to play, though. The beachside city Batumi, which is also Georgia’s second largest city, offers poker and is a popular destination with tourists. This is partly due to the fact that not only is it a beachside spot, but gambling laws in some of the countries with which Georgia shares its borders also make this city and other parts of the country highly inviting for anyone looking to gamble.

Anyone who does visit a Georgian casino will get a surprise because some even have online poker machines. These aren’t video games and the players can play for cash. The machines deal the cards face down and display them that way continuously, but feature buttons so that the player can look at their cards privately and stop people from looking over their shoulder.

Tournaments do take place in Georgia, such as the WSOP. That being said, however… cash games are easier to find. The taxation on tournaments, 20% of the prize funds, makes it somewhat pointless for casinos to hold them and the casinos in the country abide strictly by the gambling laws.

RULES AND LAWS Part of the reason poker is so welcome in Georgia is the amount of tax revenue the game and other gambling activities generate in the country. It’s possible to play online or offline. That doesn’t mean the state is totally laissez-faire towards the activity, however, and certain laws and restrictions are in place. These

restrictions are just the right balance to keep operators sufficiently happy to provide poker providers games on the straight and narrow.

Foreign operators and local operators can open a casino if they can afford a licence fee and to operate the casino.

Although the majority of casino income comes from tourists who are playing at the casinos, locals are also welcome to play.

One proposal into which the authorities have been looking concerns the income of residents who gamble. The proposal is to limit gambling to people

Breaking: Camp

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

S

ome of my earliest childhood memories involve camping.

My family has engaged in this activity for decades, in the UK (where I was born), Rhodesia as it was, and Canada. But my nomadic and rather more financially constrained life since leaving the latter at age 22 has given precious few opportunities to continue in the same vein. A few times in Russia with American and Russian friends, north of St Petersburg. And only a couple more in Georgia, despite living here for nearly 21 years now. That changes in 2020!

We had it down to a fine art. All tents initially: a huge heavy canvas affair with solid steel poles for my parents, bending into an arch shape. Smaller, lighter ones for us children. An all-mesh dining tent to keep the ever-present mosquitoes and biting blackflies at bay. A trailer base on

which my father built wooden sides, topped with a pair of covers with legs which folded and cotter-pinned into place. My parents derived much pleasure from designing furniture together, and my father then built it in his basement workshop.

Two canoes joined the fun. The first they bought was a very wide red wooden one which could take all 5 of us and lots of gear. The second my father built: a cedar frame with bent cedar strips over it. He then covered this with a single sheet of thick white woven fiberglass.

And this, under a painted-on layer of tough clear epoxy-resin glue, simply disappeared completely, letting the beauty of the wood show through everything.

Sheer magic. These two vessels, propelled initially only by paddles and then by small outboard motors, carried us across many of the thousands and thousands of Ontario’s lakes to totally isolated places; or we used the many provincial or national parks’ campsites.

Every weekend, from Victoria Day

(mid-May) until the end of August, we camped. This time also included a longer, 2-3-week trek farther afield, when my father took his main holiday from managing power station construction. We camped and drove to the west coast twice and east coast once, for example.

It was a wonderful, carefree life. My parents and older sister fished at every opportunity; my younger sister and I were both fair bookworms, and not much into either cleaning the catch or eating it, so, in those pre-internet and cell phone years of the 1970s and 1980s, read books to our hearts’ content.

We cooked on a fire, heating our water similarly, and rigged up a tarpaulin-andpole shower with buckets for pouring on water. Dad usually tackled breakfast, an all-fried affair featuring sausages, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggs, potatoes and toast: a cholesterol bomb by today’s standards, but always delicious in our youth.

My recent walk all around Svaneti with a young American friend, camping almost every night, was the catalyst. I went and bought a new two-person tent in Tbilisi and used that, while he hammocked by choice. And I realized then that my wife and I could simply drive off with our 4x4 full of everything we’d need, and camp along the Black Sea coast, for example, in hundreds of places.

We’re doing it now (more details to follow), with no guests to care for at home in the Viral period, school not yet starting, and every opportunity. So far we’ve joined friends near Ureki and then been by ourselves in Gonio. Georgia, while not having many official campsites, nonetheless has myriads of available areas for the asking or, in the absence of any obvious patron, for the borrowing. Enjoy!

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/ groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

who have more than 5,000 Georgian Lari in their savings accounts and earn at least 500 Lari per month. This policy could be hard to monitor, however.

TAKING PART IN AN ONLINE POKER TOURNAMENT The fact poker tournaments are more scarce in Georgia because of the taxation they carry may tempt anyone living there to take part in online poker tournaments instead. This may also be the case for anyone who happens to be on holiday at the time but fancies playing in one. It’s an opportunity, too, to play

against people from all over the world.

Given the advanced technology online operators integrate into their platforms, such as chat functions, the players may even make friends during the tournaments.

This isn’t the only advantage to playing in a tournament, however. One of the big advantages, despite the taxation on prize funds, is the sheer amount players can win. Take the WSOP, for instance.

Players can put up a few thousand and, if they win, leave as a millionaire.

That’s wishful thinking for some, but there are smaller, equally mouth-watering returns on investment when a player plays well in tournaments. It’s possible to buy in with just a few hundred but still walk away with a five-figure sum.

Again, money well invested.

Less confident players, or even confident players who still want to limit potential losses, will enjoy the advantage of knowing beforehand how much they could lose. This is the buy-in, and there’s a cap on the amount. Then you play for as long as possible until you have no chips left, at which point you’re out of the tournament, and you can manage your strategy around the chips you have.

Georgia may be slightly mysterious, which also makes it immensely intriguing, but when it comes to poker, there’s no mystery. Locals and visitors can play the game legally under the careful but not overly stern eye of the authorities.

A win could make it a holiday to especially remember.

CULTURE

Artistic Couples: Merab Gagiladze

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

I

n continuation of GEORGIA TODAY’s collaboration with BI Auction, presenting our readers Georgian artistic couples, this month we will be writing about Merab Gagiladze and Irma Kusiani.

“This is a very special Artistic Couple for me,” said Bengü Akcardak, co-founder of BI Auction. “Four years ago, when I first visited them to collect paintings for our Auction, they really supported my initiative to promote Contemporary Art, but from our conversation about the local art market, I got the feeling they did not expect success. Four years on and they are still selling well abroad, but more important for me, they are quite well known and selling in Georgia.”

Read on to find how art exhibitions were run during black-outs, the aesthetical mirror of society that is, or should be, art, and more, in our interview with Merab Gagiladze.

WHO FIRST INTRODUCED YOU TO ART? HOW AND WHEN DID YOU START PAINTING?

I’ve been painting since I was little. I don’t even remember when I started.

Of course in my childhood art was just a way to have fun, but slowly it became a need, a requirement for me to be myself.

WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR WORK EARLY ON IN YOUR CAREER? At different times, different great painters had an impact on my career and how I viewed my work. For example, in my youth, impressionism was very in, but at the time I was more inspired by renaissance painters, and in all honesty, I’m still under the influence of them. Late renaissance painting has always been my favorite, from Michelangelo and Titiani, to Jan van Eyck to Rembrandt.

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU DEEM PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN SHAPING AN ARTIST? Professional education is a vital part of being an artist. Without it, I can’t imagine great painting. I believe it’s one thing to express your feelings and emotions, and another to be able to deliver this to Continued on page 11

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2020

11

After Batumi, Tbilisi Hosts Night Serenades Concert

BY ANA DUMBADZE

F

ollowing a concert in Batumi, the International Classical Music Festival 'Night Serenades' held a concert in Tbilisi and allowed thousands of viewers to watch it live on its official Facebook page.

The chamber orchestra 'Georgian Virtuoses,” maestro Vakhtang Machavariani and pianists Liza Chkhaidze and Elene Shaverzashvili took part in the evening.

“This year, our traditional festival Night Serenades is held in special and unusual conditions. The unique feeling of live music, the encouraging applause of the listener- the concert evenings of this year's festival lack this usual atmosphere,”

noted Giorgi Isakadze, Artistic Director of Night Serenades. “Nevertheless, we are extremely pleased that after a long pause, the musical concert life is renewed again. Television and social networks allow a wider audience, more listeners, including foreign music lovers abroad, to virtually attend our concerts.”

The live broadcast of the opening concert on Adjara TV from Batumi received great interest, confirmed by the thousands of views of live broadcasts on social networks.

This year's festival is also distinguished by special creative initiatives. Important new works of Georgian composers were created for the festival: the fourth piano concerto of famous composer and representative of a great musical dynasty, Giorgi Shaverzashvili; and the second piano concerto of the talented young

composer Sandro Nebieridze. Works by Georgian composers were also performed: Vakhtang Machavariani Concertino and Jimsher Chkhaidze's 'Sentiments' for piano and chamber orchestra.

Young Georgian talented soloists, pianists Sandro Nebieridze, Elene Shaverzashvili, Liza Chkhaidze took part in the Tbilisi part of the festival, as Isakadze says, the “bearers of our hope for the future.”

Also on offer were masterpieces of classical music by interesting, genrediverse foreign composers. Sibelius' 'Rakastava, Love Suite' and Janacek 'Suite for String Orchestra' were performed for the first time in Georgia.

“I would like to thank the founder of the festival, the unique musician Liana Isakadze, for her invaluable contribution to the development of Georgian musical culture,” Giorgi Isakadze said. “I thank each participant and member of the organizing team. Thanks to the main conductor of the festival, Maestro Vakhtang Machavariani, the director of the festival Nina Tsagareli and the main orchestra of the festival 'Georgian Virtuoses.'”

“It is sad that the festival does not have an audience this year, but we are still motivated,” said Vakhtang Machavariani, conductor. “I’m glad that young, beautiful Liza Chkhaidze and Elene Shaverzashvili are participating in this year's festival and also the talented young composer Sandro Nebieridze. Thanks to the orchestra for working with such heart and soul.”

“Thanks to founder Liana Isakadze, artistic director Giorgi Isakadze, chief conductor Vakhtang Machavariani, and festival management Nina Tsagareli, Tata Sadradze and Nona Lolua. Special thanks to the chamber orchestra 'Georgian Virtuoses', who, in a very short time, managed to cope with this diverse repertoire,

which was performed at today's concert,” said composer Giorgi Shaverzashvili.

“Today’s concert was the first time my piano concerto # 4 was performed and it was performed by my daughter Elene, to whom this work is dedicated. It was a success, and I would like to express my gratitude to all the participants.”

“It is a great honor for me that my composition 'Sentiments' was performed by the extraordinary chamber orchestra 'Georgian Virtuoses' at Liana Isakadze’s festival,” said Jimsher Chkhaidze, composer. “It is no less an honor that my

work was conducted by Maestro Vakhtang Machavariani. It was performed for the first time in Georgia, before that having first been performed in Ingolstadt.

Supporters of the XII Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival ‘Night Serenades’ are: the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia, Batumi City Hall; Tbilisi City Hall; Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

The event is organized by the company ‘Art Alliance.’ The official insurer of the festival is the company ‘Ardi.’

Artistic Couples: Merab Gagiladze GEORGIAN ART SCENE?

Continued from page 10

I will be very subjective about this and say that we are one of the leading ones in global contemporary art, and that we are able to compete, and are already competing with the rest of the world. Of course, we’ve got our problems, and most of them point to the smallness of the Georgian market.

the audience. To do the latter, you need a professional education.

HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME ANY CHALLENGES IN YOUR PURSUIT OF ART? Of course it was no piece of cake: when I was getting my basic education in art, Georgia was going through a very difficult period. The learning process had nearly stopped, but somehow I managed to work on my art and exhibit my paintings. Sometimes it got so bad we weren’t able to find materials for painting. However, us painters stood together and helped each other, and so continued to make art. I remember several friends and I organized an exhibition of our works and because of the blackout, the audience studied our paintings by flashlight.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING WITH A FELLOW ARTIST? I’ve been living with my spouse for 30 years now. We work side by side, we

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION THESE DAYS? In the present and in the past, my feelings and emotions have always been my inspiration.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ART’S MAIN MISSION IS? listen to each other, we give advice, we are very objective critics of each other’s works : all these are advantages. Of course, we don’t always agree with each other and stand on our ground firmly – we argue a lot but still, I don’t see this as a disadvantage. I think that is what makes this process priceless.

I don’t know what art is meant to serve, but I have always been in favor of the aesthetics, and if art is the mirror of society, I want this mirror to show everything, but aesthetically.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY

I don’t think I have to tell people something through my art – it somehow sounds

PUBLISHER & GM

George Sharashidze COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

Commercial Director: Iva Merabishvili Marketing Manager: Natalia Chikvaidze

GEORGIA TODAY

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:

Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THROUGH YOUR PAINTINGS?

Journalists: Ana Dumbadze, Vazha Tavberidze, Nini Dakhundaridze, Tony Hanmer, Emil Avdaliani, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Beka Alexishvili, Elene Dzebizashvili Photographer: Aleksei Serov

too pretentious. I’m simply following the process, studying people and our feelings, our psycho-emotional states, and am trying to express all this in my own way on the canvas.

HAVE YOU EXPERIMENTED WITH OTHER DIRECTIONS OF ART?

PLAY IN PROMOTING ART? Any act in this sphere will serve the art business. What I like about BI Auction is that it introduces the public to many young artists and lesser known painters.

I really appreciate this.

Our interview with Merab’s spouse will be printed next week.

I haven’t worked with anything besides a brush and a canvas. However, I have a great desire to try sculpting. Unfortunately, I have yet to find time to do it.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? My future plans are to work. I have many exhibitions planned and I hope that the problems caused to the coronavirus pandemic will just be history soon and everything will go back to normal.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ARTISTS JUST STARTING UP? The only advice I can give them is to keep working, and keep working plenty.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ART AUCTIONS IN GENERAL, AND BI AUCTION IN PARTICULAR,

Website Manager/Editor: Katie Ruth Davies Layout: Misha Mchedlishvili Webmaster: Sergey Gevenov Circulation Managers: David Kerdikashvili, David Djandjgava

About BI Auction ‘for ART’: BI Auction is the first Art Auction Company of Georgia, established in 2016. The company’s aim is to promote Georgian art and artists and enlarge the market. In four years, BI Auction ‘for ART’ has organized eight auctions and presented more than 450 paintings from 125 Georgian painters. In every auction, the collection is selected from among a thousand paintings from the well-known legendary artists of Georgia and also from promising young artists.

For more information, please contact biauction1@gmail.com

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