Issue no: 935
• APRIL 7 - 10, 2017
• PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY
PRICE: GEL 2.50
In this week’s issue... Street Vendors Offered Spaces at Tbilisi Markets NEWS PAGE 2
Gazprom to Buy Uzbek Gas so It Doesn’t Get Sent to China?
POLITICS PAGE 4
Russian Opposition Leader Criticizes Kremlin’s Policy of Territorial Expansion
FOCUS ON MOUNTAIN TOURISM Boasting 6.3 million tourists last year, Georgia reaches for the stars by hosting the Mountain Tourism Development Conference PAGE
POLITICS PAGE 5
SES Celebrates 5th Spring in Georgia
3
Photo by: Tony Hanmer
IRI Polls Show Georgians See Political & Economic Threats in Russia
Georgian Doctors Only Need a Keyboard for Certification Exam SOCIETY PAGE 10
Creative Rainbow, Conveyed in Music
BY THEA MORRISON
T
he International Republican Institute (IRI) has published the results of its survey, which show respondents' distrust of Russian motives as well as a desire to maintain relations. 73 percent of respondents view Russia as a political threat, and 57 percent see it as an economic threat. A vast majority (76 percent) view the current state of Georgia’s relationship with Russia as “bad,” yet a combined 82 percent “fully support” (53 percent) or “somewhat support” (29 percent) continued dialogue—a figure consistent with previous IRI polls. Moreover, 60 percent of respondents believe that Russian aggression towards Georgia still continues. 23 percent said the Russian aggression was over, though it might resume again. 10 percent said the aggression was over, and it was not expected to resume. To the question ‘How safe they felt in Georgia due to the Georgian-Russian relationship,” 47 percent of respondents said they felt more protected than unprotected. 11 percent said they were protected, 28 percent said they were more unprotected than protected, while 9 percent said they were unprotected. Continued on page 2
BUSINESS PAGE 7
CULTURE PAGE 12
Georgian Railway & Locomotive Rugby Club Sign Agreement SPORTS PAGE 16
Photo source: blog.radissonblu.com