Issue no: 1314
• SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY
FOCUS
ON THE SECURITY LEAKS Leaked files show Georgian state security officers have been illegally listening to clergy, journalists, politicians, and foreign diplomats
PRICE: GEL 2.50
In this week’s issue... Batumi Art-House Film Festival to be Held on September 18-24 NEWS PAGE 3
Action or Inaction: That Is the Choice. Part 2 PAGE 2
POLITICS PAGE 4
The Dangers of Having A “Dark Hole” in Central Asia POLITICS PAGE 5
Russia, Belarus and the Debate on Empire POLITICS PAGE 6
Jens Siegert on the Russian Elections & the Growing Repressions POLITICS PAGE 6
The SSSG headquarters in Tbilisi
EFES Georgia: We Believe Business Should Be Done with a High Sense of Responsibility INTERVIEW BY TEAM GT
D
espite the optimism that existed in early 2021, and which was mainly related to defeating the pandemic, the current year has turned out difficult for everyone, including
businesses. As such, it is interesting to discuss and evaluate how commercial organizations operate when faced with such challenges. We decided to talk to Ertan Kurt, General Manager of EFES Georgia. Among the brands EFES Georgia produces is popular beer and lemonade Natakhtari. It is a leading beer company, which brews local beer brands such as Natakhtari and Karva. Additionally, the company brews international beer brands Lowenbrau and Staropramen, and imports the biggest international premium brands, among them Stella Artois, Corona, Hoegaarden, and Leffe. Since 2006, the company has been presented in export markets and, currently, Georgian beer and lemonade are exported to 23 countries.
BUSINESSES, AND YOUR COMPANY, WILL ALREADY BE USED TO WORKING DURING THE CRISIS. PLEASE TELL US ABOUT IT, WITH YOUR COMPANY AS AN EXAMPLE. At this stage, we can say for sure that we don’t know when or how the Covid-19 pandemic will end, or what its economic consequences will be. We will all have to live and work facing this great challenge. And we’ll have to take into account the various restrictions and problems in different sectors of the economy. During this period, we had to take care of several important issues at the same time. We had to maintain the rate of production and sales index; we had to take care of the safety of our employees; we had to think about product export to different markets; and at the same time, most importantly, we had to maintain the high quality of our products. However, we already had the experience of 2020, when the crisis hit us totally out of the blue. Last year taught us a lot. Now, once again, the development of EFES Georgia is more sustainable. Continued on page 7
Carrefour Now in Hualing: 52nd Branch Opens in Georgia BUSINESS PAGE 8
Beeline Subscribers Can Already Use Virtual SIM Card BUSINESS PAGE 8
Power of the Nation CULTURE PAGE 11 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by
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NEWS
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
The Clergy, Diplomat Surveillance Leak that Shook the Country BY TEAM GT
A
former security officer has allegedly leaked a massive cache of surveillance files from the Georgian State Security Service (SSSG), including details on clergy from the Georgian Orthodox Church. On September 13, files containing covert surveillance and illegal eavesdropping were made publically available online. According to the materials, Georgian state security officers had been illegally listening to clergy, journalists, politicians, and foreign diplomats, among them EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell. Based on the information received, on September 8, the EU Ambassador spoke to his aide, who told him that the next day he was to attended a meeting with the clergy which would last about an hour and a half. “The Ambassador knows that only a few ambassadors are going to attend the meeting, so he plans to attend the meeting for only half an hour, then he will say that he has important work to do, and leave [early],” the SSG file reveals. The files contain secret recordings of the EU Embassy in Georgia, the Israeli Embassy, and the Council of Europe. Diplomats were monitored by the intelligence services through their aides. From the leaked files, it was also revealed that the state security service is watching and tapping the phones of members of the Synod, the Patriarch, his assistants, bishops, priests, and nuns. The files allegedly include phone communications containing information on their political opinions, their activities,
and their private lives. The Formula TV channel reported this week that the secret recordings included, among other things, intimate relations between priests and nuns, facts of pedophilia and incest, and the personal data of specific children. The authenticity of these materials has yet to be confirmed. Following the leak, several media workers, including the director and anchor of TV channel Mtavari, Nika Gvaramia, anchor Eka Kvesitadze, head of TV channel Pirveli’s news service Nodar Meladze, TV Formula journalist Nino Vardzelashvili, and Tabula editor Levan Sutidze, corroborated the reports that concerned their own activities. Mtavari’s Gvaramia alleged on 13 September that the leaked recordings included privileged communication he had with a client, Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze, when he represented him as a lawyer. Reportedly, the mentioned documents indicate possible connections between representatives of the Patriarchate and Moscow, including the legal or illegal business of the Georgian clergy in Russia. “The documents also mention the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II himself, information that was reported about him that was disseminated by the Georgian media before, that in 1956-60, he studied at the Moscow Theological Academy-Seminary. In 1959, he was ordained by the Russian Patriarch Alexy II. In the past, he collaborated with the KGB under the pseudonym ‘Iverian’.” “According to the documents, the influential secretary-assistant of the patriarch, Shorena Tetruashvili, was supposed to leave her position in the 1990s. However, she has remained in her post to this day
Patriarchate residence, Tbilisi. Photo by Eana
at the personal request of the Russian Patriarchate,” JAM News reported. Andria Jagmaidze, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Patriarchate of Georgia, told the media on 13 September that they would not rush to comment on the story. “It’s very bad if reports of illegal wiretapping are confirmed. However, we have all seen a lot of falsifications on TV shows, slander, and we are used to the sad fact that news is ‘created’ and not just covered,” he noted. “Netgazeti reported that Jagmaidze was himself implicated in the files, allegedly asking Zurab Abashidze, Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia for Relations with Russia, to help members of his family obtain Russian citizenship,” reported OC Media. The State Security Service has released a statement regarding the materials spread on the internet relating to secret
recordings, saying they are ready to cooperate closely with the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia at all stages of the investigation. “The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into the violation of the secrecy of private communications. The State Security Service of Georgia is ready to cooperate closely with the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia at all stages of the investigation. It is in the agency's objective interest that the investigation be comprehensive and thorough and that it answers all questions. “At the same time, the State Security Service urges the media and political stakeholders to refrain from disseminating inaccurate and unverified information until the investigation is completed, as dissemination of such information violates the dignity of individuals, security officers and the service as a whole, and undermines trust in the law enforce-
ment system,” reads the statement. Coming out so close to the elections, the recordings have naturally stirred up some political rhetoric. The opposition immediately claimed the files as a testament to “how the Intelligence Services control and monitor everyone in the country.” The leaders of the ruling party 'Georgian Dream' in turn assessed the leak as a move against the Church and State “organized by the opposition party United National Movement.” Beka Liluashvili, a member of the party 'For Georgia,' says a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the case of the secret recordings should be set up, with the participation of the Public Defender and international experts. “The reaction of the leaders of the ruling party Georgian Dream, including the statements aimed at impudently blaming their political opponents, clearly showed the difficult reality that exists in the country today. It is obvious that the 'Dream’ is still guided by party interests. It is ‘not in their interests’ to establish the truth. “We demand the immediate involvement of the Public Defender and international experts in the investigation launched by the Prosecutor's Office. Further, within the framework of the parliamentary mandate, we demand the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry, which will also include the Public Defender and international experts,” Liluashvili said. He added that he does not rule out the arrest of Alexander Khojevanishvili, the former deputy head of the SSSG, in connection with the case. “The main priority for the ruling party today is to retain power, therefore, we do not rule out anything,” Liluashvili noted.
Corona Updates: School Studies Start Online, Cases High but Mostly Stable in a natural school environment. Therefore, first-graders will start studying in school countrywide on October 4 in those schools where the community infection rate is less than 4%.
BY TEAM GT
THE VACCINE
he epidemiological situation in Georgia this week has been relatively stable, though far from reassuring, with children forced online to study once again. Newly detected cases were down, as was the number of fatalities, while daily recovery numbers were up on previous weeks.
T
As of Thursday, 1,589,024 people had received a coronavirus vaccine, averaging around 25,000 people a day. This week, a lottery aimed at encouraging vaccinated individuals was also launched. From September 13, the STOPCOVID lottery ‘Get Vaccinated and Win’ website was launched and the lottery for vaccinated Georgian citizens began. The first raffle was held on September 14, and as a result, 100 individuals received cash prizes of 500 and 100 GEL.
THE STATISTICS
THE RESTRICTIONS
The country recorded 3221 coronavirus cases, 2990 recoveries, and 54 deaths on Tuesday, September 14, with 26,125 tests conducted. Georgian capital Tbilisi again recorded the highest number of 1167 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Imereti region with 498 cases, and the SamegreloZemo Svaneti region with 339 cases. Georgia reported 2515 coronavirus cases, 2829 recoveries, and 60 deaths on Wednesday, with 32,207 tests conducted. Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 869 Covid-19 cases within 24 hours, followed by the Imereti region with 393 cases, and the Kakheti region with 338 cases. On Thursday, the country reported 2176 coronavirus cases, 2838 recoveries, and 43 deaths, with 35,400 tests conducted. Georgia’s total case tally since February 2020 reached 589,727, among which 554,618 people recovered and 8390 died. The daily test-positivity rate stands at 6.15%. Currently, out of 1322 critical patients, 354 require mechanical ventilation.
As the epidemiological situation is still hard to predict, on the decision of the local authorities, from September 15, school studies countrywide began online again. “We will have a differentiated approach, which means that on October 4, in cities and villages where the infection rate is less than 4%, schools, vocational schools, and higher education institutions will be able to switch to a live attendance format,” announced Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli. “In order for us to achieve this, it is necessary to consolidate society to strictly follow the recommendations in the field of healthcare, especially with regards to the vaccination of teachers and parents of pupils. This will allow our children to continue their education in a natural environment, that is, in classrooms,” he said. The Minister noted it is extremely important that first-graders have their first school experience, their first lessons,
THE SITUATION ABROAD The World Health Organization said there were about four million coronavirus cases reported globally last week, marking the first major drop in new infections in more than two months. In recent weeks, there have been about 4.4 million new Covid19 cases. In its weekly update released on Tuesday, the UN health agency said every region in the world saw a drop in Covid19 cases compared to the previous week. Although the worldwide number of deaths decreased to about 62,000, with the sharpest decline in Southeast Asia, there was a 7% increase in deaths in Africa. According to the weekly report from WHO, the highest numbers of cases were seen in: • The United States, with 1,034,836 new cases, a decrease of roughly 20% from a week earlier. • The United Kingdom, with 256,051 new cases, a 5% increase. • India, with 248,248 new cases, a 15% decrease. • Iran, with 172,030 new cases, a 17% decrease. • Turkey, with 158,236 new cases, a 6% increase. According to the weekly update, the Delta variant had been identified in 180 countries as of Tuesday.
THE UK The UK’s traffic light system for international travel might be scrapped from October 1, according to an insider. It is predicted that rules will be based on a
traveler’s vaccination status, rather than the risk level of the country they are returning from. CEO of the PC Agency, a luxury travel PR firm, Paul Charles tweeted: “The traffic light system is expected to be scrapped by 1st Oct - at last. Airlines and some of us in the sector are aware of plans to create a simpler system, where countries are either red or not. This would be the US model in effect, which I’ve been calling for.” “While the UK government has not indicated whether there is any truth to the claims made by Charles, he has correctly predicted travel changes in the past,” reported Euronews. Nearly a third of people arriving in England and Northern Ireland as the coronavirus Delta variant took off may have broken quarantine rules, the BBC reported this week. More than 300,000 cases were passed to investigators between March and May, according to figures seen by the BBC. The government was not able to say how many of these were found to have broken the rules or could not be traced. The Home Office has said it aims to pay home visits to all travelers suspected of not following the rules. Labor's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the figures obtained by the BBC "confirm our worst fears" about the government's "lax border policy". He accused the Home Office of "gross negligence."
THE US The US government is to spend $470 million learning more about “Long Covid,” its causes, and potential treatments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the plans Wednesday, with a grant awarded to New York University
and a goal of enrolling up to 40,000 adults and children nationwide. The effort, dubbed "Recover," will involve researchers at more than 30 US institutions.
FRANCE Healthcare workers in France face suspension from their jobs starting Wednesday if they haven't been vaccinated against Covid-19. With about 300,000 workers still not vaccinated, some hospitals fear staff shortages will add to their strain.
THE NETHERLANDS In Europe, the Dutch government is easing restrictions and will introduce a "coronapass” as proof of vaccination, so holders can enter bars, restaurants, clubs and cultural events.
CHINA China is imposing lockdowns and ordering mass testing in cities along its east coast amid the latest surge in Covid-19 cases.
AFRICA In Africa, after uncertainty about whether the coronavirus pandemic would force South Africa to postpone local government elections, the courts have ruled the vote should move ahead. South Africa's courts ruled this month the Independent Electoral Commission should hold the polls on Nov. 1, despite concerns about political rallies spreading the disease. South Africa has recorded 2640 new infections and 125 deaths in the last 24 hours. The nation accounts for more than 35% of coronavirus infections in Africa, with 2.8 million confirmed cases and 85,002 confirmed deaths. Sources: Reuters, The Associated Press, BBC and CBC News.
NEWS
GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
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90 Minibuses and 20 Buses to be Added to Tbilisi Public Transport Routes
European Parliament Report: EU must Continue to Support Russia’s Neighbors BY ANA DUMBADZE
BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE
F
rom September 22, 90 new minibuses and 20 new buses are to operate in Tbilisi, stated the Mayor of the capital Kakha Kaladze at the Wednesday meeting of the Tbilisi Municipality. Kaladze noted City Hall has now completed the bus renewal-replacement program. However, there are still areas where public transport is unavailable.
“Knowing this, we decided to introduce an additional 380 new buses in the city. 180 of these units will be eight-meter, and 200 – 18-meter, which we will buy next year. 20 extra buses are already in the capital and will start operating from September 22. We have also started a program to upgrade and replace the minibuses. 90 new minibuses have arrived and will start working from September 22. Changes are implemented so that no street is left without public transport. Tbilisi should be accessible and comfortable for everyone,” Kaladze said.
Batumi Art-House Film Festival to be Held on September 18-24
T
he European Parliament has approved a report on a new strategy for relations with Russia. The text states that the EU should form an alliance with the United States and other like-minded partners to counter Russia and China’s efforts to weaken world democracy and destabilize the European political order. “It should include sanctions, policies against illegal financial flows and support for human rights defenders,” reads the report. The document emphasizes the need for support
for Russia’s neighbors. “The EU must continue to support the so-called Eastern Partnership countries, such as Ukraine and Georgia, and promote European reforms and fundamental freedoms in the region,” reads the document. At the same time, MEPs say that the EU should be ready not to recognize the Russian parliament if the September 2021 parliamentary elections in Russia are held in violation of democratic principles and international law. The report was presented by Lithuanian MP Andrius Kubilius. 494 Members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the document, 103 voted against and 72 abstained.
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BY ANA DUMBADZE
T
he 16th Batumi International Arthouse Film Festival will be held in Batumi from 18-24 September. Film screenings will take place at Apollo Cinema and Europe Square. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the festival will be held in a relatively limited format, in full compliance with the current regulations. Within the framework of the festival, open-air film screenings, workshops and seminars will be held. The film festival will feature 30 full-length feature and documentary films from 30 countries, as well as 30 short films, the organizers say. Within the framework, 10 Georgian film pro-
jects will be presented on the BIAFF industrial platform “Alternative Wave.” Trainings / workshops will be held for project directors and producers in script development and directing. The Batumi International Film Festival was established in 2006. The organizer of the festival is Batumi House of Artists “Argan.” BIAFF feature films will be assessed by the following Jury: Lana Ghoghoberidze – Head of Jury, Gogi Gvakharia, Nino Mkheidze, Keti Machavariani, and Iryna Gordiichuk (Ukraine). This section also will be evaluated by Georgian film critics Theo Khatiashivli, Nino Chimakadze, and Dato Turashvili. The BIAFF Doc Films Competition section will be assessed by an international jury consisting of: Vakhtang Kuntsev-Gabashvili (Georgia) – Head of Jury, Andrzej Slowicki (Germany), and Evgeniya Ostanina (Russia).
Contact us: 577 57 69 77
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POLITICS
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
Action or Inaction: That Is the Choice. Part 2 ANALYSIS BY VIKTOR KIPIANI, CHAIRMAN OF GEOCASE
L
ast week, I mentioned the foreign office's function as a service provider when discussing the question of its name, but restructuring this institution in order for it to serve every segment of our society and country is not only linked to narrow departmental issues. This task requires an organic understanding of the country's modern role at given historic stages. This is, generally speaking, a truly vast topic that I have discussed several times in different articles and that could be summed up in the following manner: (a) the state as a provider of quality public services; (b) the state as a guarantor of security and development; (c) the state as a creator and guarantor of equal opportunities for development among citizens and businesses; and (d) the state as responsible for regulating the eradication of social injustice and imbalance. With regard to the 'Foreign' Office, such novelty is linked to effectively, rapidly and optimally furthering state, public, business or individual needs (including any foreign elements) both in terms of time and expense. Another very useful (in a practical sense) result of this approach is the 'humanization' of this institution in the eyes of the country’s citizens, its maximum rapprochement with the expectations of society and the eradication of that undesirable distance which can be seen in the photographs of an average statistical citizen of Georgia and the photographs of a diplomat posing in front of a state symbol. But this alienation is not a specifically Georgian problem. During Biden’s presidential campaign, for example, his foreign policy advisors were openly declaring that a successful American foreign policy should be employed to help solve the country's domestic problems. Already back then, the cornerstone of Biden’s programme was to shift the country’s foreign policy towards serving the interests of the middle class and the average American family—a shift that continues, for the moment at least, to be a priority for the current administration. This and many other similar examples are very important lessons that we must understand and apply to the reality of our own situation.
THE POLICY OF GEORGIA'S FOREIGN OFFICE In analytical terms, I believe that the work of Georgia’s Foreign Office must be rearranged towards providing much greater support to thematic, non-superficial, all-encompassing and practical policies. Having familiarised myself with different sources, I have the feeling that there are vast resources and spaces to be mastered in this direction. Also, in a technical sense, the analytical role of the 'Foreign' Office contains two important directions: (1) based on the above-mentioned approach, the conceptual analysis of current trends of international politics and putting into practice a Georgian analogue of the same white paper (the so-called 'policy documents'); and (2) providing everyday support to concrete and specialized agencies and institutions in order to study issues relevant to their competences. Another interconnected and relatively delicate aspect worth mentioning is the need to ensure specialized analysis alongside the functioning of specialized agencies. I imagine that the ultimate beneficiary of the country’s Foreign Office would be the country's security system and relevant departments and agencies. Besides carrying out such research autonomously, further positive involvement by the Office could be the co-ordination of efforts in order to accumulate, compile and summarize analytical materials from different agencies. By adopting this approach, analytical processes within the country's public institutions would become much more organized and systematic and would reduce to a minimum that undesirable situation when, according to the famous expression, 'the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing'. It is also very important that the policy of the Foreign Office as well as that of all state institutions would co-operate closely with research and analytical centres and Georgian think-tanks. I understand that the credibility of modern Georgian expertise is to some extent being undermined for reasons with which our readers are all too familiar, although the co-operation which rests upon an irreproachable approach and a depoliticised competence has many effects— from improving the quality of the analytical materials needed to make political decisions all the way to developing a Georgian analytical culture in general and establishing relevant tradi-
tions. All these would benefit the Georgian state and society as a whole.
BUT... Foreign policy experts and creators will be at the heart of achieving these abovementioned aims, and this process will require constant toil, care and support. It cannot emerge on its own, cannot be developed all of a sudden and cannot achieve its desired results solely through enthusiasm, philanthropy or voluntarism. The country’s national body is beautified by many other professions that also require high levels of support and all the possible help they can get. Among these, professionally speaking, the diplomatic corps of the Foreign Office it naturally the most precious human capital, whose real 'capitalization' (considering the country's foreign and domestic agendas) lies through a proper understanding of the Foreign Office's meritocratic system. There are many branches to discussing this very specific topic: recruitment, continuous professional development and the improvement of qualifications, the transmission of professional and historic memories from one generation to the next (which is so essential), the transparency and fairness of evaluation mechanisms within the Foreign Office, creating effective counterweights to corruption, the proper rotation of diplomats, ensuring the durability and predictability of professional careers and related personal issues, minimizing the likelihood of stagnation when journeying up the 'hierarchic ladder', properly managing lateral hiring by the Foreign Office itself, and so on and so forth. This is also the necessary, thoroughly planned 'routine' without which any expression and discussion of high ideals on television will serve neither the prestige of the Foreign Office nor the country's interests.
PRIORITIES IN NUMBERS A reliable indicator for evaluating the activity of the country’s diplomatic representation is the amount of investment attracted to Georgia's economy from different geographic areas. Yes, I imagine investment figures as a reliable measure of the successful activity of this or that embassy. Obviously when opening or widening a diplomatic representation abroad, two other important factors must be taken into consideration: Georgia’s geopolitical interests, and support for the non-recognition policy. Of course,
the existence of one of them creates enough grounds for the Foreign Office to make positive decisions in terms of human and financial resources. In the meantime, considering the economic challenges that the Georgian state is currently facing, I imagine uniting investment factors with the other two factors I mentioned (or even one of them) as an ideal combination. Moreover, I do not exclude the possibility, in this or any other case, that the prospects for attracting investment could become one of the motivations behind the establishment or maintenance of a diplomatic mission. In general, economic diplomacy has been a long-term problem whose possible solutions, including the introduction and support of a diplomatic cadre of economic experts, have been discussed for many years. It is surprising that the problem remains unsolved, but modern trends of international relations developing around Georgia—especially given growing levels of economic nationalism—speak volumes about the need for this line of diplomacy and the importance of a systematic approach. Anyway, if we leave aside external tendencies, the development of national economies, employment, infrastructure and the environment, this would basically leave us with no alternatives. I suppose we must all agree: without a selfsufficient national economic system—and in the absence of local production, a lack of modern technological and qualified technocratic resources, the thinness of a stabilizing middle class—even thinking about Georgia's progress and success as a state would be impossible.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN DIPLOMACIES This combination of words—'between diplomacies'—might strike some readers as an oxymoron, but this is in reality not the case if we consider the diversity of modern diplomacy and the coexistence of parliamentary and popular diplomacy alongside the Foreign Office’s official line. The synchronised arrangement of these three categories also counts among the challenges that modern Georgian is facing. The current impression is that the interrelationship between them lacks co-ordination (especially between the Foreign Office and parliamentary diplomacy), and any discussion of the reasons for this would, I suppose, be both endless (a lack of culture of co-operation between state institutions) and relatively
unpleasant (personal incompatibility due to the Georgian character and ego). Yet one cannot doubt that fulfilling Georgia's tasks as a state as well as restructuring the 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs' according to the real spirit of the 'Foreign Office' would be difficult to achieve without complete co-operation and co-ordination between different diplomatic priorities. I would also name the inaction of Georgia’s 'soft power' as an additional problematic aspect of this challenge: this is a phenomenon which, considering modern globalisation, I think could have been our so-called 'geopolitical trump card' and which I have discussed many time already in the past. By the way, since I have mentioned diplomatic diversity, it would be impossible to avoid mentioning a further phenomenon that emerged during the Covid19 pandemic and was 'encouraged' by limited mobility: digital diplomacy. Its positive and negative aspects are currently the subject of many publications as well as the difficulties of digitalised relations in general. But we should also openly discuss the advantages which digital diplomacy would bring to Georgia. Considering our country’s lack of financial and human resources, I believe that activating and intensifying digital diplomacy could bring about the same effect as we would have achieved thanks to a fully restructured diplomacy working in 'field conditions'.
BUT THE THING IS THAT… Georgia nowadays has no right (luxury?) to choose to pursue a foreign policy line stipulated by a static a specific statusquo. Given current levels of aggression, the country's occupied territories, economic renewal, socio-economic and social transformation and, of course, in the name of the civilizational choice dictated by its past and present, only an 'activist' Georgian foreign policy can be viable. Searching for new, underlining unorthodox decisions, introducing asymmetric approaches to state policies, adapting (or attempting to adapt) Georgia's geopolitical realism to the transactional and forceful international context—must become the signature of Georgia's foreign office’s work. I also understand that no institution can make all the difference on its own if transforming and reforming the state apparatus will not become an overall national signature policy advancing the vainglorious ego of Georgian national identity.
POLITICS
GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
5
The Dangers of Having A “Dark Hole” in Central Asia OP-ED BY MICHAEL GODWIN
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iththecompletedeparture of NATO forces from Afghanistan last month, the expected bedlam has ensued in the fledgling nation. Reports of kidnappings, executions, and a litany of other human rights violations have already hit the headlines. With the absence of any semblance of law and order, the Central Asian country is now quickly becoming the world’s latest nightmare; a “dark hole” socially, militarily, politically, and economically. Famed military officer and businessman Eeben Barlow recently framed the term “dark hole” as a place where there is no legitimate governance and a vacuum of power or influence. It is a place where one, with enough popular support, combined with an armed militant wing, can carve out one’s own kingdom. Just like distinct places in Africa and, until recently, locations in Southeast Asia, these places become virtual petri dishes of black market and underground business. From drugs and illegal weapons sales to human trafficking, these cesspits are the bane of the free world. The long and short term effects of this are often obvious, but some remain obscure to all but the discerning eye. While the assumption that Afghanistan will revert to its pre-2001 invasion chaos is quickly becoming a reality, the treatment of the local citizens living there and foreigners abandoned there is also rapidly deteriorating. Proper law enforcement and emergency services are no longer available to the people needing them and essential social services are non-existent, as the resources and funds these organizations once had have been usurped by the new Taliban “leadership.” It’s clear that the Taliban have no state-
craft nor national leadership or management capabilities, being a long-time terrorist organization. Their attempt to prop up a veneer of legitimacy to the world community is cause for mockery, however, not everyone is laughing. China has already stepped forward to begin diplomatic discussions with the Taliban and their key figures. Given their proximity and shared border, this could be dismissed as simply an attempt to reach an understanding regarding these matters. However, given the nature of Afghanistan as a “dark hole” that just so happens to have a wide array of natural resources, China is clearly edging in to ensure that the rights to those settle squarely within their purview. The ensuing flow of capital and infrastructure support programs will be designed to keep the Taliban-controlled country in economic slavery to China. The combination of these two initiatives will pull the Central Asian nation under full control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Given China’s lack of interest in preventing the spread of the dark hole’s effects on the nation and region, particularly with regard to human rights, it’s doubtful they will take any position on the Taliban’s domestic operations. Since their involvement is purely centered around financial control and manipulation, the usefulness of the Taliban and the Afghan people is only viewed in this context. However, any outside involvement from the United States or NATO will be seen as a threat against Chinese financial interests, locking out the opportunity for the West to assist the plagued nation. In addition, having any clear intelligence picture of the social situation in Afghanistan will be increasingly difficult with the Chinese curtain pulled over. Both the Taliban and the CCP are well documented for censorship, cover-ups, and the ruthless silencing of dissenting parties and opposition. The prospect of the West to get any idea of the eroding conditions, and thus calculate the need for any sort
of humanitarian mission, will be fading with each day these two malevolent entities remain in partnership. However, it can be noted that the Taliban is also not renowned for its reliability with foreign relations. Whether or not China realizes the immense unreliability of the Taliban is yet to be seen. They have repeatedly, with both local and foreign entities, displayed their propensity for erratic relationships and willingness to undercut those attempting to work with them. The Taliban’s only real concern is their self-preservation, be it at the cost of the people, economy, rule of law, or stability of regional security. Given the reins of a sovereign nation, the Taliban will not be able to orchestrate any coherent grand national strategy. This, paired with a political-social disconnect and virtually non-existent progressive economic pathway, will become the fuel that only grows Afghanistan as a dark hole. As the Taliban cultivates this dark hole, their purposively devised side effects, which Barlow describes as “incompetence, corruption, factionalism, nepotism, racism, xenophobia, unchecked looting of state coffers along with numerous other ‘let’s enrich ourselves while we can’ reasons” will be in full swing. Other less-than-reputable organizations will see Afghanistan as a haven, and the Taliban as a potential growth partner. Upon agreeing to the Taliban’s “rent rules,” the new terrorist and criminal organizations will have the resources, training area, and additional personnel to carry out their more grandiose plans. It should be clear that these organizations are not known for their adherence to product quality regulation or observance of safe environmental protection practices. Sadly, the future prospects for the nation of Afghanistan and its neighbors is beginning to look bleak. Already, many of the people remaining in the country are attempting a mass exodus, albeit with pushback from the Taliban. Violence in
Taliban political chief Abdul Ghani Baradar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tianjin, hold a meeting in China on July 28, 2021. Photo by Li Ran/Xinhua/AP
the streets, rampant abuse, public executions, and the installation of war criminals to positions of high public office are beginning to characterize life in the new Afghan republic. All the while, China is turning a blind eye to these factors in favor of the new revenue stream. While the United States and NATO remain a force for good, that good can only be implemented with a firm presence and support framework in place. Abandoning the nation to recede into a dark hole could not have come at a worse time, since China is more than ready to fill that void as a foreign partner and financier. NATO has left themselves with little viable recourse, and virtually no possible way to reverse their decision in the long term. Unfortunately, many of the remaining short-term options will require military intervention before any social, cultural and humanitarian aid can be delivered. The unpalatability of another large military operation in the country is likely to draw an immense amount of criticism from already notable detractors. Diplomacy with a terrorist organization is unlikely to produce anything of value for
either NATO or the people they are seeking to assist. With a dark hole now growing in Central Asia, the regional and global security picture will begin to diminish and the threat of terrorism will return. With the new found resources recovered from American military technology and subsequently sold to China and Iran, the ability for the Taliban and their associates to regain worldwide reach is bound to return. Chinese investment and partnership has the potential to establish some air of legitimacy so desperately sought by the Taliban in their new position. Time is running out for the forces for good in the world to plug this dark hole and initiate the cessation of the decay of the world order. NATO, the EU, the United States, and other global actors both private and public are the saving grace the world needs. The global community cannot recede into the cold void of terrorism and instability again. These world leaders absolutely must, by charge of their office, right this wrong and ensure the safety and security of not only the Afghan citizens but also the people of every free nation on the planet.
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POLITICS
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
Russia, Belarus and the Debate on Empire ANALYSIS BY EMIL AVDALIANI
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elarus is becoming increasingly isolated from the world, pushing itself more into Russia's embrace, and Moscow is using this opportunity to cement Belarus as a buffer state against Western geopolitical influence. Still, contrary to the established analyses, unless there is a real change of a proWestern government installed in Minsk, Russia is unlikely to push for a radical scenario or an integrationist agenda. After the forced grounding of a Ryanair plane in Minsk, an event the EU leaders called a “hijacking”, Belarus-West ties further deteriorated following months of an already tense atmosphere between the two. The West is thus likely to pursue a harsher line against Minsk, which is bound to have geopolitical repercussions for Belarus-Russia ties. All conditions are now ripe for Russia to make major moves on the Belarussian front. Moscow could draw Minsk close by providing various economic concessions, and by pushing to establish a military presence on Belarus soil. After all, Lukashenko has been isolated, circumstances which are unlikely to change while he is in power. This pushes him to seek Moscow’s political and economic support and makes him doubly vulnerable to the Russian leadership’s exertions. Yet, surprisingly, Moscow has been quite inactive in its ties with Minsk over the past year, when the crisis in Belarus erupted following the widely believed rigged presidential elections. Prior to each and every meeting between the
Prior to each and every meeting between the Belarussian and Russian presidents, rumors about potential progress on a union state project and likely Russia military presence in Belarus abound. Source: ridl.io
Belarussian and Russian presidents, rumors about potential progress on a union state project and likely Russia military presence in Belarus abound, but no meaningful results follow. For instance, Lukashenko’s statement in April, as he was about to visit Putin, that “one of my principal decisions for a quarter of a century of presidency” would be made, caused a flurry of speculation on an inevitable Belarus-Russia merger. In the end, no such grand announcements were made. Lukashenko’s role should not be diminished behind these delays. Though geopolitically vulnerable, he has proved his mettle as a tough negotiator. At no point in his career, when pressured by foreign actors and internal troubles, has he positioned himself as a weak side. Of course, there is no guarantee that the announcement of a union state, a
project which dates back to the 1990s, might not take place at any future Belarus-Russia talks. But here, perhaps, beyond Lukashenko’s negotiating prowess, it would be wise to reconsider some basic aspects of our traditional understanding of Russia’s strategy in Belarus. The established analytical consensus holds that Moscow is using troubles in the neighboring country to pursue a deeper military cooperation and institutional integration. This strand of thinking should be revised. This is not to say that Russia is no longer interested in Belarus or that its interest has subsided. For Russia, Belarus will continue to play the role of an important buffer state against the West, whether it is the EU’s economic push eastward or NATO’s military expansion. The idea of Slavic brotherhood too serves as a strong bond for some within
Russia’s political elites. But the push for integration with Belarus is much more than the above arguments: It will mark a definitive break in the model of Russia’s ties with its immediate neighbors, and specifically those which are members of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). More so, the union state will also indicate a return to what many Russians fear: the official empire. True, over the past three decades Russia has annexed and invaded territories, has consistently tried to influence Belarus, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, but it still resembled a much more liberal empire than what it was back in Soviet times, with the extending of direct political control over the non-Russia territories having been generally avoided. Crimea being an exception, of course, though here too the annexation became possible not only because of Russia’s military bases, but the peninsula’s large Russian population. In other words, for the Russian political elite, the annexation did not seem like taking foreign territories or the building of an official empire. Contrary to what many think in the West, the Russian political elites have not clearly decided in favor of a formal empire. In fact, as the country moves towards a post-Putin period, the integrationist vision of Belarus and its neighbors will likely subside. Again, this does not mean that Moscow will dissolve the EEU or will reconsider its ties with smaller neighbors. Pursuit of political and economic integration with Belarus would also mean what many Russians fear: spending money on a neighbor whose industrial and economic base might not bring as much
advantage as one could hope for. In fact, expenditure could far outweigh the benefits. For Moscow, Belarus is not Ukraine, and its economic weight is not worth an outright and immediate merger. Furthermore, though serving as an effective buffer zone, Russian security and military elites also understand, albeit silently, that NATO expansion does not constitute as much a threat as often portrayed by the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Moscow will continue building closer ties with Minsk. It will closely monitor the latter’s deteriorating ties with the West. It will use those divisions to promote further some of its vital interests in Belarus. But it is also clear Moscow will remain hesitant to make a definite move. Perhaps the likeliest scenario, when Russia could directly project its military power and engage in the integrationist project, is if a popular revolution prevails in Belarus and an openly pro-Western or reformist-minded government comes to power. Negotiations on sensitive issues (creating a single currency, a unified tax codex, etc.) will continue, but likely in the same vein as in previous years. Sensational breakthroughs are unlikely, as Lukashenko will remain unwilling to concede while Moscow is undecided as to whether it should follow a hard “imperial” option. Perhaps for the time being, a hybrid option of slowly increasing economic and political influence in Belarus will continue, as in previous years. Much will depend on popular discontent inside the country. Should pre-revolutionary conditions emerge, Moscow’s response might evolve from a hybrid to a military or more altogether integrationist one.
Jens Siegert on the Russian Elections & the Growing Repressions INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE
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his weekend, Russians will be bracing for yet another election. And with the Kremlin cranking up the repression to “full on” mode, the results are already a foregone conclusion. This is why, instead of asking moot questions regarding the outcomes, we asked journalist and Russia expert Jens Siegert what the Kremlin edging toward full-fledged dictatorship meant for the country, its people and its neighbors.
IN A RECENT INTERVIEW ON THE UPCOMING RUSSIAN ELECTIONS, YOU CLAIMED RUSSIA WAS ON THE WAY TO DICTATORSHIP. ONE COULD ARGUE IT ARRIVED AT THAT DESTINATION A LONG TIME AGO. The direction of development, obviously, was authoritarian, but until recently, there were many freedoms left within Russia, and even some possibilities of political participation. All of this is now disappearing. And this is quite a new development. I'd say this has become especially noticeable since the return of Navalny and the subsequent demonstrations against his arrest. Many who didn’t actually support him are now sympathetic to his cause, not because of his policies, but because of the way the state handled it. This is just not being done, they say. It's not acceptable. This, together with what happened in Belarus last summer, led the Kremlin to the conclusion that there might be a real threat to its continued existence - most politicians in Russia considered that there was a very, very stable situation and that the Belarussians would never be so foolish as to dare and rise up against Lukashenko. This led them to realize that they had to deploy some countermeasures lest the same scenario play out in Russia too. The economic situation is still nowhere good - there have been long ongoing crises and the prospect of economic growth is very, very slim. The polls show
that the Crimea euphoria has faded as well. Add to that increasing the retirement age, which left many people deeply disenchanted. And then there is the pandemic to further complicate things. So, in this context, I think Russia is now trying to reinvent itself. It reinvented itself already once in the 2000s. The main narrative then was that they were leaving the chaos of 90s and making Russia a stable country. Then, in 20112012, it was about “making Russia great again”, so to say, to restore its status as a great power, and the Crimea seizure served as the crowning point of this endeavor. Now, we seem to be entering third phase, where the answer to all Russia’s ills is to abolish almost all possibilities of political participation which were left, harking back to the Soviet times of dictating what people think and this is a major shift, and was not the case until recently. The Kremlin didn’t use to care what people believed, it cared what people did. Now it wants to dictate what to think and believe as well.
THE NARRATIVES OF THE EARLIER PHASES HAVE A CERTAIN APPEAL TO THEM, BUT WHAT’S THE SELLING PITCH FOR THIS NEW NARRATIVE? I SEE THE STICK BUT WHERE IS THE CARROT? There is a difference between the smarter ruling of the 2000s and the situation Kremlin now finds itself in. There is no new narrative. And because of that, the Kremlin has embarked on a path of extreme repression.
WHENEVER HIS APPROVAL RATINGS DROPPED, PUTIN RESORTED TO QUICK, DECISIVE ACTIONS ON THE FOREIGN FRONT, PLAYING THE “SMALL VICTORIOUS WAR” CARD. HE BROUGHT “GIFTS” TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE TO MASSAGE THEIR EGOS. WHAT’S THE NEXT TRICK HE MIGHT TRY TO PULL OFF? Maybe Belarus, and the integration scenario. That’s the only thing I can think of, because there are no low-hanging fruit like Crimea remaining for him to
EQUALED TO PUTIN’S OWN? This is a rational assumption. Stability in Russia is linked to Putin. Putin has built a political system which depends on him to function. Imagine tomorrow something happens to him; nobody would be able to say for sure what would happen to Russia in a day’s time. Sure, there is the constitution, which dictates what steps should be taken in such a scenario, but you won’t find anyone serious enough to guarantee that this is what will happen, as it would in the West. If Putin is removed from the equation, chaos is more likely to happen, and people realize that. It’s a survival instinct scenario, when you look at it, really.
Journalist and Russia expert, Jens Siegert
grab anymore. The Ukraine War is an open war now, and grabbing Donbas, even if it were possible, does not appeal to the Russian people as much as Crimea did. It’s not really popular in Russia. Another war in a more distant region, like Syria, for example, also won’t have the desired effect, even if it’s a success. Some sort of unified state with Belarus is something different and might be on the agenda, but as you see, even in negotiations with an extremely weakened Lukashenko, the latter is staunchly opposed to such. He is no low hanging fruit.
ONTO THE ELECTIONS NOW. DO YOU EXPECT ANY SURPRISES? No. It will be the result that everybody predicts. The Kremlin-set task for the federal Electoral Commission is for the United Russia party to get somewhere between 65 and 70% of votes. There might be couple of unexpected names from opposition parties, possibly due to Navalny and his team’s smart voting app. The crackdown on Navalny’s organization was targeted directly against smart voting, with it declared a “Pentagon tool,” and so on.
HOW MUCH IMPACT COULD NAVALNY HIMSELF, AND THE SMART VOTING OPTION, CONCEIVABLY HAVE ON THE END RESULT? It could have had a big impact had he himself stayed free and his organization
were allowed to work unrestricted. But now, in this situation, I’d be very surprised if it were to have a major impact. There will be a couple of heads picked from the so-called systemic opposition, but that’s not what smart voting is about, it’s about giving the fore to the real opposition, and that’s certainly not in the Kremlin’s interests.
WHAT DOES RUSSIA BECOMING EVEN MORE REPRESSIVE SPELL FOR THE SO-CALLED NEAR ABROAD? YOU MENTIONED THE DEARTH OF THE LOW-HANGING FRUITS FOR PUTIN TO BOLSTER HIS RATINGS. COULD SOUTH OSSETIA BE ONE SUCH FRUIT, WITH THEIR VOCAL DESIRE TO JOIN THE FEDERATION?
IN A WAY, PUTIN HAS TRIVIALIZED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PILLARS OF DEMOCRATIC STATECRAFT: ELECTIONS. IS THAT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY FEELS NOTHING WOULD CHANGE, OR IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE CONTENT WITH HOW THINGS ARE?
South Ossetia might be integrated, like Eastern Ukraine, into the Russian stageworks. That’s a step you can almost always expect from the Kremlin, provided they think it may serve their interests. Nobody can prevent the Kremlin from doing that if they think it will be useful, that much is a fact. Question is, do they think so? Even though I think most people in Russia would be in favor of it, and consider it the right move to make, we also have to realize that South Ossetia does not have the same symbolic power as Crimea had. Not even close, and to add that Russians might want the territory of Ossetia, but they are less than keen on the Ossetian people and the criminal regime there. The perception is just not there that we want these people to be part of our nation. It’s very much different with the scenarios in Crimea and the possible one in Belarus. So yes, while it’s certain nobody can stop Russia from doing it, and there wouldn’t be much price to pay for it from the West or otherwise, I think at the moment it’s just not a worthwhile endeavor for the Kremlin to undertake.
Both. And this is further reinforced by the fear of a nightmare scenario: a repeat of the nineties. Putin is still seen by many who don’t agree with his policies as the sole anchor for stability. In their eyes, he’s indispensable for preventing the dissolution of the Russian state. And then this is further amplified by Putin preventing a viable competitor from emerging. Navalny was an anomaly the like of which we haven’t seen in the last 20 years. He came close to challenging Putin, and the Kremlin obviously took notice.
DOES THIS REINFORCE THE THINKING THAT THE CURRENT KREMLIN REGIME’S VITALITY AND LIFE EXPECTANCY CAN BE
BUSINESS
GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
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EFES Georgia: We Believe Business Should Be Done with a High Sense of Responsibility HAS CHANGED CONCERNING THIS AND HOW ACTIVE ARE YOU IN CSR TODAY?
Continued from page 1 We spent more resources on studying the potential of domestic and foreign markets, which helped us to make a realistic prognosis and get immediate results. The first half of 2021 was a period of growth and development for us. Slight growth was seen in the beer market in the first half of this year, compared to 2020. Beer sales increased by single-digit growth. In the HoReCa sector, we also saw a noticeable increase. It is also noteworthy that as of 2021, we are the only company with 100% penetration in retail. The growth trend is noticeable in the lemonade segment too. But the best results were achieved in export countries, which increased by almost 50% and also had a positive influence on the country’s economy. To date, we have been able to implement all the projects that were planned for this year. Moreover, we brought important innovations to the market. New products, innovative marketing and sales projects, activities to support the development of our employees, new CSR initiatives - all of these were achieved in the first half of 2021. So, we can say that we have adapted quickly and introduced new mechanisms for sustainable development. As a result, it will make us stronger in the future.
BIG NEWS WAS NATAKHTARI BEER APPEARING ON THE MARKET WITH A NEW TASTE AND NEW PACKAGING. WASN'T IT RISKY TO MAKE CHANGES TO SUCH A WELLKNOWN AND ALREADY ESTABLISHED BRAND? The world is changing rapidly; we saw it over the past year. Our lifestyle, worklife, perceptions and tastes have significantly changed. The brands and companies have to follow these changes; we should embrace this opportunity and continue development. It was not an easy decision to make those changes. Natakhtari beer first appeared on the market in 2005. Since then, our brand has maintained a leading position. It was a driving product for our company. However, considering many factors, we focused on the future and used existing perspectives, taking this step and presenting Natakhtari with a new taste to Georgian consumers, as well as foreigners. Of course, it was risky, as big steps usually are. But to be honest, we were pretty
sure about what we were doing. Preparation of the new taste began by listening to the desires of beer lovers and carrying out various studies, followed by selecting the ingredients and many stages of taste property evaluation. Now we can say that we, as one team in EFES Georgia, are very proud of the result. Feedback from the public is very positive, and we’re now sure the risk was justified. Innovation is crucial for competitiveness, especially now. As a leading beer company on the market, for our company, it is always essential to invest in innovation. That’s why we launched Natakhtari Platinum and Natakhtari Green as a seasonal series. This project was meant to meet the needs of people with different tastes. Later, we released 100% Cold Natakhtari with a thermochromic label. It is one of the latest innovations in the field of labeling. The special limited edition of Natakhtari decorated with illustrations and aphorisms of The Knight in the Panther's Skin was also very popular. Then we had a logical continuation to the innovations, introducing new exceptional brewing technology for beer - slow fermentation. As a result of using this method, we have a smooth and balanced taste, created with a combination of special fresh hops and aromatic malts.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW THEY WERE HELPED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
EVERYONE SAYS THAT THERE IS A DEFICIT OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN GEORGIA TODAY. HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY RESPOND TO THIS CHALLENGE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOUR NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IS INCREASING?
and professional person. The second approach involves the internal development of human resources. Actually, this is a higher priority for EFES Georgia. We are focusing on trainings to develop our own talented staff. We recently filled two director roles with internal promotions. Moreover, we are proud to announce that the company has its first employee working in an international role within the group. This year, we also intensified the youth internship program. We already have a pretty good group that goes through internships in different departments under the supervision and coordination of our staff. We also started cooperation with universities to interest students in our internship programs. We’re now looking for motivated and open-minded young people who are happy to study and work. We seek to educate, employ, and grow professionals. As part of the support program for universities, our experienced staff conducts lectures at various universities and shares practical knowledge with students.
To my mind, when it comes to finding professional staff and hiring them, there are two main approaches. The first is headhunting, which is when you try to find a specific qualified, experienced
YOUR COMPANY IS DISTINGUISHED IN TERMS OF CSR. YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS. WHAT
At the beginning of the pandemic, EFES Georgia issued a list of safety measures for our employees. We are all obliged to follow them strictly. Currently, most of our meetings are held in an online format or limited to small groups. Additionally, we started to carry out new employee motivation programs, implementing special activities that facilitate teamwork and the generation of initiatives. We also took measures to develop internal communication. Employees are the main asset of our company and we will always take care of them.
Indeed, corporate responsibility has always been an important priority for our company and it remains so, and I am sure it will be in the future as well. We have been implementing CSR projects in various fields since 2008. These projects are sustainable, and our employees are proud that we contribute to the community and the environment. We believe that business should be done with a high sense of responsibility. It means that no-one else should be harmed in the process. And if you give some support as well, it will be beneficial for everyone. We want a stable environment for business to develop, and aim to do our best to promote the creation and maintenance of this environment. The first half of 2021 was no exception for EFES Georgia. We were active in CSR during this period as well. Our company uses the guidelines of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the basic standards. Along with taking care of our staff, we carry out CSR activities to support vulnerable groups, as well as to protect the environment and empower women. We have a well-known and popular project ‘Take care of the future.’ This project has been implemented by the association ‘Our Home - Georgia’ for 10 years with help of the Natakhtari Fund. Now, it continues to support youth without parental care in preparation for their independent life. In total, since 2011, about 600 beneficiaries have received services in the fields of education and employment, as well as psychological assistance. In addition, we continue to use a special wastewater management system. It is a noteworthy direction of our CSR. On World Environment Day, with the involvement of employees and with the help of an environmental NGO, we planted greenery in our industrial area. This process will continue in the future. This year, we became more active in terms of women's empowerment. Besides the activities we were working on with our staff, we collaborate with women's empowerment organizations in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and we have funded projects aiming to ensure gender equality. In brief, the pandemic served to strengthen our sense of responsibility, instead of reducing it.
9km Kvesheti-Kobi Tunnel Expected to Improve Road Safety for Transit in Winter BY ANA DUMBADZE
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onstruction of the longest tunnel in Georgia, the 9km long and 15m wide Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel, has begun, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced this week. The tunnel will be carved with a boring machine which was specially made for the construction of this particular tunnel. One of the most hightech tunneling machines in the world, it is distinguished by the fact that its vibration during the work process is minimal, which ensures a safe construction process and minimal impact on the environment, the Ministry said. The Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel starts at
Tskere village and ends at Kobi village, and will pass under the Jvari Pass. The Kvesheti-Kobi section is a part of the North-South Road Corridor. The road passes through difficult geographical routes characterized by heavy snowfall in the winter period. Due to avalanche hazards and adverse weather, traffic is often stopped in winter and transit traffic is interrupted. The construction of a new road and 9km tunnel is expected to address these issues. Unhindered transit traffic will be possible at any time of the year. Construction of two-lane 23 km asphalt-concrete road (down from the old 35km road), five bridges and five tunnels is planned on KveshetiKobi road, including renovation of a
second tunnel. After the project is completed, the distance between Kvesheti and Kobi will be reduced by 12 km, and the travel time will be reduced to 20 minutes from the previous one hour. The Kvesheti-Kobi road passes through Gudauri, crosses the Jvari Pass, and ends at Kobi village. In total, nine villages are being affected by the project, although this is said to be a minimum impact, with the unique nature and cultural heritage of Khada Gorge expected to be secured. The construction works of the Kvesheti-Kobi road is financed by the Asian Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The total cost of the project is 1.2 billion GEL and it is due to be completed by 2024.
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BUSINESS
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
Carrefour Now in Hualing: 52nd Branch Opens in Georgia gifts and take full advantage of various promotions. This is a an additional extension of the brand’s long-held tradition of dedicating its anniversary to its customers. Jerome Akel, Country Manager of Carrefour Georgia at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: “We are delighted to see yet another opening in Georgia which is a true reflection of our continuous growth. This is another testament of our contribution to the prosperity of Georgian communities, giving our local partners, suppliers, and manufacturers the opportunity to
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arrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia, continues its expansion with another store opening. This time, customers will have the chance to experience the new store at Hualing Tbilisi Sea Plaza shopping complex, which opened on 10 September. Open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, the new supermarket will offer access to a
wide variety of high-quality food products and household goods. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, Bio products, baby care, household equipment, beauty items, Carrefour private label products, personal care items, and more. This specific launch is a special one as it closely coincides with Carrefour’s nineyear-anniversary that is celebrated annually on the 13th of September. Not only will the new branch welcome customers
collaborate with us and further develop. Today, we continue to bring our customers the best experiences by providing them with the best quality of products at an unbeatable value.” Entering the Georgian market in 2012 was a strategic move for Carrefour and since then, it has contributed to the prosperity of the Georgian communities and local economy. The brand has seen good development prospects in Georgia, and today Carrefour is represented in Georgia with 52 stores and more than 2,000 employees.
that live within proximity, but it will also give them the chance to win memorable prizes between the 8th of September till the 5th of October. During this period, customers will be given the opportunity to participate in two different raffles, one will be in partnership with MasterCard and the other with Wolt, where a total of 90,000 incredible prizes will be up for grabs. Customers will also get the chance to earn extra MyCLUB points, win useful
Beeline Subscribers Can Already Use Virtual SIM Card
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eeline, a member of the international group Veon, offers customers a virtual SIM card (eSIM). The eSIM (Embedded SIM) is a virtual SIM card built into the smartphone and allows subscribers to use all the services that are available with physical SIM cards. The eSIM is a modern solution that creates significant comfort, flexibility, and freedom for the customer. In addition, activating the eSIM is easy and fast, without leaving home - at any time of the day, via the Beeline website. The eSIM has many advantages over a physical card - it does not break and cannot be lost, and it can be replaced online. The process of activating the Beeline eSIM consists of simple steps and requires you to enter the phone number (if any) and the model of the smartphone, upload your ID, and take a photo through the website. At the end of the process, the user receives a QR code and scans it to activate the eSIM. For even more simplicity, the Beeline website features videos describing the activation process and detailed information for both iOS and Android smartphones. The cost of an eSIM is 5 GEL. Beeline subscribers can also exchange a physical SIM card for an eSIM, without leaving home. On purchasing an eSIM, as well as replacing the physical SIM card with the eSIM, subscribers will receive 5GB
internet as a gift from Beeline. The eSIM can be used together with the physical SIM card, so subscribers can use two numbers at the same time. To use a virtual SIM card, the smartphone
must have the appropriate support. A list of such smartphones is available on the Beeline website. "I am pleased to offer customers the best modern solution in the form of
eSIM, which will allow them to activate a new SIM card on their smartphone or replace an existing one with an eSIM, without leaving home, at any time online. Beeline always aims to provide custom-
ers with the best digital products and services to make it easier to use our services and receive them in real-time, as and wherever needed," says Lasha Tabidze, Beeline CEO.
SOCIETY
GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
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Hungary Equates LGBT Promotion in Films with Horror in Viewing Age Ratings
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ungary’s media regulator published guidelines for broadcasters to comply with new LGBT laws on Wednesday, relegating some films portraying homosexuality or gender identity issues to the same age group restrictions as gory horror movies, reported Reuters. Publication of the guidelines follows the June adoption of a law banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” among under-18s, despite criticism from rights groups and the European Union. “The new guidelines do not ban the portrayal of homosexuality or gender issues outright and do not affect the age classification of films in which these
subjects are not considered a “defining feature.” “But programs depicting what the regulator called the virtues, uniqueness of benefits of homosexuality or change of gender would deserve a higher age rating, it said,” reads the article. “The protection of minors does not mean that certain issues are taboo. Rather, it assesses the entire context and message with regard to the age-appropriate intellectual and processing capabilities of minors,” the regulator, NMHH, said. Under the revised guidelines, Oscarwinning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s “All About My Mother” or “The L Word” series fall under the same age classification as the horror series “Saw” or “The Exorcist”, the regulator said.
Georgian Book Corner Opens at National Library of Lithuania
BY ANA DUMBADZE
Vato Shakarishvili to Collect Signatures Demanding Public Plebiscite on Banning LGBT Propaganda BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE
W
e are starting to collect signatures demanding a public plebiscite on the issue of banning LGBT propaganda, Vato Shakarishvili, an independent majoritarian candidate from Saburtalo, posted on his Facebook page. Shakarishvili writes the following: “The will of the majority of the population must be represented in the law, gross attempts to impose an ideology unacceptable to our country must end. This legal path has been chosen by the EU member states, one example is the Hungarian model, whose primary purpose is to protect the consciousness
of children and adolescents from aggressive propaganda. With this model, dissemination/access to LGBT-related materials and information is legally regulated. Taking into consideration we have 14 political parties in favor of LGBT Pride in the country, who along with outside forces fight the future of this country, the government must protect the will of the absolute majority of the population! “The process of collecting signatures will take place in my election headquarters: Shartava 35/37 and Digomi village, Davit Sarajishvili 50. The campaign will continue after the election and signatures will be submitted to the government requesting a plebiscite.” Responses to his plans have been mixed, as shown in the comments on his post, in which some supported the
idea, but far more were against. “Disgraceful,” one comment read. “How many politicians should try to manipulate this topic before the elections and then get 0.3% in the elections? Have you ever realized that people do not get “excited” about this topic the way you think?” another wrote. “Populist, cheap wannabe politician,” a third wrote. “The country collapses, a pandemic is raging and there is no justice, and still, you choose the LGBT community as a punching bag. Do you really care about the people, or who are you trying to please?” “I feel pity for you. Could not you find other problems in-the country to eliminate?” “Boy, boy, boy, people who had nothing to do, they have all gone into politics and meanwhile they try to achieve popularity with cheap, populistic topics.”
A
Georgian book corner has been opened at the National Library of Lithuania in cooperation with the National Library and the Embassy of Lithuanian-Georgian friendship. “This is the 70th Georgian library opened abroad with our involvement,” said Giorgi Kekelidze, General Director of the National Parliamentary
Library of Georgia. He noted that the move is aimed at further deepening cultural relations and well-known friendship between the two countries. Furthermore, it will promote the popularization of Georgian literature in Lithuania. “We are pleased to collaborate with the Georgian side and Giorgi Kekelidze personally. Undoubtedly, literature is an essential component in building bridges of friendship between two countries,” stated the National Library of Lithuania.
Geostat: Exports Increased by 25.7% in January-August BY ANA DUMBADZE
E
xternal Merchandise Trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to $8,678.3 million in JanuaryAugust 2021, 22.2% higher year-on-year, the National Statistics
Office of Georgia (Geostat) reported this week. Based on the latest report by Geostat, the value of export increased by 25.7% to reach $2,605.5 million, while import increased by 20.7% and amounted to $6,072.9 million. The trade deficit equaled $3,467.4 million and its share in trade turnover constituted 40.0%.
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SOCIETY
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
The Only Way to Fly: Mestia, Svaneti
Photos by Nino Narozauli
BLOG BY TONY HANMER
M
y wife was taking a Ladies’ Day Out with visiting friends of ours to go to the capital town of Upper Svaneti and hopefully reach the Koruldi Lakes high above it. This would by no means be a given, as the road up there is pretty rough in the best weather, and we’d had quite a bit of rain prior to this to slick things up. So it was with some considerable surprise that I heard her tell me, by phone in the late afternoon, that not only had they reached the lake, but she would be going PARAGLIDING. Now, her first brush with this sport was last year in Ureki, off the beach. The customer in front of her had “crashed” into bathers at the water’s edge, and this put her off, although there were no injuries resulting. But here she was, giving it another try. They had made it with some help up the slippery, steep, muddy road, which I swear I’ll never drive again, seen the lake and its wonderful mountain reflections, noticed the people launching off a hillside, and my wife bit the bullet. Her flying partner harnessed himself
and her in, with helmets and a parachute for each controlled by him in packs on their backs. (She didn’t even ask what this was!) They both had to run on the hill and jump off, and she stumbled on the first try. Second one, there she was, up in the air, a Go-Pro camera on a stick in her hand, recording the experience while our friends got photos and video of her from the ground. A 15-minute flight took her looping over Mestia’s 40-odd watchtowers as the sun prepared to set, no motor noise at all: just the air rushing by and her heartbeat in her ears, the experience of a lifetime. I am very proud of her. In Cappadocia’s wild windsculpted sandstone hills in Turkey a few years ago, she had sent me on a magical balloon sunrise trip and would only do the same thing herself if I came back unscathed, taking her turn the following morning. (I counted about 80 other balloons in my photos when it was over). So this news, and the breathless phone call after it letting me know how absolutely thrilled and pleased with herself she was, showed me how brave she can be when adventure calls. Now she wants me to do the same thing, which I gladly will. But for me, good weather and somehow the possibility of taking the risk of strapping my digital SLR on for good photos are almost as important as the flight itself. There doesn’t seem to be any hot air ballooning in Mestia region yet: maybe the terrain is too constrained and/or the wind too unpredictable to allow such things, which are decades old in Cappadocia. I would rather do it by balloon, as the photographic possibilities are far easier. The possibility of yet another view of majestic Mount Ushba’s twin horns is always an enticement for me, having shot the thing from so many different places over the last two decades. Worst case
scenario borrowing the Go-Pro, I might just give it a whirl too. 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
CULTURE
GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2021
11
Power of the Nation
Shota Rustaveli
BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE
H
ow much do we need to know when we are on our way to other lands? It depends. When visiting America, for instance, you might at least want to know why the 4th of July is celebrated, or who George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were,
or what the Bill of Rights is all about. Names like Ella, Louis, Marilyn and Elvis are going to be helpful too. Ella – for her magical voice, Luis – for his divinity of musical sound, Marilyn – for her inimitable appeal and singular style, and Elvis – for his perennial blend of youth and talent. But when in Georgia, one has to know the most reputed among the most prominent Georgians – Nino, Davit, Tamar, Shota, Ilia, Vazha, Galaktion… Georgians use only their first names
because they are the most celebrated national icons. And if a foreign visitor wants to be at home in Georgia, they will have to learn these names by heart and mention them accordingly, in a prudent and discreet fashion, as we Georgians do when the situation dictates. The history of Georgia is magnificently adorned with the glorious names of Saint Nino – the introducer and upholder of Christianity in Georgia, and the enlightener of the Georgian people with Christian spirituality; King Davit Agmashenebeli a.k.a. David the Builder – the unifier of Georgia and symbol of its political acumen and martial supremacy; Queen Tamar – the most eminent and radiant among the sovereigns of Georgia, who elevated the nation to the level of unheard of brilliance, power and prosperity; Shota Rustaveli – the greatest and the most quoted among the Georgian writers; Ilia Chavchavadze – our sense of right and wrong, intelligence and hope, Vazha Pshavela – the acme of our national philosophical thinking in verse, and Galaktion Tabidze – the most beloved, venerated and emulated among the poets of Georgia. Saint Nino’s Cross, made of a vine stem and tied together with the Saint’s plaited hair, feels the warmest on the Georgian chest. At just mentioning King Davit’s name, a Georgian patriot would be filled with proud excitement, promoting a fighter’s spirit in a Georgian man or woman ready to make any sacrifice for the motherland. Queen Tamar’s fascinating image still works as a subject of veneration. ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin’ by the great Rustaveli used to be, and is still given, as dowry to a bride. To know Shota’s famous aphorisms is a must for any Georgian. We all need to
Ilia Chavchavadze
continue reading deep into Ilia Chavchavadze, canonized as Saint Ilia the Righteous by the Georgian Orthodox Church. The shrewdest among the Georgians believe that Ilia’s literary legacy can provide answers to many questions of the nation concerning its past, present and future. Vazha Pshavela’s genius has morphed the man-and-nature interplay into truth-seeking depths. Galaktion Tabidze is a real ‘Movable Feast’ of this nation, an irreplaceable spiritual integ-
rity, clad in the most elevated poetic lines. He is the master of the Georgian Olympus of verse. Yes, these are the names to be put on our fingertips when we want to travel to Georgia, and be part of it: Nino – the spirit, Davit – the power, Tamar – the beauty, Shota – the wisdom, Ilia – the conscience, Vazha – the wisdom; and Galaktion – the poesy! All of them are indigenous, very national, and very Georgian!
Queen Tamar
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