Issue #1273

Issue no: 1273

• NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Coronavirus: Georgia Awaits Tightened Restrictions amid Increasing Number of Infections NEWS PAGE 3

Trump’s Brave Doings & Biden’s Bold Ideas POLITICS PAGE 4

The Bear in the Mountains: An Examination of the Russian Peacekeeping force in Karabakh POLITICS PAGE 6

FOCUS

ON POMPEO

Find out more about the US Secretary of State's flying visit to Georgia

PAGE 2

Carrefour Launches Reusable Bags for Loose Fruit & Veg as Part of the Brand’s ongoing Sustainability Initiative

S

tatistics show that, on average, Georgian citizens use 525 plastic bags per year. While this is an environmental problem, such high plastic usage and production also depletes energy and resources.

Fortunately, there are brands in Georgia who embed sustainability initiatives as part of their successful business strategy.

Carrefour — operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia — is one example of a brand that is very active when it comes to Sustainability and Corporate citizenship. Since its establishment in the country, not only has it introduced local customers to high-quality and best service through customer experience, but it has also prioritized its sustainability agenda.

Having held more than 50 events in the last two years, Carrefour prides itself on its commitment to bettering the lives of its surrounding communities and is guided by its desire to operate in an environmentally and sociallyresponsible manner.

Continued on page 9

Beeline Users Can Learn a Foreign Language for Only 15 GEL Per Month BUSINESS PAGE 7

Furniture House NITA: For Your Quality Furniture Needs BUSINESS PAGE 7

UN Resident Coordinator for Georgia on the UN’s 75th Anniversary SOCIETY PAGE 8

‘Gepherrini’: Where Style Meets Practicality SOCIETY PAGE 10

Remembering Pridon: Ushguli, Svaneti CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

Markets As of 16ͲNovͲ2020

STOCKS Bank of Georgia (BGEO LN) Georgia Capital (CGEO LN) TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN)

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

On Mike Pompeo’s Georgia Visit

Ricky Waddell, and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State Mary Kissel, and from the Georgian side by Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Georgian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the US Davit Bakradze, and Head of the Government Administration Natia Mezvrishvili.

role to play, both in terms of Georgian democracy and national security," he said.

Senior State Department officials spoke to media following the meeting: “We are encouraging the opposition to go into parliament and make an electoral change that’s meaningful so that the next elections will be better and we won’t see a repeat of the same kinds of violations… we and the European ambassadors are bringing them to the table, not for us to find the solution, but for them to find the solution, to learn how to work together, because they’re going to have to work together in parliament, and tee up a legislative agenda that includes meaningful electoral change and meaningful reform of the Central Election Commission administration. And then, when there are new elections, we’ll have a more credible result that everybody can have confidence in.”

US STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS ON THE OPPOSITION TO ENTER PARLIAMENT

POMPEO MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT, PATRIARCH & CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES

A closed-door meeting was held between US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker and leaders of the opposition parties at the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel on Wednesday.

Leaders of some opposition parties said before the meeting that they would talk about the ongoing political processes and the elections.

Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the opposition Strategy Builder party, noted the importance of the occasion prior to the meeting: "We have our requirements.

We will listen to our American partners' opinions. They have a very important

“Our region and the world need a peaceful, stable and democratic Caucasus,” President Salome Zurabishvili told Pompeo during his visit to her residence in Orbeliani Palace.

“Peace has no alternative, while the economic and political development of the region is our mutual interest. In protecting this mission, Georgia remains a noble partner and a reliable pillar of support,” she added.

During the meeting, the President expressed hope that cooperation between Georgia and the United States will take a step forward, and negotiations on a

BY TEAM GT

Y

ou are a true friend of this country. We are grateful for your personal and the United States’ support of our strategic partnership, the most important partnership of this country - Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday.

Pompeo came to Georgia as part of a planned visit to seven countries: France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, November 13 – 23. While in Georgia, he conducted high-level discussions focused on Georgia’s democratic security with senior government officials as well as members of civil society.

The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the US Secretary of State for his visit to Georgia. In response, Pompeo thanked the PM for the hospitality, and emphasized the years-long friendly relations between the two countries.

“Mister Prime Minister, it is great to be here. We had many important topics to discuss, and these points have been well taken in. The world, and certainly Georgia, is in the middle of a terrible challenge from the virus that was released from China. We will address this together, keep our people safe, and get our economies back up and going again. This is central for the prosperity of your country, region, and the world.

“We have been great friends for almost 30 years now. We support your democracy, we have worked together all this

time, and we recognize all the pain and difficulty connected to the occupation of your country. We will do everything we can to support your democratic process, the building up of the institutions in ways that are important for free and fair elections, and all other things that come with robust debate and democracy.

And I thank you for hosting me again,” Pompeo said.

According to the Prime Minister, the visit by the Secretary of State reiterates the robustness of the Georgia-US strategic partnership and the commitment of the two countries to continuing this cooperation in order to build on the existing partnership based on shared values.

The enhanced-format high-level meeting at the Administration of the Government was attended from the American side by Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Kelly Degnan, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

free trade agreement will begin.

“Our relations will strengthen through the deepening of strategic partnership, cooperation on Black Sea security issues, and US support for Georgia on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration. These issues have strong support among the Georgian and American public, and across the political spectrum," President Zurabishvili said.

The US Secretary of State also met with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II at the Patriarchate. The sides discussed Georgia's important role in promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world.

Information about the US Secretary of State’s later meeting with civil society representative was released by the US Embassy in Georgia: “Secretary Pompeo sat down with civil society representatives for a candid and open conversation about judicial reform, and the role of civil society in Georgia’s development. The Secretary noted Georgia’s recent judicial reform efforts and the important role of civil society in advancing the rule of law and developing modern state institutions. However, all agreed there is more work to be done, and the US stands ready to continue its support.

“Included in the meeting were representatives of some of the many professional NGOs dedicated to improving Georgia’s democracy, including the American Chamber of Commerce Georgia, Economic Policy Research Center, Georgian Democracy Initiative, Open Society-Georgia Foundation, Rights Georgia, and Transparency International Georgia,” the US Embassy noted.

National Geographic Lists Georgia among World’s Best Destinations to Travel in 2021

BY ANA DUMBADZE

N

ationalGeographic,amajor global travel publication, hails Svaneti, Georgia, among the world's finest destinations to visit in the post-pandemic year 2021.

National Geographic lists the best destinations every November. Reported on by the global editors of National Geographic, these 25 destinations are framed

by five categories: Nature, Adventure, Culture, Sustainability, and Family.

National Geographic's portal at https:// www.nationalgeographic.com/.../bestof-the-world.../ features photos and detailed descriptions of Svaneti.

National Geographic writes about Svaneti: "Located in the shadows of 15,000-foot peaks, the Svaneti region in northwest Georgia's Caucasus mountains may seem forbiddingly inaccessible. The rugged landscape bristles with medieval stone towers that doubled as dwell-

ings and defense posts. These fortresses attest to a time when Svan families fought fiercely to hold possession of their lands in small villages and lofty settlements such as Ushguli. Protected as the Upper Svaneti World Heritage site, Ushguli is one of Europe's highest inhabited communities.

Once infamous for lawlessness, the region is recognized today for its welcoming spirit. ‘Georgia is famous for its hospitality. Parties, toasts, and alcohol are the order of the day,' says Michał Głombiowski, a travel writer and pho-

tographer from Poland.

While still far off any beaten path, Svaneti is now accessible to intrepid adventurers via the Upper Svaneti section of the Transcaucasian Trail, an ambitious long-distance trail network project ultimately aiming to connect Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Trekkers with enough lung capacity to tackle a four-day, high-altitude hike from Mestia, the regional capital, to Ushguli are treated to cool vistas of serrated peaks by day and warm receptions in Svan guesthouses at night."

Coronavirus: Georgia Awaits Tightened Restrictions amid Increasing Number of Infections

BY ANA DUMBADZE

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T

he daily number of coronavirus cases and the death toll continue to rise in Georgia. However, health officials remain hopeful about the positive dynamics in terms of recovering people.

On Thursday, the country recorded 3697 new cases within the prior 24 hours.

Since the detection of the first case, the total number of test-positive individuals infected with COVID-19 has reached 93,092.

2409 individuals recovered within the same 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 73,877, while 38 died.

Most of the new cases were detected in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi, which, unfortunately, still maintains the “leading” position in terms of high number of daily cases.

On Monday, Head of the National Center for Disease Control, Amiran Gamkrelidze, announced, as had the PM several times before him, that no complete lockdown was being considered in Georgia; however, serious restrictive measures were being negotiated.

Against the background of the alarming rise in the number of new cases of

infections and the death toll, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze is yet hopeful of a better year ahead in the battle against COVID-19.

Georgia’s Minister of Health, and an expert in medicine, economics and business management, said she believes a “turning point” will be reached next year in the battle against COVID-19.

Speaking at a specially convened panel at the 2020 gathering of the World Innovation Summit for Health, Dr. Ekaterine Tikaradze, said: “2021 will be a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic both in the world and in Georgia. We have constant communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) and various international partners regarding the vaccine for COVID-19.

“Georgia is involved in the WHO Solidarity Research and works closely with the US and European centers for disease control and COVID management through its Clinical Management Team. For the first time, digital technologies will also be widely introduced in health care. All this gives us hope that next year, through vaccines, modern methods of treatment, and adherence to the rules of infection control by the population, it will be possible to defeat the pandemic.”

On November 17, one of the most experienced health officials in the coun-

try, General Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, was diagnosed with coronavirus.

"His condition is satisfactory. He has mild symptoms. Therefore, he does not need to be in hospital and is being treated at home," stated Hospital representatives.

November 16 was a memorable date with hopeful news. “A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows,” the BBC reported.

"The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic," read the article

by James Gallagher, health and science correspondent.

However, this is still early data and key questions remain unanswered. It is not yet known how long the effectiveness of the vaccine will last after vaccination, which is why further studies are needed.

For the record, last week, BioNTech and co-developers Pfizer said that preliminary analysis showed their vaccine could prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19.

About 43,000 people took part in the tests.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news on georgiatoday.ge.

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

Charting the Course for Georgia’s Internal Stability

Image by Katie Ruth Davies/GT

OP-ED BY SOLOMON ALVARES

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eorgia is experiencing internal unrest. As a result of recent parliamentary elections, opposition parties that passed the 1% threshold are protesting the results, refusing to take their places in Parliament and are calling for snap parliamentary elections and nationwide protests.

The international community, an impor-

tant gauge of the credibility of elections for Georgian political parties and the NGO sector, overall supported the election process and results, portraying them as competitive, though they did detect a number of irregularities, such as the use of administrative resources by the ruling party. The OSCE said that “overall, fundamental freedoms were respected," although “pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process".

On the local level though, various monitoring groups produced cases of alleged fraud, which so far remain unaddressed by the government.

MANAGING THE MOUNTING PRESSURE The protests, though unlikely to threaten the government, are nevertheless creating a breeding ground for larger protests.

The economic situation in the country has been worsening continuously with the Lari depreciating against the Dollar, and the level of foreign direct invest-

ments declining further.

The worsening pandemic is adding to the tensions. Up to 3500 cases of infections per day and the concomitant rising death toll questions the efficacy of the government, biting at its popularity even among its diehard supporters. As the daily number of infections is likely to rise further, so will the level of public outburst against Georgian Dream (GD).

Moreover, the general boycotting of the election results by all the opposition parties also indicates at the growing alignment of otherwise politically diverse forces. The parties signed an agreement on refusing to enter Parliament, cooperating with GD and generally pledging to cooperate on future political actions.

The alignment was long in gestation, the initial signs of which were visible from earlier this year.

Another development which does not augur well for the ruling party and internal stability of the country is the sheer number of protesters which took to the streets. For instance, On Sunday, 45,000 protesters rallied outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi. Such numbers come in striking contrast to the generally meagre numbers amassed by opposition parties in past years.

General boycotting could also mean that protests will become more commonplace. Coupled with the worsening economic situation and dire pandemic situation, the crisis could deepen.

Georgia’s western partners too, though they generally hailed the results, expressed hopes that irregularities would be corrected. Their support for the government is firm, but a shift might be taking place, which will underline the need to prepare a peaceful power transition in the next parliamentary elections in 2024.

The mounting pressure on the ruling party would also mean that municipal elections to be held next year will be hard fought, and GD might face fundamental challenges.

Despite mounting pressure though, the ruling party is unlikely to collapse. It still enjoys support among security and business elites. Large parts of the population still support it. The divisive figure of the former Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, limits the prospects for a major opposition success. Moreover, these elections also showed the electorate is still firmly divided between the two parties GD and the UNM, which makes many, though not diehard supporters of GD, still vote for the ruling party for fear of the return of the highly controversial Saakashvili.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent visit to Georgia also underlined the support for the ruling party and the need for the opposition, much to their chagrin, to accept the election results and work within legal boundaries.

Maintaining this advantage in the coming years will, nevertheless, be increasingly difficult for the ruling party, as a shift is already taking place among the younger population (those who did not witness Saakashvili’s presidency) who are now more willing to cast votes for opposition parties instead of GD. The opposition parties too, despite the troubles, are likely to show more consistency in their political actions. Winning the elections in the 2024 parliamentary elections for the fourth consecutive time could prove an insurmountable challenge for the ruling party. Pulling it off will require some major economic breakthroughs and a definitive rise in the standard of living among ordinary Georgian citizens.

Trump’s Brave Doings & Biden’s Bold Ideas OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

W

hy do Reps and Dems disagree today more than ever before?

They used to suffer differences, but if it came to the nation’s crucial interests, they would always stand together. Not anymore! The jumpy 21st century has exacerbated the disparities between the two. The well-weathered American people wonder how good or how bad the current state of affairs might be in terms of the country’s prosperity and posterity. The latest presidential election has demonstrated the dimensions of trouble in which America may find itself if the avalanche of public violence and political fraud are nor bridled once and for all. The impression is that those two political camps are the residents of two different countries, with absolutely dissimilar attitudes, goals and philosophies of life. If the republican president loses presidency and the democratic nominee hits the White House, we may not even recognize America as a result of the changes that might follow in the wake of the vicious political war between the two ideologies. The media is literally packed with millions of opinions and comments on what we have now and what may happen in the future. Mine is just the processed information with mild touchups. As it seems, the world is far from being indifferent to where the

Image source: AP/Patrick Semansky

United States of America is right now and how it feels.

Why was it beneficial for America to have a president like Trump? Because he almost grabbed a Nobel Prize for making peace in the Middle East; created tens of thousands of jobs; battled joblessness; valiantly addressed the burning issues of law enforcement, national security, human intelligence and space research; kept America out of military conflict like no other POTUS after WW2; forced international bodies to attend to their financial problems without Amer-

ica’s help; defied the North Korean appetite for enhancing nuclear power; gave impetus to the national economy; reshuffled American-Chinese trade and economic dealings; brought businesses back to America; saved billions of tax money for his fellow citizens; increased the value of stocks; invigorated the marketplace; improved the lifestyle of retirees; appointed three Supreme Court Justices and almost three hundred Federal Judges; refurbished and strengthened the American military force; revealed debauchery in government and Hollywood and the

sex trafficking of children; bashed criminal folks with the possibility of due punishment in case of his reelection; narrowed the gap between a corona patient and a healer vaccine. In short, he worked like a horse round the clock the last four years for one dollar per annum, losing a huge amount of his own money without a vestige of remorse.

Why will it be detrimental for America when Biden takes over the White House?

Because democrats will try to: invite several new states to the Union with the purpose of creating additional senatorial

votes; naturalize millions of illegal immigrants to increase the number of democratic votes; open the boarders to let millions of Latinos in; pack hospitals with illegal and insolvent immigrants; adopt the Green New Deal; rewrite history text books, revealing the white atrocities against their black slaves; promote Affirmative Action in favor of the slaves’ progeny; recompense the slaves’ descendents at the expense of white slave-owners’ offspring; rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change, consequently sending trillions of dollars to developing countries; send billions of dollars to Latin American countries to building a better life there in order to curb immigration to America; diminish the importance of the police force and ignore minor offences, thus stimulating crime in general; build projects for the poor in peaceful and safe areas; trim down real estate prices; lower the education level; limit the number of fire-arms in private hands; keep censoring information; revive diplomatic relations with Palestine and divide Jerusalem; reinstate membership in UNESCO; sign the agreement with Iran, helping them create a nuclear bomb; let China abet North Korea against the South; stop mining in federal lands; unleash the oil prices; make it easier for Russia to occupy Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova; assist China to recover the losses of those years; raise taxes for rich businesses; let jobs go to other countries; pave the way to White House for a healthier-and-younger-thanBiden female Afro-Asian-Indian presidency.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

5

Eggert: “Russia Not a Winner in Karabakh” weakness and Erdogan knows it; he knows that Putin needs him to destabilize NATO from the inside. Erdogan is going to use Putin’s desire for that because he already figured it out, and he is going to use that desire to manipulate both Putin and the West.

that Russia is not a protector; that overreliance on Moscow probably wasn't a very wise proposition to begin with.

WHAT ABOUT THE STATUS OF KARABAKH?

Armenia will be burdened in the foreseeable future with the threat of Karabakh being overrun by the Azerbaijani army, but, as opposed to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Armenia is a sovereign state and it can choose certain steps in its foreign and domestic policy if it's bold enough to do so. Another thing that's important: Armenia has a huge diaspora in the world, which is always supportive. Armenia is a member of the EU Eastern Partnership, and this is something that cannot be completely discounted, because, at least in terms of economic and social development, it’s one of the things that Armenia can use.

That is, if it can stand up to Moscow.

The status of Karabakh is going to be suspended for an indefinite time, because I don’t think Putin will be able to make the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis agree on anything. Baku, and Azerbaijan’s allies in Ankara, see the current situation as an interlude. The Azerbaijanis will seize the first opportunity to reconquer the whole of Karabakh and force the Armenians out.

INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

R

ussia failed to protect, perhaps even endangered, an ally. If we accept the idea that it's Putin's revenge on Pashinyan, it also doesn't really make Putin look good – says Deutsche Welle's Konstantin Eggert in a sprawling interview on the implications of the Karabakh truce. For Eggert, the Kremlin is far from the uncontested winner of the situation, although the latter certainly plays it out that way. Talking to the Georgian Institute for Security Policy, the popular Russian journalist asserted that the Russian strongman might have a “mirror image” of himself in Turkey’s Erdogan to deal with in the Caucasus from now on.

WITH THE REGIONAL POWER BALANCE CHANGED, ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS TWO, WHO DO WE HAVE AS WINNERS OR LOSERS? I would argue that Russia is not exactly a winner here. When the dust settles, what we will see is that you now have Erdogan's Turkey as a player in the Caucasus. Now, everyone in the post-soviet space, plus China, plus NATO, can figure out one thing: Azerbaijan allied itself with Turkey and won a war, there's no doubt about that; Armenia, Russia's ally, lost the war, there's no doubt about that either. So, who you would rather have as an ally? I think the conclusion is pretty clear, from the military perspective: we see a 21st century army that defeated a 20th century army and the political perspective is only one: Putin, who until that time was the strongest player in the region, failed to prevent a war and failed to protect an ally. And if Russian intelligence doesn't understand that Azerbaijan is going to start a war, then what is the value of Russian intelligence? If Russian intelligence on the other hand knew about it, and did not inform the Armenians that the situation was so dire, that means Putin just betrayed an ally.

Some people might suggest that it was all a very elaborate plot organized by Putin to get revenge on Pashinyan for overthrowing Putin’s ally Sarksyan in 2018. I think it’s much simpler than that: The truth is that Azerbaijan prepared to launch the war against Armenia at a time convenient for its main ally Turkey, at a time when Turkey was interested in pressuring Russia on issues in a different region, in the Middle East; more specifically in Libya, and it succeeded.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIAN INACTIVITY, BE IT DELIBERATE OR NOT? The consequences of it is that Russia is now responsible for a very tricky and volatile situation; it now has an additional, major player in the South Caucasus. Armenia was probably the most trusted ally Russia had inside the Collective Security Treaty Organization; now it failed to protect, or even endangered, an ally. If we accept the idea that it's Putin's revenge on Pashinyan, it also doesn't really make Putin look good.

This is a warning to all: doing deals with Putin, dealing with him at all, is an extremely dangerous and unreliable

enterprise; he can betray you anytime.

It’s a reality check for Putin's allies in the region and worldwide. After everything that Putin has done in the neighborhood. Also, since the early 1990s, everyone knows that Russian peacekeepers are doing anything but keeping the peace anywhere they are deployed in the former USSR. Counting in the democratic revolution in Belarus and the defeat of the pro-Moscow presidential candidate in Moldova, we can say that 2020 became a year where the Russian dominance in the post-soviet space as we knew it has come to an end.

SPEAKING OF DEPLOYING RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KARABAKH, IS THAT A BURDEN OR IS IT GEOPOLITICAL LEVERAGE? It's not a financial burden to keep 2000 there; I think it’s a risk in the long term, because it exposes Russian troops in a volatile region which is not of huge importance to the Russian public: this also puts a burden on Russia to keep the situation stable and without bloodshed for the foreseeable future. Russia has now taken full responsibility for keeping Karabakh stable.

LET'S TALK ABOUT REALITY CHECKS FOR ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA. WHAT ALTERNATIVES DO THEY HAVE? I think Abkhazia and South Ossetia already learned all their lessons; they already know that Russia will never let the Abkhaz express their opinion on their domestic matters without the Kremlin commissars telling them what the right opinion is. South Ossetia, well, when I visited the so-called border, it seemed to me that the only population left there is sheep and FSB operators in observation towers. So what kind of politics in South Ossetia are we talking about? Another thing that is clear is that the Georgian government is not going to, in any foreseeable future, try and take these regions back by force of arms. Also, we must remember: people in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are very susceptible to Russian propaganda, and they'll be watching Kremlin TV and consuming Moscow narratives on social media.

There, they’re saying it's a huge victory, and Putin's keeping the peace.

HOW DOES TURKEY’S ENTERING THE MILITARY ARENA IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 100 YEARS CHANGE THINGS? There are two elements in that: First of all, we now have a full-fledged NATO member as a major player in the Caucasus; number two, you have an expansionist regime which draws domestic strength from projecting influence outside its borders. In this respect, Putin got the mirror image of himself, and it's a very dangerous game for Putin. I don't think Erdogan forgot or forgave Putin for his humiliation back in 2015, the sanctions, apologies, or Putin’s forcing Erdogan to wait in the antechamber of his study in the Kremlin earlier this year when he came to discuss the situation in Syria.

Also, there's an important element that one shouldn't forget; Putin's obsession with the US and NATO; his fear of regime change instigated by the West. It’s his

DOES PUTIN WANT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BAKU AND YEREVAN? FROZEN CONFLICTS ARE THE KREMLIN’S FAVORITE TOYS, AFTER ALL. In 2008, Putin decided that the frozen conflict was not in his interest and he ‘unfroze’ Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

But this one, I think he won't for one simple reason: if he unfreezes it, he won't be able to control it.

DOES THIS SPELL AN END TO PASHINYAN'S GOVERNMENT AND TO ARMENIA'S ATTEMPTS TO CHOOSE A SLIGHTLY MORE PRO-WESTERN PATH? I would be hesitant to predict that, but what I think will happen is that at least part of Armenian society will realize

JUST LIKE OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA. WHAT CHOICES AND ALTERNATIVES DO THEY HAVE?

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS FROM ALL THIS FOR THE WEST? BECAUSE THEY DEFINITELY SKIPPED THE WHOLE GAME: THEY WERE JUST SPECTATORS. Let's face it, the West is not very keen on meddling in conflicts in what used to be called the post-soviet space, especially if these conflicts don’t involve any kind of loss of sovereignty, as was the case of Crimea. The Karabakh conflict is something that the West will not intervene in unless there's a major humanitarian crisis. This is essentially a game now for the Armenians, the Azerbaijanis,

the Turks, and the Russians.

WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE FOR TBILISI? WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, THREEFOURTHS OF THE GEORGIAN TERRITORY IS SURROUNDED

BY RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES AND “PEACEKEEPERS.” Conclusion number one: the more Russian peacekeepers you have anywhere, the more trouble you import; that's very simple. Number two: I think you'll have to deal eventually with a more proMoscow government in Armenia, which, in case problems appear between Georgia and Russia, may be forced to create problems for Georgia. My third point is that Georgia will have to live with a more prominent role played by Turkey in the region, but considering that Georgian-Turkish relations are good, it's not something Georgia should fear for now. I think that to some extent, the Erdogan government will want to bring its relations with Georgia to an even higher level as a way of diminishing Moscow's influence in the region. Putin is a player in the region, but no longer an indispensable one. What is becoming indispensable now is Erdogan’s Turkey. Turkey is the real, uncontested winner here.

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

The Bear in the Mountains: An Examination of the Russian Peacekeeping Force in Karabakh OP-ED BY MICHAEL GODWIN

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s the ink of another peace deal dries, Russian soldiers are already on the move.

Almost 2,000 Russian peacekeepers are on their way to the region with the stated mission of preventing another clash like the one the world was witness to for almost two months. While the burnt hulls of T-72s and the mangled bodies of fallen Armenian and Azeri soldiers are still being retrieved from the field, Russia is already declaring its dominance. As Russia doesn’t have the best reputation, and arguably the worst of any developed nation in terms of peacekeeping abilities, it stands to question, “who are these new faces?”

The 15th Independent “Peacekeeping” Brigade is the primary formation being sent to the region. This unit differs very little in composition from the standard Motorized Rifle Brigade in the Russian army; Infantry battalions, armor, light artillery, and supporting elements designed to facilitate ground seizure and defense in combat. In addition, they are not new to foreign intrusions: they are recorded to have been involved in the seizure of Crimea in 2014. While it can be noted that they lack the howitzer artillery normally present in a combat task force, the presence of the 102nd Military Base at Gyumri will fill this gap should it become needed, and most likely act as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) if more firepower is desired.

As with most of their modern task forces, Russian units are complimented with additional attachments. These come in the form of intelligence teams, the infamous Spetsnaz, GRU, UAVs, Electronic Warfare (EW) teams, and artillery/sniper elements. Of serious concern are the inclusion of GRU counter-intelligence units. As renowned security analyst and former British Army officer George Adamson has duly and repeatedly noted, “the GRU are not noted for their historic contribution to stabilization.”

As far as equipment and armaments, the force seems to be a mixture of ground-

based motorized rifle and airborne “VDV”style units. An analysis of uniforms and equipment would suggest the involvement of the 31st Air Assault Brigade. This unit had been noted to be training for “peacekeeping operations” as recently as last month. While the Russians have been surprisingly transparent about their manpower and vehicle numbers, it’s unclear what the command structure of these deployed units will be.

While the aforementioned units come from the Central Military District of Russia’s Armed Forces, the 102nd is a part of the Southern Military District.

This adds a layer of confusion as to who is in charge of the units on the ground.

In addition to this, the Rules of Engagement (RoE) have not been defined transparently. This silence seems to have been purposeful so as to give the Russians room to maneuver when, undoubtedly, an incident arises and innocent people are killed. As with the 2008 war, the Russians are known for their “shoot first, and maybe ask questions later, if at all” approach, even with civilians.

BUT WHY ARE THEY THERE? Of course, the natural answer is the peace treaty. Any security-minded individual will be quick to reply that the Russians are not, even historically, known for their love of peace and stability. The downing of one of their helicopters in the region was largely overlooked by many. However, this incident was used as a launchpad from which came the force we see now.

On November 8, a Russian Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter was downed by what was reported to be a man-portable air defense (MANPAD) system. This shoulder-fired rocket struck the aircraft during flight and in the ensuing crash, two of the crew were killed with one more surviving. Their speedy response to this incident and rapid deployment, even using Georgian airspace, leads many to question if this was not planned. As Adamson notes, they have been very quick to “to assert their hegemony in what they claim to be the post-Soviet sphere of privileged interest.”

The 15th Brigade is not known for being a highly agile or “high-readiness” unit, so their quick response, as well as the

Image source: Reuters/Francesco Brembati

rapid coordination with air transportation assets, is deeply suspect. Historically, coordination between ground and air elements, particularly in combat or urgent situations, has been a shortcoming of the Russian military. This, combined with the peacekeeping training the unit had been undergoing, signals to the fact that the downing of the helicopter and the subsequent response was pre-planned.

In traditional GRU fashion, the killing of some of their comrades to further their expansion is expected. For the good of the cause, a helicopter crew paid the price, but these type of false flag operations are part and parcel of the total Russian way of war. They needed this excuse. The downing of a UN helicopter in 2001, the bombing of Gori in 2005, all deniable incidents, but a part of a larger picture. Russia wanted in on this from the beginning, but needed a reason, or, more accu-

rately, a casus belli. Russian black ops, often labeled as their own word “maskirovka”, is key to their success in the field.

However, there is one more dynamic on this new battlefield. In most of the post 2000s and in the wake of the Chechen war operations of the late 1990s, Russian forces almost always included local forces in their task forces. In 2008 in Georgia, in 2014 in Ukraine, and in Syria to this day, Russian forces shield their own troops with a meat shield of local militias and paramilitary units.

In most western nations, the civilian populace is not at all happy with the bodies of their country’s finest coming home in caskets draped with the national flag. Russia is no different. The people do not want young Russian boys coming home in bags, and as a reaction to this, they typically pad their forces with people they can throw away and bear the brunt of any hurtful offensive. For exam-

ple, one will notice that many of the rosters of the Russian dead from 2008 never mention the thousands of Chechen, Circassian, and Cossack mercenary casualties. However, they do not have this luxury in Karabakh.

There are no padding forces in Karabakh, and the Russians will have to face any threat on their own, under the watchful eye of the Turkish and even the larger world’s microscope. This is not something Russia can handle, as any level of scrutiny of their operations reveals undoubtedly questionable issues. The peacekeeping force will be under the greatest of analysis, and most likely not be able to adhere to the stringent rules of such an operation that many forces from the West have been contented with for decades. It will only be a matter of time until reports of abuse, murder of civilians, and destruction of property are reported as the Russians expand their empire into the South Caucasus.

UNM Boycotts Second Round of Elections, BUSINESS Urges Supporters Not to Cast Votes

Supporting the Business Sector: Instant VAT Reclaims to Be Made Available for up to 150,000 Companies

BY TEAM GT

BY ANA DUMBADZE

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pposition United National Movement Party will not run in the second round of the 2020 parliamentary elections. The party calls on its supporters to boycott the elections and not to cast their votes in the runoffs.

Khatia Dekanoidze, one of the leaders of the party, stated that Bidzina Ivanishvili, chairman of the Georgian DreamDemocratic Georgia, had deprived citizens of the constitutional right to vote.

She added that the post-election protests will continue.

"The protests will continue, there will be large-scale rallies, human chain rallies. On November 21, we will have various rallies, including a human chain, which is being planned," she said.

The second round of elections will be held in 16 out of 30 majoritarian constituencies, including the eight constituencies of Tbilisi, on November 21.

In all of them, a candidate of the "Georgian Dream" will compete with an opposition candidate.

A number of opposition parties have said they do not recognize the election results and do not intend to participate in the second round, as they believe that the elections were rigged by the incumbent government.

D

uring Thursday’s governmental meeting, the Prime Minister, Giorgi Gakharia, discussed the latest VAT return reform, which is set to enable almost 150,000 companies to reclaim VAT automatically, virtually instantaneously.

He noted that this means that, annually, about a billion GEL will return to the business sector without any difficulties, instantaneously, a reform unparalleled in the country in decades.

The PM thanked the Finance Ministry for implementing this systemic reform.

"Alongside the fight against COVID19, we also have the vitally important task of dealing with the recession. In this regard, we, at the very beginning of the first wave, joined forces with the

Finance Ministry and started working on the automatic VAT return, a reform of profound significance, something that no previous government has been able to accomplish. This reform implies that almost 150,000 companies will be able to reclaim VAT automatically, virtually instantaneously, and that, every year, about a billion GEL will return to business without any difficulties, instantaneously, a reform unparalleled

in the country in decades, one designed to support the development of mediumsized business and to keep jobs. Especially valuable is this reform in light of the ongoing economic crisis, and it is of special importance for keeping potential alive for rapid economic recovery. I would like to thank the Finance Ministry for implementing this key systemic reform," Giorgi Gakharia said.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

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Beeline Users Can Learn a Foreign Language for Only 15 GEL Per Month

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tinue your studies, you can get a second voucher the same way.

• The code is valid until March 31, 2021; • The number of service activations is unlimited for Beeline subscribers - the same process can be done several times a day.

Busuu is a popular and widespread international platform for learning foreign languages, which is available through the web, iOS and Android applications, and provides a unique opportunity for users to learn a foreign language through a relationship with a person for whom that language is natural. Busuu is available in 12 languages widely spoken in the world, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Turkish. The platform currently has 100 million users.

Collaboration with Busuu is part of Beeline's digital direction strategy, which aims to give customers access to the world’s leading educational, entertainment and sports platforms.

eeline, a member of the international group "Veon", is giving its customers the opportunity to purchase a premium package of the international platform for learning foreign languages “Busuu,” at half price.

For Beeline subscribers only, Busuu's premium package costs 15 GEL, after which the customer has the opportunity to learn any of 12 languages using a complex method.

To access the premium package: • Go to the link: https://beeline.ge/ promo; Verify your mobile number, activate the service for 15 GEL, after which you will receive a voucher code with 10 characters via SMS. • Next, register on the Busuu website and find the "Redeem voucher" field in the account menu and enter the SMS code.

• The premium package will be activated for one month.

• If, after one month, you want to con-

Furniture House NITA: For Your Quality Furniture Needs

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lthough NITA has only been open since 2017, it has already become an exceptional place for those in the know. As a furniture house hurtling toward the future, NITA has perfected the art of merging classic luxury with the aesthetic values of minimalism.

Having an eye for detail and perfection, NITA’s owner, Miranda Khetsuriani, left her pharmaceutical profession to dedicate herself to improving lives through furniture. Her family has built NITA with a great sense of tradition, family and community. From the day of NITA’s inception, Khetsuriani has been steering the company to ever new heights with one principle in mind: to level up the furniture industry in Georgia through maintaining an unmatched standard of quality and consistency.

NITA offers a wide selection of brandname furniture through a network of trusted suppliers to satisfy every imaginable need; and all at a pricing that is hard to match. A full range of bedroom, living room and dining room furniture along with home accessories all are on display in NITA’s spacious showroom.

Whether you’re looking for something contemporary or traditional, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your taste!

That NITA conveys the best of European elegance is no exaggeration. The furniture house’s interior is modern and minimal, with bursts of luxury and color.

All displayed items are decked in earthy tones, which have a warm and sumptuous feel. Bold furniture designs pair effortlessly with modern forms, and are always infused with unique jewelry-like silhouettes that showcase Ms. Miranda’s attention to detail. One instantaneously feels the principles that NITA’s creator considers fundamental to good design, like honoring natural materials, working with simple, organic forms, and making the functional beautiful.

The designs, rooted in elegant, classical heritage, are reinterpreted masterfully to suit modern trends. NITA has all it takes to help you create a comfortable, serene and visually appealing private oasis.

If you want to feel all the charm of a calming space that’s easy on the eyes and high on style, to feel at home, to receive sterling service, and to revel in the elegance of decorative and artistic patterns, you need to visit NITA. NITA’s knowledgeable and experienced staff are always on hand to assist you in finding exactly what you need. They will do anything it takes to keep a customer happy, whether they have purchased or not!

NITA has been created with one idea in mind- to elevate the everyday in your life.

Facebook.com/furniturenita Inst: furniturenitahome Agmashenebeli alley 1km Phone 599 70 69 59

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

UN Resident Coordinator for Georgia on the UN’s 75th Anniversary COULD IT/SHOULD IT PERHAPS HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

INTERVIEW BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

Georgia managed the first wave of the pandemic extremely well. I would like in particular to express my deepest respect and admiration to the Georgian doctors and medical personnel for their professionalism and dedication over the last ten months. However, we all know the crisis is far from over, and looking ahead, for recovery, it will be critical to further improve disease prevention and control systems; tackle inequality in income, health care and social protection, and to create the jobs of the future.

As our UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “We simply cannot return to where we were before COVID-19 struck, with societies unnecessarily vulnerable to crisis. We need to build a better world.”

From the onset of the pandemic, the UN has been supporting the response and recovery efforts of the government.

We are providing medical supplies to vulnerable and high-risk groups, supporting social protection programs, assisting IDPs, and returning migrants, sustaining jobs and livelihoods and addressing the surge in violence against women and children. This work is amplified by $1 million allocated by the COVID19 Response and Recovery Fund, an inter-agency mechanism established by the UN Secretary-General to support countries in weathering the COVID-19 crisis. Georgia was among the first counties to receive support from this fund.

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his year, the United Nations (UN) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. In this regard, GEORGIA TODAY had the pleasure to speak to the Georgia Resident Coordinator of the UN, Dr. Sabine Machl.

Dr Machl joined the United Nations back in February 2012 as the UN Women Representative in Kyrgyzstan. After three years heading the office in Bishkek, she moved to Jerusalem to lead the UN Women Team in Palestine and after this to Indonesia to build up the UN Women office there. In 2017, she participated at the assessment center for future Resident Coordinators and applied in the autumn of 2018 for the RC post in Georgia. “I feel really privileged that I have been selected for this position, which I took up on 1 June last year,” she tells us.

WHAT DOES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY, AND TO THE ORGANIZATION? The purpose of the UN's coming into existence after the tragic experience of the Second World War was to prevent another global conflict, to protect human rights, and to ensure sustainable development. The aspirations of a just world, an equal society, and a dignified life are the central ideas. Even though the UN's efficiency is often questioned, one must admit that the Organization has lived up to its founders’ expectations in many ways.

There is no real alternative to this global organization. The UN has proven over the past 75 years that we can combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation – especially if we work together and focus on those that often fall between the cracks. The promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are also key areas, essential for every state in the world.

For me personally, the motivation to make a real difference in the lives of women and men has been the driving force for my decision to work in an international organization. I find it highly rewarding as I learn a lot every day.

We the peoples... These are the opening words of the founding document of our United Nations Charter. “We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the calamity of war… Reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and equal rights for men and women… And promote social progress and better standards of life.” This is a powerful message which was as significant 75 years ago as it is today.

TELL US WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GEORGIA-UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FRAMEWORK SIGNED ON OCTOBER 2.

Today, the United Nations in Georgia is represented by 14 resident and 5 nonresident agencies that work in areas where our expertise and resources are most required. Through its initiatives, projects and advocacy measures, the UN is active in many communities of Georgia. Our mission is to assist our national partners in making Georgia a more prosperous and resilient country, with strong democratic institutions and equal opportunities for all. This is in line with the overarching aim of the Sustainable Development Goals: “Leave No One Behind.”

A new strategic document, we call it the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, was signed on October 2 with the Government of Georgia.

It will be guiding the work of the United Nations over the next five years, work

that will focus on enhancing human wellbeing, capabilities and social equality. “Human well-being” encompasses health, education, social protection, voice, access to a clean and safe environment, and resilience. “Human Capabilities” represents investment in human capital, notably young women and men, through quality education, acquiring skills, sexual and reproductive health, healthy lifestyles, life skills, and social protection. “Social equality” implies a particular focus on people who are, or are at risk of being left behind, from development processes.

The cooperation framework’s main five streams are to help the country develop an inclusive economy and human capital. We support the creation of effective, transparent and accountable governance institutions at national and local levels.

Also, providing all citizens equal and inclusive access to quality services is a big priority in all our engagements. The enhancement of human security, especially for, but not limited to, the conflictaffected communities, is at the center of our attention, as well as the protection of the population from floods and other natural disasters. And the last but no less important stream of our work focuses on the protection of the environment and addressing the consequences of climate change.

Tackling various forms of inequalities is a unifying idea for programmatic interventions within the Cooperation Framework. Therefore, in order to mention just a few examples, empowering women and girls, protecting refugees, reducing extreme poverty, securing high quality and relevant education, taking climate action, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are among our activities. The Sustainable Development Goals, of course, remain our roadmap and we work towards all people benefitting from Georgia’s progress and development gains.

ONE RED THREAD RUNNING THROUGH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS THE NEED TO ENHANCE HUMAN WELLBEING, CAPABILITIES AND SOCIAL EQUALITY AND TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE. WHAT DO

YOU KNOW OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AND NEEDS IN GEORGIA IN PARTICULAR? The ongoing pandemic and its related socio-economic impact on all of us remain a primary focus area of our work. We are all concerned about our health, our jobs and livelihoods, the education of our children, and access to social services. Collective efforts must focus on making a palpable difference to the lives of people, on improving living conditions, and on how we emerge from this global pandemic. Reducing inequality and creating opportunity are at the center of the agencies, funds and programs working here in Georgia. Vulnerable people who do not have a sufficient social safety net need to be able to access assistance; here I’m thinking of minority groups, the elderly, and all who need extra support.

All of us here in Georgia should further focus on innovation and think about how development will look as we emerge from the current pandemic. How do we secure a well-educated and qualified work force and how can we pay more attention to regional and local development to make sure that everyone everywhere benefits from Georgia’s positive development trajectory? Central to these efforts is the need to further promote human rights and the rule of law, advance gender equality, address gender-based violence, and target specifically young women and men in all aspects of economic recovery and stimulus plans.

Business-as-usual will not lead Georgia to a sustainable development path and will not allow us to respond to the new and emerging challenges.

TELL US ABOUT THE UN75 CAMPAIGN AND ITS EXPECTED IMPACTS. After 75 years, we continue to strongly believe in protecting the world’s most vulnerable populations and advancing efforts towards a healthier and more sustainable planet. We aim high in our expectations, and that is why the UN SG launched the world’s largest ever conversation in January 2020, on the future we want and the UN we need by 2045.

Over one million people have already shared their hopes and fears for the future, as well as their expectations of international cooperation and of the UN

in particular. When asked where we should be in 25 years, most responses focused on more respect for human rights, more effective environmental protection, tackling inequalities more decisively, and giving better access to education to all. The survey also revealed that people have high expectations of us working in the UN: 6 in 10 respondents believe the UN has made the world a better place. Looking to the future, 74% see the UN as “essential” in tackling the challenges. Over 87% of respondents believe global cooperation is vital in dealing with today’s challenges, and that the pandemic has made international cooperation more urgent.

TELL US ABOUT THE UN75 SURVEY IMPLEMENTED IN GEORGIA. HOW WILL IT "HELP TO BUILD BACK BETTER" IN THE WAKE OF THE GLOBAL COVID-19 CRISIS? To commemorate the UN75 milestone, the UN in Georgia, in partnership with several non-governmental organizations, launched a national campaign to promote dialogue on the country’s future, and how the UN and our partners can support these aspirations. These events are part of the global UN75 campaign that invites everyone to join the conversation. In Georgia, over 3000 people have already participated in the UN75 dialogues, focus groups and survey. The immediate priority for the majority of respondents in Georgia is improved access to education, settling conflict, promoting and protecting human rights, and tackling poverty and unemployment. The answers show great anxiety about the pandemic and climate change, as well. The UN75 campaign will continue until January 2021, trying to reach wider audiences and gather as many Georgian voices as possible. This biggest-ever conversation is a great chance for the UN and all our partners in Georgia to design new targets based on people’s needs and priorities. We invite all readers to contribute their views by completing a one-minute survey at: https:// un75.online/, which is also available in Georgian.

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND WHAT

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE GEORGIAN ELECTIONS AND THE OPPOSITION'S REACTION TO THE RESULTS? Elections are very important in every democratic society. The fairly large voter turnout despite the COVID-19 pandemic showed how much importance people attach to the democratic process, which is very positive. As we have seen from the international observers’ preliminary conclusions, the elections were assessed as competitive, and freedoms were respected. However, there are also allegations of intimidation of voters and some irregularities which need to be addressed and looked into. I very much hope, and in the last few days there have been signs that all entities involved will manage to resort to dialogue to address outstanding concerns, use legal channels and exercise their political and civil rights. All differences or disputes should be resolved through constitutional means and in line with international norms and standards at this important moment.

WHERE DO YOU SEE GEORGIA GOING FORWARDS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARDS TO COVID-19 AND POSTGEORGIAN ELECTIONS? I am very positive about Georgia’s development trajectory and the successful outlook of the country. In many spheres, Georgia has been a leader in adapting reforms to strengthen its economy and its governing institutions. Nevertheless, a lot of things remain to be done. Georgia can capitalize on its progress and move towards its long-term priorities, which are captured in the Sustainable Development Goals. The next 10 years to achieve the SDGs are crucial. I think the key word here is partnerships, not only among the UN agencies and the national authorities, but also with all the players and stakeholders in Georgia’s development. The impact of our actions will be measured by critical interventions that can accelerate the country’s progress and help the achievement of national development priorities.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, we need to cooperate and find ways of doing things better. My hope is that for Georgia, as well as for every other country around the world, 2021 will be the year when we begin to turn the tide.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

9

Carrefour Launches Reusable Bags for Loose Fruit & Veg as Part of the Brand’s ongoing Sustainability Initiative Educating the young generation about the importance of environmental protection is an important issue. For this reason, Carrefour recently released the first Georgian coloring book about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment. Brand representatives are set to distribute these coloring books to schoolchildren once they are back in the classrooms. Public school students in an IDP settlement in the town of Khoni already received their coloring books during a planting campaign at the school.

Launched in April 2018, Honor the Nature was a campaign to educate Carrefour customers on the environmental harm of plastic bags and the advantages of using reusable bags.

Since the launch, sales of Carrefour reusable bags have increased by 120 per cent. As an added incentive, Carrefour rewarded all customers who chose to use a reusable bag. During the campaign more than one and a half million customers were offered

Notably, apart from environmental projects, during the pandemic, the brand’s partnerships with organisations such as the Red Cross, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, Tbilisi City Hall, and the Autism Research foundation, Emmaus Georgia, allowed for a further expansion of Carrefour’s scope of support. Through these partnerships, Carrefour has helped people with disabili t i e s , s i n g l e m o t h e rs , s o c i a l ly vulnerable families, orphans, war veterans, children with serious illnesses, and the elderly.

During the pandemic, Carrefour joined the Red Cross and Tbilisi City Hall campaign to support socially vulnerable elderly people. As part of the social campaign, customers were given the opportunity to play their part by buying products at Carrefour Georgia stores to be later distributed to those in need. Moreover, through a partnership with Mastercard, customers using the credit card within any branch of Carrefour Georgia enabled a donation to be made toward helping live-alone

rewards. The launch of these campaigns in Carrefour stores have since marked a 80 per cent reduction in the use of single-use bags.

Furthermore, through a volunteering enterprise, the Carrefour colleagues conducted clean-up activities in Batumi, with support from City Hall. Countrywide, Carrefour has conducted cleanup activities in more than 10 different areas of Georgia as well. Most importantly, the local population was also involved in the clean-up efforts, meaning that the brand’s eco-friendly initiatives encouraged and inspired them to care about the environment jointly and more actively.

Carrefour Georgia then launched the second wave of its environmental campaign in March 2019. A video depicting how plastic is damaging the environment was produced and shown in all the stores, as well as being shown to customers during roundtables to raise even more awareness. During Earth Hour (March 30) and Earth Day (April 22), Carrefour colleagues dressed as tree mascots and distributed reusable bags to customers in the stores, while giving information about the environmental campaign.

elderly people.

An important memorandum was also signed with the international charity organisation Emmaus, which helped provide unwanted clothes to socially vulnerable families.

Most recently, Carrefour became the first brand to respond to charitable organisation ‘Life is Beautiful’ and commit to supporting the ‘We Are Here for You’ campaign.

Joining forces to support disadvantaged and at-risk members of the local community, representatives from the Life is Beautiful Foundation and Carrefour visited five multiple-child families and gifted them food products, hygiene items and home appliances.

Each of the families visited had no less than six children each, and attest to the scale and severity of the challenges many families across Georgia face, especially in the wake of COVID-19.

As a name that is active in the community, and constantly underlining its commitment to the people and communities it serves, Carrefour does not intend to stop, and is expected to continue its environmental and social activities in the future, bringing more benefits and opportunities to society.

THE HONOR NATURE CAMPAIGN

Continued from page 1 Its various sustainable projects have been successful in raising understanding around environmental protection and have also supported the socially vulnerable.

Focusing on sustainability, Carrefour has been at the forefront of championing reduced plastic-use through educational campaigns, community volunteering activities, and incentive programmes.

Most recently, Carrefour took another important step forward in its sustain-

ability pledge. Starting 16 November, until the end of the month, the brand is launching a new campaign which will see it introduce reusable bags for fruit and vegetables. Customers will be able to use recyclable bags while shopping for loose fruit and veg, and will have the chance to get a F&V bag for free when they purchase a scrolling bag. This initiative adds to the various kinds of reusable bags already available at Carrefour’s chains.

“Honor the Nature. Purchase a bag and get infinite benefits,” is the main motto of the campaign.

SUPPORTING THOSE IN NEED

The campaign aims to minimise plastic usage throughout Carrefour stores by increasing sales of Foldable Wheeled Bags and F&V eco-friendly bags, while continuing to raise awareness on how detrimental plastic bags are to the environment. It is another notable move by the brand who have already replaced single use plastic bags in its chains to compostable ones.

Notably, Carrefour Georgia was the first to introduce locally produced reusable bag - MADE IN GEORGIA. Later, it also launched reusable bags with wheels.

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

‘Gepherrini’: Where Style Meets Practicality duced accessories available at the time.

While gradually expanding its global presence, Gepherrini has always kept one thing in mind: to make sustainable, fashion-forward pieces effortless and accessible.

Gepherrini has since become one of the fastest-growing leather accessories brands in Eastern Europe, with its bags, shoes, wallets, and adornments of various styles being presented in eleven countries, at 42 points of sale. ‘Gepherrini’ provides high quality customizable leather accessories at fair prices; each piece is handcrafted using original, nuanced materials resulting in a one-ofa-kind product that is as unique as its wearer.

When there are a million gorgeous handbags to choose from, why go with Gepherrini? The answer is simple: the brand appeals to the dynamic, busy, urban individual who values quality and selfexpression.

We sat down with the brand’s leading designer Nuca Osiashvili to talk more about the underlying aesthetic that drives Gepherrini’s designs.

G

eorgian leather bag manufacturer ‘Gepherrini’ was initially established on August 7, 2014, to fill the gap in the local market, as one could scarcely find Georgian-pro-

WHERE DOES YOUR LOVE FOR FASHION COME FROM? From early childhood, I felt committed to expressing my personal experiences, values, and inspirations through the mediums of fashion and style. I found great solace in painting, and designing clothes for my dolls. Today, I try to incor-

porate each of these skills to produce quality work.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES OF DESIGN INSPIRATION? My aim when designing is to convey strength and celebrate natural beauty. I put great emphasis on colors, as every color delivers a message and is connected with nature. The various vibrant colors in my designs are achieved using natural tanning techniques and with one thing in mind: to lift the customers’ state of mind.

COULD YOU SUM UP GEPHERRINI’S AESTHETIC? Gepherrini exists for the love of fashion.

We believe in empowering individuality.

The essence of the brand’s aesthetic is a complex combination of design elements, critical attention to craftsmanship, authenticity and ethical values; while also having a strong sense of identity and quality. Each handmade piece tells a unique story. With the desire to encourage the freedom of self-expression, we allow ourselves an open field for creativity from spaces far beyond the world of fashion.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM WORKING AT GEPHERRINI? The brand has inspired and informed me in many different ways. With Gepherrini, I am in constant search for novelty and authenticity as the cornerstone

for creating a quality handbag. The brand has taught me how to strike a perfect balance between style, functionality, and elegance. Our signature is making each item one of a kind, and uniquely tailored to whomever chooses to wear it.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?

really believe and are consistent and humble, you’ll get there. Also it is never a good idea to compromise one’s individuality, to fall victim to the cultural stereotypes that always seek to normalize certain trends over others. The fashion industry is all about the individual voice; it is all about the unrestrained fantasy.

If I had to give some advice, it would be to believe in your own dream. If you

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CULTURE

Gaudi, Klimt, “Gorgasali” - Interview with Salome Chelidze

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

T

he possibilities are endless if you’re looking for them, and those constantly looking for then are, perhaps, artists. Salome Chelidze, for one, saw the opportunity in merging art and a restaurant business, and in doing what she loved, she has achieved tremendous success. She manages a well-established restaurant called Gorgasali, and painting: what started out as a hobby and self-expression is getting her more and more recognition daily. Salome’s works are exhibited in Europe and the UK, and are hanging on the walls of the restaurant that she calls home. In an interview with GEORGIA TODAY, Salome speaks of the surprising path of being an artist, her beloved father and French descent, inspiring Barcelona, the true Georgian nature of restaurant Gorgasali, her favorite words of US President George Bush, and more.

“I’ve been painting since I was a child,” she tells us. “I’m from a French-Georgian family. My father is an artist, my grandmother an architect, and my mother an acknowledged and well-known ophthal-

mologist and academic. Ever since I was little, I’ve drawn as much as I possibly could; I especially loved the Impressionists as a child, then I was fascinated by the surrealism of Salvador Dali.

“I was little when I asked my grandmother to cut out two white sheets, and I drew big colored parrots on them. It was a difficult time in Georgia then, and so I kind of invented a separate world for me with those self-made big canvases.

“I wanted to enrol in the art academy, but my father advised me to choose a completely different profession because he thought that painting would not be appreciated in our country.

“I was constantly painting here or in Europe, I often went to museums to discover the history of this or that artist and their work, and I gave my works to friends as a gift.

“And then, one day, I uploaded a picture of my oil-painting of a boat on social media got a great response, and so plunged into this big ocean of World Art.” As I look at her paintings, I don’t see those parrots but I feel their aura: Salome, in her artistic expression, has stayed ever colorful. Her beautiful works, while unique, still remind me of something that I can’t quite put my finger on, so I

ask her if there is an artist whose work resembles her own.

“It’s very strange, but if you look at my page, Austrians and Americans write that I am ‘reviving Gustav Klimt’ with my style. That is a great honor for me, of course, but I myself can't see the similarities that much,” she says. As we dive more into the subject, I find out who her standing inspiration is: “Antoni Gaudi, Antoni Gaudi, and once again Antonio Gaudi! A man so great, the love for him and his work had me settle in Barcelona for 10 years,” Salome shares with excitement, adding on later that, “in my works, I love blending many colors together. Every painting I draw is just a bouquet of positive emotions.”

Salome seems to have solved Picasso’s problem: she remained an artist even after she grew up. She sees that art has no end and “it evolves with people and is as important as air to humanity.” With artistic genes in her blood, Salome thinks the urge to paint, and the beauty of it, comes from the inside. “Any person is an artist who paints.

I regret not studying at the academy, but the fact that I am self-taught is probably what makes my paintings stand out from other styles of professional artists, and I think this also contributes to the high interest in my work.”

Our interview over the phone turns more into a pleasant dialogue as Salome tells me about the turning point that had her consider painting as her secondary career.

“As I returned to Georgia from Europe, as inspired as ever by the city of Barcelona, I painted some oil paintings that I

then just uploaded them onto my social network. Following the great response to it, a Spanish friend suggested I join an American artists' club to show off my paintings. I took up the offer and shortly after uploading the pictures, I received offers and letters from Americans, and joined various art groups. It only went uphill from there. A while ago, a gallery in England exhibited three of my paintings. I also have a standing offer from Italy, Covid-19, of course, delayed the event, but exhibitions are planned in future. I’m also in talks with famous galleries and curators in New York. I’m also currently organizing a sales-exhibition in Georgia in two weeks, and I will definitely inform you about the location.”

As excited as she is with her recognition in the artistic world, when I ask Salome about the accomplishments she is most proud of, she immediately goes to Sweet Home “Gorgasali”.

“I’ve had many successes in life, and relationships with very interesting people. I suppose something I’m most proud of was the dinner of the Presidents of Georgia and the United States at my restaurant Gorgasali,” Salome replies.

Located on Abano Street in downtown Tbilisi, restaurant Gorgasali, in its 25 years of functioning, has received many honorary guests, including the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. The restaurant would not have been a prioritized destination of official and celebratory meetings had it not been a place of many smart couplings. It shows the history of Georgia as the place of

merging European-Asian-Maiden cultures, and Salome and her family has worked hard over the years to make it a place where art meets cuisine, so now, when you enter Gorgasali, you don’t only enter a restaurant, but you also visit a museum.

“Restaurant Gorgasali was founded 25 years ago when we bought the land. My father created the project himself, building a unique building, restoring the history of Georgia as the cultural center where our European-Asian-Maidan traditions meet.

“Restaurant Gorgasali is a journey into the history of Georgia, with GeorgianAsian halls, we bought a lot of items at auctions and returned them to Georgia.

This is a restaurant-museum, a business card of Tbilisi.

“The restaurant has been renovated over the years, Georgian and Asian corners are arranged in different halls, and we greatly value the tea culture. All diplomats and honored guests who come here are interested in seeing our real Georgian treasures. The walls are covered with works by Georgian artists, my father Temur Chelidze was the author and creator of this idea. My brother and I have been constantly updating the restaurant for years: it has literally become our home.

The restaurant was always visited by diplomats and presidents at different times, official visits were held here, and we were used to it, but in 2005, the President of Georgia invited US President George W. Bush to a dinner in Gorgasali.

We hosted happily and a bit anxiously, and it was a huge success. That corner is still retained with American flags, as it was a great, historic day for our country and Gorgasali.

“I am the little lady of this big house and, for me, President Bush's words: ‘Good food, really good food’ in the footage taken as he leaves our restaurant, is the reward and success we have achieved with the great work we have put into the Restaurant Museum in Gorgasali.

“We owe this success to the amazing synthesis of delicious cuisine, magical interior, and the historic downtown of Tbilisi,” says Salome.

When I want to imagine Salome’s “bouquet of colourful emotions” I see three flowers there: one of Gaudi, one of Klimt, and one of “Gorgasali.”

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020

11

Remembering Pridon: Ushguli, Svaneti BLOG BY TONY HANMER

M

y first encounter with Ushguli’s great Pridon Nizharadze was by video in the early 2000s, a production of Marseilles TV showcasing Europe’s highest village. In it, he displays his art and offers his watchtower for sale: price $1 million.

No takers, unfortunately. For the art, however, plenty of interest. Now that he has passed away at age 76, there will be plenty of retrospective on his life and utterly unique paintings.

I also saw Pridon a few times when I lived in Ushguli and taught English during the winters of 2007-9; though for part of that time he was based in Tbilisi. One of his roles in the village was, for a while, overseer of the main museum, housed in a short fat tower in Chazhashi hamlet.

This institution is filled with a sampling of the many treasures either produced in Svaneti or sent and stored there for safekeeping over the centuries, far away from the frequent marauders ravaging the country from all sides. Mestia has more, but the collection in Ushguli is definitely not to be overlooked either.

I finally saw him in summer of this year, while on a walk encircling all of Svaneti (Upper and Lower both) starting and ending in Etseri, where I live. For a while he had been in decline, and his brother with whom he lived was acting as his guardian and go-between for the occasional curious visitor who might unwittingly disturb things simply by appearing.

We, too, were potentially in this category;

although I also counted him as a friend and fellow artist.

Pridon told me then that he had a feeling he was to die that very night. I expressed my doubt that this would happen, and we prayed together for God’s peace to be on him, instead of such nightmares. He signed a postcard each for me and two of my friends who were there with me.

On the 16th of November, the day before the funeral, I drove my 4x4 to Ushguli to offer my deep condolences to the family and local friends of Pridon. There had been a bad rock-fall near the village, and I had to wait with a few other vehicles as a large Caterpillar and bulldozer cleared the rotten, still falling slate towards the Enguri River and flattening out a makeshift path for us to dare to drive across.

They are currently widening the whole road, which has already been cemented all the way between Mestia and K’ala, the last village before Ushguli. This few km which remains is narrow, steep, and treacherous, often beset with avalanches in winter and spring, and rock-falls possibly in any season. The snow had not yet come (that would be today, as I write this), but there was frost on the ground and a noticeable chill in the air. I was glad to have missed the bad weather and the other possible adventures of this road, but people do drive on it every day in both directions, so it is doable!

Pridon’s work over decades has featured both realism, in his landscapes and views of Ushguli, and surrealism of a style no one else can claim. He had much to express about communism, fascism, and the prevailing problems of his decades in the

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USSR, as well as cosmic visions and symbolic juxtapositions. He was also diagnosed with schizophrenia for many years, possibly as a punishment for his anticommunist stance. Whether he had it or not, his thought processes certainly were challenging to follow. In many of his works, disparate objects are combined to make new forms far from the meaning of the components, and one must puzzle out the meanings of both parts and whole, especially when these are multiple or set thematically against one another. It is a rewarding process when you think you have succeeded in decoding a piece; although, can you be sure?

I expect that now, with his passing, Pridon Nizharadze’s reputation will only grow as that of a national treasure of Ushguli, Svaneti, and all Georgia. I long to see another proper exhibition of much of his work gathered in one place, in either Mestia or Tbilisi, and the printing of a large book detailing his life and paintings. He deserves this. His work must be properly preserved as well, either if his house is set up as a permanent museum to him, or elsewhere. He might be gone, but through his art he will always have a message for us all, concerning both the past and the future.

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

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

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