Issue #1307

Issue no: 1307

• JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

FOCUS

ON GULF GEORGIA

We find out how Gulf is much more than just a big business

PAGE 7

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Batumi First City in Region to Have All-Electric Buses NEWS PAGE 2

The US ‘Deeply Disturbed & Exasperated’ by GD Decision to Quit April 19 Agreement NEWS PAGE 3

The Georgian Orthodox Church is Undermining Georgia’s Secular Democracy POLITICS PAGE 4

USAID and BP Join Forces to Advance Development in Georgia’s Rural Communities BUSINESS PAGE 8

Georgian Dream Annuls EU Council “April 19” Agreement

BY TEAM GT

M

ember of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch responded to the Georgian Dream’s July 28 statement on the agreement mediated by European Council President Charles Michel being annulled, saying that the ruling team's decision to walk away from the agreement is an abdication of government responsibility.

“Georgian Dream’s decision to walk away from the April 19 agreement is an abdication of government responsibility and seems to indicate that the party only cares about its own future, not that of the entire country. The people of Georgia deserve better,” Risch tweeted.

“True,” MEP Viola von Cramon tweeted in response. “Unfortunately, the same is true for the biggest opposition party UNM, who hadn't even started to sign the joint April 19 agreement.

Continued on page 3

The Body Shop – Georgia Publishes Book to Empower Women, but all 7 Authors are Men SOCIETY PAGE 8

UNESCO to Protect Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands SOCIETY PAGE 10

Georgians in the Tokyo Olympics SPORTS PAGE 11 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

Markets As of 26ͲJulͲ2021

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110.23 (YTM 6.75%)

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TBC 06/24

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106.85 (YTM 5.81%)

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

JICA Georgia Office Pleased to Announce Opening for the Position of National Staff

D

escription of the job: ** Analyze and Survey of the Country’s current Economy and Politics; ** To collect information on the development as well as policies and projects of other donors and analyze the issues with regard to assigned programs; ** To coordinate submission of requests from the counterpart Government; ** To supervise the implementation process of assigned programs; to prepare implementation and budget plan, make logistic arrangement and make necessary coordination and negotiation with related organizations in Caucasus countries and Japan, to make necessary translation and interpretation when communicating with counterparts, and to monitor the progress of assigned programs; ** To coordinate Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer’s (JOCV) activity in Georgia; ** Other tasks given by Resident Representative;

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS: ** University degree; ** Native in Georgian, highly proficient in spoken and written English, Japanese, and desirable to understand Russian language. (Regarding English and Japanese proficiency, certificates are necessary); ** Computer literacy (word, excel, power point etc); ** At least five years of work experience in a similar field;

** Analytical, open-minded, honest character; ** Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ** Well-organized; strong sense of responsibility; hard working; ** Willingness to go to the field trips.

PREFERABLE BUT NOT MANDATORY SKILLS: ** Familiarity with terms related to finance

TERM: From September 1, 2021 till August 31, 2022, with possible extension (Probation period is 3 months. The employer will be able to terminate the contract depending on the performance during the probation period).

SALARY: US$1300~1500/month (actual amount will be adjusted based on the past work experience and will be paid in GEL)

WORKING HOURS: Monday – Friday, 9:30 – 18:00 (with lunch break from 13:00 – 14:00)

Source of photo: EBRD

Batumi First City in Region to Have All-Electric Buses

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

NEXT STEP: Only shortlisted persons will be notified by email and invited to an interview.

Interested candidates should send a CV (in English) with two contacts from previous workplaces/schools, and copies of certificates to: gg_oso_rep@jica. go.jp and jicageorgia@gmail.com; no later than August 15, 2021.

B

atumi is the first city in the region where all the buses are now electric, thanks to the efforts of and support from the EU, said Archil Chikovani, acting mayor of Batumi.

10 modern electric buses were pur-

chased for Batumi as part of the EU, EBRD, and E5P fund efforts to promote sustainable green development.

Chikovani noted they are trying to actively implement a green policy, including a green transport policy in the city.

“It is great to be on those famous electrical buses here in Batumi. It really represents what we as the European Union are trying to do here, which is to promote environmental consciousness

combined with energy efficiency.

Together, with partners, there’s a wide strategy and action plan to make Batumi even greener,” said EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell.

The project facilitates provision of clean and reliable transport in Batumi.

The buses are so-called low-floor buses, which means people who are impaired in terms of mobility can easily get into them.

Corona Updates: New Cases over 3000 Most Days, NCDC and Gov’t Pushing for Citizens to Vaccinate “Employers must give their employees time to get vaccinated, and time to rest afterwards,” he said. “At the Centers for Disease Control, for example, I give a day off to people who are getting vaccinated. Currently, 61% of people working at the NCDC are vaccinated and we want to reach 80-85% by the end of August,” Gamkrelidze stated.

He noted, however, that this is only a recommendation and that the NCDC had also presented other recommendations. He called on employers to encourage their employees to get the vaccine and added that certain allowances should be offered to those who are fully vaccinated.

BY TEAM GT

T

he number of infected people has been high over the past week, as it has as over the last two weeks.

Unfortunately, the death rate has also increased. The epidemic situation in Georgia has thus deteriorated even further, - stated Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the National Center for Disease Control, after a meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council on Tuesday.

“Today, we have 3666 new cases. In total, there are 25,844 active cases in the country. 17 people have died in the last 24 hours. The mortality rate is 1.4%. All the parameters, the incidence, the positive rate, unfortunately, have deteriorated.

The positivity rate fluctuates within 6%.

We now have more infections than we did in May, at the peak of the third wave, and we are up 50-60% from what we were at the peak of the second wave in late November to early December. There is one difference: vaccines are available in the country today,” Gamkrelidze said.

He went on to stress the need for intensive vaccination and the wearing of face masks, as well as the importance of the complete prohibition of large gatherings.

THE ARRIVAL OF PFIZER

Image source: REUTERS

recorded the highest number of cases, followed by the Adjara and Imereti regions.

The total number of confirmed cases on Thursday reached 413,626, among them, 379,685 had people recovered and 5768 had died.

The daily test-positivity rate on Thursday stood at 6.71%.

THE STATISTICS

VACCINATION

On Thursday, Georgia reported 2796 coronavirus cases, 2088 recoveries, and 17 deaths.

This was down from the 3141 coronavirus cases, 1509 recoveries, and 20 deaths on Wednesday, where 40,553 tests were conducted in 24 hours throughout the country.

Testing throughout the week revealed that Georgian capital Tbilisi consistently

To date, 29,450.026 people in Georgia have received the coronavirus vaccine.

On July 23, OC Media reported that “All foreigners staying in Georgia, all those residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, irrespective of their citizenship, and all prison inmates are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

“According to the order of Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze on

22 July, all foreign citizens who have legally entered Georgia and have stayed for a period longer than three months are entitled to register to receive vaccination against COVID-19,” OC Media wrote.

“Foreign students that have overstayed their visa in Georgia due to the pandemic will be eligible through their host educational institutions in Georgia.

“Those to be allowed to get vaccinated also include the staff and relatives of the foreign diplomatic corps in Georgia, employees of international organizations, as well as any foreigners in Georgia’s penitentiary system, including those without identification documents.”

On July 23, Amiran Gamkrelidze said at a briefing that employers should ensure that a newly vaccinated person stays at home for one or two days.

Vaccination with the much in-demand Pfizer jab kicked off again on July 26.

On July 24, 500,000 doses of Pfizer arrived in Tbilisi as a gift from the US Government to the people of Georgia, and vaccination with Pfizer is now available in 37 medical institutions across the country.

People from 16 years of age can receive a Pfizer vaccination, which consists of two injections at least 21 days apart.

Paata Imnadze, deputy head of the NCDC, this week noted that pregnant women can be vaccinated with Pfizer, but not with Sinovac or Sinopharm yet, as neither Sinovac nor Sinopharm had completed clinical trials on pregnant women.

“Pfizer has written in its instructions that after consulting a doctor, pregnant women can be vaccinated. Sinovac and Sinopharm do not have such instructions,” he said.

Imnadze highlighted that those who do not get vaccinated, or do not keep to the mask-and-distancing rules, face a high risk of infection with Covid-19. He

also added that he considers people who distinguish the vaccines from each other as anti-vaxxers.

In a similar push to get citizens vaccinated, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili once again spoke out.

“Our country can no longer endure a new lockdown! Neither a lockdown nor restrictions can be justified. Please get vaccinated,” he implored.

The PM noted that a million Pfizer vaccines had been ordered directly from the manufacturer, and the supply of this million doses has already begun.

“In total, the country will have three million vaccines. The country already has two million, 1 million will arrive in around a month and a half, gradually, every weekend,” he said.

“I would like to appeal to the population once again and explain the importance of vaccination. Too many questions are being asked as to why vaccination is necessary. The answer is that after vaccination, if you catch Covid-19, there is a much higher chance you will not die from it. The loss of life is a painful fact for us. Therefore, I would like to call on everyone once again to get vaccinated, to protect their own lives, their own health, and at the same time, the health of our parents, children, and relatives.

There is a lot of misinformation about vaccines out there. I want to ask the population to rely on and believe in scientists and science, and not the lies spread through social media,” Garibashvili said.

The Prime Minister also noted that he wants vaccines taken to the villages so that the population can be vaccinated on the spot. He noted the Ministry of Health is actively working on this issue.

A vaccination visit can be booked on the electronic portal booking.moh.gov. ge and the hotline 1522.

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

3

Georgian Dream Annuls EU Council “April 19” Agreement Continued from page 1 They made it easy for Georgian Dream to annul their signature. Even more true: The people of Georgia will suffer the most from these decisions.”

“Today, 100 days after the April 19 agreement, it is clear that it has fulfilled its mission,” stated Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, on the afternoon of July 28, going on to note that the agreement was being annulled.

“Although more than half of the opposition MPs did not sign the agreement, we see that our international partners do not consider it necessary to strongly urge the radical opposition to sign the document and participate in its implementation,” Kobakhidze said.

“The country has already moved to new, local self-government elections, and holding such elections when the main opposition party has not signed the document is detrimental to the interests of the country. In this situation, the Georgian Dream side declaring exhaustion of the agreement seems to be the only path to follow,” he added.

He also touched upon the issue of early parliamentary elections, noting that Georgian Dream, by its own good will, would be ready to call early elections not only with 43% of the vote, but with even 53%.

Former US Ambassador to Georgia William Courtney said of the Georgian Dream decision to annul the April 19 Michel agreement: “On 19 July, Georgia in Batumi pledged ‘unwavering commitment to advance further the process of our integration into the EU’,” he tweeted.

“Does quitting an EU-brokered political compromise undermine this pledge? Is Georgia retreating from EU ambitions?”

MEP Viola von Cramon, who was in Kyiv, flew to Georgia the same evening Kobakhidze made the announcement, to hold talks with the Georgian politicians.

Before flying, she tweeted the following: “To be fair, the biggest opposition party, UNM, did not even make an effort to sign this joint agreement with the EU. Both sides are playing a terrible political game on the backs of their citizens. All this does NOT help at all,” she wrote.

The MEP also shared a Euractiv interview with Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zakaliani, entitled ‘Georgian Foreign Minister: We need a post-2020

Eastern Partnership agenda perspective,’ saying that after the latest developments in Georgia, the above interview looks “especially ridiculous.”

A leader of Giorgi Gakharia's 'For Georgia' party, Beka Liluashvili, addressed both Georgian Dream and the United National Movement the morning following the announcement of the annulling: “You act with common interests today and this is clear to everyone! Stop your political fraud and stop playing with the fate of the state and our citizens!”

Gakharia's teammate added that the government had ultimately announced that the interests of the state and the future of the country are determined not by democratic processes and the will of citizens, but by the will of the ruling party.

“Today, the ruling party informed us that the most important thing for them is the freedom of Melia and Rurua. A person accused of assaulting state institutions is a mayoral candidate, thus creating an image of an enemy for the elections, while the government does not see any other need for fulfilling the April 19 agreement.

“The UNM in turn confirmed that they had not signed the April 19 agreement because it was within the interest of the ruling party, a fact they needed as a basis to annul the agreement!" Liluashvili said.

“This political fraud took place due to the dramatic results of their internal party surveys, as they are faced with the reality that 'For Georgia’s' approval rating is growing. The fear caused by this reality led both sides to put their narrow party interests above state interests.

He went on to note that the ‘For Georgia’ party is continuing its country-wide campaign trail and that support is growing.

“Support is strong and growing, and it is with these citizens that we will reach an impressive result in the local elections, and then we will change the government,” he said.

Former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili named the annulment “a step towards extreme polarization and a significant setback on the path of development of Georgian democracy.”

However, he added, the biggest opposition force, the United National Movement, is also to blame.

“The decision of the Georgian Dream to withdraw from the April 19 agreement is a step towards extreme polarization

and a significant setback on the path of development of Georgian democracy,” Kvirikashvili said. “The responsibility for this development lies primarily with the leadership of the Georgian Dream; however, the National Movement, who by refusing to sign the agreement allowed the ruling party to relinquish its commitments, is also responsible for the reality in which the country finds itself.

“Regardless of the plans and actions of this or that political party, it is the responsibility of the ruling party to create a positive agenda, fulfill its international obligations despite the actions of the radical opposition, and find a solution to the country’s development issues on both the internal and external stages,” he noted.

“Consultations with a number of political actors are starting in Georgia,” European Council President Charles Michel said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

He says he met with President Salome Zurabishvili on Wednesday evening to discuss the current situation and EUGeorgia relations.

“I have taken note of the decision by the Georgian Dream as regards the 19 April Agreement,” Michel said. “This agreement continues to offer a European way towards building a stronger democracy and rule of law in Georgia in the interest of the Georgian people. I have equally taken note of United National Movement’s continued refusal to sign the agreement.

“I remain convinced that this agreement is the best way to advance a reform

agenda which would strengthen the democratic institutions of Georgia and help bring about prosperity, jobs and growth - all much needed to benefit the people of Georgia.

“I see no alternative to continued indepth electoral and judicial reforms, and free and fair local elections.

“I call on all parties to put the interests of the citizens first, and to commit to advancing Georgia’s political discourse within the framework of the country’s democratic institutions.”

On Thursday afternoon, Nika Melia, who was in the spotlight of the conflict that kicked off the need for the April 19 agreement, stepped down from his parliamentary mandate. “I, Nika Melia, am leaving the Parliament and my parliamentary mandate,” the UNM Chairman said.

He then appealed to other UNM representatives to stay in the legislature in order to complete the “procedures for the transition to a proportional electoral system. If this is done, the international community will see even more clearly what they are dealing with, and only then, after winning the referendum, will this parliament be dissolved and there will be the new legitimate parliament elected by the Georgian people,” Melia said.

THE APRIL 19 MICHEL AGREEMENT President of the European Council Charles Michel released a proposal for Georgia mid-April, aiming to put an end to the political stalemate which had seen

the opposition protesting the results of the 2020 parliamentary elections and abstaining from entering Parliament.

The proposal suggested electoral and justice reforms and the offering of a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the June 2019 protests.

Based on the mediators’ document, the persons assessed as political prisoners were to be released within a week of the signing of the agreement between the government and the opposition. In addition, based on Michel’s proposal, early elections should be called in 2022 if the Georgian Dream party gets less than 43% of votes in the local elections.

Opposition parties that signed the EUmediated agreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party entered Parliament on April 27 to submit an amnesty bill, which President Salome Zurabishvili then signed.

Only the United National Movement and European Georgia parties refused to sign the EU Council’s updated compromise document.

Soon after, three MEPs, Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser, and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, released a joint statement on the “resolution” of the political crisis in Georgia, calling on the remaining political parties and Members of Parliament to sign the agreement.

“We do believe that this proposal is politically balanced and places the needs and legitimate expectations of all Georgian citizens at the center of the debate.

It offers a way out of the current political impasse and can help to reduce the political polarization that has poisoned Georgia's political life for too long. The proposal gives fresh impetus to the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, thus matching Georgia’s European aspirations,” the MEPs wrote.

“We solemnly call on the remaining opposition parties and individual Members of Parliament to show the same courage for the greater good of Georgia.

For this political crisis to be totally and definitively behind us, we hope that the Parliament of Georgia becomes fully functioning in the nearest future, and ensures that the agreement is thoroughly implemented in word and spirit. The European Parliament remains ready to continue its close cooperation with the Parliament of Georgia by providing assistance, among others, via parliamentary electoral dialogues and mediation between the different political factions.”

The US ‘Deeply Disturbed & Exasperated’ by GD Decision to Quit April 19 Agreement

BY TEAM GT

T

he United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by the unilateral decision of the Georgian Dream party to withdraw from the April 19th Agreement, the US Embassy in Tbilisi said in a statement.

All of the signatories should be held accountable to their commitments in the Agreement, the statement emphasized.

“The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by the unilateral decision of the Georgian Dream party to withdraw from the April 19th Agreement, a document established through six months of difficult but collaborative negotiations, and one that gives an urgently-needed way forward for the Georgian people and their democracy.

115 MPs from at least six of nine elected parties signed the Agreement and pledged to work together in good faith to reduce the deep polarization that is impeding Georgia’s democratic progress. Washington is growing increasingly alarmed about repeated setbacks to Georgia’s democratic future.

“All of the signatories should be held accountable to their commitments in the Agreement. While we continue to press for all parties to sign and fully implement the agreement, Georgian Dream’s unilateral withdrawal is another deviation from the letter and spirit of the negotiations Georgian Dream participated in and the agreement they signed. This decision by the ruling party only creates more political instability for the country and raises questions about Georgian Dream’s commitment to achieving Georgia’s democratic goals, goals that Georgian Dream itself set for the country.

“Georgia’s interests will be best served if the concrete judicial, constitutional, and electoral reform elements reached in the Agreement are implemented by multiparty consensus, rather than by unilateral action of one party. Timely

progress in implementing these reforms is the most responsible way to end Georgia’s cycle of political crises, and remains critical to meeting Georgia’s goals for its Euro-Atlantic future. Actions that create instability and divisiveness only

benefit those trying to undermine Georgia’s success as a stable, prosperous democracy.

“The Agreement lays out a useful roadmap for important reforms that are needed to strengthen Georgia’s democratic institutions, reduce politicization of the judiciary, improve Georgia’s electoral system and power-sharing in the Parliament, and continue efforts to strengthen the rule of law. These reforms are still urgently needed, and should be adopted through an inclusive, multiparty process.

“We call on all parties, including Georgian Dream, to work together to fulfill in good faith the commitments they agreed to and that are vital to Georgia’s timely integration into the European family of nations,” reads the statement.

Yesterday, July 28, the Georgian Dream officially left the April 19 Agreement mediated by the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

The Georgian Orthodox Church is Undermining Georgia’s Secular Democracy OP-ED BY WILL CATHCART, FOR THE DAILY BEAST

W

hile dozens of journalists were getting brutally attacked by a lynch mob of religious anti-LGBTQ extremists on July 5, the Georgian Orthodox Church was churning out Kremlinesque nationalist propaganda to galvanize an already violent mob.

“Forget about no violence. You are obligated to be violent. For your homeland. For your country. For holiness,” a priest from the church roared at a crowd gathered in front of the parliament building in Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi, where a protest against Pride celebrations was taking place. This was nothing short of a battle cry.

The Georgian republic was founded on “Western” aspirations, and year after year, support for Georgia’s EU and NATO aspirations polls around 75%. But at the same time, trust in the Georgian Orthodox Church polls just as well, despite fanatical bishops vying for the throne of the 88-year-old patriarch miring the Church in scandals and intrigue, including allegations of sexual abuse and a murder plot involving cyanide.

This is where Moscow sees an opportunity. Though Russia continues to consume Georgian territory, the 2008 war was a relative failure. So, the Kremlin has pivoted to information warfare, and the Georgian Orthodox Church and its followers are a prime target.

Russian disinformation campaigns have long been carried out through proxy Georgian language outlets and public figures masquerading as the sole guardians of Georgian traditional values, spirituality, and patriotism. Their goal? To create panic that the US and EU are waging a war against Orthodox Christianity, and that only Putin can guarantee

Georgia's territorial integrity and national identity.

The messaging of these campaigns is often as revealing as it is bizarre. Take the claims that people who live under dictatorial regimes like that of Syria are happier, that NATO-member Turkey is the real threat to Georgian territory, that life was better during the Soviet Union, that Russia has a new superweapon which gives it military superiority, and that “experimental vaccines are tested on Georgians,” in the US-run Luger Lab, a fixation of Russian media as well.

It’s no wonder that Georgians are confused and angry. Facts, such as Russia’s creeping annexation of Georgian territory, have been dismissed as arbitrary and irrelevant.

The controversial “journalist” Jaba Khubua made a claim in the AsavalDasavali newspaper in 2018 that sums up the Kremlin’s disinformation messaging in Georgia: “During the tenure of [US] Ambassador Ian Kelly in Georgia, the propaganda of anti-national, liberast, homosexual ideology and pro-drug abuse movement reached unimaginable scales, pursuing the ultimate aim of moral and physical genocide of the Georgian nation.”

When the mob of Orthodox “Christians” tore down the EU flag in front of Parliament and stabbed a Polish tourist on July 5, it became evident that this was about more than media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. The same increasingly fundamentalist religious order that claims to defend Georgia’s national identity had undermined its secular democracy, and the efficacy of those Russian disinformation campaigns was on full display.

But something else was as well. The Georgian Orthodox church has successfully exploited the anger and desperation of those hurting most from Georgia’s faltering economy, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. Georgia is now ranked 20th globally in cases per million. The church has converted rage from Georgia's economic woes into the same creed of

ultra-nationalism and “family purity” that Alexander Dugin brought to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin calls it Eurasianism. The message is as simple as it is historically absurd: Pan-Europeanism and Christianity are mutually exclusive, and as such, the EU is exporting homosexuality. With this false dichotomy, the Georgian government has been conned, and is now systematically refusing to protect minorities or to rein in the religious leaders who call for violence against them. It is a repeating cycle that has only grown worse.

On July 11, one of the battered journalists, cameraman Aleksandre Lashkarava, died. Thousands poured into the streets.

They gathered in front of the same parliament building where the EU flag had been torn down the week before and demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He refused.

Soon after, US State Department spokesman Ned Price announced that they were monitoring the situation closely and confirmed that sanctions “for human rights abuses” were a possibility. For a country that is often lauded as a beacon of democratic leadership and reform in the region, this is an astonishing setback.

On the day of the mob attacks, PM Garibashvili made the conscious decision that a minority of his constituents were not worth protecting, despite being provided the capability to do so by the US. Instead, the Prime Minister belligerently claimed without evidence that Pride was organized by the “radical opposition,” along with the former Georgian president.

The Georgian people are fiercely independent. Their country has been invaded by every empire worth its salt. Georgia’s spirit of independence is the reason that it remains free. This is the great irony of the events on July 5: Those attempting to defend Georgia's national identity and freedom do the bidding of those who want to take it away.

First published on The Daily Beast.

OPINION, Photo by Vano Shlamov/Getty

Does the Current Training Really Prepare the Georgian Army for War? emulating their Taliban counterparts and less their traditional NATO allies.

Barbarous as it may be, it will most assuredly be the only strategy to ensure a future for a free Georgia.

One particular book, The Other Side of the Mountain; Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War, written by Mujahideen commander Ali Ahmad Jalali and retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Lester Grau and published in 1995, is a resource providing exceptionally valuable insight for Georgian commanders to explore these tactics.

OP-ED BY MICHAEL GODWIN

I

t’s no secret that peacetime, while greatly desired, leads to an atrophied and often complacent military force. The endless garrison duties and training exercises are important but can lead to the ever present foe of monotony. Prior to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many Western militaries had been on a low operational tempo, only occasionally broken up by low-tempo deployments such as the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

With the severe reduction of NATO security forces on their missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, these armies will once again return to their barracks and firing ranges. Georgia, with its last contingent having returned to the homeland, will have to begin ensuring that the next inevitable conflict will not catch them unprepared, this being something easier said than done.

However, this does not simply mean more time spent marching and camping in the field. Rather, it will necessitate a deep examination of what their next conflict will look like, and what they will need to do to win. Broadly, these most likely can be separated into two categories: defense against Russia and the next foreign NATO operation.

RUSSIA With increased aggression and internal military movements, as well as new brigades being raised, it’s clear the bear is not sleeping. Given Putin’s lust for expansionism, it’s only a matter of time until they return to not just seize their Black Sea mistress, but also end the growing

NATO

Photo by Pfc. Lloyd Villanueva/U.S. Army

NATO presence in the Caucasus. Strategically, they have the positioning to allow a rapid influx of forces to arrive behind the existing troops in the occupied territories. From as close as Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Stavropol, a multitude of divisions can be in the deployment zone in hours, not days.

Since 2008, the Russian military has seen a series of reforms and nearly uncountable equipment upgrades. Should they come, they will be the same force Georgia faced before, and far more prepared to finish what they started 13 years ago. From individual and vehicle weapon systems to advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technologies, Georgia will see fighting in streets, the sky, and most importantly in cyberspace. Electronic Warfare (EW) systems have been added to even Russian company and battalion level units,

adding to the complexity commanders will face in the field.

To face this new advanced threat, Georgia has to revise its entire battle plan.

Conducting force-on-force training exercises with a near-enemy force will not suffice. The recent NATO-led events have been designed to fit this Cold War model of fighting. Georgia will have to take pages from their former enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq to fight the enemy in a way they may never have done so before.

Light, asymmetric, and irregular combat training will need to become essential for Georgian servicemembers, particularly to defeat ISR and EW operations.

Sabotage, raid, ambush, and information warfare will become the watchwords for the Georgians operating in this environment. Warfighters will need to be prepared for fighting a very different style,

Georgia’s commitment to NATO and its future ascension is imperative not only for its own sovereignty, but also essential as a partner for global security. As a part of this force for good, Georgia will need to anticipate the next NATO operation, its environment, and its technical and tactical requirements. Planning for this can be difficult, but examining the global threat elements show a need for CounterInsurgency (COIN) and aggressive peacekeeping operations that draw the need for both regular and irregular tactics.

Having units that are ready to operate perpendicular to standard battle drills and use a combination of civil affairs and Unconventional Warfare (UW) tactics will be much more valuable in future operations. This flexibility will pay dividends in future conflicts, as the majority of the adversaries will be non-state actors and insurgent groups led by a fluid leadership element. The traditional strategy of cutting the head off the proverbial snake does not work anymore when that head regenerates somewhere else.

The old symptoms of victory and defeat

no longer apply. There is no grand parade in the capital city of the enemy, with pomp and flair, and crowds of jubilant liberated civilians. Long-term hybrid conflicts with the aim of stability, peacekeeping and peacemaking, as well as ensuring negative foreign actors (Russia and China) are blocked out from their influence. Infrastructure projects and humanitarian assistance packages will take the place of large-scale waves of soldiers and tanks. Georgia, in its NATO involvement, will need to become more sensitive to these subjects.

Georgia’s military has undoubtedly advanced leaps and bounds in the past decade. However, their lessons learned and experiences on the ground in NATO missions should not be left to the wayside. Days and nights spent in the field are valuable, but should not outweigh classroom time spent on the nuances of UW, EF, COIN, and counter-ISR strategy.

Whether NATO knows it or not, they need nations like Georgia and Ukraine in their campaign against not only the Russian threat, but for the future of Central Asian diplomacy.

The Georgian Army should advance its education of UW and these other tactics, as this is rapidly becoming the norm. Not just for its special operations elements, but for its regular officer and non-commissioned officer corps as well.

Whether fighting an insurgent group in Africa, or against a hybrid Russian force in their homeland, learning to fight like the Mujahideen did in Afghanistan in the 1980s will be essential to undermining their enemies’ ability to operate effectively and keep any hold on the battle space. As the old military adage says, “the regular forces have the watches, but the irregular forces have all the time.”

IWG plc, Level 4, 2 Leonidze str. Tbilisi, Georgia | +995 32 290 039

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

Political Elites and Georgia’s Foreign Policy ANALYSIS BY EMIL AVDALIANI

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o get a real sense of what the internal Georgian crisis is, we need a longer-term perspective. Since the elections, the crisis has been more about inter-party fighting than a search for the resolution of the long-term problems associated with the economy and political system. There is also a growing disillusion within wider sections of the public with the political establishment. As the last several elections showed, there is also a gradual drop in support for the governing party, Georgian Dream (GD). General apathy also explains the large abstention rate of voters since the 2016 elections.

The present internal political instability can be related to GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili’s distancing from politics in late 2020, which emboldened the opposition and set the scene for a struggle among various power groupings within GD, a trend that saps energies and the effectiveness of the ruling party. Furthermore, Giorgi Gakharia’s resignation, occasional demonstrations, and opposition parties calling for snap elections all point to continued turmoil and protracted uncertainty in Georgian politics. Gakharia’s successor Irakli Garibashvili, renowned for his harsh rhetoric against the opposition, added to the increasingly polarizing political climate. The opposition and a significant part of the popula-

If democracybuilding is about constantly finding intra-party consensus, it is also about addressing the needs of the people.

tion is openly against his style of rule.

Reasons for the protracted crisis are also rooted in the unstable economic situation: despite the expected GDP growth of 4.3% in 2021, the national currency has slid significantly and is expected to depreciate further against the US dollar. Wages and the level of FDI remain low, and inflation is on the up, facilitating the outflow of the population abroad.

This also means that in the long-term, Georgia will be increasingly dependent on inflows of money sent from Georgian immigrants – a clear sign of a weak economic situation in the country.

These troubles will continue to undermine GD’s third consecutive term and will complicate its bid to remain in power until 2024, the crucial year the next parliamentary elections will be held and the government will make an official EU membership bid, while the results of the 2021 municipal elections may see GD having to hold snap elections.

There is a larger disillusion with the whole political class in Georgia. General apathy with the ruling and opposition forces emanates from the premise that promises made for decades by various political parties to establish a solid base for an independent judicial system in the country have failed to be fulfilled.

What is worse, this failure is usually precipitated by the purposeful maneuverings of a ruling party, whether it is UNM (2004-2012) or GD (since 2012) to extend their hold on power.

But the roots of the internal troubles could be more far reaching. Ultimately, it could be about how detached the political elites of Georgia have become from the ordinary population. The opposition is hurdled by larger antipathy from wider sections of the public. The governing party is also witnessing a sharp decline in the number of its supporters.

Long-term economic problems exacerbated by the pandemic make up a major challenge for the Georgian political class.

But little has been offered over the past years to salvage the situation.

The vast majority of people in Georgia have come to loathe the entire political class. For many, the recurrent crises are more about the GD-UNM struggle than about democracy and the economic development of the country. No wonder that most people consider their social and economic human rights to have been violated for years, no matter which party is at the helm. This explains the large abstention rate of voters during elections in Georgia: large sections of the popula-

The vast majority of people in Georgia have come to loathe the entire political class. For many, the recurrent crises are more about the GD-UNM struggle than about democracy and the economic development of the country. Source: EUobserver

tion do not see a preferred party with a fitting program amidst this highly polarized political situation. Additionally, what Georgia lacked throughout its postSoviet independence period was a longterm policy planning to re-boot its fragile economy, heritage of the troubled 1990s, but more shifting attention from inter-party politics towards the needs of the economically poor population.

Democracy is struggling, and it is not only about whether the arrest of the opposition leader was a lawful act or even an urgently necessary move. We deal here with what the Georgian public has been accustomed to since the country regained independence: the belief that the ruling party always stands above the law. This was the case with Eduard Shevardnadze and Mikheil Saakashvili, and this is the scourge that befell GD, whether it wanted it or not. For ordinary citizens, there has been no break in the near cyclical actions of Georgian political elites in 30 years.

Ultimately, these internal problems are tied into what Russia needs: internal differences in Georgia, weakening of its international standing, and hopes for NATO/EU membership dashed. In the age of reinvigorated efforts for TransAtlantic partnership between the US and Europe, and Washington’s larger support for NATO, Georgia’s woes are a boon for Moscow. It makes sense geopolitically, and the Kremlin watches gleefully how the Georgian parties are ruining the country’s prospects by failing to attain not only deeper Western engagement, but general internal economic development and stability, so vital a detail for being attractive to the outside world.

A larger regional outlook too might shed some light. The South Caucasus is a region housing two small and extremely fragile democracies, Armenia and Georgia. The former took a major hit last year when its dependence on Moscow grew exponentially following Yerevan’s defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Now, Russia is more capable of backtracking the reformist agenda of the Armenian leadership. Protests are staged, and the ruling PM is weak and challenged. Russia is playing the long game, navigating and killing the last vestiges of Armenia’s independent foreign policy.

External circumstances are converging on Georgia’s internal troubles. The country is not solely experiencing a crisis because of the missteps of certain political parties; we might be dealing here with the wider problem of growingly unfitting political elites which have become detached from the problems of ordinary people. If democracy-building is about constantly finding intra-party consensus, it is also about addressing the needs of the people. The success of this policy could ultimately serve as a backbone of Georgia’s NATO and EU aspirations. *Emil Avdaliani is a professor at European University and the Director of Middle East Studies at Georgian think-tank, Geocase.

Parliamentary Fact-Finding Commission: 2020 Elections Were Not Rigged

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

he Temporary Parliamentary Fact-Finding Commission looking into the October 31, 2020, parliamentary elections has completed its

work.

The activities of the commission were evaluated at the last session on Monday July 26, and the conclusion and recommendations of the commission of inquiry were approved.

The draft resolution of the Parliament regarding the conclusion of the Temporary Parliamentary Fact-Finding Commission was approved at the plenary session.

“The shortcomings revealed in the elections are mainly related to technical errors caused by the pandemic and stressful environment, and, in some cases,

indifference and low competence of district commission members,” reads the conclusion.

Based on the report, the shortcomings identified as a result of the work of the commission could not have any significant impact on the final results of the parliamentary elections.

“Reports from local observer organizations focus on pre-election pressure, intimidation, voter bribery and the use of administrative resources. However, it was found that the relevant data in the reports, in almost all cases, were not facts, but assumptions, and no evidence was presented,” reads the draft report.

“There is no falsification, there were only small shortcomings,” said Givi Mikanadze, Chairman of the Temporary Parliamentary Fact-Finding Commission.

He said the commission had recounted the 20 most problematic districts and received explanations from 38 people.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

7

Gulf VP: 10 Years of Corporate Social Responsibility TRANSLATED BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

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usiness has a special role to play in the development of society, especially in today’s global turmoil. Often, the image of companies is measured by the activities carried out in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The projects that a business organizes for a community can often even lead to bigger initiatives within the country.

“At first glance, it might seem that big business is just about sales, business deals, or taking care of employees. But trust me, it was never enough for the Gulf,” says Nino Jibladze, Gulf Marketing Director, Vice President. “Today, Georgia faces a number of challenges, difficulties that are less likely to occur in other developed countries. That is why from the very first day, Gulf decided to adjust as much as possible to the environment around us; to do things the way our country needs, to help the weaker side solve painful issues. Gulf started with such an approach in 2011 and has been able to implement a number of large and small projects to date. Today, we are summarizing Gulf’s ten years of corporate responsibility.”

Since 2011, Gulf has spent up to 4 million GEL in the CSR direction in Georgia.

Here is a look at the details of what Gulf managed to accomplish: Gulf for Education – Within the framework of the project, Gulf gifted computers and books were to 50 young people across Georgia.

Gulf and Basketball – In order to promote a healthy lifestyle in young people,

amount collected is distributed equally to each family. As part of the project, in addition to cash assistance, the company also often buys household equipment as well as food products for families, as needed.

Travel around Georgia with Gulf – In 2017, Gulf launched the “Travel around Georgia” campaign every summer to promote tourism. As part of the campaign, Gulf is trying to encourage consumers with various activities, promotions, or discounts – encouraging them to travel around Georgia and discover new places.

Take Care of Georgia – Traditionally, at the end of each summer season, Gulf cleans up active tourist areas throughout Georgia.

Gulf for Students – Gulf annually funds tuition for IDP students from the Occupied Territories.

Gulf for Georgian Culture – The company has been a major contributor since 2011 and is actively involved in supporting culture.

Gulf and Autosport – From the day of its entry into Georgia, Gulf has been taking care of the development of motorsport, with the support of various automobile events and sponsorship of auto racers.

– Catharsis Assistance – The company helps socially vulnerable families. In addition, the Gulf helps cultural figures, veteran athletes, and public figures.

“And finally, Gulf Pension, a pension program for those who bring special benefits to the community,” Jibladze notes.

“In 2019, Gulf launched a new campaign, under which a special pension program was created for people who bring benefits to the community. These are people who, through their hard work, make the lives of others special.”

since 2018, Gulf has been building modern basketball courts throughout Georgia. At present, 3 courts operate in Tbilisi, Gori, and Senaki. A fourth court will be opened in Ozurgeti in the near future.

Gulf plans to build a total of 20 basketball courts throughout Georgia. The championship in 3×3 basketball – Gulf Cup – will be held on the mentioned basketball courts.

Gulf for Stray Dogs – Gulf launched the campaign “Shelter and Take Care” in 2019, and in the first phase dog houses were set up to shelter 25 dogs at gas stations, with the company staff taking care of them. As of today, more than 100 dogs live at Gulf gas stations throughout Georgia, the infrastructure has been arranged at the stations, andthe company provides them with food and veterinary services.

"At first glance, it might seem that big business is just about sales, business deals, or taking care of employees. But trust me, it was never enough for the Gulf."

“At first glance, it might seem that big business is just about sales, business deals, or taking care of employees. But trust me, it was never enough for the Gulf.”

Gulf for Doctors – In 2020, Gulf was actively involved in the fight against COVID-19, helping Georgian doctors. 5 tetri from fuel purchased in Gulf was transferred to a special account within which a total of 240,000 GEL was collected and transferred to doctors as a token of gratitude for their service.

Gulf for Kids – The campaign is traditionally planned for Christmas and Easter, as part of which the company helps vulnerable and large families. As part of the campaign, during a specific period of time, 5 tetri of each fuel sold is collected in a special account, after which the

Hualing FIZ Partners with BB Leasing to Finance Equipment Leasing with Special Conditions for Industrial Projects

BY TEAM GT

A

n important partnership has been established between Hualing Free Industrial Zone and BB Leasing, enabling interested entrepreneurs to take advantage of a unique joint offer created by these two daughter companies of the Hualing Group.

Soso Nibladze – Hualing Free Industrial Zone, CEO

The offer envisages financing the leasing of machinery required for production projects under special conditions in Hualing FIZ and providing infrastructure facilities for businesses.

“The foundation of a new partnership model has been laid between Hualing Free Industrial Zone and BB Leasing, that enables FIZ-interested entrepreneurs to take advantage of unique joint offers that include financing of leasing equipment under special conditions that are necessary for manufacturing projects, as well as infrastructure spaces for businesses within the framework of this offer,” Soso Nibladze, CEO of Hualing Free Industrial Zone told Entrepreneur. “This partnership is of great value because it is very important in the industrial sector, in general in the structure of initial capital investment, building costs in buildings as well as machinery. Compositionally, most of the expenses go to these two directions. We offer ready-built buildings with post-pandemic special benefits, lease terms and moratoriums for a period of time, and now we offer leasing on special terms. In other words, companies will not need to apply for expenses in these two areas, and these funds will be used directly to purchase working capital or other operating expenses.”

The offer gives a unique opportunity to both

export-oriented Georgian entrepreneurs and foreign investors to start the production process with minimal initial costs, and to mobilize financial resources only to purchase working capital.

“This cooperation allows us to give potential customers the opportunity to take advantage of our joint unique offer,” notes Kote Sulamanidze, CEO of BB Leasing. “An entrepreneur receives not only an infrastructurally arranged production area (in the industrial zone), but also the financing of the necessary factors needed for the production - for example, fixed assets, which require quite a large amount of capital. They can also use auto leasing or other vehicle financing from BB Leasing if needed. We understand the benefits of such collaborations especially well in BB Leasing. Our main advantages, as members of BB Holding is that the customer who comes to us, turns up in a kind of financial supermarket, where with one visit, they can easily and quickly buy quality banking, leasing or insurance products, thus saving time, money, and getting the most comfortable service.”

Hualing FIZ, in addition to offering a taxfree environment to interested investors, also provides companies with ready-built infrastructure (including various types of buildings from 100 sq.m. to 15,000 sq.m., ideal for both traditional, labor-intensive industrial areas as

well as for the modern high-tech manufacturing sector.

As a result of all the above, an investor who comes to Hualing FIZ will enjoy the following privileges: 1. Tax-free environment.

2.Various choices of ready-built industrial and warehousing buildings with utility connections.

3. Moratoriums - exemption of companies from building lease for a certain period.

4. Post-Pandemic Offer - Reduced Rental Rates 5. Possibility of financing fixed assets by BB Leasing.

6. Special offers on banking products and services from the Basis bank.

7.Local services - including assistance in manpower selection, obtaining a Georgian certificate of origin, environmental procedures, local logistics and cargo handling.

The submitted proposals create significant tangible conditions for the successful startup and development of various manufacturing projects by considering the listed components.

8

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

USAID and BP Join Forces to Advance Development in Georgia’s Rural Communities

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SAID/Georgia Mission Director Peter Wiebler and BP Georgia Country Head Aytan Hajieva signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) affirming USAID/Georgia and BP Georgia’s commitment to strengthening community resilience across Georgia.

Under the MoU, USAID will partner with BP to advance economic growth in rural communities. USAID/Georgia and BP Georgia also committed to exploring opportunities to jointly address climate change and promote regional cooperation.

The MoU reflects USAID’s strategy to expand and deepen engagement with the private sector to advance sustainable development in Georgia. The Agency’s growing list of private sector partnerships are focused on helping Georgia strengthen resilience against malign influence, build citizen-responsive institutions, and achieve inclusive economic growth.

“This partnership with BP Georgia strengthens USAID’s ability to support resilience in Georgia’s rural communities, which is one of the top priorities of the development strategy we launched in 2020,” Wiebler noted at the signing ceremony. “BP and USAID have collaborated for years to support resilience and inclusive economic growth in Georgian communities, including vulnerable communities near Georgia’s Administra-

tive Boundary Lines. We look forward to creating and co-financing new initiatives that benefit more people across Georgia.”

Aytan Hajieva noted that “improving people’s lives is one of the core values of BP’s sustainability strategy. It advances our purpose of reimagining energy for people and for the planet. We intend to combine our efforts with USAID, sharing experience and resources to advance sustainable development in the communities where we work. This collaboration will help Georgia’s communities to build greater resilience, and it will lead to more sustainable livelihoods for Georgian workers and families.”

The MOU builds on an existing successful partnership between USAID/ Georgia and BP Georgia. Between 2018 and 2020, USAID, through the USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia, partnered with BP Georgia to implement joint development projects in 41 villages adjacent to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) pipelines in Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Kvemo Kartli.

USAID/Georgia and BP Georgia cofinanced $685,000 in initiatives to provide local residents with grants, training, and technical assistance to support the growth of micro-, small-, and medium sized enterprises.

About bp Georgia: BP, on behalf of its partners, has been working on major oil and gas projects for 25 years in Geor-

gia. Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines as well as South Caucasus gas pipeline and expansion project in Georgia contribute to the energy security of the country. It is one of the biggest investors in the country and has invested more than $4 bln in energy

infrastructure, including $100 million spent and committed in sustainable development projects. Together with its oil and gas partners, donors and business partners, it supports local communities and wider society with access to energy and energy efficiency, busi-

ness start-up and agriculture, education and Paralympic sports. BP and its oil and gas partners initiated the Community Development Initiative in 2003, and over the 18 years since, has invested $27 million in local community development.

SOCIETY

The Body Shop – Georgia Publishes Book to Empower Women, but all 7 Authors are Men

BY ANA DUMBADZE

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he Body Shop – Georgia, which produces its own self-care products and cosmetics line, this week announced at a presentation at Tbilisi City Council that it had published a book to “empower women.”

The book is called ‘Love Yourself,’ and the organizers say that its goal is to empower women and free them from social standards often set by the opposite sex. It is said to reflect the true stories of 13 women; however, all seven authors of the book are men.

The authors are: Giorgi Kekelidze; Basa Janikashvili; Dato Gorgiladze; Alexander Lortkipanidze; Irakli Shamatava; Gia Murghulia; and Toresa Mossy.

Body Shop – Georgia noted that the authors of the texts were paid a “small salary” for their writing, but the women who shared their stories with the writers were not.

That the company aimed for the book to address women’s issues yet didn’t hire even a single female author was met with much criticism within Georgian society, to which The Body Shop responded with the following statement: “Women are humiliated and locked into beauty standards by the opposite sex, so the novels in the first series of the book were written by men to present themselves in the place of these brave women. Work on the second edition is actively underway, in which more women writers are to be involved.”

The well-known male writers were mentioned in the Facebook post published by the company, but the women behind their stories were not revealed,

leaving readers with the impression that the book was “men writing about women.”

The Facebook post, following which the company was criticized for implementing the idea, was later deleted by The Body Shop.

“The brand realizes its responsibility," Irina Adeishvili, head of the company's marketing department, told RFE / RL. “We really want these girls to remain the main characters. The book needed to be available by August, and we want the entire proceeds from this book to be spent on women victims of violence. At the first stage, a digital book was published, which did not receive much response, so it was decided to publish it physically so that as many people as possible could get to know these amazing women.” Authors of the book, Toresa Mossy, Alexander Lortkipanidze and Giorgi Kekelidze, also responded to the criticism. Mossy and Lortkipanidze said they were not familiar with the details of the project, and Kekelidze deleted his post shortly after it was published.

Several women have since accused Kekelidze, writer and Director and of the National Parliamentary Library, of

sexual harassment. The women decided to speak out publicly after discovering he had authored a part of the book on “women's empowerment.”

One of these women told on.ge that about 7-8 years ago, Kekelidze had contacted her via Facebook and offered sex.

Despite her refusal, Kekelidze tried to communicate in different ways, even getting hold of her phone number and starting to call her.

“He offered sex. He told me that he’d had sex with many of my friends, and tried to seduce me this way. I replied that I was not interested in having a relationship with him,” she recalled, adding that it was a depressing and irritating process that went on for almost three years.

When she wrote about her case on Facebook, a number of other women left comments, some of them claiming Kekelidze had given them inappropriate compliments when they were minors.

Giorgi Kekelidze responded on Facebook, acknowledging the "tiresome flirtation" on his part, though he noted it was years ago and he has changed a lot as a person since then.

“Years ago, because of my overly active and boring flirtations, I might have given someone reason to interpret something.

I don’t know, I can’t tell you. I’m ashamed of this “flirtatious” period and I have said it many times to these women directly: I apologize for that,” he wrote.

However, Kekelidze's post disappeared within an hour. He later wrote a new post where the word "flirtations" remained, though "boring" had been removed.

Kekelidze also emphasized that he had not committed any "violence."

“I am writing this first of all for those who think that Giorgi Kekelidze is a man like God. I too am a human being, and I have made mistakes. I apologize now.

However, nothing violent ever happened.

Ever. I cannot and will not be blamed for such,” Kekelidze wrote.

Later, The Body Shop – Georgia apologized to users on Facebook: “We are sincerely sorry that one of the ideas of this project, for men to write stories about women, did not convey our message in the way we intended. Our goal was to start people thinking and discussing this topic, not only women, but also men.

“Once again, we want to emphasize that the main characters of this project are brave women who talk about how

they overcame difficulties; how they learned to love themselves.

“We have heard different opinions and remarks from a number of readers which convince us we were unable to choose the right form of communication,” they admitted.

“I think there was a problem with communication,” said feminist-activist Ana Nikoladze. “The book is called ‘Love Yourself,’ and is about the empowerment of women and liberation from standards, and yet the title is followed by only male names.”

She noted that feminist circles in Georgia are continuing to actively debate the issue as to whether men should write about women, or whether men have the right to write about women and their bodies, and what place male authors occupy in modern feminism. Some believe that the involvement of men in the dialogue is important; however, certain conditions are needed for that to happen, and, in particular, this should not be done at the expense of occupying women’s places- women should be able to advocate for their rights themselves.

The Body Shop’s Irina Adeishvili told RFE / RL that this has been a good lesson for the company and that in future, they will be involving more experts in gender-sensitive projects.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

9

Mestia and the Journey into the Mountains at the station, you’ll be assigned a wagon and left to find a seat. Settle in, as it is a lengthy ride. The comfort is not impressive, but the views you’ll be rewarded with along the way are something you may not want to sleep through.

Marshrutka travel is often avoided by the more upscale travelers, as it can be quite rudimentary in nature. Seats are small and packed in tight quarters, the driver's music selection may not be to your liking, and stopping for restroom breaks is unlikely. However, they often travel at speeds that get you to Zugdidi quicker than the train, which stops at a multitude of stations along the way.

Arriving in Zugdidi, be it the train station or any of the marshrutka stops, is largely uneventful. The city offers some sights should you want to stay and explore, including a botanical garden, several notable restaurants, and a museum. Otherwise, the marshrutka to Mestia is often near the center of the city adjacent to the bridge of the Chkhoushi River. Be prepared to wait, as the drivers often wait until they have sufficient passenger numbers to warrant the journey.

This next leg of the trip is amazing.

Once you climb into the mountainous

here is slightly more “Spartan” than the hotels back in the valley, but the services the family render are more than adequate to some.

The area is famous for its renowned hiking trails and mountaineering. Near the town square, there are multiple shops and kiosks that offer maps and guides, when available. In addition, many of the trails in the area are available on mobile apps such as Maps.me.

It should be noted than many of these trails are more for the intermediate or advanced hikers, but there are also trails for those looking for something more leisurely.

For the more history and culturally interested travelers, there are old churches with frescoes and artifacts, a museum with an extensive collection of interesting exhibits, and some of the historic towers in the town are occasionally open to visitors. Nightlife in the town is surprisingly vivid for Mestia’s size, particularly during the busier seasons. Restaurants and wine bars will often host local music performances or special events.

Upon the conclusion of your time in Mestia, the central square is where you’ll find marshrutkas that will take you back

areas, the views are truly impressive.

Craning your neck upward to see the peaks around you, you’ll also pass multiple small cafes and villages. Occasionally, drivers will stop at these to allow you to get a drink, snacks, and a moment of respite. And you will want your camera or phone ready, as the approach to Mestia is truly beautiful.

Marshrutkas coming into Mestia will stop near the center of the town, Seti Square. This area is the more built-up and tourist-centric section of the town.

Restaurants, fine hotels, and shopping surround the square. Despite it being a very tourist-y action to take, several of the restaurants in the area are mustvisits due to the homemade cuisine and traditional wine. The views in virtually every direction are more than picture worthy as you dine in the valley.

The selection of accommodation ranges from simple home hostels, hosted by local families happy to bring you in and even cook a hearty meal for you, to upscale boutique hotels with all the comfort and amenities of the large cities. For those looking for something even more unique, there lies in the mountains to the east a small village named Heshkili. Here, there is a familyowned and operated hostel that has some of the best homemade food and dining experiences overlooking vast valleys and mountain ranges. Staying

to Zugdidi or even straight to Tbilisi if needed. Just as with the journey into the valley, the exit is also a view to remember. For those going directly to Tbilisi, while the journey may be long, the drivers will stop on occasion to give you a break. On one occasion, the driver even stopped at a restaurant for the travelers to sit and have a meal.

The adventure into the mountains is one that can be recommended to virtually all travelers, as there is something to be had for everyone. From the more pampered traveler to the hardened backpacker, Mestia offers an experience that will certainly be unique. Even with regards to cost, you can spend as much or as little as possible, often as low as the equivalent of $100, and still enjoy your time there.

Many people even make multiple trips to the town, returning in different seasons to add more intrigue. The aforementioned trails lead to smaller villages that offer their own unique, rustic, and exciting experiences to the voyage.

Overall, Mestia is a place that should be added to any travelers list. In addition to the resources available from official travel sources, the internet has a growing community of those that have made the trek and shared their experience, as well as inside tips on what and how to enjoy Mestia as much as possible.

Photo by Yevhen Samuchenko

BLOG BY MIKE GODWIN

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estled in the northwestern mountainous region of Svaneti is a small but increasingly popular town named Mestia.

Despite this growing popularity, legions of travelers that come through Tbilisi to witness the beauty of Georgia do so without ever hearing about this mountain paradise. While this may be due to the length of travel and occasional difficulty in finding adequate or comfortable transportation, these are hardly a price to pay for such an amazing excursion.

Mestia has become a de facto capital of Upper Svaneti due to its size and services. Historically, mention of its locals, the Svans, dates back to Ancient

Downtown Mestia. Photo by Mike Godwin

Greek and Roman sources. One of the most iconic images of the town is the stone towers shooting up from the sprawling homes under them. Many of these towers are old enough to have most likely been standing for longer than the modern concept of the Georgian republic.

Reaching the town is an exciting adventure for those willing to sacrifice some small comforts to achieve an authentic Georgian traveling experience. There are two widely accepted methods of reaching the first checkpoint in the journey, Zugdidi. The first is by train, and the second is by using the common and popular Georgia marshrutka (minibus). While each has their advantages and disadvantages, they will achieve the same end.

For the train, purchasing a ticket can be done online and the ticket sent via email. Upon having your ticket scanned

Heshkili. By Mike Godwin

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

Café Hanmer: Etseri, Svaneti BLOG BY TONY HANMER

W

hen we bought this property we live on in Svaneti in 2010, it had two buildings on its 3000-odd square meters: the house itself, and a barn, both two stories. Since then we have added an outhouse, a garage and a gazebo-type affair. Now, with the aid of a few thousand euros’ EU grant, we are adding the newest and largest structure yet: a separate café.

This edifice went through a few iterations and brainstormings on paper before emerging in its final form, which will have a dining/meeting hall, kitchen, two bathrooms, a pantry, and a balcony mainly overlooking the mountain wall to the south of us (where could be found the subject of my last week’s article). A 3rd floor to the existing house? A two-story separate building? Mercifully, the builders and I shot down both of these early ideas before they could become finalized, and our plenty large enough one-story building has become the winning version.

14 tons (green weight) of 6m wooden planks of various thicknesses have lain in a neat cross-stacked square pile in the yard for over a year, drying. A few weeks ago we had to pay a few local youths to move them only 7m uphill from where they were, as they were then in the way.

Over 1000 GEL of cement in 50kg bags are currently occupying the garage; a dump-truck-load of gravel has also come from Mestia and is sitting near the site.

A few thousand concrete blocks must also come up from near Zugdidi, and some sand too. Water and electricity at least we have for free.

The café is the first of our additions to feature a surveyor, topologist, geologist,

bureaucracy, paperwork, and even architectural drawings. Such are the strings which come as part of the deal. Also, we are spending money which will then be reimbursed, as opposed to being given money in advance at the start or anywhere during the process. We must pay out to get back, according to the rules of this particular game, presumably so the donors can minimize the chances of money going astray; fair enough. The grant will not cover the whole thing, but will take care of a substantial chunk of it.

Our workers are three from a village outside Zugdidi which has its own prince and princess, of mixed Mingrelian (Dadiani) and French (Napoleonic) ancestry, about whom I have also written here earlier. The leader of the trio has done other work for us, and comes highly recommended, having proven himself already. We are housing and feeding them twice a day into the bargain, as they are about 100km from home, with only a partial guest season now underway. We are just at the start of building, but it’s looking good.

At the moment, they are digging square holes, filling these with concrete, and adding square cross-section steel pipes of about 6m height. These they stabilize with tripods or “quadrupods” of steel rebar and wire until the concrete dries and they can fix them in place. We now have for the first time a true sense of how large our building will be, seeing its foundation and first structures in place. It’s big.

One important issue for us will be the exclusion of local men as patrons of our establishment, as these tend to see it as a café-BAR and will want to take advantage, getting drunk on tab and making more than a nuisance of themselves to us, their families and the village in general, if not actually killing themselves or others in the process. For the same reason, we do not sell alcohol at all in our

shop, restricting it entirely to our foreign guests. This problem is a common one up here, and maybe all over the country in regions or villages of high tourist visitation.

One solution is simply to make alcohol prices prohibitively high for locals and insist on only cash payment on the spot; this seems to be working for a foreign friend of ours in another nearby village who is also the owner of a hotel and restaurant. We will not even advertise the bar aspect at all, either. Time will

tell how these approaches work. I have no desire to see anyone getting plastered on my property, having seen enough of the ugly effects of this to last a lifetime or several.

In any case, we will likely see the roof go on this building season but not the finished thing until next spring, so we have plenty of time to work out how it will fit into our community. We also hope to see it as a hosting venue for any local events. I will post occasional updates as the thing progresses, describing what I

am learning about such constructions.

Stay tuned.

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

UNESCO to Protect Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands

T

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands to the World Heritage List. This new status provides these unique ecosystems with international protection and technical assistance to ensure that they are sustainably managed, monitored and conserved.

The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands,

known as a ‘slice of the Amazon in Eurasia’, is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion located along the southern shore of the Black Sea. It sheltered heat-loving plants during the previous glacial period and is abundant in relict and endemic species.

The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands are located within the boundaries of four protected areas in Georgia: the Kolkheti and Mtirala National Parks, and the Kintrishi and Kobuleti Protected

Areas. Georgia applied for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.

The final decision to list the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands as a UNESCO natural world heritage site was made in July 2021 at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou (China).

President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili and Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili announced this decision at an event held in Kolkheti National Park on 27 July.

“UNESCO’s decision to add Georgia’s unique natural site to the World Heritage List is important not just for Georgia. It’s important for the entire region, for the Black Sea basin. It’s international recognition,” said Levan Davitashvili.

“Georgia has once again appeared on the world map as a country of distinctive biodiversity. UNESCO has confirmed that Georgia's unique nature belongs to the whole world."

The UNESCO decision follows years of biodiversity protection and conservation led by the Georgian Government and supported by the European Union, Germany, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United States and other international partners.

To support protected areas associated with Colchic Rainforests, UNDP helped develop ten-year management and biodiversity monitoring plans, introduced SMART patrolling technology (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) and established e-learning platforms for staff. UNDP is also helping to assess and counter the risk of plant diseases

(like Chestnut blight) that endanger the entire ecosystem.

“The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, which survived a glacial period, present us with the opportunity (and privilege) to admire a magnificent natural system that goes back 15,000 years.

Cherishing and protecting this unique ecoregion is our shared responsibility,” said UNDP Acting Head Anna Chernyshova. “UNDP assists Georgia to integrate ecosystem services into the country’s economic and social development and introduce new models and approaches to protecting biodiversity.”

UNDP’s decade-long support to Georgia’s protected areas draws on GEF funding and on close partnerships with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the Agency of Protected Areas and the Caucasus Nature Fund. UNDP support focuses on assisting Georgia to expand its protected areas, improve their management and ensure their financial sustainability.

UNDP also helps make it possible for communities surrounding national parks to play an integral role in environmental protection and to benefit from green economic opportunities.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2021

11

Western 'Cool' vs that Oriental Mentality OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

M

ost Georgians would feel hurt if you told them they are not European. We want to be part of the western culture because most of us, especially the younger generation, think that being western is cooler than having an oriental mentality, though this sentiment is wrong: all cultures have their own inestimable value, and the tendency to appreciate one at the expense of another is flagrantly pernicious.

But I’m not prepared to make a point without corroborating it with a couple of facts. Some of my unfortunate experiences might serve as such, although I am going to eschew the geographical locations and names of my chosen examples, as I don’t want to damage anybody’s business or ruin anybody’s moral architecture. The talk is only philosophical, based on real-life stories: The façade of the luxurious five-star hotel I am talking about faced beautiful mountains, and a hillside river running over the rocks through a gorgeous riverbed, the water singing away its undying soothing melody. The place was beautiful, very expensive, and full of modern amenities, great service and the loveliest personnel I have ever seen. I could not even believe this was happen-

Plastic waste on Rioni river bank. Source: euneighbours.eu

ing in Georgia! And the room- so inviting and beautiful. I looked around, soaking it up, as visitors usually do when they feel they are the owners of the place, even for a day or two. And finally, I turned to look out of the window.

I immediately wished I hadn’t ventured to: the riverbed, full of used plastic bottles of various colors, and years-old unidentifiable trash. I wonder what any

guest, be they from East or West, might think of Georgia’s indigenous culture on looking down from the window of the chic hotel and seeing that. Would they regret the stay and ask for a refund, or just keep mum and decide not to come back again?

Culture is a very curious thing. It cannot come with luxury hotels and expensive cars. Culture must happen in the

human mind, not outside it. Physical westernization will not help. “Western” or “Eastern” should be in our mind and spirit, not in the rags we hang on our bodies or the money we flaunt. Hotels won’t do any good. Only a ‘pristine riverbed’ can be a factor in our endeavor to “get westernized.”

This was an example of a physical fail.

Now I’ll throw in a case that makes our

spiritual and mental capacity a little reprehensible: Imagine a nice restaurant in an exotic Georgian town, with a sumptuous menu, comfortable seats, and an abundance of green foliage around; fresh air, boys and girls running back and forth with graceful alacrity- angelic uniformed servers of the eatery. After enjoying that delicious food and drink, we ask for the check, and we get it. Although the bill was quite hefty, we took it in our stride and were making to pay, when a little note at the bottom of the paper caught our eye: ‘The old ones’. We were interested what it meant and why it had been written on our bill.

A brief investigation made it clear that the girl who served us had decided to make that strange note on the bill in order for her not to confuse her tables.

We were labeled ‘the old ones’. We laughed it off, but left the place with a terrible taste in our mouths, because we had been identified in no better way than ‘old’. Anti-western and anti-eastern, uncultured and inhuman!

Sure, the kid didn’t mean all that when she used that epithet to describe us. She was simply brought up that way. The poor girl will probably have to go another hundred miles until she joins either the western or eastern side of culture as such. And I can’t blame her. This is just how much progress we have made so far on our way to modern human interaction.

SPORTS

Georgians in the Tokyo Olympics

Image source: Georgian Judo Federation

BY TEAM GT

ing against each other for the fifth time.

The Georgian tennis player had won only one of the previous four matches.

G

JUDO

eorgiantennisplayerNikoloz Basilashvili was defeated at the Tokyo Olympics midweek, when he lost to German Alexander Zverev.

Basilashvili lost in two sets in the quarterfinals - 4: 6, 6: 7.

Basilashvili and Zverevi were compet-

On July 28, the Georgian Olympic team won its first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

21-year-old Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri (90 kg) was named the champion of the Tokyo Olympic Games. In the final, Bekauri defeated a 24-year-

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old German athlete and won his first gold medal at the first Olympics in his career.

In the first match, Bekauri defeated a Polish judoka, and then a representative of Israel. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Uzbek judoka Davlat Bobonov. In the semifinals, Lasha defeated his Russian rival, Mikhail Igolnikov.

On July 26, Georgian judoka Lasha Shavdatuashvili won a silver medal in the 73 kg weight category. He was defeated

by Japanese Shohei Ono in the final.

Shavdatuashvili joined the tournament from the second round, when he defeated French athlete Guillaume Chaine. In the quarterfinals, he defeated a representative of Djibouti.

Lasha has become the first judoka in the history of Georgia to win medals at three Olympics, having previously won a gold medal in the 66 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics and defeating Israeli judoka Sagi Muki during the Rio 2016 Olympics and winning bronze.

At the same time, Georgian Judoka Vazha Margvelashvili, who competed in the 66 kg weight category at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, won a silver medal.

In the final, Margvelashvili lost to Jap-

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anese Judoka Hifumi Abe.

SHOOTING Olympic champion Nino Salukvadze took 7th place in the overall standings at the Tokyo Olympics by shooting with a sports pistol at the qualifying round of the 25-meter mark.

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Salukvadze gained 94, 98, 99 points and came 7th with a total of 291 points.

On July 30, the shooters will participate in three series of fast shootings, after which the results of two days will be summarized and the names of the 8 best athletes who will make it to the finals will be announced.

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