Saturday, May 31, 2008

MUSIC: Third CD from TUTARCHELA

NEW - Price pro CD: 15,-EUR (+ Porto)
to order: Ralph.Haelbig@googlemail.com






ZEITUNG: Tutarchela in der deutschen Presse




Friday, May 30, 2008

ART: Transkaukazja 2007 in Poland

Tarnskaukazja is the Festival of Caucasian Culture. On this movie you can watch a little fragment of the Georgian multimedia-art-show (music, video-art, media-art). Curators: Rusiko Oat & Wato Tsereteli - Warsaw, Poland - 2007




From: wlodekkk


Transkaukazja - children from Chechenya and Ingushetia
Transkaukazja 2007 - caucasian festival, outdoor concert, www.transkaukazja.pl/2007




From: gwiezdnamatylda

EXHIBITION: Opening the Exhibition from Nino Biniashvili in Tbilisi, 06-01-08

Interesting story for me: Time ago I saw Ninos work in the internet. She is Georgian and living in Israel now. I posted her work on my blog. We wrote each other and had sometimes a chat. Later my friend Nina from Tbilisi asked me for the contact to Nino Biniashvili. And now: I'm very glad that Nino Biniashvili can open her exhibition in Tbilisi. Thanks a lot to all!

NEW ART CAFE
www.newart.org.ge

31, V. Orbeliani str.
Tbilisi 0105 Georgia
Tel.: 995 32 987544
995 99 720906

NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-30-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)


Politics and elections
1. Alternative parliament will be in New Right’s office
2. Alternative parliament will morally influence the authorities
3. 39 polling stations annulled
4. Republicans say video evidence of election rigging is smoking gun
5. Bribing voters in Adjara Autonomous Republic
6. Georgian opposition plans boycott: Political standoff continues as opposition plans to boycott new parliament
7. Georgia faces internal and external crises after parliamentary election results
8. Death of Georgian democracy with parliamentary election results
9. Saakashvili’s job approval
10. MP candidate demands dismissal of GPB Director General
11. Public broadcaster chairman to stay on post
12. Lost of freedom of speech for Georgian media: Will TV companies be still censured?
Abkhazia

13. Ambassadors of EU and Javier Solana to go to Sokhumi to discuss resumption of talks with Georgia
14. EU Ambassadors to visit Abkhazia
15. European Union ambassadors arrive in Abkhazia
16. Ukrainian defence minister denies intention to send peacekeepers to Abkhazia
17. Georgia must withdraw armed units from upper Kodori – Bagapsh
18. Replacement of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia ruled out-Bagapsh
19. Georgia's joining NATO to worsen regional situation – Bagapsh
South Ossetia
20. Blast in South Ossetian capital
21. Three people wounded in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone shooting
22. video: Blast injures four in Georgia’s breakaway republic
23. Five injured in blast in Tskhinvali
24. Six people wounded in Tskhinvali car bomb explosion
25. South Ossetia accuses Georgia of state terrorism
26. Official denies Georgia's involvement in Tskhinvali blast
27. Georgian secret services behind Tskhinvali blast – S Ossetia leader
28. Peacekeeper rotation in South Ossetia
29. Crossfire war
Georgia-Russia and foreign relations
30. Georgia FM and US State Secretary to meet in Stockholm
31. EU creating obstacles to accession of new states - Lithuanian MEP
32. ‘EU Eastern Partnership’ project proposed
33. Georgia-Russia fight moves to Security Council
34. Russia wants Georgia separatists at U.N. council
35. UN Security Council to discuss Georgian drone dispute on May 30
36. Georgia wants UN Security Council session over drone downing
37. Georgia to take drone dispute with Russia to OSCE
38. In fallout from Georgian drone, Abkhazia analogies cut two ways, Kosovo or Chechnya
39. Russian security official discuss bilateral relations
40. Saakashvili meets Russia’s Deputy Chief of NSC
41. Saakashvili-Medvedev meeting to cover awkward ground
42. Ukraine promises assistance to GUAM partner-countries in solution of "frozen conflicts"
Misc.
43. The last tranche allocated under PRSO program of the World Bank in Georgia
44. Cost of oil products will continue increasing
45. Rustavi metallurgic plant to increase output twice in 2009
46. Badri Patarkatsishvili’s family appeals against the Tbilisi City Court verdict
47. Patarkatsishvili’s inheritance takes a pill
48. Patarkatsishvili family condemns Tbilisi Court ruling
49. Joseph Kay’s lawyer accused of drug smuggling
50. Country allocates funding to prevent natural disaster this year
51. UN Committee of the Rights of the Child reviews Georgia’s report
52. War veterans cannot enjoy benefits in Adjara
53. ”Tbilisis Amkari” held demonstration in front of the Municipality Building
54. Fiber optic cable connecting Europe, Asia disconnected in Western Georgia
55. The head of National Movement’s headquarters became hospital director
56. Tax + debts = unbearable life

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814

Thursday, May 29, 2008

BLOG: Neuer Blog von Nicolas Landru. (Nicolas Landru - Journalisme au Caucase)

Mein Freund Nicolas Landru - ein französischer Journalist und Experte für Fragen des Kaukasus, Mitherausgeber von www.caucaz.com - bleibt noch bis Ende Juni in der Region.

Er hat zusammen mit Hans-Heiner Buhr manches in französisch übersetzt. Da caucaz.com seit letzter Woche aus unerfindlichen Gründen technische Probleme hat, hat er seine Artikel zusammen gesammelt, und auf seinen eigenen Blog gesetzt: http://nicolaslandru.blogspot.com

Zur Zeit füllt er noch diesen Blog mit seinen Schriften und Fotos , (bisher ist nicht alles online, und die aktuellsten Sachen sind am Ende), aber nach ein paar Tagen wird er aktuell sein.

Nicolas Landrus Blog ist ein Überblick über seine schriftlichen Produktionen im Kaukasus.

NEWS: 29 May 08 | Caucasus Reporting Service 446

Georgian Opposition Plans Boycott
Political standoff continues as opposition plans to boycott new parliament. By Tamar Khorbaladze in Tbilisi (CRS No. 446 29-May-08)
Armenian War Vets Still in Jail
Karabakh war veterans’ association under pressure after arrests. By Diana Markosian in Yerevan (CRS No. 446 29-May-08)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Dinghies in Batumi. By Lela Meparishvili.

Photo am 27. Mai 2008 von Lela Meparishvili

COMMENT: Stellungnahme des Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights der OSCE zu den Parlamentswahlen vom 21. Mai in Georgien

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, liebe Südkaukasus-Interessierte,

anbei die erste Stellungnahme des Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights der OSCE zu den Parlamentswahlen vom 21. Mai in Georgien.


INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION
Georgia — Parliamentary Elections, 21 May 2008
STATEMENT OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Walter Kaufmann
-------------------------------------------

Walter Kaufmann
Director
Heinrich Boell Foundation
Regional Office South Caucasus
5, Radiani str., 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
T: +995-32-227705
F: +995-32-912897
E: kaufmann@boell.ge
www.boell.ge

NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-29-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)


Abkhazia
1. Georgia will use "all available means" to oust Russian peacekeepers from Abkhazia
2. Georgia could declare Russian peacekeepers occupiers
3. Tbilisi seeks to replace Russian peacekeepers after Georgian plane downed
4. Tbilisi awaits Georgia-Russian top level talks before taking decision on peacekeepers
5. Georgia developing proposals for replacing CPKF
6. Diplomatic efforts underway to change peacekeeping format
7. Two Russian peacekeepers injured in Abkhazia's conflict zone
8. Georgia denies reports about injured Russian peacekeeper
9. Russian peacekeeper lightly wounded
10. Life of Russian peacekeeper wounded in Abkhazia not in danger – command
11. Russia asks Abkhazia to join UN session on drone
12. Tbilisi demands Russia's apology for downed drone
13. Abkhazia says UAV incident used to ease Georgia's NATO bid
14. UN SC still undecided about meeting over Abkhazian air incident
15. Russia says Abkhazian official should be invited to UN SC meeting on Georgia
16. US envoy condemns Russia's actions
17. OSCE Security Forum to deal with UNOMIG's report
18. audio: Conflict brewing over breakaway Georgian province
19. Sokhumi Police taken all measures to establish identities of the persons involved in the Polish journalist’s robbery
20. Abkhazia accuses Georgia of firing on its own buses on election day
21. Refugees' massive return to Abkhazia may trigger conflict - Shamba
South Ossetia
22. Planned rotation of Russian peacekeepers begins in South Ossetia
23. Shooting heard in conflict zone
24. Georgian commander speaks about provocation
Georgia-Russia and foreign relations
25. Merabishvili: Russia pushing Abkhazia
26. Russia suspects foreign involvement in Georgian provocation
27. video: We can’t negotiate with this Georgian Government
28. EU best-positioned to solve Russo-Georgian deadlock
29. Merkel calls for closer NATO ties to Russia
30. Retaliatory non-strike: Russia does not intend to develop a missile defense system []
31. The quarrel over Sevastopol gives Ukraine more reason to prevent Russia from joining the WTO []
32. Russia accused of looking for a fight over Georgia and Ukraine
33. Kiev will be undertaking major foreign policy efforts in the Caucasus
34. Scheffer on Georgia, Ukraine
35. Georgians have chance to apply to Moscow universities
36. Georgia can hardly carry out obligations to create an anti-terrorist centre with Russia
37. Lavrov questions Tbilisi’s pledge on joint anti-terrorist center
38. 22 percent of Georgians approve of job performance of Russian leadership
39. Five Russians get jail terms for 2006 missile system smuggling
Politics and elections
40. Mischa’s mischief: Georgia’s fervently pro-western president secures an impressive, if flawed, mandate
41. Georgia – 2008: The revolution is called off
42. The end of the rose era
43. Georgian political crisis enters a new phase
44. The problem with winning
45. Shevardnadze: I did not see any roses
46. ‘Golden section' for Georgian democracy: The political conflict could develop in two directions
47. video: Georgian election neither democratic, free, nor fair
48. Opposition leader breaks with coalition over ‘alternative parliament’
49. Ruling party presents expenditures
50. Bakradze will definitely become new Parliamentary Speaker
51. Ruling party begins distribution of seats in future parliament
52. Gachechiladze against American influence
53. Only way out is new election
54. NDP comments on opposition plans
55. National-Democrats call for establishment of United Democratic Movement
56. Republican Party releases video evidence about poll rigging
57. Opposition demand re-count of ballots in Kobuleti
58. Several attacks on journalists during parliamentary elections
59. Public TV Board chair remains on post for now
60. Opposition decries ‘Sovietization’ of TV at public broadcaster protest
61. Georgian Public Broadcaster’s meeting to be held on Friday
62. Republicans call on all members of GPB Board of Trustees for ensuring the channel’s objectivity
Misc.
63. SDASU students stopped studying as a sign of protest
64. Mayor to present two new governors
65. Georgia pursues aggressive church policy toward Armenia
66. Giant deadly snake caught in Tbilisi
67. State Ministry celebrates Diaspora Day
68. Export of agricultural products increases
69. List of large HESEs, to be constructed in Georgia, published
70. “Spring Street” and “Joyful Street” appear in Tbilisi

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

ARTIKEL: Heller Mondschein bringt Wärme.

Frauenchor Tutarchela aus Georgien begeistert in der Gosecker Schlosskirche - Besonderes Repertoire

Eigentlich hätten die Zuhörer keine Wolldecke über den Beinen gebraucht. So warm waren die Gesangstöne, die Tutarchela (Mondschein) in der kühlen Gosecker Schlosskirche erklingen ließ.

Von Stefan Thomé, Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, 21. Mai 2008

Der ganze Artikel >>>

Sebastian Pank (links) vom Schloss Goseck war einer der vielen Unterstützer unserer Tour, die es erst ermöglicht haben, dass Tutarchela durch Deutschland reisen konnte. Mit dem Antschis Chati Chor machte er vor Jahren eine Reise durch Georgien. Dabei nahm er diesen Chor an verschiedenen Orten auf, und brachte ein wunderbares Doppel-Album bei Raumklang heraus.

Seitdem Sebastian Pank in Georgien war, bemüht er sich immer wieder den Kontakt zum Südkaukasus zu halten.

Tutarchela dankt ihm hier auf diesem Weg!

Tutarchela - Female Singer Choir from Rustavi (Album)

EINLADUNG: Die Rolle Berg-Karabachs in der Entwicklung des Suedkaukasus.

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

in der Anlage übersenden wir Ihnen das Programm eines Symposiums, das die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde in Zusammenarbeit mit der "Vertretung der Republik Nagorno-Karbakh.Artsakh" und der Europäischen Akademie Berlin veranstaltet.
Das Symposium und die anschliessende Abendveranstaltung stehen unter dem Titel "Die Rolle Berg-Karabachs in der Entwicklung des Suedkaukasus" und finden am Donnerstag,
den 5. Juni um 15.00 Uhr
im Rumaenischen Kulturinstitut, Koenigsallee 20a statt. Die Abendveranstaltung mit einem Gespraech beginnt um 18 Uhr.

Unbeschadet der Frage des Status von Berg-Karabach ist es wichtig, sich mit der Entwicklung des Suedkaukasus zu beschaeftigen, um in dem Konflikt zu Loesungen zu kommen, die den Interessen aller Rechnung tragen.
In der Pause zwischen Symposium und dem Gespraech der Abendveranstaltung wird ein kleiner Imbiss gereicht. Bitte haben Sie Verstaendnis dafuer, dass wir aus organisatorischen Gruenden um eine formlose, aber verbindliche Anmeldung bitten muessen.
Über Ihre Teilnahme wuerden wir uns freuen. Bitte richten Sie Ihre Anmeldung an die Europäische Akademie Berlin per Fax (030/89 59 51 95) oder per E-Mail (eab@eab-berlin.de).
Fuer Rueckfragen steht Ihnen Herr Stapel von der Europäischen Akademie per E-Mail p3@eab-berlin.de oder unter der Telefonnummer 895951-33 zur Verfügung. Bitte beachten Sie den Tagungsort!

Programm >>>

15:00 Uhr
Die Rolle und Bedeutung Berg-Karabachs in der Entwicklung des Südkaukasus -Symposium


PROF. DR. OTTO LUCHTERHANDT
Abteilung für Ostrechtsforschung
Universität Hamburg

PROF. DR. STEFAN WOLFF
Centre for International Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution
School of Politics and International Relations
University of Nottingham

DR. UWE HALBACH
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP

Moderation: PROF. DR. ECKART D. STRATENSCHULTE
Leiter Europäische Akademie Berlin
anschließend Fragen

18:00 Uhr
Beitrag zum Thema ASHOT GHULYAN
Parlamentspräsident Berg-Karabach

anschließend Gespräch mit DR. UWE HALBACH
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP

Programmleitung:
Prof. Dr. Eckart D. Stratenschulte, Europäische Akademie Berlin

Programmassistent:
Sören Stapel, Europäische Akademie Berlin


Mit freundlichen Gruessen
Dr. Heike Dörrenbächer
Geschäftsführerin
----
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde e.V.
German Association for East European Studies
Schaperstr. 30
D-10719 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 21 47 84 12
Fax: +49 (0) 30 / 21 47 84 14
E-Mail: info@dgo-online.org
Homepage:
www.dgo-online.org
----

PHOTOGALLERY: Zerbombte Wohnblocks in Grosny. By Marcel Meyer

Teilansicht eines zerstörten Wohnblocks im Zentrum von Grosny.

29. April 2008 von Marcel Mayer

Reportage: Tschetschenien (Album)

VORTRAG: 12 Jahre Tschetschenien

Lew Kopelew Forum Köln
Donnerstag, 29. Mai 2008, 19.00 Uhr

Barbara Gladysch berichtet über ihre Erfahrungen und Eindrücke aus Tschetschenien von 1996 bis 2008

Moderation: Sonia Mikich, Moderatorin und Leiterin der ARD/WDR
Monitor-Redaktion

Eröffnung der Fotoausstellung:
"Zwischen Wiederaufbau und Kriegserbe. Bilder aus den russischen Kaukasusrepubliken Tschetschenien, Inguschetien, und Nordossetien"
Eine Ausstellung des Deutsch-Russischen Austausches e.V. Berlin mit Unterstützung der Marion-Dönhoff-Stiftung

Dauer der Ausstellung: 30.05. - 18.06.2008.
Besichtigung der Ausstellung frei


Barbara Gladysch kam 1996 zusammen mit russischen Soldatenmüttern und Chris Hunter, dem Begründer von CPCD - Center for Peacemaking und Community Development in Moskau (später auch in Tschetschenien und Inguschetien), zum ersten Mal nach Tschetschenien. Im Jahr 1997 war sie dort OSCE-Wahlbeobachterin und gründete gemeinsam mit Hunter und tschetschenischen Freunden im Mai das Projekt "Kleiner Stern": Rehabilitationseinrichtungen für traumatisierte Kinder in Tschetschenien.
Auf ihren bislang 20 Reisen in verschiedene, auch entlegene, "vergessene" Gebiete Tschetscheniens versucht sie die Lebensbedingungen der Menschen zu erleichtern und deren Hoffnung auf Heilung und Frieden zu stärken.
Der in jüngster Zeit forcierte Bauboom in Grosny lässt in rasantem Tempo äußere Kriegsspuren verschwinden. Aber der "mit Putin-Porträts zugehängte bleierne Frieden, der in Grosny eingekehrt ist" (Sainap Gaschajewa in der NZZ am 12.01.2008) vermag nicht die unvernarbten
körperlichen und seelischen Wunden der Menschen zu überdecken.
Im Januar 2006 verweigerte Barbara Gladysch die Annahme des Bundesverdienstkreuzes 1. Klasse aus Protest gegen die deutsche Asylpolitik und die Politik gegenüber Tschetschenien.
Mit der Auszeichnung sollte ihr Engagement für Flüchtlinge und Asylsuchende in Deutschland, für die "Tschernobylarbeit" in der Republik Belarus und die Hilfeleistung für kriegstraumatisierte Kinder in Tschetschenien gewürdigt werden. In einem Brief an den
Bundespräsidenten erläuterte Barbara Gladysch ihre Gründe für die Ablehnung der Auszeichnung.

UKB: 5,- ? / 2,5 ? LKF-Mitglieder, Schüler, Studenten und ALG-II-Empfänger

Lew Kopelew Forum e.V.
Neumarkt 18a, 50667 Köln, Neumarkt Passage
Tel.: 00492212576767, Fax: 00492212576768
www.kopelew-forum.de

PAINTING: map-painting. 200x150 cm, 2008 .By Hans Heiner Buhr

27. Mai 2008 von Hans Heiner Buhr

NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-28-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)


Politics and election
1. President of Georgia received parade dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia
2. Joint press conference: Mikheil Saakashvili and the President of Poland Lekh Kachinski
3. What are friends for?
4. EU ministerial hails parliamentary polls
5. Where is Lado Gurgenidze going?
6. Ruling party says to protect its votes ‘by all means’
7. Observers haunted with an axe and weapon
8. Opposition announces plans for "alternative" parliament
9. Opposition rallies on Independence Day
10. PM comments on opposition’s protest
11. Party quits opposition coalition
12. Dimitri Lortkipanidze left Zourabichvili’s party
13. Republican MP-elect splits with party, says he will sit in parliament
14. Georgian president wins big, but loses bigger, in parliamentary vote
15. Elections in shadow of total vote rigging
16. Why does Saakashvili remain popular?
17. Georgia: Before and after
18. United opposition vs. head of Georgian Public Broadcasting
19. The opposition leaders and the members of the Public Broadcasting supervisory board held the meeting
20. Levan Kubaneishvili claims that rally of United Opposition on 27 May was pressure on the Public Broadcasting
21. Republicans say resignation of Public TV Board chair inexpedient
22. Erekle Tripolsky has resigned
Georgia-Russia relations and conflicts
23. How new Russian President could start Perestroika with friendly trips to neighboring countries [excerpt]
24. Saakashvili urges Russia to overcome deadlock
25. President Saakashvili’s remarks at National Security Council Session
26. Report of UNOMIG on the incident of 20 April involving the downing of a Georgian UAV over the zone of conflict
27. U.N. blames Russia for downed drone
28. UN mission confirms Georgian, rejects Russian version of air clash
29. UN says Russia shot down Georgian drone, which shouldn't have been over Abkhazia
30. Russian fighter shot down spy drone, says UN
31. Tensions rise as UN says Russian air force downed Georgian drone
32. Russian fighter shot down spy drone, says UN
33. Tbilisi demands apology from Moscow for incident in Georgian sky
34. Georgia demands Russian apology over spy plane
35. Georgia demands apology from Moscow over drone attack
36. Georgia wants compensation, apologies for drone downing
37. US welcomes Georgian self-control in drone incident
38. Moscow hopes for truth in Georgian spy plane row shot in Abkhazia
39. Russia says UN's Georgia spy plane probe unreliable
40. Russian MPs admit involvement of Russia in 20 April incident
41. Kovalenko handed over protest note
42. Russia to make special statement on UNOMIG report
43. Russian ambassador to Georgia doubts UAV evidence, not UN conclusions
44. Russian experts should be allowed to study Georgian UAV data
45. Lavrov doubts evidence Russian jet downed Georgian spy plane
46. "Ultimate cause" of Abkhazia attack needs disclosing
47. Shamba discontent with UNOMIG report
48. Abkhazia assumes responsibility for downing Georgian drone
49. Time to bury UN-led format
50. Russian MP visit Sokhumi
51. FM: Russia should become part of solution
52. Georgia may use UN findings to change peacekeeping format – official
53. Solana to visit Georgia to study situation on the spot
54. Khurcha incident: Staged or terrorist act?
55. Russian envoy pessimistic over prospects for Georgian-Ossetian settlement talks
56. Fire opened in Tskhinvali Region
Misc.
57. The government approved funding of extra four projects under the program of cheap credits
58. Fitch rates Bank of Georgia at B+
59. Cabinet approves the list of successful bidders
60. Georgia's average GDP growth for 2009-2012 at around 9%
61. Construction to start on Turkish section of Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
62. Turkey in between: Syria-Israel & Georgia-Russia
63. Mikheil Saakashvili attended the church service in Sameba Cathedral
64. Culture Minister hosts officials from Norway
65. Rustavi City Assembly elects new mayor
66. We give our hands to everyone
67. Georgia to name its first APC after President Mikheil Saakashvili

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814

PHOTOGRAPHY: After the Election. Photos by Gela Bedianashvili


FILM: ‘Tbilisi-Tbilisi’: A renaissance for Georgian filmmaking

By Rusudan Gvazava, Georgian Times , May 26

Although during the Soviet era, Georgia was well known for its filmmaking, after the fall of the Union, filmmaking in Georgia almost entirely halted. According to Gaga Chkheidze, deputy director of the Georgian National film center, since 1993, Georgian movies have not taken part any international film festivals.

“It may come as a surprise to you, but in spite of the difficult and chaotic period of the 90’s, about 60 films were made… though none of them are high level movies,” Chkheidze said. Now, two films are being marked as the revival of Georgian cinema: Tbilisi-Tbilisi (2005), a Georgian National Film Center production, directed and written by Levan Zakareishvili, and Rezo Esadze’s The Roof. Both movies took several years to complete.

Zakareishvili’s film was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, although at the last moment its nomination was withdrawn. In spite of this, the director became a member of the American Movie Academy. His film received 15 awards at various film festivals. Tbilisi-Tbilisi first gained fame at the Cinema Shock festival of CIS countries, where it won the award for Best Direction.

The film also won the Nika Award from the Russian Cinema Academy. Zakareishvili's second film about his native Tbilisi comes 13 years after his feature debut film, They, the first Georgian movie shown at the Cannes film festival. The war in Abkhazia and the economic crisis and political chaos of the corruption rampant years under the rule of Eduard Shevardnadze, during which time Tbilisi-Tbilisi was shot, have left their mark.

The film is a little rough around the edges, but has an angry realism that is immediate and compelling. Tbilisi-Tbilisi is a powerful, personal work, which turns an unforgiving narrative eye on the harsh realities of life on the streets of his native Tbilisi. Among those struggling to survive, is Dato, a hungry young filmmaker fleshing out ideas for his next project.

As Dato witnesses the marketplace his city has become, he runs into his old film teacher, now reduced to selling margarine just to survive. Also scraping by is Nona, a mute girl whose parents were killed and who now must beg for food and medicine for her sick brother; and Tedo, a young pickpocket who aggressively takes on the challenges of life.

These tales are skillfully interwoven to reveal the poverty, corruption, and class divide of contemporary life in Georgia. The idea for the film was unveiled in 1996, but because of problems with the Shevardnadze government over content that was hardly flattering, the film took six years to shoot.

The film finished in 2005, after Shevardnadze had been driven from office. “Tbilisi-Tbilisi was well received outside the country and helped to alert the film world to the beginnings of a renaissance in Georgian cinema,” Matthew Collin, from Guardian.co.uk said.

Before his death, Zakareishvili worked as a professor of film at Tbilisi’s Shota Rustaveli Cinema and Theatre Institute. Right up until the last days of his life, he worked on the film Caucasus Bestseller dedicated to the April 9 tragedy in Tbilisi, when the Soviet army dispersed an anti-Soviet demonstration, resulting in twenty deaths and hundreds of injured.

In an interview with The Georgian Times a few weeks before he died, Zakareishvili said he had never been the favorite of any government because, "I always tell the truth in my films. However, I do not want to talk about politics. When I go to Moscow, I always say loudly in the cinema circle not to speak about politics. I say let’s speak about films and women."

Zakerishvili leaves two sons and his film Caucasus Bestseller, continues to be directed by his youngest son Tengo Zakareishvili, a young film director who has done a number of short films. His other son, Soso Zakareishvili, has also become a movie director, although he claims that his father never wanted his sons to work in the film industry, because he did not want them to experience the same difficulties he did trying to make films.In an interview with The Georgian Times, Soso talks about his father’s film, Tbilisi-Tbilisi, and the project he was working on in his final days, Caucasus Bestseller.

G.T.: Can you tell us when your father began to shoot Tbilisi-Tbilisi? What was the process of making this film? What kind of difficulties did you face?

Soso Zakareishvili: The Idea for Tbilisi- Tbilisi was unveiled in 1996, but as soon as the government found out what the script was about, the sequesters began. When there was money, they used to say him, ‘It is not for you, you have to wait’, etc. thus it took six years to shoot. The original name of the film was going to be ‘Tbilisi-Istanbul’ as Tbilisi was like a market place and most goods were from the Istanbul. Later it changed and was renamed Tbilisi-Tbilisi there is also one card if you see in the film two children a mute girl Nona and his brother from Abkhazia whose parents were killed during the war and who now must beg for food and medicine an live on the train .

One day, when Nona comes to the train the train goes and she worries very much, as she thinks that she lost her brother, but the train goes nowhere and stops on the railway as the train goes nowhere besides Tbilisi. My father used to say that the title referred to a destination sign he once saw on a train, indicating that the city was, in those days, going nowhere. “‘Tbilisi-Tbilisi’ is an inscription on the train which means that the train does not go anywhere. I am anxious to see another inscription on the trains very soon: Tbilisi-Sukhumi, Tbilisi-Istanbul, or Tbilisi-Paris. I am a supporter of friendship,” Levan would say.

G.T.: This film also was nominated for an Oscar, and was among 5 nominated films, but at the last moment it was withdrawn and replaced by a Vietnamese film. Was he angry about this?

S.Z.: The film was chosen from 600 foreign films and was among 5 nominated films. He said that such big festivals usually have political character. At that time, America chose to support Vietnam. However, they called him later and invited him to become a member of the American Movie Academy and he did it. He wanted to be useful to his country, to young people, and to his family.

G.T.: Did he expect the film to be so successful?

S.Z.: No, he really did not expect it. However, to be honest, the problems shown in the film worried him so much that he wanted the film to be shown to the international audience, as well as Georgia to learn them about life conditions in Georgia during the Shevardnadze period. In the last days of his life, he was working on the film Caucasus Bestseller, and the theme concerned my father very much: the events on April 9, 1989...

He said he wanted to find out what happened to the survivors; what changes had been made in their lives; which had turned to religion or politics, and who had turned to violence. Bu the lack of funds was distressing for my father.

FILM: Georgian cinema one hundred years old

By Rusudan Gvazava, Georgian Times , May 26

Georgia has been making films for one hundred years. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgian cinema was known across Soviet blocs as being vibrant and creative. The Italian director Federico Fellini once described it as "a strange phenomenon, special, philosophically light, sophisticated, and at the same time, childishly pure.” But the economic breakdown which followed Georgian independence has made it very difficult to make films, although recently, experts say that quality Georgian filmmaking is beginning to return.

Georgian film production began at nearly the same time as European cinema. The first film festival took place in Tbilisi in 1896. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Georgian cinema, a number of exhibitions, festive events and showings of Georgian silent films have been planned. “A festive opening for Georgian cinema’s jubilee celebration will be held at Rustaveli Theater,” Nino Anjaparidze, a public relations department representative for the Georgian National Film Center, said, inviting the public to attend.

According to her, the Georgian filmmaking has begun to revive. “It turned out that the anniversary coincided with the 60 year anniversary of a well-known Georgian film Keto and Kote by Vakhtang Tabliashvili and Shalva Gedevanishvili,” Anjaparidze says.“

The film festival, will also consist of showing this film and we have newly reconstructed the film and a documentary about the period when this film was made is in the works by independent company ‘Kiono Project’ headed by Archil Geloavni,” stated Anjaparidze.

Experts widely consider 1908 the year cinema was born in Georgia, when film directors Dighmelov and Amashukeli made their first experimental shots. In 1912, Amashukeli shot the first full-length documentary movie, Akakis Mogzauroba [Akaki's Journey], about poet Akaki Tsereteli. The film was unparalleled by any other movie in world at that time as to its theme, length and artistic level. The first full-range feature film in Georgia, Kristine was shot from 1916 to 1918. The film was directed by Aleksandre Tsutsunava. In 1924 “Three Lives” by Perestiani was a great success - the film was the first attempt to provide psychological insight into the heroes.

In the mid 1920s, theatre, literature and art professionals came to the cinema. When Samanishvili's Stepmother (Marjanishvili) and Khanuma (Tsutsunava) appeared on the screen, they marked the beginning of a new genre of comedy film. Films of this period were very popular due to the first Georgian film star, Nato Vachnadze {from such films as The Story of Tariel Mklavadze, Who can Be Blamed, and others), the country's first silver screen diva.

Next came a period of new genres and style in the Georgian Cinema. One of the best representatives of the generation was Nikolai Shengelaia. Though he lived in Stalin’s epoch, watching his films we feel the directors active strive for innovation and artistic expressions in his films. Now, N. Shengelaias and N. Vachnadzes sons Eldar and Giorgi Shengelaia are also famous directors of the Georgian cinema.
The film My Grandmother by Kote Mikaberidze (1929) was also a crucial turning point for Georgian film. In this movie, for the first time in Georgian and Soviet cinematography, the principles of expressionism appeared.

The film was forbidden to appear on the screen, but many years later the film was restored and shown in La Rochelle. Soviet ideology was so pressing in the 1930s that little innovation took place. Only some films of the period were noteworthy: Siko Dolidze's Dariko (1936), David Rondeli's Lost Paradise (1937), and a few others.

Keti Dolidze a famous Georgian film director and a daughter of a well-known Georgian film director, says that she must congratulate the anniversary to the Georgian cinema in the past, and that nowadays, “Georgian cinema is in very bad condition because our government puts little money into cinema..

It is very difficult to revive after 15 years of falling and how can we overtake European cinema and even Russian cinema, as they have already produced 600 hundred movies this year because their government gives them enough money to produce films…

Businessmen will never put money into this field because if they put money in, they will have to pay more taxes on it,” Keti Dolidze claimed.
The 1970s is considered the Golden Age for Georgian cinema due to the works of directors such as Eldar and Giorgi Shengelaya, Otar Iosseliani, Rezo Chkheidze, Sergei Parajanov, and Tenguiz Abuladze, although this same period of time is also thought to be the most complicated period for Georgian Cinema. Film directors often had to use symbols, metaphors, and allegories to skirt Soviet regulations. Regardless of the influence of the soviet Union ideology, film directors from the 60-70s preserved the essentials that make up the Georgian cinema.

Chkheidze and his classmate Tenghiz Abuladze, a seminal figure in Georgian cinema, collaborated on several projects, and they directed their first feature film Magdanas Lurja [Magdana’s Donkey] in 1955, which won the 1956 Golden Palm award for best fiction film. The films of this period followed the principles of neo-realism aesthetics. Abuladze's artistic cinematography and metaphorical thinking is further developed in his films A Tree of Wishes (1976) and Repentance (1984). Repentance turned out to be the most important piece of art of the 1980s in Georgia, also known as the ‘perestroika’ period.

Mimino is a 1977 film by Georgian director Giorgi Daneliya made on Mosfilm, starring Vakhtang Kikabidze and Frunzik Mkrtchyan. It is a Soviet Era comedy, which won the 1977 Golden Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. The writer/director Georgi Danelia and his co/writer, Victoria Tokareva created a funny, insightful, and at times, sad story with real, earthy, decent, and very human heroes.

Short films have an original and peculiar place among Georgian films and the first master of this genre was Michael Kobakhidze, who built silent miniatures according to the principles of sound film. His film Wedding (1965) won the Grand Prize at Obesrhausen. And Umbrella (1967) won Grand Prize in Krakow. His first film was Alaverdoba (1963).
Several film makers moved abroad in the 1980s 90s, including Otar Iosseliani (April, Cast Iron, There was a Singing Bird (1971), The Pastoral (1976)) Dito Tsintsadze, and Temur Babluani. Other directors, who stayed in Georgia, like Dato Koteteshvili and Gogita Chkonia has just begun to make their mark when the entire film industry – and their careers- came to an abrupt halt. In 1972, a faculty of Cinema was opened in the Tbilisi Rustaveli Theatre Institute, and later the institute was named The Tbilisi Theatre and Cinema Institute.

In the opinion of Gaga Chkheidze, deputy director of the Georgian National Film Center, one of the main problems facing Georgian cinema today is the professionalism of film directors and producers. “I think that we need a producer’s company and more schools in Georgia because it seems that our commission considers new films as less professionalism and producers are the main people shooting films; he finds a film director and conducts all the process himself. Also, film directors during the last decades faced not only money problem but also creative issues,” commented Chkheidze on the present situation of Georgian film has been lifting since 2005. “Now, we receive finances from the government every year, though it is still not much money for cinema. It equals one million and seven hundred lari and this one million more, compared to last year,” Chkeidze said.“

During Shevardnadze period, there were many promises unfulfilled. So that I think that the crisis is over, we also have a commission which holds a competition every year for film project and the winners receive finances shooting their films. Cinema receives too little attention nowadays, and I think it must be first on the list of finances from the government. For example Russia gives films nearly 0.2 percent of its budget,” Chkeidze said about the difficulties in producing films in Georgia in recent years.

But, he also praised the fact that even in the tumultuous period after independence, some films were made: “You might be surprised, but in that period, 60 films were shot even though many of them are not known for people.”Although Georgian cinema has received little world recognition recently, two films in particular are now thought to mark a revival of Georgian cinema Tbilisi-Tbilisi (2005) by the late Levan Zakareshvili and The Roof by Rezo Esadze, both of which took several years to complete. Before his death, Zakareishvili said that the reason his film took so long to complete was because “as soon as the government found out what the script was about, the sequesters began. When there was money, they used to say, ‘It is not for you, you have to wait.’ Six years passed in torture. Due to my tense relationship with the Shevardnadze government, the film took six years to shoot.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: Thousands protest Georgia election


NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-27-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)


Politics and elections
1. Opposition protesting in downtown Tbilisi
2. Thousands protest Georgia election results
3. Opposition holds rally demanding new vote
4. video: 10,000 Georgians rally over 'rigged' poll
5. Opposition rallies outside Parliament
6. Opposition sets ultimatum
7. Opposition says it aims to thwart first session of new parliament
8. Christian-Democrats Refrain from clear-cut position on boycott
9. Police prevent opposition leaders from entering parliament
10. Riot squads prevent opposition MPs from entering parliament
11. Opposition protesters end rally
12. Radio reports "attack" on opposition activists in western Georgia
13. video: Election dispute deepens on Georgia's national day
14. Georgian election officials from opposition boycott CEC meeting
15. video: Divisions exposed on Independence Day
16. Parliament can start working with 2/3 MPs
17. CEC rejects complaints
18. Ballots counted, results disputed: Opposition will not recognize parliamentary election legitimacy
19. Opposition demands poll results' invalidation by 1200 gmt 26 May
20. Mikhail Saakashvili led parade away from opposition
21. Saakashvili says ready to cooperate with opposition
22. Saakashvili hopes unanimous opposition boycott will fail
23. Political crisis or peace: Authorities are optimistic about 4-party parliament
24. Nice work if you can get it: Observing, the game you always win
25. Electoralism and mistakes of international community
26. GYLA reports election violence and double voting
27. Legal or illegal funding?
Georgia-Russia relations and conflicts
28. Russia should become part of solution
29. Medvedev calls for better relations with Georgia
30. WTO pursues Russia talks, Georgia obstacle remains
31. Russia-Georgia WTO talks still stalled: Russian chief negotiator
32. Abkhazian law enforcers deny beating Polish journalist
33. Abkhaz autonomy
34. Russian peacekeepers, hardware to arrive in Abkhazia on Tuesday as part of rotation
35. Human decency will defeat ethnic cleansing
36. Russia to hold rotation of peacekeepers in South Ossetia at end-May
37. Russia says no increase in peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia after rotation
Drone incident
38. United Nations confirms Russian fighter jet shot & destroyed Georgian unmanned police aircraft on April 20
39. Georgia to take drone case to international bodies
40. UN concludes Russia shot down Georgian spy plane
41. video: UN: Russia shot down Georgian spy plane
42. Russian fighter shot down spy drone, says UN
43. U.N. says Russia downed drone Georgian craft was flying over separatist region
44. Tensions rise as UN says Russian air force downed Georgian drone
45. President hails UN report on downed drone
46. Russian Air Force official denies UN probe claim on drone downing
47. Senior MP accepts UN finding that Russia shot down Georgian unmanned plane
48. Russian envoy on downed Georgian drone
49. Shamba slams UN report on downed Georgian drone
50. Russia has no relation to Georgian spy planes downing in Abkhazia – Bagapsh
51. UNOMIG probe into April 20 air incident in Abkhazia not objective
Foreign relations
52. Lithuania will remain Georgia’s close friend, ally
53. Estonian general visiting Georgia, Azerbaijan
54. Polish president swears support to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations
55. Polish president sees Georgia as battleground for influence, domination
56. Georgian, Polish leaders address Independence Day parade in Tbilisi
57. Poland playing Prometheus in Georgia
58. EU foreign ministers on Georgia
59. NATO parliamentary assembled mulls over alliance enlargement
60. Letter from Brussels - “flying the same flag”
61. Turkey hiding behind big brothers in Georgia
62. Dancing the fast Caucasian dance
Misc.

63. Sharadze’s murderers must be “brought to justice”
64. Nino Bujanadze's corruption
65. Preventing drug use in Georgia
66. No food control until 2010
67. Shadow tobacco market down to 10 percent
68. Akhali Kselebi’s 2, 000 subscribers get new phone numbers
69. Georgian National Communications Commission temporarily ceases issuance of broadcasting licenses
70. Protest action on TV company “Maestro’s” air
71. Teimuraz Shashiashvili enraged by journalists
72. Pistol charge denied
73. Georgian cinema one hundred years old
74. ‘Tbilisi-Tbilisi’: A renaissance for Georgian filmmaking
75. Migration and language barrier -cause and effect
76. Ethnic groups in Georgia #15 – Molokans and Old Believers

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

PAINTING: Pirosmani by Beshan Shvelidze


ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine12 (with Pirosmani & Galaktion)

tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at
tbilisideepart@yahoo.de

dear friends,
wish you a nice time wherever you are
aloha and love patricia

tbilisiDEEPART magazine12 >>>
with Pirosmani Galaktion

ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine11 (with Lia Svelidze)

tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at
tbilisideepart@yahoo.de

dear friends,
in deepart 10 we wanted to send you a piece of music by dima dadiani. unfortunately technical problems interfered into this wonderful idea, sorry.
wish you a nice day
aloha! patricia

tbilisiDEEPART magazine11 >>>
with Lia Svelidze (artist)

ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine10 (with Dima Dadiani)

tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at
tbilisideepart@yahoo.de

dear friends,
the last two days yahoo.de was not availalable, was it because of the elections or just because of rain, that the waves could not pass?
now the weather is good and i hope nr 10 arrives savely.
with sunny regards
patricia

tbilisiDEEPART magazine10 >>>
with Dima Dadiani (musician, composer)

ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine9 (with Natia Arabuli)

tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at
tbilisideepart@yahoo.de

dear friends,
wish you a nice weekend
aloha! patricia

tbilisiDEEPART magazine9 >>>
with Natia Arabuli (film maker)

ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine8 (with Iliko Zautashvili)

tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at
tbilisideepart@yahoo.de

dear friends,
its cold in tbilisi, so working is nice,
aloha!
patricia

tbilisiDEEPART magazine8 >>>
with Iliko Zautashvili (multimedia artist, founder of creativ groups and institutinell initiative, author of curatorial projects)

Monday, May 26, 2008

NACHRICHTEN: Über die Arbeit der Wahlbeobachter in Georgien und über Berichte von Stimmenkäufen für die Parlamentswahl

Silvia Stöber schrieb mir heute, dass sie diesen Blog nun ein ganzes Jahr regelmäßig nutzt. Dass sie sehr froh über Quellen an Informationen über den Kaukasus ist. Nun bin ich ebenfalls ganz froh, dass sie in diesem Blog eine entscheidende Quelle für Georgien und den Südkaukasus sieht. Danken möchte ich an dieser Stelle auch den Mitarbeitern der Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung und ihren Kollegen beim Fernsehen, die ihr diesen Blog empfahlen.

Silvia Stöber hat in der letzten Zeit Einiges über Georgien für www.tagesschau.de geschrieben. Interessant könnte ein Artikel von vergangener Woche über die Arbeit der Wahlbeobachter in Georgien und über Berichte von Stimmenkäufen für die Parlamentswahl sein.
mehr >>>

FESTIVAL: Stimmen wie Mondlicht am 28. Mai 2008 in Hannover

MASALA in der Region

Mittwoch, 28. mai 2008– 20.00 uhr
St. Martinskirche in Bennigsen
Stimmen wie Mondlicht: Tutarchela aus Georgien
ticket-online

>> Vorerst die letzte Möglichkeit Tutarchela live in Deutschland zu erleben <<<

Tutarchela bedeutet „Mondlicht“ und bringt uns hohe Sangeskunst von den Bergen, an denen sich Europa und der Orient berühren! Tutarchela ist der bislang erste und einzige Frauenchor, der außerhalb Georgiens auf Konzertreise geht. Die zwölf Frauen haben sich auf die traditionellen Lieder und Tänze der verschiedenen Regionen Georgiens spezialisiert, sie singen aber auch klassisches Chorrepertoire aus der ganzen Welt.

Wir betreten eine neue Klangwelt, die ebenso fremd wie vertraut wirkt: die Lieder sind melancholisch und voller Kraft und die Inbrunst und Freude beim Singen berührt tief.
Der preisgekrönte Chor wurde in dem 2005 in Locarno präsentierten und von ARTE unterstützten Film „Wie Luft zum Atmen“ von Ruth Olshan porträtiert.


Tutarchela in Jena (2008)

www.myspace.com/tutarchela
www.tutarchela.org

Lieder aus Georgien
Workshop mit dem georgischen Vokalensemble „Tutarchela“
Dienstag, 27. Mai 2008, 18–22 Uhr mit Pause
Ort: St. Martinskirche Bennigsen, Gemeindesaal, Am Gut 11, 31832 Bennigsen
Leitung: Georgisches Vokalensemble TUTARCHELA
Kursinhalt: Die dreizehn Frauen des georgischen Vokalensembles „Tutarchela“ üben ihr Kulturgut mit den Kursteilnehmerinnen ein: Volkslieder, von Liebesliedern, Spott- und Necklieder bis hin zu Arbeits- oder Trinkliedern, und liturgische Gesänge aus der reichen georgischen Musiktradition.

Teilnehmerinnen: max 30, Teilnahmebeitrag: 10 Euro
Anmeldung bei Sabine Nauber, Tel.: 0511 343011 oder 0177 3991739


E-Mail: kirchenmusik-bennigsen@t-online.de

UPCOMING CONFERENCE: European Neighbourhood Policy and the South Caucasus

Wilton ParkTbilisi, June 2-5program at wiltonpark.org.uk/documents/conferences/WP915/pdfs/WP915prog.pdf

How is the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) operating in the South Caucasus? What are the prospects for investment, trade, aid, energy and environmental co-operation in the region? Which policies can best help promote stability, democracy, and prosperity? What are the prospects for conflict resolution in the region? How can Black Sea regional co-operation contribute to closer relations?

NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-26-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)


Elections and politics
1. Official preliminary outcomes in comparison w/parallel vote tabulations, opinion polling & exit polls
2. Results of parliamentary elections in Georgia
3. CEC confirms ruling party’s landslide victory
4. National Movement sails to victory
5. Ruling party triumphs
6. Reports on vote count annulled from over 20 polling stations in Georgia
7. Three more polling stations annulled
8. Election watchdog issues PVT results
9. Saakashvili promises dialogue, stronger Parliament
10. Saakashvili calls for dialogue ahead of opposition’s rally
11. President hails Georgians' "wisdom" after ruling party's landslide win in poll
12. Opposition mistrusts PVT results
13. video: Georgia’s opposition calls for parliament boycott
14. Opposition boycotts parliament after Saakashvili win
15. Leading opposition bloc said it will not take part in the activity of parliament
16. Opposition consults on possible boycott of parliament
17. Opposition coalition discusses tactic
18. Opposition vows to boycott parliament
19. Chances for unanimous opposition boycott shrink
20. Natelashvili urges opposition to reject mandates
21. Opposition leader outlines demands
22. Some candidates against boycott
23. Christian-Democratic Party undecided on boycott
24. Republican Party claims election falsification
25. MP candidate speaks about violations
26. Candidate for MP assesses opposition's decision as political game
27. video: Protesters plot Georgian rally
28. Opposition gears up for rally
29. Opposition leader calls on Church not to engage in political mediation
30. Germany hails Georgian polls
31. Solana hails ‘peaceful conduct’ of polls
32. International observers claim problems with election
33. Presidents congratulate Georgia on passing its democracy exam
34. Western print media criticize Georgian elections
35. European envoys assess polls
36. The most democratic elections in Georgia
37. Election controversy weakens Georgia
38. Authorities build up one-party parliament
39. Democracy still a work-in-progress in Stalin’s home town
40. Inclusive democracy: Where opinions begin and end
41. A journalist physically assaulted
42. Several attacks on journalists during parliamentary elections
43. In Sagarejo’s Azerbaijanian villages great election chaos observed
44. Kakheti’s observer struck by chair – voters frightened by criminals recently released from the prison
45. Open palm: Another signal to circle “five”: Vote rigging in Kutaisi
46. Noisy election in Gori on a maliciously peaceful background
47. The Human Rights Centre hardly managed to evacuate observers from Gori polling stations
48. Akhaltsikhe: Ballot box stuffing with faked votes
49. Provision of pensions and elections take place simultaneously in Zugdidi
50. In Batumi National Movement’s observers are regarded with more favor
51. The Human Rights Centre feft Sagarejo, Lagodekhi and Sighnaghi
52. IDP cards – one more method of falsification
53. Invisible ink: Another method of rigging elections
54. Elections in Samegrelo under cloud of murder and unexplained explosions
55. People beaten over faked passports
56. The Human Rights Center recalled observers precincts - threat of terror and death
57. Report from election observation 20 and 21 May 2008
58. Election deals in Samtskhe-Javakheti region
Conflicts and Georgia-Russia relations

59. paper: Introduction to the Georgia-Abkhazia case study
60. paper: The isolation of Abkhazia: A failed policy or an opportunity?
61. paper: Sanctions and the path away from peace
62. Russia to rotate peacekeepers in Abkhazia by June 2
63. Russian Defense Ministry to hold peacekeepers’ rotation in Abkhazia in late May
64. Russia says no increase in peacekeepers after rotation in Georgia's Abkhazia
65. Russian peacekeepers new accusations against Georgia
66. Secret peace plan discussed between Sukhumi and Tbilisi
67. American frigate sparks off separatists' concern
68. Rumors of peace amid drums of war
69. Polish reporter complains of being beaten up in Sukhumi
70. Peacekeepers report airspace violation in Georgia-Ossetia conflict zone
71. Georgia wants 'new dialogue' with Russia
72. What it means for Georgia to be on eve of war
73. Russian 'Avax' over Georgia
74. Checking in with the Georgians and Russians with the help of Robert Frost
75. Georgia sees chance to ease tensions with Russia
76. I am more likely a careful pessimist than an optimist in the issue of the Karabakh resolution [excerpt]
77. Zaporizhzhya Cossacks' reply to Moscow's Mayor
Foreign relations
78. upcoming conference: European Neighbourhood Policy and the South Caucasus
79. Prime Minister to take part in the sitting of the CIS heads of governments
80. Georgians are overcritical and over demanding
81. Whole world - USA, UNO, EC, etc. support only Saakashvili, not 'Poppositionists'!
82. Senior aide's lobbying efforts highlight challenge for McCain
83. Georgia relies on international community
84. State Minister to attend NATO PA Assembly's session
85. Foreign Minister leaves for Brussels
86. Does Georgia equally belong to all its citizens regardless the nationality?
87. German officials met Georgia's Defense Ministry officials
88. Azerbaijani president offers Independence Day greetings to Georgian counterpart
89. Energy security in the states of the Southern Caucasus region under threats of Russia
90. Saakashvili in Ukraine for energy summit
91. Georgia, Ukraine propose set up of new energy union
Business and economics
92. Productivity is the key for Georgia’s development
93. Bank of Georgia's long-term IDP affirmed at 'B+' with stable outlook-Fitch
94. audio/video: Georgia's transformation into a modern market democracy
95. Kala Capital longs for foreign designer company
96. Georgian dollar reserves decreased
97. KazTransgaz-Tbilisi for cleaner environment
98. Kulevi oil terminal opened
99. EBRD purchased Basis Bank Shares
Misc.
100. Honeymooning in Georgia
101. Georgian National Gallery to be revived
102. Fishing Georgia - Georgia on my six-weight line
103. Simulation systems for Georgian Army
104. Crisis of faith: Armenian identity threatened in Tbilisi
105. Encouraging women to become more politically active
106. New women’s health initiative offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings
107. Commemoration of AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day in Tbilisi
108. Dissecting Megrelians
109. The triumph of freedom with a modest parade and a pop star concert: Georgian Independence Day turns ninety
110. 2,600 servicemen to take part in Georgia's Independence Day parade
111. Patriarch presented diploma to Azerbaijani scientist
112. A Georgian Eurovision to boost national pride
113. Needles just the latest town to consider 'breakaway' course [excerpt]

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814

VORTRAG: Georgien nach den Wahlen, 11.06.08

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

am 21. Mai fanden die Wahlen zum georgischen Parlament statt, deren Verlauf von einer außergewöhnlich hohen Zahl ausländischer Wahlbeobachter begleitet wurde. Nicht nur hierin zeigt sich die herausragende Bedeutung des kleinen Landes im Südkaukasus, das seit der „Rosenrevolution“ 2004 mit aller Kraft auf die Eingliederung in die westliche Sicherheitsarchitektur hinarbeitet.
So ist Georgien schon heute ein Ort, an dem die Interessen Russlands mit solchen von NATO und EU unmittelbar kollidieren. Der ungewisse Ausgang des innergeorgischen Demokratisierungsprozesses und die ungelöste Frage der "abtrünnigen Provinzen" stellen das Land vor enorme Herausforderungen. Dieter Boden kann als langjähriger Beobachter in unterschiedlichen Funktionen aus erster Hand über diese Prozesse berichten.

Hiermit möchten wir sie einladen zum Vortrag "Georgien nach den Wahlen"

von Dr. Dieter Boden, Botschafter a.D.
ehem. Leiter der OSZE-Mission in Georgien,
Sonderbeauftragter des UN-Generalsekretärs in Georgien (1999 – 2002),
Leiter der OSZE/ODIHR Beobachtungsmission bei den georgischen Präsidentschaftswahlen vom 5.1. 2008

Moderation Dr. Heike Dörrenbächer, Geschäftsführerin der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde e. V.
am 11. Juni 2008, um 19.00 Uhr
in der Europäischen Akademie Berlin, Bismarckallee 46/48, 14193 Berlin-Grunewald

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dr. Heike Dörrenbächer
Geschäftsführerin


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Deutsche Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde e.V.
German Association for East European Studies
Schaperstr. 30
D-10719 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 21 47 84 12
Fax: +49 (0) 30 / 21 47 84 14
E-Mail:
info@dgo-online.org
Homepage: www.dgo-online.org
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Sunday, May 25, 2008

PHOTOGRAPHY: Inga, Maka and Dali - Singer from Tutarchela


PRESSESCHAU: Georgien: Kleines Land mit großen Problemen

Europäische Presseschau vom 22/05/2008

TOP-THEMA
Georgien: Kleines Land mit großen Problemen

Die Partei des georgischen Präsidenten Michail Saakaschwili hat die vorgezogenen Parlamentswahlen klar gewonnen. Doch die politischen und wirtschaftlichen Probleme der kleinen Kaukasusrepublik sind dadurch noch lange nicht gelöst. Was bedeutet das Wahlergebnis für den weiteren Weg Georgiens nach Europa?

Postimees - Estland
Die estnische Zeitung sieht die Probleme Georgiens keineswegs als gelöst an, auch wenn es der Partei von Präsident Saakaschwili offensichtlich gelungen ist, eine klare Mehrheit im Parlament zu gewinnen: "Kopfzerbrechen bereitet den Bürgern vor allem die hohe Arbeitslosigkeit, und der große Nachbar Russland droht Georgien, da Moskau gegen die NATO-Ambitionen des Landes ist. Georgien strebt in das westliche Bündnis, um ein Gegengewicht zu Russland zu haben, das die abtrünnigen Gebiete Abchasien und Südossetien unterstützt. Nun aber steht Georgien am Scheideweg, und es sind die Verbündeten im Westen, die die künftige Richtung angeben. Der letzte NATO-Gipfel hat keinen klaren Zeitplan für einen Beitritt verabschiedet, und Georgien will feste Zusagen. Wenn das Land aber die Unterstützung des Westens für die Lösung des Abchasienkonflikts will, darf Tiflis nicht von seinem Weg in Richtung Demokratie abweichen." (22.05.2008)
» zum ganzen Artikel (externer Link, estnisch)


Ziniu radijas - Litauen
Ceslovas Iskauskas überlegt, welche Rolle der Westen in Georgien spielen könnte: "Jede Initiative im Kaukasus benötigt die Zustimmung Russlands. Das mag Tiflis verärgern, aber so sieht die Realität in der Region aus. Moskau will die abtrünnigen Regionen Abchasien und Südossetien enger an sich binden und hat daher vergangenen Freitag die UNO-Resolution zurückgewiesen, die eine Rückkehr der Flüchtlinge nach Abchasien ermöglichen soll. … Die meisten Beobachter glauben nicht, dass ein neuer Bürgerkrieg droht, denn das wollen weder die Georgier, noch die Abchasen oder die Russen. Aber beide Seiten versuchen, andere Länder in den Konflikt hineinzuziehen: Tiflis appelliert an Washington und Brüssel, Suchumi will mehr Hilfe aus Moskau. Es ist schwer zu sagen, ob die lokale Bevölkerung die ersehnte Ruhe bekommt, wenn ihr Konflikt wieder auf der internationalen Agenda landet." (22.05.2008)
» zum ganzen Artikel (externer Link, litauisch)

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Tagesanzeiger - Schweiz
Obwohl Saakaschwilis pro-westliche Nationale Einheitsbewegung bei der Parlamentswahl gewonnen hat, bleibt der Präsident umstritten: "Die Opposition spricht von Wahlbetrug und kündigte ... eine Protestkundgebung in Tiflis an. ... Saakaschwili galt als demokratischer Hoffnungsträger ... doch sein Image litt in den vergangenen Monaten. Im November verhängte er einen neuntägigen Ausnahmezustand, nachdem zehntausende Menschen tagelang gegen ihn demonstriert hatten." (21.05.2008)
» zum ganzen Artikel (externer Link, deutsch)