GEORGIA: Kaladze vs Natsebi & more – 18th Jan 2024

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 18th of January twenty twenty-four A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

On Wednesday the 17th, Kakhi Kaladze, Tbilisi's Mayor, sharply criticized the United National Movement or Natsebi and its affiliates, calling them 'elderly swindlers' and accused them of causing hysteria.

Kaladze is suspected of laundering money through various city projects, such as the renovation of Tsereteli Avenue. Despite the project's expected completion, it appears to be significantly delayed, with less than 20% progress reported as of the latest update, and the deadline looming.

In response to these developments, the opposition began discussing this situation, highlighting the project's delays and potential financial irregularities. Kaladze, in turn, has countered these allegations.

Kaladze dismissed the opposition as unfounded since Misha is in jail, underscoring the government's commitment to key projects like Tsereteli Avenue. Kaladze's remarks are set against a backdrop of internal conflicts within the Natsebi. He cast doubt on the integrity of new political parties, hinting at their ties to the Natsebi, and questioned their loyalty to Georgia. By questioning the loyalty of these parties, he might be attempting to frame them as not genuinely representing Georgian interests or being potentially influenced by foreign agendas. This approach can sometimes resonate with voters who are concerned about national integrity and sovereignty, especially in a country like Georgia, which has a complex history with external influences and internal political challenges.

Papuashvili, the speaker of Parliament, made a Facebook post, where he accused the opposition of using platforms labeled as 'European', 'liberal', or 'Western' to attack the Church, alleging that these actions not only aimed to harm the Church but also undermined the ideas of liberalism and Western values. He suggested that these attacks were part of a coordinated campaign to demean Georgian values and symbols historically significant to the country. In response, on Monday the 16th, Ana Natsvlishvili of the opposition Lelo party called on Papuashvili to clarify his stance on Joseph Stalin's role in Georgia's history and the Georgian Orthodox Church. Natsvlishvili criticized Papuashvili for his stance regarding Stalin's role in Georgian history and the Church, urging him to openly say whether he considered Stalin's influence positive or negative.

On Tuesday the 16th, Georgian journalist Nika Gvaramia, founder of the Mtavari Arkhi channel and a vocal critic of the current government, announced his entrance into the political arena. However, Gvaramia has not explicitly confirmed whether he will be a candidate in the elections or assume a leadership role in a political party. Recall that he was an MP in the past. In a social media statement published on Monday the 15th, he called for a broad political opposition coalition to participate in the crucial parliamentary elections in October twenty twenty-four. This move comes after his recent release from prison and receiving the International Press Freedom Award. Gvaramia’s aim he has said is to foster new leadership in Georgian politics. His entry is seen as a significant shift in the political landscape, with potential implications for the upcoming elections.

On Monday the 15th, a delegation of the ruling party, Georgian Dream or Otsneba, led by Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, went to China. Irakli Chikovani, the Vice Speaker, emphasized Georgia's role in the 'middle corridor'—an international transport route linking China with Europe via Georgia. The delegation met with key Chinese officials, and they talked about the deepening of political and economic ties following last year's strategic partnership agreement. This move has sparked debate in Georgia, with opposition leaders like Tina Bokuchava of the Natsebi voicing concerns over the potential political shift away from the West towards China. However, others see ties with China as economic opportunities. Georgia between east and west….and north.

Still on the visit to China, on Tuesday the 16th, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, highlighted China's stance against the recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), underscoring the significance of China's commitment to international law and its role as a major global player amidst Russia's challenges to Georgia's territorial sovereignty.

On Thursday the 11th, political analyst Nodar Kharshiladze commented on the internal dynamics of the ruling party, Otsneba, describing it as a 'civil war.' Kharshiladze attributed Bidzina Ivanishvili's return to politics to internal conflicts within the party, highlighting a power struggle among key figures. He outlined the distinct roles and influences of Tbilisi Mayor Kakhi Kaladze, Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili within the party's structure. The analyst also noted the influence of Ivanishvili’s close associates in key security positions. According to Kharshiladze, this turmoil within Otsbena reflects deeper challenges the party faces in maintaining unity and public support.

On Tuesday the 16th, Mikheil Sarjveladze, Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Georgian Parliament, met with US Ambassador Robin Dunnigan in Tbilisi. They discussed the ongoing cooperation between the Committee and the US Embassy. Key topics included Georgia's progress on human rights reforms and its aspirations for European Union integration. Sarjveladze highlighted the government's dedication to working transparently on EU recommendations, while Dunnigan congratulated Georgia on its EU candidate status and expressed support for further reforms. All very formal and proformative.

On Monday the 15th, Thea Tsulukiani, the Minister of Culture, announced an upcoming exhibition in Poland to showcase Georgia’s rich Christian and European heritage. The announcement came during the closing event of the Europalia Arts Festival in Brussels, which prominently featured Georgian culture in its latest edition. Tsulukiani, speaking at the festival that celebrated Georgian polyphony, remembrance, and avant-garde art, also mentioned planned cultural festivals in Tokyo and Leuville, France.

On Tuesday the 16th, Mariam Kvrivishvili, the Deputy Economy Minister, heralded twenty twenty-three as a banner year for Georgia’s tourism and aviation sectors. The country’s three international airports collectively served over six million passengers, representing a 35% increase compared to twenty twenty-two. Tbilisi International Airport also experienced a 23% increase in passenger traffic, while Kutaisi and Batumi airports also saw substantial growth. The increase in air traffic has been linked to a rise in international tourist visits, with more flights from Europe and the Gulf countries.

On Tuesday the 16th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a sharp decrease in the number of Georgian citizens staying abroad in twenty twenty-three, with a 62% decline compared to the previous year. In contrast, twenty twenty-two saw the number of citizens leaving Georgia exceed those arriving by 45,000. In twenty twenty-three, this gap narrowed, with 17,000 more Georgians leaving than returning. Additionally, the data revealed a net decrease in Russian citizens in Georgia, with 31,000 more departures than arrivals in the country last year.

On Thursday, the 17th, Transparency International Georgia reported changes in the privatization terms of an offshore company connected to Vano Chkhartishvili, Ivanishvili's business partner. The specifics of these changes remain undisclosed. TI has urged the Georgian government to conform to obey the law and disclose the details of these changes, emphasizing the importance of transparency in state asset privatization, especially regarding offshore companies and individuals with political connections​.

On Sunday the 14th, Georgia celebrated National Flag Day, President Salome Zourabichvili spoke of the flag symbolizing the nation's sovereignty and independence, saying it will join European flags and create a 'new and strong unity.'

Aaaaand that’s it for this week!

Thanks for listening. Lots of you are listening via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc, thanks especially to those of you who subscribe. If you ever want to download an episode and just send the very small MP3 audio file to somebody in a messaging app because you think they might be interested, you can download each and every episode on our own website www.rorshok.com/gerogia.You’ll find the link in the show notes. Thanks!

Nakhvamdis!