GEORGIA: Kobakhidze with Borrell & more – 22nd Feb 2024

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 22nd of February twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

On Tuesday the 20th, Georgia's freshly minted PM Irakli Kobakhidze received a warm welcome from Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. They dived into discussions about Georgia's EU aspirations, with Kobakhidze highlighting the nation's push for candidate status as a top priority. Their dialogue also ventured into the complex issue of Georgia's territorial integrity, particularly the ongoing challenges in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This situation has not only led to severe human rights violations and displacement of ethnic Georgians but also hindered Georgia's aspirations towards European integration. Kobakhidze's trip to Brussels also aimed to bolster ties with NATO.

Moving on, on Wednesday the 21st, at the Munich Security Conference, Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgia's Foreign Minister, was buzzing about getting Georgia cozy with Europe. He dished on how France's fresh Foreign Minister is all in for Georgia, and how Germany's nodding along too. The U.S.? Still Georgia's number-one fan. These aren't just your everyday chinwags; they're about Georgia strutting its stuff on the European stage. Darchiashvili's rallying the troops - from Europe to the States - making sure Georgia's European dream isn't just pie in the sky. It's all hands on deck, with Georgia making moves and shaking things up, proving it's not just talking the talk but walking the walk toward Europe.

On Thursday the 15th, Tucker Carlson, the American journalist known for his provocative commentary, sparked controversy in Georgian media. Carlson interviewed the Russian President, drawing significant attention for allowing Putin to promote narratives justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This move has raised questions about who sponsors Carlson's messages in Georgia, as they have been echoed across various platforms, including pro-Kremlin and anti-Western outlets.

Carlson's stance has been consistently against American aid to Ukraine, even labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator. His statements, often amplified by Kremlin media, found resonance in Georgia's local media landscape, particularly among pro-Kremlin and pro-government outlets like Alt-Info, Sezoni TV, and PosTV. The "Georgia First" platform, linked to the ruling party the Georgian Dream or Otsbena, has been actively spreading Carlson's narratives since November twenty twenty-two, with dozens of sponsored materials on social media platforms showcasing Carlson's interviews and opinions.

A landslide in Shovi killed thirty-three children in August twenty twenty-three. An investigation by journalist Gela Mtivlishvili, the editor of Mtis Ambebi, revealed that the tragedy could have been prevented. Mtivlishvili pointed out the authorities’ negligence, with no evacuation plans and rescuers without proper equipment. Interestingly, his article could win the European Union Prize. Now, the government is coming after Mtis Ambebi, with Shalva Papuashvili, the Parliament Speaker, accusing Mtivlishvili of spreading panic and telling lies.

Big news for Georgia and South Korea as on Wednesday the 21st they kicked off their first round of free trade negotiations in Tbilisi. They're covering everything from energy and transport to investment, aiming to smooth out the trade in goods and services, For Georgia, this could be a game-changer, opening doors to new markets, driving growth, and setting the stage for a booming economic partnership.

Next up, according to the National Environmental Protection Agency, on Friday the 16th Tbilisi and other Georgian regions are facing a spike in particulate matter levels. There is an uptick in PM10 and PM2.5 in the air (particles with diameters of ten and 2.5 micrometers) due to pollution that's crossed borders into Georgia. If inhaled, these particles can cause health problems. However, the agency said this kind of pollution isn't unusual, popping up only under certain weather conditions a few times a year.

Since we mentioned Tbilisi, its streets are set for a change with a slash in taxi license fees, particularly for the white, easily recognizable "Taxi Tbilisi" cars under Category A licenses. Category A taxi drivers will enjoy indefinite permits, and gain access to bus lanes. The reduction in license costs is designed to encourage more drivers to operate within the legal framework, promising an increase in the number of authorized taxis.

In other news, on Tuesday the 20th, The National Democratic Institute (or NDI) launched its Pre-election Assessment Mission in Georgia, gearing up for the twenty twenty-four parliamentary showdown. They are conducting detailed surveys, engaging in thorough checks of the electoral framework, and ensuring all players play fair. From scrutinizing the legal nuts and bolts to soaking up the street-level talk, they're dissecting every layer. Recall that the USAID is backing it up.

On Monday the 19th, the country remembered the life and legacy of Maro Makashvili, a beacon of Georgian spirit and courage, Maro's story intertwines with Georgia's struggle for independence, when the Russian Red Army invaded Georgia in nineteen twenty-one. She joined the Red Cross as a Sister of Mercy, a role that would ultimately claim her life on the battlefield near Kojori.

In some positive news, on Friday the 16th eleven-year-old Mariam Meiparian won the top prize in the children’s category of the “Growing with Your Food” photo contest. She captured hearts with her photo essay on cultivating an ancient wheat variety in her school garden. The competition is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu twenty twenty-four festivities and draws over 1,100 entries globally, celebrating the art of gardening.

In the literary world, Georgian writer Aka Morchiladze, born Giorgi Akhvlediani, was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature on Friday the 16th. Morchiladze's literary contributions have been celebrated with multiple awards, including the Saba Literary Prize. Some of his notable books translated into English include "Journey to Karabakh" and "Maid in Tiflis."

Closing this edition with sports news. On Sunday the 18th Georgia's fighting spirit soared in the UFC arena. Merab Dvalishvili outmaneuvered Henry Cejudo, clinching a win that puts him on a ten-fight victory streak and setting his sights on the super lightweight championship belt. Dvalishvili now boasts victories over three former champions: Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Petr Yan,

On the same night, Ilia Topuria, a Georgian-Spanish MMA artist, claimed the lightweight championship belt, defeating Alexander Volkanovski. This triumph not only marked Georgia's first UFC championship belt but also kept Topuria's undefeated streak alive at fifteen wins.

Aaaand that’s it for this week!

Thank you so much to everyone who filled in the survey over the past few weeks, we really appreciate your comments and ideas. Many of you mentioned you would like to get some more in depth episodes and interviews, is that something you would like? Do you have any topics in mind? Something specific about Georgia that you want to know more about for us to do a special show on? We want to do some new things very soon! Please email us at info@rorshok.com. The survey is still linked in the show notes if you are interested in that as well.

Nakhvamdis!