GEORGIA: Russo-Georgian War anniversary & more – 15th Aug 2024

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 15th of August twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

Before we begin, we’d like to make a correction. In our last episode, we misspoke and called Irakli Gharibashvili the prime minister, when he’s actually the former prime minister. A sharp-eyed listener caught this and let us know. We're really thankful for the heads-up and we apologize for the confusion. Now, let's move on to this week's updates.

On Monday the 12th, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a letter to President Salome Zurabishvili for the 16th anniversary of the August two-thousand-eight war between Georgia and Russia. The letter was all about showing support for Georgia, especially regarding its territorial integrity. Biden condemned Russia’s ongoing military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which has been a sore spot for Georgia since the war.

While Biden’s letter was a strong show of support, the European Union also had something to say about the situation. On Thursday the 8th, the European Union condemned Russia’s military presence in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, tying it to the 16th anniversary of the August war. The EU’s message was clear: Russia is violating international law, and the situation needs to be addressed. This statement is part of the ongoing support that Georgia receives from the EU in its fight to regain control over its territories.

The EU also reminded Russia about the two-thousand-eight ceasefire agreement, which Russia has not really followed. For Georgia, this kind of backing from the EU is crucial as the country continues to push for its European aspirations.

As the international community rallied around Georgia, President Zurabishvili made a strong statement that echoed the sentiments of many Georgians. On Friday the 9th, during a ceremony marking the 16th anniversary of the August two-thousand-eight war, President Salome Zurabishvili said that Georgians will never accept the occupation of their territories.

Alongside these strong words, the Georgian government also took diplomatic action to address the ongoing issues with Russia. On Monday the 12th, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Russia to follow the two-thousand-eight ceasefire agreement and withdraw its forces from the occupied territories. This statement was another attempt by Georgia to push Russia to honor its commitments from the end of the August war. The Ministry highlighted that the continued presence of Russian troops is illegal and a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty. Despite many years passing since the war, the situation hasn’t changed much; Russian forces still occupy parts of Georgian territory.

While these international and diplomatic efforts were happening, things were also heating up on the domestic front. On Sunday the 11th, Nika Melia, co-chairman of the Akhali party, was attacked outside his home in Tbilisi. Melia is a well-known opposition figure and a strong critic of Otsneba. The attack raised a lot of concerns about political violence in Georgia, especially with the parliamentary elections coming up in October. People demanded a full investigation to find out who was behind this. The attack on Melia is a reminder of how tense things can get in Georgian politics, and it’s got everyone on edge as the elections get closer.

While the political tension was high, a dramatic rescue took place in the mountains. On Tuesday the 13th, the Georgian Border Police saved three climbers who were stranded on Shchelda Peak in the Caucasus mountains after getting stuck in dangerous weather conditions. They quickly sent a helicopter to the scene, and after a tense operation, the crew managed to get all three climbers in safely.

As political tensions rose, Georgia also welcomed some important international visitors who reiterated their support for the country. On Wednesday the 14th, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Mike Turner visited Georgia to show support for the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. They met with Georgian leaders and talked about the importance of the upcoming elections being free and fair. They also visited the Administrative Boundary Line in South Ossetia, where they got a firsthand look at the Russian occupation.

As international support poured in, there were also some big moves in Georgia’s political scene. On Monday the 12th, Aleko Elisashvili, leader of the Moqalaqeebi (the Citizens party), joined the Strong Georgia coalition. This new alliance is shaking things up right before the parliamentary elections, with Elisashvili saying it’s all about bringing real change.

While international visits were making headlines, some Georgians were taking drastic steps to fight for their rights at home. On Tuesday the 13th, some employees of Evolution Georgia started a hunger strike as part of their ongoing protest against poor working conditions and low wages. This strike has been going on for weeks, and the workers felt like their voices weren’t being heard, so they decided to take more extreme action. Evolution Georgia, a big gaming company, has been under fire for not treating its workers fairly. The hunger strike drew a lot of attention to the issue of workers’ rights in Georgia.

As these protests unfolded, the government was also making progress on a major infrastructure project that had been in the works for a while. On Thursday the 8th, the Georgian government announced the opening of a new 1,800-meter tunnel on the Rikoti Pass. This tunnel connects the eastern and western parts of Georgia, making travel easier and safer. The Rikoti Pass has always been a tricky route, especially in the winter, so this new tunnel is expected to make a huge difference.

Moving on, some Georgian archaeologists are heading to Jordan for a different kind of project. On Monday the 12th, a team of archaeologists from the Georgian National Museum departed for Jordan to begin planning excavation work at the ruins of a Georgian desert monastery that dates back to the 6th century. This site, located in a remote part of Jordan, is believed to have been an important religious center for Georgian monks.

The team, led by renowned archaeologist Giorgi Chubinashvili, is excited to uncover pieces of history that could shed light on Georgia’s ancient connections to the region. The archaeological community in Georgia is buzzing with anticipation, eager to see what treasures might be discovered.

Georgia also had some big news in sports, bringing the country together in celebration. On Saturday the 10th, Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze made history by becoming a three-time Olympic champion. He’s already a legend in weightlifting, breaking records left and right, but this win just took things to a whole new level.

And as if one Olympic champion wasn’t enough, Georgia had another reason to celebrate. On Sunday the 11th, freestyle top wrestler Geno Petriashvili brought home the gold medal from the Paris Olympics. The celebrations continued with people filling the streets and cheering.

Amid all the excitement around Georgia’s sports victories, the government rolled out some good news for travelers. On Thursday the 15th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that they’ll start issuing international driving licenses next week. This is great news for anyone planning to drive abroad, making it a whole lot easier to get around.

To wrap up, there was also some news in the world of real estate and development. On Tuesday the 13th, Mariam Kvrivishvili announced a new resort development in Racha, a region in northern Georgia known for its stunning landscapes and wine. This new project is expected to bring more tourists to the area, improve the local economy, and create more jobs.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

Are you a long-time listener or a long time hanger-arounder in Georgia? Want to participate in the show? Well, this is your chance! We're looking for listener anecdotes or tips about living in Georgia to share with the community of listeners. Restaurant recommendations, tours you have enjoyed? Cultural activities? Anything you would want to share we’ll be happy to hear! Let’s chat! Email us at info@rorshok.com with a relevant subject line.

Nakhvamdis!