Georgia Update –Georgia Celebrates Independence Day & more– 1st June 2023

st of June: 2023

Let's kick off this episode with Georgia's Independence Day.

On Friday, the 26th, Georgia marked the 105th anniversary of its Independence Day with ceremonial events held in Tbilisi and fifteen other municipalities. At Tbilisi's Freedom Square, President Salome Zurabishvili addressed the citizens. She emphasized the importance of freedom and peace and highlighted the significant role that language plays in Georgian culture. Zurabishvili dedicated much of her speech to remembering Georgia's struggles for independence and the sacrifices made during the Russian Empire and Soviet occupation. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, and Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze congratulated the citizens on Independence Day in their speeches as well.

After the ceremony, recruits in ten regions of Georgia took the military oath. Foreign leaders, diplomats, and officials sent congratulations and well wishes to Georgia. However, this year, the government decided not to display the European Union flags on the Parliament's facade. The picture of the parliament without the flag went viral on social media, causing public discontent. Members of the opposition called the action another pro-Russia move and urged Shalva Papuashvili to raise the EU flags on the facade of the Georgian Parliament building, together with the Georgian flag, like last year. In response, the Government Administration said this year, the theme was freedom and love of liberty, therefore, Georgia celebrated it with national symbols.

Some updates on the direct flights between Georgia and Russia.

On Thursday, the 25th, Tamaz Gaiashvili, the founder of Georgian Airways, said to the Russian channel TRVI that his company will act as a stopover for Russians whose final destination is Europe. However, the opposition criticized the government for the direct flights with Russia and warned that the EU could sanction Georgian Airports. Georgian Airways, in response, said that the Georgian public doesn't need to worry as "sanctions cannot be applied only to us, they should first concern Turkey, the United Emirates, Israel, and Central Asia, and only then will they reach us."

On Monday the 29th, Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, and the Ambassadors of EU Member States met with Levan Davitashvili, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. During the meeting, the EU ambassador delivered diplomatic initiatives regarding the resumption of direct flights with Russia. Herczyński said that, while it is true that Russia unilaterally decided to resume flights with Georgia, the agreement required the Georgian government's say. Therefore, he delivered a message agreed upon by the twenty-seven EU member states saying that they regret the decision of the Georgian government to agree to the resumption of direct flights between Russia and Georgia.

On Saturday the 27th, supporters of Nika Gvaramia, the director of the Mtavari Channel, held a rally called "Freedom to Nika" at Orbeliani Square near the Presidential Palace. Mtavari channel employees, journalists from other media outlets, politicians, and Gvaramia's supporters attended the protest, urging the President of Georgia to exercise her pardon power and release Nika Gvaramia, calling him Bidzina Ivanishvili's personal prisoner. Levan Khabeishvili, Chair of the United National Movement of Natsebi, highlighted that the president could also grant Misha a pardon. Khabeishvili also emphasized that so far, the President's words and actions do not align, which causes questions about her intentions. For example, she talks about depolarization but does nothing to end it.

Speaking of Ivanishvili.

On Friday the 26th, Reuters reported that the Singapore International Commercial Court ordered Credit Suisse Trust Ltd., a Suisse global investment bank, to pay 926 million US dollars in compensation for failing to protect the assets of Bidzina Ivanishvili, a businessman, former Prime Minister, and founder of the Georgian Dream party or Otsneba. The International Commercial Court in Singapore ruled that a division of Credit Suisse acted dishonestly and failed to take proper care of Bidzina Ivanishvili's assets, causing a setback for the bank. Although Credit Suisse plans to challenge the ruling, Ivanishvili's legal representatives, Cavinder Bull and Woo Shu Yan from Drew & Napier law firm, accused Credit Suisse Trust of incompetence resulting in fraudulent mismanagement and significant losses of Ivanishvili's assets.

On Monday, the 29th, eight civil society organizations held a press conference to discuss their visit to Brussels in May. They monitored the fulfillment of priorities Georgia requires to receive candidate status from the EU. In their meetings with EU institutions and representatives of member states, they highlighted the challenges the Georgian Dream faces to become a member of the EU. Although the civil-society organizations acknowledged the government's efforts to meet various priorities, they expressed concerns about the insufficient fulfillment of important requirements. These priorities include depolarization, an independent judiciary, de-oligarchization, free media, and civil society participation in decision-making.

Some news from occupied regions.

On Tuesday the 30th, more than a thousand people gathered in Sukhumi to voice their demands, displaying banners opposing laws allowing Russian citizens to own land and protesting energy price hikes. The opposition called for dialogue with Aslan Bzhania, Abkhazia's de facto leader, and demanded the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers, proposing a two-year roadmap to address national issues through the creation of a Presidential Reform Council. They also demanded the rejection of ratifying the agreement between Russia and Abkhazia.

Moving on to international news.

On Tuesday, the 30th, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili took part in the Global Security Forum, GLOBSEC, in Bratislava. Political leaders criticized and disapproved of Garibashvili's remarks at the event. Garibashvili suggested that Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO and the expansion of NATO triggered Russia's military involvement in the ongoing war. He also stated that despite the challenging geopolitical circumstances, Georgia would continue to push through with its reforms to receive the EU candidate status. And denying Georgia the EU candidate status, particularly as it is a leading country in the Association Trio, along with Moldova and Ukraine, would constitute an unavoidable political mistake. Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of the US Army in Europe, wrote on Twitter, "What happened to Georgia"? Michael Roth, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the German Bundestag, raised concerns regarding the Georgian government's position on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He called the Georgian government to immediately clarify Georgia's relationship with the EU and NATO.

On Wednesday, the 31st, President Salome Zourabichvili addressed the European Parliament as part of her visit to Brussels. Before her speech, she met with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, to talk about Georgia's European future and the implementation of the twelve priorities outlined by the European Union. In her address to the European Parliament, Zourabichvili focused on Georgia's integration with the European Union, its European identity, its status as a candidate for EU membership, the war with Ukraine, and its relations with Russia. She acknowledged that Georgians have been working towards "rejoining its European family" for centuries and pledged to do everything in her power to make it happen, not just because it's mandated by the Constitution but also because of her firm moral conviction. Zourabichvili also highlighted that Georgians have been steadfast in their commitment to the European path and have shown their support through various protests throughout the years. She concluded her speech by emphasizing that a European future for Georgia means a future for the people in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, which will guarantee their freedom, protection, and identity. Unlike Garibashvili's comments at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava, European politicians welcomed Zourabichvili's speech and her unwavering political stance on the war in Ukraine.

We end this episode on a festive note.

On Monday, the 29th, Adjara Tourism Administration announced the Summer Festival, themed "Summer Begins Here," which will take place over the weekends in Batumi outside the Alphabet Tower, a 130-meter-high structure that represents the Georgian alphabet. The festival marks the official start of the tourist season in the western region. It will feature various sports and entertainment events, including a pantomime show, air show, children's activities, wall-climbing competitions, and performances by both local and visiting musical artists, bands, and DJs.

Aaaaaand that's it for this week! You may not know it but we do updates for some other countries too. If you know anybody who might be interested, let them know. Ready? Here they are, West to East: Argentina, Venezuela, Spain, Nigeria, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Malawi, Ethiopia, Japan. Think of anybody?

Nakhvamdis!