Issue #1272

Issue no: 1272

• NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

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In this week’s issue...

Coronavirus: Daily Numbers Continue to Rise in Georgia, New COVID Vaccine Gives Hope NEWS PAGE 3

PAGE 10

Will Georgia Lose Out with the Biden Win? POLITICS PAGE 4

Disinformation against Public Resilience – the Information Defense Legion on Tackling the Kremlin Propaganda POLITICS PAGE 5

Hans Gutbrod on Karabakh: Peace Perspectives & the Impact on Georgia POLITICS PAGE 6

Trenin: "The Armenians Will Have to Eat their Bitter Humble Pie" & Georgia Draw Lessons

BUSINESS PAGE 8

Travel Box - Unbox Adventure!

BUSINESS PAGE 9

Smokin’!: Etseri, Svaneti SOCIETY PAGE 10

Self-Quest in Sololaki

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

CULTURE PAGE 11

T

he second Karabakh War is seemingly over, and as one side celebrates and another mourns, experts, opinion makers and their ilk are trying to gauge what the Kremlin-brokered, Erdogan-approved truce might bring. How will the power balance change in the region, who are the winners and losers, and, finally, what impact will it have on Georgia? These are the topics GEORGIA TODAY put to one of the Moscow Carnegie Center's most prominent faces, Dmitri Trenin.

Continued on page 7

Sustainable Construction: The Best Solutions & the Importance of MultiStakeholder Cooperation

Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

Markets As of 09ͲNovͲ2020

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Image source: russiaknowledge.com

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

Coronavirus: Daily Numbers Continue to Rise in Georgia, New COVID Vaccine Gives Hope

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

his Monday came with at least one piece of good news: early analysis of the drug-maker Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine trial showed that it is more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. This makes Pfizer the first company to announce positive results from a late-stage vaccine trial.

The expected 90% protection means that it will be as highly effective as the childhood measles vaccine, according to the NY Times. What’s more, according to Pfizer, no serious safety concerns have been raised in relation to the vaccine. However, like many other details, it is not really clear how long the vaccine’s protection will last.

Meanwhile, the daily number of coronavirus cases and the death toll continue to rise in Georgia.

To prevent the rapid spread of new cases of infection, the Georgian Interagency Coordination Council decided to impose additional localized restrictions: effective

November 9 movement in the 7 big cities is restricted from 22:00 to 05:00.

"This restriction applies to both pedestrians and vehicles. The restriction will not affect international transport or the persons and their vehicles that move for the operation of strategic facilities, medical facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, media organizations and delivery services," Vice-Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili stated, adding that that a person who violates the restriction will be fined 2000 GEL, while legal entities will be fined 10,000 GEL. “On November 12, 3120 newly confirmed cases of infection were detected in Georgia in 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected people since February to 69,681,” Aleksandre Khojevanishvili, representative of the Interagency Coordination Council, stated at a briefing at the Government Administration.

“We still maintain positive dynamics in terms of the growth of recovering people,” he added. “2358 people recovered in the last 24 hours, and the total number of recoveries [since February] increased to 52,169.

"Unfortunately, 33 people died in the

last 24 hours, including 11 in Tbilisi. The virus-related death toll stands at 599," he said.

Based on the official statistics, the new cases were distributed as follows: Tbilisi - 1033 Adjara - 502 Imereti - 517 Kvemo Kartli - 192

Shida Kartli - 126 Guria - 95 Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - 332 Kakheti - 100 Mtskheta-Mtianeti - 107 Samtskhe-Javakheti - 95 Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti - 21 Of 652 seriously ill patients, 329 are on

artificial respiration.

At this stage, the number of active cases stands at 16,887, most of whom are being treated at home.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia had recovered from coronavirus. The government administration disseminated the information, adding that he had taken a PCR test and the answer was negative.

He will continue to work in his usual regime.

PM Gakharia tested positive for coronavirus on November 2. He had mild symptoms and was treated at home.

On November 12, the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili, tested positive for coronavirus.

"The Minister feels well, he is at home and continues to work remotely. All those who came into contactwith the Minister have been identified and they have moved to self-isolation," the Ministry announced.

Against the backdrop of an increasing number of cases and the death toll, government officials are insistent the country maintains positive dynamics in terms of the number of recoveries.

baijan. It is noted that the center will collect, summarize and verify information about the implementation of the ceasefire by the parties and other actions that violate the agreements reached. It is also tasked with documenting violations via visual supervision, UAVs, and assessing data from other sources. The center will become a body for considering any complaints, issues or problems

regarding violation of the agreements reached," reports TASS. On November 10, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement to end the military conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The new ceasefire agreement prompted anger in Armenia, with protesters storming Parliament and calling Armenian PM Pashinyan "traitor."

Russia, Turkey Agree Creation of Nagorno-Karabakh Ceasefire Monitoring Center

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

he Russian and Turkish defense ministers signed an agreement on Wednesday on the establishment of a joint ceasefire control center in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The memorandum of creation of a joint Russian-Turkish center for ceasefire supervision in Nagorno-Karabakh has been signed following videoconference

talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, the Russian Defense Ministry reported Wednesday," news agency TASS reports.

The memorandum sets out the goals and principles of the joint supervision center.

According to Shoigu, the agreements reached by the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, the Armenian Prime Minister and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to the conflict zone made it possible to stop hostilities, end the

bloodshed, and lay down conditions to returning to a peaceful life.

"The presence of Russian peacekeepers will ensure stability in the crisis region, stop flows of refugees, and will facilitate their return to places of residencies," the Russian minister stressed.

He also added, "the decision to create a joint monitoring center will allow the exercising of control over compliance with the ceasefire by the parties and will form a strong basis to settle the longstanding conflict."

"The center will be located in Azer-

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D

uring Wednesday's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia commented on the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to Georgia, scheduled for November 17-18.

He emphasized that it is yet another demonstration of the importance and all-time high level of the Georgia-US strategic partnership.

“Our meeting will firstly discuss issues pertaining to the US-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, and we will, of course, speak about the current developments in the South Caucasus, Georgia’s further democratization, and economic and security issues. These topics have been suggested by our partners, and we are preparing to discuss them.

We all must understand that it is not just

a visit by the Secretary of State of our partner country; it is also a visit by Georgia’s friend, and we will do everything to make sure that this visit further deepens the remarkable strategic partnership between the US and Georgia, especially in the direction of the critically important ongoing developments in the South

Caucasus, which will have a serious impact on our country’s everyday life, security, and future.

"Consequently, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the challenges we are facing today, we must be fully focused on getting ready for this visit,” the Prime Minister said.

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

Biden & the US Global Position ANALYSIS BY EMIL AVDALIANI

W

ith Biden’s victory in the US elections, America’s foreign policy will likely consist of the following concepts: pursuit of global leadership; defense and promotion of the liberal international order; defense/promotion of freedom/democracy; and most importantly, prevention of balance of power across the Eurasian landmass.

For America, the December 2017 national security strategy (NSS) document and its January 2018 unclassified summary of its supporting national defense strategy (NDS) document, will remain a cornerstone of the nation’s foreign policy. A general emphasis on the great power competition with China, Iran and Russia will be made. Likewise, strong support for American military alliances and partnerships across the globe will be continued.

More specifically, Washington will be supporting NATO in deterring potential Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.

This will be made together with a continuation of US sanctions against Russia.

So far, there has not been any indication of a potential reversal to the policy which has been in place since the 2014 Ukraine crisis.

In Asia, Washington will uphold the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept for navigating the US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region. Therefore, a more confrontational approach toward China is likely to follow. This could include Washington’s plan to increase funding within the US foreign assistance programs to increase competition with China for influence in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Image by Jeremy Enecio

Under Biden, Washington will also put a special emphasis on the US trade actions, which will make free trade more sustainable in the long run, all over the world. Securing global supply chains will be of utmost importance, especially following the effects of the global pandemic.

The new administration will also differ with the Trump government in other crucial policies. For instance, Biden has said on a number of occa-

sions that his administration would improve faltering transatlantic ties damaged under Trump, who criticized the European Union and NATO, distanced himself from European allies by imposing tariffs on European produce, and withdrew from a number of international agreements.

One notable difference is the language used in public statements. In contrast to Trump, who called NATO "obsolete," Biden will try to amend the situation by

putting a special emphasis on the alliance, its importance and role in global affairs.

This means that NATO will be assuming a more robust position against existing threats emanating from Russia and other powers. Biden, for instance, said he would pursue a policy against Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling Russia both an "opponent" and a "threat".

Earlier in 2020, Biden wrote in the journal Foreign Affairs that "to counter Rus-

sian aggression, we must keep the alliance's military capabilities sharp, while also expanding its capacity to take on nontraditional threats, such as weaponized corruption, disinformation, and cybertheft.”

Emil Avdaliani (Twitter – @emilavdaliani) is a non-resident fellow at the Georgian think tank, Geocase, and teaches history and international relations at Tbilisi State University and European University.

Will Georgia Lose Out with the Biden Win?

Image source: AP Photo/Matt Rourke

OP-ED BY MICHAEL GODWIN

I

n the early Georgian morning on November 8, word started coming through the wires that a new United States president had been selected by the American people as the 46th President of the United States: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Immediately had been supposedly selected by the American people as the 46th President of the United States. Immediately, many rushed to social media to either celebrate, or claim foul. While Georgia has had its issues with electoral problems, the United

States is no different. Multiple credible reports of ballot fraud and false voting are beginning to surface. While many of the reports and videos of this occurring are going unreported by many of the conventional media outlets, it’s important to note that the contest for arguably the most powerful position in the free world will continue in the courtroom.

Despite this, it’s quickly becoming true that Biden is headed for the Oval Office.

If he is enshrined as president, many in America may see it as a loss, but it’s the Georgians that stand to lose more.

Corruption is something many of us have come to expect in our politicians.

Just as buying a car comes with addi-

tional costs, such as fuel, parts, insurance, etc., electing a politician comes with certain baggage. However, it should not be so much as to debilitate the buyer and thus cause one to refrain from the purchase. Biden has too much baggage.

While President Trump is far from a flawless person, let alone an unblemished politician, and there certainly is argument for his removal, it is easily displayable to anyone that many, including those outside the borders of the United States, benefitted from his presence. A Biden presidency will leave America’s allies in the cold.

But who is this man who seems so lauded by the media and shielded from

any inquisition?

Born in 1947, Joe was a self-admitted poor student. Graduating from the University of Delaware, he ranked 506 in a class of 688 studying history and political science. He then went on to study law at Syracuse University, ranking 76 in his class of 85. All of which he has been on record lying about, particularly about his ranking in his law class. As this was at the height of the war in Vietnam, Biden filed for a student deferment and later plead out of service due to asthma.

For a few years, Biden practiced law at a small firm in the state of Delaware and also as a Public Defender. After some time on the local council, he narrowly won a position as a US Senator in 1972.

From 1973 to 2009, he served in the United States Senate. During this time, he ran for president in 1987. After repeatedly lying about his educational history and his involvement in the civil rights movement, he was forced to resign and abdicate from the race. He continued on in the political sphere, largely to no real effect.

But what does this mean for Georgia?

Biden has largely been ineffective in foreign policy for the past four decades, so much so that it stands to hinder Georgia greatly. Robert Gates, the former defense secretary under the Obama administration, even admitted that Biden has been wrong on every major foreign policy and national security issue that has faced the United States in the past 40 years. He promoted the 2003 invasion of Iraq, then changed his position two years later while proceeding to lie about where he stood initially.

He opposed the operation to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden, arguably the most universally supported decision the world over. He claimed that we needed more information, as if 10 years of the most intensive and comprehensive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts had not presented enough. Biden touted the Libya operations by NATO

and the local militias as a success story, then turned a blind eye as the entire country collapsed into a socio-political disaster, ending with the death of a United States Ambassador and three members of his team that were left behind.

Then there’s Russia. In 2012, Biden made several statements that Russia was not a threat on the world stage. Despite the scars of the 2008 war still healing, he believed that Russia should be a friend of the West. Biden, and his larger Obama administration, continued to let faith in the United States dry out as he handed Syria and Eastern Ukraine over to the Russians. Biden played a game of appeasement with Putin as people cried in Sevastopol and Aleppo.

Georgia will be left in the cold, outside and unsupported, as the Biden administration stumbles over itself in the dark.

If Georgia thought that the West was questionable in its level of support against Russian aggression, that thought is now fact. Should Russian T-90s arrive outside Tbilisi, the Biden administration has already proven they have no intention of intervening with Russian expansion operations. Given their past positioning with Iran, they may even remain neutral on such a move by the Kremlin.

While Georgia has its own political issues, it should be lost on nobody that the United States is a major player in the region. Regardless of personal feelings, facts are that the US and Georgia are instrumental in the NATO CounterRussian agenda, and this framework is now in jeopardy due to the lack of backbone Biden possesses. NATO will suffer as a result of his ineffectualness, and as Georgia is an extension of that alliance, it too will pay the price for his slack policy. While Trump was not a man to be easily loved, it was obvious that his stance against Russian aggression and support for NATO was firm. Now, Georgia may have to turn to itself and defend hearth and home alone, again.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

5

Disinformation against Public Resilience – the Information Defense Legion on Tackling the Kremlin Propaganda OP-ED BY GIORGI MOLODINI, HEAD OF THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CENTER - GEORGIA

E

ven the staunchest critic would have to acknowledge that a democratic, united and economically strong Georgia is a serious headache within the framework of the grand strategy of the Kremlin leaders, i.e. the leaders of the modern Russian Federation. Georgia remains a serious black hole for the Kremlin in the relations of the West with the East, and a serious obstacle in terms of the political geography in the relations of the North with the South (here, the "North" is Moscow itself, which has no direct terrestrial connection with Armenia, and then the Middle East). In short, geopolitics has not disappeared. The Kremlin often uses a brutal force to pursue its foreign and domestic policy goals like in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. It also grossly violates the rules established in the international relations, but manages to remain a player in these relations. It does not give other states sufficient grounds to outcast Russia. The use of brutal force on this path is neither not always possible, but the Kremlin simply changes tools and these tools are no less harmful. These are political subversive games, where a special role is given to information-psychological operations. That is, the kidnapping and killing of Georgian citizens, borderization, airspace violations, information attacks on the Lugar laboratory, confrontations between different groups of society, and reaching a zero consensus on all essential issues, stirring hatred and animosity towards the majority in ethnic minorities - this is part of the information-psychological campaign, which in its turn is a war against Georgia by destroying its statehood.

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF RUSSIA’S INFORMATION WARFARE IN GEORGIA? We are witnessing a purely communicative process where people try to manage the environment through information, change and by twisting the existing reality. Even a superficial analysis of the information policy of the Russia-Ukraine 2014 and Russia-Georgia 2008 wars and the post-war period reveals that the main targets of the Russian Federation's military and political elite were to influence the leadership’s decision-making process, to decrease combat readiness of the armed forces, and to make disappear the

desire and resistance in society. These goals are still valid, and Russia's actions have not stopped. In this context, there are a couple of fundamental questions that need to be answered.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: IN THE LONG RUN, WHAT COULD BE THE MAIN GOALS OF THE RUSSIAN HYBRID WAR IN GEORGIA? • Destruction of ideological and political values or the formation of new ones • Disruption of education and communication systems • "Correction" of psychological, cultural and social life

HOW EFFECTIVELY DOES THE GEORGIAN STATE RESPOND? I do not support the view that the effectiveness of the government against the threats posed by the Kremlin can only be measured by repelling attacks on the Lugar's Lab. First, the attack on the laboratory is a strategic-level task, not a strategic-level goal. By such attacks, the Kremlin seeks to increase pressure on the government so that the decisionmakers make mistakes. For example, engaging in a completely futile political haggling for the Georgian side, obtain concessions and intimidate the population through creating the image of the Kremlin's invincibility and the feeble-

ness of the Georgian government on the opposite side. In general, sowing fear and insecurity has a special role in the Russian information and psychological operations. By using different techniques and tactics, the Kremlin also seeks to convince Georgian society that confronting it will be costly both to the state and society. An information attack on Lugar Laboratory is also a way to achieve this goal. If the Kremlin manages to infiltrate the laboratory on favorable terms, it will reaffirm the Georgian government's weakness and strengthen the belief of that part of the Georgian public that thinks that the key to all conflicts is in the Kremlin, that opposing it makes no sense and that it cannot be irritated. In fact, there is no need to irritate the Kremlin. As long as there is an independent state of Georgia, it will be constantly irritated.

Those interested in Russian-Georgian relations know that if we look at the statements made by the Kremlin's military and political elite about Georgia, we will see two characteristics of the Kremlin's communication with Tbilisi; namely, cynicism and threats. Under cynicism falls, for example, the statement of the President of the Russian Federation, where he says that his attitude towards the Georgian people has not changed even in the most difficult moments, including during the August

War, and he has remained as benevolent as ever. In this case, it is important to understand the reasons for his self-confidence and optimism so that we will accept, believe and embrace his words.

In other words, the President of the Russian Federation believes that he will influence a part of the Georgian society, including representatives of the business, political and public elite.

Threat is a second element that defines Moscow's attitude towards Tbilisi. The leaders of the Russian Federation often remind us that we can be severely punished for any significant steps taken on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration.

Thus, the Kremlin seeks to make its target audience make political decisions in Georgia on the basis of these constructions marked by its narratives. In the end, the narratives of cynicism and threat must produce the most desirable result for the Kremlin on the ground. In Georgia, the ability of society to fight and a large degree of the public resilience must be lost. Groups of confused and undecided people should not be able to unite around such big and important ideas as independence, freedom, or de-occupation.

Security Studies at Tel Aviv University says that the recent analyzes of the security environment (on the example of Israel) have demonstrated that national security is more than just physical protection. According to him, the mental, social, cultural and political protection of citizens is a priority. Meir Erlan emphasizes the importance of the public engagement, their education and awareness, in citizens’ preparedness and resilience: “An active society is a resilient society, while a passive society is easily vulnerable.”

The fact that the resilience of an individual and various social groups is the basis of the political national resilience as a dimension of defense and security discourse is also evident from the doctrine of Lim Siong Guan, one of the founders of Singapore's Total Defense System: “It is possible that social inequality may be the cause of the division of society and call into question the unity of Singapore. That is why Singapore's total defense strategy considers psychological defense to be one of the most important components... If a Singaporean does not have the feeling that he has to fight for his country because this country is the place that offers him the best opportunity for a better future - the rest will fall apart by itself.”

The Information Defense Legion (the project was created with USAID financial support and the active support of the East-West Management Institute, and we want to thank each and every member of the institute for their help) has put the information field of as much of the Georgian population as possible under the security umbrella, through an effective, regular and proactive communication strategy.

We do not wait for the adversary to spread another lie to mislead our people, and let it fill the gaps left in the information field with its own messages: We try to inform our audience in advance of the true goals and motives of the opponent.

We strive to contribute to protecting citizens from mental, social, cultural and political influences. In this way, we seek to contribute to building a united, strong and democratic state.

WHAT IS THE INFORMATION DEFENSE LEGION AND WHY WAS IT CREATED? Meir Elran from the Institute for National

Some Wise Men about Politics* OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

I

n the wake of the recent unbelievably animated parliamentary elections in Georgia, here goes a little tongue-in-cheek story, totally built on other people’s wise-cracking efforts about politics. Apologetically, in this text I am not mentioning any names, carving this lampoon for my esteemed readership only because I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to politicians.

After all, it is even more difficult than physics. On top of that, there is an ethical streak to it too: being a true politician is as hard a thing as to be truly moral.

And still, when it comes to politics, I remain optimistic because they say politics is the art of the possible, and if this is true, then there is always

a chance to make it work.

When I was little, grownups used to tell me that anybody could become a leader of the nation if we embrace democracy tightly enough. Frankly speaking, I'm beginning to believe that this wise statement is true, because I have also heard that politicians are the same all over, usually united by one great idea to build bridges where there is no river at all.

Politicians are always in the middle of campaigning, even if they are not running for office at the time, and they are into agitating the public for something that they need to acquire as soon as possible. Well, to stop beating around the bush, I will put it straight: politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other.

Well said, but not comprehensively enough and not with utmost frankness.

There is some rationale missing here about their perpetual readiness for sacrifice. Let me put it this way: a politician is a smart fellow or a stylish lady who will readily lay down your life for his or

her country, and they will take the move for granted, because the politician poses as the servant in order to become the master.

Amazingly, politicians have no fun, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself: power, glory and happiness. All of these precious politicians are intelligent and educated as far as these notions go in terms of evaluating a political animal. Otherwise, they might feel terribly uncomfortable in the professional field, but some of them are simply overqualified for their prestigious jobs, distinguished for their outstanding wits. To show the brilliance of their intelligence, I would like to throw in a quote which can smite a politician of any strength and caliber. Listen to this: ‘I offer my opponents a bargain: if they stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them’. Wow! This might be considered the acme of an opposing skill, expressed just in a single catchphrase during a political controversy. Notwithstanding their illustrious brain power, politicians may rarely be

trusted with their words and actions.

The most widespread understanding of how much confidence an average politician deserves is nut-shelled in the following figurative interpretation of their generalized character: instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. A smile, if not a laugh, may follow, having heard and fathomed the thought buried in this turn of phrase, but in fact, there is nothing too facetious about it: the politicians who match this wisdom are often found in high places, controlling our everyday life, feeling as smug as a bug in a rug.

And you know why? Because we usually tend to hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. That’s exactly how it is everywhere, but God forbid in Georgia, especially in the hopeful aftermath of these bygone elections, which we can duly enjoy provided absurdity is not a handicap in politics. *Courtesy: Aesop, Aristotle, Napoleon, Bacon, Bismarck, Einstein, Stevenson, Khrushchev, De Gaul, and others

6

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

Hans Gutbrod on Karabakh: Peace Perspectives & the Impact on Georgia INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

A

s the rest of the expert and opinion making world is busy trying to determine who the winners are and what the next clever scheme of Putin’s might be, Ilia State University's Professor Hans Gutbrod discusses peace perspectives after the Karabakh truce.

“For now, this is a ceasefire: we will still need to see how actual peace arrangements develop, and everything will hinge on this,” he says. “The question of Karabakh had been hanging over the Caucasus like a Sword of Damocles. Now that sword is down, with painful losses, and for the time being, it is still a moment of grief.

“But beyond that grief, if we manage not to put another Sword of Damocles up, that would be an achievement. At least the question of returning hundreds of thousands of displaced Azerbaijanis may be resolved, and this could be a new beginning. If the settlement gives a dignified solution to Armenia, this would greatly help long-term stability.”

HOW DOES THIS NEW DEAL CHANGE THE POWER BALANCE IN THE REGION? Perceptive Russian analysts have pointed out that Russian engagement in Syria could be seen as a trial-run for Central Asia: how do you keep stability in a country where the president is the notparticularly-competent son of an authoritarian leader, while keeping Russian military engagement as small as possible?

It's not necessarily that the Russians believe these authoritarian leaders are great, but more that they don't see a viable alternative to stability. While people in Georgia know the downsides of Russia, it’s worth remembering that the West hasn't delivered great solutions in these difficult contexts either, not in Syria or Libya, nor in Afghanistan. Russia may soon face this substantial challenge in Central Asia, with multiple transitions, right on their doorstep, and with quite a few ethnic Russians as well.

If we follow that interpretation, the Kremlin learned in Syria that they could

live, broadly, in sorting these arrangements with Turkey, even if Turkey was on the other side: both sides kept out the West, looked after their own interests, soaked up local constituencies as allies, and kept out the radical Islamists, which are a worry both for Russia and for Turkey. In that way, Russia may have felt that even when they are on the other side, Turkey plays by the same rules of the game, and that they are broadly comfortable with having them in the region, also to keep out China, which will be a concern in Central Asia. Karabakh may just be part of this much broader understanding.

Again, this puts it into an incredibly broad sweep, but there may be something to this perspective.

ON THE IMPACT OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN PARTICULAR: HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THINGS? Russian peacekeepers are apparently seen as a very big factor for Azerbaijan.

In the end, I'm not sure how substantive they will be, as it’s a small contingent.

It's more of a tripwire, and a way for Azerbaijan to have a presence that explains, internally, why they don't take over Stepanakert. This certainly was a popular demand, but would have created all sorts of problems, ranging from potential ethnic cleansing, to potentially having an unhappy Armenian minority.

Notably, the former US diplomat Matt Bryza, well known in Georgia and now working with oil-connected companies in Azerbaijan, warned that Azerbaijan would have “international pariah status” if it engaged in mass ethnic cleansing.

WHO ARE THE WINNERS AND LOSERS? First, the losers are all the families that have lost a son, a father, a brother or an uncle. This is what war does: it brings irrevocable loss. When speaking about the future, one may want to recall that many families may not even have buried their dead yet. This is a time of grief.

Second, it is still a bit unclear who the winners will be. You can win a conflict, but still lose the peace: arguably this is what happened to Armenia, which won in 1994, but didn't manage to turn this into a lasting peace, and we have been

school in Switzerland.

At the same time, the West just isn't good at cutting through the proverbial Gordic knot. That's not how Western bureaucracies function.

The West will maintain a strong role, but for different kinds of games. These games, if that’s the right term, are actually really important to make lives better for citizens by developing economic institutions, capital markets regional integration, and delivering good education. In that way, I think the West will likely continue to matter in the region.

WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE FOR TBILISI?

living in that warped world of closed borders and armed front lines for almost three decades. I think the challenge now is to find something that will actually open up the region, and to build something that gives us the prospect of leaving all this terrible past behind.

THE FACT THAT AZERBAIJAN’S STRATEGIC PATIENCE AND MILITARIZATION APPROACH ACTUALLY ENABLED THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS MIGHT BE SEEN AS A DEMONSTRATION THAT IT’S THE WAY TO GO FOR OTHER COUNTRIES. Various countries will look at this with great attention, to figure out what the lessons for them are. Practically everywhere, you see discussion on the use of drones. It's an unpleasant subject, but the war was a little bit like cavalry against machine guns. That said, one can expect that militaries will adapt quite quickly, and more developed countries will find this easier.

One should be careful not to exaggerate: in this case, Azerbaijan had Israeli weapons, Turkish weapons and officers, outsized wealth compared to Armenia, and Armenia's strategic partner decided not to take an interest. This is a rare alignment, and I'm not sure that, say, Ukraine, can learn much when it comes to its own separatist territories.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR KARABAKH ITSELF AND ITS STATUS? Again, I think this will become apparent in the upcoming negotiations. If Azerbaijan and Turkey play this well, it’s possible there will be arrangements that Armenians can live with; that give them dignity in the moment of defeat; in which borders open, trade begins, people can (cautiously) cross back and forth. The key is to avoid the mistakes of the past, and to try to push for a solution that the various sides can live with, with dignity.

This is a radical thing to say, but I think it might make sense to think about a much more comprehensive settlement of conflicts beyond Karabakh, too, so that societies can focus on making life better for their citizens, and addressing the many pressing challenges.

COULD IT BE A LESSON FOR THE WEST ON HOW GAMES ARE PLAYED IN THIS REGION? The West is very good at a particular kind of politics, at developing institutions, at being respectful to its own citizens, at building social infrastructure, and creating a desirable place to live.

The very people that often speak dismissively of the West buy expensive apartments in Chelsea or Manhattan, and send their children to boarding

Right now, I think it’s just a huge relief that the fighting is coming to an end. To thrive, Georgia needs to live in a peaceful Caucasus.

Perhaps this is a moment to recognize both the Azerbaijanis and Armenians in Georgia, as well as the Georgian authorities, for their managing to keep the peace, in what was a terribly difficult time. There were small gestures, such as the Saturday night vigil for peace by Malkhaz Songulashvili, the Metropolitan Bishop, assisted by both Azerbaijani and Armenia religious figures. This was admirable, in such a difficult time. It has been said many times, but I do think that Georgia can be a model for coexistence between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

DOES THE POTENTIAL NAKHICHEVAN CORRIDOR AND BORDER WITH TURKEY THREATEN GEORGIA’S TRANSIT COUNTRY STATUS? The potential corridor does reduce Georgia's transit country status, but this may not be a bad thing for the country. As the writer and critic Akaki Bakradze said a long time ago, carrying a freshly cooked chicken past me gives me the smell, but not the food. I'm not convinced that hundreds of trucks crossing Georgia every day leave that much in terms of revenue and development. I think it makes more sense to focus on other areas of development, including high-revenue tourism, export agriculture and manufacturing. These are the fields of real opportunity, and will require much more patient work to turn into a success.

Post-election Rallies: Opposition Vows Daily Protests until Fresh Vote is Called

BY ANA DUMBADZE

R

allies have been held since the announcement of the October 31 Parliamentary Election results in Georgia, which declared the ruling party Georgian Dream as victor. Opposition members and supporters claim that the election was rigged, and demand a re-run of the elections and the resignation of the Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson, Tamar Zhvania.

Protest rallies have been held daily in the country throughout the week, in front of district election commissions (DECs), Parliament, and the CEC building.

On November 5, seven opposition activists, including the UNM representative Zviad Kuprava, were detained for disobedience to police during rallies held in front of DECs in Tbilisi, where the Central Election Commission was reviewing the election-related appeals.

Later, the detained activists were released from custody.

The next day, protests resumed in front of ruling party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili’s business center in Tbilisi, where gunshots were heard, which, as demonstrators claimed, aimed at intimidating activists. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said an investigation had been launched.

Sunday, November 8, turned out to be one of the tensest and most dramatic days in recent times, with police resorting to using water cannon twice against demonstrators gathered in front of the CEC to protest the election results.

Several people were injured, including a TV Pirveli cameraman, who then needed eye surgery to save his eyesight.

Cameras and other equipment of media representatives sustained water damage.

International media outlets, among them Reuters, the BBC, and Deutsche

Welle, reported on the rally dispersal, with such headlines as “Georgian police clash with election protesters” and “Election protesters clash with police in Tbilisi.”

"Police in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, fired water cannons at crowds protesting against the results of last week's parliamentary election," the BBC reported.

The same day, demonstrators in Batumi joined the protest against the results of the election, going further by accusing

the police of being politically biased and encouraging them to stand by their fellow citizens.

Nika Melia, a leader of the National Movement party, called on the participants of the protest rally in front of Parliament to picket the CEC. "Let's stay and set a curfew in the CEC building. No-one can enter and no-one can leave until new elections are scheduled. Tamar Zhvania should go home," Melia said, adding that this was part of a plan drawn up by the opposition.

The next day, opposition members and supporters again gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in front of Parliament to express their protest, and a confrontation took place between law enforcers and Shame Movement activists. Three activists of the Shame Movement were detained for wanting to light a fire near the parliament building to warm themselves during their overnight vigil.

Despite the newly imposed restriction on movement from 22:00 to 5:00 due to coronavirus, the Shame Movement declared disobedience and spent the night on Rustaveli Avenue, along with several opposition leaders.

Up to 20 people were fined for violating the restrictions on movement, including opposition leaders Khatia Dekanoidze, Elene Khoshtaria and Roman Gotsiridze.

Those fined say they are not going to pay. One protester, who was fined GEL 2000 by the patrol police for violating

the regulations, demonstratively took to the stage in front of the parliament building and tore up the penalty. Leaders of the opposition then declared that all such fines issued during the protest will be appealed.

On November 10, Grigol Vashadze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, released a statement regarding the ongoing political processes and street rallies in the country, calling on all opposition parties to immediately move the process to the negotiating table.

“Let's replace the street with a tribune of legislators of all levels,” he urged.

“Grigol Vashadze's statement was not a position agreed with the party leaders or the political council,” the other opposition leaders immediately claimed.

Later, Vashadze released an explanation for his statement. “Citizens' protests must continue, but a political component must be added to this protest immediately through the mediation of strategic allies in the form of negotiations on the implementation of the principles of fair elections. Until the negotiations are successful, we will neither participate in the second round nor enter Parliament. Once and for all, we should all work hard so that in the future, street protests do not replace normal processes due to election fraud,” he said.

The united opposition will hold its next rally on Rustaveli Avenue on Saturday, November 14, from 15:00.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

7

Trenin: "The Armenians Will Have to Eat their Bitter Humble Pie" & Georgia Draw Lessons Continued from page 1

BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT AND BASIC QUESTION IS HOW DOES THIS NEW DEAL CHANGE THE POWER BALANCE IN THE REGION? It establishes a new balance in the region, a new regional order if you like, which is supported by two of three principal powers outside the region: one is Russia, the other Turkey. I think this new order legitimizes Turkey's inclusion in the South Caucasus balance. Turkey has certainly increased its profile in the South Caucasus, while Russia has reconfigured its role in the region, becoming the one power that can act as a mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey will not be able to perform that role. Then again, we have to realize that Moscow is no longer the dominant power in the South Caucasus, has not been for a long time now, in fact, and I don't think Moscow will recover that position. Azerbaijan will be very much aligned with Turkey, Armenia is under a question mark, but Russia has rediscovered its role as the only power that is accepted both in Yerevan and Baku, and that provides it with potent leverage.

Let us not forget that Russia is very worried about the stability of the of the northern Caucasus, an area where it fears, should the war in Karabakh continue, there will be more jihadis, more outsiders from outside the region who come to Karabakh and stay in the Caucasus. An influx of jihadis from outside the region would be bitter irony for Russia- to have fought the jihadists in Syria only to see them much closer to home.

WHY DID RUSSIA REMAIN SO INACTIVE AND ONLY NOW MANAGE TO BROKER A TRUCE? WAS IT PREMEDITATED? I would disagree that Russia played a waiting game to mediate a truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They tried to broker a truce exactly a month ago, when the situation was very different, and noone can say that it was a pro-forma exercise. I think the motivation of the Russian side was to stop the conflict as soon as possible. My chief argument is that Russia cares more about the northern Caucasus than it does about the southern.

A COUNTER ARGUMENT TO THAT WOULD BE THAT GENUINE CEASEFIRES BROKERED BY RUSSIA ARE NOT USUALLY VIOLATED IN 7 HOURS, AS HAPPENED HERE. THIS NEW ONE DOES

NOT LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE VIOLATED ANYTIME SOON. No, because continuation of the war would lead to the utter and complete defeat of Armenia, very likely the total banishment of Armenians from Karabakh, and the total seizure of the entire territory by Azerbaijani forces. That is what essentially made the Armenian side agree to the ceasefire.

AZERBAIJAN HAS BEEN EXERCISING THIS POLICY OF STRATEGIC PATIENCE AND MILITARIZATION FOR 26 YEARS, AND IT HAS BEEN ENJOYING MILITARY SUPERIORITY OVER YEREVAN FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. WHY ACT NOW? There was a confluence of several factors, one of which was the Turkish factor.

Turkey played a major role and, as we know, in the months preceding the war, supplied Azerbaijan with lots of hardware, lots of expertise that the Azerbaijanis used in this war. It was also the time when the United States is distracted with its own election and then the transfer of power. Thirdly, President Aliyev benefited from Russia’s displeasure and distrust of Pashinyan and his government. He kept stressing in interviews with the Russian media “you have a Soros-appointed prime minister in Armenia who is not really your friend.” The moment was opportune for Aliyev. I think he decided to launch what they call a counter-offensive against the offensive that stopped 26 years ago.

DO YOU SEE RUSSIA USING THE PEACEKEEPERS, WHO WILL CONTROL THE LACHINE CORRIDOR, AS A LEVERAGE TO KEEP ARMENIA UNDER ITS THUMB? They will control the Lachine corridor, and that will give them leverage, no question about that. Russians are looking at their alliances, and one school of thought in Moscow is that “if people want our protection, they have to be good allies; they have to stand with us; they shouldn't be ashamed by being closer to us because you know you cannot expect Russia to bail you out and at the same time try to impress the West how pro-Western you are: you need to choose.” If Russia holds the keys to important Armenian positions, then it indeed has leverage, and if Armenians want to reject that kind of arrangement, they are free to do so as a separate country. The pro-Western part of Armenian society could ask themselves why the US hasn’t done more for

them, and if the US is not available for whatever reason as your protector, then even though you may have reservations, you have to be a good and honest ally to Russia.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ALLIANCES HERE, OR VASSALAGE? I don’t think the term vassalage belongs in today's world, it doesn't belong in an analytical vocabulary, it belongs in the vocabulary of calling names. Mr Putin calls European countries “American vassals.” What it means is that you have to be seriously and honestly friendly toward Russia; have a genuine, sincere alliance with Russia. It's more like a wedding: if you wed somebody, it doesn't mean that you are somebody's vassal, but it certainly means that there are certain rules to be observed, there are certain things that you will not do as long as you want to keep that marriage going. Of course, you can get out of that marriage, and even marry somebody else: it's a free choice.

HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM CREATING THE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE THAT ARE SO DERIDED TODAY? Russia’s sphere of influence in reality is very small: it includes very close to Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Donbas. Russia is working very hard to reconfigure its relationship with Belarus as we speak, that's very important. What Belarus is being offered is not a sphere of influence, it's something different, it's very close to integration.

WHAT ABOUT ARMENIA? WILL IT REMAIN PRO-RUSSIAN? Armenia is not a Russian sphere of influence. I think the Armenians will have to eat their humble pie, which is very bitter, and I think there's a tremendous disappointment. I hope that Armenia will use this: defeat is always an opportunity, as when you are defeated, you become selfcritical. I hope it doesn't turn the Armenian political class into a bunch of revanchists.

ON TO TURKEY. HOW DOES ITS INCREASED PRESENCE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS CHANGE THINGS? I think we’re living in a world now in which regional powers are more empowered than ever. Turkey has not become the dominant power in the South Caucasus as a result of the second Karabakh War, but they have gained not only a foothold, but a legitimized presence with

another great power. Moscow will have to take Ankara more into account, that's for sure. Moscow and Ankara are rivals, but they are also partners in a limited sense of the word. They managed to compete, and they managed to negotiate and reach deals, and it gives you a promise that Turkey and Russia will not clash.

I hope that they don’t clash.

AFTER TRYING THE DIPLOMACY APPROACH FOR 26 YEARS WITHOUT LUCK, BAKU ACHIEVED WHAT IT WANTED IN MONTH AND HALF THROUGH MILITARY MIGHT. WILL IT LEAD ONLOOKERS TO THINK THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET BACK WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS IN POST-SOVIET CONFLICTS? An interesting question. All supposedly frozen conflicts can unfreeze at some point, and this is something that I'm saying here to the Russian audience: watch Karabakh and come to the conclusion that other conflicts can suddenly unfreeze and then confront you with a real security issue. Here, I’m talking primarily about Transnistria, but also about others.

THERE ARE ALSO SITUATIONS WHEN MOSCOW ITSELF UNFREEZES CONFLICTS. DO YOU SEE RUSSIA TRYING TO UNFREEZE THE CONFLICTS IN GEORGIA? I think Russia is satisfied today, having Abkhazia and South Ossetia as its military bases. Does Russia want more? I don't think so. I mean, Russia in 2008 could have sent its military into Tbilisi.

They chose not to do that not because of the French or the Western efforts; they exercised restraint based on their calculus of the negatives that would have surely followed after the Russian military's entry into Tbilisi. in 2014, there were people who argued that Russia should not stop with Crimea and Donbas and should march on Kiev and keep Ukraine under control. I think Putin chose wisely not to do so. Even today, Russia could have sent forces into Belarus to prop up Lukashenko, but they didn't. There are certain things you can do, but you would rather not because the negatives of doing so far outweigh the positives.

the US and potentially an American base in the future, they would want to have some protection from that side. South Ossetia places the Russian military within an hour's drive of Tbilisi; it's like a gun to your temple. Russia doesn't need more.

Does it want to fight to make Georgia… what? To make it another Armenia? There are so many people in Georgia who are anti-Russian, what would you do with them? Once you step into such a territory, it would require a massive infusion of capital and money. Russia doesn't have that money to spend on Georgia, and even with Abkhazia and South Ossetia there are issues. The empire that could afford that, glorious as it was for many Russians, is history.

DOES THE NAKHICHEVAN CORRIDOR WHICH HAS BEEN SPECULATED, IF IT MATERIALIZES, THREATEN GEORGIA'S TRANSIT COUNTRY STATUS? I would doubt it would play a very important role. There will be a competitor to the transit lines that run through Georgia, yes, but I don't think Azerbaijan will place so much of its transit in the hands of the Russians who will patrol the corridor. The status of Georgia as a transit country is not in danger.

ANY OTHER IMPACT THIS SECOND KARABAKH WAR COULD HAVE ON GEORGIA? It’s a useful warning that it's better to have conflicts resolved diplomatically; I think it applies to Georgia. there are two things I’ll say: the Abkhaz would not want to live under Georgian rule, and I think that it applies vice versa; I don't think the Georgian people who live in Abkhazia are happy to live under Abkhaz rule. The second thing I think is true is that South Ossetia will never be a full-fledged state. In happier times, before the Russian-Georgian war. I often mused about the future status of South Ossetia as some sort of Andorra that is a separate state but both Spain and France regard it as part of its own territory and it can function, with three statuses merged into one. You can do these things, I mean, there's no limit to how resourceful diplomats can be.

WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES?

THAT WOULD BE A KIND OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA?

In Georgia, Russia doesn't really need Georgia: it needs Abkhazia to protect Sochi, which is Russia's de facto third capital; with Georgia very friendly with

Yes. Whether that’s still on the cards is another question though. It’s something that perhaps needs to be given more thought.

BUSINESS

Rural Women Receive Support to Cope with COVID-19

S

ome 480 women farmers in seven regions will receive supplies and protective gear from the United Nations D e ve l o p m e n t P r o g r a m (UNDP) as part of a program to help vulnerable households improve farm incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ten tons of fertilizers and plant protection products were distributed last week to 300 women-headed households in Imereti, Guria, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti regions, while another 180 women in Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli and MtskhetaMtianeti regions will soon receive similar support.

Most residents of rural areas in Georgia engage in some form of farming, but in most cases, this is on a subsistence basis and is supplemented by other forms of income. With the pandemic eliminating many wage-earning jobs, particularly part-time and informal positions that are mostly held by women, many rural families have sought to close

Image: Nino Zedginidze / UNDP

the gap by seeking to expand cultivation. The UNDP initiative is designed to assist vulnerable households that may lack the resources to pursue this coping strategy effectively.

“Making a living from agriculture in Georgia is a challenging prospect at the best of times,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “The pandemic has not made it any easier, but for many families, farming currently offers a more promising source of income than other sectors, where COVID-19 has undercut employment, especially for women. Our aim is to ensure that the poorest rural households stand a chance in this effort.”

Standard packages of agricultural inputs and basic equipment deemed most helpful to subsistence farmers were defined by the Rural Development Agency that works under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. They were distributed to women heads of households, single parents, IDPs, national minorities and families living in poverty. Recipients were

selected in partnership with the Association of Women Farmers. The total value of the support provided amounts to USD 69,000.

The initiative is part of a $1 million program designed to support national and municipal authorities and local communities in addressing the pandemic emergency. It is funded by the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and implemented jointly by UNDP, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The program focuses on three main target groups: healthcare workers, civil servants and the vulnerable elderly – categories that are all dominated by women. Earlier this year, UNDP delivered aid to three municipal shelters in Tbilisi, Rustavi and Samtredia that together house 200 homeless and elderly people.

The initiative was managed under an ongoing $4 million Danish-funded local development program that UNDP is implementing in partnership with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.

8

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

Online Voting for the Welcome to Georgia!

National Tourism Award Soon to Close

T

he online voting process of Welcome to Georgia, the National Tourism Award, ends this Friday, November 13, at 00:00. To be able to support your favorite participant, you need to visit the project website, select your preferred nominee, and vote.

Audience support will help participants accumulate points, which will eventually be reflected in a high score. Winners will be identified based on the online voting process, and the summary of the jury board evaluation, in a 40/60 percentage ratio. In 2020, the project has 16 jury members who will evaluate specific nominations based on their competence; leading specialists in the field with many years of experience. The members of the jury board in 2020 are: Maia Sidamonidze, Tamara Archuadze, Andria Basilaia, Dali Tsatava, Medea Janiashvili, Maia Tsereteli, Nika Manjgaladze, Ilia Okromelidze, Shalva Khetsuriani, Alex-

ander Onoprishvili, Ia Tabagari, Valerian Mchedlidze, Ako Akhalaia, Giorgi Chogovadze, and Natalia Bakhtadze Engländer.

“Perhaps the audience is surprised about the tourism and hospitality industry being awarded when its representatives are in an extreme crisis. Exactly for that reason!" said Marina Chayka, the founder of Welcome to Georgia! National Tourism Awards. “I wholeheartedly believe that I should not stop at this time, and this year's award will be a source of motivation and enthusiasm to embrace new forces, ideas, and strategies in 2021.

Motivating the industry has never been more important than it is this year.”

The project is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Georgian National Tourism Administration, Tbilisi City Hall, Agency of Protected Areas, BDO Georgia, Aldagi, Hotel Contract Georgia, PKF, Domson’s Engineering, Julius Meinl, Zigie, Design City, Art Concept.

Sustainable Construction: The Best Solutions & the Importance of Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

I

t takes a good engineer to make something bigger and more complicated. But it takes a brilliant engineer to make it smaller and simpler. – E.F. Schumacher.

With growing attention on the notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and responsible business in Georgia, more and more companies are focusing on environmental and sustainable considerations in their operations. The construction industry is one of the sectors where this is most important.

The construction sector has a huge impact on the environment, from energy usage to emissions. Construction can also result in hazardous waste, and the improper disposal of such waste can result in pollution that affects not just the environment, but also people’s health.

Therefore, there is increasing pressure on construction firms globally to reduce their adverse environmental impact.

The goals of sustainable construction are to reduce the industry’s negative impact on the environment by offering solutions that are better for business, the environment and human health and well-being.

While there are challenges involved in adopting sustainable construction methods, there are also great benefits too.

The recent real estate boom in Tbilisi and Batumi, along with economic benefits, has resulted in a number of social and environmental problems, including deterioration/loss of green spaces, increased GHG emissions, and high energy consumption, pollution and waste.

Though the term “Green Building” is becoming more and more popular in Georgia, serving as a good marketing message, it is often used in the wrong sense, and the principles of sustainable construction are seldom followed.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) work actively on these various social and environmental issues with the different stakeholders, among them businesses and local authorities. Yet, in Georgia, they often lack relevant information regarding green and sustainable construction, believing it both expensive and unachievable, especially for a developing country such as this. As a step towards challenging this misconception, and in order to popularize the concept of sustainable construction, on Novem-

ber 12, an online forum titled ‘Sustainable Constructions: Best Solutions and the Importance of Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation’ was organized by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), with the support of the EU and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), within the project ‘Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative.’ A wide range of stakeholders eagerly participated, among them CSO representatives, environmentalists, construction and development companies, building owners and operators, architectural agencies, academics, researchers, and government representatives and regulators.

Two international experts with impressive experience in the area, Chris Butters from the Center for Development and the Environment, University of Oslo, and Sandy Halliday from Gaia Group, Edinburgh, presented a selection of outstanding projects to illustrate the leading design principles and results of sustainable construction, discussing how the industry can move towards green building, how to set and measure goals, and why green building does not have to cost more.

Chris Butters opened the forum by discussing today’s trends in green design, sharing examples of existing “green” buildings in Europe that, while being healthy for both people and the planet, are yet not pretentious or overly technical in design. He began by noting that in the 21st century, our “goals can be ambitious” and yet “simplicity is key.”

While pointing out that 40-50% of modern energy use and emissions can be linked to construction, and that it is more cost and energy effective to use new materials rather than recycle, Butters underlined that modern materials and construction techniques in the field of sustainable (“green”) construction can bring these impacts in some cases down to 0%. Using straw, earth, timber and stone as a replacement for plastics, steel and other toxic, chemical-based products not only provides health benefits for those residing, working or studying in a building, but also results in a much reduced impact on the environment, not least by minimizing the need for fossil fuels. The key, both Butters and later his colleague Sandy Halliday agreed, is in the pre-design. Rather than adding technology, such as airconditioning, to a building, buildings can be designed at the initial stage without (or with very minimum) need for technology: overhangs to control how much sun gets into a room; high, slanting ceilings to allow light to reach the very back of the room (guaranteed to raise room-user productivity by up to 5%!) which also allows air to circulate, and insulation (such as that made from hemp or the recycled cotton and wool of clothing) to make the building more energy efficient.

“You can essentially build with anything,” Butters says. “It’s all about context. But before that, you have to convince others that you’re not crazy!”

How? But providing those skeptics

with proof of all that has been achieved before: scientific evidence that there are huge benefits in building with sustainable materials for our better physical and psychological health, and there is plenty of evidence out there!

“Energy efficiency is the cheapest form of energy,” Sandy Halliday informed forum participants. “Buildings should be designed to be low-impact, low-cost, with no or minimal need for mechanical or chemical transformation.”

After highlighting that we Earthlings are currently using three planet’s worth of resources, and recycling only 10% of that, she introduced the interesting concept of the recyclable house: a construction designed for potential future deconstruction and reuse, with a “passport” of all the materials used so that it can be a “storehouse for future materials.”

“There is so much opportunity for further innovation,” she enthused. An attendee then asked what the incentives were to encourage more sustainable construction, highlighting the key challenges in Georgia as a lack of awareness, trained specialists and sustainable products, as well as access to affordable loans.

Halliday agreed that having the banks and local authorities on board, as well as overall social awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction, is also key, and gave the example of Austria and Scandinavia where, with time and scientific proof that such building methods are neither necessarily more expen-

sive nor more difficult, a voluntary regulation for construction eventually became a national and recognized standard. “Mindsets can be changed through proof,” Butters added. “And you may be frustrated at how slow it comes, but ‘bottom-up’ pressure for clean, environmentally sustainable alternatives is the only way to go. Show them the success stories, bring them samples of green construction materials from abroad, invite the experts to train the local workforce, and you will see the enlightenment beginning to turn things aroundeven within the financial institutions needed to fund such initiatives.”

It is essential for Georgia- from bottom to top- to recognize the need to reduce the negative environmental impact of construction firms and switch to more sustainable approaches of design, as well as to understand the benefits and challenges of sustainable construction and apply green building principles in practice. There are many lessons to be learned from the successes and studies of other countries: all the stakeholders need to do is have a little imagination, a little trust, do some research, and then push for change.

The goals of sustainable / green buildings: • Near zero climate emissions • Very low energy, and only renewable • No polluting materials • Low water use • Low waste, maxium recycling • Ecological site planning • Healthy indoor environment • Attractive and enjoyable How? Here are some ideas from GAIA International Consulting: • Have a holistic vision, reduce space needs, use existing buildings • Choose an efficient location, consider communal/co-use purposes • Choose a bioclimatic design which minimally disturbs the environment • Have it as a compact building of simple and flexible form • Plan for temperature zoning, natural ventilation, and passive solar gain/ cooling • In construction, consider prefabrication, adaptability and durability • Use non-composite, local and nontoxic materials • Have it function with minimum, low-impact and user-friendly technology.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

9

Travel Box - Unbox Adventure!

T

ravel, discovering new places and enjoying new adventures makes everyone happy and leads to our lives becoming more “colorful” and exciting. At the same time, almost everyone loves surprises and gifts, so the combination of the above is pretty much guaranteed to create unforgettable moments in life.

Travel Box is the first innovative product for travel lovers, enabling them to arrange a vacation full of surprises and make any season memorable. Travel Box provides rare and fun offers to travel enthusiasts through a hotel voucher with a distinctive set of travel items and products. Travel Box offers customers the chance to subscribe to a box with a new design every season. They will receive a voucher of a 5* Georgian hotel (2 nights for 2 people), and 10 to 15 essential items and products which can be used during the trip. The box includes a catalog of the current Travel Box season, where one will find information about the travel products and proposals offered by the

Borjomi, Rooms Kazbegi, Hotel PostaMestia, and Sevsamora Resort and Spa. Next season, the Winter Travel Box will be back with updated visuals and an additional partner list, offering even more surprises and continuing to be a

hotels. In every Travel Box you will find: • 5* Georgian hotel voucher (2 nights for 2 people); • A set of travel items; • Essential products for your trip (find out more below).

The Travel Box gifts are updated every

“best friend” to every traveler.

For more information, those interested can visit the website www.travelbox.ge, or contact the organization directly: sales@travelbox. ge; (+995)322 19 60 50.

season. Each new box is full of surprises, and opening one is as exciting and unique an experience as the journey itself.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEASONAL TRAVEL BOX: Register on the website: www.travelbox. ge, subscribe and receive a seasonally selected hotel voucher, branded items and products needed for your trip.

Subscribe to the 2020 Autumn Travel Box, which is partnered by the company GEFA, a product of the brands URIAGE, Lierac, and Body Shop, and can be purchased at Pharmadepo and GPC pharmacies. One partner for the Travel Box this season is Kakhetian Traditional Winery, whose wine "Old Kakheti" is one of the treats to be found in the Autumn Travel Box. In addition, partner French haircare brand "Eugene Perma" will be taking care of the beauty of your autumn hair.

Travel Box is also a partner of "Rosebud," whose socks will also be offered in the Autumn Travel Box. In this season’s box, you will also find a premium quality disinfectant produced by the brand "Dezotec."

Autumn Travel Box partner hotels are: Sheraton Batumi, Kvareli Lake, Esquisse Telavi, Akhasheni Wine Resort and Spa, Ambassadori Kachreti, Crown Plaza

SOCIETY

A Little-Known Gorge You Have to See learn about this forbidden entrance until we were nearly through the flower garden and out the other side!) Never mind: it was the church we’d come to see, the only one of its kind in Georgia, carved into the gray rock in 2008 and opened and blessed in 2011. The Church of Shio Cave in Sarkineti is the first to have been built in a rock cave since the 14th century, with only an arched bell-tower, door and windows showing to hint at its sacred purpose. The temple can be reached through a 5-meter corridor, and once inside, you’ll be stunned by the gold-leaf floor-to-ceiling frescos reflecting the candlelight off of every wall.

Next on our tour was Mzovreti Monastery, a strictly-run monastery complex built on what was once Tsitsishvili (or Mzovreti) Fortress. It’s a work-in-progress, and on arriving (taken up the steep and treacherous mud-track by jeep from

BLOG BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

T

he Dzama Gorge (dzamis kheoba) near Kvareli in central Georgia, some 130km from Tbilisi, is a gem of religious and natural diversity: ice-cold river, rolling hills, rocky mountain slopes, woodland, and fields and gardens of apples and vines: perfect

for a day or weekend trip out of town!

We chose to visit on a late autumn day, aiming to capture the last of the bright autumn colors. Sadly, we were late for most of the reds, but the yellow leaves were almost blinding in their intensity as they clung to the trees, battling the weight of the rain and the tug of the wind.

As it was a wet day, and we’d got to Kareli later than planned, we settled on three key destinations, earmarking the other 47 monasteries and the beautiful

hidden Bateti Lake for spring and better weather.

We took a local taxi from Kareli center, agreeing on 35 GEL for a two-hour roundtrip, which included waiting for us as we explored.

First stop was Sarkineti Church and Monastery, a fusion of modern and traditional construction and décor. The walled monastery beside the road is closed to the public (though the sign, in Georgian, was not clear, so we didn’t

the entrance building below), we were greeted by stone-masons and male construction workers focused on both the new exterior church and the interior gardens. We were also greeted by several large (but apparently friendly) dogs and a young bearded and hooded monk, one of five who live here, who kept his disapproval at my skirt length to himself but pointedly handed me a wrap-around before we went inside (my bad!).

Up the curving stone steps of the 17thcentury seven-floor cobblestone tower, we followed him first into the mid-level garden, above it the wooden balcony and sleeping quarters of the residents. The stone covered by astro-turf and raised flowerbeds made for a colorful and calming atmosphere of secret-garden-like wonder: a very zen kind of place you just want to sit in and absorb.

Continued on page 11

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

Arya Yoga: Be Healthy & Happy We have a store selling extremely high quality products, among them Canadian brand yoga line "Lululemon," and the best organic products “Nesti Dante” of the supermarket chain "Georgita," the best line of body and facial care “Yeso,” bio natural food products, and more.

With us, you will also find Chairina, an ecologically clean, natural, premium class tea. The product is from Singapore and as yet, you can buy it only at Arya Yoga.

Location: Fabrika rooftop

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS BEHIND ARIA YOGA’S SUCCESS?

I

n 2014, Nina Shengelia's decision to turn her passion into an activity became a prerequisite for the establishment of a yoga studio.

Since then, the goal has been to enable as many people as possible to become acquainted with the practice of yoga. The idea came to fruition and that is why the Arya Yoga studio has been visited by many loyal and novice visitors over the years. GEORGIA TODAY spoke to Nina to find out more.

NINA, WHAT KIND OF YOGA DOES ARYA YOGA OFFER ITS CUSTOMERS? Modernized yoga exercises are available in the Arya Yoga studio. These include the combined, one-hour practice of various yoga practices: Ashtanga, Khatkha, and Vinyasa, formulated for antistress, meditation, and breathing exercises, balance, press, spine, and spinal exercises (both group and individual).

There are also exercises with a yoga wheel, which makes the results obtained with all types of exercise more effective.

We also have anti-gravity yoga, which

is exercise with yoga hammocks.

HOW DID ARYA YOGA MANAGE TO ESTABLISH A DISTINCTIVE NICHE? The reason for our success has probably been that we constantly aim to offer our customers a variety of interesting products and services.

We have regular "Yoga Retreats” - recreational rest in almost all regions of Georgia. We’ve had tours in almost every region of the country which are Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, Rooms Hotel Bakuriani, Lopota Lake Resort and Spa, Kvareli Lake Resort, Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort, Chateau Mere, Crowne Plaza Borjomi, Borjomi Likani, and other places.

I would like to thank each of them for their loyal cooperation and exciting prospects for the future.

Due to the success of these tours, a 30-person yoga retreat took place in the homeland of yoga, and we also visited Kerala, on the south coast of India.

I remember the emotions of our customers on the day of our departure, the excited faces and the desire to do it again

in future. However, due to the current pandemic reality, we cannot plan anything in this regard yet.

TELL US ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THE STUDIO OFFERS.

We have only Indian instructors. Fabin Vargas, from the day the studio was founded, has been one of our most exemplary instructors, whose main interest is to share his knowledge and experience with our customers. I want to thank Fabin for such professionalism and for his smiles and positive character, which is always contagious. Regarding his qualifications, I will not bother you by talking about it: those who have tried his practice at least once will confirm his amazing skills!

Nishant Singh joined our team at the end of 2019. He is from Rishikesh, a place to which the first records of the existence of yoga are linked. He earned a master's degree from leading institutions such as Uttarakhand Universit and Anna-

malai University. He also has experience working in the New Delhi branch of Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga, a worldrenowned and successful school.

He often says that yoga is not just a form of exercise, but a science that is a formula for a happy, healthy and peaceful life. Yoga teaches a person how to enjoy and appreciate each minute, and to live in the present.

Nishant hasn’t been with us long, but those he has already shared his experiences and many customers have already developed a loyal attitude towards him, interest in his teaching, and he is very happy about it. It is unfortunate that the world crisis has reached us against the background of these many successes.

HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THE MOST CRITICAL PERIODS OF COVID-19?

It is the most difficult period now. At the start of the pandemic, like all fitness centers, Arya Yoga Studio was temporarily closed.

We resumed open-air training in July, observing social distancing and all mandatory regulations.

Without our favorite partners, Tsiskari and Fabrika, our existence at that time would have been unimaginable. I would like to thank them.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? Arya Yoga Studio has even greater potential and we need constant partners in such activities for such dynamic development. Collaborations will definitely be discussed.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO OUR READERS? To those who are not yet our customers, we would love to have you join us! And I thank our customers for every second they spend with us with such enthusiasm: their love for us is the main motivation for me. That is why I’m always trying to move forward and I hope that a lot of success awaits us together.

On the photos: Fabin Vargas, Nishant Singh, Nina Shengelia, Tata Shengelia, Marika Babunashvili, Guri Koiava, Natia Nebieridze, Lika Lortkipanidze, Natia Metreveli

Location: Ciskari

Smokin’!: Etseri, Svaneti BLOG BY TONY HANMER

I

t has been such a mild, warm, sunny, windless autumn up here that we shouldn’t be so amazed at our fall crops. True, for some reason many in our village are grumbling about poor hay for their winter livestock feed and small or wormridden potatoes compared to the usual famous Svan giants revered and sought after in Zugdidi. But our tomatoes, raspberries, plums! These are bumper harvests.

One of my wife’s friends had given her a number of cherry tomato seedlings on one of our jaunts to Kakheti this summer. They have been taking very well to the local climate, alongside their larger cousins, and as I write this in early November are still bearing green fruit which we hope will see enough sun to redden it. Tiny, actually much more pearshaped than round, they have a wonderfully sweet-tart flavor, even though tomatoes have not been until now my favorite food. But I have been researching online and experimenting with how to make them more interesting to my tastes, and this seems to be working.

There have been two parts to this process, aided by getting ideas from the internet. The first was drying the tomatoes in a slow oven: much easier and quicker than sun-drying them. After

picking and washing, the cherry ones I simply cut in half. The larger ones I scoop out the flesh from with a teaspoon, and these innards I freeze for chutney-making later. All these halves I lay on a sheet of baking paper on a metal tray, the paper being re-usable many times, and sprinkle with a bit of Svan salt and some pepper from the grinder. Not too much, though, as the flavors intensify with drying.

The oven is electric, and as power up here is free, I can afford to dry the trays for some hours at 120 degrees C (about 220 F). I keep the door just slightly open to allow moisture to escape, and check progress occasionally so I can take out the driest ones before they actually get crispy, giving the larger ones more time.

From the oven, briefly cooled, they go into a jar half-full of olive oil, along with a clove of fresh sliced garlic. Absolutely marvelous, bursting with concentrated flavor.

However… there is one more thing to make this a truly gourmet experience, and that is SMOKING the halves before drying them! A friend of mine in Canada suggested this to me, and I decided to research it online; found it not to be difficult; and adapted my custom-made sheet iron shish kabob box for the purpose.

At one end of the box I make a little mound of combustibles: wood chips and leaves, slightly dampened. The rest of the box has a wire grill on it, raised off the box’s floor to allow smoke to circu-

late, fine enough to rest the smallest cherry tomato halves on without their slipping through. I start the smoking with a torch attachment for my gas bottle, to get it nice and hot. Then I lower a sheet metal lid to keep the smoke inside as long as possible before it escapes, and allow just a slit of air access so it won’t get extinguished. I check this, too, every quarter of an hour or so, and allow 2-3 hours for the smoking. THEN I start the oven drying process, and after this the rise in quality is… stupendous, if I say so myself. I’m just glad to live in a place where making some smoke is doable.

This is not a hot process, so I can even smoke cheese (either local sulguni, not too salty, or expensive but glorious

imported Dutch Gouda) without it melting. I have the box in the shade so that sunlight won’t heat it and liquefy the cheese. After 3-5 hours’ smoke, this product then needs a couple of weeks’ patient storage on a plastic-wrapped board in the fridge, to allow the smoke flavor to penetrate right through it. The result is good enough that some recent picnicking guests, the Prince and Princess Murat from near Zugdidi who grew up in France, declared it merveilleux. When French aristocrats praise your food, you can feel good.

I have also tried smoking, olive oildipping and then roasting whole garlic cloves; and there is a whole online list of other foods which can be glorified in

similar ways, from meats to other vegetables and even some fruits. I now must make a better, more versatile and largervolume smoker, and then we’ll really be in business. As quite a few different nationalities say in their own languages, you gotta live!

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/ groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2020

11

A Little-Known Gorge You Have to See

Continued from page 9 We headed up to the 17th century restored church perched on the highest wall of the fortress, above the newly terracotta-tiled roof, and along a parapet.

The 360-degree views were stunning, not at all marred by the clouds or drizzle, while the view down into the garden, a pond at the lowest level, were truly awe-inspiring. Inside, we saw the church walls are rough-hewn, as yet unpainted, and with the surprising (unorthodox) addition of two stained-glass windows depicting angels. The bells had also yet

to be set in their permanent homes in the three-story late-18th century cobblestone bell tower. The bell tower, in its days as part of the fortress, was used as the guard's residence.

A bit of history: The construction of the Mzovreti Fortress is said to have been directly related to the relocation of the Tsitsishvili feudal center from Mtskheta to Mzovreti at the beginning of the 17th century.

Mzovreti “city” was located on the road connecting Shida, Kvemo and Zemo Kartli. In the 10th century, it was the residence of Prince Adranase, who was

later followed by the Panaskertel-Tsitsishvilis, who moved their residence from Samtsevri here and turned Mzovreti into a political center for the nobility.

After the 18th century, the city declined in size and status, and in the 19th century, the Tsitsishvilis left and the city ceased to exist. A new village, Ortubani, was built on its ruins.

The fortress of Mzovreti was consecrated as a monastery named after the Assyrian Fathers with the blessing of Reverend Job on May 20, 2008.

With the temperature dropping and only two hours till dark, we jumped back in our taxi and zipped off along and up a very well asphalted road to the most popular destination in the Dzama Gorge: the 12-13th century Kintsvisi Monastery.

Easy to access via a quick walk through a wooded area (when we were there, carpeted with golden leaves), the complex includes the Church of St. Nicholas, the St. Virgin Mary, the ruins of the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Little Church, and the newly built small Church of St. Shio Mgvimeli on the left of the entrance. The main church is distinguished for its frescos, which, although damaged, certainly inspire a sense of wonder, appreciation and respect. The four favorites are the frescos of King George III, Queen Tamar, Lasha-Giorgi, and “The Kintsvisi Angel,” here depicted in the Resurrection scene and said by many to be “ahead of the achievements of the Italian Sienese Art School of the Renaissance times.”

We took time to walk around the church and garden, drink some holy water, admire the buildings in and out, and breathe the unbeatable fresh woodland air. Then it was back to civilization again, with the promise of a return trip in the near future!

CULTURE

Self-Quest in Sololaki

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

W

ith its endless charms mixing old and new, it’s very easy to fall in love with the city of Tbilisi. There’s always more to see, even if you’ve lived here for years, especially in the Georgian capital’s ancient neighborhoods like Sololaki. Considering the pandemic situation, when it’s best to stay home, and when you do dare to leave your for-

tress of responsible social-distancing, you need to keep away from other people, self-guided tours can be a life-saver; keeping you safely adventurous. “Quest in Sololaki” is just what you need!

Quest tour is a self-guided tour you can take in the Sololaki district of Tbilisi, needing nothing more than your mobile, and, ideally, comfortable walking shoes. As you walk through the neighborhood, you take a journey around the most luxurious places of 19th century Tbilisi, discovering the life of the Georgian elite of the time, finding clues, and solving puzzles. And you get awarded

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Commercial Director: Iva Merabishvili Marketing Manager: Natalia Chikvaidze

GEORGIA TODAY

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:

Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

when you finish!

“Quest tour is an exciting, fun and engaging activity,” the organizers promise, and it works like this: you fill out a request at georgiantrend.com, then you receive a link to the Quest and open it on your mobile device, after which you go to the indicated starting point location, the Tbilisi City Assembly building on Liberty Square, and you follow instructions and start questing. You get asked questions, and by answering them, you find clues to move on to your next location. While some of the locations are well-known, there are surprises too, making the Quest tour all the more exciting. The highlights of the Quest-tour include the century-old houses of Sololaki; the “Italian Villa”; Tiflis Gentlemen’s Club; Beria’s Cadillac; a fight between two architects; the Siemens brothers; and fascinating tales of love and crime.

Designed mainly for tourists, the Quest language is English. You can go solo, or get together with a group of friends (up to 4) to discover one of the most beautiful districts of the Georgian capital. The more of you there are, the less the Quest costs: 15 GEL for 1 person; 20 GEL total for 2; 25 GEL total for 3 persons; 30 GEL total for 4 persons. Quest is also very kid-friendly, and the difficulties of the clues and puzzles can be customized when filling out a request to Quest.

Prize and kid-friendly conditions are

Journalists: Ana Dumbadze, Vazha Tavberidze, Nini Dakhundaridze, Tony Hanmer, Emil Avdaliani, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Beka Alexishvili, Elene Dzebizashvili Photographer: Aleksei Serov

not the only advantages of the Quest.

The duration of the quest, as well as when you embark on your adventure, is completely adapted to your schedule: you can quest anytime during the day and take however much time you want.

In between the locations, you can stop to shop, drink a cup of coffee or two, or merely just stand there, imagining you are back in the 19th century, and admire the culture, history and beauty of the district.

Website Manager/Editor: Katie Ruth Davies Layout: Misha Mchedlishvili Webmaster: Sergey Gevenov Circulation Managers: David Kerdikashvili, David Djandjgava

The 19th century is an interesting time to go back to, since it was then the rich Tbilisians competed with each other in who could build the more outstanding town houses. And, so, Tbilisi, fulfilling its constant role of merging the different origins together, became the place where new trends in architecture evolved, such as the “Caucasus Modern,” a unique style that can be particularly appreciated while taking a stroll along the narrow streets of the Sololaki district.

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