Tbilisi Honors 2025 Honorary Citizens at State Ceremony
Celeste A. Wallander: America Isn’t Weak — But the World Is Questioning Its Will
1+1=13 – Carrefour Celebrates its 13th Anniversary with Unmissable Offers
Borjomi Opens $120 Million Georgian Bottling Plant
Shangri La Tbilisi Marks Its Birthday with a Stylish Celebration and Live ABBA Tribute
TEmerging Georgian Talent Mariam Odishvili on Art, Growth, and Global Horizons
Throne Suspended in
Gesher Theater’s Richard III Opens Tbilisi’s Int’l Festival
Shorena Imesashvili,
BY TEAM GT
Tbilisi to Extend Metro Line with Two New Stations
BY MARIAM RAZMADZE
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has announced plans to extend the city’s metro network, with the addition of one station in each direction along the first line, at Akhmeteli Theatre and Varketili.
The expansion will add 1,200 meters toward Varketili and 1,100 meters toward Gldani. The city hall stated that the new stations will help reduce congestion and
cut total passenger travel time by nearly 576 hours per day.
The station near Varketili is expected to serve around 4,500 passengers during morning peak hours, while the Gldani extension could attract about 5,500. Studies also show that the number of commuters needing multiple transfers to reach Station Square will fall sharply, saving some passengers up to 20 minutes of travel time.
Kaladze emphasized that the project will not only ease pressure on the network but also improve pedestrian access and strengthen connectivity.
President Kavelashvili Attends UN General Assembly’s 80th Session in New York
BY TEAM GT
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili took part in the opening of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the general debate was launched with speeches by UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres and the President of the Assembly. Heads of state including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, US President Donald Trump, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the gathering.
This year’s session is being held under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and
Human Rights.” President Kavelashvili was joined by Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, Minister of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Protection Mikheil Sarjveladze, Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Davit Bakradze, Ambassador to the US Tamar Taliashvili, and the Head of the Presidential Administration.
During his visit, the Georgian leader is scheduled to deliver Georgia’s national address to the Assembly. At the invitation of US President Donald Trump, he will also attend an official reception hosted by the US president and First Lady Melania Trump in honor of the heads of delegations. In addition, President Kavelashvili will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings, including talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Tbilisi Honors 2025 Honorary Citizens at State Ceremony
BY TEAM GT
The 2025 Honorary Citizens of Tbilisi were officially recognized at a solemn ceremony held at the State Palace of Ceremonies.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze presented each recipient with a symbolic key to the city and a certificate of honorary citizenship. The event was also attended by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
This year’s honorees include distinguished figures from a wide range of fields, such as medicine, science, arts, sports, and culture. Among them are physician-surgeon Zurab Turmanidze, poet and artist Tinatin Mgvdliashvili, composer and pianist Davit Evgenidze, theater and film actor Goga Pipinashvili, gymnast Tomzir Tsomaia, singer Nanuli Abesadze, musician and composer Roman Rtskhiladze, film and theater actress Nanuli Sarajishvili, and lawyer Jimi Kipiani, among many others.
The recognition highlights their significant contributions to Georgian society and culture.
Diplomatic Tensions Escalate Between Georgia and Western Allies Over Accusations and Ambassador Summons
Continued from page 1
They didn't listen to me. I am not a radical. Germany remains a friend."
Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded forcefully, publicly defending Fischer and criticizing the Georgian government’s actions:
"We categorically condemn the aggressive rhetoric of the representatives of Georgian Dream towards the German Ambassador to Georgia, and his groundless summons today," the statement posted on X read.
Berlin emphasized that Fischer was operating in full compliance with international diplomatic standards and representing the official stance of the German government.
In a rare act of unity, 27 embassies and diplomatic missions, including those of the UK, Germany, France, the US, and the EU, issued a joint statement strongly rejecting the Georgian government's accusations:
"We firmly reject the baseless and damaging accusations about the role and activities of some diplomatic missions in Georgia. Such disinformation misleads the public and undermines the possibility for our diplomatic missions to carry out our duties."
GYLA Announces it Will Not Monitor October
BY TEAM GT
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has announced that, for the first time in its 31-year history, it will not be able to conduct its traditional election monitoring mission during the local self-government elections scheduled for October 4, 2025. In a statement, GYLA said it would continue to defend human rights and the rule of law, as well as provide periodic assessments of the broader legal environment. However, it explained that the current political and legal climate has made it “practically impossible” to carry out a
4 Elections
full-scale monitoring mission.
The organization says the October elections are set to take place in one of the most challenging contexts in Georgia’s modern history. GYLA cited what it described as a regression of democracy, repressive measures against civil society organisations and the media, the adoption of restrictive laws, and the worsening legal framework for election observers.
“These developments have made it impossible for us to form a monitoring mission and ensure proper oversight of the electoral process,” the statement said.
Despite this, GYLA reaffirmed its commitment to continue advocating for transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights throughout the electoral period.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry offered a different view. In its statement, the ministry said Fischer had been reminded of his obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly the requirement to respect the host country’s laws and to avoid interfering in internal affairs. Georgian officials accused some foreign diplomats of encouraging radical political agendas, attempting to influence judicial processes, and contributing to social polarization. The ministry also said it had requested concrete evidence from the German Embassy regarding alleged hate speech and disinformation—none of which had yet been provided.
Despite these grievances, the ministry reaffirmed Georgia’s desire to maintain strong international partnerships and called for mutual respect moving forward.
ANOTHER SUMMONS, MORE FALLOUT
The diplomatic row deepened on September 25, when UK Ambassador Gareth Ward was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry. While he declined to comment before the meeting, he had earlier posted a message on social media reaffirming the UK’s commitment to its partnership with Georgia:
"For over 30 years, the UK has worked hand-in-hand with Georgia to build a stronger, more resilient future. From education and innovation to human rights and regional stability – our partnership is built on trust, respect and shared values. In the face of misinformation, we choose facts. We choose impact. We choose transparency."
The signatories emphasized that engaging with a wide range of stakeholders— from government and opposition to civil society—is standard diplomatic practice and fully in line with the Vienna Convention. They also stressed that none of the missions support any political party, extremism, or violence:
"We urge all political leaders to refrain from divisive rhetoric and to work towards the de-escalation of tensions."
PRIME MINISTER’S SHARP REBUKE
Responding to the growing backlash, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the decision to summon the ambassadors and strongly criticized the conduct of several European diplomats: "Unfortunately, ambassadors from the European Union often blatantly violate principles and rules. This is unacceptable. An ambassador in Georgia should behave as an ambassador, not as a politician. Not everyone behaves like the ambassadors of the EU, UK, and Germany—thank God."
Kobakhidze argued that the ambassadors had crossed diplomatic boundaries and accused them of interfering directly in Georgia’s internal political processes: "Specific ambassadors are directly involved in political processes, which is a gross violation of democratic principles and the Vienna Convention. Summoning them is a normal diplomatic measure to ensure they return to the diplomatic framework."
The Prime Minister accused the EU Ambassador of calling on Georgian voters to mobilize against the government— a move he described as a blatant violation of diplomatic norms. He also cited previous instances where ambassadors had allegedly tried to influence judicial proceedings by attending court cases. "Europe used to be a symbol of respecting rules. Now, some EU ambassadors are undermining those very principles. What we are seeing today reflects serious issues within the European bureaucracy."
Kobakhidze emphasized that ambassadors do not act independently but represent their respective states—and summoning them sends a message not only to the individuals but to the governments behind them.
As Georgia heads toward pivotal parliamentary elections on October 4, these diplomatic clashes cast a shadow over its relationship with Western allies. What was once a steady path toward European integration is now entangled in growing mistrust, competing narratives, and public accusations of political interference on both sides.
The Tbilisi metro. Source: Underground Portal
Mayor Kaladze awarding one of Tbilisi's honored citizens. Source: FB
EU flags. Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
This past week in the Russia-Ukraine war was marked by heavy fighting, escalating drone and missile attacks, modest territorial changes, and a striking diplomatic turn as US President Donald Trump declared that Ukraine could “win back all its territory” following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
On the battlefield, Russia continued its grinding offensive, but with noticeably reduced momentum. Independent monitoring indicates that Russian forces captured about 28 square miles of territory this week—a nearly 70 percent decline compared to the previous week, when gains reached over 90 square miles. While Russia reported new advances around Muravka and Novoivanivka, Ukrainian commanders said many of those assaults were repelled, and pointed instead to counter-moves near Pokrovsk and Dobropillia, where Kyiv’s forces claim to have clawed back positions.
Yet the territorial map tells only part of the story. Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in weeks on September 20, firing forty missiles and deploying nearly six hundred drones across multiple Ukrainian regions. Air raid sirens sounded from Dnipro to Chernihiv, with power substations and rail links in Poltava among the targets. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted the majority of the projectiles, but not all: three people were killed and dozens more injured. The scale of the attack
underscored Moscow’s continued reliance on long-range bombardment to exhaust Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and sap morale. Kyiv struck back not only on the front lines, but also deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian drones hit refineries in Saratov and Samara, as well as the Salavat petrochemical complex in Bashkortostan, sparking fires and forcing temporary shutdowns. These operations are part of an expanding Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia’s war economy by targeting oil and energy facilities, a tactic that has begun to rattle domestic markets and expose vulnerabilities far from the battlefield. Moscow has unveiled plans to raise its value-added tax from 20 to 22 percent in 2026, a move intended to
shore up revenues for defense spending and veterans’ programs. While Kremlin officials have insisted the economy remains stable, the twin pressures of mounting costs and recurrent Ukrainian strikes on energy assets have fueled doubts about the sustainability of Russia’s war effort over the long term.
Diplomatically, the most striking development came in New York, where Trump and Zelensky held a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Emerging from that encounter, Trump declared that Ukraine could “fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form”—a sharp break from his earlier hints that territorial compromise might be unavoidable. Asked by reporters whether he supported NATO mem-
bers shooting down Russian aircraft if they entered allied airspace, Trump replied simply: “Yes, I do.” His comments injected both encouragement and uncertainty into the debate over Western strategy, signaling a willingness to adopt more assertive positions even as critics warned of escalation risks.
Zelensky welcomed what he called a “big shift” and pressed both Washington and Beijing to intensify pressure on Moscow. In interviews, he stressed that China holds enormous leverage over Russia’s economic survival and must not remain passive. “Without China, Putin’s Russia is nothing,” he argued, calling on Beijing to use its influence to bring the war to an end. At the same time, he urged the United States to transform rhetori-
cal support into concrete measures, noting that Moscow “always pays attention” to American power. Zelensky cautioned that war fatigue and shifting alliances were narrowing the window for a durable peace, and insisted that only a united international front could force Moscow into meaningful concessions. The Kremlin, for its part, brushed aside Trump’s characterization of Russia as a “paper tiger” and sought to project confidence, but it did not hide its irritation with the new tone coming from Washington. Russian spokesmen reiterated that Ukraine’s hopes of retaking all occupied land were unrealistic, even as Ukrainian forces demonstrated they could blunt Russian advances and carry the war into Russia’s industrial heartland.
Trump meeting Zelensky this week. Source: BBC
Celeste A. Wallander: America Isn’t Weak
— But the World Is Questioning Its Will
INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE. INTERVIEW EDITED FOR CLARITY AND SIZE
In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, Celeste A. Wallander, President and CEO of the USRussia Foundation and a seasoned national security official who served under both the Obama and Biden administrations, offers a sobering assessment of how the United States is currently perceived abroad. From the uncertain view through European windows to the calculating gaze of Beijing and the increasingly emboldened Kremlin, Wallander explains how shifting perceptions of American resolve — not power — are reshaping the global security landscape. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience in Russian affairs, she dissects past strategic missteps, defends the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine, and warns of the dangers of letting ambiguity become the new normal in US foreign policy.
HOW IS THE US SEEN FROM OUTSIDE IN THE WORLD TODAY?
I think the challenge for Americans and American national security is that we’re seeing partners, allies, strategic competitors and adversaries viewing us with uncertainty. That is a problem with allies and partners, because they have to make decisions about facing their own challenges not knowing whether they can count on the United States or what US policies will be with strategic competitors. That’s a challenge because, as we saw with Chinese President Xi’s big Shanghai summit, they’re using the opportunity to begin to reinforce relationships and ways to strengthen themselves at the expense of the United States. My friend and colleague Andrea Kendall-Taylor and another friend and colleague, Richard Fontaine, at the Center for a New American Security call this the “axis of upheaval.” They’re not claiming this is a full-on alliance, but the kind of coordination and co-operation we’re beginning to see really undermines American interests. The clearest example is the willingness of members of that axis of upheaval to help Russia escape the effects of sanctions — export, financial and banking restrictions — in order to continue its war in Ukraine. And finally, I think it’s fair to put Russia in the category not just of a competitor, but of an adversary, because Russia is using military force of various sorts to strike at European security. So the boldness of the Kremlin is growing as that uncertainty about American priorities, and the extent to which the credibility of American support — eight decades’ worth of commitment to European security — is now in question.
SO THE ALLIES VIEW IT AS UNPREDICTABLE AND LESS RELIABLE, WHILE THE ADVERSARIES ARE GETTING BOLDER. IS THE BOTTOM LINE READING THAT AMERICA HAS GOTTEN WEAKER?
Our power is still strong. We’re still the most powerful country in the world. We still have the strongest economy as of now. We still have the most capable military. We still have many of the most advanced capabilities, although some of those gaps are narrowing. So it’s less about America being weak and more about the willingness of this political leadership, this administration, to use those instruments in defence of European security, global security, the international security regime that we, you know, led for decades. They’ve raised questions about that. So it’s less about American weakness than weakness of will, or uncertainty of will. Again, looking at examples from Russia: what you
saw with the incidents of Russian drones flying over Poland and then Russian jets violating Estonian airspace were signs of an increasing boldness on the part of the Kremlin to conduct risky military operations further west, close to NATO borders, and then into NATO airspace. For three years during the war, from February 2022 until January 2025, the Russian military and political leadership held back from really active military operations in western regions. Occasionally there were drone operations, strike operations, but for the most part the focus was further east, and part of the reason was to avoid the risk of a direct confrontation with NATO. NATO was credible, and the Kremlin did not want to get involved in a war with NATO. The Kremlin still assesses that in a military conflict with NATO, Russia loses and the West wins. What we’ve now seen is a willingness to accept the risk of operating further west in order to strike at Ukrainian sites. I don’t know that we’ve seen the Kremlin willing to actively strike sites in NATO countries, but they are willing to risk the collateral damage that often happens in war in order to be more effective in striking Ukraine. That, I think, is due to that uncertainty about whether the United States would really stand by its Article 5 commitments in defense of NATO allies. That kind of testing and that kind of risk acceptance is really very dangerous.
IS THERE ALSO ANOTHER LAYER TO IT WHERE THESE KINDS OF ATTACKS USHER IN A SORT OF NEW NORMAL?
Exactly so. And that’s something the Kremlin has long been good at. Take post-2008, after Russia invaded Georgia and occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The ceasefire — a weak one brokered by then–French President Sarkozy — had requirements the Russians never fully met. Instead, they began what the Georgians called “creeping borderization”: slowly imposing new barriers, checkpoints, then barbed wire and eventually actual walls, on what is legally Georgian territory.
That’s how they operate: not through dramatic change, but quiet, incremental steps, betting the other side won’t want to escalate. The proverbial boiling frog. In this case, NATO could have shrugged off the drone incidents — “maybe it was an accident” — but it didn’t. NATO acted firmly, shooting down the drones, and Poland called for an Article 4 consultation. I think Europe has learned: if you let the Kremlin reset what’s normal, one day you wake up and the world has changed.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE?
Well… the Minsk agreements. That was the first moment Putin gained a legitimised — not legitimate — foothold in Ukraine, with negotiations over Donetsk and Luhansk: their status, autonomy, terms, and so on. I was part of those talks, and Russia’s efforts to limit Ukrainian sovereignty through those regions were obvious. They never fully succeeded, but it introduced a wedge — and instead of shutting it down, we gave it a kind of false legitimacy by trying to negotiate. Minsk was messy and rushed. At the time, the West still hoped some accommodation with Russia was possible — especially after the Medvedev presidency, even if no one was under the illusion that Putin wasn’t in charge. There was still real interest, especially in Europe, in trying to integrate Russia. But over time, it became increasingly clear that wasn’t going to happen.
WHAT ABOUT THE RUSSIA RESET AFTER THE 2008 WAR — A BIGGER MISTAKE THAN MINSK?
I think both were. Mike McFaul and I wrote the Reset strategy, and it was never about pretending Putin was misunderstood or returning to Yeltsin-era relations. We knew Putinism was something else. The Reset was about managing arms control, maintaining stability, and keeping space for NATO and EU enlargement — and, after Russia’s invasion of Georgia, to support Georgia’s trajectory towards Europe.
At the Pentagon, I led efforts to train and equip Georgian forces, officially for Afghanistan, but with the real goal of helping them defend against possible future Russian aggression. So it was always meant to be two tracks: engage Moscow where we had to, while strengthening partners where we could.
IN HINDSIGHT, WAS THE STRATEGIC THINKING BEHIND THE RESET GROUNDED IN REALITY — OR MISREADING RUSSIA’S INTENTIONS?
There was uncertainty, and we were testing it — from 2009 to 2012. But when Putin returned, when Bolotnaya happened and he started blaming the U.S. for domestic protests — protests by his own people — it became clear: we’d tested the idea, and the answer was no. The reality was different. By then, many of us — including President Obama — were mentally and politically prepared for a second term without a constructive relationship with Russia.
LOOKING BACK, DOESN’T IT SEEM NAÏVE TO HAVE PINNED HOPES ON MEDVEDEV HAVING ANY REAL INFLUENCE IN RUSSIA?
Mike and I never thought Medvedev was
powerful or autonomous. He was Putin’s face to the international and Russian business communities—a signal that “we’re open for business.” But when Putin decided in 2012 that international influence was a threat aimed at overthrowing him, Medvedev was repurposed for a different role.
MOVING TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION—CRITICS SAY IT DRAGGED ITS FEET IN HELPING UKRAINE, WITH JAKE SULLIVAN SINGLED OUT. IS THAT FAIR?
No. We sent more military aid to a country at war than at any time since WWII. I oversaw the Pentagon’s efforts—capabilities were delivered almost daily. We reported to Congress biweekly with hundreds of millions in equipment. Supply depots were overflowing. I get that critics didn’t see this, but the support was extraordinary. We trained tens of thousands of Ukrainians, from basics to advanced systems like Patriot missiles. Some criticisms miss key points: certain weapons simply weren’t available early on; training takes time, so rushing equipment wouldn’t help; and funding, though generous, wasn’t unlimited. The first priority — and I was in all those meetings — was to sit down with the Ukrainians and say: what are your priorities? And we went from there.
YOU HAVEN’T MENTIONED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S RELUCTANCE TO LET UKRAINE STRIKE DEEP INSIDE RUSSIA. THOUGH IT HAPPENED EVENTUALLY, MANY FEEL THE US HELD KYIV BACK LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE.
They were donations. And American military donations and sales always carry caveats about observing the laws of war — rules about not using them against innocent civilians, not using them against civilian targets. So it was not unusual that we defined terms.
BUT UKRAINE WASN’T PROPOSING TO USE THEM AGAINST CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, WAS IT?
I can’t get into confidential conversations. I’m simply making the point: it is not unusual to have terms. Second, most of the equipment and capabilities we provided were for battlefield needs, because those were Ukrainian priorities. So it wasn’t necessarily about restricting what they would use them for; it was about providing capabilities to defend their country on their territory — because that’s where the Russians were. And in fact, we were later able to provide longerrange strike capabilities, which we had not been able to do earlier. We did allow Ukraine to strike. It was agreed that Ukraine could hit certain key military targets in Russia that would make a difference.
Another point here is that there’s a fantasy that there were infinite capabilities. In reality, there was only a restricted number available even to give to the Ukrainians. So the US military advised them: if you have a limited number of capabilities to strike more deeply, you need to be very smart about what you hit. So yes, there were restrictions — but along the lines of, if you’re going to use these, you’d better use them to make a difference, and here’s what you should strike to make that difference. I can’t go into more detail because I can’t talk about classified matters, but the notion that we had infinite ability to help Ukraine do everything is simply uninformed and unhelpful.
SAME GOES FOR THE ARGUMENT THAT WHATEVER WAS GIVEN, COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN A MORE EXPEDIENT, QUICKER MANNER? There are always trade-offs. We could
have delivered some of the lower-priority capabilities earlier, yes. But that would have meant not being able to provide the higher-priority capabilities when we did.
FAIR ENOUGH. LET’S CIRCLE BACK TO THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PEACE EFFORTS –HOW CLOSE DID THEY BRING US TO AN ACTUAL PEACE?
Not only did they not bring us closer, they pushed us further away. Putin came back from Anchorage stronger than ever, with more time to pursue his military operations, and more time to entrench his absolute demands for a peace settlement. And those demands are not simply about territory — they go to the heart of Ukraine’s sovereignty, autonomy, and territorial integrity in the broadest sense. None of those terms are acceptable, first of all to Ukraine, but also because they violate not only the principles of European security but the UN Charter itself. They are unacceptable to most countries, including the majority of our European allies.
So in terms of the framework for any potential peace settlement, we are no closer. And in terms of shifting Russia off its very rigid stance, we are further away. I wouldn’t even call this Putin’s ‘maximalist’ position — I think this is his real position. These are the demands he has been making since 2013, when Viktor Yanukovych was negotiating Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the European Union and Putin intervened to block it. This has been a consistent set of demands for 12 years now. He isn’t just bargaining — he means it. Could that change over time as the costs mount? Possibly. That was, after all, the Biden administration’s strategy: to help Ukraine survive, to impose costs on Russia, and over time to force Putin to reconsider his demands. But right now we are further away from that than ever before, in no small part because of Putin’s triumph in Anchorage.
HOW DOES ONE ENSURE HE KEEPS HIS WORD? YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN TWO DECADES’ WORTH OF EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH PUTIN, WATCHING WHAT HE DOES AND HOW. WHAT DOES ONE DO TO AVOID A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 2008? First of all, any agreement or negotiation has to be drafted with extraordinary precision and care. I’ve been at the table with Russian negotiators — they should never be underestimated. They are extremely skillful, and they know how to use certain words to create ambiguities they can later exploit during implementation. We saw that very clearly in the Minsk agreements. That is why the language of any deal must be watertight and meticulously crafted by real experts. Secondly, there must be very careful, very professional monitoring of implementation. One of the mistakes made after 2015 was that, over time, Russian violations of the agreement were not properly monitored. And this is not a criticism of the OSCE, but their monitors were denied access and simply could no longer verify whether Russia was in compliance. If there is ever to be a genuine peace settlement, it must be accompanied by a robust, transparent verification regime — one that leaves the Kremlin with little room to cheat and then try to normalize that cheating. And thirdly, from my own experience, there must be a credible mechanism for the immediate snapback of sanctions and costs in response to violations. The re-imposition of costs must not become a matter of political debate or delay. It needs to be automatic, rapid, unambiguous, and decisive. That is the only way to ensure that any breach of the agreement brings immediate and tangible consequences for the Kremlin.
Celeste Wallander. Source: CNN
DGN Consulting: Redefining Professional Services in Georgia
BY MARIAM RAZMADZE
In a business environment where companies often juggle fragmented legal, accounting, and tax services, DGN Consulting is making a bold move: it is not just a service provider but a true strategic partner. This vision, say Shorena Imesashvili DGN Managing Partner, stems from recognizing a fundamental flaw in the Georgian market—too many businesses were paying for services that added complexity rather than clarity.
“Accounting reports were being produced but not used for decision-making. Tax advisors were called in only after costly mistakes had already happened,” Shorena explains. “The standard model was broken.”
DGN Consulting’s answer has been to build a model where accounting and tax services are designed to be inherently useful for management. Reports are not just compliant documents, but tools for strategic decisions. Tax experts are involved at the planning stage, helping to prevent issues rather than patch them later. In short, the company seeks to transform professional services into an engine for sustainable growth.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, NOT TRANSACTIONS
Convincing clients that DGN is a longterm partner rather than a short-term contractor is less about selling and more about earning trust.
“We approach it much like a friendship,” Shorena says. “You don't convince someone to be your friend; you build a relationship based on trust, mutual understanding, and reliability. The longterm partnership with our clients develops in the same organic way.”
This philosophy shapes how DGN works with clients. The firm invests heavily in understanding each client’s business, challenges and ambitions. Delivering technically correct work is only the baseline; reports and advice must be clear, comfortable to use and genuinely actionable for management.
Over time, this consistency evolves formal client engagements into collaborative partnerships.
“We become the people they turn to for advice, confident that we understand their context and are invested in their success,” Shorena emphasizes.
CULTIVATING THE NEXT
GENERATION
Big part of DGN’s strategy is raising young professionals alongside experienced experts. While technical skills matter, the firm’s real focus is on creating a mindset.
“For us, a consultant isn’t just someone who completes a task,” they explain. “It’s someone who immerses themselves in the client’s business, understands their true needs and delivers advice that is impactful.”
Young professionals are mentored directly by senior partners, not only in technical proficiency but also in thinking like a strategic advisor.
BREAKING DOWN SILOS
Many companies still rely on separate providers for legal, tax and accounting services. DGN argues that this fragmentation may create blind spots, inconsistent advice and missed opportunities. Instead, its model integrates these functions under one entity. Clients benefit from:
• Strategic clarity: every piece of advice is aligned across legal, financial and tax dimensions.
• Proactive planning: opportunities for
tax optimization and efficient structuring are spotted early.
• Unified accountability: a single partner assumes responsibility, reducing risks and enhancing communication.
WHO NEEDS HIGHLEVEL CONSULTING?
Looking ahead, DGN believes demand for high-quality consulting will not be driven by industries alone, but by ambition. The firm identifies three profiles where needs are intensifying:
1. The Global Expander (IT sector): tech firms scaling internationally, needing guidance on tax structuring, transfer pricing and IP protection.
2. The Market Innovator (future-facing sectors)
3. The Emerging Challenger (SMEs): startups with rapid growth ambitions,
requiring guidance on governance, scalable financial structures and investment readiness.
4. Established Small and medium businesses, who require optimization, want to optimise the processes
“So, the future demand isn't about the sectors in general, but about the most ambitious companies within them,” the firm explains, “These are the businesses that understand integrated professional services are not just an expense but an investment in their success,” Shorena notes.
TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL, NOT A THREAT
While automation and AI are reshaping industries, DGN sees technology as an enabler rather than a competitor. Software has already improved efficiency,
with clients gaining direct online access to financial data and dashboards. But the firm stresses that human judgment remains irreplaceable.
“The reality is that technology is not a straightforward plug-and-play solution; its value is unlocked only with the right human expertise to guide its implementation and use. The process requires a deep understanding of both the technology's capabilities and the client's unique needs,” Shorena notes.
In this sense, automation validates DGN’s model: as machines take over repetitive tasks, consultants are freed to deliver higher-level strategic insight.
LOCAL ROOTS, GLOBAL STANDARDS
The partners’ experience at international Audit companies gave them valuable insights into balancing global practices with local realities. Large firms bring structure and quality control but can be inflexible. DGN applies the essential principles, rigor, discipline, high standards, while retaining the agility needed for Georgia’s market.
This duality, they argue, allows them to offer “the organizational discipline and high standards learned from international practice, but within a flexible, client-centric structure designed for the Georgian business environment.”
REGIONAL AMBITIONS
As Georgia solidifies its role as an investment hub for the South Caucasus, DGN Consulting sees an opportunity to expand regionally. But the firm insists growth will never come at the cost of quality.
For now, their focus remains clear: to provide clarity where others create complexity, and to prove that consulting, when done right, is not a box-ticking exercise but a partnership for growth.
Professor Khomasuridze & Reproductology Get-Together
BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE
There’s a very expressive— and slightly biting—American saying: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Indeed, the 20th World Congress on Human Reproduction, held in Tbilisi, Sakartvelo, from September 18–21, cost the organizers a great deal of money. But frankly, it was worth every single GEL or dollar spent on that internationally significant event.
For the last eighteen months, Professor Archil G. Khomasuridze, now 83, was head over heels immersed in a truly complicated and extremely responsible preparatory process, which ultimately brought the Congress to unbelievable success. I was lucky enough to be involved myself, serving as a conference moderator, with the working language of the Congress being English.
Representatives from one hundred nations, along with the entire Georgian medical community, filled the vast conference hall of the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace. The packed house was equipped with state-of-the-art, high-tech electronic devices and amenities. Participants felt—and openly acknowledged—that they were part of a truly international, professionally organized scientific get-together, the academic value of which was clearly mind-boggling.
Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia, Mikheil Sarjveladze, opened the Congress with a brief but meaningful speech, personally telling me that the event was of enormous
importance—not just for Georgia, but for the entire world. How right he was. If there is anything that could ensure the survival of the Georgian people, it is Reproductology—the only field of
medicine with the true potential to secure the reproduction and growth of our nation. In fact, there’s nothing more important than this. If, a hundred years from now, we were to become extinct,
then none of what we are trying to achieve today would matter. Understandably, that message is a little scary—but it’s very close to the truth.
Archil Khomasuridze brought to Georgia some of the world’s brightest minds in the field. Among them were Professor Joseph Schenker, founder of the International Academy of Human Reproduction, who presented a highly informative video-pictorial at the opening ceremony, and Professor Andrea Genazzani, the current president of the Academy.
Incidentally, Georgia’s own Archil Khomasuridze, founder, owner, and director of the Prof. Zhordania and Prof. Khomasuridze Institute of Reproductology, is also an incumbent board member of the Academy.
Among hundreds of participants, 82 recognized leaders and pioneers in Reproductology came to Tbilisi to take part in the Congress. 27 of them delivered key presentations at various venues across the event. Long story short, the city was overwhelmed by an event that has now solidified Sakartvelo’s place in one of the most vital areas of modern medicine.
The Congress was organized and entirely financially supported by the Zhordania Institute, under the leadership of the irreplaceable Professor Archil Khomasuridze, who was energetically and continuously supported by Dr. Lali Pkhaladze, MD, PhD, head of the medical division at the clinic and the designated successor of her world-renowned teacher.
Just one detail—not to mention countless others—the beautifully published 70-page comprehensive program of the Congress speaks volumes about their
highly professional collaboration, a tandem that is both well-known and respected across the country.
Now, the Georgian Reproductology community shares one collective wish: to see this golden tandem continue working together for many years to come.
And finally, what stood out so brightly and vibrantly during the Congress was the modern reproductive perspective presented by the GGRC – GeorgianGerman Reproduction Center, led by its founder and head, Professor Nino Museridze, one of the main financial supporters of the Congress. She and her remarkable team struck a perfect medical chord, creating a genuine sense of hope and stability among participants, both local and international.
Here’s a quote from the front page of her recent brochure:
“What gives me energy? Receiving a short letter from a grateful patient who writes: ‘Every morning when I open my eyes and see my child, I think of you. Thank you for bringing me this happiness.’ Words like these give me all the strength I need to keep going.”
This is the kind of profound emotional and human impact Reproductology has on people’s lives—and the Tbilisi Congress was perhaps the most vivid reflection of that impact to date.
By the way, all of them—yes, all of them—including Lali Pkhaladze, Nino Museridze, and hundreds of others, happen to be pupils of the great Archil Khomasuridze. And how wonderful it is that the maestro’s monumental contribution to their success is so deeply and sincerely appreciated.
Let’s wish them all many more Congresses like this one!
Georgia's Leadermed Clinic / In Vitro Clinic representatives at the Congress
Shorena Imesashvili, DGN Managing Partner
1+1=13 – Carrefour Celebrates its 13th Anniversary with Unmissable Offers
BY ANA DUMBADZE
Carrefour, Georgia’s leading hypermarket and supermarket chain, which Majid Al Futtaim owns the exclusive rights to operate in the country, is marking its 13th anniversary with a month of exclusive offers, prizes and surprises for its loyal customers.
Until October 22, shoppers nationwide are invited to join “13 Years of Great Moments”, celebrating Carrefour’s most rewarding promotions yet.
To mark the occasion, Carrefour is bringing back its hallmark 1+1 offer, where customers can buy any product from the selected range and receive another free. The offer is available exclusively to MyCLUB members, giving them priority access to the savings.
Selected deals are also available via Glovo and Wolt, providing customers with a convenient way to shop online and enjoy the offers from home.
Carrefour has always been committed to creating the great moments for its customers, and this year is no exception.
To mark 13 years of success, the company will award 13 lucky winners a “salary”
of 1,000 GEL per month, for a full year.
In total, each winner will receive 13,000 GEL in recognition of Carrefour’s 13th birthday.
To enter the grand prize draw, shoppers will receive raffle tickets with every purchase of 70 GEL or more in hyper-
markets and supermarkets, and 50 GEL or more in city format stores. Each transaction can generate up to five tickets, or six when using a MyCLUB. Winners will be announced live on Rustavi 2 on October 11 and October 25 at 17:30. Customers can also enjoy discounts of
up to 50% on a wide range of products, including premium technology brands such as Samsung, Apple, Midea, Gorenje, and Honor. In addition, shoppers spending 70 GEL or more with a MyCLUB card will also have the opportunity to instantly win household appliances at checkout
– from washing machines, televisions and refrigerators to other high-quality products by renowned brands such as Kärcher, Smeg, Dyson, JBL, and more.
The MyCLUB loyalty programme remains at the heart of Carrefour’s customer engagement, providing exclusive discounts, personalised offers, and a points system redeemable for products in any Carrefour store. The programme is fully accessible through the Carrefour mobile application, available on both Android and iOS devices.
Carrefour continues to deliver a seamless shopping experience under one roof – offering essential products, self-checkout options, and convenient online shopping solutions. Its mission is to provide high-quality products at competitive prices, while creating memorable everyday moments for its customers. For 13 years, Carrefour has proudly served the Georgian market, building trust and loyalty through consistent value and service. Each anniversary reflects the brand’s commitment to giving back, rewarding customers with exceptional offers and meaningful experiences. Carrefour’s journey in Georgia extends beyond retail – it is about building lasting relationships and celebrating life’s best moments together.
Borjomi Opens $120 Million Georgian Bottling Plant
IDS Borjomi Georgia, the country’s leading mineral water producer, has officially opened a cuttingedge bottling plant representing the largest investment in Georgia’s beverage sector since independence.
The $120 million facility marks a milestone in the 135-year history of Borjomi, Georgia’s flagship mineral water brand. The opening ceremony was attended by members of Georgia’s executive, legislative, local governments, diplomats, as well as representatives of the business community.
Located in Kvibisi on the site of the former No. 2 bottling plant, the new 48,000-square-meter facility is the largest bottling operation in Georgia in terms of scale and production capacity. The plant will initially produce 750 million bottles annually, with capacity expanding to 1 billion bottles by 2030.
The state-of-the-art facility features four ultra-modern, high-tech production lines and advanced water bottling infrastructure. Alongside traditional Borjomi mineral water, the expanded facility will produce the company’s new product portfolio, including Limonati by Borjomi, Bakuriani – water with taste, and Likani Flavored.
AFNAN AHSAN, GROUP CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF IDS
BORJOMI INTERNATIONAL:
“The new plant represents a significant milestone in strengthening Borjomi’s position across international markets. It
enables us to further strengthen our presence in Georgia and home markets in Eastern Europe while also confidently expanding operations in strategic markets such as the United States, China and the Middle East. Our global mission is to continue the growth, development, and expansion of our business, establishing IDS Borjomi as a leading, successful international beverage company and
elevating Borjomi’s status as a globally recognized brand.”
IVANE MATCHAVARIANI,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF IDS BORJOMI GEORGIA:
“This unprecedented high-tech enterprise is a project of historic significance, taking the company to a new stage. It represents the largest investment ever made in this sector in the history of independent Georgia and is vital for both the region and the country’s economy. Our mission was twofold: to honorably continue Borjomi’s 135-year history while also creating space for future-oriented projects. From now on, in this new, consolidated, technologically advanced facility, we will produce not only our mineral waters but also a range of innovative products. This plant will serve as a bridge between Borjomi’s heritage and its future.“
IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE, PRIME MINISTER OF GEORGIA:
“Borjomi is not only historically the first mineral water company and industry leader in Georgia, it is also the country’s calling card worldwide. The $120 million investment in building a factory on 48,000 square meters in Kvibisi to international
standards is the largest in the history of independent Georgia in this sector. The plant was built with energy-efficient materials, and every stage of production complies with the highest international environmental standards. It is a bridge between our unique heritage and a responsible, sustainable future. Along with new technologies, it supports the company’s ambitious strategic vision — to establish itself in the U.S., China, and Middle Eastern markets. At the same time, the project’s social impact is crucial. About 600 locally employed residents mean stable income for as many families and, at the same time, a new perspective of prosperity and development for the entire region, for Borjomi Municipality. Our government’s priority is to fully support the development of precisely such national industries, which create wealth inside the country and establish Georgia’s reputation as a highquality producer worldwide. I wish you success in making the Georgian name known on the global market.”
The plant’s operations fully comply with Georgian national legislation and adhere to the highest international environmental and production standards, reflecting IDS Borjomi’s commitment to responsible manufacturing.
Borjomi being bottled in the new plant Source: Borjomi
The new plant. Source: Borjomi
BY TEAM GT
Shangri La Tbilisi Marks Its Birthday with a Stylish Celebration and Live ABBA Tribute
BY TEAM GT
On September 18, Shangri La Tbilisi celebrated its birthday with an evening full of music, performance, and elegant atmosphere, bringing together friends, partners, and guests for a memorable night. The event reflected the venue’s commitment to high-quality entertainment and warm hospitality, offering a mix of live performance, theatrical flair, and genuine moments of celebration.
The evening opened with a welcoming reception where guests were greeted with a selection of drinks and a beautifully presented buffet. The setting was relaxed yet festive, with live photo and video coverage capturing the energy of the evening from the very beginning. Friends gathered, colleagues exchanged greetings, and the mood quickly shifted into one of anticipation.
Adding a unique artistic element, a live street theater performance took place just outside the venue. This immersive show brought a fresh dimension to the celebration, blending movement and character in a way that drew both guests
and onlookers into the experience. It was a creative choice that emphasized Shangri La’s dedication to crafting events that go beyond the expected.
As guests returned indoors, the main celebration began. A host welcomed the audience and introduced the evening’s entertainment lineup. The highlight of the night came with a live performance by a renowned ABBA tribute band, who delivered a set of timeless hits that had the room buzzing with energy. Their performance was accompanied by a dynamic dance show, enhancing the musical experience and keeping the audience fully engaged throughout.
The celebration then shifted toward its final act: the birthday ceremony. As the lights dimmed and music played, the birthday cake was brought to the stage.
The host, Helen Keane, General Manager of Shangri La Tbilisi wrapped up the event with closing remarks, offering thanks to everyone who attended and helped make the celebration a success.
We had the great opportunity to engage Keane in conversation, giving us deeper insight into her vision for the entertainment industry. In our conversation, she touched on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in today’s landscape, from shifting public percep-
tions and evolving regulations to the balance between luxury and responsibility. Keane also reflected on the role of innovation, the importance of trust and safety, and the unique atmosphere that sets Shangri La apart. Fresh from the celebration of the anniversary, she shared her thoughts on what makes Shangri La not just an entertainment destination, but a vibrant part of Georgia’s hospitality scene.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE IN THE GAMING WORLD TODAY THAT YOU FIND EXCITING RATHER THAN DAUNTING?
Without doubt, one of the most positive changes today — and especially here in Georgia — is the shift in perception. The casino industry is increasingly viewed not as something hidden or controversial, but as part of the broader entertainment industry, much like in the United States. For many of our guests, a visit to Shangri La is no different from going to a concert, a fine restaurant, or the theater. They come for emotions, atmosphere, and the experience — not only for the win. This is a very encouraging evolution.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE CASINO INDUSTRY TODAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Like any business, our industry is evolving alongside customer needs and technological progress. I would not change the essence of the business itself. What I would highlight, however, is the increasing tax pressure that operators face. For instance, the 5% tax on slot cash outs in Georgia is a legal requirement, not something imposed by us and has to be paid by the player on any cash out, regardless of whether a player is winning or losing. We explain this clearly to our guests, though many of them tell us it feels unusual compared to regions where no such tax exists. This creates challenges both for guests and for operators, and has already led to some loss of business –mainly to Cyprus, where they do not have a tax on cash outs.
SHANGRI LA HAS ALWAYS BALANCED LUXURY WITH RESPONSIBLE GAMING. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISING EXPERIENCE?
For us, responsibility is non-negotiable. Age limits, ethical standards, and guest protection are built into our operations. If we see a guest struggling to control their play, our team will always step in, tactfully. At the same time, we make sure
that responsibility never reduces the enjoyment. True luxury is not only about glamor — it is also about trust, safety, and respect.
WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON INTEGRATING NEW TECHNOLOGY, DO YOU LEAD WITH INNOVATION OR WAIT TO SEE PROVEN TRENDS?
Innovation is part of our culture, but it must always enhance the guest experience rather than replace it. Technology helps us improve service, streamline operations, and introduce new forms of entertainment. But the human element remains central — no innovation can replace atmosphere, hospitality, or personal connection.
SHANGRI LA TBILISI HAS JUST CELEBRATED ITS ANNIVERSARY. HOW WAS THE CELEBRATION?
It was a wonderful evening, full of energy and joy. Our guests enjoyed a spectacular program — from a live ABBA tribute performance to aerial acrobatics and a theatrical show at the entrance. Inside, the atmosphere was warm, festive, and truly international. We received many kind words about the event, which for
us is the best reward.
WHO WERE SOME OF THE SPECIAL GUESTS AT THE CELEBRATION?
Like any birthday, this was first and foremost about friends. Many of our longtime guests, who have become close to us over the years, joined the celebration. Their presence made the evening especially meaningful. Of course, confidentiality is one of our values, so we never disclose names, but we can say with confidence that the night was shared with people who are truly part of the Shangri La family.
In conclusion, we can say that Shangri La Tbilisi’s birthday celebration was more than just a party, it was a carefully considered event that showcased the venue’s unique character. From the artistic elements and live music to the sense of warmth and connection among guests, the night reflected everything Shangri La strives to represent: sophistication, creativity, and a people-first approach to entertainment.
It was a celebration not just of another year gone by, but of the vibrant community that continues to make Shangri La a place worth returning to.
Scales
The definition of “fractal” (from the Latin “fractus”, “broken”; coined by Benoit Mandelbrot in the 1970s) could include “self-similar at different scales.” Think of any naturally occurring branching structure, such as trees, from trunk to twigs, or our own venous and arterial systems for carrying blood through the human body. Without other visual clues, when you see a part of a fractal object, you might have no idea what its size is, tiny or huge. The largest number of scales displaying fractal patterns in nature is found in clouds, from may miles across down to the limits of what the unaided human eye can see. This became evident to me recently in my own work, when over the course of a day I took over 1100 photos, all from one of the upstairs windows of our house in the mountains of Svaneti. This is a personal record for a day’s shooting. I could never have imagined doing this with 35mm film, which has a maximum of 36 frames per standard roll: that would changing film over 30 times!
Indeed, some of the cloud formations I was noticing had become something slightly or even significantly different as I raised the camera to my eye to shoot. I was using only my big 70-300mm lens for all this, and it allowed me to probe into the details of the raging cloud formations as they moved across the “mountain wall” with its rock faces and mixed forests. Here, I was seeing for the first time the amount of detail one can find in a cloud when zooming in to it, especially evident when it is moving and mutating fast in high winds. Not only were there wonderfully mysterious scenes of evergreen trees emerging from fog; there were also plenty of new dragon forms, faces, and other creatures coming and going, as I wrote last week. A lot of this only became evident in what we call “post”, the time of processing one’s images in a computer, optimizing contrast, choosing black and white or color output (mostly the former for me).
Without the clue of trees for scale, one could simply not know the size of what one is seeing. Rock, too, has fractal structure, to further confuse things; only the pines give hints of what could be inches or miles across. This is the nature of fractals in nature. Look into water slowly
moving from one puddle on a slope to another, and take a shot. With nothing else in the frame, is it a whole river in Iceland, or… just something at your feet? Could be either, or anything in between.
Having been an avid consumer of fractal geometry books and images since I was a teenager, perhaps it’s no wonder that this is one of the lenses through which I see both the natural and mathematical worlds. It never gets boring, always brings wonder and delight, as my sensitivity to pattern kicks in. The mathematical fractals are exact self-copies at scales instead of self-similar, unless one builds in a randomization factor, which I don’t. In any case, how one SEES the world is very much linked with one’s understanding of it, in my experience. One thing is for sure: for me it’s never boring.
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 over 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
Photo: UNDP Georgia.
Marneuli Marks World Cleanup Day 2025 With Community Action
BY MARIAM RAZMADZE
MarneulicelebratedWorld Cleanup Day 2025 with a large-scale community effort that brought together hundreds of volunteers, young people and representatives of diplomatic missions. The event was organized by ‘Let’s Do It –
Georgia’with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Georgia and UNDP Georgia. Participants not only cleaned streets but also painted environmental murals and joined green-themed quizzes, combining action with education. Representatives from the EU in Georgia, the Embassy of Sweden, and the Embassy of Latvia joined the initiative, demonstrating international support for climate action.
Monument to King Erekle II Unveiled in Tbilisi’s Samgori
BY TEAM GT
Anew monument dedicated to King Erekle II has unveiled in Samgori Park along the Kakheti Highway in Tbilisi’s Isani district, the result of a joint initiative by Tbilisi City Hall and the Ministry of Culture.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Minister of Culture Tinatin Rukhadze. Speaking at the event, Kaladze described the occasion as a moment of national pride.
“Today we are honoring the great Georgian king, Erekle II, in our capital. This monument stands as a message to our children and future generations that Georgia is eternal, rich in history, faith, culture, and values—legacies brought
Park
forth by our ancestors through struggle, nation-building, and wise leadership. Erecting this monument in the heart of Tbilisi symbolises the strength of our nation and our peaceful future,” Kaladze said.
He emphasized that the monument was created from a sketch by the renowned artist Merab Merabishvili, whose works include the famous statue of Erekle II in Telavi. Kaladze thanked the Prime Minister for supporting the project, as well as the Ministry of Culture and the team of sculptors and architects who brought it to life.
Heraclius II (Erekle II, 1720–1798) was the penultimate king of the united eastern Georgian kingdoms of Kakheti and Kartli. A skilled ruler, he unified eastern Georgia, pursued modernization, and placed the kingdom under Russian protection in 1783, though it failed to shield Georgia from a devastating Persian invasion in 1795.
BLOG BY TONY HANMER
Verandas, Quartets, and Ghosts: The New Life of Saguramo’s Festival
REVIEW BY IVAN NECHAEV
In Georgia, festivals often bear the weight of cultural survival. They are never only about the notes performed or the names in the program; they are, instead, moments of civic ritual, reminders that art can still create a shared horizon of meaning. The X International Chamber Music Festival in Saguramo, held in the gardens of the Ilia Chavchavadze State Museum, unfolded precisely in this key. Nestled among the memory-laden walls of the house-museum of Georgia’s 19thcentury intellectual giant, the event celebrated not simply chamber music but the persistence of cultural intimacy in an increasingly fractured public sphere. Saguramo is not Salzburg. There are no postcard Alpine backdrops or aristocratic patronages polished over centuries. Instead, there is the shadow of Ilia Chavchavadze—the writer, political thinker, and martyr of the Georgian nation—whose home, now a museum, frames the festival as both an aesthetic and ethical gesture. To stage music here is to stage memory, to turn a domestic garden into a civic agora. That transformation is itself an argument: chamber music as an antidote to political cynicism, a practice of collective attention.
The anniversary—ten years of the Camerata—was marked with the modest grandeur of three evenings, each drawing together performers from Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Georgia. The very multinational weave of the program suggested that chamber music retains a diplomatic force, one that resists the language of treaties and instead relies on counterpoint, timbre, and silence.
The second evening, September 20, belonged, at least in its first half, to the FM Quartett from Germany. Their pro-
gram was both expected and gently provocative: Wagner and Mozart alongside the operatic fervor of Nessun Dorma and even a sequence of familiar songs. In the compressed architecture of a quartet, Wagner’s motifs shed their usual Teutonic density and became something else: translucent, chamber-scaled contemplations rather than monuments. Mozart, conversely, gained a darker intensity, as if refracted through the historical consciousness Wagner always brings into the room.
The inclusion of Nessun Dorma—a tenor aria transposed into the texture of four instruments—was less a populist bow than a small philosophical experiment. Puccini’s anthem of masculine triumph became, in the absence of words, a fragile meditation on the very idea of voice. Without the swelling operatic body, one heard the skeleton of the aria, its contour, its pleading arc. It was, paradoxically, both more universal and more ghostly.
If the Germans brought density, the Italians brought light. The Vivacidade Duo, blending Brazilian rhythmic verve with the architecture of Piazzolla, carved an entirely different affective space. Where Wagner had brooded, they danced; where Mozart had sculpted form, they improvised with color. Brazilian choro rhythms, slipping into Piazzolla’s tangoinflected melancholy, generated an atmosphere of fluid cosmopolitanism.
This was not the superficial exoticism of “world music” but rather a deliberate staging of dialogue: Latin America’s urban soundscapes meeting Europe’s classical canon on Georgian soil. The result was a kind of triangular conversation—Saguramo as mediator between Leipzig, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro.
The festival’s true innovation lay in its use of space. The main stage framed the larger concerts, yet the veranda of the house was transformed into an intimate
a threshold between domestic interior and public performance. This interplay between garden and architecture allowed the festival to become almost site-specific, a choreography of listening across multiple dimensions of the estate. Yet certain weaknesses undercut this brilliance. The overabundance of spoken introductions and commentary often competed with the music itself, threatening to turn performance into mere background to narration. The festival also missed a rare chance to tie its audience more deeply to the history of the museum itself: the intermissions passed without guided walks or access to the exhibits that could have woven Georgian intellectual history into the listening experience. Music in Ilia’s house should
have opened the door to Ilia’s legacy. On the logistical level, ticketing and seating management felt underdeveloped. Audiences wandered into spaces without clear guidance, yet this very disarray inadvertently created a curious intimacy: listeners began to feel like insiders, almost family, a self-organized community rather than a regimented crowd. In a paradoxical way, the lack of control generated a new form of hospitality.
The significance of such programming in this place cannot be overstated. Ilia Chavchavadze, the host in absentia, believed in literature and art as engines of civic renewal. His museum garden, once a private domestic space, becomes under the weight of the festival a site of
public pedagogy. The Ministry of Culture, Mtskheta Municipality, and local cultural centers appear as supporters, but the deeper patron here is Ilia himself, whose ghostly authority lends the festival both gravitas and a sense of continuity.
The Saguramo Camerata, once known as “Salkhino’s Camera,” has, in its tenyear trajectory, carved out precisely this dual function: to be at once an artistic platform and a civic ritual. It offers chamber music as a model of society itself: multiple voices negotiating, listening, sometimes clashing, always oriented toward fragile harmony.
What does it mean to celebrate ten years? For a festival in Georgia, survival itself is an achievement. Political instability, economic precarity, and cultural marginalization often make such projects ephemeral. Saguramo’s persistence suggests something more than stubbornness; it signals a quiet demand for continuity. The festival’s first year in this new location carried the inevitable imperfections of transition—overbearing hosts, underdeveloped logistics, a missed chance to bind music to history. But these are correctable flaws. What remains essential is the vision: to turn a garden into an agora, a veranda into a concert hall, and a museum into a civic forum where art, memory, and community entwine. If Wagner in the garden could sound intimate, if Piazzolla could shimmer under Georgian twilight, then the festival has proved its point: chamber music can be both local and transnational, rooted and borderless, civic and sensual. In an age when music festivals too easily collapse into spectacle or tourism, Saguramo insists on a slower, more attentive form of listening.
Perhaps that is the truest anniversary gift: not only to celebrate music, but to remind us that listening itself is a civic virtue.
Emerging Georgian Talent Mariam Odishvili on Art, Growth, and Global Horizons
BY TEAM GT
With each new season comes the chance to discover a fresh voice in Georgia’s thriving art scene—someone whose work speaks not just to the eye, but to the spirit. This time, we’re delighted to introduce Mariam Odishvili, a young Georgian artist whose calm, introspective energy radiates through her diverse body of work.
“She has a unique ability to reflect her beauty and tranquility through her artworks,” says Bengü Akçardak Küçük, Co-Founder of BI Auction, “yet she constantly surprises us with new experiences in different artistic areas.”
We sat down with Mariam to learn more about her journey—from the transformative impact of winning the BI Auction Competition in 2022 to the exciting international projects that lie ahead.
YOU WERE THE BI AUCTION COMPETITION WINNER IN 2022. HOW HAS YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY EVOLVED SINCE THEN?
Winning the BI Auction Competition was a truly special moment for me. It wasn’t just a competition—it felt like a turning point. One of my most meaningful works was sold during the auction, and that moment gave me both visibility and confidence. It reassured me that I was on the right path.
What made the experience even more impactful was the context—initiatives like BI Auction were (and still are) rare in Georgia. It became more than just a platform for showcasing work; it became a source of motivation and connection for young artists. I’m really grateful for that experience and proud to have been part of it over several years. Since then, my journey has expanded in many directions. I’ve participated in
group exhibitions in Lithuania, as well as Art Paris 2022 and the Tbilisi Art Fair 2024. At home, I had the chance to present two solo exhibitions—Choose A Direction at the Art Palace of Georgia, and another at weseeitems gallery. One very personal highlight was illustrating my first children’s book, written by Linor Shaul, which was published in the United States this year. It opened a new door for me creatively—connecting
with younger audiences and exploring a different kind of storytelling.
Around the same time, I started exploring the world of curating. For me, curating is another way of making art. It allows me to create space for dialogue, build connections between artists, and shape shared visions. My first experience in this area was as a cultural mediator at the European Cultural Centre in Venice. It gave me hands-on experience with international exhibitions, artist support, and audience engagement.
That experience eventually led me to become a curator at weseeitems gallery, and earlier this year, I coordinated my fourth curatorial project—a photo exhibition in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Georgia.
That project was another reminder of how powerful art can be as a bridge— between people, cultures, and ideas.
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE CURRENT STATE OF ART AND ARTISTS TODAY?
I think the art scene right now is both exciting and demanding. In Georgia, there’s an incredible amount of creativity and energy. It’s encouraging to see a growing international interest in Georgian artists and exhibitions.
But the reality is, many challenges still exist. Artists often face limited resources, infrastructure gaps, and not enough international exposure. That’s why community support is so crucial. One of the things I truly value about our art scene is how much we look out for one another— there’s a strong sense of solidarity.
Of course, institutional support also plays a big role. More involvement from the government, cultural foundations, and sponsors could open up so many more opportunities for artists here. Longterm, sustainable support systems would allow more of our work to reach broader audiences and have a deeper impact. I deeply believe that art and culture are essential to Georgia’s identity. They help preserve who we are while connecting us with the world around us. Cultural initiatives foster dialogue, exchange, and growth—not just for artists, but for society as a whole. When we invest in art, we’re investing in a more thoughtful, open, and connected future.
WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m really looking forward to participating in the SWAB Art Fair in Barcelona in 2025. I’ll be presenting my work with Gallery weseeitems from October 2nd to 5th, alongside two incredibly talented Georgian artists. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share my art in an international setting and connect with a broader audience.
Later this year, I also have a project in Paris, which I’m very excited about—but I’ll have to keep some of the details under wraps for now!
hall,
Photo by Giorgi Induashvili // Saguramo Camerata Facebook Page
Mariam Odishvili, a young Georgian artist
A Throne Suspended in Ash: Gesher Theater’s Richard III Opens Tbilisi’s Int’l Festival
REVIEW BY IVAN NECHAEV
The Tbilisi International Festival of Theater chose to open its international program with Shakespeare’s Richard III, and this decision already reads as an editorial gesture. In a city where theater has historically operated as a barometer of social upheaval—whether during the Soviet period or the ongoing struggles of a fragile democracy—the arrival of Tel Aviv’s Gesher theater with Itay Tiran’s furious, unsparing production feels both timely and incendiary. It signals that the festival is not content to offer cultural diplomacy or polite classics. Instead, it begins with a provocation: a work that dares to connect Shakespeare’s latemedieval nightmare with the present tense of political life.
RICHARD AS A SYMPTOM OF FAMILY, NATION, AND STATE
“Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” Tolstoy remarked, and Richard III embodies that observation with terrifying precision. Shakespeare’s play begins as a family feud, proceeds as a dynastic tragedy, and culminates in a national collapse. Gesher’s staging pushes this genealogy of destruction further, suggesting that in the twenty-first century the personal rot of one household metastasizes into the corruption of entire states. Richard is not just a figure of ruthless ambition; he is the malignant growth produced by alienation, humiliation, and a society too willing to accommodate cruelty.
Evgenia Dodina, cast against type as Richard, embodies this idea to staggering effect. Her performance is at once grotesque and magnetic, a study in theatrical paradox: fragility laced with menace, charm curdled into sadism. By embodying the role as a woman, Dodina
fractures centuries of expectation, pulling the character into a new register. This Richard is no longer simply the archetype of masculine tyranny but an unstable amalgam of gender, power, and deformity. The audience sees not only a villain but a theatrical chimera—part Joker, part Hamlet, part authoritarian demagogue.
THE BLACK-AND-WHITE WORLD OF ITAY TIRAN
If Dodina carries the psychological weight, Tiran’s direction establishes the visual and symbolic grammar. The stage becomes an arena where moral binaries suffocate nuance: black and white dominate every costume and backdrop, evoking film noir and erasing individuality. This design choice—Eran Atzmon’s set, Gleb Filshtinsky’s lighting—presses the audience into an environment of perpetual moral starkness. A rain of ash accumulates across the stage, an environmental metaphor for decay that is at once subtle and relentless.
The coronation scene crystallizes Tiran’s dramaturgical logic. The throne is not a seat but a black chair suspended absurdly high, accessible only by ladder. The visual allegory is ruthless: power is an abstraction, always beyond reach, yet pursued with blood-soaked zeal. What is worshipped here is not kingship, but the fetish of power itself—empty, elevated, and absurd.
ISRAELI ECHOES, GEORGIAN RESONANCE
One of the production’s most daring gestures lies in its incorporation of classic Israeli songs. Their sudden eruption interrupts Shakespeare’s language with fragments of contemporary cultural memory, forcing the audience to read Richard not as a medieval tyrant, but as a perennial type haunting modern politics. An insistence that tyranny is never far away, that each society—Israel’s, Georgia’s, or anyone’s—is a few steps
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away from its own Richard.
This dramaturgical choice takes on layered meaning in Tbilisi. Georgia has repeatedly experienced how familial fractures in ruling elites translate into state fragility, how private vendettas erupt into public ruin. Gesher’s Richard III thus refracts through the Georgian audience like a dark mirror, inviting spectators to read Shakespeare’s text as both foreign and uncomfortably intimate.
RICHARD AS ARCHETYPE FOR OUR TIMES
The brilliance of Gesher’s production lies in its refusal to domesticate Shakespeare. Richard remains excessive, grotesque, and almost unbelievable. But in that excess, he becomes recognizable as the distorted reflection of our own world: the serial killer who governs like a CEO, the demagogue whose charisma is inseparable from cruelty, the manipulator who thrives in the absence of shared values.
By opening its international program with this production, the Tbilisi International Festival of theater declares itself a space where theater can perform its most ancient role: as a civic mirror, exposing the contradictions of its society. Gesher’s Richard III insists that tyranny is never an artifact of history but an ongoing possibility, lurking whenever communities confuse stability with submission, or allow violence to masquerade as order.
As the ash settles on stage and the suspended chair hovers above an empty kingdom, one understands why this production inaugurates the festival’s international offerings. It is theater as dark prophecy, theater that does not console but unsettles, theater that dares to place Georgia’s current anxieties within Shakespeare’s brutal dramaturgy. To begin with Richard III is to begin with a warning. And warnings, in Tbilisi, are rarely ignored.
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