issue#1526

Issue no: 1526

• NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

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In this week’s issue...

Georgia to Restrict Plastic Bottle Purchases in State and Hospitality Sectors NEWS PAGE 2

Ukraine Update: The Battle for Pokrovsk, and the Winter Energy War POLITICS PAGE 3

Georgia and China Strengthen Strategic and Economic Partnership during High-Level Visit BUSINESS PAGE 7

Tbilisi Circular Labs Highlights Circular Economy Achievements BUSINESS PAGE 8

British Teenager Bella Culley Returns Home after Georgian Jail Sentence

Georgia’s EU Accession Stalled Between Couture and Renata Litvinova’s as EU Issues Critical Assessment Solitude: Cactus Blossoms in Tbilisi SOCIETY PAGE 9

BY TEAM GT

T

he European Union has effectively halted Georgia’s accession process, according to the 2025 Enlargement Policy Communication released by the European Commission on 4 November. The report provides a stark assessment of Georgia’s political path, concluding that recent government actions have strained EU–Georgia relations and diverted the country from its European ambitions.

Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, on the condition that it implement nine key reforms outlined by the European Commission. These reforms targeted areas such as judicial independence, media freedom, electoral integrity, anti-corruption measures, and protection of civil liberties. While the EU initially praised Georgia’s commitment to a European trajectory, the 2025 report signals deep disappointment with the pace and quality of reform.

Continued on page 4 EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, presenting the EU’s 2025 enlargement report. Source: EC

CULTURE PAGE 11

Georgian Karate Team Wins Six Medals at European Championship in Riga SPORTS PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

Georgia to Restrict Plastic Bottle Purchases in State and Hospitality Sectors

Georgian wine. Source: Top Villas

Georgia’s Château Buera and Château Mukhrani Named among World’s Best Vineyards for 2025

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

wo Georgian wineries, Château Buera in Kakheti and Château Mukhrani in Kartli, have been featured in The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025 extended list, ranking 72nd and 75th respectively.

The list, uncovered ahead of the official awards ceremony in Western Australia on 19 November, shows the top vineyard destinations worldwide, recognizing excellence in wine tourism, innovation and visitor experience.

Compiled by over 700 global wine and travel experts, the ranking spans six continents and 38 wine regions, with 18

new entries this year. Georgia joins the list for the first time, a milestone for the country’s growing reputation in global wine culture. European vineyards dominated the 51–100 list with 33 entries while Portugal led with eight. France, Italy and Spain also secured strong representation, alongside wineries from South America, Oceania and Africa.

The World’s 50 Best Vineyards’ Director of Content, William Drew stated that this year’s selection “celebrates excellence in global wine tourism” and recognizes “the people behind some of the most inspiring vineyard experiences in the world.”

The full ranking and awards will be announced on 19 November during a ceremony at Amelia Park Wines in Margaret River, Western Australia.

34 Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown on Georgia’s Criminal Underworld

Plastic bottles line supermarket shelves. Source: Commersant

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

he Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia held another working meeting with representatives of the business sector to discuss upcoming regulations on the sale and use of beverages packaged in plastic bottles.

The ministry stated that the initiative under consideration would restrict budgetary organizations, government agen-

cies and the hospitality sector from purchasing drinks in plastic containers.

This initiative is part of a bigger effort to rid the country of plastic waste.

Participants agreed to continue consultations with the business community in a working format to ensure the development of effective, balanced regulations.

“The ministry is actively working to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management policies. It is essential that any action plan is developed in close cooperation with the private sector, ensuring that environmental, public health, and economic interests are prop-

erly balanced,” said Deputy Minister Solomon Pavliashvili.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili and Deputy Ministers Zurab Ezugbaya, Kakhaber Kakabadze, Lasha Dolidze and Lasha Avaliani.

Excessive plastic use remains one of Georgia’s most pressing environmental challenges. The local studies show that the country consumes around 612.5 million single-use plastic items annually, including cups, lids, food containers, cutlery, straws and bottles, amounting to an estimated 3.9–5.9 thousand tons of waste.

New Riverside Park Planned in Kutaisi as 1.4 Million GEL Design Tender Announced

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T The ministry is determined to dismantle organized criminal structures. Source: FB

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

he Ministry of Internal Affairs has carried out a large-scale operation against Georgia’s so-called ‘criminal underworld,’ detaining 34 individuals and charging seven others in absentia across five separate criminal cases.

The Ministry stated that those arrested are accused of participating in or supporting organized criminal networks, including mediating financial disputes, coordinating with ‘thieves in law’ abroad and enforcing orders through intimidation and violence. The investigation reportedly uncovered evidence of “thieves’ meetings” where participants imposed fines and issued death threats to enforce their decisions.

During one of the operations in the

village of Kabali, Lagodekhi district, 51-year-old Mirza Aliyev, wanted under a court warrant, opened fire on officers from the Special Tasks Department, critically injuring one. Police returned fire, killing Aliyev at the scene. The operation was conducted jointly by units from the Central Criminal Police Department and regional divisions in Tbilisi, Kakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.

Searches of suspects’ homes and vehicles led to the seizure of firearms, ammunition, narcotics, electronic devices and significant amounts of cash.

In a connected case, Davit Chubinidze, head of security for Davit Mikadze, also charged in absentia, was arrested for illegal possession of firearms.

Deputy Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said the ministry remains determined to dismantle organized criminal structures and prevent their influence within Georgia.

he Municipal Development Fund of Georgia, operating under the Ministry of Infrastructure, has announced a 1.4 million GEL design competition for the creation of a modern recreational area near Chavchavadze Bridge in Kutaisi.

The procurement notice declares that the project envisions the development of a multifunctional riverside park along the Rioni River, designed to combine recreational, cultural, educational and social functions. The proposed space will feature a mediatheque, open-air amphitheater, cafés, dining areas, sports fields, exercise zones and playgrounds.

The concept of the project is based on a landscape-oriented approach, emphasizing minimal intervention in the natural environment. Plans include the creation of interconnected walking and cycling paths to encourage outdoor activity and accessibility. The recrea-

Kutaisi. Source: Advantour

tional zone will be equipped with modern infrastructure, including parking facilities, outdoor lighting, irrigation, electrical and water supply systems as well as safety and security installations.

Proposals for the design competition

will be accepted from December 3 to December 8. The winning bidder will be selected by a special evaluation commission after which detailed project documentation will be prepared and a construction tender announced.

Geostat: Rise in Fires, Road Accidents and Property Crimes

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

he National Statistics Office’s newly released data reveals that Georgia recorded a total of 40,464 crimes in the first nine months of 2025. The figures show persistent challenges in public safety, with property crimes, drug-related offenses

and road accidents dominating the statistics.

Property-related offenses made up the largest share, with almost 13,000 cases reported. Drug crimes followed, exceeding 7,000 incidents while nearly 6,000 cases were categorized as crimes against health.

Road traffic incidents continue to be a major concern for authorities. Between January and September, 4,480 road accidents were reported, 345 of which

resulted in fatalities. While the number of fatal cases has decreased slightly compared to 444 deaths recorded in 2024, officials stress that road safety remains a national priority.

Meanwhile, the number of fire incidents has increased sharply. Geostat registered 11,722 fires so far this year, already exceeding the totals for both 2023 and 2024 combined. These incidents have claimed 41 lives and destroyed nearly 400 buildings across the country.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

3

Ukraine Update: The Battle for Pokrovsk, and the Winter Energy War COMPILED BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

s the conflict moves into its fourth winter, the past week has been defined by two intertwined struggles: Russia’s push to break Ukrainian lines around the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, and a renewed campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy grid, while Kyiv ramps up longrange drone strikes on Russian oil and industrial facilities. From 30 October to 6 November, front lines changed little on the map, but the intensity and brutality of bombardments on both sides show how much the war now depends on logistics, electricity, and industrial capacity—not just territory.

Pokrovsk remains the focal point of fighting. Russian forces have made limited gains in parts of the city, seeking to use the urban landscape for infiltration teams and drones, while threatening the logistics that support Ukrainian positions along the Donetsk front. Moscow says its troops are tightening a “ring” around Ukrainian defenders and advancing from multiple directions, including toward nearby Kupiansk and other key transport hubs. Kyiv rejects the claim of encirclement but acknowledges that Pokrovsk has become one of the fiercest sectors of the war, after enduring more than a year of artillery, glide-bomb, and infantry attacks.

Ukraine’s response has combined symbolic acts with tactical counterstrikes.

On 5 November, the 425th Separate Assault Regiment released footage of two teams infiltrating Pokrovsk at night and raising the Ukrainian flag over the city council building, claiming to have cleared Russian forces from the site. One soldier was lightly wounded when his

vehicle was hit by a Russian drone but reportedly refused evacuation and continued the mission. Ukrainian military intelligence also reported a joint operation with Russian partisans that destroyed a support vehicle for an Iskander missile system in Russia’s Kursk region, targeting equipment used to reload launchers that had been firing on Ukrainian cities.

Kyiv presents these operations as proof that it is still contesting control around Pokrovsk, even as Russian troops hold industrial zones and residential blocks on the city’s outskirts.

Outside Pokrovsk, Russian forces continued high-intensity shelling and air strikes across Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Dnipro, without any major publicly confirmed territorial gains. Local authorities reported repeated attacks on frontline communities, including deadly strikes in Kupiansk, Synelnykove, and other parts of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts. Russian forces also pressured Kherson and nearby villages along the Dnipro’s west bank, and northern regions such as Sumy and Chernihiv, keeping large areas under constant threat with drones, artillery, and missiles. Ukrainian officials claimed Russia lost about 900 troops in a single day and more than 1.14 million personnel since February 2022, highlighting the attritional nature of the fighting even where front lines seem static.

Civilian casualties reflect both longrange strikes and trench warfare. On 30 October, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the year, firing more than 650 drones and over 50 missiles at targets nationwide, focusing on power stations and grid infrastructure. At least six civilians died, including a seven-yearold child, and dozens were injured in cities such as Zaporizhzhia and Sloviansk. Subsequent attacks on 2 and 4 November killed at least 20 more people

and injured several dozen, leaving tens of thousands without electricity. Since late October, publicly reported figures suggest at least two dozen civilians killed and over 50 injured, though the real toll in contested areas is likely higher.

The 30 October assault marked a clear escalation of Russia’s “energy war.” In addition to homes, missiles and drones struck thermal power plants and substations, forcing rolling blackouts nationwide as engineers scrambled to stabilize the grid. Ukrainian officials and analysts say Moscow aims to split the grid along the Dnipro River, isolating eastern cities from western nuclear plants and deepening hardships in frontline oblasts such as Kharkiv and Donetsk. Drone strikes also hit Odesa’s ports and energy facilities, causing fires and damaging roads and industrial buildings, while attacks in Donetsk temporarily left the entire oblast without power. Kyiv calls this “systematic energy terror” intended to break morale ahead of winter.

Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes on Russian oil, gas, and industrial sites, using domestically produced drones with growing reach. In the past week, drones reportedly hit an industrial complex in Sterlitamak in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, about 1,300–1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, partially disabling water-treatment facilities at a petrochemical plant. Other strikes targeted oil refineries and storage depots in Saratov, Yaroslavl, and Volgograd, as well as the Tuapse Black Sea refinery and port, causing operational suspensions. Ukrainian intelligence says these attacks—over 150 successful strikes on Russian oil facilities this year—are eroding Russia’s war capacity by hitting critical economic assets.

The air war has also spilled beyond Ukraine’s borders. Romania reported Russian drone and missile activity near

Ukrainian police in Pokrovsk. Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters

Danube ports close to NATO territory, prompting air patrols. Across Europe, suspected Russian drone incursions have temporarily closed airports, including Brussels, raising concerns about hybrid tactics to intimidate the EU. In Moscow, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov called for preparations for possible full-scale nuclear tests, signaling resolve more than immediate military intent.

DIPLOMACY AND AID This week saw renewed pledges for Ukraine alongside ongoing debates over how to end the war. Germany delivered additional Patriot air-defense systems, while preparing to increase its 2026 support by €3 billion, bringing total planned aid to €8.5 billion for artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and replenishment of its own Patriot stocks. Norway pledged $7 billion to Ukraine’s defense sector

and signed agreements on joint production and participation in the Joint Expeditionary Force. These commitments signal that European support remains steady despite political uncertainties and US funding debates.

Diplomatic efforts continue but remain distant from a ceasefire. A leaked 12-point EU-Ukraine peace plan has circulated, but Kyiv has not endorsed it. EU leaders have repeatedly called for Russia to agree to an immediate ceasefire, while Moscow continues missile and drone strikes. US former President Donald Trump floated supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles and skipped the upcoming G20 summit, dampening speculation about a possible meeting with Zelensky and Putin. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama urged the EU to present its own plan rather than leaving diplomacy largely to Washington.

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

Georgia’s EU Accession Stalled as EU Issues Critical Assessment Continued from page 1 According to the report, developments since December 2023 led the European Council, in June and October 2024, to conclude that the Georgian government’s actions had undermined its European trajectory, putting the accession process on hold.

“In December 2024, the European Council regretted the Georgian government’s decision to suspend the country’s EU accession process until 2028,” the report states. “Unless Georgia reverts to its EU path and demonstrates tangible efforts to address key reforms, the Commission will not be in a position to recommend opening accession negotiations.”

The report paints a bleak picture of recent political developments. It cites irregularities during the 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections, alongside measures targeting protesters, civil society, independent media, and opposition parties, all contributing to a deep political crisis. According to the Commission, the government’s November 2024 decision to halt accession talks marked a significant break from the pro-European policies of previous administrations, and undermined the constitutional commitment to EU integration—a commitment historically supported by a large majority of Georgian citizens.

The report also raises serious concerns about human rights, democratic backsliding, and anti-EU rhetoric, likening some patterns to Russian-style disinformation campaigns. These developments prompted the Council of the European Union in January 2025 to end visa exemptions and facilitation measures for Georgian diplomats—a symbolic step reflecting the country’s diminished standing in EU relations.

The Commission warns that Georgia’s European path is one of the most worrying since independence. It stresses that continued democratic regression could result in long-term isolation from the European integration process.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry strongly

criticized the report as biased, noting that it overlooked incidents during the October 4 municipal elections, including what the government describes as “attacks on state institutions and violence by protesters.”

“It is regrettable that the Commission’s report is biased regarding Georgia when assessing a range of events. However, it is not surprising given the persistent silence of EU institutions toward the events that took place in Tbilisi during the municipal elections,” the ministry said.

The ministry also expressed frustration that the EU refused to engage in official dialogue under the Association Agreement, and declined to assess Georgia’s Economic Reform Program, despite measurable improvements in governance, economic performance, and anticorruption efforts. The ministry emphasized that Georgia remains committed to constructive cooperation based on shared values and principles and that EU accession should not be wielded as a political instrument.

The European Commission report identifies multiple areas of democratic backsliding since the October 2024 elections, including the arrest of opposition leaders, pressure on civil society, attacks on journalists, and the abolition of the Special Investigation Service, which had investigated abuses by law enforcement.

The report also singles out the controversial Law on Foreign Agents, calling it incompatible with democratic norms.

While the EU acknowledges that Georgia continues to experience economic growth, it warns that political instability and institutional uncertainty are weakening investor confidence and threatening labor market stability. The report concludes that Georgia has yet to meet any of the nine main priorities required to begin formal accession negotiations.

“Georgia’s democratic deterioration has accelerated, with serious erosion of the rule of law and restrictions on fundamental rights,” the report states.

The Commission stresses the urgent

Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maka Bochorishvili

need for Georgia to restore political dialogue, ensure cross-party cooperation, and protect civic space. Authorities are called on to make “comprehensive and tangible efforts to address outstanding concerns and key reforms with crossparty support and effective civic participation in line with the nine steps set out for candidate status, in full respect of the EU values and principles upon which the European Union is founded.”

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reinforced the report’s conclusions during a European Parliament hearing, stating: “In Georgia, the situation has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding. Probably never, ever before, has an enlargement report spoken so much about backsliding. We saw a rapid erosion of the rule of law and severe restrictions on fundamental rights. Georgian authorities need to urgently reverse their course.

Georgian citizens demand a European future, and they have our support. For the Commission, the candidate status for Georgia exists only on paper.”

The 2025 report stands as one of the most critical assessments of Georgia’s democratic performance to date, warning that without structural reforms and

renewed engagement with civil society and opposition groups, Georgia risks further isolation from the European integration process it has long sought.

It has drawn sharp reactions from Georgian officials, with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemning it as unfair and politically motivated. Speaking to journalists in Shanghai, he described the document as reflecting a “tragic situation” within the European Union and argued that it contains numerous “distorted facts.”

“There is one great injustice reflected in this document. It presents many specific distorted facts, but beyond that, it reflects the tragic situation that has developed in the European bureaucracy.

As a result of this loss of sovereignty, the EU’s share of the global economy, once 30%, has now fallen to 17.5% and it continues to decline year by year,” Kobakhidze said.

He also warned that the EU’s decline extends beyond economics, affecting democracy and human rights, and called for a reversal of what he called the “regression the European space is experiencing.”

“We want to become a member of a revitalized EU, not the EU we see today,” he said.

Kakha Kaladze, Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, framed the EU report as evidence of European frustration with Georgia’s political independence. Speaking to journalists, he said: “When the ‘Deep State’ is defeated, it will affect us—every citizen will feel it. As for the European bureaucracy and the West, all their statements are full of lies! They are bitter that the Georgian people defeated them in Georgia.”

Kaladze stressed that strategic partnerships should be reciprocal, not just financial or political interventions from foreign powers: “No Russian, American, or European will come to Georgia to do Georgian work. They pursue their own interests. We are in power to protect our country. We defend Georgia and want healthy, strategic partnerships—not partnerships where we are friends and they fund violent groups.”

Kaladze’s remarks reflect a wider wariness within Georgia’s leadership toward Western institutions, showing a strong desire for partnerships that are fair, respectful, and truly take Georgia’s independence and priorities into account.

The EU in its turn emphasized that it does not take sides in Georgia’s internal politics. EU Ambassador Paweł Herczynski told journalists in Tbilisi: “As the EU Ambassador in Georgia, I try to have contacts with everyone. The European Union does not support any political party in Georgia or anywhere else. It is for the Georgian people to decide who governs their country.”

As Georgia faces these tensions, the future of its European ambitions remains uncertain. Analysts note that the EU’s concerns are unlikely to ease without meaningful political reforms, strengthened rule of law, and renewed dialogue between the government, opposition, and civil society. Meanwhile, Georgia’s leadership continues to assert its independence, signaling that the journey toward EU membership will remain challenging and closely watched in the months ahead.

EU Report: Majority of TI: Georgian Dream’s Legal Changes Have Georgian Citizenship Grants Effectively Abolished Freedom of Assembly in 2024 Went to Russians

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

Georgian passports. Source: Commersant

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

he European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report on EU candidate countries declared that 3,587 individuals were granted Georgian citizenship in 2024, with the majority being Russian citizens. The report specifies that 2,361 Russians, 251 Germans and 175 Ukrainians obtained Georgian citizenship last year, an increase of 476 cases compared to 2023. At the same time, 1,592 people lost their Georgian citizenship, mostly due to acquiring Rus-

sian nationality.

Georgia grants citizenship through several legal pathways, including birth, naturalization, presidential decision, restoration, adoption and descent.

Although the country generally prohibits dual citizenship, the President of Georgia may grant exceptions in special cases. The process is administered by the State Services Development Agency (SSDA).

The report also points out that Georgia does not operate a ‘citizenship by investment’ or ‘Golden Passport’ scheme.

However, it does offer investment-based residence permits, both temporary and permanent, for foreign nationals.

ransparency International Georgia has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of effectively abolishing the constitutional right to freedom of assembly through a series of legislative changes introduced since late 2024.

The organization stated that the government has amended protest-related laws four times within the past year, each time tightening restrictions on demonstrations and expanding police powers. The group says these measures directly contradict Georgia’s Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The changes include harsher penalties for protest participants, such as ‘preventive detention,’ the criminalization of face coverings and increased fines and imprisonment terms for organizing or attending rallies. Fines for blocking roads or placing posters have risen up to twentyfold, while repeat offenses now carry criminal liability and prison sentences of up to four years.

The Venice Commission has repeatedly criticized several of these amendments, including the preventive detention mechanism and the blanket ban on masks, calling them disproportionate

Protesters and police in 2024. Photo by Guram Muradov/REUTERS

and incompatible with democratic standards.

Transparency International reports that since 2023, authorities have launched criminal proceedings against 148 protest participants, 66 of whom are in pre-trial detention. Thousands of citizens have also been fined 5,000 GEL or more for

participating in demonstrations.

The organization warns that the cumulative effect of these laws has been to ‘systematically dismantle the right to peaceful assembly’ and grant the Ministry of Internal Affairs sweeping control over how and when protests can take place.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

5

Anything Wrong with Our Journalism?

OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

Y

es and no! In the years between 1921, when the Reds came to power in Sakartvelo, and 1989, when the Soviet regime collapsed, generations of Georgian journalists used to be part of the Soviet cohort of men and women of letters. At that weird time and place of work and living, Georgian journalism could not have been a pronouncedly national public service concerned with writing and reporting. It was a Soviet socialist job to do, and if one wanted to be any different from this, one would never be given a chance to function as a columnist or a newscaster.

Only an obedient servant of the communist political power was entitled to earn money using his or her journalistic ear, eye, talent, brain, and pen.

Yes, even the Soviet journalistic ‘automatons’ were expected to be talented and alert to the ongoing matters around them.

It was as if, out of the blue, we jumped from the Soviet type of restrictions into the free modus operandi of depicting life as it was. It should also be noted with a sense of pride and moral satisfaction that the old generation of experienced Soviet-Georgian journalists momentarily ‘changed skin’ and started walking in step with the new times of freedom and democracy. The younger generation of our journalists easily picked up the new principles and attitudes and started fulfilling their journalistic obligations with no less skill and enthusiasm than their Western colleagues.

Newspaper, radio, and television storytelling became so westernized that the only difference between them and us was merely linguistic. Everything else— whether technical, emotional, or contentwise—was exactly the same. I remember,

at the end of the 1980s of the bygone century, when I returned from America and brought with me American TV stories I had produced there, they amazed viewers so much that, the moment they were on the air, transport in the streets stood still because people were watching them avidly. Soon, most of the news stories in Georgia became so highly qualitative that nobody remembered my American ones. Indeed, the transformation in the world of media was huge and momentary in this country. Probably, the same kind of metamorphosis was taking place in the rest of the former Soviet republics.

But behold, nobody can say whether Georgian journalism, along with the change of times—i.e., rushing from socialism straight toward wild capitalism— became impartial, objective, unbiased, caring, concerned, and disinterested.

Indeed, it would be no exaggeration to state that the most scathing ailment afflicting our journalism currently is not being disinterested.

To experiment, just go ahead and switch on the prime-time news, or check any time slot for that matter—you will always find the journalist expressing his or her interpretation of the news instead of the news itself. Almost every journalist in this country, whether of the leftist or rightist pattern, tilts to one side or the other. They usually take positions and often fail to uphold journalistic objectivity—the most appreciated and indispensable quality practiced around the world.

It goes without saying that our journalists should not behave as lifeless robots like their hatched-in-one-philologicalincubator Soviet colleagues, repeating like parrots what they were told or sent to read. Well, it is said that columnists and editorial writers—the authors of reviews, as well as radio and television commentators with special knowledge and proficiency—are freer to express

Image by Olivia Michelsen for The Miami Student

their individual opinions, and still, the social and political radicalism, fortified by the insurmountable chasm within our society, torn apart between liberal democracy and realpolitik-based conservatism, heavily affects their journalistic behavior on the air and in print.

And this is perilous, keeping the country from real-time development in every possible respect. This kind of journalism has the effect of poison, and the resulting intoxication may very well be irretrievable. Most of the viewers, readers,

and listeners are regular people who use journalistic services with an egregiously gullible attitude, whereas the journalists themselves are far from being naïve in what they are doing and saying. Thus, the influence of a word, expressed in any medium, is immeasurable on our society.

Hence, the paradigm of political behavior we are enjoying almost on an everyday basis.

Conclusively, thanks to the way media functions in this land, we, the people, have to meet challenges like misinfor-

mation—also known as fake news—frequent and flagrant breaches of privacy, feeding audiences various conspiracy theories, a nauseating overload of content, fierce competition in the field, declining public trust, the inevitable impact on mental health, and even the illegal spread of sensitive data.

Couldn’t all this trigger the question of whether our national journalism is a good thing to embrace—or something toxic to drop like a hot potato and never pick up again?

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

Speaker: Brussels-supported Radicals Were the Only Violent Side on October 4

BY TEAM GT

G

eorgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the European Union of double standards over its response to the violent incidents that took place during the October 4 protest near the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.

In a statement shared on social media, Papuashvili claimed that only one side— which he described as “radicals sup-

ported by Brussels”—was responsible for the violence that day. According to him, European officials’ reluctance to condemn the clashes outright shows a troubling decline in democratic values within EU institutions.

“The deliberate refusal of the EU Ambassador to unequivocally condemn the violent storming of the Presidential Palace exemplifies Brussels’s regression in values and its anti-democratic trajectory,” Papuashvili wrote. “There was no ‘everyone’ who should have restrained themselves on October 4. There was only one violent side—the radicals sup-

ported by Brussels. To condemn them would be to condemn oneself. This is the genuine reason for the silence.”

The remarks follow a confrontation on October 4, when protesters attempted to breach security barriers outside the Presidential Palace during a demonstration against the government. Georgian authorities described the incident as an “organized attack” on state institutions, while opposition groups and civil society actors framed it as a spontaneous act of public outrage.

The EU delegation to Georgia had earlier called on “all sides to refrain from

Shalva Papuashvili. Source: IPN

violence”, a statement that Papuashvili and other government officials criticized as equating protesters and law enforcement. The Speaker’s latest comments come amid increasingly strained relations between Tbilisi and Brussels, following the European Commission’s recent assessment that Georgia has

experienced “democratic backsliding” and remains a “candidate country in name only.”

Papuashvili’s statement reflects the ruling Georgian Dream party’s growing narrative that Western partners are biased toward the opposition and that EU criticism is politically motivated.

BUSINESS

US Lawmakers Urge Secretary of State to Protect Former American Personnel Targeted by Georgian Officials question were legally mandated severance benefits, not covert funding. “This mischaracterization,” they wrote, “is putting Foreign Service Nationals in harm’s way and undermines efforts to strengthen US–Georgia relations.”

The authors of the letter noted that although the Georgian Dream government frequently claims to seek closer ties with Washington, its “continued actions and statements indicate otherwise.” They also underscored that protecting US-affiliated personnel abroad is a matter of national interest. “If we do not defend personnel from attacks by a foreign government,” the lawmakers warned, “it will limit our ability to recruit and to carry out US policy around the world.”

The letter was signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, John Curtis, and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Joe Wilson and Steve Cohen, reflecting rare bipartisan unity on a foreign-policy issue.

The appeal follows months of tension between Washington and Tbilisi, as Georgian Dream officials have accused Western partners of meddling in domestic politics, while US leaders have expressed growing concern over democratic backsliding and anti-American rhetoric in Georgia.

BY TEAM GT

A

bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take action in defense of former Americanemployed personnel in Georgia, saying they have become targets of politically charged rhetoric from Georgian officials.

The appeal comes amid a rise in antiWestern narratives promoted by members of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream.

In their letter, the senators and representatives called on the State Department to seek formal assurances from the Georgian government that former employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other US programs in Georgia “will not be maligned or targeted.” They warned that recent statements by Georgian officials have put these individuals at personal risk.

The letter cites remarks made on October 1 by Mamuka Mdinaradze, head of Georgia’s State Security Service, who reportedly accused the United States of “funding revolutionary activities” through payments to former USAID staff. Lawmakers clarified that the payments in

Marco Rubio. Photo by Eric Lee/NY Times

TBC Capital: EU and US Strengthen Role in Georgia’s Foreign Inflows

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

T

BC Capital’s latest monthly macroeconomic review reveals that Georgia’s economy continues to benefit from strong foreign inflows, driven largely by remittances and tourism revenues.

In the first nine months of 2025, the European Union and the United States accounted for a combined 63% of all remittances sent to Georgia. The annual growth rate of money transfers accelerated to 13.7% in September, confirming the continued dominance of Western markets as Georgia’s main remittance sources.

Tourism, another component of foreign inflows, also showed steady growth. In Q3 2025, tourism revenues increased by 6.6% year-on-year while the first nine months saw an overall 5% rise.

TBC Capital notes that non-traditional markets such as China, India and Uzbekistan are becoming increasingly significant sources of visitors, likely contributing to the sector’s diversification.

Meanwhile, revenues from traditional markets showed mixed trends: inflows grew from the EU, Azerbaijan and especially Israel, while Russia recorded a decline in tourism receipts despite higher visitor numbers.

The report adds that non-resident spending through TBC channels continues to rise, though a slight slowdown in annual growth was observed in October.

“Overall, our monthly measure of net foreign exchange inflows, which includes trade in goods, tourism receipts, and remittances, slowed slightly in September after a strong August, but remains robust,” TBC Capital stated, adding that the current account surplus, excluding reinvestment, likely persisted in the third quarter.

Georgia’s Budget Execution Falls to Lowest Level Since 2019

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

O

fficial fiscal data revealed that the Georgian government executed 93.3% of its planned expenditures within the first nine months of 2025, spending 19.3 billion GEL out of 20.7 billion GEL. The shortfall amounts to 1.4 billion GEL, the lowest budget performance rate since 2019.

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development showed the weakest performance among all ministries. Out of an annual allocation of 947 million GEL, it was expected to spend 713 million GEL by the end of September but managed only 475 million GEL, or 67% of the nine-month target.

The underperformance was largely attributed to delays in major infrastructure projects, including the construction of high-voltage power lines, where only 38 million GEL was used out of the

Georgian Lari. Source: georgia.travel

planned 100 million GEL, and the Anaklia Deep-Sea Port infrastructure, which saw 50.6 million GEL spent instead of 102.5 million GEL. The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure also fell short, achieving 91% of its spending plan. The most

significant delay occurred in the Tbilisi– Tsiteli Bridge and Tbilisi–Sadakhlo highway projects where just 4 million GEL was spent of the planned 160 million GEL. Officials attributed the lag primarily to delays in tender procedures for contractor selection.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

7

eCommerce Day Georgia Georgia and China Strengthen 2025 Brings Local and Strategic and Economic Partnership during High-Level Visit Global Experts Together

E-Commerce Day. Source: FB

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

PM Irakli Kobakhidze with PM Li Keqiang of the People's Republic of China, opening the Georgian exhibition space at the China International Import Expo. Source: FB

BY TEAM GT

D

uring an official visit to China this week, Georgia and the People’s Republic of China reaffirmed their strategic partnership and explored ways to expand cooperation across trade, infrastructure, tourism, and investment. The visit coincided with Georgia’s role as guest of honor at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, where more than 40 Georgian companies showcased products and investment opportunities.

At the Expo’s opening ceremony, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Chinese Premier Li Qiang officially opened the Georgian exhibition space.

The display highlighted Georgia’s cultural heritage, unique alphabet, traditional wine-making, tourism potential, and culinary traditions. Visitors could attend master classes, taste local wines, and enjoy cultural performances, giving both Chinese and international attendees a firsthand look at Georgia’s offerings.

Georgia has participated in the CIIE for eight consecutive years, but this year’s guest-of-honor status marked a notable milestone in bilateral relations. The Expo, first held in 2018, has become a key platform for international trade, reflecting China’s efforts to open its domestic market and promote global trade integration.

EXPANDING TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION China is one of Georgia’s most significant trading partners. Since the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries came into effect in January 2018— covering nearly 95 percent of Georgian exports—bilateral trade has grown steadily. According to Georgia’s Ministry of Economy, trade turnover reached USD 1.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025, a 15 percent increase from the same period in 2024.

Georgia exports wine, mineral water, nuts, copper ores, and agricultural products to China, while importing machinery, electronics, textiles, and construction materials. While the trade balance favors China, Georgian officials note that the free trade arrangement has improved access for local producers and encouraged diversification of exports.

Investment from China is also on the rise. In the first half of 2025, Chinese direct investment in Georgia reached USD 7.43 million, a 229 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Although modest in absolute terms, the figures indicate growing interest in Georgian markets. Authorities have identified energy, logistics, transport, and hospitality as priority sectors for future investment.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY Transport and logistics were central topics during discussions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to developing the Middle Corridor, a trade route linking China to Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

Data from Georgia’s transport agencies show that container traffic via the Middle Corridor rose 71 percent in January– August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while cargo volumes have grown more than fifteenfold since 2023. Georgian officials see this as evidence of the corridor’s expanding strategic importance and Georgia’s potential role as a transit hub between Asia and Europe.

Ongoing infrastructure projects— including the Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, modernization of the East–West Highway, the Black Sea submarine cable project, and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway—are key to this vision. The government says these initiatives will enhance regional connectivity, support freight transport, and attract further investment in logistics.

TOURISM AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE Tourism has become a growing component of China–Georgia relations. Chinese visitors to Georgia increased by 45 percent in the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting better air connectivity and targeted promotional campaigns. Georgia aims to promote cultural heritage, wine tourism, and nature-based experiences to attract more Chinese travelers.

During meetings in Shanghai and Beijing, Prime Minister Kobakhidze emphasized that “friendly relations and mutual respect” form the foundation of the partnership. He reiterated Georgia’s support for the One China principle and thanked China for recognizing Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

STRATEGIC AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE Kobakhidze and Premier Li Qiang discussed ways to strengthen the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2023.

Both leaders stressed mutual respect, equality, and non-interference as guiding principles. Cooperation within China’s Belt and Road Initiative was also

highlighted, with Georgia positioning itself as a key contributor to regional connectivity.

Following these talks, several memorandums of understanding were signed between Georgian and Chinese ministries, covering areas such as the economy, environmental protection, and agriculture. Georgian signatories included Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development; David Songhulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; and Paata Kalandadze, Georgia’s Ambassador to China.

Shanghai’s Mayor Kong Cheng met with the Georgian delegation, describing the relationship as “friendly and mutually beneficial” and expressing support for expanding cooperation in trade, innovation, and urban development.

ECONOMIC CONTEXT AND OUTLOOK Georgia’s deepening engagement with China complements the country’s broader economic trajectory. According to the IMF, Georgia recorded one of the world’s fastest growth rates between 2021 and 2024, averaging 9.7 percent annually, with a projected 7.2 percent growth in 2025 and a medium-term outlook of 5.1 percent. Authorities credit this performance to stable macroeconomic management, diversified exports, and continued investment in infrastructure.

Georgia continues to balance partnerships between East and West, promoting itself as a reliable partner in the South Caucasus. Closer engagement with China expands trade routes and investment opportunities while supporting European integration efforts.

As Georgia positions itself as a bridge between Europe and Asia, both governments appear committed to keeping momentum in their partnership. With trade volumes growing, infrastructure projects advancing, and investment links strengthening, the relationship is moving beyond diplomatic formalities toward tangible, results-oriented cooperation.

The 2025 CIIE highlighted this shift: what started as symbolic participation in China’s trade fair has become a practical platform for business and cultural exchange. The next challenge will be translating this engagement into a more balanced trade relationship and stronger economic resilience for Georgia. For now, the message from Shanghai and Beijing is clear: China and Georgia are building a pragmatic, long-term partnership rooted in mutual economic interests and regional connectivity.

O

n October 31, the annual eCommerce Day Georgia took place in Tbilisi with its third edition. The event united local and international experts, technology sector representatives and small and medium businesses to discuss trends and innovations in electronic commerce. Founded in 2020, the eCommerce Association Georgia strengthens the local e-commerce ecosystem and helps collaboration between businesses.

Organized by the eCommerce Association Georgia with support from Bank of Georgia, the conference attracted around 400 participants. Speakers from Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Amadeus and other global and local tech

companies explored topics including artificial intelligence in e-commerce, live and social media commerce, and online service platforms.

Lado Kandelaki, Chairman of the eCommerce Association Georgia, stated: “eCommerce Day is not just a one-day conference, it is a platform for new opportunities, connecting local businesses with global e-commerce trends.

Success today requires not only technology adoption but also smart, strategic management. We are confident that this event will serve as a foundation for both short- and long-term progress.”

Bank of Georgia emphasized its support for SMEs, regarding the event as an opportunity for businesses to learn global best practices and build strategic partnerships. The event’s innovation partner was Visa, with additional support from companies including AWS, Google Cloud, Glovo, Acer and Wolt.

Tbilisi to Revive Samgori Cable Car as Part of Expanding Public Transport Network

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

T

bilisi is set to breathe new life into one of its oldest transport links. The Tbilisi Transport Company has announced a market research call for the design and construction of a modern cable car system in the Samgori district, replacing the city’s old, non-operational line.

Mayor Kakha Kaladze described the project as a major step in improving the capital’s public transport infrastructure.

“The implementation of one of the most important projects for improving the city’s public transport network is beginning,” Kaladze said during a government meeting. “Based on the market research results, a tender will be announced, and the project’s realization will take approximately 1.5 to 2 years.”

The original Samgori cable car, built in 1986, served the district for two decades but has been out of service since 2006 due to technical deterioration and lack of maintenance. For years, residents of Samgori have relied on buses and minibuses, which often struggle with traffic congestion and long delays.

Tbilisi’s cable car history dates back even further. The city’s first cable transport lines were planned during the Soviet era as a way to navigate its steep hills efficiently. Several lines operated in the 1980s, primarily serving industrial and residential districts, but many were decommissioned in the 1990s following maintenance challenges and funding shortages.

The city revived its cable car network in the 2010s, starting with the Rike– Sololaki line, which opened in 2012.

This route quickly became popular not only with commuters but also with tourists, offering panoramic views of Tbilisi and a practical alternative to road transport. The success of this line inspired further plans to modernize and expand cable car systems throughout the city, particularly in hilly or traffic-congested districts.

The new Samgori system will fully replace the old infrastructure with modern equipment designed to meet contemporary safety and efficiency standards. It will have a minimum capacity of 1,250 passengers per hour and will be fully integrated into Tbilisi’s unified public transport network, operating on a schedule aligned with the metro.

Kaladze emphasized that cable car development is a central element of the city’s transport policy.

“Development of cable car systems remains one of the key priorities in the city’s transport policy,” he said. “In addition to the Samgori line, we are planning new routes connecting Sarajishvili to Zgvisubani and Isani to Vazisubani, expanding access to more neighborhoods.”

Urban planners note that cable cars provide a low-cost, low-emission alternative to traditional road transport, particularly in Tbilisi’s hilly districts, where buses and cars often face delays. The expansion of the cable car network is also expected to ease congestion, shorten commute times, and improve connectivity across the city.

Once the market research is completed and a contractor selected, construction of the Samgori line could begin within months. If all goes according to plan, residents may soon experience a faster, safer, and more scenic way to navigate one of Tbilisi’s busiest districts.

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BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

Tbilisi Circular Labs Highlights Circular Economy Achievements

BY KESARIA KATCHARAVA

O

n October 28, CENN together with GIZ hosted the closing event of the Tbilisi Circular Laboratory, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators, and local and international organizations to reflect on the initiative’s achievements and explore the future of the circular economy in Georgia.

Launched in June 2024, Tbilisi Circular Labs (TCL) is part of the global Circular City Labs initiative, which tests reusable packaging systems in cities worldwide.

Implemented in Georgia by GIZ on behalf of the German Government, in partnership with CENN, the project has quickly become a leading platform for promoting sustainable business models, responsible consumption, and waste reduction, while also supporting women and female entrepreneurs in the local circular economy.

After a business acceleration program from July to September, two pilot projects were selected: Fabrika, a multifunctional urban space, and CAMPA, a popular beverage company. Both worked closely with experts to design reusable packaging systems, focusing on cups and bottles, tailored to their operations. Since their launch, the pilots have provided practical insights into how circular practices can be implemented in urban settings, paving the way for wider adoption across Georgia.

THE VISION BEHIND THE PROJECT “The Circular City Labs project was conceptualized three years ago to find countries and partners interested in testing reuse systems as part of the circular economy, focusing on preventing waste rather than just managing it,” said Katja

Suhr, Program Head at GIZ headquarters in Germany. The initiative now runs in four countries: Georgia, South Africa, Colombia, and Albania. Each country serves as a living laboratory for exploring practical, economic, and cultural ways to implement reuse systems. “We didn’t want another recycling campaign,” Suhr explained. “We wanted systems that allow materials to circulate again and again. For that, we needed active industries, engaged municipalities, and curious consumers. Georgia offered all three.”

On Georgia’s progress, Suhr observed: “I can see many secondhand clothing stores. These may seem like small trends, but they’re actually ways to prevent waste and reflect growing awareness.”

She noted that reuse systems face challenges on both the consumer and business sides. “Some people worry about hygiene, though that’s usually a perception issue. The real challenge is logistics and standards. If there are too many individual solutions, it becomes complicated for people to return items. That’s why businesses and municipalities need to work together on shared standards and infrastructure.”

Economic incentives are also crucial.

“Only when reuse is economically viable will it endure. If virgin plastic is cheaper than reusing a bottle, no one will invest.

Over time, if people see the financial benefits, behavior shifts, and the circular economy grows, not by guilt, but by smart economics.”

The project concludes at the end of 2025, but Suhr emphasized its long-term impact. “Projects may end, but ideas don’t. Once people see the benefits, they carry them forward. That’s how change takes root.”

“WE ARE JUST BEGINNING” — CENN’S PERSPECTIVE ON GEORGIA’S WASTE REALITY Nino Shavgulidze, Deputy Director of

CENN, opened the event, grounding the conversation in Georgia’s circularity context.

“We are just beginning,” she said firmly.

“Reuse approaches are practically new here. Over the last decade, the import and production of disposable tableware increased by 135 percent. Most of it ends up in landfills, if not worse.” This, she noted, has far-reaching consequences.

“Waste brings not only environmental risks, but also economic losses, especially for agriculture and aquaculture. Entire ecosystems are suffering.”

The core of CENN’s project was packaging, the most visible and persistent source of single-use waste. “Packaging materials are the number one issue,” she explained. “Most are disposable, produced in massive quantities, and then thrown away. This includes not just plastic, but also glass, metal, and paper.

We wanted to change that,” Shavgulidze said.

The Tbilisi Circular Laboratory was designed to do exactly that: identify local businesses willing to pilot reuse models, and provide them with tools and mentorship to make it happen. “The goal was to help introduce reusable packaging systems — not just as ideas, but as functioning models,” explained Nana Takvarelia, CENN’s Project Manager. “And we succeeded; We tested two reuse systems with companies, and ran public campaigns, set up the necessary infrastructure, and took part in festivals.”

For Takvarelia, the significance of the project lies in its practical outcome and the opportunity to test and closely monitor the results. “This was not only about knowledge,” she said. “It was implemented in real businesses, in real conditions. We can now proudly say that Georgia has functioning reuse systems.”

She extended gratitude to the pilot companies, CAMPA and Fabrika, calling them pioneers. “Without these businesses, the system wouldn’t have worked,” she said. “They have set the precedent.

They showed that reuse is possible in Georgia. They gave us the experience we can now build upon.”

FABRIKA: REUSE AS CULTURE AND IDENTITY When Salome Kuprashvili, Head of Marketing and Community Strategy of Fabrika, took the microphone, she began not with technical details, but with a story.

“Fabrika itself is a symbol of reuse,” she said. “It was a Soviet sewing factory for forty years. When the Soviet Union collapsed, it stood abandoned. We brought it back to life.”

Today, Fabrika is a creative district, home to artists, designers, start-ups, and the region’s largest youth hostel. It attracts 700,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most visited places in Tbilisi. Yet even here, unsustainable habits persisted.

“At one of our meetings, we realized just how many disposable plastic cups were being used daily,” Kuprashvili recalled.

“When we counted, it was around 400,000 single-use cups per year. That was just us.”

That moment sparked change. Fabrika decided to act. “We joined the Circular Lab to test a reuse system,” she said. “We wanted to replace disposable cups with reusable ones and see how it would work in a place like ours, a community space with constant movement.”

The process wasn’t simple. Logistics, timing, and supplier coordination all posed challenges. Yet the biggest task, she said, was changing people’s behavior.

“The hardest part is awareness,” she said.

“The user is the main link in the chain.

If the customer doesn’t understand or doesn’t care, the system collapses. So, communication was crucial.”

Initially, Fabrika wanted to implement a deposit system: visitors would pay a deposit when receiving a drink and get

it back upon returning the cup. However, due to some gaps in regulations in Georgia, Fabrika opted not to proceed with such system. Instead, they decided to rely entirely on the trust of their visitors.

Surprisingly, the system still proved highly effective. Over the five months the reusable cups system was in place, and only about 30% of cup stock was lost. Salome Kuprashvili explained that most missing cups were taken as souvenirs, while instances of improper disposal on Fabrika’s premises were promptly corrected by staff and fellow visitors, reinforcing a culture of responsible use.

Her takeaway was philosophical: “You don’t change habits overnight. You plant the idea, you test it, and you let people experience it. That’s how a cultural shift begins.”

Thanks to the reusable system, Fabrika was also able to save 42,000 GEL by avoiding the costs associated with buying single-use plastic cups, demonstrating both the environmental and economic benefits of circular practices.

CAMPA: REUSABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS CAMPA, one of Georgia’s leading beverage producers, took on the challenge of testing bottle-return systems. Sandro Buadze, General Manager of CAMPA, spoke about the company’s motivation.

“In our production, we generate a certain amount of waste that, unfortunately, ends up in landfills,” Buadze said. “That was one of the reasons we joined this project, to change how we handle materials.”

But the pilot quickly revealed structural challenges. “In Georgia, we face issues with infrastructure, legislation, and awareness,” he noted. “Neither consumers nor businesses are used to returning or refilling. But that’s exactly why we wanted to test it.”

Public reaction to the idea of reusable packaging was more positive than expected. “Many people actually reached out to us, asking if they could return bottles,” he said. “That showed that the desire exists, people just need the system.”

Buadze reflected on existing modern conditions, which he admitted, are a bit complex. “It’s not easy convincing cafes and distributors when there’s no central system,” he said. “But we are seeing small, positive steps, businesses willing to participate, customers showing interest.”

CAMPA is now exploring how to scale up, supported by awareness campaigns.

“We’ve launched communication efforts to explain how and why the reuse system works,” Buadze said. “Change starts small, but it grows.”

PANEL SPOTLIGHT: THE BODY SHOP’S REFILL INITIATIVE “After the presentations by Fabrika and CAMPA, Nana Takvarelia led a panel discussion on how circular solutions work in practice. One of the speakers was a representative from The Body Shop Georgia, a company actively pro-

moting reusable packaging” The Body Shop representative highlighted the company’s refill initiative, which allows customers to refill aluminum bottles for products like shampoos and shower gels, a key part of their circular design strategy. “We also lead awareness campaigns to explain the concept, and we offer almost 50% off on products when customers bring their bottles back for a refill,” they explained.

While customers who tried the refill stations were enthusiastic, initial adoption proved challenging. “At the beginning, only about 15 to 20 percent of customers understood the concept,” The company’s communication efforts were crucial in overcoming these hurdles.

“People need clear guidance and motivation. Otherwise, habits take over, it’s easier to just buy a new bottle,” they said.

Despite these challenges, The Body Shop sees Georgia as a promising market for circular practices, noting growing interest among younger consumers and a gradual shift toward circular thinking as a lifestyle choice.

SHOWCASING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS Joining online, Ana Maria Villegas, CEO of Xiclo from Colombia, one of the pilot projects of GIZ’s global initiative, presented the company’s software for managing reuse systems. The software tracks every container individually and shows in a simple dashboard which containers have been returned and which are still out. It also offers ways to encourage people to return containers, such as deposits, guarantees, or rewards. The containers themselves are strong, foodsafe, BPA-free, and can be used up to 500 times. Xiclo can be used by companies that already have their own washing and delivery system, or as a complete package with reusable containers for quick pilot programs. One example is the “Tap and Reuse” system, where a container is linked to a purchase so that returning it is easy and organized.

“WE HAVE A PRECEDENT NOW” - LOOKING AHEAD In her closing remarks, Nino Shavgulidze reflected on what had been achieved and what lies ahead.

“We can proudly say that these companies, CAMPA and Fabrika, have paved the way for the circular economy in Georgia,” she said. “They gave us precedents, working examples of reuse systems functioning in practice.” And these we will take forward through our new EU-funded initiative, 'Circular Cities and Regions of Georgia' where we are mobilizing businesses, CSOs, and universities to pioneer advanced circular practices in two specific regions, Kakheti and Adjara AR, turning Georgia into a regional sustainability leader.

“We will continue to support pilot projects and new initiatives,” she said. “We’ve proven that collaboration works. Now it’s time to expand.”

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

9

Tbilisi Oriental by NEXT – Superior Properties, Superior Prospects

BY TEAM GT

N

EXT is a Georgian development company founded in 2018 that has quickly built an international brand image and earned numerous prestigious international awards.

Today, NEXT is implementing successful projects across three continents and in six cities: Batumi, Tbilisi, Dubai, Nairobi, Marbella, and Zanzibar.

Although the company has only recently entered the Tbilisi market, NEXT has big and ambitious plans for the capital.

The company’s portfolio includes more than 420,000 m² of residential, hotel, and commercial space.

NEXT’s experience and financial stability provide international investors with access to high-yield tourism projects in some of the world’s most promising markets. Tbilisi Oriental by NEXT will introduce a new multifunctional, modern building to Tbilisi’s architectural landscape. The 21-story complex, with its distinctive geometric design and contemporary style, will bring new life to the historic district of Ortachala.

BUILDING DESCRIPTION Tbilisi Oriental is divided into three main parts: • Podium: The first two floors will feature a restaurant, a sports and wellness center, and commercial spaces.

• Offices: The next two floors above the podium will house modern office

spaces.

• Residential Zone: The remaining 17 floors will be fully dedicated to residential units.

Additionally, two underground floors will accommodate a parking area designed to meet the needs of residents, visitors, and staff. Location The project is located in Ortachala, at the intersection of the city’s left and right banks. Its unique position offers 360-degree views of Old Tbilisi and the Mtkvari River. Each apartment will feature a spacious balcony, allowing residents to enjoy the panoramic beauty of the city. Architectural Style The building’s architecture is designed in the High-tech style – a modern evolution of the industrial genre.

Emphasis is placed on iron elements, which, together with the reinforced concrete structure, provide both durability and a sense of visual lightness. Tbilisi Oriental is a pioneering project of this kind in Georgia, adding significant architectural value to the city.

INSPIRATION The choice of the High-tech style was inspired by the industrial surroundings and, in particular, the nearby Ortachala Hydroelectric Power Plant, a true masterpiece of Georgian architecture and engineering. Impact With its multifunctional nature, Tbilisi Oriental is not only an architectural achievement but also an important driver of economic growth.

The commercial and public spaces within the complex will help boost the social and economic activity of the area, contributing to Ortachala’s ongoing urban development.

British Teenager Bella Culley Returns Home after Georgian Jail Sentence

BY TEAM GT

B

ella May Culley, a 19-year-old British teenager, has returned to the UK after being freed from a Georgian prison, where she was held on drug smuggling charges for nearly six months. The Billingham native, who is 35 weeks pregnant, was filmed walking through Luton Airport on Tuesday evening, arm-in-arm with her mother, Lyanne Kennedy.

Culley was arrested in May after Georgian authorities discovered 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of marijuana and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish in her hold luggage at Tbilisi International Airport. Initially pleading not guilty, she told the court she had been tortured into transporting the drugs by a gang and displayed scars on her right wrist as evidence. “I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture. I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don’t do drugs,” she told the Tbilisi court.

Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, told reporters that she had been threatened with a hot iron to carry the suitcase and praised Georgian prosecutors for taking her “situation and financial condition into consideration.”

Under a revised plea agreement, approved by Tbilisi City Court Judge Giorgi Gelashvili, Culley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison—the time she had already served. Prosecutors had initially considered a two-year sentence but reduced it in light of her age, pregnancy, and the

Bella May Culley with her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia, and her mother Lyanne Kennedy after being released from prison in Tbilisi. Source: AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze

£137,000 her family raised to help reduce her sentence. She was also fined 500,000 lari.

During her detention, Culley spent several months in harsh conditions at Rustavi Prison Number Five, including a cell with a hole-in-the-ground toilet and limited

access to showers, soap and fresh air.

Shortly before her release this Monday, she was transferred to a “mother and baby” unit, where she gained access to a communal kitchen, a shower in her room, and two hours of outdoor time daily.

Culley’s case has drawn attention to

Georgia’s strict approach to drug offences and the widespread use of plea bargaining. Criminal justice expert Guram Imnadze noted that nearly 90% of drugrelated cases in the country are resolved this way, often resulting in reduced sentences.

Ms Kennedy said she was relieved to have her daughter back and praised the support she had received from legal teams and authorities. “Her full story will come in time. Until then, we are just a family doing everything we can for my daughter and grandson,” she said.

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

Wrapping it Up

The author with his wife. Photo by the author

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

F

ourth year in a row… we’ve winterized our Svaneti house, left it for the long white season coming, and moved to Tbilisi until sometime in April 2026.

Why? How? The whys are: we get no guests at all once the trekking passes in Svaneti get closed by snow; the SPAR shop in Etseri is in its second year, replacing our own shop in part at least; winter conditions, while stunning, are a challenge; and we have SO many people to see in Tbilisi

and eastern Georgia, including my wife’s family. Believe me, the beauty of Svan winter is as great to me as any other season there, and I hate to miss seeing and photographing it. BUT… more frequent power cuts in snowfalls. Roads demanding winter tires; and my wife’s hatred of being driven on such roads.

Struggles to keep water pipes from freezing. And so on. So this double life is our solution.

This year it was different, because my wife was away for a week just before we left (a study course in Austria) and we weren’t even sure if she would come back up before I left, or just meet me in Tbilisi. So I had a huge list of things to

do in house, garden and village before departing. Potatoes, pears, apples, beets, cabbages, herbs, pumpkins, all to harvest and take. Flowers to dig up or cut off.

Closing all water inlets in both house and café. Removing both water filters and the house water pump, so they can’t freeze and burst.

Close curtains; leave on only the electricity to the main chest freezer and eight exterior video cameras (yes, would-be breakers-in: they work, I can SEE you on my phone from anywhere in the world!); empty all other fridges and freezers and prop their doors open; lock the café; pack all personal things to take (Lali had already packed her things before going abroad).

Smoke and dry the tomatoes, as I wrote about previously. Cut up and freeze a huge amount of excess pears, because there are too many of them. I worked methodically through the list, so as not to forget anything. In between doing this, though, I did make time to shoot some of the stunning fall-to-winter transition which was happening.

In the end, Lali DID return to help me with the job, which was just as well, because it was a lot to do solo. I had really hoped, then, that we would leave via Ushguli and Lentekhi down to Kutaisi.

This road is much newer, and in much better shape than the now disastrously bad one from us to Kutaisi, which seems to be suffering from much neglect of its many fallen-away and frost-heaved sections: 34 of them we counted recently from us down 80 km. So I was watching weather reports for that pass, which goes up to 2800m in altitude, and closes for

the whole winter anyway. Alas, there did come enough snow to make us rethink, and we took our usual route to Tbilisi, on October 27. If we could have left even a week earlier, it would have been fine, but there was just too much to do. I suspect the road situation between Mestia and Zugdidi needs its own article; it’s that bad. I’ve been returning to Etseri for the past few February celebrations of Lamproba, to reunite with the community then and also get my winter photo fix. But for 2026, I’m thinking hard about the risks of that road in deep snow. Even if I let someone else do the driving.

So we’re back in Tbilisi now. I hung up ALL the art we’ve had packed away while Lali was out for a weekend visiting her mother. This shows me how much free space we have, in addition to these 44 medium-size and small pieces, to print, frame and hang some really big photos,

which I’ve been longing to do for years now. The hardest part will be narrowing down the list from hundreds from all over the world to… about 10 pieces! But she always knew that if she married me, we would live in my own gallery. So that’s no surprise.

We’ve left Svaneti with very mixed feelings, but I can’t deny that it’s good to be here, too. Tbilisi, show me what you have.

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

CULTURE

Resurrecting the Self: Mahler’s Vision and the Georgian Philharmonic’s Centennial Splendor REVIEW BY IVAN NECHAEV

T

bilisi’s Philharmonic Auditorium shimmered with a rare energy on October 31— an evening that became both a centennial celebration and an act of collective transcendence. The Evgeni Mikeladze Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Kakhi Solomnishvili, chose Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection” for this monumental occasion. The choice embodied an idea of renewal through endurance, a concept deeply woven into both Georgian cultural memory and Mahler’s musical cosmology.

The centenary concert unfolded as a ritual of remembrance and reawakening.

The stage, densely populated with the orchestra, mixed choir, and soloists Tamar Iano and Natalia Kutateladze, carried the weight of history. The name of Evgeni Mikeladze — conductor, visionary, and martyr of Stalinist terror — resonated like a silent invocation throughout the performance. His ghost seemed to hover above the ensemble, transforming the centennial from commemoration into resurrection itself.

From the first tremor of the low strings, Solomnishvili built Mahler’s vast architecture with precision and psychological insight. The opening movement unfolded like a vast mural — its tension gathering in concentric waves, each return of the funeral march transforming into a pulse of defiance. The orchestra’s sound had a sculptural density; the brass, especially the horns, projected both monumentality and dread, while the strings breathed in long, human phrases that seemed to remember something ancient.

Solomnishvili’s pacing was deliberate,

Photo by the author

avoiding grandiose gesture. The form itself became philosophical: Mahler’s struggle between mortality and transcendence was treated as a meditative process rather than a spectacle. Each movement accumulated a kind of metaphysical gravity. The Andante moderato, with its dance-like nostalgia, shimmered with a pastoral serenity — not as a retreat from suffering but as a reflection of interior peace.

The Scherzo, based on Mahler’s own song “Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt,” carried an almost grotesque energy, as if the orchestra embodied a world spinning within its own absurdity. The woodwinds’ articulation was sharply human, producing a kaleidoscope of timbres that mirrored the contradictions

of existence.

The entrance of mezzo-soprano Natalia Kutateladze in “Urlicht” introduced an intimacy that pierced the symphonic monument. Her voice, warm and luminous, rose like a confession from the depths of human longing. Tamar Iano’s soprano in the final movement emerged as the counterpoint of celestial release — her tone radiant, unforced, with a purity that gave the illusion of timelessness.

The Mixed Choir, prepared by Omar Burduli, provided the foundation for the Resurrection’s culminating ascent. Their entrance — hushed, almost whispered — felt less like singing than collective breathing. The sound expanded organically, filling the Philharmonic Auditorium

with a sonic architecture of light. When the full choir and orchestra joined in the final apotheosis, the experience transcended musical climax and entered the realm of social ritual.

Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony has long stood as one of Western music’s most charged meditations on spiritual rebirth. Within the Georgian context, its resonance deepened. The Philharmonic’s hundred-year history traces a path through the upheavals of Soviet repression, national redefinition, and cultural perseverance. In that sense, Mahler’s question — What comes after death? — became inseparable from Georgia’s own century-long dialogue with memory and identity.

The performance articulated a socio-

logical truth: that music, as a shared form of emotion, creates continuity where history fractures. The audience, drawn from multiple generations, became participants in a living artwork that spoke about endurance and collective becoming.

By the time the final chord dissolved into silence, the concert hall felt transformed — less a venue than a chamber of reflection. The performance aligned the metaphysical with the civic, revealing how a symphony can function as both artwork and social gesture. The Philharmonic’s centennial evening became a declaration of vitality, an assertion that institutions grounded in art and memory continue to shape public consciousness.

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025

11

Between Couture and Solitude: Renata Litvinova’s Cactus Blossoms in Tbilisi

Photo by the author

REVIEW BY IVAN NECHAEV

W

hen spectators settled into the auditorium of the Griboyedov Theater on November 5–6, 2025, they

entered an aesthetic zone where a monstrous act of devotion performed itself.

The work Cactus—written by, directed by and starring Renata Litvinova—stages love as an elemental force that pierces identity, narrative and social temporality.

Litvinova performs Cactus as a monologue of endurance and desire. A woman

prepares a suitcase, listens to the distant murmur of war from the radio, speaks to a pigeon, and tends a cactus that quietly transforms into a human being. The action remains minimal; the atmosphere unfolds like perfume—dense, suspended, radiant. The scenography draws a geography of shadows: luminous sands, mirrored reflections, and drifting dust of

Georgian Opera Singer Yano Alibegashvili Awarded Italy’s Star of Merit

light. Each scene unfolds as an interior vision, a private desert.

Costumes by Demna Gvasalia form the architecture of Litvinova’s presence. The sculptural gowns—metallic, severe, tender in fabric but monumental in line— turn the body into a landscape of memory. Demna’s couture functions as philosophy: structure becomes thought, silhouette becomes emotion.

The music by Zemfira Ramazanova builds the fragile emotional architecture of the performance. Her score glows with trembling introspection—enchanted, sorrowful, yet luminous from within.

Each track breathes through transparent textures: delicate arpeggios, suspended chords, echoing fragments of voice. The sound operates as consciousness. Zemfira composes a sound-mirror for Litvinova’s monologue. The music listens. It observes. It inhales. Its fragile beauty carries a sense of distance—melancholy transfigured into gentleness.

The heroine of Cactus exists in waiting. Yet this waiting acts as creative practice. Time bends around her; she inhabits slowness as an aesthetic field.

Her gestures, pauses, and monologue create a rhythm beyond causality. Waiting becomes a liturgy of existence.

The cactus anchors the work as a living metaphor. It thrives in scarcity, preserves moisture under a skin of thorns,

and blooms unexpectedly in the desert.

In Litvinova’s symbolic logic, the cactus becomes an emblem of love’s persistence. It grows silently, listens, remembers.

The metamorphosis of the cactus into a man evokes a ritual of transfiguration.

It belongs to the realm of dream-logic rather than narrative. Through it, Litvinova offers a metaphysics of attachment—how affection takes root, how solitude germinates into devotion, how patience becomes flesh.

Litvinova’s glamor operates as a spiritual gesture. The spectacle of couture, the melancholy of music, and the ascetic minimalism of movement coalesce into an act of resistance through beauty. Glamor becomes liturgy, costume becomes confession, silence becomes prayer.

Tbilisi becomes both desert and garden. In its soil, Cactus plants itself as a symbol of endurance—thorned, luminous, patient. The performance radiates with the sense of an impossible tenderness: the miracle of blooming where no rain falls.

Litvinova, Zemfira, and Demna together create a fragile monument to love and survival. The cactus listens, breathes, and finally flowers. Through its quiet persistence, the audience discovers a new theology of beauty—one that trembles, glows, and endures.

SPORTS

Georgian Karate Team Wins Six Medals at European Championship in Riga

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE Photo: 1tv.

BY MARIAM RAZMADZE

R

enowned Georgian opera singer Yano Alibegashvili has been honored with the Order of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia), one of the country’s highest civilian distinctions. The award, presented on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Ser-

gio Mattarella, recognizes Alibegashvili’s significant contribution to promoting Italian opera in Georgia.

The medal was formally presented

by Italy’s Ambassador to Georgia, Massimiliano D’Antuono, during a ceremony attended by representatives of Georgia’s cultural community and government officials.

Georgia’s Ministry of Culture stated that Alibegashvili’s artistic career has played a big role in deepening cultural collaboration between Georgia and

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GEORGIA TODAY

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Italy, pointing to the universal value of opera as a shared artistic heritage.

In addition to the Italian honor, the Georgian government has also recognized Alibegashvili’s achievements.

On the initiative of Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze and by the joint nomination of the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, presidentelect Mikheil Kavelashvili awarded her the Georgian Medal of Honor for outstanding contributions to national culture.

G

eorgian karate athletes achieved impressive results at the 15th European Karate Championship held in Riga, Latvia, receiving a total of six medals, one gold, two silver, and three bronze, among competitors from 35 European countries.

The championship, organized by the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF), took place from October 22 to 26, 2025, bringing together around 1,500 athletes. Georgia was represented by a 15-member delegation which delivered

a strong performance across multiple age and weight categories.

Aleksandre Shamugia earned gold, taking first place in the para-discipline individual kata event in the senior category.

Two Georgian athletes won silver medals: Chabuka Makharadze, a four-time World and five-time European champion in Shotokan Karate-Do, claimed second place in the senior individual kumite event; Davit Guloiani won silver in the under-20 kumite (-65 kg) category.

Three more Georgians earned bronze medals: Irakli Gongadze, in senior veterans’ individual kumite; Saba Surmanidze, in under-20 kumite (-65 kg); Sandro Iakobidze, in under-9 boys’ individual kumite.

Journalists: Ana Dumbadze Vazha Tavberidze Tony Hanmer Nugzar B. Ruhadze Ivan Nechaev Mariam Razmadze

ADDRESS International Relations & Communications 22 Janashia Str. Sofia Bochoidze Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia E: sbochoidze@georgiatoday.ge Tel.: +995 32 229 59 19 Website Editor: E: info@georgiatoday.ge Katie Ruth Davies F: GeorgiaToday

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