Tbilisi. In honor of the memory of those killed during the hostilities in Abkhazia, Ambassador Kelly C. Degnan, Senior Defense Official COL Stephanie Bagley, and members of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Georgia laid wreaths at Heroes Square. ‘Sokhumi fell to Russian-backed forces 28 years ago today. This grave tragedy resulted in thousands losing their lives and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes. We remember this day with sorrow and with the hope that remains in the hearts of so many internally displaced people,’ - It is said in the information spread by the embassy. Read more…  Source: The page in the social network

Tbilisi. IDFI publishes the article "Archives and Conspiracy Theories: An Example of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church" by Mochil Metodiev, a Researcher of the Institute for Studies of the Recent Past, Bulgaria.  ‘Understandably, the expectations from the opening of the communist secret services archives are high. The society hopes that the archives will provide long-awaited answers on the communist regime and its collapse and that this step will lead to greater transparency of institutions, it will restore justice, and pave the way for meritocratic development of the new elites. All those hopes are understandable and reasonable. At the same time, the opening of the archives brings a number of unforeseen challenges. The main challenge is the possible discrepancy between the information, revealed in the archives, and the public convictions, already established during the early years of the transition. How do the public and institutions react when the revelations from the archives not only do not confirm but even contradict the already established perceptions?’ - We read in the article.  Read more…   Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. The US Embassy in Georgia published the highlight how the United States works with Georgia to develop its tourism industry... This summer, USAID brought a group of travel influencers to Georgia to promote the country as a tourist destination, reaching 4 million potential travelers around the world.  Have you already seen the beautiful ceramic tile mosaic in Gori? It was created by artist Irina Shotadze after USAID helped her purchase a ceramic oven. The new oven enabled her to create 1,001 tiles for public display, which has already become a popular destination in Gori.  USAID also supported new infrastructure at 15 rural museums in Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Tusheti in line with the U.S. government's emphasis on creating jobs in Georgia's regions while maintaining the country's unique cultural heritage.  With USAID support, roughly 300 "Digital Missionaries" have listed tourism businesses and landmarks on Google platforms, promoting growth of the rural tourism industry. So far, they have "digitized" more than 3,000 locations across the country.  Last but not least, USAID supported the establishment of the Tourism Industry Alliance comprising 15 business associations in the tourism and hospitality industry. Read more…   Source: The page in the social network

Tbilisi. A large part of the population of Georgia believes that high-level corruption – cases of corruption involving high-ranking officials – is common in the country. At the same time, the population seldom encounters petty corruption in their daily life. Such are the results of a telephone-based public opinion survey that was commissioned by TI Georgia and conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) in the period from July 9 to July 18, 2021. The organization surveyed 1,228 people across the country as part of the poll. The average margin of error is 2.67%. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations considers that delegation of the decision-making authority from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture to the LEPL National Environmental Agency on issues directly related to the development of the country, public safety, and proper enjoyment of basic human rights is a way for the Ministry to avoid political responsibility. Besides, transference of such an authority to the National Environmental Agency increases risks of conflict of interests and corruption, as this agency has its own commercial interests. “Taking given context into account, we call on the Parliament of Georgia not to support such an institutional change, as it poses the threat to the legislative and institutional order, currently existing in the country, and is going to have a negative impact on the development of the country in the future”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center presents an interview with Paata Zakareishvili, Natia Chankvetadze and Giorgi Kanashvili, experts having experience in political and academic work. The topic of the interview is conflict. “A few days ago, the Prime Minister and the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality presented long-term strategic visions for reconciliation and confidence building. The Government of the Georgian Dream has further enhanced the importance of the policy of reconciliation and confidence building at the discourse level, however, it continues to work in this direction with paradigms, tools and methods of the previous Government, and these efforts have not yielded significant political and social results”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) calls on the Government to set protection and security of villages, located around the dividing line, as well as their social and economic support as its immediate priority and spend active efforts on taking care and well-being of residents of war-affected villages as well as on development of their vital social infrastructure. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Adjara. What is a failure that, in reality, signifies taking a step towards success and strong motivation? With the support of UN Women, women entrepreneurs shared their experiences on this matter with an audience on 26 July in Batumi at the popular events series Fuckup Nights. “The event, organized by Tbilisi Startup Büro, consisted of presentations by four women entrepreneurs. Through the stories they told to the attendees, they once again displayed the obstacles they had overcome in their business pursuits and tried to motivate other women with their personal examples. After the speakers’ speeches, a panel discussion was held, during which the women entrepreneurs also answered audience questions”. Read more… Source: georgia.unwomen.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies publishes a blog post of Davit Batashvili, a researcher of the organization: Why it is important to know on which date the 2008 war started. “There is a kind of confusion in Georgia regarding the start date of the 2008 war. People sometimes mention August 7, sometimes August 8 as the day when the war started, as if there is no difference between these two dates. In fact, there is a key, fundamental difference between them. August 7 is the day when the Russian army actually invaded Georgia and thus started the war against it. While August 8 is the date on which Moscow lies - as if it launched a military operation against Georgia on that day and not before. This lie has a very important political purpose. Saying that, Russia declares that its attack on Georgia began only after Tbilisi launched a military operation in the Tskhinvali region. Supporting this lie of Russia by Georgians via mentioning August 8 as the start date of the war is an inconceivable folly and negligence. Superficial attitude towards history and facts that often characterizes us, is, in this case, an action that causes direct harm to interests of own country and supports Russian disinformation”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: www.gfsis.org

Tbilisi. On August 6, there was held a rally of those employed at “Tbilservice Group”, a company owned by Tbilisi Municipality. “The statement of participants of the rally reveals a number of violations of labor rights. Social Justice Center expresses its solidarity with striking workers and calls on the Labor Inspection Service to take the initiative and immediately inspect working conditions of those employed at “Tbilservice”, while it urges “Tbilservice Group” and the City Hall of Tbilisi Municipality - to study concerns of participants of the rally and take prompt steps to meet fair demands of employees”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. As FactCheck informs, there are spread fake quotes of Amiran Gamkrelidze on a social network, in particular, “Keep distance, wife and husband contact each other via messenger!” - Amiran Gamkrelidze.  These posts have thousands of comments and hundreds of shares by users on Facebook. According to verified data, “a quote or comment, similar to that of Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health regarding the necessity for distance to be kept between wife and husband, cannot be found in publicly available/open sources. It is assumed that Amiran Gamkrelidze has not made the above-mentioned statement about keeping distance between couples and contacting each other via messenger”. Read more… Source: factcheck.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations consider that the Government uses the State Security Service as a tool for total control. "The material related to activities of the State Security Service and broadcasted on the air of Mtavari Channel once again indicates the gravest practice of mass control and violation of human rights existing in the country. On the background of a fragile democracy and severe political crises, the State Security Service has emerged as a strictly politicized agency protecting interests of influential political figures, which attempts to retain political power of the particular group through surveillance, intimidation and blackmailing tools”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Below is the link to the sixth #TRCTalks with Georgian subtitles. The topic of discussion was - "Exploitation of societal divisions by extremist groups Part 1: Middle East, sectarianism and extremism - case studies of Iraq and Syria". Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Since 2002, Georgia has been marking the day of commemoration of the victims of repressions on 22 July. For this day, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), in collaboration with the society for supporting families and keeping the memory of Soviet repression victims in Georgia „Memorial“, held the Exhibition „Repressed Women in the Soviet Union“ at the Dedaena Park. The history of this day dates back to 1937 when, on this day, a great Georgian poet, Paolo Iashvili committed suicide demonstratively at the building of the Writers’ Union. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) has launched the renewed website www.edec.ge. Information on the site is available in Georgian and English languages. The presented information is also accessible for persons with low vision.                                                                     Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Statement made by Mr. Diégo Colas, the Ambassador of France: “I am heartbroken to learn about the death of Lekso Lashkarava, a journalist who got severely injured on Monday while fulfilling his duty – covering homophobic violence that took place on July 5. My condolences to his family and colleagues. Freedom of assembly and press, fight against discrimination and hate, no to violence”.  Read more… Source: The Embassy of France in Georgia

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi extends our deepest condolences to the family of Lekso Lashkarava, particularly to Lekso’s mother, and to his colleagues at TV Pirveli and all those who are shocked and saddened by his death. "Lekso worked behind the camera so despite his years of service as a media professional, many might not have recognized him before he was viciously attacked by people who demonstrated a complete lack of respect for human life. His bravery as he defended his colleague and his commitment to the fundamental freedoms long cherished in this country represent the best qualities and traditions of the people of Georgia. The arrest of several individuals in connection with the attack on Lekso is a positive first step toward justice. The safety of every Georgian journalist and the credibility of democracy in Georgia require that every individual who attacked peaceful citizens and journalists on July 5 and 6, or who incited violence, must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We call for calm and an end to the violence that has already caused one tragic loss of life". see more... source:

Comments by EU Ambassador Hartzell upon news of the death of Mr. Lekso Lashkarava: "It is with sorrow I learned today about the tragic death of Pirveli TV cameraman Lekso Lashkarava. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues. Mr. Lekso Lashkarava was severely beaten as he was covering the violence that took place in Tbilisi around the Pride events on 5 July. While still awaiting the results of the investigation into the cause of his death, let me reiterate the EU’s strong condemnation of all violence and our staunch and unwavering support to the freedom of media and assembly". see more... source: European Union in Georgia

A publication of Luke Coffey and Dr. James Jay Carafano, released by the Economic Policy Research Center, states: “It will require creative political will to end Russia’s veto on Georgia’s NATO membership without triggering a war or Georgia loosing territorial integrity”. see more (geo)... source: eprc.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) conducted a large-scale research, within the framework of which the organization studied communist, totalitarian regime related names of settlements, streets, parks and squares, as well as other toponyms in the territory controlled by the state of Georgia. “Out of the 80 settlements studied, Soviet totalitarian toponyms can be found in 46. In 35 settlements, there can be found names of those people, events, organizations that have been connected with a special crime committed against Georgia or humanity. While studying toponyms, there have been revealed people whose names are actively used by the contemporary Russian propaganda”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On June 28, IDFI, in cooperation with Tbilisi City Hall and with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Good Governance Initiative in Georgia (USAID GGI), held an online public discussion of the Open Data Portal concept. This event aimed to introduce the concept of the Tbilisi City Hall Open Data Portal to the public, and ascertain stakeholders’ views. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On June 27 European Union and Georgia mark the 7th Anniversary of the signature of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. “While it is a technical document, it embodies our shared values and ambitions. And it is the key to unlocking the potential of what we have set out to achieve together. Happy anniversary to both Georgia and the EU! I look forward to continue our joint efforts to further deepen our partnership and bring us even closer together in the years to come”, says Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia. Read more… Source: The EU’s page on the social network