Author: Goga Akhalkatsi

Every world cinema fan should watch these movies from the Soviet Union. Although the Soviet Union has no longer existed for decades now, some of the most prolific filmmakers came from the region that became known as the USSR. Filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, who is considered one of the best directors of all time, was one of the many creators who came out of the Soviet Union, creating some of the best movies still known today. Despite the strict censorship that came out of making art in the Soviet Union, as well as the larger policies that were in place at the time, directors and writers continued…

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili spoke against restoring direct air traffic with Russia on Friday. In a statement, published by the press service, Zourabichvili urged to introduce additional restrictions for Russians coming to Georgia. “I do not welcome the restoration of air links with Russia. … We need restrictions for getting right for work, opening business, acquiring property, or opening Russian-language schools,” she said. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a news conference on the performance of Russian diplomacy in 2022, said he hoped that Russia and Georgia would soon be able to resume direct air service. Russia suspended…

Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said at a press conference on January 26, citing the conclusion of the Samkharauli Forensic Bureau, that the psychiatric, gastroenterological and neurological diagnoses made by Empathy, the Tbilisi-based Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, in respect of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili “are not reliable and authentic.” Minister Bregadze noted that on December 8, 2022, the Special Penitentiary Service applied to the Forensic Bureau to verify the reliability and authenticity of Empathy’s conclusions and received a relevant conclusion on January 26, 2023. “This conclusion will be submitted to the court and the subsequent consideration will continue in court,” the minister added. Empathy’s…

Riot Games is ushering in the Lunar New Year with its new Luna skin bundle, inspired by the Year of the Rabbit. Bunnies feature prominently in the new collection, which also comes with an adorable gun buddy that will let you take a furry companion into battle. The bundle includes skins for the Vandal, Spectre, Marshal, Ghost, and melee weapon, which covers some of the most-used weapons in the game. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Luna skin bundle The skins are clad in a metallic blue sheen, complete with swirling golden accents, an auspicious color in Chinese tradition. The…

In the name of combating Islamophobia, Hamline University in Minnesota has committed a particularly egregious exercise in Islamophobia. Last October, Erika López Prater, an adjunct professor teaching a global art history class, included a masterpiece of 14th-century Islamic art depicting the Prophet Mohammed receiving Koranic revelations from the archangel Gabriel. Recognizing that some Muslims regard depictions of the prophet (and in some extreme cases, anyone at all) as blasphemous, she provided repeated advance warnings to her students, both in the course syllabus and in class. According to reports, no one appeared concerned before the online class, and she shared the…

Curious about the best places to live in Georgia? If you’re looking for a unique country, you’ll find one at the intersection of Europe and Asia; Georgia. Located between Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, Georgia has had a challenging history and is still a developing country. Because of this, Georgia is not a place that may be at the top of many tourists (or expats) list. However, this just makes the country a hidden gem! Georgia has many fabulous things, including diverse architecture, stunning landscapes, and meager living costs. So, if you want to experience a different lifestyle and culture than…

Khachapuri — cheese filled bread — is a staple that comes in dozens of forms. Regional varieties are now celebrated again, with chefs looking to the past to help shape the country’s culinary future. “Everyone will tell you their granny made the best khachapuri in the world,” Maka Shengelia says, breaking up the bright orange egg yolk with her fork and stirring it into the bed of soft white cheese beneath. She dabs butter onto the crunchy crust of the boat-shaped dough that cradles the gooey mixture, and we dig in. In Georgia, khachapuri is enjoyed at every type of…

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hosted Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili in London for the annual UK-Georgia Strategic Dialogue. The UK reiterated its commitment to the security and stability of Georgia today as the country faces increasing Russian aggression. Known as the ‘Wardrop Dialogue’, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hosted Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili at Lancaster House in London (Thursday 26 January) for the eighth annual UK-Georgia Strategic Dialogue, telling Minister Darchiashvili that the UK would stand by Georgia for the long term. The Foreign Secretary used the meeting to underline the UK’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,…

Tbilisi and Kyiv have found themselves in yet another round of tensions, fuelled by a controversy on the possible resumption of air travel between Georgia and Russia, and Georgia’s fierce denial of Kyiv’s requests for military aid. The two countries’ diplomats paid visits to their hosts’ foreign ministries on January 25, after a Ukrainian diplomat’s remarks over the possible evacuation of Ukrainian citizens infuriated the Georgian authorities. The remarks followed Tbilisi’s recent controversial embrace of the idea of resuming air travel with Russia, which had been unilaterally halted by Moscow in 2019. On January 24, Andrii Kasianov, Ukrainian chargé d’affaires in Tbilisi,…