georgianjournal 36(310)
Tbilisi Seeks Extradition...
Ex-Minister Davit Kezerashvili Detained
France to decide on him within forty days

Davit Kezerashvili, the Georgia’s former defense minister, wanted by Georgia on multiple criminal charges including corruption, has been detained in France.
HUNGARIAN PM GAVE SHELTER TO HIS FRIEND
What is the status of wanted ex-minister Zurab Adeishvili living in Hungary?

It’s for the second time in one year that Victor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, attracted Georgian people’s attention. By the end of September 2012, before the Parliamentary elections, Orban arrived in Georgia to support Saakashvili and National Movement.
Georgia Part of NATO Rapid Reaction Force
Last week was important for Georgia on its way of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures as NATO accepted its offer to join Rapid Reaction Force from 2015. In the heat of melting cohabitation that counts last days as presidential elections come closer, this news seemed to be unexpected. Several weeks ago, when I asked a comment from one of the political and military experts about the hot news that Georgia could became the member of the NATO rapid reaction team, his answer was not certain and full of doubts and in the end I couldn’t get anything out of him on this topic. It goes to show that it was unexpected and in the middle of aggravated cohabitation this news was like a lightning without thunderstorm. It means that NATO will never lose the merit of Georgia’s military forces and sees its future in Atlantic Alliance.
Respecting Georgian traditions
Public representatives address Thomas Hammarberg…

Public representatives sent an open letter to Thomas Hammarberg, advisor to the Georgian Government in legal issues, In the letter published in “Kviris Palitra” newspaper they say the appeal is about the part of the report on human rights in Georgia by Hammarberg, where the human rights advocate speaks about the rights of propaganda of sexual perversity.
CRUSHING OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT WILL BE GRAVE MISTAKE
Interview with philosopher Zaza Piralishvili

Why the 2013 Presidential elections don’t resemble previous ones? Do the election programs, promises and political views of presidential candidates differ from one another? Below Philosopher Zaza Piralishvili dissects these issues.
Ural Tour Operators Explore Georgia
The third prospecting party of Russian tourist agencies visited Georgia on 9-14 October 2013 to explore the country’s tourist potential and take the message to their clientele.
Forests without Management
The survey on sustainable management of forests in Georgia conducted by the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network revealed that forests are devastated by year and that both environment and welfare of communities who live nearby bear the brunt of it.
Georgian Government Questions IMF Forecast
The recent report of International Monetary Fund on World Economic Outlook for October of 2013 nearly halved the economic growth forecast for Georgia from 4% and 6% predicted in June and January of 2013 to 2.5%. The IMF also predicted 1.7% increase of unemployment rate in Georgia this year. Georgian government questions the IMF data and asks for revision.
Will Atlasjet Cut Prices for Georgian Market?
he third Turkish air-company Atlasjet started flights in October from Tbilisi International Airport to Istanbul, challenging competitors with its cheapest prices at the moment but the question is whether or not the company is capable and willing to hold prices down in a long-term prospect.
Having watched Georgian market for a year, Atlasjet, the number one private Turkish-based company, decided to start flights from Tbilisi International Airport to Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, one of the major transit airports for the passengers flying to and from Georgia the globe over.
Procedural Code Discriminates Investors
Malfunctioning of the Procedural Code of Georgia foster discrimination of businessmen and encumber the much touted process of restoration of investors’ rights in spite of declared political will of Georgian Government to reinstate justice in the country. And Georgian investors constitute the most vulnerable group, suffering from the inadequate legislation that mandates Prosecutors’ Office to act at its own discretion and settle things in favor of foreign investors. However, discrimination of any investor sends negative signals about the investment climate of the country.
And the Olympic flame keeps going out...
A new analysis technique that compared Albert Einstein’s brain to others of the period shows the left and right cerebral hemispheres of the famous scientist’s brain were unusually well connected to each other. This connectivity may have contributed to his brilliance, according to Florida State University evolutionary anthropologist Dean Falk.
“Hero” Who Bombed His Own Troops?
The torch of Sochi Olympic Games had to stay in the hands of Russian “hero” Ivan Nechayev only for five minutes or so but it was enough to provoke a large wave of protests among Georgians. No wonder, if we consider that the Russian pilot Nechayev was bombing the Georgian territory during the August war of 2008.
Bloggers from Kazakhstan Arrive
On 11 October, at the restaurant “Gujari” located in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, the reception was held to host the Kazakh bloggers, who decided to meet their Georgian counterparts and learn more about Georgia. There are some other countries on their list too, but as the luck has it, our homeland topped the list.
Lado Ataneli - Even a Book about Him is singing!
Yes, a wonderful book is out, just out of press, still warm and fresh, which not only the opera buffs but the entire country had been waiting for quite a while to appear. The well formatted and glowingly designed album in a very attractive jacket is a real delight for those who wanted to know their favorite Lado Ataneli closer. The book is lovingly bringing back to life the innumerable precious memories of the Ataneli family. This is a story of life and work of an outstanding Georgian singer of our times, titled ‘Bravo Lado Ataneli’ – a direct consequence of mutual creative work and shared personal life of the well-known conjugal couple Lado and Manana.
Thirty One Georgian Modern Painters on Display
On 15 October, the Literary Museum’s gallery hosted the presentation of the album Georgian Modern Art and also the opening of consecutive exhibition. The mood among authors and art lovers who filled the hall to the last corner was one of festivity.
Vintage 2013 - Successful and State-free
Vintage 2013 is reaching its end and all involved sides - vine-growers, wine companies and the state - have already acknowledged in one voice that, unlike previous years, the vintage was successful, well-organized and free of the state interference.
Telavi International Music Festival 2013 Takes off
From 12 October to 20 October, Telavi International Music Festival will be on. Born in 1980s, it has hosted a lot of great musicians of different genres and musical biography. It has retained its great prestige and highest performing quality.
New ways, New means...
Georgia is a republic – socialist, presidential or parliamentary – whatever! Georgia is a democracy – unreal, partial or transitional – who cares! Georgia is a state – ancient, modern or futuristic – why to bother? Georgia is a territory – whole, split or undefined – when to get a clue? Georgia is a terra firma – steady, tremulous or shaky – where to get the idea?
GJ Editor's comment
New ways, New means...
17 October, 2013
Georgia is a republic – socialist, presidential or parliamentary – whatever! Georgia is a democracy – unreal, partial or transitional – who cares! Georgia is a state – ancient, modern or futuristic – why to bother? Georgia is a territory – whole, split or undefined – when to get a clue? Georgia is a terra firma – steady, tremulous or shaky – where to get the idea?
Mark Mullen's Blog
Georgians need to start judging their bosses
10 October, 2013
There is a new term being used more and more in the west - “Big Data”. This means not one or twenty measurements but a very large number of measurements or data points. These can come from many points for those who know how to get them, and can clarify a great deal in a graph or a map or used in other ways. In large organizations it is now very common to use them to judge employees but more importantly to judge managers. It is also being used to judge municipal services and many other things that a government does. With it, you can make decisions based on data rather than guesses. All over Europe and North America and increasingly in Asia, businesses and governments are using big data to improve judgment and decision making.
Editor's Choice
Unknown object seen in Mtkvari
25 September, 2013
A new short video released on social networks shows an object of unidentified origin and construction floating in Mtkvari river.
 
Tornike Shengelia’s ‘I love you baby’ at his wedding
24 September, 2013
Tornike Shengelia, a twenty-two year old basketball player for Georgia and Brooklyn Nets has married Salome Jugheli, cousin to Georgia and Milwaukee Bucks centre Zaza Pachulia.
 
Davit Sakvarelidze and Zurab Tchiaberashvili at Picasso Club in Kutaisi
20 September, 2013
National Movement party members Davit Sakvarelidze and Zurab Tchiaberashvili visited the Picasso Club in Kutaisi and shared their thoughts with the host.
 
Irakli Gharibashvili in Taylor Swift music video
09 September, 2013
Georgia’s Interior Minister Irakli Gharibashvili found himself featured in a video by singer Taylor Swift
 
Georgian blessing and songs at Keta Topuria’s wedding
23 September, 2013
The grand wedding of singer Keta Topuria and Lev Geikhman is still a topic of popular discussion, with footage of the occasion now online and showing Alla Pugacheva’s spouse Maksim Galkin wishing the newlywed couple to have many kids in Georgian.
 
How Abkhazia looks in Summer
30 July, 2013
What does Abkhazia look like in summer? Bitchvinta and Ritsa Lake are shown in a video uploaded by Russian tourist on YouTube.
 
Miss Georgia 2013 - Image Center starts receiving applications
23 May, 2013
Image Center modeling agency is receiving applications for the Miss Georgia 2013 contest, Manager Ia Kitsmarishvili announced at a press conference on May 22.
 
Woman who might become First Lady of Georgia
13 May, 2013
Following the naming of the ruling coalition's presidential candidate, the public has turned its attention to the question of who the state's First Lady will be if Giorgi Margvelashvili is elected the president in October.