Levan Vasadze

10 Posts

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Ivanishvili at a press conference in 2013. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media

Bidzina Ivanishvili

Ukraine calls for sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency added Georgia’s ‘informal ruler’, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, his close associates, and several Georgian businessmen to a list of persons ‘awaiting sanctions’ for their alleged ties to Russia and its military campaign against Ukraine. On 5 September, War and Sanctions, an official Ukrainian database of individuals that are alleged to have ties with Russia, called on world governments to impose sanctions on former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishv

Alt Info

Georgia’s Trump-loving alt-right begin broadcasting on TV

by Shota Kincha

•6 min read

Georgia’s ultra-conservatives gained a boost to their outreach in January, after Alt Info began broadcasting on national TV. Despite being banned on Facebook, the Communications Commission granted a licence to the group to broadcast their Trump worship, conspiracy theories, and homophobic and xenophobic hate to homes nationwide. ‘Stay tuned. Don’t switch to the liberast channels’ — reads a message displayed between programming on Alt Info, a recently launched TV channel available to over 340,0

And Then We Danced

Homophobic protesters attack filmgoers at Georgian film premiere

by OC Media

•5 min read

Homophobic protesters threw firecrackers at police and filmgoers and several times attempted to storm the cinema at the Georgian premiere of Swedish-Georgian co-production And Then We Danced. The film, which centres around a romance between two male traditional Georgian dancers, opened in six Georgian cinemas on Friday evening. It had its world premiere in May at the Cannes film festival. The largest protest took place outside Tbilisi’s Amirani Cinema, where hundreds confronted riot polic

And Then We Danced

Georgian ultraconservative groups vow to prevent queer romance film premiere

by OC Media

•6 min read

Several far-right and ultraconservative groups in Georgia have begun to mobilise against the Georgian premiere of queer romance film And Then We Danced, which is due to hit screens this Friday. The film is a love story between two male Georgian traditional dancers that had its world premiere on 16 May at the Cannes Film Festival. A joint Swedish–Georgian production, it has been selected as Sweden’s submission to the 92nd Academy Awards. The film’s first showings in Georgia are due to kic

On 17 May 2018, activists held an impromptu protest outside the Interior Ministry offices condemning the lack of safety for their events. Image: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media

Georgia

More young Georgians say queer rights are important than not, poll finds

by Robin Fabbro

•7 min read

Opinions towards queer rights have improved among Georgia’s young people, the latest NDI/CRRC polling has found, with a plurality in support of their protection. The balance has tipped, if only by a little. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents aged 18–35 said that protecting the rights of ‘sexual minorities’ was important with 36% saying it was not. Twenty-one per cent answered that they were neutral on the question. Overall, 27% of respondents of all ages said protecting the rights of

Georgia

Ultraconservative and anti-Putin protesters face off as queer activists hold impromptu pride

by OC Media

•5 min read

Queer activists held an impromptu queer pride march in Tbilisi amidst threats from homophobic groups. That same day, ultra-conservative protesters faced off with anti-Putin protesters at the Georgian parliament after failing to thwart Tbilisi Pride. Queer activists waved rainbow flags as they marched in front of the Interior Ministry on 8 July, demanding Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia resign for failing to protect queer people and their freedom of expression. Law enforcement had previ

Georgia

Tbilisi Pride cancelled after location leaks online

by OC Media

•7 min read

Georgia’s first queer pride march, Tbilisi Pride, was cancelled on Monday after the location of the event was leaked online. Organisers announced on Sunday evening that the march would take place in an undisclosed location the following morning. However, they took the decision to cancel the event after screenshots from a secret Facebook group organising the event revealing the location, in front of the Interior Ministry, were posted online by homophobic groups. Several homophobic ultrac