Rorshok Georgia Update

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Updates from Misha’s hunger strike and health condition, a human chain to celebrate the Rose Revolution, the Conservative Movement, restrictions to online gambling, manganese mining licenses, renovation works in Martvili and Abasha, flu vaccines, Green Passes, big wins in fencing and karate, a week-long celebration of Italian cuisine and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Infrastructure improvement, Covid vaccination  certificates, hunger strikes, Misha’s embezzlement, buildings collapsing, a collaboration with Cyprus, awarded movies and actors, a month-long cinema programme, sports: football and rugby news, wine and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Updates on Micha’s health, government and opposition rallies, covid news, the green passport initiative, the EU launching projects and campaigns in Georgia, an agreement with the German Development Bank, trees being planted in the Borjomi Forest, the Global Corruption Index Report, awarded Georgian films and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Updates from the elections: incidents, violations and fabricated results; Mikheil Saakashvili’s letter, MPs resignations, updates on the green passport initiative proposed by the NCDC, news for travel lovers and art fans, green journalism and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Updates from the Natsebi and the Otsneba party rallies, worries about ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition, a possible cooperation between Georgia and Estonia, a green passport initiative proposed by the NCDC, variable energy prices for businesses, renovations for a social care centre for people with disabilities and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Updates about the Natsebi rally, Gigi Ugulava fined for breaking quarantine, a call for Georgians to participate in the municipal elections, a dispute over the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project resurfaced, an agreement to develop affordable and sustainable residential housing signed, a fifth wave of covid in Georgia and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of the big stuff happening in Georgia. Building collapse in Batumi, criticism of Misha Saakashvili’s hunger strike, a 10-year ecotourism strategy signed by Georgian Economy Minister, international relationships getting stronger, the risk of facing a 5th Coronavirus wave approaches, boosters for Chinese vaccines, triumphs for Georgian judokas, rugbiers and film director Levan Koguashvilis, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Misha Saakashvili’s detention and accusations, the results of the municipal elections, voting popularity in Georgia, a millionaire agreement signed between UNDP and Georgian Ministry of Regional Development, the return to in-person classes, low vaccination rates and initiatives to improve them, Georgian pianists and judoka wins and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. A ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the recognition of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by France was held on Sunday, the 26th. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili awarded Georgian Vice-Colonel Dimitri Amilakhvari the order of National Hero posthumously. Also this week, the Asian Development Bank approved a 15 million US dollar loan to support Georgia to procure Covid-19 vaccines. The project is financed through ADB’s 9 billion dollar Asian Pacific Vaccine Access Facility and serves to support Georgia’s National Vaccines Deployment Plan. Do you...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. On October 2nd, voters will elect 64 mayors and over 2,000 city council members. The tightest election is expected in Tbilisi, where Otsneba party’s Kakhi Kaladze, the head of Natsebi party, Nika Melia and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia face-off at the polls. As of this week, 1.7 million individuals in Georgia have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and about 750,000 people have been fully vaccinated. The country continues to have over 1,500 daily coronavirus cases. Most of the confirmed cases are recorded in Tbilisi, Ad...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. This week, Georgian media outlets received files leaked from the country’s State Security Service (SSS), which were titled: “Georgian State Security Service’s compromising materials against Patriarchate.” The first raffle of the Georgian vaccination lottery was held. A total of 160 vaccinated citizens won cash prizes. 10 people won 500 lari, which is about 160 US dollars and 50 individuals won 100 amounting to 33 US dollars. The results of the lottery can be checked on the website stopcov.lotto.ge The rate of fully vaccinated teachers stands at 36% in the coun...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. This week, the daily average of new coronavirus cases has decreased to 2,500, with the daily rate steadying at 70-80 cases per day. Most of the confirmed cases were reported in Tbilisi, followed by Imereti, Samegrelo and Kakheti. Also in the update, Georgian rescuers found the bodies of two Moldovan alpinists on Mount Ushba in Svaneti. From the mountaintops to marketing...The Georgian government announced that it will co-finance marketing campaigns of wine companies in export markets. And from marketing to medalists, Georgian canoeists Mariam...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. The Georgian government decided to prolong its COVID-19 restrictions. Public transport in all big cities of the country, which was scheduled to resume on the 4th of September, will now not begin until Monday, the 13th. The government will begin offering incentives to encourage the public to get vaccinated. The Finance Ministry is working with the Georgian Lottery Company on lottery raffles to incentivize its citizenry. All public schools, universities and vocational education facilities will offer online lessons, beginning the 15th of September through...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of all things Georgian - news, events and the latest happenings. This week, COVID-19 threatens municipal elections, as the country’s daily cases climbs to over 3,000 daily with Georgia ranking 11th in the world, per capita, for positive cases. Ten percent of Georgia’s adult population have been fully vaccinated, with about 25% of the adult population having received at least one dose of the vaccine. The Japanese government gifted a mobile library to villages of mountainous Adjara. These stories and more in this week’s update.

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Georgia has seen 13 years pass since the 2008 War and commemorated those who died in the Shindisi battle this week. The Patriarchates’ Ninotsminda boarding school continues to find headlines, having been fined by the State Inspector’s Office for disclosing children’s personal data months after facing allegations of abuse. Georgia is planning for the future, having released its 10-year plan. Great News for Farmers! The European Union has simplified export procedures for Georgian hazelnuts. According to the National Food Agency of Georgia, this decision was made due to increased confidence in the...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Georgian Olympians find success, investigating the death of Australian citizen Shanae Brooke, the death of Azerbaijani blogger Hussein Bakikhanov, one month since the Tbilisi Pride counter-rally, visa liberalisation, a 10-year education and science development strategy, confirmed date for local elections, mortgage loans for families with newborns, subsidizing the 2021 grape harvest, financial aid from the US, Pfizer vaccine available in outpatient facilities, new COVID numbers, literary competition “Litera” cancelled, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 saw a major upswing this week, with over 2,500 patients testing positive for the virus. That is a jump of over 1,000 new cases. Pfizer vaccines have arrived and began being distributed Monday. Also this week, Tea Tsulukiani presented the culture ministry’s 10-year action plan, calling for plans to launch eight cultural programs worth 20 million lari (about 6.5 million US dollars). The proposals will support the socially underprivileged, disabled and vulnerable populations.This and much more in this week’s episode.

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Updates on the Tbilisi Pride fallout, drug allegations facing violence victim Lesko, continued protests supporting media representatives, the Batumi International Conference, Kahha Kaladze as Tbilisi mayoral candidate, COVID-19 hospitals reaching full capacity, negative PCR tests required for certain events/gatherings, facemasks may be mandated again, high out-of-pocket healthcare costs in Georgia, bread prices increasing, a first coming soon for Belavi Belarusian airlines, export strategies for wine producers, paintings discovered at the Hotel London building, mental health during the pandemic, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was one of 53 media representatives previously attacked at a Tbilisi Pride counter-rally, was found dead this week. At home recovering from multiple injuries sustained during the attack, circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death are still pending and under investigation, but some officials are pointing toward a drug overdose. Lesko’s death prompted protests across Georgia, including Batumi where protesters attempted to spray paint the word “murderers” on the Government of Adjara building. In other news, COVID-19 cases are still on the rise, but the country...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. Updates on Tbilisi Pride, a brief history of LGBTQ+ activism in Georgia, COVID-19 updates, a cyber attack on the official vaccine registration site, Georgia receives vaccines donated by Austria, a new 10-year economic development plan, air traffic recovery dynamics on the mend, increased funding for Georgian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, candidates for the Central Election Commission selected, the US State Department’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons report, the “largest ever” cleanup of Georgia’s Black Sea coastline, animated film “Abandoned Village” wows at Paris International Animation Film Festiva...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. Updates on the Ninotsminda boarding school case, Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines incoming, more COVID-19 updates, Tbilisi Pride news, Tamar Zhvania resigns, a memorandum for Georgia and Ukraine’s NATO membership, Georgia now chairs the BSEC, 7 years since Georgia’s AA deal with the EU, a new bread factory in Tbilisi, examining the Gelati Monastery complex, a new article on the Georgian-Ossetian village of Velebi, travel and summer plans, and more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. Updates on COVID-19 regulations, incoming vaccines, waived fines, no more iron barricades for HPP protesters, Tbilisi Pride division and concerns, elections in Armenia, a new UN general assembly resolution initiated by Georgia, grant competition bringing performances and initiatives to Georgia, the newest Sustainable Development Report, a documentary about deforestation in Dighomi forests, vacation in Anaklia, a new great area in Tbilisi, and more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. Protests for and against the Namakhvani hydropower plant project, the French Development Agency’s loan to Georgia, the rejection of the amnesty bill, a massive power cut, 50 million euros provided by the European Investment Bank to support vaccination for everyone in the country, new parking lots added, first ever display in Georgia about the city of Pompeii, and much more! 

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So TBLPOD.com is back! Just leaner, more exciting, more concise, greater relevance for your life! Did we miss anything? What do you think? If you have something you want announced and we think it’s cool enough, let us know and we’ll spill. We are open for any and all. Remember we research and record this thing and you listen to it and even go so far as to read these show notes, which means you are at least a bit interested, but we don’t know that. So say hi. Here: podcast@rorshok.com Don’t forget t...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Updates on the the Namakhvani hydro power plant situation, new political party, financial aid provided by the US, Covid vaccination certificate to allow travelling, cases of the Indian variant reported, health minister tested positive for Covid, shortening of the curfew to help farmers, new transport network announced by Tbilisi City Hall, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Independence day celebrations, historic results at the European Court of Human Rights, protests against a Hydro power plant construction, influencers visiting Georgia to promote 

tourism, Georgia won several prizes at the International Wine Challenge, all natural protected areas reopened, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Complaints from Georgians in Germany' seasonal employment programme, a one-time tax initiative to help with the challenges caused by Covid, Georgia’s participation in a Tourism Fair, a 

three year programme to help small and medium enterprises, a paternity school opened in Tbilisi, new vaccines coming from Lithuania and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Nika Melia released from prison, a great offer for farmers to buy the land they rent, heads of state from the B9 Initiative pledged their support for Georgia, the Word Bank approved support for Georgia’s Post-Covid recovery, restriction’s lift, Sinopharm vaccines handed over by the Red Cross, a digital fashion show and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Controversial amendments adopted in the Code of Administrative offenses, disputes over the Amnesty bill continue, two new projects between the EU and Georgia, Russia bans on Georgian buckwheat exports, week-long public holiday to reduce Covid spread, ongoing protests against the hydro power plant projects, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. New elected Parliament Speaker, suspension of the construction of Namakhvani hydro power plant, protests against the arrest of activists the amnesty bill, new program to upgrade urban infrastructure, new Easter holiday restrictions, Tbilisi is the 2021 UNESCO World Book Capital, the first edition of the Kutaisi International Short Film Festival, and much more! 

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Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. A compromise document signed by almost all political parties, new testing points near Enguri Bridge, US funding for Georgian startups, Kutaisi international Airport has resuming flights, a new law limiting lead in paint to 90ppm, Georgian Public Broadcaster’s new project supporting people with disabilities, and much more! 

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We want to know why you are listening, how you found us, and your life story! Thoughts? Recommendations? Important stuff we missed we might have missed, or topics you want us to cover? Things we g...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. The 32nd anniversary of April 9th tragic events, Nika Melia remains in custody, social and mass entertainment events banned because of a raise in cases, a new public holiday, 14-day mandatory quarantine for people coming from India despite vaccination passports, Wizz Air to resume flights in Georgia soon, and much more! 

Let us know your thoughts about this week's episode. Did we miss anything important? What other topics do you want us to cover? Let us know about what you think in the comments o...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Used to be TBLPOD. A protest against a Russian journalist’s visit to Georgia, Russia paying with the WTO via wine inspection, Georgia’s first-ever gender recognition for a transgender person, Prime Minister tested positive for Covid, zoning hourly parking to launch in May, and much much more! 

TBLPOD.com is back! Just leaner, more exciting, more concise, greater relevance for your life! Did we miss anything? What do you think? If you have something you want announced and we think it’s cool enough, let us know and we’...

So TBLPOD.com is back! Just leaner, more exciting, more concise, greater relevance for your life! Did we miss anything? What do you think? If you have something you want announced and we think it’s cool enough, let us know and we’ll spill. We are open for any and all. Remember we research and record this thing and you listen to it and even go so far as to read these show notes, which means you are at least a bit interested, but we don’t know that. So say hi. Here: podcast@rorshok.com Don’t forget t...

Rorshok's weekly ten-minute update of stuff happening in Georgia. Covid related, politics, dams, demonstrations, Melia updates and tons more. As many of you may know, this used to be TBLPOD. But then duty called and the need to deal with Donald Trump and his enablers the old-fashioned way, via voter turnout which takes lots of time and effort as you well know. We just didn’t have enough time, so after a many-decade run of glory, it went off the air in May of 2019. Well gachitulebo, we are back!!! But this time, it will be a bit less rambly, we...