Podcasts about Abkhazia

# 63 - in conversation with Georgian director and filmmaker - Elena Mikaberidze. In early February, Kitchen Conversations teamed up with From Julia's Desk to host a live communal event in Berlin. As part of the evening's program, we had the privilege of screening the Georgian film Blueberry Dreams. The documentary follows Soso, a good-hearted father who leads his family of four in starting a blueberry farm to secure their future. Set in northern Georgia, their village lies near the troubled border with the Russian-backed region of Abkhazia, an area where tensions have been simmering for over 30 years. A few days after the screening, Patrycja sat down with filmmaker Elena Mikaberidze to record a podcast, diving deeper into the extraordinary documentary, the live of the family at its center, and the broader climate in Georgia today, with a special focus on mixed families navigating the challenges of living a united life in a politically divided country. References: Newsletter From Julia's Desk https://juliaschneider.substack.com/?utm_campaign=email-https://juliaschneider.substack.com/?utm_campaign=email-home&r=2pg744&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email About the filmmaker: https://chaikhana.media/en/authors/164/elena-mikaberidze  Blueberry Dreams (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUOFWl2thbE  Support the family: https://www.share-doc.org/d/71001  Elena's favourite home food: Ajika - spicy pepper based dip  ___ Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kitchenconversations Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/kitchenconversations  Visit shop: https://www.etsy.com/de-en/shop/PatrycjaRozwora?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1398125905&from_page=listing Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/kitchenconversations.podcast/  ___ Recording & editing: Patrycja Rozwora Mix & master: Jonas Kröper

Week In Review - March 2, 2025Topics:Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications – The second round of Abkhazia's presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunba's victory means for the region.Armenian Hostages in Baku – Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.Protests in Yerevan Over POWs – Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations & Stalled Peace Talks – Key sticking points in the negotiations, Azerbaijan's rejection of European border observers, and implications for regional security.Armenia's Diplomatic Strategy & Foreign Policy Shifts – Armenia's increasing alignment with the West, its strained ties with Russia, and the effectiveness of international pressure on Azerbaijan.Guest: Hrant MikaelianHosts:  - Hovik Manucharyan  - Asbed BedrossianEpisode 421 | Recorded: March 4, 2025https://podcasts.groong.org/421#ArmenianNews #Artsakh #AbkhaziaElections #ArmenianPOWs #YerevanProtestsSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Ric Gazarian aka GlobalGaz is on a quest to travel to all 193 UN countries. There are so many great travel content creators sharing advice on traveling to amazing places all around the world. But Ric's goal is to help travelers visit locations that are less visited with less actionable information; countries like Afghanistan, Algeria, Mauritania, or Pakistan. Or places, that people love to debate if they are even a country like the Principality of Sealand, Transnistria, or Abkhazia.

Violence during a pro-European demonstration, awards for law enforcement officials responsible for the crackdown on protesters, Prime Minister happy about cancellation of USAID, workers' strike in Kakheti, Abkhazia hoping for more recognition, and much more! Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us through Instagram @rorshok_georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

Since emerging as an independent state in 1991, Georgia has struggled to establish its nationhood. "Joining 'the West' has driven Georgian elites' strategic thinking for decades," writes the historian Bryan Gigantino. Yet, at the same time, Tbilisi must not antagonize Russia, as the legacy of the 2008 war over South Ossetia and Abkhazia still looms over Georgian society. For the past three weeks, demonstrators have staged massive protests, often clashing with police, over the ruling Georgian Dream party's decision to suspend talks to join the European Union. In this episode, Gigantino untangles the complexities of Georgian history and politics as the country copes with life on the post-Soviet periphery. Further reading: In Georgia, a National Election Is a Geopolitical Struggle by Bryan Gigantino (Jacobin)

OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Nate Ostiller, Arshaluys Barseghyan, and Yousef Bardouka talk about the regime change in Syria and what it means for the Caucasian diaspora communities in the country and what it says about Russia's influence and power globally. Read more: Armenia says ‘no opportunity' to evacuate Syrian–Armenians Syrian rebel leader condemns Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognition Right of return? — The struggles of the Circassian diaspora to settle in Adygea   Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

Nick and Ciarán talk about Drowning Pools, Abkhazia, Romania and more HOW TO SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/cornerspaeti HOW TO REACH US: Corner Späti https://twitter.com/cornerspaeti Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cornerspaeti/ Julia https://twitter.com/KMarxiana Rob https://twitter.com/leninkraft Nick Uma https://twitter.com/umawrnkl Ciarán https://twitter.com/Ciaranxo

Questo episodio è offerto da Kukusha Tours, che propone viaggi per piccoli gruppi nei Balcani, nel Caucaso e nell'Asia Centrale, per scoprire le minoranze etniche e il patrimonio sovietico e socialista. Iscrizioni ai viaggi dal 16 dicembre 2024. Info: https://www.kukushkatours.it/ ----Il presidente dell'Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, si è dimesso dopo le proteste di piazza che hanno scosso la capitale di questa autoproclamata repubblica del Caucaso, oggi totalmente dipendente dalla Russia. Con il contributo della giornalista Luna de Bartolo.Insert: АБХАЗИЯ 2024. рынок Сухума, Radkov, YouTube, 30.06.2024Протесты в Абхазии: как соглашение с Россией привело к отставке президента, Телеканал Дождь, YouTube, 24.11.2024Протесты в Абхазии против инвестиционного соглашения с Россией, Euronews по-русский, YouTube, 15.11.2024

Ric Gazarian is an avid traveler who has visited all seven continents and 181 countries on his quest to visit every country in the world. He is also the host of the popular long-format podcast Counting Countries and the founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Travel with us to some of the world's lesser-known places like Abkhazia and Mauritania and hear what Ric learned about humanity by visiting 181 countries. What you'll learn in this episode:Chasing 193: the quest to visit every country in the worldExploring Abkhazia, a de-facto nation between Georgia and RussiaThe hospitality of the Caucasus regionDesert life in Mauritania and riding the Iron Ore trainThe Amazigh culture, identity, and quest for self-determination (why you shouldn't call them Berbers)The nature of borders and national identityHow we should think about visiting countries with inhumane recordWhy Ric founded the Extraordinary Travel FestivalWhat Ric learned about humanity from visiting 181 countriesFeatured on the show:Check out Ric's podcast, Counting CountriesCheck out Ric's blog, Global GazLearn more about the Extraordinary Travel FestFollow Ric on InstagramGet more information at: Going Places website Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at goingplacesmedia.com/newsletter!For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don't forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You'll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more. Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Conversations on GroongTopics:  - Constitutional Crisis In Georgia?  - Western Reactions and Escalation  - Russian Reactions and Georgia's Strategic Direction  - Unrest In AbkhaziaGuest: Archil SikharulidzeHosts:  - Hovik Manucharyan  - Asbed BedrossianEpisode 388 | Recorded: November 30, 2024https://podcasts.groong.org/388Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

The first session of the new parliament, Otsneba's presidential candidate, Meta's warning to state propaganda channels, Lukashenko's plans in Abkhazia, a famous Director's visit canceled, and much more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us through Instagram @rorshok_georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Gnomon Wise Article: https://gnomonwise.org/ge/publications/policy-papers/229Movie Festival screening schedule: https://www.tbilisifilmfestival.ge/en/%e1%83%99%e1%83%98%e1%83%9c%e1%83%9d%e1%83%a4%e1%83%94%e1%83%a1%e1%83%a2%e1%83%98%e1%83%95%e1%83%90%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%a1%e1%83%a0%e1%83%a3%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98-%e1%83%9e%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d/Rorshok Georgia Update: www.rorshok.com/georgiaRorshok's Ramble episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wYMfTbyQaIpRtLLBhtMsL?si=TIeB94-LTZ2I1EkOSyDQewWe want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

ANN Groong Week in Review - Nov 24, 2024Topics:Supreme Judicial Council Head, MPs resign at Pashinyan's “Ask”Another Pashinyan Interview, More Scandalous StatementsNew Escalation in UkraineGuest:Arthur G. Martirosyan - TW/@ArthurMarti63Hosts:Hovik Manucharyan - TW/@HovikYerevanAsbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriqEpisode 387 | Recorded: November 25, 2024Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

In this episode of War & Peace, Olga and Elissa are joined by Tbilisi-based journalist Joshua Kucera to discuss Georgia's contested parliamentary elections and the prospects for the country and its breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They look at what explains the electoral success of the ruling Georgian Dream party, what's behind allegations of vote rigging and why the opposition has struggled to mobilise its support base in the aftermath of the polls. They explore Tbilisi's shifting relations with Moscow and Brussels, focusing on why the war in Ukraine and politics in the South Caucasus have driven Georgia away from the project of Western integration. They also examine the recent unrest in Abkhazia, the complicated relations among Georgia, the breakaway regions and Russia, and the EU's future as a mediator and monitor in the region. For more, check out Joshua's New York Times op-ed “This Country Turned Against the West, and It's Not Coming Back”, Crisis Group's commentary “Georgia: How to Tread Carefully and Preserve the EU's Diplomatic Role” and our Georgia country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alexandra, Adam, and Nina discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, protests in Abkhazia, and the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia. They also reflect on the 35th anniversary of the Czechoslovak Velvet Revolution and other key events of 1989.Adam and Nina are later joined by Leyla Mustafayeva, acting editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, who shares insights into Azerbaijan's crackdown on civil society and media, including the use of the 29th UN Climate Summit to silence critics. Leyla also discusses Abzas Media's work in exile.In exclusive content for Patrons, Leyla talks about Azerbaijan's relationship with Russia and her experience as an independent journalist in exile.  Listen to it and become a Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope.Leyla also highlights Anar Mammadli, a political prisoner and human rights advocate, who has been in pre-trial detention since April. His detention was extended on 19 November for another three months. You can support his campaign to end repression in Azerbaijan here: https://free-anar.site/anar-mammadli/.

1/2: #RUSSIA: Abkhazia and the Black Sea railroad link to Eurasia. Ekaterina Zolotova, @GPFutures. 2007 Abkhazia 

2/2: #RUSSIA: Abkhazia and the Black Sea railroad link to Eurasia. Ekaterina Zolotova, @GPFutures. 2006

Buy a copy of Too Long or subscribe for 25% off: https://toolong.news/dailyLearn more about Too Long: https://youtu.be/TtDWFm6OOR0Welcome to the TLDR News Daily BriefingIn today's episode, we run through how and why Russia has lowered the threshold for using Russia's nuclear weapons. Also, we discuss the US recognising the opposition as president-elect in Venezuela; why Scholz may be ousted; and protests in Abkhazia.

(11/11/2024-11/18/2024) After while crocodile. Tune in. patreon.com/isaiahnews #applepodcasts⁠ ⁠#spotifypodcasts⁠ ⁠#youtube #amazon⁠ ⁠#patreon⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/isaiah-m-edwards/support

World news in 7 minutes. Monday 18th November 2024.Today: Russia strikes Ukraine power. Germany Putin call. Georgia Abkhazia protests. US Tyson boxing. Gabon referendum. Senegal elections. Venezuela protestors freed. China knife attack. India Manipur unrest. And Solomon Islands world's largest coral.  With Ben MallettSEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities.You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Ben Mallett and Juliet Martin every morning. Transcripts, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated stories in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

A European delegation in Tbilisi, clashes in Abkhazia, electricity shortage in Svaneti, a drop in foreign reserves, Georgian film screenings in Berlin, and much more! Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us through Instagram @rorshok_georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.The CrossKultur festival: https://www.cross-kultur.de/veranstaltungen/filmemacherinnen-aus-georgien/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

In this episode, our returning guest Rick Green walks us through the Georgian Civil War from the eyes of the first American on deck in an official capacity. Rick was a Specialist in the Russian Language and Culture. He was selected to be a U.N. Observer to keep the peace between Abkhazia and Georgia as the nation started to split. Rick was in the conflict zone in a small safehouse in Gali, a town ravaged by both forces multiple times. He details his daily battle rhythm and some of the scarier times he experienced in days past. Rick also compares what we see today, versus what we saw in the past.

Hear Ric's stories from Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Eretria, Mauritania, Papua New Guinea, Abkhazia and Transnistria.  ____________________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show's Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 2 of this interview, Ric Gazarian talks about his decision to pursue the goal of traveling to all 193 U.N. recognized countries. He shares stories of watching the sport of Buzkashi in Afghanistan, getting a private performance by the Royal Drummers of Burundi, and attending the Gerewol Festival in Chad. Ric talks about two very different train experiences in Eretria and Mauritania, describes his overnight tour of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and explains why one of his most unique trips was to Papua New Guinea. He then discusses the contested definition of what constitutes a country, explains what a micronation is, and shares his experiences visiting Transnistria, Abkhazia, and the Principality of Sealand. Ric then talks about his “Counting Countries” podcast and his biennial conference “The Extraordinary Travel Festival”. Finally, he talks about how he designs culturally immersive travel experiences, how his perception of travel has changed over the years, how all of this travel has impacted him, and what travel means to him today. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that's not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Pressure from the Anti-Corruption Bureau on NGOs, the President's signing of the Amnesty Law, resignations of Otsneba's Ministers, Lavrov's proposal to normalize relations between Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us through Instagram @rorshok_georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds. We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

Join Shayn & Orin as we dive into Zana of Abkhazia! Thanks for tuning in to the 77th episode of "Bizarre Encounters". Don't forget to like, follow, share, & review. We appreciate it!.Social Media/Email/Donate/Merch/PatreonUse code "CRYPTID10" for 10% off the OMM Merch Store!http://linktr.ee/bizarreencounters..REPORT AN ENCOUNTERommencounterreports@outlook.com..Next Event:Small Town Monster Fest 2June 19th, 2024Canton, Ohiohttps://www.smalltownmonsters.com/stm-monster-fest-2024..Affiliate Links:Chattergeist by Dimension Deviceshttps://dimensiondevices.co.uk/shop.php?affiliate=OpenMindsMedia.Oregon-ite by Isaac LayzellUse code "OMM" for 10% off!https://oregon-ite.com/?sca_ref=5851215.dReRp5kdjU..Please Check Out:.Bizarre Inquiries*Patreon Exclusive Weekly/Monthly on Youtube*Join Shayn & Orin as we address and discuss bizarre inquiries submitted by listeners. Some may be serious, some may be silly. Who knows where we might go with it. All that matters is that you let your mind wonder!.Social Media/Email/Donate/Merch/Patreonhttp://linktr.ee/open_minds_mediaYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwRrzt9NKkpKOSiaTHjTYxHw4blHxwPO3Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/open_minds_media..Inquiries of our Reality (Shayn)Social Media/Email/Donate/Merch/Patreonhttp://linktr.ee/inquiriesofourrealitypodcast..The Framework: UFO Research Center (Orin)https://www.instagram.com/theframeworkufo/..Open Minds Media (OMM)*PODCAST PRODUCTION SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE!*https://linktr.ee/open_minds_media..IKNOWSQUATCHSpreading the gospel of Squatch with knowledge & fresh merchhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/iknowsquatch?ref=shop_sugghttps://www.instagram.com/iknowsquatch/..CryptoteeologySpecializing in wearable cryptids and monsters and the stories behind them. Discover a relatable monster for any casual occasion.https://www.cryptoteeology.com/https://www.instagram.com/cryptoteeology/https://www.facebook.com/Cryptoteeology..The Snarly Yow Beard & Body ProductsSnarly Products are made exclusively for the Snarly Yow by crafters and local small businesses by hand.https://www.snarlyyow.com/https://www.instagram.com/thesnarlyyowhttps://www.facebook.com/TheSnarlyYow/..Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research Teamhttps://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/p/phantoms-monsters-fortean-research.html..Intro & Outro By:Socio-Beathttps://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sociobeat/conundrumhttps://socio-beat.bandcamp.com/..Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bizarre-encounters/donations

Former CIA analyst and author Melvin Goodman: Israel's Attack on Iran's Syrian Embassy Could Trigger a Perilous Regional WarThe Lever investigative reporter Katya Schwenk: The Supreme Court May be Poised to Weaken Federal Anti-Corruption Laws, Legalize BriberyFAIR intern Phillip HoSang: Trump, GOP, Right-wing Media Weaponize Disinformation on ImmigrationBob Nixon's Under-reported News SummaryRussia's Black Sea naval base ambitions in Abkhazia, GeorgiaRural America's ‘hidden' homelessTrump Media saved by Russian-American under criminal investigationVisit our website at BTLonline.org for more information, in-depth interviews, related links, transcripts and subscribe to our BTL Weekly Summary and/or podcasts. New episodes every Wednesday at 12 noon ET, website updated Wednesdays after 4 p.m. ETProduced by Squeaky Wheel Productions: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus, Bob Nixon, Anna Manzo, Susan Bramhall, Jeff Yates and Mary Hunt. Theme music by Richard Hill and Mikata.

Former CIA analyst and author Melvin Goodman: Israel's Attack on Iran's Syrian Embassy Could Trigger a Perilous Regional WarThe Lever investigative reporter Katya Schwenk: The Supreme Court May be Poised to Weaken Federal Anti-Corruption Laws, Legalize BriberyFAIR intern Phillip HoSang: Trump, GOP, Right-wing Media Weaponize Disinformation on ImmigrationBob Nixon's Under-reported News SummaryRussia's Black Sea naval base ambitions in Abkhazia, GeorgiaRural America's ‘hidden' homelessTrump Media saved by Russian-American under criminal investigationVisit our website at BTLonline.org for more information, in-depth interviews, related links and transcripts and to sign up for our BTL Weekly Summary. New episodes every Wednesday at 12 noon ET, website updated Wednesdays after 4 p.m. ETProduced by Squeaky Wheel Productions: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus, Bob Nixon, Anna Manzo, Susan Bramhall, Jeff Yates and Mary Hunt. Theme music by Richard Hill and Mikata.

Parliament to override President's veto, NATO's Jens Stoltenberg discussing Black Sea security in Georgia, Russian elections in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, tax cuts on tobacco products, Georgian artists taking Berlin and Hamburg by storm, and much more.Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com. You can also contact us through Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgiaLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.T-shirtshttps://rorshok.com/buy/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini survey:https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

The episode was recorded on 28 November 2023 in cooperation with Ponto. Georgia has long been one of the most eager EU-aspirant countries in the European Neighborhood. It has, however, faced a significant setback as a result of an authoritarian turn under its current government – led by the Georgian Dream party. Putting forward twelve conditions related to democracy and the rule of law for the country, the EU only granted Georgia a membership “perspective” in 2022, even while Moldova and Ukraine received official candidate status. The European Commission (and subsequently the European Council) did eventually grant Georgia candidate status in 2023. However, progress on deoligarchization, political depolarization, media freedom, and rule of law matters remains to be seen – and may depend on whether the Georgian government is as committed to EU integration as the country's population. We start our discussion with an assessment of Georgia's EU's integration process and then move on to other topics relevant to Georgia's geopolitical orientation, including Russia's role in its economy and security, the protracted conflicts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Tbilisi's relations with Beijing, as along with the country's economic and transit potential (as well as bottlenecks), given its location at a geographical (and political) crossroads between Asia and Europe. Guests: Stefan Meister is Head of the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). From 2019 until 2021, he worked as director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation's South Caucasus Office. From 2017 to 2019, Meister was head of the Robert Bosch Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at DGAP. Before that, he was a senior policy fellow in the Wider Europe Team at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin and London. In the 2015/16 term, Meister was a visiting fellow at the Transatlantic Academy in Washington, DC, where he wrote on Russian disinformation and propaganda. He has served as an election observer for the OSCE in post-Soviet countries several times and worked on conflict transformation and institution building in post-Soviet countries. Stefan Meister is co-author of Geopolitics and Security: A New Strategy for the South Caucasus (KAS/DGAP/GIP, 2018), The Russia File (Brookings, 2018), Eastern Voices (Center for Transatlantic Relations/DGAP, 2017), and The Eastern Question (Brookings, 2016).  Tinatin Akhvlediani is a Research Fellow in the EU Foreign Policy Unit at the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), specializing in the EU's enlargement, neighborhood, and trade policies. Her regional expertise is focused on the EU's Eastern neighborhood and Ukraine. She has published extensively in these areas, actively engages in high-level policy debates, and frequently offers insights through major media outlets, including BBC, Euronews, and Bloomberg. In 2023, she was recognized among the most prominent and promising women in the EU and in 2020, she earned a place on Forbes Georgia's “30 Under 30” list. Tinatin Akhvlediani teaches European Economic Integration at the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University (ISET). Additionally, she maintains affiliations with several major think tanks in Georgia and frequently provides expert commentary on major Georgian TV channels. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Warsaw. Moderation: Marylia Hushcha, Researcher and Project Manager at the IIP.

Germany's winter of discontent, the plight of hundreds of British sub-postmasters falsely accused of theft, NATO is looking for a new Secretary General, and Denmark has a new monarch. Also: Turkish espionage arrests, Republika Srpska's controversial national holiday, Abkhazia's government in exile, and Spain's economic gamble.

Ivanishvili's return to politics, land transfer controversy in Abkhazia, Georgia's GDP growth and sectoral performance, mobile clinics for displaced women, Live Nation in the Georgian market, and more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com. You can also contact us through Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgia or Mastodon @georgia@rorshok.socialLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Exporting Georgian Literaturehttps://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2018-09/september-2018-georgia-exporting-georgian-literature-gvantsa-jobav/Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donateOops! It looks like we made a mistake. In 6:25, the reader should have said "27th."Sorry for the inconvenience!

Burned EU flags, attacks on media, protests in Abkhazia, transnational crime, Russian electric locomotives, the blue country, and more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com. You can also contact us through Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgia or Mastodon @georgia@rorshok.socialLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.“Georgia in the state party colors, how the country turned blue": https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/32742212.htmlWanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donateOops! It looks like we made a mistake. In 4:55, the reader forgot to say "such as," and in 9:36, he should have said "specially."Sorry for the inconvenience!

On November 8, 2023, the E.U. recommended that Georgia be granted candidate status, which it applied for in March 2022, just after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The E.U. had previously only given Georgia what's called a European Perspective, recognizing it as a potential candidate but stopping short of granting it candidate status, as it had for Ukraine and Moldova in June 2022. In recent years, the E.U. had criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party for its increasing restrictions on media freedom, crackdown on protests, and for developing closer relations with Moscow. Improving relations with Russia has been received negatively in Georgia not only because of Russia actively waging a war in Ukraine, but also due to the 2008 war over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia's two breakaway regions, which Moscow has since occupied. While the conflict is often described as “frozen,” people living along the so-called “separation line” between the breakaway regions and Georgia proper continue to experience the war's lasting effects. At times, they have been deadly — in early November 2023, a Georgian man was killed by the Russian military when he was visiting a church located on the separation line. For insight on what life is like for people living along this line and the prospects for peace, Meduza spoke to Olesya Vartanyan, Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for the South Caucasus region. Meduza then turned to Mariam Nikuradze, the co-founder and executive director of OC Media, to learn more about the recent Foreign Agents Draft Bill, the Georgian government's crackdown on protests, and the challenges journalists in Georgia continue to face.Как поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно

Otsneba's refusal to de-occupation and foreign policy initiatives, final decision on Georgia's EU candidate status, new penitentiary facility in Laituri, Russian trail in huge railway tender, saboteurs in Abkhazia, and more! Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com. You can also contact us through Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgia or Mastodon @georgia@rorshok.socialLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donateOops! It looks likwe made a mistake.In 4:40, the read should have said "accession talks" and in 8:21, he should have said "achondroplasia."Sorry for the inconvenience!

An abandoned house opens the door to revisit the past by bringing to life a unique, nearly destroyed image archive from the unrecognized territory on the border of the Black Sea: Abkhazia. A place normally inaccessible for Georgians because of the ethnic conflict that happened between Georgia and Abkhazia back in 1993. Combining voice, archive, and recent footage, the film examines a lost and split identity stuck between the margins. The audio-visual fragments of this archive are intricately woven together to create a personal and political biography that recalls the complicated and controversial historical past of Georgian-Abkhaz relationships.The highly personal narration delves into the complexities of nationalism and identity in times of war and global displacement. Ultimately, these reflections on recent history become a potential manual for what can come next, once the wars are over.Conversation moderated by Hosein Jalivand as part of Docs in Orbit coverage of films at Dok Leipzig. For show notes, visit docsinorbit.com and be sure to follow us on social media @docsinorbit

This week we travel to the Kingdom of Abkhazia, a Black Sea land nestled amongst the Caucasus. At a date lost to history, but believed to be around 1860 - hunters trap what they believe is a monster in their bear pit. The creature is shackled and brought to a nobleman named Edgi Genaba. This week is all about monsters - but the monster may not be who you are thinking of.  Trigger Warning: This Tale contains discussion of rape and dehumanisation.  Sources Include:  In The Footsteps of The Russian Snowman by Dmitri Bayanov. This DNA Explained article on Zana (author not listed.) This travelogue on Abkhazia. This Weird NJ article on Oliver the Humanzee by Mark Sceurman. I referred to Britannica to confirm several details that were already in my head And came around a dozen news articles from 2015 with much the same text one to the next…   Support the show on Patreon for $2 US a month and get access to exclusive content, or Try our 7 Day Free Trial.  Please leave Tales a like and a review wherever you listen. The best way you can support us is to share an episode with a friend - Creative works grow best by word of mouth. I post episodes fortnightly. Tales of History and Imagination is on  | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Threads | Instagram | YouTube |  Music, writing, narration, mixing yours truly.     Visit Simone's  | About Me | Twitter |   

Show Notes Episode Summary Linnea and Yewleea bring you up to speed on the War in Ukraine in about 20 minutes or less. In today's Ukraine War Brief, Linnea talks about sea mines, war crimes, and a planned russian base in the Abkhazia region of Georgia. Donate to pillows for wounded soldiers via their Monobank Jar , or send it to info@Borlingon.Media on PayPal with 'pillows' in the note. Looking for merch? Check out our shop at http://borlingon.media/shop Have you listened to our sister podcast, FAQ-U: Ukraine Explained? Hosted by our own Yewleea and produced for Svidomi Media, FAQ-U explores popular misconceptions about Ukraine. Help Our Podcast: Rate, Review, and Give Feedback. This podcast is brand new, and every review helps others find it. If you enjoy the podcast, we'd (obviously) love a 5-star review! If we haven't quite earned your 5-star review, reach out and let us know at social@borlingon.media so we can continue to grow and improve! Thank you! Support Our Work and Receive Benefits. For just $10/month, paid subscribers on Substack receive an ad-free podcast, along with the Written Brief. Founding Members get to go behind the scenes and see how we produce the podcast. Subscribe here: substack.com/@borlingonmedia. Learn More Listen to our sister podcast we co-produce with Ukrainian media company, Svidomi Media, called FAQ-U: Ukraine Explained on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Follow Linnea and Yewleea on social media.   Copyright 2023, Borlingon Media Group, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zourabichvili's impeachment, Georgia's economic dependence on Russia, Security Service on coup attempt, Russia to establish a new permanent naval base in Abkhazia, Bruno Mars' concert, Tbilisoba, and more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com. You can also contact us on Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgia or Mastodon @georgia@rorshok.socialLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donateOops! It looks like we made a mistake. In 7:13, the reader should have said "region."

ar West Ltd., World Anti-Communist League (WACL). private military companies (PMCs), private intelligence companies (PICs), Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists -Bandera faction (OUN-B), Banderites, Stephan Banderas, Banderite links to Far West, Banderite infiltration of Ukraine's government, Mykola Lebed, Prolog Research Corporation, Roman Kupchinsky, Oleksandr Skipalskyi, Vladimir Filin, GUR (Ukraine's military intelligence), SBU (Ukraine's CIA), Orange Revolution, Viktor Yushchenko, Kateryna Yushchenko, Lev Dobriasnky, Roman Zvarych, 2008 Russo-Georgian War, John McCain, Barack Obama, 2008 US presidential election, Far West's links to both candidates in 2008 US election, Joe Biden, Robert Gates, Wagner Group, Euromaiden, Paul Manafort, Angola, UNITA, Jonas Savimbi, Executive Outcomes, southern Africa in Reagan-Bush years, Manafort's role in Africa, Oleg Deripaska, Manafort's role in Ukraine, Polina Yumasheva, Tayana Yumasheva, Boris Yeltsin, the Yeltsin "Family," Dmitry Firtash, Viktor Yanukovych, Rosukrenergo, Yulia Tymoshenko, Semyon Mogilevich, Robert Maxwell, Svoboda party, Chechnyan Wars, Abkhazia region of Georgia, Robert Kagan, Victoria Nuland, Mikheil Saavashvili, David J. Kramer, Project for a New American Century, Paula Dobriansky, Randy Scheunemann, Christopher Steele, Steele dossier, Kramer's role in leaking Steele dossier, Russiagate, Fusion GPS, Glenn Simpson, Fiona Hill, Fritz Ermarth, Al Gore, Al Gore's Russiangate (1999) and Far West's role, Burisma, PrivatGroup, Ihor Kolomoyskyi, Oleksandr Turchynov, Petro Poroshenko, Kaalbye Group, Zelensky, Cofer Black, Erik Prince, Blackwater, Hunter Biden, Arkady Babchenko, Vyacheslav Pivovarnik, Vladislav Surkov, false flag, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner "coup," Obama's détente with Russia sabotaged, Trump's set-upMusic by: Keith Allen Dennishttps://keithallendennis.bandcamp.com/Additional Music by: Chay & the Hostageshttps://chaythehostages.bandcamp.com/track/bluephoria Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Killers concert, alleged poisoning of Russian journalist, 31st anniversary of Abkhazia war, a new leader in Georgia's money transfer market, Misha's worsening health condition, and more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at georgia@rorshok.com or follow us on Instagram @Rorshok__georgia or Twitter @RorshokGeorgia or Mastodon @georgia@rorshok.socialLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link:https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

Everyone loves Bigfoot, we may not all believe he's real, but we find his story compelling nonetheless. This week I delve into some of the science and psychology of Bigfoot research, then read you a wee little story called "The Thunder Voice, The Story of a Hairy Monster" by F. Walter Wilson, as it appeared in Weird Tales in 1923, long before Bigfoot hysteria really took hold of the United States. Works Cited:Ben Crair, "Why do so many people still want to believe in Bigfoot? The appeal of the mythical, wild man holds strong." Smithsonian Magazine; September 2018.Robbie Mitchell, "7 Legendary Cryptids that Turned Out to Be Real." ancient-origins.net; October 12, 2022.Peter Dendle, "Cryptozoology in the Medieval and Modern Worlds." Folklore; Vol. 117, August 2006.Ashot Margaryan, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Christian Caroe, Vladimir Yamshchikov, Igor Burtsev, and M. Thomas P. Gilbert, "The genomic origin of Zana of Abkhazia." Advanced Genetics; 2021.Brown Lotus, "Zana's story: Did a 19th Century Russian Noble Tame a Female Yeti?" The Mystery Box; September 24, 2020.

Lindsay shares her research into the sad story of an abused woman lost to history and falsely mythologized as a monster. TRIGGER WARNING: This is a very harsh, very sad episode about abuse, racism, mistreatment of women, child loss and a whole plethora of ethical issues which led cryptid nuts, scientists, and even the public to label an abuse victim as not just less than human... but a Yeti of all things!  We shed light on a very important topic, as we attempt to bring back the humanity to a voice which was never heard. ====================== Huge THANK YOU!!! to Lindsay Valenty from Ye Olde Crime Podcast for pulling through this terrible topic and helping shed light on an important story that should be told ❤️ Check out her podcast Ye Olde Crime ⁠HERE⁠ Follow them on Twitter ⁠@yeoldecrimepod⁠ , Instagram ⁠@yeoldecrimepodcast⁠ or TikTok ⁠@yeoldecrimepodcast⁠ Check out their own episode on the Zana controversy ⁠Episode 73: Zana the Yeti⁠ ...or even ⁠Episode 85: Bigfoot-Choctaw War of 1855⁠ ====================== FURTHER READING:  Margaryan, Ashot & Sinding, Mikkel-Holger & Carøe, Christian & Yamshchikov, Vladimir & Burtsev, Igor & Gilbert, M.. (2021). ⁠The genomic origin of Zana of Abkhazia.⁠ Advanced Genetics. 2. 10.1002/ggn2.10051.  ⁠DNA Test Suggests Russian Apewoman Zana Was Truly A Yeti | Tech Times⁠ ⁠Was Russian 'Bigfoot' actually an African slave? - Channel 4⁠ ⁠Zana's Story | Medium⁠ ⁠Is this Raantas akin to Zana? | Greater Kashmir⁠ ⁠Zana - Cryptid Wiki - Fandom⁠ ====================== Send us suggestions and comments to ⁠tracingowlspodcast@gmail.com⁠ Follow us on Instagram ⁠@tracingowls⁠ or Twitter ⁠@TracingOwls⁠ Check our Linktree: ⁠linktr.ee/tracingowls⁠ Intro sampled from "⁠Something strange lurks in the shadows⁠" by Francisco Sánchez (⁠@fanchisanchez⁠) Sound effects obtained from ⁠https://www.zapsplat.com

From 2-13 March 2022 - only a week into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - Russian forces tried and failed to take and hold Voznesensk, a small but strategically important town 80 kilometres northwest of Mykolaiv. Looking back, the commander of the 300 professional troops that repulsed the attacks with the help of civilian volunteers concluded that this "one small, decisive and improbable victory … almost certainly saved Ukraine from a larger encirclement and most likely from the prospect of defeat". In A Small, Stubborn Town: Life, Death and Defiance in Ukraine (Ithaka, 2023), Andrew Harding tells the story of the battle for Voznesensk through the eyes of its participants - from commander "Formosa" to 32-year-old mayor Yevhenii to the "archipelago of stranded, pensionless pensioners" like Svetlana eking out a living and redefining their identities through war. Although he has been reporting from the front line for the BBC since March 2022, Andrew Harding is the BBC's Africa correspondent and has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. Africa was the subject of his two previous books - The Mayor of Mogadishu and These Are Not Gentle People - but he began his career in Moscow and Tbilisi and has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, and Kosovo. *The author's own book recommendations are Invasion: Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber Publishing, 2023) and Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov (MacLehose Press, 2021) Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes the Twenty-Four Two newsletter on Substack and hosts the In The Room podcast series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

From 2-13 March 2022 - only a week into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - Russian forces tried and failed to take and hold Voznesensk, a small but strategically important town 80 kilometres northwest of Mykolaiv. Looking back, the commander of the 300 professional troops that repulsed the attacks with the help of civilian volunteers concluded that this "one small, decisive and improbable victory … almost certainly saved Ukraine from a larger encirclement and most likely from the prospect of defeat". In A Small, Stubborn Town: Life, Death and Defiance in Ukraine (Ithaka, 2023), Andrew Harding tells the story of the battle for Voznesensk through the eyes of its participants - from commander "Formosa" to 32-year-old mayor Yevhenii to the "archipelago of stranded, pensionless pensioners" like Svetlana eking out a living and redefining their identities through war. Although he has been reporting from the front line for the BBC since March 2022, Andrew Harding is the BBC's Africa correspondent and has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. Africa was the subject of his two previous books - The Mayor of Mogadishu and These Are Not Gentle People - but he began his career in Moscow and Tbilisi and has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, and Kosovo. *The author's own book recommendations are Invasion: Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber Publishing, 2023) and Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov (MacLehose Press, 2021) Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes the Twenty-Four Two newsletter on Substack and hosts the In The Room podcast series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

From 2-13 March 2022 - only a week into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - Russian forces tried and failed to take and hold Voznesensk, a small but strategically important town 80 kilometres northwest of Mykolaiv. Looking back, the commander of the 300 professional troops that repulsed the attacks with the help of civilian volunteers concluded that this "one small, decisive and improbable victory … almost certainly saved Ukraine from a larger encirclement and most likely from the prospect of defeat". In A Small, Stubborn Town: Life, Death and Defiance in Ukraine (Ithaka, 2023), Andrew Harding tells the story of the battle for Voznesensk through the eyes of its participants - from commander "Formosa" to 32-year-old mayor Yevhenii to the "archipelago of stranded, pensionless pensioners" like Svetlana eking out a living and redefining their identities through war. Although he has been reporting from the front line for the BBC since March 2022, Andrew Harding is the BBC's Africa correspondent and has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. Africa was the subject of his two previous books - The Mayor of Mogadishu and These Are Not Gentle People - but he began his career in Moscow and Tbilisi and has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, and Kosovo. *The author's own book recommendations are Invasion: Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber Publishing, 2023) and Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov (MacLehose Press, 2021) Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes the Twenty-Four Two newsletter on Substack and hosts the In The Room podcast series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

From 2-13 March 2022 - only a week into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - Russian forces tried and failed to take and hold Voznesensk, a small but strategically important town 80 kilometres northwest of Mykolaiv. Looking back, the commander of the 300 professional troops that repulsed the attacks with the help of civilian volunteers concluded that this "one small, decisive and improbable victory … almost certainly saved Ukraine from a larger encirclement and most likely from the prospect of defeat". In A Small, Stubborn Town: Life, Death and Defiance in Ukraine (Ithaka, 2023), Andrew Harding tells the story of the battle for Voznesensk through the eyes of its participants - from commander "Formosa" to 32-year-old mayor Yevhenii to the "archipelago of stranded, pensionless pensioners" like Svetlana eking out a living and redefining their identities through war. Although he has been reporting from the front line for the BBC since March 2022, Andrew Harding is the BBC's Africa correspondent and has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. Africa was the subject of his two previous books - The Mayor of Mogadishu and These Are Not Gentle People - but he began his career in Moscow and Tbilisi and has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, and Kosovo. *The author's own book recommendations are Invasion: Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival by Luke Harding (Guardian Faber Publishing, 2023) and Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov (MacLehose Press, 2021) Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors, who also writes the Twenty-Four Two newsletter on Substack and hosts the In The Room podcast series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

The people of Georgia are all too familiar with Russian occupation. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia in a brutal provocation that left tens of thousands displaced and persecuted. By the end of the five-day conflict, Russia gained control of two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder to Georgians of what could potentially happen to them (yet again) if Putin is successful. To learn more about Georgia's perspective on the war, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Teona Akubardia, member of the Georgian parliament and deputy chair of its defense and security committee. For Akubardia, Georgia's sovereignty is contingent upon Ukraine's victory, and Prigozhin's recent mutiny has given the Georgian people hope that Putin's regime is nearing its end. Akubardia also offers her take on Georgia's evolving relationship with NATO since 2008, a "Black Sea consciousness" that has emerged in the West since the Russia-Ukraine war, and predictions for the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election.Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front's biweekly newsletter here. Follow us on Twitter here.

In early March, Georgians took to the street in Tbilisi to protest a bill that would have classified organisations and media groups receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad as foreign agents. Although the ruling Georgian Dream party eventually dropped the bill, many Georgians remain frustrated at the government for what they see as a deliberate effort to turn the country's back to the EU in favour of Russia. This particularly rankles those who see echoes of the five-day war Russia fought against Georgia in 2008 in Russia's continuing full-scale war in Ukraine.This week on War & Peace, Olga Oliker and Elissa Jobson are joined by Tbilisi-based journalist Joshua Kucera and Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for the South Caucasus Olesya Vartanyan to talk about what's behind the protests and what might lie ahead for the political future of the country. They delve into the root causes for the protests, how they unfolded and Georgian Dream's politics and policies. They also examine how the war in Ukraine has and has not affected Georgia's relations with its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Finally, they discuss Georgia's prospects for EU candidacy and why Brussels might be well advised not to turn its back on the country.For more in-depth analysis of the topics discussed in this episode, check out our Georgia country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Photo:   Major Russian stock market RTS Index with S&P 500 and Oil Spot Prices. All data are in percentages to May 1, 2008 values. A - Vladimir Putin criticises Mechel; B - 2008 South Ossetia war starts; C - Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia - by Russia; D - Alexei Kudrin "no systematic crisis" speech; E - measures to save major banks are adopted by the Russian government; F - financial crisis of 2007–2008 #Ukraine: The War and the Markets   @LizPeek @TheHill   Fox News . https://www.marketplace.org/2022/03/15/oil-prices-soared-then-dropped-but-gasoline-is-still-expensive-why/