Eka Siradze, the leader of International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) thinks that the threshold should be a measure of fairness in voters’ minds. In lots of countries there are different systems, she said, but “the mayor, being elected in the threshold system, will have more powerful mandate, than a mayor being elected without a threshold.”

The debate around the threshold pitted Mayoral Candidate Irakli Alasania’s National Alliance for Georgia party, which demanded a 50 percent threshold, against the incumbent mayor Gigi Gugalava’s and President Mikael Saakashvili’s ruling National Movement party, which advocated no threshold at all. The debates ended with the 30 percent middle choice proposed by the Christian Democrats.

But is that threshold high enough to guarantee a competitive race? Current polling figures show Gugalava ahead by a comfortable 38 percent. Meanwhile, only 13 percent of voters say they support Alasania, with other opposition party candidates coming in much lower. An additional 16 of voters were undecided, according to the poll, which was conducted by the Caucasus Resource Research Center (CRRC) last November. The poll was conducted randomly among 2000 Tbilisi residents and contained a +/- 3 percent margin of error.

From Various

A higher threshold was also the choice for most Tbilisi residents, according to the CRRC research, conducted at the request of NDI to assess voter attitudes and trends. Eighty percent of Georgians answered that a threshold during the mayoral election is needed. Only 6 percent of that group thought a 30 percent threshold was adequate, while the vast majority (60 percent) consider a 50 percent threshold or more to be the best suggestion.

From Various

Though Alasania threatened to withdraw from the mayor’s race when the threshold was set at 30 percent, he later changed his mind. Victor Dolidze, Chief Executor of Alliance for Georgia, explains that that 50 percent threshold was not a do-or-die requirement for their leader.

“We still think that 50 percent was absolutely appropriate for this situation but, as the government did not take this correct step, we agreed on a 30 percent threshold,” he said. It was the right move, apparently: according to the NDI survey:, 43 percent of Tbilisi citizens sare against the idea of Alasania’s boycotting elections and only 20 percent think that boycotting would be right.

From Various

“Certainly the 50 percent, at this certain period of our county, increases the chance for the mayor’s race to move to a second round,” said Tamar Zhvania, director of United Nations Development Programme Georgia (UNDP Georgia). “But to define the 50 percent threshold as an ultimate way out is impossible in terms of democratic standards. There is no direct approach to ideal election standards in the modern world so we can’t say for sure that thresholds might have a drastic significance during this election. “

Due to this fact  Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili interrupted his visit in Denmark and returned in the country. On the same day the Governor of Imereti Mikhail Chogovadze was dismissed from his position. The inquiry started to find those who are guilty in the bad explosion of the monument. Officials say that every guilty person will be punished.

The photos below are from Merab Berdzenishvili art album.

Picture from Tavisufleba.org

Picture from Civil.ge

Video about the incident from Imedi.ge

Video from NTV.ru

I’m a journalist.

რატომ არ უნდა ვირჩინო თავი იმით, რაც ვიცი და რაც მაცხოვრებს? რატომ არ უნდა ვიყო მოსყიდული ჟურნალისტი?

Why?

მუშაობისას ვიტყვი და არ დავმალავ, რომ ამას ხელობისთვის და ფულისთვის ვაკეთებ. ვიტყვი იმასაც, თუ ვინ მაფინანსებს.

Yes, I will!

მიპასუხებენ, რომ ამით პასუხისმგებლობას ვიხსნი ისევე, როგორც შემიძლია, ადამიანს სახეში ხელი გავარტყა და ვთქვა, რომ შეურაცხადი ვარ.

მაგრამ როცა ფული გესაჭიროება და იცი, როგორ იშოვო, რა უნდა ქნა? კანონით აკრძალულს ხომ არფერს ჩავდივარ? თან ხომ არ ვიტყუები, რომ სინამდვილეში რის გამოც ვიქცევი ასე?

თუ ყოველივე ამას დავუმატებთ იმასაც, რომ ჩემი საქმიანობა, ჟურნალისტობა, ძალიან მიყვარს, ვიქნები თუ არა “ოქროს გალიაში” გამომწყვდეული? გაითვალისწინეთ ისიც, რომ მე ეს ოქროს გალია მომწონს და არ ვარ წინააღმდეგი. მაინც გამომწყვდეული ითქმის ჩემზე?

ბოლო დროს ხშირად ვფიქრობ იმაზე, რომ ნაწილობრივ უარი ვთქვი მხატვრობაზე, მომღერლობასა და მსახიობობაზედა ჩემი მომავალი ჟურნალისტიკას დავუკავშირე. გუშინ კი აღმოვაჩინე და საფუძვლიანად დავრწმუნდი, რომ ჟურნალისტიკაში მიმდინარე ბევრი რამ არ მცოდნია. შიდასამზარეულოს ვგულისხმობ.

ჰოდა გუშინ ღამით, 11–ისკენ ალბათ, Facebook–ზე დავწერე:

მე, როგორც სამარცხვინო ჟურნალისტმა, გადავწყვიტე, გაზეთები ვიკითხო და რომლებით დავიწყო? არ ვხუმრობ.

ნუ არაფერი… დავწექი, დავიძინე.

დღეს ისე ჩავრთე კომპიუტერი, ეგ არც გამხსენებია. Facebook-ზე კი ვხედავ, რომ ჩემს პოსტზე 57 კომენტარია. მშვენიერი დისკუსია გაჩაღებულა. თაზო “რეზონანსის” კითხვას მირჩევდა (გასაგები მიზეზების გამო) და მარი ახსიაშვილი “24 საათისას”. ამ გაზეთის ხსენებას მოჰყვა ტერმინები “მიკერძოებული”, “ხელისუფლების გაზეთი” და მსგავსნი მისნი. “რეზონანსი” შედარებით მშრალად გამოვიდა.

ძალიან მესიამოვნა ეს დისკუსია. არა მხოლოდ იმიტომ, რომ ჩემ მიერ წამოწყებული თემის გარშემო ატყდა (:P), არამედ ყველა ჭეშმარიტად თავის მოსაზრებას ამბობდა და იმასაც აღიარებდა, რას კითხულობდა და რას – არა. სხვათა შორის, დისკუსიაში გაკვრით “ალიაც” და “ასავალ–დასავალიც” ახსენეს, თუმცა არ ურჩევიათ, წაიკითხეო. ზოგმა ისიც დაწერა, სჯობს ეგრე “სამარცხინო ჟურნალისტად” დარჩეო

საბოლოო ჯამში “რეზონანსი” და “24 საათი” შემორჩა ლიდერთა პოზიციებს. არადა ორივე ყოველდღიური გაზეთია (კარგია, ეს რომ მაინც მახსოვს): ორივე ერთად სადღაც 1,5 ლარი ღირს. ინტერნეტში მათი წაკითხვა ძააალიან მეზარება, თან “რეზონანსი” ამ ტექნოლოგიის მიმართ მწყრალადაა. მომენატრა სადმე გარეთ დაჯდომა და გაზეთის გადაფრუცვლა. მომენატრა, რა, როდის მიკეთებია?

ჩემი აზრით, ყველა ჟურნალისტობაზე პრეტენზიის მქონე მინიმუმ 2 განსხვავებულ გაზეთს უნდა კითხულობდეს.  სწორედ ამიტომ მიმაჩნია, რომ სამარცხვინო ჟურნალისტი ვარ. არა, თავს არ ვიკლავ და არ ვიწყევლი, მაგრამ ძალიან არ მომწონს, რომ აღარ ვკითხულობ პრესას და მერე რაღაც–რაღაცებს სხვების ნათქვამიდან ვიგებ. რატომ?

ამიტომაც გადავწყვიტე, გაზეთების კითხვა 3 მიზეზით დავიწყო:

1.  გავეცნო პრესას და იქაურ ჟურნალისტებს

2. გავიგო იქაური ტენდენციები

3. დავეხმარო პრესას

აი, მესამე პუნქტის გამო, ალბათ, მართლა ვიზამ ამას, რადგან დღევანდელ პრესას მართლა უჭირს.

უჭირს იმიტომ, რომ კონკურენტები არ ჰყავს.

არ ჰყავს იმიტომ, რომ არ იცის, რომ ჰყავს.

იმიტომ არ იცის, რომ არ აინტერესებს.

არ აინტერესებს იმიტომ, რომ არ იყიდება ნორმალურად.

ჯანდაბას, 2 ლარს მოვიძულებ, ჩემს სიზარმაცესაც როგორმე მოვერევი და დღეს 2 გაზეთს ვიყიდი. თვალს გადავავლებ და შემდეგ პოსტში მოკლედ შევაჯამებ. მოკლედ, გამაგრდი, Zurriuss!

“I’ll find him in Odnoklassniki. He is a friend of my friend,” “OK, I’ll contact him on Facebook.” Both types of phrases have become frequent in everyday conversations.  It’s all about social media’s growing popularity and the first phrase is associated with Odnoklassniki and the other – with Facebook. Two different types of social media, with different style of work, have impact on many Georgians’ way of living.  Evidently some users are even ready to pay for various extra functions or points to their profile. In general, Odnoklassniki and Facebook somehow divide the society in big groups different environments, acquaintance and type of communication.

Odnoklassniki gifts page

Odnoklassniki was founded in March 4, 2006 and is the analogous the site Classmates.com. According to the own survey of July 9, 2009, it has 40 million users and 8 million of them visit the site per day. As for Georgia, Odnoklassniki is one of the top 10 visited sites. Advertising company, Geoplus, which provides advertisements for Odnoklassniki, says that Odnoklassniki or Odno, as it is called by its users, has 45 thousand users in Georgia. This social media is mainly oriented on people, who have not seen each other for a long time. Odnoklassniki identifies people by the school, where they studied, universities which they graduated and jobs they have/had or even by places of military service.

The social media is favored by teenagers. Tika Samkurashvili, PR manager from Georgian Marketing and Communications Company (GEPRA), is one of those who go to Odnoklassniki as they turn on their computers: “Odno is my life. It is ON from early morning till late night.”

Not everybody signs up for it to find their classmates. Tako Rusadze, who also frequently uses the social media, had other interests: “I created an account because of an young man I liked, and I stayed there.”

As for the main features, Odnoklassniki holds three of them: picture galleries, groups and chat. There are no closed profiles, which means that every user can see others’ pictures. After some time it becomes clear that the social media, which was oriented on finding classmates, transformed in a site of relationships. To address users’ interests, Odnoklassniki developed the interface and specifically – chat system. Besides, the site administration started charging for services on Odnoklassniki.

It started in 2007 when for extra tools people had to pay 5 GEL. The process went on and in the end even registration on the site became payable. But interest in the website was so high that it did not prevent people from paying for the service. “I blocked my account several months ago, I closed my account, – says Ana Gorgidze – but 2 days later registered again.”

Mark Zuckerberg

While Odnoklassniki impacts its fans in post-Soviet territory, the other social media has them all over the world. Facebook, the social media which Mark Zuckerberg created his Harvard dorm room, was launched in February 4, 2004, and is already known as the world social media.  Facebook’s own statistics page inform that in 5 years it changed its interface 4 times and the number of active users exceeded 300 million. More than 2 billion photos are uploaded per month and 50 percent of users log on Facebook every day.

In Georgia more and more people become frequent users of this social network. Some part of it comes directly from Odnoklassniki. “To tell the truth, my friends found it tasteless and suggested me to register in Facebook” – says Nino Tefnadze, one of ex-Odno-users.

Tasteless or not, the reality is that Odnoklassniki is more popular than Facebook. More people know of the first, than the other – information service 09’s operator #26 says, she has never heard of Facebook. In spite of the fa Facebook is available in 70 languages and Georgian is among them,  it might be difficult for beginners. The main problem is to switch to Facebook, since its features are different and more complicadet from other social networks, for example, Odnoklassniki. According to Leli Blagonravova, photojournalist, Facebook is difficult for people, who don’t know social media well. Due to this, communication is far different between them.

“Facebook is a real platform to express yourself in any way as you want; – says Tika Samkurashvili, – it’s a remarkable way for self-realization. You can create your own image for others.” Facebook has variety of tools and possibilities for public relations. One can not only register himself/herself as a user, but can also have a group, brand page or fan page. The user decides which one could be suitable to introduce himself/herself or some product to audience. The main feature of Facebook is that it is informational. Users, who have some kind of news or opinions, publish them on their profile and make it visible for their friends.

Facebook in 2004-2005

Unlike Odnoklassniki, Facebook does not have a good chat system. This is one of the reasons why people from Odno cannot get used to Facebook. They also find available big amount of information useless. Besides, they need entertainment and, as they say, Odnoklassniki is better in providing it to them. While talking about entertainment it’s worthy to mention that Facebook has social games like Pet Society, Mafia Wars, Farm Ville, which grow in popularity, while Odnoklassniki has none of them. And still the “Odno society” prefers their social media.

“I know that Facebook is better but I’ve got used to the situation in Odnoklassniki and I’ll leave it only if the site itself will be closed,” – says Ana Gorgidze. According to her on Odno it’s fashionable to have +5 points on every photo, presents and flash smiles. These payable details make the site more involving, eye-catching and, what’s important, more suitable for teenagers’ demands. Today it is already hard to say that Odnoklassniki is a social media that focuses on finding old classmates. Especially when many users register with nicknames, which means that they cannot be found by the search system with their real names. On the contrary, Facebook users have their real names registered in their accounts. This fact somehow creates a high level of trust. Tamaz Kupreishvili, journalist and a blogger, finds Facebook an inevitable part of his laptop: “Here it’s easy to talk to people on any theme you want. For example, if you like/dislike a TV show you can easily talk to the author and discuss or give some advice. All of this is impossible to make in Odnoklassniki.”

As for public discussion, Odnoklassniki is more closed for that. Although there are many discussion groups, like Poetry or Stop Russia, most of them appear to support the moderator’s opinion and frequently block others points of view. The same can be said about comments on pictures. Ana Gorgidze finds it flattering because “you have to write that it’s a remarkable picture, or a nice shot. If you write something bad, you might be blocked by the user.” In spite of this, Russian language site is easier for most part of Georgians rather than English language Facebook, which impacts mainly young generation.

Unfortunately, there can not be found an official sources about the number of Georgian users of Facebook. However it is evident that in one year they have become more and include even those celebrities like Kakha Bendukidze, Nika Memanishvili, Levan Ramishvili. Does this fact mean that a huge group of Odno’s fans will little-by-little disappear? Ilia Nikachadze, a Facebook user, thinks that “a lot will leave Odnoklassniki but some percent will stay there. These might be people, who really are fond of it or who find themselves older to learn English.”

Eventually, Facebook holds its position in Georgian society as an informative social media and spreads itself to large audience. As for Odnoklassniki, according to Nikachadze’s comment, it’s ruling popularity might fall if most Georgian users tend to get information rather than to chat with others. At last, the idea of two big groups of users really works.

ყველაფერი ეს კი დღევანდელმა ერთ–ერთმა, თითქოს უმნიშვნელო სინქრონმა გამახსენა. როგორც საზოგადოებრივი მაუწყებლის საიტზე ვნახე,

რენი ჰარლენმა საქართველოში ფილმის გადაღებები დაასრულა. თბილისი უკვე დატოვა გადამღები ჯგუფის ძირითადმა ნაწილმა.

ახალ ამბავს ახლავს ვიდეოც, რომელშიც რენი ჰარლინის სინქრონია (00.25–00.49), რომლის ტექსტიც საერთოდ აცდენილია იმ აზრს, რასაც ქართულად ნათარგმნი “ბატონი ხმა” ამბობს.

თუ მე ვცდები, მაში გამოდის, რომ ეს სინქრონი შემაჯამებელი იყო იმ ინფორმაციისა, რაც რენი ჰარლინმა ჟურნალისტს უთხრა. ეს კი ცალკე ამბავია, რამდენად ეთიკური და სწორია ამის ამ სახით დამონტაჟება. ანუ ისე, რომ მაყურებელი, რომელმაც ინგლისური არ იცის, მოატყუო, ხოლო რომელმაც იცის – სერიოზულად დააეჭვო ამ ინფორმაციის სინამდვილეში.

“I don’t like speaking about things before it is officially signed as a document but I can explain the double responsibilities the simplified visa regime will bring to both sides. For EU this is to give Georgian citizens possibility to travel along the EU countries more easily and in our turn we should brush up our legislation in that way to be suitable for the standards of simplified visa regime”, stated Vashadze at the press conference.

Another important issue about which the minister spoke with EU ambassadors was the support of the union towards Georgia. The Sewdish Presidency of the EU political and security committee Olof Skoog stated after the meeting that EU tries its best to change situation in future and spread its monitoring along the whole country. They say that they try to change the position of Russia towards this issue but it is vain yet. “We continue in Brusels to discuss the issue about preceding our mission and mandate problems”, said the head of the delegation Olof Skoog.

Vashadze also added that in spite of the fact the mission’s monitoring borders are limited, the mission is successful in Georgia. He added that at present EU mission is actively involved in the process of returning back four teenagers kidneped by the separatists from village Tirdznisi. Vashadze also added that, according to separatists , the health condition of four teenagers is not under danger.

Closed door meeting lasted 45 minutes. Before this EU ambassadors held meetings with the Prime Minister Nika Gilauri at first, then with the State Minister of Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili. Before meeting with the Foreign Minister, the delegation had lanch with Mikheil Saakashvili at the President Palace. After the meeting with Vashadze, EU ambassadors held their last meeting of the day with non-parliament opposition leaders.

Sopo Datishvili

Shorena Kopaleishvili

Zura Balanchivadze

The participants of the competition are the students from VIII to  XII classes. The 7 themes for literary competition Tergi 2009  was chosen by the Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. The most popular topics appeared to be: Patriotism, Role of Freedom and The Value of Human Life. “Our life is invaluable, we should appreciate it,” said Ani Gabriadze, one of the participants.

During the competition students were not limited in the  types of writing. Students were chosen in the first part of the competition locally at there schools. The main criterion was their creativity: each student had to present at least 5 of his works. Nominations for the winners are not established yet but, as the organizers say, the works of winner/s of the first 3 places will be published as a book. The manager of Davitianni School Programs, Tamta Chikovani, says: “The main surprise is that winners will meet the Patriarch and get the bless of his holiness.”

The winners of Tergi 2009 will be known on November, 26. The organizers say that in future the competition will cover the whole country.

Sopo Datishvili

Shorena Kopaleishvili

Zura Balanchivadze

The resolution, consists of three main issues: Freedom to the political prisoners, Freedom of speech (to restore the right of ownership on the seized TV channels), Free and just environment for any kind of elections.

The representatives have some plans for the rally preparations.The member of the Movement November 7, Jaba Jishkariani said that the society should unite for expressing their firm position towards the injustice in the country. “I convoke all the students to join the protest. Our organization is going to hold meetings with the different university students and in that way we will spread our flanks to the young people”, Jishkariani stated.

The head of the NGO Political Prisoners for Human Rights, Nana Kakabadze stated “Today we are going to take the copies of resolution to the legislative branch and to the president’s office and on Wednesday we will hand the resolution to the EU mission in Georgia, also to the US embassy”.

The lawyer Davit Liluashvili who was also presented at the press conference stated that freedom of speech, political prisoners and unjust court are those problems around which the society should on November 23. He also added that November 7, 2009 street protest was just demonstration of the public demands towards the government, so it didn’t matter how many people stood at the street meeting. Liluashvili and also other representatives of the NGO think that the major massage of the people was already uttered on that demonstration.

Maia Eloshvili, the wife and lawyer of a political prisoner Vakhtang Talakhadze, detained in 2006 as a member of the political association Georgian Movement, says that her husband was sentenced without any reason. “We don’t even ask for the amnesty because my husband wasn’t guilty consequently there is nothing to be pardoned”, Eloshvili added.

Still it isn’t known which political parties will join the initiative of the NGO about November 23 rally.  Nana Kakabadze stated that to her surprise there wasn’t vivid position of the opposition leaders about the idea of the demonstration. “The initiative of the street demonstration comes from us. On Saturday demonstration there were mostly the common citizens then oppositional faces, because we protect their demands and our aim isn’t political positions.  Those who think that our demands towards the government is fair, can join us”, added Kakabadze.

The leader of the People’s Part Koba Davitashvili is among those who is going to attend protest rally on November 23. “Our party will stand with them if the paragraphs from the resolution aren’t taken into consideration by the government. We were with the NGOs on Saturday and we will be there in future as well”, stated Davitashvili on telephone interview.

Sopo Datishvili

Shorena Kopaleishvili

Zura Balanchivadze

Dominoes in Berlin, November 8, 2009

The world recalls one of its important moments – the fall of Berlin Wall, the end of Cold War. Due to this subject anticipation in Berlin grows. Thousands of people are gathered in the area of Brandenburg  Gate to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Berlin Wall’s Fall. Dmitry Medvedev, Gordon Brown and  Nicolas Sarkozy are among the honored guests.

“We wrote to our friends in East Germany saying if it’s true what we are seeing on the television, we invite you to come and see us as soon as possible,” said one Berlin resident. “And a few weeks later they were there and they were surprised themselves that it had happened.” Quoted from EuroNews.

Massive stones are put in Berlin’s streets as giant dominoes that symbolize Berlin War. Domino pieces are original size of the wall and are routed in front of Brandenburg Gate to the Potsdamer Platz. Massive stones, with 2,5 metres in height and 1,200 kg of weight, are bright colored by school children. Most part of the stones will be removed in 2 days. Quoted from People’s Daily Online.

The celebration will end with concert that is dedicated to Berlin Wall anniversary. The main soloist of the concert will be Paul van Dyk, who was born in the former GDR, has composed a song for the event.

End of Berlin Wall November 9, 1989