MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF GEORGIA
Church Opened at
Discussion of New
Draft Constitution
Public debate in the political
sphere has turned to the new
draft constitution; this is also true
at the Ministry of Defense. The
Speaker of Parliament, Davit
Bakradze introduced the new
constitutional changes to the
Ministry, and to top officials in-
cluding, the Defence Minister
Bacho Akhalaia, The Joint Chief
of Staff, Major-General Devi
Chankotadze, Deputy Minister,
Nodar Kharshiladze and other
officials from the MoD and JS.
Davit Bakradze, who leads
the working group for public
consideration of the new consti-
tution, explained that the new
document brings a mixed model
to constitution, where the role of
parliament will be greatly in-
creased. The new version will
ensure equilibrium between the
three main branches of govern-
ment – the president, legislative
and executive powers.
Davit Bakradze talked the
officials through the new model
and pointed out the fact that
changes to the constitution will
allow political parties to partici-
pate more fully in the process of
government. He added that the
new document will foster the
development of a much more
stable political environment in
the country.
Towards the end of discus-
sions, the Parliamentary Speak-
er summarized the results of the
meeting and mentioned that all
the proposals and viewpoints
presented by the Ministry will be
considered and reflected in the
new constitution.
“Our armed forces, our offic-
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
ers, our valuable members of
Georgian society, really deserve
to be personally and fully in-
formed about all the crucial
changes to the constitution, that
is why we decided to organize
joint discussions with the Defense
Ministry”, declared Mr. Bak-
radze.
According to him, the nomi-
nation procedure for ministers of
Defense and Interior – a role cur-
rently presided over by the pres-
ident - will be subject to change.
Under the new constitution,
which ensures that all ministers
are selected using the same pro-
cess, the right to nominate cabi-
net members, including Defense
and Interior ministers will fall to
the Prime Minister.
Following the meeting, Dep-
uty Minister Nodar Kharshiladze
also commented that “under the
new constitution, command of
the armed forces will be divided
between the president and the
prime minister.” “The new con-
stitution, like the former one,
provides the President with the
authority to appoint the Chief of
General Staff. The Prime Min-
ister’s role will also increase,
giving the right to countersign-
ing legislative acts. According to
our recommendations to the
Commission, the President will
retain the right to enact norma-
tive acts necessary for the day-
to-day working of the JS. We
also feel that it is not expedient
for the duties of approving the
armed forces structure and its
overall management to be divid-
ed between President and Prime
Minister. These functions should
be consolidated into one hand to
make the management of the
armed forces more efficient.
Under the changed Constitution,
the President, who commands
the Joint Staff, is entitled to de-
clare a state of war. He also re-
serves the right to declare a state
of emergency with agreement
from the Prime Minister. The
role of armed forces during a
state of emergency in frequent
occasions includes rendering as-
sistance to civilians”.
Public consideration of the
proposed constitutional changes,
has been taking place through-
out Georgia for two weeks, aims
to ensure that the document re-
flects the opinions of stakehold-
ers throughout society, including
media representatives, experts,
interested persons and the popu-
lation as a whole. The format of
meetings is interactive, and at-
tendees are allowed to express
their personal views, bring for-
ward new ideas and ask ques-
tions.
The State Constitutional
Commission has already pre-
pared the new Draft Constitu-
tion, a process which has taken
more than a year. A special com-
mission was set up to organize
the open discussions over the
document, and was endorsed by
parliament in a special plenary
session in July of this year.
Following the intensive pub-
lic discussions, the process of
finalizing the document and pre-
senting it for approval will be-
gin in parliament in the winter
session.
Tea Chonishvili
AUGUST 2010 ISSUE #38
Military Cemetery
The Church of One Hundred
Thousand Martyrs has opened its
doors at Mukhatgverdi Military
Cemetery. The list of the guests
attending the opening ceremony
included: Catholicos Patriarch of
all Georgia Ilia II, President
Mikheil Saakashvili, Defence
Minister, Bacho Akhalaia, Joint
Chief of Staff of the GAF, Ma-
jor-General Devi Chankotadze,
family members of deceased sol-
diers and representatives of the
JS and the civil office of Minis-
try. The Supreme Commander-
in-Chief of Georgia paid tribute
to the memory of the soldiers
who fell in the Georgia-Russian
war of 2008 and laid flowers at
the memorial.
Mikheil Saakashvili gave a
welcoming address for the at-
tending audience-“Our boys
made great deeds and sacrificed
their lives defending our home-
land. You see here their family
members full of pride and dig-
nity. They have overcome all
kinds of pressure, temptation,
provocation, propaganda and
every endeavor aimed at casting
a shadow on the memory of their
hero sons… I would like to ex-
Military
Education - A
Top Priority
Tribute to the
memory of
fallen heroes
press once again my sincere grat- ples, as our faith and statehood
itude to you for such a perfect are indivisible. This church is
demonstration of national digni- dedicated to our boys, our life is
ty. We are proud of our soldiers a continuous struggle for the
and their bravery. The attack eventual and complete liberation
from the enemy was expected of Georgia” stated Georgia’s
and at the same time unexpect- Supreme Commander-in Chief.
ed. The fact that the enemy was The first liturgy was conduct-
preparing for military aggression ed by the Catholicos-Patriarch. At
against us for three years has al- the ceremony he also delivered an
ready been verified, and there is opening address for the invited
no doubt about it too.” The pres- guests - “Our nation, command-
ident also recalled the Georgian ers and soldiers are inseparable…
soldiers’ heroic actions during I would like to congratulate all of
August 2008 and gave, as an ex- you on this important day. God is
ample, a number of surveys pro- there wherever there is unity and
vided by human rights organiza- reconciliation. God unites and the
tions. “I am full of pride when devil divides. I bless you and the
remembering the heroism of our soldiers who perished in the Au-
boys. According to reports by
several Human Rights Commis-
sioners, during military opera-
tions, Georgian warriors defend-
ed the population regardless of
gust war, and would like to add
that we pray continuously for
their souls. Let God give you and
all of Georgia our long-awaited
victory, national unity and a pros-
their ethnic origin… I want us perous future”.
to always remember the sacrifice
given by our boys for the unity
and integrity of Georgia. They
showed an example by resisting
enemy outnumbering our troops
The foundation of the Church
of One Hundred Thousand Mar-
tyrs was laid two years ago fol-
lowing the 2008 with the bless-
ing of the Catholicos Patriarch.
ten times. On its path of devel- The church was constructed with
opment, Georgia was always the support of the Defense Min-
constructing churches and tem- istry.
INSIDE
Gori Hosts Art Event
in Support of
Territorial Integrity
Presentation of
Books Dedicated to
Fallen Soldiers
Beach Rugby
Tournament
2 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Military Education - A Top Priority
The establishment and development
of an effective educational system is
among the main factors for the effec-
tive functioning and growth of Georgia’s
defense, and will serve as a necessary
precondition for the process of modern-
ization and transformation. Consequent-
ly, education, along with human re-
source management has been identified
as one of the four fundamental directions
for defense systems development under
the Minister’s Vision 2010 policy doc-
ument. “Based on systematic analysis,
and using those tools, the military/civil-
ian personnel education system should
enable Georgia’s military to meet new
challenges and conform to modern re-
quirements; reforming the military-ed-
ucation system will be achieved through
enhancing the capabilities of all relevant
MOD structures, the improvement of
our material-technical base, and the rais-
ing of standards in education,” states the
document. The importance of military
education was highlighted by the Presi-
dent of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili
during his recent visit to the Ministry of
Defense. The Supreme Commander-in-
Chief declared that money should be
invested in education, training and the
improvement of individuals’ profession-
al skills.
“A well-trained army and well-
trained officers are ready to fight under
any conditions, but the army fails to fight
if its officers are not well-trained, no
matter what kind of weapons they pos-
sess; our major weapon is our knowl-
edge, skills and training,” Saakashvili
said.
“Defence Today” talked to Com-
mander of Training and Military Edu-
cation, Col. Nikoloz Janjghava, about
the recent reforms and ongoing chang-
es in the field of military education.
The Establishment of the Cadets’
Military Lyceum
One of the important steps we have
taken was the establishment of the Ca-
dets’ Military Lyceum. The Lyceum will
be a civil education institution with a
military focus. The same kind of insti-
tution existed some years ago but was
abolished in 2006. The Ministry of De-
fense of Georgia conducted large-scale
renovation works in Kutaisi on the ter-
ritory of a former military base, infra-
structure has been refurbished and re-
stored, and a new facility has been
the education process. The academic
year will start on September 15 and stu-
dents will study according to the same
syllabus as in ordinary public schools.
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia as-
sumes the responsibility for providing
students with all the necessary school
equipment and uniforms. Cadets will
wear field and service uniforms like reg-
ular army soldiers. Naturally, they will
not be full military servicemen, but they
will have to obey certain military rules.
As the Commander explained, their life
will be very interesting - “We plan to
bring them to various military units,
make them more familiar with the Geor-
gian Army, and make them fond of uni-
form, discipline and order, which are the
most important traits for any soldier. The
curriculum will be coordinated with the
Ministry of Education and Science. We
are ambitious to be one of the leading
general educational institutions in Geor-
gia. We fully realize that it won’t be easy
but we are determined to achieve this
goal,” declared Col. Janjghava. The
Cadets’ Lyceum will be like a boarding
school, throughout the week, cadets will
live, learn and train there. Upon gradu-
ation they will be granted the same kind
of diplomas as in public schools, and
they will have to pass through united
national examinations like any other stu-
dents. However, they will have one priv-
equipped with advanced technologies.
The selection process for the students
lasted throughout the summer, with ap-
proximately 1,800 entrants taking part
in the selection procedure. Applicants
took three examinations: physical fit-
ness, general skills and psychology.
Only 300 of them were selected as eli-
gible for entry to the Lyceum. 100 of
them were enrolled in the 10th grade and
200 of them in the 9th. Colonel Janjgha-
va explained that the selection process
for tutors was quite a complicated pro-
cess. The selection procedure was con-
ducted together with the Ministry of
Education and Science, all candidates
had to pass an examination before be-
ing considered and the results were strik-
ing. The Cadets’ Lyceum will have a
highly professional teaching staff, the
same can be said about the students. The
Lyceum will be a Legal Entity under
Public Law subordinate to the Defense
Ministry and its chief appointed by the
Minister of Defense. The leadership will
be half civilian and half military, with
the military personnel in charge of mil-
itary training and civilians overseeing
AUGUST 2010 ISSUE #38
ilege - the doors of the National Defense
Academy will be open for them. They
will be familiar with military life and
equipped with all the necessary skills
and discipline that is essential for a fu-
ture in the military.
National Defense Academy
The Davit Agmashenebeli National
Defense Academy was founded on 28
May, 1993 under the order of the Na-
tional Defense and Security Council of
Georgia. The period of study at the acad-
emy is generally four years. A number
of faculties operate in the institution,
including tactical, artillery, special,
physical and mountainous, armored-
tank, armaments and shooting, history,
philosophy, economics, philology, psy-
chology and pedagogy faculties. Later
on, the Military-Marine Department was
established with a 5-year study term.
The National Defense Academy re-
leased its first stream of graduates in
1997, the same year, the Military Avia-
tion Faculty was added to the institution.
In 2000, on the Academy’s Philolo-
gy Department’s Language Training
Center was set up (now The Joint Lan-
guage Training Division), where lessons
are given in English, French, German,
Turkish and Russian languages.
Important reforms are planned for the
National Defense Academy as well. A
full-fledged four-year education course
will be introduced in the Defense Acad-
emy in the near future - actually admis-
sions will start in 2011. As we have been
told by the Educational Command, this
is quite a complex process. Firstly, re-
habilitation of infrastructure at the acad-
emy is scheduled. It is also planned to
develop a number of education institu-
tions in Gori. The academy will become
an important educational center where
military servicemen will be able to take
a variety of courses.
For a while, students were able to
undertake four-year studies at the De-
fense Academy, though the system was
closed in 2006 and a one year course
was introduced. The August War in 2008
revealed some problems in the sphere
of military education. We need more
educated, professional and capable pla-
toon commanders. During four year
course, the students will be able to un-
dergo intensive training and become
professional military servicemen. Be-
sides military disciplines, students will
be able to learn foreign languages a fac-
tor of utmost importance for their pro-
fessional career development.
“Now we place more focus on quali-
ty and not on quantity. We’ll never be able
to defeat our enemy’s army on numbers.
AUGUST 2010 ISSUE #38
We must be stronger in intelligence,
knowledge and hold a pragmatic ap-
proach. We are working in numerous di-
rections. It is easier to renovate the build-
ings. At present we face the problem of
recruiting professional lecturers - both
military as well as civilian. This is very
difficult but we will continue to work on
this problem. We are developing the
courses as well.” - noted Col. Janjghava.
After graduation from the Defense
Academy, the students will receive a
Bachalor’s degree. Special attention will
be paid to instruction in computer skills,
foreign languages, mathematics and en-
gineering and other technical subjects.
Furthermore, some amendments are due
in the legislative base, the Defense Acad-
emy must obtain a license and become
qualified to give full diplomas satisfy-
ing all existing standards in the educa-
tion sphere.
One more innovation is planned in
the Academy. In 2011, a staff and com-
mand course will be launched. This sort
of course has not been taught in the
Academy before. Up to this point, only
a Junior officers’ Preparation and Cap-
tain Career Courses were available. The
purpose of the staff and command course
is to prepare officers with the ranks of
Major or Lieutenant Colonel, who man-
age battalion commander and brigade
staffs. The innovative course provides
students with tactical-operative knowl-
edge in planning, procedures of sub-di-
vision management and prepares them
for a range of different operations. The
first pilot course will be launched in Jan-
uary and last six months. “Of course, this
course is not similar to the CGSC (Com-
manding General Staff Course). The
Georgian officers who underwent the
same kind course in different countries,
have already returned and are working
on the curriculum. Information on the
education process brought from the
USA, Great Britain, France and Baltic
countries has been varied and insight-
ful. Different countries have various
roles, for example, the USA doesn’t have
problem in border protection, while
Great Britain is characterised by partic-
ipation in expedition missions. But
Georgia works under different condi-
tions; we have taken the experiences of
different countries and created a curric-
ulum which is appropriate to the Geor-
gian reality. So we have been able to
form own model of education”, said the
commander of education.
Georgian military servicemen coop-
erate closely with representatives of
NATO and NATO member countries in
order to design this course. Many spe-
cialists have visited Georgia to work
with Georgian instructors and share their
experiences.
Krtsanisi National Training Center
Under the Order of Minister of De-
fence of Georgia, dated 22 April 1997,
the National Training Center “Krtsani-
si” was founded at the firing-range “Ia-
gluja”. From 2002, preparation of mili-
tary subunits began under the “Georgia
Train and Equip Program” (GTEP) un-
der the guidance of US instructors. Since
2010, a Simulation Training Centre has
been operating in Krtsanisi, the function
of which is to design plans and scenari-
os for a range of military operations; to
hold simulated trainings to practice ef-
ficient command of an army while an-
ticipating enemy attack, and to conduct
drills for platoons and companies with
the use of MILES simulation equipment.
Reorganisation is planned in one of
the important sub-divisions of the mili-
tary educational command - Krtsanisi
National Training Centre. Furthermore,
there are various kinds of courses which
aim to prepare military servicemen in a
range of different areas.
In the future, Krtsanisi will become
the national centre for the examination
and preparation of infantry battalions.
Battalions will undergo not only JCATS
(Joint Combat Armed Training System)
trainings, but also perform different
kinds of tactical exercises. Then, the
battalion will be examined to assess the
level to which it is prepared. After the
examination, the instructors will begin
working on the shortcomings that exist
within the battalion – these can be
marksmanship, tactics, communication
or staff training. In short, Krtsanisi will
provide examination of battalion prep-
aration levels and working to address
any shortcomings.
The simulation centre was opened
a short time ago in the Krtsanisi Na-
tional Centre, where various practical
exercises are being performed on the
battalion level. Here, each task, and
how each battalion member performs,
is assessed.
Each battalion is given a task and a
certain time for its implementation. The
role of the enemy is performed by an-
other battalion and if the first one makes
a mistake, the other battalion destroys
it. Then the mistakes are analysed. This
is recognised as the best way for a mod-
ern armed forces to improve working
process in battalion and brigade staff.
NCO School
NCO School was founded in Gori city
in 2003. The opening of the School was
marked by the holding of the Light In-
fantry Training Course. Three years af-
ter its establishment, new faculties were
opened at the facility. From 2006, a Part-
nership Agreement was concluded be-
tween the NCO School and Hamelburge
Infantry School of the Federal Republic
of Germany which is still in effect.
Currently there are three kinds of
courses on offer at the NCO School –
squad command, platoon sergeant and
transformation courses. These courses are
sufficient for sergeants, so attention must
be paid to education quality as the sergeant
is a leading figure in a modern armed force.
Experience in Afghanistan has once more
demonstrated the importance of this cru-
cial role. In this field, we cooperate close-
ly with our German colleagues who have
shared with us their experience. The man-
agement of sub-divisions without a good
sergeant is impossible.
Sachkhere Mountain
Training School
Sachkhere Mountain training
School was established in Georgia with
the support and assistance of the French
in August 19, 2006. The school aims to
prepare light infantry units in mountain
tactics and technical skills, as well as
train and retrain mountain instructors.
A range of technical skills including
rock climbing, abseiling and forced
crossing can be acquired at the school.
The mountain program also provides
trainings in the fixed-rope climbing and
obstacle courses. The School carries
out summer and winter training cours-
es. Sachkhere Mountain Training
School has excellent training facilities
including a gymnasium and training
wall for mountain climbing. The
School is equipped with modern secu-
rity systems such as video-recognition
systems, thermal-infrared surveying
and more.
Several months ago, Sachkhere
Mountain Training School became the
first in the South Caucasus region
which received PfP status. This is an
important award. Our specialists are
prepared to a high level in a number of
MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
3
different countries. In 2011 we plan to
develop new courses in Sachkhere and
also open up our courses for foreign-
ers. We have received a lot of requests
Tribute to the memory
from several countries not only to visit
Sachkhere but also to see the Caucasus
mountain range.
of fallen heroes
Armoured Tank Centre
The Armoured Tank Centre, located
in Akhaltsikhe, is one of the oldest Geor-
gian sub-divisions. The centre prepares
military servicemen to specialize in the
use of tanks and combat vehicles. In fu-
ture, the centre will be equipped with
advanced simulation systems in order to
raise the quality of training. This is rec-
ognized as one of the best institutions
in the Georgian Armed Forces with a
wealth of experience, as well as mod-
ern classrooms and barracks. In the fu-
ture the centre will become not only a
tank centre but will also provide some
of the GAF’s artillery training.
Languages Centre
The key objectives of the Joint Lan-
On August 7, at the Mukhatgverdi members of deceased military service-
guage Preparation Division are to teach
Military Cemetery, the leadership of the men, representatives of the MoD and JS,
and improve the understanding of for-
Ministry of Defense - Minister Bacho in addition to officials from Tbilisi City
eign languages in MoD and Armed Forc-
Akhalaia, the Joint Chief Staff of GAF, Council and City Hall.
es personnel. In the Division, training
Major-General Devi Chankotadze and On the same day in Dighomi district,
courses are given in English, German,
Tbilisi Mayor, Gigi Ugulava paid trib- in the area surrounding St. George’s
French, Turkish and Russian in accor-
ute to the memory of soldiers killed dur- Church, a square was dedicated to the
dance with international standards.
ing the August 2008 Russian-Georgian memory of Captain Erekle Khuloshvili
Georgia is aspiring to NATO integra-
war and laid flowers at the memorial. and a monument to him erected in its
tion. So we need soldiers that know the
Father Konstantine blessed the centre. Captain Erekle Khuloshvili,
English language, this is absolutely es-
graves of the deceased servicemen and who served as Artillery Commander of
sential for integration. The language cen-
conducted a public prayer for their souls. the IV Infantry Brigade, heroically fell
tre carries out its tasks well, and over the
“I would like to give proper respect in the fight for the unity and integrity
course of just nine months, military ser-
to the memory of our fallen heroes. Their of Georgia during the 2008 August con-
vicemen can learn multiple languages;
sacrifices provide greater motivation for flict. The Joint Chief of Staff of the
then they can be sent abroad on different
us to continue with what they were GAF, Major-General Devi Chankotat-
peacekeeping missions as licence offic-
struggling for. I want to express condo- dze and Tbilisi City Mayor, Gigi Ugu-
ers. There is also another category of stu-
lences to each member of their families, lava paid tribute to the memory of the
dents who go abroad not just to learn lan-
and give my warmest blessings to their heroic soldier and laid a wreath on his
guages but for special military courses.
beautiful children. The heroic deeds of monument.
We use them in the education system af-
our civilians fallen during the war should The opening ceremony of the memo-
ter their return. During their nine months
also be remembered. I would like to re- rial was attended by members of Khu-
tuition, military servicemen reach inter-
iterate that the Georgian state and armed loshvili’s family, and representatives of
mediate level from beginners’ level in
forces will do everything to immortal- the MoD and JS, Tbilisi City Council
their language of study, after which they
ize their memory”, the Defense Minis- and City Hall.
undergo special training for around three
ter told journalists. The memorial was erected with the
months. However, with officers taking a
The ceremony at Mukhatgverdi Mil- support of the MoD, Didube-Chuguraty
four-year course at the Academy, every
itary Cemetery was attended by family Municipality and Tbilisi City Hall.
officer will study a foreign language and
it won’t be necessary to prepare officers
in languages separately.
Visit of NATO Experts’ Team
Civil Defense at Schools
Educational command is working to-
wards building and understanding of Civ-
il Defense at schools. Our instructors will
work in different directions towards this
aim. They will prepare trainers at public
schools. From the next academic year we
will work to put together a joint curricu-
lum and start preparation for the imple-
mentation of this program.
Educational command is one of the
important structures in the armed forc-
es as it provides brigades with soldiers
and sergeants, as well with officers. As
a commander of education, Colonel Ni-
koloz Janjghava mentions: “You can
never be satisfied and always try to do
more. In fact the Georgian Army is in a
very difficult condition. Its main task is
to restrain a challenger that is not a sim-
ulation but a real threat. Our task in the The prospects of military education materials, teaching experiences, and new
future is to raise the quality of officers sphere were discussed at the Ministry of approaches to professional military edu-
and instructors as well and provide them Defence of Georgia. In the framework of cation. At the end of the meeting, Depu-
with the material and technical equip- NATO-Georgia Military Education and ty Defence Minister Nodar Kharshiladze
ment they need”. Training Programme, NATO Subject stated that, this on-going partnership
Expert Team visited Tbilisi for talks on complements GAF initiatives of transfor-
development of a Georgian Command mation and improvement of its profes-
and General Staff Course. NATO Expert sional military education. The delegation
Team shared approaches to professional of NATO Expert Team included repre-
military education with colleagues from sentatives of NATO HQ, US National
the Georgian Armed Forces and the Geor- Defence University, US Joint Forces Staff
gian National Defence Academy. The College, and Romanian Defence Univer-
meeting was held at the Ministry of De- sity. This particular visit helped achieve
fence of Georgia on August 25. NATO progress in the development of a Defence
Subject Expert Team was hosted by Dep- and Security module that will help pro-
uty Defence Minister Nodar Khar- vide future Georgian military students
shiladze. Representatives of the Nation- with a better understanding of the com-
al Defence Academy also participated in plexities of the modern world and the
the meeting. The sides elaborated on de- challenges that face security profession-
velopment of a Georgian Command and als. All who participated in this event
General Staff Course and communication gained additional insight into how to
and personnel management captain ca- make improvements to their respective
reer courses. They shared curriculum students’ education.
4 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Gori Hosts Art Event in Support
of Territorial Integrity
On August 8, on the second anniver-
sary of the war of August 2008, the town
of Gori hosted a peaceful event entitled
“No to Territorial Canibalism”. The
peaceful protest was held near the Gior-
gi Eristavi State Dramatic Theatre. The
painting marathon, in partnership with
eight students from Tbilisi State Acade-
my of Arts carried on throughout the day.
The young artists created several works
on the theme 2008 war, entitled “The
De-occupation of Georgian Territory
and the Prevention of War and Violence
in the World”. They expressed their pro-
test against the Russian intervention in
Georgia through their paintings and used
their brushes as weapons of peaceful
combat.
The event “No to Territorial Canibal-
ism” was organized by the studio “IGeo”
with the support of the Ministry of De-
fense of Georgia. The purpose of the
project was to remind global society that
war and occupation one country’s terri-
tory by another is unacceptable through-
out the modern world. It also sought to
underscore the fact that the violation of
the sanctity of life and the expulsion of
people from their homeland is a crime
against all of humanity. “We would like
to tell the world once more that Georgia
Beach Rugby Tournament
On August 14-15, the Georgian
Beach Rugby Union and the Georgian
Rugby Union held the long standing
Open Beach Rugby Festival “Batumi
2010”. The fifth beach rugby tourna-
ment was held in Batumi’s new beach
boulevard. Up to ten professional and
eight amateur teams participated in the
tournament. The organizers decided
that the games this year would be ded-
icated to the military servicemen killed
in the August 2008 war.
The Minister of Sports and Youth
Affairs, Lado Vardzelashvili and Dep-
uty Ministers Giorgi Avaliani and Davit
Namgalauri; the Minister of Education,
Culture and Sport of the Ajarian Au-
tonomous Republic, Gia Abuladze; the
President of the Georgian Rugby
Union, Gia Nijaradze and other offi-
cials attended the tournament which
marked the opening of the new beach
stadium in which the event was held.
Minister Vardzelashvili welcomed
the participants and wished them suc-
cess. The Minister expressed his satis-
faction with the new arena and talked
about the possibility of conducting a
number of national and international
beach sports event in it.
The organizers of the tournament,
will never adapt to the occupation by the
Russian Federation. We fight only by
peaceful means to release our country
from the Russian occupation, and to in-
tegrate the occupied territories into the
motherland, to build a country without
any refugees, a country where tyrants
will never dominate”, the director of stu-
dio “IGeo”, Gia Jvarsheishvili told jour-
nalists.
What motivated the participants to
take part in the event was the de-occu-
pation of Georgian territory, and gener-
ally, brining an end to war and violence
in the world: The key theme behind the
artistic marathon was peace. Towards
this goal, one of the eight young artists,
Gia Jananashvili created a painting
called “The Happiness of Peace”. The
artist painted Georgian people celebrat-
ing peace as it is the most important is-
sue for each and every person in the
country. “Through my painting I want-
ed to express war, suffering, and loss.
So, our marathon approached these is-
sues from a number of angles. Through
our painting we wanted to show not only
what we fight against, but what situa-
tion we wish to see in Georgia”, he ex-
plained.
A second year student from the Tbili-
with the participants and guests stayed
in the hotel Marina. The spectators
were entertained by a DJ, who played
non-stop music during the games. Af-
ter each game, the players were restored
si State Academy of Arts, Ana Kerash-
vili created an oil-painting called
“Peaceful Palace”. The work was paint-
ed in light colors to give the audience a
certain spiritual calmness. The author of
“Peaceful Palace” explained that the
white in the painting expresses holiness
and calmness, as a result, the Temple
was painted in white on the right side of
the painting as a symbol of peace and
sanctity. Kerashvili said that her work
is divided into two parts – the dark green
and black tones dominate on the left part
of the picture which represents the Rus-
sian aggression against Georgia two
years ago. The artist imagined the Tem-
ple on the right as Georgia, with the idea
that every dark force is powerless
against the temple. According to her
idea, the temple (or Georgia) is a Peace-
ful Palace. She also wrote “Peace” on
the picture using the old Georgian script.
One of the young artists, Dato Urush-
adze created a picture inspired by the
Georgian poem “Krtsanisi Popes” by the
poet Lado Asatiani. As the painter told
journalists, he dedicated the picture to
the soldiers who fell during 2008 war.
He filled the picture with all the feel-
ings and emotions that he experienced
in 2008.
A fourth year student of the painting
faculty of Tbilisi State Academy of Arts,
Laura Gamkrelidze, painted a picture
which she named “The Butterfly”. “I
painted a butterfly because it lives for
only three days in which it lives to the
fullest. I draw parallels between the but-
terfly and a human being’s life, as our
life is also very short. I express my pro-
test against Russian aggression symbol-
ically through the butterfly”, said Laura.
All the young artists were very satis-
fied, as they did their bit through their
creative works towards fighting the trag-
edy that happened in Georgia two years
ago. The pieces were handed over to the
Gori Military Academy. The works will
be published in a booklet which will in-
corporate prints of the paintings, as well
information about all artists who partic-
ipated in the marathon and their feelings
about the events of August 2008.
Tea Kerdzevadze
their energy and prepared for their next
games by swimming in the sea.
One of the teams which took part in
the competition was the combined team
of the Georgian Armed Forces “Spa”.
Presentation of Books
Dedicated to Fallen Soldiers
Georgian writer, Davit Gogibe-
dashvili and the newspaper “Prime-
Time” have each published new books
dedicated to the memory of the sol-
diers who fell during the war of Au-
gust 2008. A presentation of the first
book was held at the IV Infantry Bri-
gade Base on August 3. The composi-
tion, written by Davit Gogibedashvili,
entitled “Gardens” records the events
that took place in Georgia during Au-
gust 2008. “Everything is special in
the novel, it reflects a unique under-
standing of peace and happiness, and
interprets the harsh realities of the war
with documentary preciseness - the
war which I might add that is still on-
going” pointed out the author. Gogibe-
dashvili donated several copies of the
novel to the soldiers through distribu-
tion to the libraries of military bases
throughout the country.
The second book called “Hero”,
published with the support of the news-
paper “Prime-Time”, is a collection of
articles devoted to soldiers killed dur-
ing the Russia-Georgian war. “Hero”
brings memories of the Georgian sol-
diers killed during August War 2008
It was the second time that the Armed
Forces had fielded a team in this com-
petition, and before the tournament had
begun pundits had been pointing to the
army team as clear favorites. The GAF
AUGUST 2010 ISSUE #38
and their family members to the public
audience.
The editorial staff of the newspaper
presented “Hero” to the families of the
dead soldiers at the State Theatre of
Music and Drama in Tbilisi. Music for
the event was performed by the Sym-
phonic Orchestra of the Theatre con-
ducted by Nika Memanishvili. They
played Gia Kancheli’s composition
“Patara Imberi” (Small Imberi), and
dedicated it to Georgian heroes.
High-level officials from the Min-
istry of Defense of Georgia, and fami-
ly members of the dead soldiers attend-
ed the presentation at the Theatre. The
Joint Chief of Staff of the Georgian
Armed Forces, Major-General Devi
Chankotadze, the Deputy Joint Chief
of Staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Gigi Ka-
landadze, and Deputy Defense Minis-
ters - Nika Dzimtseishvili and Nodar
Kharshiladze represented the Ministry
at the event. The presentation was also
attended by members of the Georgian
government and the Georgian Ortho-
dox Church, representatives of civil
society and the newspaper “Prime-
Time”.
team was made up of members of the
Special Forces and it has a lot of expe-
rience gained through domestic rugby
championships conducted within the
Army. Rugby experts believe that it will
be good if this team compete only with
professionals in future as it has no real
opponent at the amateur level.
The favorites did not disappoint its
fans and trampled its opponents easily.
In the final game, the Georgian Armed
Forces team defeated even the most
technical veterans of Georgian rugby
with by seven to nothing and took the
title of “Leader” from the eight ama-
teur teams. The triumphant soldiers
dedicated their victory to the Georgian
service personnel who died during Rus-
sian aggression. The captain of the
GAF team, Mikheil Shalikashvili said
that all their future victories would also
be dedicated to the memory of those
heroic soldiers.
The bar of the hotel hosted the tra-
ditional “third period”, where partici-
pants went to relax after the games. The
Beach Rugby Union awarded prizes to
the captains of each team and all par-
ticipants received certificates. The next
beach rugby tournament, following tra-
dition will also be held in Batumi.