Coronavirus Strands Georgians in Europe

The coronavirus outbreak has left many Georgians stranded in Europe, particularly in Germany, due to travel restrictions imposed by the Georgian government. Isabeli Tsetskhladze, a Georgian student, launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of their plight. The Georgian government has organized special flights, but tickets are scarce. The Georgian embassy in Germany is providing support, but the main challenge remains the state's limited capacity to quarantine returning citizens. Some Georgians, including healthcare professionals, express a desire to return home to assist in combating the pandemic.

Pope Makes Contentious Georgia Visit

Pope Francis's visit to Georgia was disrupted by protests from radical members of the Georgian Orthodox Church, who oppose dialogue with the Catholic Church. Despite the protests and a lower turnout for the Mass, the Pope considered the visit a success, expressing admiration for Georgia's Christian culture and Patriarch Ilia II. The Pope's message emphasized the importance of respecting minorities and the enrichment that can come from ethnic, linguistic, political, or religious distinctions. After Georgia, the Pope continued to Azerbaijan.

Citizen vs City Park

The author recounts a personal experience dealing with City Park, a company responsible for parking management in Tbilisi. After receiving fines and surcharges for parking violations, the author navigates the appeal process through the Tbilisi Transport Service Agency and eventually takes the case to court. The court partially rules in favor of the author, reducing the fines and returning a portion of the seized funds. The narrative highlights issues with the company's customer service and the legal system's handling of parking fines, advocating for citizens to challenge unjust practices.

Too young to tie the knot

Despite Georgia's more restrictive marriage law setting 18 as the legal age to wed, child marriage and arranged engagements persist, particularly in minority-populated areas like Kakheti. Cultural and religious traditions continue to support early marriage, with parents often arranging marriages to protect their daughters from bridenapping. Efforts by organizations like the United Nations Population Fund aim to raise awareness about the dangers of underage marriage, but deeply rooted customs and economic hardships make change challenging. The practice of bridenapping has declined, but early marriage remains prevalent, driven by poverty and social status concerns.

Georgian Women Struggle To Access Safe Abortion

In Georgia, despite the legality of abortion, women face significant challenges in accessing safe abortion services due to societal pressures, religious beliefs, and financial barriers. A survey by CRRC Georgia found that 69% of Georgian women could never justify an abortion, influenced by the Georgian Orthodox Church's stance. Some doctors refuse to perform abortions based on religious grounds. The Georgian Dream party supports abortion reluctantly, focusing on improving social conditions to reduce the need for abortions. Costs of abortion services are high, leading some women to seek illegal procedures. The libertarian party in Georgia advocates for women's right to choose, while the Public Defender's report highlights a lack of access to contraceptive information and the issue of gender-selective abortions. Education and stigma around female sexuality are also contributing factors to the challenges faced by Georgian women regarding abortion.