👮🏻‍♂️🎾 Georgian tennis player, the first racket of the country, Nikoloz Basilashvili, was acquitted of domestic violence charges.

The case of the winner of several tournaments of the ATP series, the strongest Georgian tennis player and his ex-wife was followed by the whole country. Former 16th racket of the world Basilashvili was detained in May 2020 based on the statement of his ex-wife, model Neka (Neli) Dorokashvili. The investigation claimed that he hit her in the presence of their young son. Basilashvili's ex-wife testified about physical and emotional abuse: "He announced to me that he was the king and that I should behave as his subordinate." Dorokashvili presented a number of audio and video recordings confirming that she was the victim of systematical psychological, physical and economic violence by Basilashvili. It included a video where he beat her with a bag of tennis balls. The tennis player categorically denied all accusations, arguing that his ex-wife was lying, trying to inflict moral, financial and reputational damage on the athlete.

🧑🏻‍🎓 Judge Khatuna Kharchilava acquitted Basilashvili of all episodes. At the same session, the preventive measure of bail was canceled, and ₾100,000 bail will be returned to the athlete. Also he has the right to demand compensation for the damage caused.

❗️The prosecutor's office intends to appeal the decision, and the ex-wife's lawyers called the acquittal shameful and justifying domestic violence.

🌺🪴On November 5 and 6, an exhibition and sale of autumn flowers will be held in the Tbilisi Botanical Garden.

The event will feature a variety of collections of chrysanthemums, dahlias and tropical plants in the greenhouse. Visitors will enjoy educational events, themed workshops, hot mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and the comfort of autumn in the Botanical Garden.
⏰ Working hours from 12:00 to 18:00.
🎫 The cost of visiting: adults 4 ₾, schoolchildren - 50 tetri. Preschool children free of charge.

🚘⛔️ The road to Svaneti is closed due to snowfall and the danger of avalanches.

❌ Traffic is prohibited for all types of transport on the 186 -192 km section of the Zugdidi-Mestia road
❌ Similar restrictions apply to 156-157 km of the Kutaisi-Tskaltubo-Tsageri-Lentekhi-Lasdili section

ℹ️ "It is still unknown when the traffic will be opened, it depends on weather conditions," Roads Department of Georgia reports.

🧥👜 Georgian-born designer Demna Gvasalia appeared on the cover of the October issue of The NY Times style magazine featuring his large interview.

I think few people have a subscription to NY Times to read the article, so I will briefly retell the words of the creative director of Balenciaga and co-founder of Vetements:
📍 when he was 11 years old, the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict was in the active phase and the family fled from the Sukhumi bombing, taking with them only some clothes, personal items and photo albums
📍 noted that the conflict in Ukraine hurts him due to the trauma of the past, when he became a forever refugee
📍 he is afraid of his father. During the escape from Abkhazia, his father said "we will never be captured, I have grenades"
📍 does not use his father's last name "Gvasalia" to separate his personal self from his profession
📍 burst into tears during an interview, because Naomi Campbell considers him a couturier, and many people think that he just makes sneakers and sweatshirts
📍 compares his work at Balenciaga with Jesus carrying his cross
📍 he has big problems with his own reflection in the mirror, so he decided to take photos only in a mask
📍 can’t come to Georgia: he says he will definitely be killed for being gay, especially considering that his uncle promised to do it
📍 lives modestly with his husband, musician Loic Gomez and mother in Switzerland. Everything is calm, quiet and beige there.

🐅❤️ A small lynx from Lagodekhi was captured on the video trap.

The video of the endangered predator was released by the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia. The lynx is included in the "Red List" with the status of "endangered" and earlier these animals could be seen more often in Borjomi. Therefore, it is doubly pleasant to see such a small beauty in Lagodekhi park.

🌶👮🏻‍♂️🍅 Banned ingredients were found in samples of tomato sauce and pepper.

Sudan dye (banned for trade) was found in the spicy tomato sauce satsebeli of the Gemo company, and at the Deserter's market at Shorena Kapetivadze's shop, the prohibited substance Para Red (highly toxic when inhaled) was found in red pepper.
❗️Those persons were forbidden to sell these products and they were fined.

🔌🚫 Svaneti region may once again face problems with the supply of electricity.

The unique and distinctive region has been suffering for many years from frequent electrical network failures caused by increased consumption. In the Mestia municipality, the population receives electricity for free and is suspected to be used for cryptocurrency mining. Because of this, local networks are overloaded, there are frequent power outages. This issue was often discussed at the local and state level, last year, part of the population even swore on the icon that they would turn off the mining devices.

❗️📈 However, over the first 9 months of this year, electricity consumption increased by 24% (compared to last year) and experts note that in winter there may be power outages again.

🏰 Ancient Georgian buildings can be leased for commercial use.

This initiative was introduced by several members of parliament. In their opinion, it can be started with 20-30 fortresses, which can be given a new life by this. The parliamentary group has already completed work on the preparation of the relevant bill.
“I can state with all responsibility that the two most well-groomed and fully protected historical monuments are the estate of the Chavchavadze princes in Tsinandali, as well as the Chateau Mukhrani in Mtskheta. At one time, both of them were in a terrible condition. It is thanks to private capital that these places have now acquired a new life” MP Aliko Elisashvili said.

ℹ️ Currently, there are 3,088 historical fortifications throughout Georgia. Most of them are destroyed and are in a dilapidated state.
📷 Map on photo is from my office

🛫 Kutaisi Airport, after the repair of the runway, will restore its work later than expected (approximately 31.10).

It has been closed since October 10, 2022. Earlier it was reported that flights would resume on 24.10, but the Georgia Airports Association reports that flights in October were transferred from Kutaisi to Tbilisi.

ℹ️ The following airlines mainly operate flights from this airport: Wizz Air, Belavia, FlyAristan.

🇬🇪➡️🍷The export of Georgian wine has increased, but it is sold mainly to Russia.

In the first nine months of 2022, 65 million liters worth $173 million were exported from Georgia. The growth of foreign exchange earnings, compared to the same period last year amounted to +3.5%, and the increase in volume of supplies was +17%. Despite efforts to diversify the geography of wine sales and numerous statements by entrepreneurs, Russia remains the main outlet for Georgian wines with 63% of exports or $109 million (+$15 million). If not for the war, then Ukraine would definitely have been in the top three, but now it has dropped to fourth place behind China and Poland. The largest increase in deliveries (+50%) was recorded in the Japanese market. Although sales volumes amounted to just over $1 million, Asian direction is very promising. Georgian premium wine, by local standards, is sold quite inexpensively. Another fact: Belarus, although it still ranks 7th in the list decreased purchases by 30%.

ℹ️ TOP-6 export markets of Georgian wines for the 9 months of 2022:
🇷🇺 Russia - $109 million
🇵🇱 Poland — $11 million
🇨🇳 China — $9 million
🇺🇦 Ukraine - $7 million
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan — $6 million
🇺🇸 USA - $4 million

📲 For the first time in Georgia: from October 24, it will be possible to purchase products for cryptocurrency in any Fresco supermarket.

You can pay for any purchases with cryptocurrency using the citypay terminal. It's fast, easy, safe and at a good rate.
❗️Payment can be made with the following cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Zcash, Litecoin. Ethereum is planned to be added to the system in the near future.

🪴 ProCredit Bank has launched an environmental campaign in Georgia.

Environmental appeals can be seen on the banners in Tbilis and the bank's official website. They urge citizens to abandon oil products, incandescent lamps, plastic bottles and plastic bags. Instead, it is proposed to switch to electric cars, thermos flasks, energy-efficient lamps and reusable cloth bags.

💳 At the center of the advertising campaign is the ProGreen bank card made of ... wood. An unusual decision, what can I say. According to the bank, it is made of organic materials. Although it's amazing how they were able to make an organic magnetic stripe and an organic chip?

🇬🇪🇦🇿 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is on an official visit to Georgia.

This is his second arrival to Georgia after 2015. The meeting was held in an unusual place for such formats, a winery in the village of Mukhrani, which is a symbol of the era of the last kings of Georgia - the royal family of Bagrationi. There are their family estate, vineyards and a winery.

📌 What were the most important things discussed and told about at the subsequent briefing:
📍 Azerbaijan will make additional investments in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, increasing it's capacity up to 5 million tons per year
📍 Azerbaijan intends to increase oil exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2023
📍 readiness to activate the trilateral format of political consultations between Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi was announced
📍 cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia will expand in all areas