🇬🇪🇺🇦 Two statements of the Georgian authorities on the war in Ukraine.

📍Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili at the parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform:
“Georgia strongly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and illegal annexations of its regions.
Russia must recognize Ukraine’s territorial integrity; must withdraw from the occupied territories; and must respect Ukraine’s independence.”

📍Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze:
“Certain groups would like to open a second front. Some people directly stated that Georgia should join the war. We have no right to do so. Of course, we will not make this mistake.”

🛩📦 International corporation "FedEx" plans to build a large logistics center in Tbilisi.

It will be built near the Tbilisi International Airport and will cover an area of ​​10,000 square meters. Construction work is scheduled to be completed in 18 months - by May 2024. The center will be equipped with all modern technologies and will increase the speed of delivery and processing of goods to the country.

🇬🇪 According to Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, 12,000 people refused to serve in the army for various reasons in 2022.

He said that today there are many legal opportunities to evade military service. Including, according to him, the recruits were helped by an organization whose name the minister did not name and added that a bill is currently being developed that will change this situation.
ℹ️ Three facts related to military draft into the Georgian army:
📍There is a “Christian, Evangelical, Protestant Biblical Freedom Church of Georgia” in the country, created several years ago by the opposition Girchi party to help young men avoid military service by registering them as priests. Under Georgian law, clergy and students in theological schools are exempt from military service.
📍There are exceptions for only sons in families where at least one relative died fighting for the territorial integrity of Georgia.
📍Young people can officially defer their military service by paying 2,000 lari ($720) per year until they turn 27.

👨🏻‍⚕️💉 Georgian doctors expect the flu situation to worsen starting from November and advise residents to get vaccinated.

“The flu this year may be more dangerous than usual. Last year, wearing masks was at a very high level, while children did not go to kindergartens and schools, so the spread of viruses was quite small. There will be more cases of influenza this year, and we expect an increase in number of cases from November,” said Professor Chkhaidze.
As part of the state program, Georgia has already purchased 200,000 doses of a four-component French-made vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur) and calls for vaccination.
🦠 The cold and flu season in Georgia starts in November and peaks in December-January.
💉 You can get vaccinated for a fee in almost any clinic in Georgia

👑👩🏻 Sofia Kvinikadze, known for her blog "Depressed Georgian in South Korea", posed for the cover of the famous French magazine Malvie under the slogan "Love Your BODY".

The girl (in the photo she is in the center) already has 365 thousand subscribers on the Facebook page, 169 thousand on Instagram and the number of fans is growing daily.
ℹ️ Sofia and her sister left Kutaisi a few years ago, and now live in Seoul. Recently the girl signed a contract with a South Korean agency and began her career as a plus-size model. Sofia always advocates the destruction of stereotypes and the positive acceptance of various aspects of appearance.
📍For those who know Georgian, here is a great interview with her about life in South Korea.

📈🏦 Georgia expects double-digit economic growth in 2022.

This was stated at the briefing by the President of the National Bank Koba Gvenetadze:
“As a result of the Russia-Ukraine war and the accompanying sanctions, migration flows in Georgia have increased significantly, which has stimulated joint demand.”
ℹ️ While the National Bank predicts 10.3% increase in the economy, the World Bank assumes 8.8% economic growth in Georgia.

❓ What influenced the growth of the economy:
📍 tourism growth to pre-pandemic levels (93% of 2019 figures)
📍cash inflow from the Russian Federation:
✔️since February 24, more than 3 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation have purchased real estate in Georgia
✔️ in August, the volume of accounts of Russian citizens in Georgian banks increased by 64% compared to last year.
✔️in March-June, citizens of the Russian Federation registered 6419 companies in Georgia (as of June 30, there were 13.5 thousand of them)
✔️ 50% of transfers to the country (more than $ 1 billion) come from the Russian Federation
📍increase in the number of relocated enterprises and IT-specialists
📍growth in private consumption (services grew by 15.3% compared to last year due to catering, trade, transport and real estate).

🇺🇸🎰🚫State securities regulators in the US have ordered the Slotie NFT Tbilisi virtual casino to be shut down.

The US regulators considered that the non-fungible tokens offered by the Georgian casino Slotie NFT were unregistered securities issued with violation of the laws. Slotie has 30 days to suspend operations, otherwise casino operators face a fine and imprisonment for a period of 2 to 10 years.
The company announced that it is consulting with lawyers about the current situation.

🇬🇪 Georgia's top latest news.

📍 Several opposition parties: Agmashenebeli Strategy, Droa and Girchi - More Freedom have united into a bloc, but their overall rating is less than 5%.
📍 The prime minister went on an official visit to Hungary, where they both with the president of Hungary Orban complimented each other a lot.
📍 Democratic recession in Georgia prevents the country from Euro-Atlantic integration and weakens democracy in the country, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
📍 There was a memorial and farewell service to the Georgian fighter Mikhail Kaplanishvili who perished in Ukraine.
📍 The day of the Abkhaz language was celebrated in the country. Along with Georgian, it is protected by the Constitution and is an integral part of the common language heritage.
📍 Irakli Khakhubia, member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, committed suicide in his own home.
📍 Air Astana increases the frequency of flights from Tbilisi to Almaty from 3 to 4 per week.
📍 Streets flooded in Batumi due to heavy rain, emergency services are carrying out the repairs.
📍 A four-year-old child was killed by a municipal bus in Rustavi.
📍 A man blew himself up with a grenade in a hotel room on Agmashenebeli Avenue in Tbilisi.

🇬🇪🥃 On November 5, Telavi will host a festival of chacha.

All fans of this strong Georgian drink are welcome in Kakheti from 12:00 to 16:00.
📍05.11. Exhibition and sale of chacha; traditional Kakhetian gastronomic corner and an exhibition and sale of traditional dishes. Award ceremony of the best chacha makers. Concert with the participation of famous Georgian singers.
🌦The weather on this day, according to forecasts is +13, rain is possible, but with chacha it would be clearly bearable.

👻 Halloween in Georgia. Where to go?
Events in honor of this unusual holiday have already begun. If you haven’t decided where to go yet, save our selection — we have selected events for which there are still tickets.

📍TBILISI
Saturday, October 29:
🎃 Charity Halloween Festival: 11 guitar bands, scary karaoke, makeup corner and tarot room all day and night.
🎃 Easy Art Tbilisi: horror fair with quests, tarot, makeup, horror movies and special menu
🎃 Halloween night in Depo: live concert, buffet and wine
🎃 Opera Halloween Night: live performance of The Phantom of the Opera, Italian DJ and producer Giovanni Damico and halloween decorations
🎃 Kera Space: Music, games, cocktails, photo zone and make-up station
🎃 Disco "Psyhedelic Halloween" in Cafe-gallery (buying a ticket in advance is required)
🎃 Halloween Night party in Satburi Park, Love Bar, in the Update Bar, in SociumBar, at The Bartender bar, in Orbeliani Garden and even in the Bagelin bakery
🎃 Workshop and party at ketomania SADA
🎃 Halloween open mic
Sunday, October 30:
🎃 Halloween at Wine Not: good wine, music and themed costumes
🎃 Vegan action Halloween Horror Movie Challenge: Volunteers will offer passers-by to watch a 3-minute horror movie in exchange for a vegan treat
🎃 Thematic workshops for children
🎃 Party at Sheraton Grand Tbilisi and Arteria Art Club
All weekend:
🎃 Halloween at Orbeliani Bazaar: a huge number of events, workshops and entertainments
🎃 Magical Halloween nights by Alco Hall
🎃 Autumn Caravan Party
🎃 Dead Bride Theatrical Celebration for children
🎃 Party at Urban Fitness

📍 BATUMI
Saturday, October 29
🎃 Halloween Party at Alco Space Bar
🎃 Batumi «Spooky» ride - Happy Halloween
🎃 Halloween Party at Cross Wave Bar
🎃 Party at IMI club Batumi
🎃 Party at BariBarshi
🎃 Kids Party
🎃 Umbrella party
🎃 Dreamland Oasis Party
October 30
🎃 Halloween in Robotorium for children
🎃 Party at Veranda Acropoli
🎃 MegoBar Party
🎃 Board Game Night feat. Halloween

🇦🇿⛔️🇬🇪 Land borders between Georgia and Azerbaijan will remain closed until at least January 2023.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the quarantine regime in Azerbaijan, which involves the closure of land borders and the wearing of a mask, has been extended until January 1, 2023.
❗️You can travel from Baku to Tbilisi by plane, air traffic operates without restrictions.

🇬🇪❤️🏔 Ushba is one of the peaks of the Greater Caucasus in Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti.

The name Ushba is often translated from the Svan language as "mountain that brings misfortune". It is not the highest (4710 meters), but it is known for its pointed shape and the difficulty of climbing.
😉 Climbers tell the story of how Prince Dadeshkeliani officially presented Ushba to climber Chenchi von Fikker in 1903. The deed of gift has been preserved. They say that the Svans were offended because the prince gave the mountain to a foreigner. And the prince replied: "The mountain stands where it stood, but the woman is pleased"
📹 video of Zura Phaliani

👮🏻‍♂️ An unknown man tried to kidnap a child from a schoolyard in Marneuli (43 km from Tbilisi).

During a school break, a 10-year-old schoolgirl went to the store across from the school. A car drove up to her, and the driver, a middle-aged man, said that the schoolgirl's mother asked him to pick her up from the lessons. The stranger offered sweets to the child and asked her to sit in his car. Fortunately, the girl did not believe the man, ran away and told the teachers everything. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the start of an investigation, but no detainees have been reported so far. The child's parents fear that such facts may happen again. They demand that the mystery man should be identified as soon as possible.
ℹ️ Previously, an unknown person who approaches children and offers to go with him was reported in Batumi.
❗️If you have children, be careful and remind them not to follow the strangers!

🇬🇪⚽️🇮🇹 Georgian football player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continues to enchant Italian Serie A.

In the last round, his club Napoli beat Sassuolo 4-0, and the Georgian scored a goal and made two assists. In total, Kvaratskhelia has 8 goals + 10 assists in 16 games: an amazing result! His team is the sole leader of the championship with good chances of winning it.
📹 The amazing love of the fans is another story. Watch the video of hot Neapolitans cheering for Khvicha.

🐝 The man tried to secretly take 1,100 bees and more than 104 kilograms of honey to Turkey from Georgia.

An unusual smuggler was identified at the Sarpi checkpoint. Turkish border guards noticed the man's nervous and suspicious behavior as he passed through the scanner and metal detector. During a personal search, it turned out that a belt with small bee boxes was fixed on his body. Then customs officers checked the man's car and it turned out that a container with chestnut honey was hidden in the fuel tank. Bees and honey were confiscated.
👮🏻‍♂️ A criminal case has been opened.

🇬🇪❤️🇪🇸 Georgian cuisine in Spain.

Several people have already sent me photos from Barcelona. Yummy khinkali are now adorning its public transport.

🇬🇪❗️🛫 Kutaisi Airport will resume its work after the repair of runways tonight: 31.10 from 01:00.

It has been closed since 10 October. All this time, airline flights were operated from Tbilisi.
ℹ️ Wizz Air, Belavia, FlyArystan fly from this airport.

⏰❌ Georgia does not change clocks to winter or summer time.

A lot of subscribers came to the country recently and asked this question in recent days, so I decided to remind you. The changing clocks to winter and summer time in Georgia previously took place on the basis of the terms agreed upon by European countries, but since 2005, according to the decree "On the countdown of time on the territory of Georgia", the transition to winter and summer time is no longer carried out.

🌦 What is the weather preparing for us this week in Georgia?

According to the National Environment Agency, the situation will worsen, especially in Western Georgia. There are expected rains and even snow in mountainous areas. The increase of water in the rivers caused by this should be expected.
📍Comfortable weather will remain in Tbilisi with almost no rain, but with a strong cool Northwest wind.
📍In Batumi it rains until the weekend, especially heavy on Tuesday. Do not put away umbrellas and boots. Last week, the city has already experienced flooding after the rain, so be careful and attentive.

👮🏻‍♂️👶 The Office of the Public Defender of Georgia reported that five reports of attempts to kidnap children in different regions are currently being investigated.

The statement is connected with an attempt to kidnap a 10-year-old schoolgirl in the Marneuli region and the detention of a man in the Saburtalo region of the capital. In the first case, an unknown person tried to lure the girl into the car, but she refused and told the adults. In the second, a man tried to force a 10-year-old child to open the doors, and then began to threaten him to break the doors. Fortunately, he has already been detained and charged, which threatens with imprisonment for up to three years.
❗️As it became known, yesterday an unknown man pursued children in the Varketili region. They managed to escape.
🆘 “In case of fixing such facts, show responsibility and contact law enforcement agencies in a timely manner, report to the Public Security Management Center “112,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.

🇦🇲🛫🇬🇪 The Armenian low-cost airline "Fly Arna" carried out the first flight on the route Yerevan-Tbilisi-Yerevan.

Prices, according to the site https://www.flyarna.com/en, start from $20 one way (there are tickets for $50-70-90). Fly Arna is a low-cost airline based in Yerevan. It is a joint venture between Air Arabia and the government-owned National Interest Fund of Armenia.
ℹ️ Flight time is 50 minutes.
Flights will operate three times a week: on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.