New Russian barriers in Abkhazia, as COVID-19 spreads. Russia’s occupation forces replaced barbed wire barrier with more permanent structures to enforce the occupied regions’ separation from Georgia. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic continued to spread in the occupied territories, whose Georgian citizens are thus denied an opportunity to experience the highly effective containment of the virus and treatment of its victims in the rest of Georgia. An infectious disease hospital in occupied Abkhazia reports that a single doctor is present, as all others are in isolation.
The US Department of State has condemned Russia’s redoubled efforts of ‘borderization’ amid pandemic. The US Embassy to Georgia condemned Russia’s actions along the occupation line, followed by a series of tweets by US Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore and Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.
Young Georgian artists create during the pandemic. Artists’ imaginations often work best in trying situations, as Georgia’s younger artists are showing. Artworks@Corona Days exhibits a number of recent creations inspired by the virus and its effects, including the evocative work of graduates of the Painting School of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts Mariam Akhobadze and Mako Lomadze. Meanwhile, that Academy, opened in the 1850s, released a teaser of its own long-awaited renovations showing some of the building’s most spectacular features. Not to be outdone, the Vani Archaeological Museum announced its own re-opening following an extensive renovation. The museum holds many of the most tantalizing archaeological treasures from as early as 800 BCE. Elsewhere, Georgia’s renowned national dancers continued to train and instruct pupils on-line.
Tbilisi Virtual Book Festival. The Tbilisi International Book Festival became a victim of COVID-19, but that only spawned another creative event: the Tbilisi Virtual Book Festival. Operating live on May 30 and 31 on the Facebook page of the Tbilisi International Book Fair, the virtual activity will present new books, programs for young people, and works of foreign writers (Turkey being this year’s focus). More than 30 publishing houses will participate.
Fast & Furious 9. The most recent episode of this popular movie series was filmed mainly in Tbilisi. For more information about the cast and the plot, go here.
Quiz: Is it Georgia (state) or Georgia (the country)? London-based Wanderlust travel magazine prepared a quiz, which asks the travelers to spot the difference between the US state of Georgia and the country of Georgia in the Caucasus. Go here and ask yourself: is the answer Georgia or Georgia?