Democracy The optical illusion of tolerance, and the politics of indifference This article discusses several key policy features relating to ethnic and religious minorities thirty years after Georgia’s independence. By Sophie Zviadadze A portrait of a migrant: Azerbaijanis in Germany Germany leads as a destination country for migrants from Azerbaijan ahead of other European states. It is hard to provide an accurate number but according to various expert estimates, Germany is home to approximately 20 to 30 thousand Azerbaijani migrants. By Nika Musavi State, Capital, and New Antagonism The recent Namakhvani Hydro Power Plant protests, which started with ecological concerns turned into a path breaking critique of the Georgian state, opposing all the foundations on which the imaginary of development stands: commodification of nature, exploitation of workers, neglecting the public voice, prioritization of private capital interests above the public welfare, and violent methods By Ia Eradze Georgia through the prism of social contracts The purpose of this essay is to discuss the four formal and informal governments of post-Soviet Georgia, which were led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Eduard Shevardnadze, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Bidzina Ivanishvili, through the prism of vertical social contracts. By Dr. Zaal Andronikashvili A post-revolutionary hike through Armenia’s information technology landscape This essay describes a journey in time. We ‘hike’ from the aftermath of the Velvet Revolution to the 2021 election. The hike covers selected parts of the IT landscape, especially its role as a driver for economic transformation and social change. By Christian Kexel Waves of Judicial Reform That Cannot Reach the Shore The Georgian judiciary has been in the process of ongoing reform since Georgia gained its independence. However, to this day, we have not created judicial institutions that will resist internal and external influences. We could not make a system free from internal corporate, financial, or party interests. By Guram Imnadze Obsessed with Doubts? Mistrust and Conspiracy Theories in Academic Literature Discussions around the most popular topics in Georgia are often submerged in doubts and mistrust. Many social groups feel that everything is not what it seems at first glance, the explanation of events is often misleading, and there are alternative understandings of what is going on that are rarely revealed and are kept secret. By Mariam Shalvashvili Ethnography of modern airports While visiting Kutaisi Airport, the question came to my mind how would it be possible to study this area through ethnography lenses. Airports are somewhat new places of study, and I have not heard of academic research in this regard. By Dato Laghidze Pride and Prejudice: Georgia after the Escalation of Violence against Civil Society More than 50 people were injured in attacks on journalists and civil society in Tbilisi in early July in connection with Pride Week. The German Federal Government and the EU should strongly urge their Georgian partners to address the violence through prompt and comprehensive legal and political action. By Dr. Sonja Schiffers Հայաստանի և Ադրբեջանի սահմանագծի ձևավորման ընթացքը 1920-ական թվականներին By Hamo Sukiasyan 2021 snap elections in Armenia: Internal and external security risks As stated by a number of political and public figures, there is a concern about the possibility of a civil war. By Sossi Tatikyan Le(f)t’s do it:Features, Problems and Prospects of the Left in Azerbaijan Left-wing ideology in Azerbaijan – as it usually happens in the post-soviet space – is associated with the Soviet past, the era, most would love to forget about, rewrite, or even cancel somehow. Thus, it has a bad reputation. Read in Azerbaijani, Read in Russian By Nika Musavi Georgia: trapped in a spiral of escalation The neoliberal political elite are uninterested in the needs of a society stricken by a pandemic. Their egotism favours informal structures leading to a creeping "Russification" of the country. By Dr. Stefan Meister Strategic sovereignty in the EU’s Southeastern neighborhood: The Black Sea as part of a larger geopolitical region As part of a larger geopolitical region, the Wider Black Sea requires greater commitment from the EU in the areas of security, renewable energy, and connectivity. By Dr. Stefan Meister Հեղափոխությունից մինչև պատերազմ․ ներքաղաքական զարգացումները Հայաստանում Read in English By Gor Madoyan From Revolution to war: Domestic developments in Armenia The corona virus crisis and the ineffective governance substantially undermined public confidence in the ruling party and its political weight. By Gor Madoyan Azerbaijan update: From COVID-19 to the New War in Nagorno-Karabakh Aliyev’s popularity reached its peak during the war; the oppositional leaders stopped their criticism, while Aliyev’s actions were perceived as a just and victorious war. The active support of Turkey during the conflict inevitably led to the re-articulation and dynamic perception of Turkey as the “big brother”. By Bahruz Samadov Precarious peace – Nagorno-Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement The new ceasefire agreement negotiated between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan has grave geopolitical and domestic consequences for the South Caucasus states. Stefan Meister, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus, explains 10 consequences of the agreement. By Dr. Stefan Meister "Stop the war in the South Caucasus" Ellen Ueberschär demands an immediate ceasefire and negotiations for a sustainable peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh with EU support needed The Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 and Oil Price Fluctuations in Azerbaijan This paper seeks to analyze the economic and social responses to COVID-19, question the accuracy and inclusivity of these responses, as well as reflect how oil price fluctuations and the pandemic could impact Azerbaijan’s socioeconomic policy projection. By Ilaha Abasli Հեռավար կրթության կազմակերպումը COVID 19-ի պայմաններում Աշխարհում նոր տեսակի կորոնավիրուսի (COVID 19) բռնկումը մեծ փոփոխություններ բերեց սոցիալական փոխհարաբերություններում և դրանց կազմակերպման գործընթացում։ By Anahit Aleqyan No. 115: The COVID-19 Pandemic in the South Caucasus This issue of the Caucasus Analytical Digest focuses on the structural challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has made visible in all three South Caucasus states. A Pandemic and the Uncompleted Project of Georgian Statehood The pandemic has become a litmus test to diagnose the ailments of contemporary states and political regimes. The state of emergency, which the pandemic brought about, also serves as a revelation demonstrating the political and social realities of the whole world without embellishment, which was impossible under normal circumstances. By Giorgi Maisuradze COVID-19 and its impact on migration: the case of Armenia In the case of Armenia, as much elsewhere in the world, refugees are amongst the vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic and the economic and social hardships accompanying it. By Armen Ghazaryan "Die Regierungen wissen, dass ihre Systeme das nicht stemmen" Im Südkaukasus wurde früh mit Restriktionen auf die Covid-19-Ausbreitung reagiert. Wie gehen Armenien, Georgien und die Diktatur Aserbaidschan durch die Corona-Pandemie? Call for Small Research Grants - Women and World War II in Soviet Armenia The Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Region, Yerevan Branch Office announces a call for small research grants for students, young researchers, historians and anthropologists from Armenia. Read in Armenian Call for Small Research Grants - Women and World War II in Soviet Azerbaijan The Heinrich Boell Foundation Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region announces a call for small research grants for students, young researchers, gender specialists, historians and anthropologists from Azerbaijan. European History Forum: 30 Years after 1989 My research focused on the protest rallies that took place on April 9, 1989. Today in Georgia, on the 30th anniversary of the 9th of April, many associate this day with the restoration of Georgia’s independence. In fact, it is undeniable that the sequence of the events that transpired that day, coupled with all the other circumstances unfolding in 1989, created the preconditions for the restoration of Georgia’s independence. By Katie Sartania Transformations of the Communist Party’s official newspaper “Soviet Armenia” in 1989 This paper discusses the structural and ideological transformations of the Communist party’s official newspaper Soviet Armenia and follows a case-study approach based on the oral history interview. By Parandzem Paryan 1 year after Armenia’s Velvet Revolution: Changes and Expectations What has changed in Armenia since the Velvet Revolution and what are the main issues on the political agenda currently? Armenian translations of 80’s feminist texts The evening before the international women’s day, the hbs Tbilisi office Yerevan Branch presented its first Anthology of Armenian translations of 80’s feminist texts. More than 60 people attended the presentation that took Place at Zangak Publishing House, including five members of the Parliament. From shrinking space to post-revolutionary space: re-imagining the role and relations of civil society in Armenia The research demonstrates how progressive civil society groups became the avant-garde of the Armenian revolution by acting as an inspiration and role model for larger social groups by popularizing various mechanisms and techniques of resistance. Russia's Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine and Georgia Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Tbilisi Office - South Caucasus Region organized the public debate "Russia’s hybrid warfare in Ukraine and Georgia". The LGBTI rights and the Revolution The people’s revolution in Armenia last spring and the developments thereafter had a certain impact on the discussions about LGBTI rights. In the extremely active political process, this topic became one of the most speculated with themes. By Arthur Minasyan Why Armenians Call for a Velvet Revolution For almost a week now, huge rallies have shaken the Armenian capital of Yerevan, where Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leaders of the movement, called for a “velvet revolution”. But will the protesters this time successfully press for democratic accountability? By Dr. Sonja Schiffers Why LGBT People Emigrate from Armenia: Three Stories Portraits Between 2011 and 2013 alone 5,891 LGBT people left Armenia. This article will tell the first-hand story of lesbian, bisexual and transgender Armenian citizens who have moved to different EU countries. By Arthur Minasyan On Transgender Day of Remembrance, Legal Gender Recognition Discussed at Round Table in Tbilisi On November 20, 2017, the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is marked annually in memory of trans* persons who have lost their lives to transphobic violence, the hbs South Caucasus Regional Office, held a round table meeting on issues of legal gender recognition (LGR) in Tbilisi. The LGBTI Solidarity Network Wraps Up Its Active Phase in Armenia Summary On September 28, 2017, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, together with its partners PINK and SWV organised a Wrap-up Stakeholder Meeting of the EU-funded Project “Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia”, which was being implemented since early 2015 in Aremnia and Georgia. հայերեն hbs Series of LGBTI Public Discussions: Soviet Legacy: Repressed Sexuality and Ideologised Homophobia Religion and Sexuality On June 30, July 13, and July 14, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with project partners, the Women's Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) held three LGBTI-focused public discussions in Gori, Kutaisi and Batumi. From International Revolution to a National State – The Case of Georgian Social Democracy (1917-1921) In the twilight years of the 19th century, the Georgian people were faced with a number of challenges. Although the abolition of feudalism had liberated the peasantry, they had not been given land and their afflicted state remained the same. A number of freed peasants headed for the cities and filled the ranks of the proletariat, encountering “brute capitalism” in a place where basic labour rights were not regulated. By Beka Kobakhidze From Revolutionary Struggle to Social Emancipation On 5 March 1917, at 11 o’clock in the morning, many members of the Caucasian workers’ movement and thousands of ordinary citizens gathered in Nadzaladevi’s Theatre Square. The revolutionaries had assembled in order to receive the latest reports of the events then unfolding in St Petersburg. The people were interested in hearing whether the February Revolution had achieved its goal. By Levan Lortkipanidze Rebecca Harms’ visit to Georgia On July 12-16, 2017, Ms Rebecca Harms, member of the European Parliament, visited Georgia. Ms Harms participated in the conference “European Way of Georgia” held in Batumi, and also held meetings with representatives of the civil society organizations, media and political parties in Tbilisi. Join the Declaration on the Achievement of Equal Rights for LGBTI Persons in Georgia! The long-term advocacy strategy/declaration to combat homo/bi/transphobia aims to support the elimination of discrimination against LGBTI persons in Georgia via a complex approach. We call on organisations that share the issues outlined in the strategy/declaration to join and confirm their support. War and Peace: Armenian Elections 2017 On April 2, 2017 Parliamentary elections took place in Armenia. These were the first national elections after the Constitutional Referendum of 2015 which transformed the country from a Presidential into a Parliamentary Republic. An analysis. Social Protests of 2010-2016 in Georgia: Experience and Perspectives (2017) (closed project) The project implemented by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre – EMC served the goal to promote civic participation and sustainable development through in-depth research of social movements related to environmental, cultural, and social aspects of urban development. Gender and Law Discussed in Georgian Parliament On December 20, the Georgian Parliament hosted a Conference on Gender and Law: Gender Analysis of Georgian Legislation. The centerpiece of the conference was an extensive Gender and Law study prepared by Partnership for Human Rights with EWMI-PROLoG’s support and expertise from the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation. Small Grants Competition - Call for Applications The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) in Georgia and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia, in cooperation with the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, are announcing a Call for Project Proposals for a small grants component within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017). Civic Charter Repression of civil society is on the rise all over the world, even in supposedly democratic countries above reproach. Especially activists and organisations who advocate for democracy, human rights, and social and environmental justice are under pressure. The Future of Civic Space: Towards a Re-solidarisation and Re-politisation of Civil Society Civil society space is under attack worldwide. In her welcoming speech to the Global Perspectives Conference, Barbara Unmüßig urged 160 representatives of civil society organisations from around the globe to stand in solidarity with each other and to put the issue of shrinking and closing spaces back on the political agenda. By Barbara Unmüßig Armenia, Georgia and BiH Exchange Lessons Learned in Advancing LGBTI Rights On November 7-11, 2016, the project staff of the cross-border EU-funded initiative Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to participate in a capacity building study tour aimed to transfer the experience of a similar EU-funded action Coming out! - Advocating promotion and protection of LGBT rights, implemented by the Heinrich Boell Foundation Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Sarajevo Open Center and CURE Foundation. Armenian and Georgian Partners Share Knowledge and Experience during Capacity Building Tour in Tbilisi On October 25-28, 2016, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with partners, hosted a group of activists, representatives of Armenian CSOs and LGBTI organizations in the scope of a capacity-building tour, which aimed to connect these actors with LGBTI organizations, other NGOs and equality body representatives in Georgia. Die Türkei driftet ab - und Europa schaut zu Ralf Fücks schildert in seinem Reisebericht Eindrücke über die aktuelle politische Situation in der Türkei. Es ist ein Zeugnis der erschütternden Lage eines Landes, das den Weg zu einer Demokratie verlassen hat. By Ralf Fücks Parliamentary Elections in Georgia A few days ago, the Georgian population elected a portion of the 9th parliament since the country’s independence. In more than 50 single-member districts a second round of elections is scheduled. By Levan Lortkipanidze Read politics Project "Read politics" is initiated by two women and aims at aims at raising awareness and promoting the culture of reading, or simply to say political reading isn't only getting familiar with the political document but it is a political analysis and critics of the text. Greening the Baltic Pride Baltic Pride week, whose principal slogan was "We Are People, Not Propaganda!", lasted from June 13 to 23 with the Pride March taking place on June 18 and a number of associated events conducted throughout principally organized by the Lithuanian National LGBT* Rights Organization (LGL). June 13: Lessons Learned On June 16, 2016, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted public debate "June13: Lessons Learned". Anne Lister and her travel in Georgia. Public lecture by Dr. Angela Steidele Dr. Angela Steidele's lecture about Anne Lister, lesbian author and traveller from Great Britain, who died in Georgia. By Dr. Angela Steidele The Defense of Internal and External Borders: Political Discourses and Key Elements of the Refugee Crisis On May 27th, 2016, Auditorium #115 (I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University) hosted Attila Melegh's Public Lecture The Defense of Internal and External Borders: Political Discourses and Key Elements of the Refugee Crisis. By Attila Melegh Strategies for Armenian-Georgian Cooperation through Academia and Student Inclusion (2015-2017) (closed project) Strategies for Armenian-Georgian Cooperation through Academia and Student Inclusion is the project supported by the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and implemented by Hazarashen Center for Ethnological Studies in cooperation with the Center of Civilization and Cultural Studies and Association of Anthropologists of Georgia. First Results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2017 The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces the first results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2017. Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal becomes Political On March 2-4, 2016, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted the 5th International Gender Workshop Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal Becomes Political. Europe, Let’s Speak Out for LGBTI Rights in South Caucasus LGBTI individuals and LGBTI human rights defenders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are facing huge challenges as LGBTI rights issues are currently shaped by EU, Russia, and South Caucasus geopolitical and economic interests. Could the European Neighbourhood Policy and other EU foreign policy initiatives contribute to the improvement of the LGBTI rights situation in the region? By Carlotta Weber Green Prospects in the Youth Political Activism in Armenia and Georgia The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces a call for participation in the Green Academy 2016 Spring Session in Armenia Green Prospects in the Youth Political Activism in Armenia and Georgia (22-24, March 2016, Tsakhkadzor, Armenia). Информация на русском языке LGBTI Rights in the South Caucasus Discussed at European Institutions On Dec. 8-11, 2015, the project partners from Armenia and Georgia within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, and an LGBT activist from Azerbaijan participated in an annual event organized by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms. Ulrike Lunacek, in cooperation with the Greens/EFA, the EP Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, and the HBS EU office. Forgotten History - Memory between Defiance and Collaboration (2016) (closed project) In 2016 The Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SOVLAB) implemented the project Forgotten History - Memory between Defiance and Collaboration in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office. Armenian-Georgian Cooperation on the Edges of Contradicting Political Projects On November 20, 2015, the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted public debate Armenian-Georgian Cooperation on the Edges of Contradicting Political Projects. Here we present video of the event. On the Margins of the European History and Politics: Why Should Georgia’s Voice Be Heard? How “creators” of global history (West, Russia) see us in their historical and cultural narratives? What place do they give us? And why? Final Results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2015/2016 The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces the final results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2015/2016. #ElectricYerevan: Ein kleiner Fortschritt, kein großer Maidan Am 19. Juni begannen Proteste gegen erhöhte Elektrizitätspreise in Eriwan. Mit der Auflösung der Barrikaden am 6. Juli endete die Bewegung vorerst. Zwischenzeitlich bekam sie großen Zulauf und kann als Schritt in Richtung Stärkung der armenischen Zivilgesellschaft gesehen werden. By Nino Lejava and Steffen Kolberg International Gender Workshops (2012-2015) (ongoing project) International Gender Workshop series is cooperation between different offices of Heinrich Boell Foundation and brings together gender program coordinators from respective offices and partner experts. Six hypotheses on the role of civil society actors in the Great Transition The professional NGO world is unable to reverse the major global trends. It can, however, prevent projects and policies by forging powerful alliances - and build alternatives. By Barbara Unmüßig How has civic activism changed local democracy? On April 23, 2015, Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office hosted public debates "How has civic activism changed local democracy?" Armenia’s Eurasian Choice: Is the EU Integration Still at Stake? Since a controversial decision to sacrifice an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of joining the then-Customs Union, Armenia has gradually comes to terms with its new, more limited position. By Richard Giragosian Who is Afraid of Gender Based Quotas? On March 25, 2015 Public debate “Who is Afraid of Gender Based Quotas?” was held at the office of Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus. Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017) (closed project) The Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, with financial support of the EU, has initiated the implementation and overall supervision of a three-year action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, executed by a working group of NGOs - Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG), Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) in Georgia and Society Without Violence (SWV) and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia. WISG - Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017) Within the framework of the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, WISG is tasked with managing the components of the societal attitudes study in Georgia, designing the training manual and conducting CSO capacity building trainings; managing the small grants component as a follow-up to the trainings, and implementing the micro grants component to enhancing the visibility of the action and its results. Lectures in Gori: the “Unknown” Soviet Past (2015) (closed project) A non-governmental organization Cooperation for Peace and Progress (CPP) in partnership with the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation implemented a project Lectures in Gori: the “Unknown” Soviet Past. Closing Round of the Series of Keep the History Workshops Seven Months after the first meeting of 14 Georgian researchers within the workshop on oral history methodology the results of the project were presented at the Europe House in Tbilisi on November 11, 2014. Lessons of Georgian Reforms for Ukraine On October 21-22, Heinrich Boell Foundation office in Kiev hosted series of events Lessons of Georgian Reforms for Ukraine. Rethinking Stalinist History through the publication of Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin (2014) (closed project) The goal of the project implemented in June-October, 2014 was to publish the Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy D. Snyder in Georgian. The given book which was awarded a 2013 Hannah Arendt prize is a highly original treatment of the atrocities Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia committed in the territory between them — what are now the modern Baltic countries, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and a portion of Russia. Human Rights in Azerbaijan: Chronicles of a Crackdown Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus has been arrested in Baku. The regime’s savage crackdown on press and opposition started long before the presidential elections of 2013. By Nino Lejava Exhibition "Supra of Her Own" (2014) (closed project) Installation based on the interviews with victims of domestic violence. The aim of exhibition is to re-interpret gender-based violence in order to make it subject of research and public discussion. Cinema Express: Armenia – Georgia (2014) (closed project) Goal of the project implemented in June-November, 2014 was to employ culture (and especially the cinema culture) as an effective medium for intercultural dialogue, conflict resolution, transformation, reconciliation and promotion of social justness and socio-cultural participation in Armenia and Georgia. Web Dossier: World Cup for whom? World Cup for what? Dossier: Brazil will host the most expensive World Cup of all time. Around 85 percent of the expenses will be funded with public money. For the first time in history, a multitude of questions are being raised about the real meaning of an international mega-event for the host population. This web dossier was designed to add relevant data regarding the guarantee of people's rights and as offer for critical perspectives about the realities on the ground. Ukraine between Revolution and War On May 22-23 South Caucasus Regional Office organized series of events "Ukraine between Revolution and War" Designing Democratic Public Space in Yerevan (2014) (closed project) On February 2014 the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (Yerevan, Armenia) with financial support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office started implemetation of the project "Designing Democratic Public Space in Yerevan". Stalin’s lists from Georgia (2011-2013) (closed project) In 2011-13 Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in cooperation with International Society “Memorial” (Russian Federation) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia with financial support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia and Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office implemented a project "Stalin's lists from Georgia." The group of researchers was searching and analyzing information about the 1937-38 “Great Terror” victims for more than 2 years. The South Caucasus on the Crossroads: Where Will the Road to Vilnius Lead? With the EaP Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, approaching on November 28-29, 2013, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the HBF aims to give insiders’ views on state of Armenia's, Azerbaijan's and Georgia's integration into the European community. One Year after its first Democratic Change of Government: Georgia on the Road to Europe? In Georgia, the victory of the electoral coalition ‘Georgian Dream ─ Democratic Georgia‘ (Georgian Dream Coalition) led by the popular billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in the parliamentary election in October 2012 brought about the first democratic change of government in the history of the country. By Manana Kochladze and Ivlian Haindrava Quo vadis Armenia: North or West? In a year which has seen positive developments for Armenia last week the government of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan returned to its long tradition of blundering. By Nino Lejava and Konstanty Kuzma South Caucasus on the Crossroads: 10 Years of Heinrich Boell Foundation in the Region On 5-6 June, Heinrich Boell Foundation dedicated a two-day conference to celebrate the date together with its partners from all three South Caucasian countries, as well as the representatives of Academic sphere. Understanding Stalin’s Cult of Personality in Today’s Reality Stalin still evokes sympathy decades and generations later, as more time passes. What do schools teach pupils about Stalin, why does the new generation feel sympathy for Stalin’s image? Roundtable Discussion on Civil Society Issues with the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves A strong democracy requires a vibrant, active civil society, said Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia, at the beginning of a roundtable discussion with representatives of Georgian civil society. He offered constructive criticism to the group, which met at the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in talks co-organized by the Estonian Embassy in Georgia, on 5 July 2011. By Toomas Hendrik Ilves Statement of the First Working Group of the EaP Civil Society Forum on events of 26th of May in Georgia We, participants of the First Working Group on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability of the EaP Civil Society Forum deeply regret the events that took place in the capital of Georgia on 26th of May, when riot police violently dispersed largely peaceful demonstration using excessive force. Books presentation On April 15, 2011 the Heinrich Boell Foundation organized a presentation at the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia to mark the donation of a collection of publications and academic papers on Soviet history to the National Library. Public Debates at the Heinrich Boell Foundation - 2005 List of Public Debates conducted at the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office in 2005 and summaries of these events are available here.
The optical illusion of tolerance, and the politics of indifference This article discusses several key policy features relating to ethnic and religious minorities thirty years after Georgia’s independence. By Sophie Zviadadze
A portrait of a migrant: Azerbaijanis in Germany Germany leads as a destination country for migrants from Azerbaijan ahead of other European states. It is hard to provide an accurate number but according to various expert estimates, Germany is home to approximately 20 to 30 thousand Azerbaijani migrants. By Nika Musavi
State, Capital, and New Antagonism The recent Namakhvani Hydro Power Plant protests, which started with ecological concerns turned into a path breaking critique of the Georgian state, opposing all the foundations on which the imaginary of development stands: commodification of nature, exploitation of workers, neglecting the public voice, prioritization of private capital interests above the public welfare, and violent methods By Ia Eradze
Georgia through the prism of social contracts The purpose of this essay is to discuss the four formal and informal governments of post-Soviet Georgia, which were led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Eduard Shevardnadze, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Bidzina Ivanishvili, through the prism of vertical social contracts. By Dr. Zaal Andronikashvili
A post-revolutionary hike through Armenia’s information technology landscape This essay describes a journey in time. We ‘hike’ from the aftermath of the Velvet Revolution to the 2021 election. The hike covers selected parts of the IT landscape, especially its role as a driver for economic transformation and social change. By Christian Kexel
Waves of Judicial Reform That Cannot Reach the Shore The Georgian judiciary has been in the process of ongoing reform since Georgia gained its independence. However, to this day, we have not created judicial institutions that will resist internal and external influences. We could not make a system free from internal corporate, financial, or party interests. By Guram Imnadze
Obsessed with Doubts? Mistrust and Conspiracy Theories in Academic Literature Discussions around the most popular topics in Georgia are often submerged in doubts and mistrust. Many social groups feel that everything is not what it seems at first glance, the explanation of events is often misleading, and there are alternative understandings of what is going on that are rarely revealed and are kept secret. By Mariam Shalvashvili
Ethnography of modern airports While visiting Kutaisi Airport, the question came to my mind how would it be possible to study this area through ethnography lenses. Airports are somewhat new places of study, and I have not heard of academic research in this regard. By Dato Laghidze
Pride and Prejudice: Georgia after the Escalation of Violence against Civil Society More than 50 people were injured in attacks on journalists and civil society in Tbilisi in early July in connection with Pride Week. The German Federal Government and the EU should strongly urge their Georgian partners to address the violence through prompt and comprehensive legal and political action. By Dr. Sonja Schiffers
2021 snap elections in Armenia: Internal and external security risks As stated by a number of political and public figures, there is a concern about the possibility of a civil war. By Sossi Tatikyan
Le(f)t’s do it:Features, Problems and Prospects of the Left in Azerbaijan Left-wing ideology in Azerbaijan – as it usually happens in the post-soviet space – is associated with the Soviet past, the era, most would love to forget about, rewrite, or even cancel somehow. Thus, it has a bad reputation. Read in Azerbaijani, Read in Russian By Nika Musavi
Georgia: trapped in a spiral of escalation The neoliberal political elite are uninterested in the needs of a society stricken by a pandemic. Their egotism favours informal structures leading to a creeping "Russification" of the country. By Dr. Stefan Meister
Strategic sovereignty in the EU’s Southeastern neighborhood: The Black Sea as part of a larger geopolitical region As part of a larger geopolitical region, the Wider Black Sea requires greater commitment from the EU in the areas of security, renewable energy, and connectivity. By Dr. Stefan Meister
Հեղափոխությունից մինչև պատերազմ․ ներքաղաքական զարգացումները Հայաստանում Read in English By Gor Madoyan
From Revolution to war: Domestic developments in Armenia The corona virus crisis and the ineffective governance substantially undermined public confidence in the ruling party and its political weight. By Gor Madoyan
Azerbaijan update: From COVID-19 to the New War in Nagorno-Karabakh Aliyev’s popularity reached its peak during the war; the oppositional leaders stopped their criticism, while Aliyev’s actions were perceived as a just and victorious war. The active support of Turkey during the conflict inevitably led to the re-articulation and dynamic perception of Turkey as the “big brother”. By Bahruz Samadov
Precarious peace – Nagorno-Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement The new ceasefire agreement negotiated between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan has grave geopolitical and domestic consequences for the South Caucasus states. Stefan Meister, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus, explains 10 consequences of the agreement. By Dr. Stefan Meister
"Stop the war in the South Caucasus" Ellen Ueberschär demands an immediate ceasefire and negotiations for a sustainable peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh with EU support needed
The Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 and Oil Price Fluctuations in Azerbaijan This paper seeks to analyze the economic and social responses to COVID-19, question the accuracy and inclusivity of these responses, as well as reflect how oil price fluctuations and the pandemic could impact Azerbaijan’s socioeconomic policy projection. By Ilaha Abasli
Հեռավար կրթության կազմակերպումը COVID 19-ի պայմաններում Աշխարհում նոր տեսակի կորոնավիրուսի (COVID 19) բռնկումը մեծ փոփոխություններ բերեց սոցիալական փոխհարաբերություններում և դրանց կազմակերպման գործընթացում։ By Anahit Aleqyan
No. 115: The COVID-19 Pandemic in the South Caucasus This issue of the Caucasus Analytical Digest focuses on the structural challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has made visible in all three South Caucasus states.
A Pandemic and the Uncompleted Project of Georgian Statehood The pandemic has become a litmus test to diagnose the ailments of contemporary states and political regimes. The state of emergency, which the pandemic brought about, also serves as a revelation demonstrating the political and social realities of the whole world without embellishment, which was impossible under normal circumstances. By Giorgi Maisuradze
COVID-19 and its impact on migration: the case of Armenia In the case of Armenia, as much elsewhere in the world, refugees are amongst the vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic and the economic and social hardships accompanying it. By Armen Ghazaryan
"Die Regierungen wissen, dass ihre Systeme das nicht stemmen" Im Südkaukasus wurde früh mit Restriktionen auf die Covid-19-Ausbreitung reagiert. Wie gehen Armenien, Georgien und die Diktatur Aserbaidschan durch die Corona-Pandemie?
Call for Small Research Grants - Women and World War II in Soviet Armenia The Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Region, Yerevan Branch Office announces a call for small research grants for students, young researchers, historians and anthropologists from Armenia. Read in Armenian
Call for Small Research Grants - Women and World War II in Soviet Azerbaijan The Heinrich Boell Foundation Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region announces a call for small research grants for students, young researchers, gender specialists, historians and anthropologists from Azerbaijan.
European History Forum: 30 Years after 1989 My research focused on the protest rallies that took place on April 9, 1989. Today in Georgia, on the 30th anniversary of the 9th of April, many associate this day with the restoration of Georgia’s independence. In fact, it is undeniable that the sequence of the events that transpired that day, coupled with all the other circumstances unfolding in 1989, created the preconditions for the restoration of Georgia’s independence. By Katie Sartania
Transformations of the Communist Party’s official newspaper “Soviet Armenia” in 1989 This paper discusses the structural and ideological transformations of the Communist party’s official newspaper Soviet Armenia and follows a case-study approach based on the oral history interview. By Parandzem Paryan
1 year after Armenia’s Velvet Revolution: Changes and Expectations What has changed in Armenia since the Velvet Revolution and what are the main issues on the political agenda currently?
Armenian translations of 80’s feminist texts The evening before the international women’s day, the hbs Tbilisi office Yerevan Branch presented its first Anthology of Armenian translations of 80’s feminist texts. More than 60 people attended the presentation that took Place at Zangak Publishing House, including five members of the Parliament.
From shrinking space to post-revolutionary space: re-imagining the role and relations of civil society in Armenia The research demonstrates how progressive civil society groups became the avant-garde of the Armenian revolution by acting as an inspiration and role model for larger social groups by popularizing various mechanisms and techniques of resistance.
Russia's Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine and Georgia Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Tbilisi Office - South Caucasus Region organized the public debate "Russia’s hybrid warfare in Ukraine and Georgia".
The LGBTI rights and the Revolution The people’s revolution in Armenia last spring and the developments thereafter had a certain impact on the discussions about LGBTI rights. In the extremely active political process, this topic became one of the most speculated with themes. By Arthur Minasyan
Why Armenians Call for a Velvet Revolution For almost a week now, huge rallies have shaken the Armenian capital of Yerevan, where Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leaders of the movement, called for a “velvet revolution”. But will the protesters this time successfully press for democratic accountability? By Dr. Sonja Schiffers
Why LGBT People Emigrate from Armenia: Three Stories Portraits Between 2011 and 2013 alone 5,891 LGBT people left Armenia. This article will tell the first-hand story of lesbian, bisexual and transgender Armenian citizens who have moved to different EU countries. By Arthur Minasyan
On Transgender Day of Remembrance, Legal Gender Recognition Discussed at Round Table in Tbilisi On November 20, 2017, the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is marked annually in memory of trans* persons who have lost their lives to transphobic violence, the hbs South Caucasus Regional Office, held a round table meeting on issues of legal gender recognition (LGR) in Tbilisi.
The LGBTI Solidarity Network Wraps Up Its Active Phase in Armenia Summary On September 28, 2017, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, together with its partners PINK and SWV organised a Wrap-up Stakeholder Meeting of the EU-funded Project “Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia”, which was being implemented since early 2015 in Aremnia and Georgia. հայերեն
hbs Series of LGBTI Public Discussions: Soviet Legacy: Repressed Sexuality and Ideologised Homophobia Religion and Sexuality On June 30, July 13, and July 14, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with project partners, the Women's Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) held three LGBTI-focused public discussions in Gori, Kutaisi and Batumi.
From International Revolution to a National State – The Case of Georgian Social Democracy (1917-1921) In the twilight years of the 19th century, the Georgian people were faced with a number of challenges. Although the abolition of feudalism had liberated the peasantry, they had not been given land and their afflicted state remained the same. A number of freed peasants headed for the cities and filled the ranks of the proletariat, encountering “brute capitalism” in a place where basic labour rights were not regulated. By Beka Kobakhidze
From Revolutionary Struggle to Social Emancipation On 5 March 1917, at 11 o’clock in the morning, many members of the Caucasian workers’ movement and thousands of ordinary citizens gathered in Nadzaladevi’s Theatre Square. The revolutionaries had assembled in order to receive the latest reports of the events then unfolding in St Petersburg. The people were interested in hearing whether the February Revolution had achieved its goal. By Levan Lortkipanidze
Rebecca Harms’ visit to Georgia On July 12-16, 2017, Ms Rebecca Harms, member of the European Parliament, visited Georgia. Ms Harms participated in the conference “European Way of Georgia” held in Batumi, and also held meetings with representatives of the civil society organizations, media and political parties in Tbilisi.
Join the Declaration on the Achievement of Equal Rights for LGBTI Persons in Georgia! The long-term advocacy strategy/declaration to combat homo/bi/transphobia aims to support the elimination of discrimination against LGBTI persons in Georgia via a complex approach. We call on organisations that share the issues outlined in the strategy/declaration to join and confirm their support.
War and Peace: Armenian Elections 2017 On April 2, 2017 Parliamentary elections took place in Armenia. These were the first national elections after the Constitutional Referendum of 2015 which transformed the country from a Presidential into a Parliamentary Republic. An analysis.
Social Protests of 2010-2016 in Georgia: Experience and Perspectives (2017) (closed project) The project implemented by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre – EMC served the goal to promote civic participation and sustainable development through in-depth research of social movements related to environmental, cultural, and social aspects of urban development.
Gender and Law Discussed in Georgian Parliament On December 20, the Georgian Parliament hosted a Conference on Gender and Law: Gender Analysis of Georgian Legislation. The centerpiece of the conference was an extensive Gender and Law study prepared by Partnership for Human Rights with EWMI-PROLoG’s support and expertise from the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
Small Grants Competition - Call for Applications The Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) in Georgia and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia, in cooperation with the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, are announcing a Call for Project Proposals for a small grants component within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017).
Civic Charter Repression of civil society is on the rise all over the world, even in supposedly democratic countries above reproach. Especially activists and organisations who advocate for democracy, human rights, and social and environmental justice are under pressure.
The Future of Civic Space: Towards a Re-solidarisation and Re-politisation of Civil Society Civil society space is under attack worldwide. In her welcoming speech to the Global Perspectives Conference, Barbara Unmüßig urged 160 representatives of civil society organisations from around the globe to stand in solidarity with each other and to put the issue of shrinking and closing spaces back on the political agenda. By Barbara Unmüßig
Armenia, Georgia and BiH Exchange Lessons Learned in Advancing LGBTI Rights On November 7-11, 2016, the project staff of the cross-border EU-funded initiative Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to participate in a capacity building study tour aimed to transfer the experience of a similar EU-funded action Coming out! - Advocating promotion and protection of LGBT rights, implemented by the Heinrich Boell Foundation Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Sarajevo Open Center and CURE Foundation.
Armenian and Georgian Partners Share Knowledge and Experience during Capacity Building Tour in Tbilisi On October 25-28, 2016, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, in cooperation with partners, hosted a group of activists, representatives of Armenian CSOs and LGBTI organizations in the scope of a capacity-building tour, which aimed to connect these actors with LGBTI organizations, other NGOs and equality body representatives in Georgia.
Die Türkei driftet ab - und Europa schaut zu Ralf Fücks schildert in seinem Reisebericht Eindrücke über die aktuelle politische Situation in der Türkei. Es ist ein Zeugnis der erschütternden Lage eines Landes, das den Weg zu einer Demokratie verlassen hat. By Ralf Fücks
Parliamentary Elections in Georgia A few days ago, the Georgian population elected a portion of the 9th parliament since the country’s independence. In more than 50 single-member districts a second round of elections is scheduled. By Levan Lortkipanidze
Read politics Project "Read politics" is initiated by two women and aims at aims at raising awareness and promoting the culture of reading, or simply to say political reading isn't only getting familiar with the political document but it is a political analysis and critics of the text.
Greening the Baltic Pride Baltic Pride week, whose principal slogan was "We Are People, Not Propaganda!", lasted from June 13 to 23 with the Pride March taking place on June 18 and a number of associated events conducted throughout principally organized by the Lithuanian National LGBT* Rights Organization (LGL).
June 13: Lessons Learned On June 16, 2016, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted public debate "June13: Lessons Learned".
Anne Lister and her travel in Georgia. Public lecture by Dr. Angela Steidele Dr. Angela Steidele's lecture about Anne Lister, lesbian author and traveller from Great Britain, who died in Georgia. By Dr. Angela Steidele
The Defense of Internal and External Borders: Political Discourses and Key Elements of the Refugee Crisis On May 27th, 2016, Auditorium #115 (I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University) hosted Attila Melegh's Public Lecture The Defense of Internal and External Borders: Political Discourses and Key Elements of the Refugee Crisis. By Attila Melegh
Strategies for Armenian-Georgian Cooperation through Academia and Student Inclusion (2015-2017) (closed project) Strategies for Armenian-Georgian Cooperation through Academia and Student Inclusion is the project supported by the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and implemented by Hazarashen Center for Ethnological Studies in cooperation with the Center of Civilization and Cultural Studies and Association of Anthropologists of Georgia.
First Results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2017 The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces the first results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2017.
Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal becomes Political On March 2-4, 2016, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted the 5th International Gender Workshop Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal Becomes Political.
Europe, Let’s Speak Out for LGBTI Rights in South Caucasus LGBTI individuals and LGBTI human rights defenders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are facing huge challenges as LGBTI rights issues are currently shaped by EU, Russia, and South Caucasus geopolitical and economic interests. Could the European Neighbourhood Policy and other EU foreign policy initiatives contribute to the improvement of the LGBTI rights situation in the region? By Carlotta Weber
Green Prospects in the Youth Political Activism in Armenia and Georgia The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces a call for participation in the Green Academy 2016 Spring Session in Armenia Green Prospects in the Youth Political Activism in Armenia and Georgia (22-24, March 2016, Tsakhkadzor, Armenia). Информация на русском языке
LGBTI Rights in the South Caucasus Discussed at European Institutions On Dec. 8-11, 2015, the project partners from Armenia and Georgia within the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, and an LGBT activist from Azerbaijan participated in an annual event organized by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms. Ulrike Lunacek, in cooperation with the Greens/EFA, the EP Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, and the HBS EU office.
Forgotten History - Memory between Defiance and Collaboration (2016) (closed project) In 2016 The Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SOVLAB) implemented the project Forgotten History - Memory between Defiance and Collaboration in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office.
Armenian-Georgian Cooperation on the Edges of Contradicting Political Projects On November 20, 2015, the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted public debate Armenian-Georgian Cooperation on the Edges of Contradicting Political Projects. Here we present video of the event.
On the Margins of the European History and Politics: Why Should Georgia’s Voice Be Heard? How “creators” of global history (West, Russia) see us in their historical and cultural narratives? What place do they give us? And why?
Final Results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2015/2016 The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation announces the final results of the Call for Project Proposals for 2015/2016.
#ElectricYerevan: Ein kleiner Fortschritt, kein großer Maidan Am 19. Juni begannen Proteste gegen erhöhte Elektrizitätspreise in Eriwan. Mit der Auflösung der Barrikaden am 6. Juli endete die Bewegung vorerst. Zwischenzeitlich bekam sie großen Zulauf und kann als Schritt in Richtung Stärkung der armenischen Zivilgesellschaft gesehen werden. By Nino Lejava and Steffen Kolberg
International Gender Workshops (2012-2015) (ongoing project) International Gender Workshop series is cooperation between different offices of Heinrich Boell Foundation and brings together gender program coordinators from respective offices and partner experts.
Six hypotheses on the role of civil society actors in the Great Transition The professional NGO world is unable to reverse the major global trends. It can, however, prevent projects and policies by forging powerful alliances - and build alternatives. By Barbara Unmüßig
How has civic activism changed local democracy? On April 23, 2015, Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office hosted public debates "How has civic activism changed local democracy?"
Armenia’s Eurasian Choice: Is the EU Integration Still at Stake? Since a controversial decision to sacrifice an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of joining the then-Customs Union, Armenia has gradually comes to terms with its new, more limited position. By Richard Giragosian
Who is Afraid of Gender Based Quotas? On March 25, 2015 Public debate “Who is Afraid of Gender Based Quotas?” was held at the office of Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus.
Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017) (closed project) The Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, with financial support of the EU, has initiated the implementation and overall supervision of a three-year action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, executed by a working group of NGOs - Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG), Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) in Georgia and Society Without Violence (SWV) and Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK) in Armenia.
WISG - Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia (2015-2017) Within the framework of the EU-funded action Solidarity Network for LGBTI in Armenia and Georgia, WISG is tasked with managing the components of the societal attitudes study in Georgia, designing the training manual and conducting CSO capacity building trainings; managing the small grants component as a follow-up to the trainings, and implementing the micro grants component to enhancing the visibility of the action and its results.
Lectures in Gori: the “Unknown” Soviet Past (2015) (closed project) A non-governmental organization Cooperation for Peace and Progress (CPP) in partnership with the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation implemented a project Lectures in Gori: the “Unknown” Soviet Past.
Closing Round of the Series of Keep the History Workshops Seven Months after the first meeting of 14 Georgian researchers within the workshop on oral history methodology the results of the project were presented at the Europe House in Tbilisi on November 11, 2014.
Lessons of Georgian Reforms for Ukraine On October 21-22, Heinrich Boell Foundation office in Kiev hosted series of events Lessons of Georgian Reforms for Ukraine.
Rethinking Stalinist History through the publication of Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin (2014) (closed project) The goal of the project implemented in June-October, 2014 was to publish the Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy D. Snyder in Georgian. The given book which was awarded a 2013 Hannah Arendt prize is a highly original treatment of the atrocities Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia committed in the territory between them — what are now the modern Baltic countries, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and a portion of Russia.
Human Rights in Azerbaijan: Chronicles of a Crackdown Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus has been arrested in Baku. The regime’s savage crackdown on press and opposition started long before the presidential elections of 2013. By Nino Lejava
Exhibition "Supra of Her Own" (2014) (closed project) Installation based on the interviews with victims of domestic violence. The aim of exhibition is to re-interpret gender-based violence in order to make it subject of research and public discussion.
Cinema Express: Armenia – Georgia (2014) (closed project) Goal of the project implemented in June-November, 2014 was to employ culture (and especially the cinema culture) as an effective medium for intercultural dialogue, conflict resolution, transformation, reconciliation and promotion of social justness and socio-cultural participation in Armenia and Georgia.
Web Dossier: World Cup for whom? World Cup for what? Dossier: Brazil will host the most expensive World Cup of all time. Around 85 percent of the expenses will be funded with public money. For the first time in history, a multitude of questions are being raised about the real meaning of an international mega-event for the host population. This web dossier was designed to add relevant data regarding the guarantee of people's rights and as offer for critical perspectives about the realities on the ground.
Ukraine between Revolution and War On May 22-23 South Caucasus Regional Office organized series of events "Ukraine between Revolution and War"
Designing Democratic Public Space in Yerevan (2014) (closed project) On February 2014 the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (Yerevan, Armenia) with financial support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office started implemetation of the project "Designing Democratic Public Space in Yerevan".
Stalin’s lists from Georgia (2011-2013) (closed project) In 2011-13 Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in cooperation with International Society “Memorial” (Russian Federation) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia with financial support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia and Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office implemented a project "Stalin's lists from Georgia." The group of researchers was searching and analyzing information about the 1937-38 “Great Terror” victims for more than 2 years.
The South Caucasus on the Crossroads: Where Will the Road to Vilnius Lead? With the EaP Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, approaching on November 28-29, 2013, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the HBF aims to give insiders’ views on state of Armenia's, Azerbaijan's and Georgia's integration into the European community.
One Year after its first Democratic Change of Government: Georgia on the Road to Europe? In Georgia, the victory of the electoral coalition ‘Georgian Dream ─ Democratic Georgia‘ (Georgian Dream Coalition) led by the popular billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in the parliamentary election in October 2012 brought about the first democratic change of government in the history of the country. By Manana Kochladze and Ivlian Haindrava
Quo vadis Armenia: North or West? In a year which has seen positive developments for Armenia last week the government of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan returned to its long tradition of blundering. By Nino Lejava and Konstanty Kuzma
South Caucasus on the Crossroads: 10 Years of Heinrich Boell Foundation in the Region On 5-6 June, Heinrich Boell Foundation dedicated a two-day conference to celebrate the date together with its partners from all three South Caucasian countries, as well as the representatives of Academic sphere.
Understanding Stalin’s Cult of Personality in Today’s Reality Stalin still evokes sympathy decades and generations later, as more time passes. What do schools teach pupils about Stalin, why does the new generation feel sympathy for Stalin’s image?
Roundtable Discussion on Civil Society Issues with the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves A strong democracy requires a vibrant, active civil society, said Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia, at the beginning of a roundtable discussion with representatives of Georgian civil society. He offered constructive criticism to the group, which met at the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in talks co-organized by the Estonian Embassy in Georgia, on 5 July 2011. By Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Statement of the First Working Group of the EaP Civil Society Forum on events of 26th of May in Georgia We, participants of the First Working Group on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability of the EaP Civil Society Forum deeply regret the events that took place in the capital of Georgia on 26th of May, when riot police violently dispersed largely peaceful demonstration using excessive force.
Books presentation On April 15, 2011 the Heinrich Boell Foundation organized a presentation at the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia to mark the donation of a collection of publications and academic papers on Soviet history to the National Library.
Public Debates at the Heinrich Boell Foundation - 2005 List of Public Debates conducted at the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office in 2005 and summaries of these events are available here.