Droa - Georgia on the move

Dates

2022 - 2022
Author

Jana Islinger
Topics Portrait, Social Issues, Documentary
Location Georgia

Georgia, located at the easternmost end of Europe, is caught in the tension of a conflict between pro-western reorientation and the sphere of influence historically claimed by Russia, which is reflect

Droa [„It’s time“] is a photographic search for the identity of a country between the dream about Europe, the fear of Russia and the consequences brought by years of oppression.

"I’ve been living in Tbilisi since I was born. The Georgian mentality is very different to the European one. The freedom that women have in Europe, we will not get as long as we are not part of it. As a girl, you need parents who support you, but there are not many. The role model is very deeply rooted in most people. I find it difficult to explain this problem to my foreign friends, because they often can’t understand. We all have our issues here, age doesn’t matter. I am happy most of the time, but I also have big challenges to overcome. One day I want to become a doctor. And if I want to get the best education, of course, I have to go abroad. My biggest dream is to study in Germany. After my education, I still want to return to my home country and use my skills there. This is the only way that something will change in this country." - Anastasia (17), Nutsubidze Plato, Tbilisi, Georgia

After the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, the large housing estates, originally built according to Soviet regulations, had to be adapted to the new conditions. The transition to a free market economy drastically affected the situations in the settlements. Almost all the apartments in the microdistricts were privatized, which led to a great deterioration of the buildings due to the lack of funds of the residents. Vazisubani, Tbilisi, Georgia

With the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops in spring 2022, the threat of Russia’s influence has become more real again and the fear of another war is all around. In response, the Georgian government has applied to join the European Union, two years earlier than originally planned. Nutsubidze Plato District, Tbilisi, Georgia

Sally, 29 years old, Nutsubidze Plato, Tbilisi, Georgia

Vaziani was a prosperous settlement for soldiers during the Soviet era. The military base is only a short distance away and is still in operation. Today the place is very decayed, many families live in the block buildings. Most of them are unemployed. Nevertheless, the solidarity and cohesion within the community is very strong. Vaziani, Georgia

Lika, 21 years old, Vaziani, Georgia

South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia in 1990. At that time, Russian troops occupied the region in the Caucasus, which encompasses large parts of the Georgian-Russian border, underlining the claims of the South Ossetians. Then, as Russia prepared to annex the province in 2008, Georgian troops intervened and entered South Ossetian territory. With the subsequent response from Russia, the Caucasus War started. The consequences were hundreds of deaths and thousands of people who had to flee to other Georgian territory. Many of them were deprived of their land and homes, are unemployed and unprotected, and continue to dream of returning to their homes in the territories now controlled by Russia. Many of the displaced people have been living in refugeecamps since the Russian-Georgian war in 2008. Most of them live on state support and struggle with the trauma of war. Tserovani Refugee Camp, Georgia

„We are glad that we got a home until we can go back one day. Back to our real home.“ - Salome, Tserovani Refugee Camp, Georgia

Soso, Paata and Temo soldiers of the war 2008, Tserovani Refugee Camp, Georgia

Tserovani Refugee Camp, Georgia

Mako, IDP from Abkhazia. Fled in 1992 and lives now in this abandoned soviet sanatorium in Tskaltubo, Georgia

Jamse, Marina and Uligu in their home, a deserted hotel in Tskaltubo. Uligu lives there with her grandchildren. They are all waiting for the government to provide them with a new home. Tskaltubo, Georgia

Luca 13 years old lives with his sister and his grandmother in an abandoned hotel in Tskaltubo, Georgia

Merabi’s room, Tskaltubo, Georgia

Merabi fled from his hometown Sokhumi in Abkhazia in 1992. Since then he has been living in one of the abandoned hotels of Tskaltubo, Georgia

The Georgian Orthodox Church has a decisive influence on the social situation in Georgia. Georgians trust their church the most. Not the government, not the judiciary and certainly not the media. Today, the Church in Georgia enjoys tax exemption, strong political influence, and a steadily growing membership. Almost 80 % of all Georgians are members of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Yet it is more fractured and divided than ever. Also, the very conservative attitude often leads to great conflicts with western-oriented politics and the young generation fighting for their own freedom. Orthodox cross on the roadside, Mingrelia, Georgia

Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, recalls the Soviet massacre of April 9, 1989. On that day, the Soviet army attacked a peaceful demonstration for independence in Tbilisi. At least twenty people were tragically killed. Two years later, Georgia became independent again. Tbilisi, 9 April 2022

Meeting room of the political party United National Movement, Tbilisi, Georgia

Independence Day is one of the most important holidays. Since the 19th century, Georgia was occupied by Russia. On May 26, 1918, the democratic government of the „First Republic of Georgia“ declared the country’s independence. Tbilisi, Georgia

In Georgia, the „new generation“ can be defined as those born after the end of communism in 1991. Since they grew up in a completely different system than their parents, their views differ far more fundamentally than it is the case in Western Europe, for example. They grew up in a world where the possibility for free decisions should have been a matter of course, but today they still have to deal with traditional values of society. Ongoing protests in 2018 have shown how emotionally Georgian youth react when they see their right to free expression restricted by the government. After several raids and the closure of two techno clubs in Tbilisi, up to 15,000 people gathered for protests in the following days, triggering a democracy movement. They see the government’s restrictive drug policy as a pretext for criminalizing political dissidents. Renata in front of the Technoclub Bassiani, Tbilisi, Georgia