Who owns georgia

Yet, politically motivated conflicts persist in the field of media, with an ongoing legal battle over the ownership of the channel Rustavi 2. The political polarization which exists in the country also impacts on media outlets: several cable and internet outlets appear to be owned by anti-Western and religious organizations, raising questions about their independence.

A second report by TI Georgia examines the ownership of regional media outlets , their role and funding. What are the consequences of this consolidation of power for the judiciary, the law enforcement system or the media? What is its impact on elections?

How does it affect the daily affairs of citizens and change the places where they live? Georgian has its own letter alphabet thought to be based on the sort of Aramaic spoken in the time of Jesus. To the untutored eye, the letters look very much alike. A squiggle too far and your "k" can easily turn into a "v" or a "p".

But even without understanding it, Georgian writing is beautiful, a myriad of theatrical swirls and flourishes. Very fitting to a country of dramatic personalities. At least, not by Georgians. They call their country Sakartvelo. The origins of the country's name in English are obscure.

One theory points to the Middle Ages when Christian crusaders swept through the region on their way to the Holy Land. At that time, it was part of the Persian Empire and the people here were known as "Gurj". They were also devotees of St George. Theory has it that the crusaders made the connection and named the country Georgia.

These days, there's no mistaking the link to St George. A golden statue of the saint slaying a dragon dominates Tbilisi's central square. He is also Georgia's patron saint and the national flag featuring his red cross on a white background is everywhere. Go to any flea market in Georgia and you're likely to stumble across a moustachioed face looking out at you amid the bric-a-brac.

Sixty years after his death there's still a market for portraits of Joseph Stalin, the Georgian-born ruler of the former Soviet Union. As Georgia's most famous son, attitudes here towards "Uncle Joe" are complicated. After independence, many Stalin statues were torn down but now some are returning to town squares. Some older Georgians revere him as a strong leader, who defeated Hitler, and are proud that tiny Georgia produced someone who had such an impact on world history.

But more often he's viewed as a tyrant responsible for brutal purges of his own people. What's the highest mountain range in Europe? The Alps? It is the Caucasus Mountains marking the border between Georgia and Russia.

While the highest peak is in Russia, Georgia lays claim to the second highest, Shkara, which at 5,m 17, ft beats Mont Blanc by nearly m 1, ft. These dramatic mountains, with their terrifying hairpin roads and hidden villages cut off at winter, are the stuff of legend.

In Greek mythology they were one of the pillars holding up the world.