Bidzina and Coyotes

Aleko Tskitishvili

Entire Tbilisi and supposedly, entire Georgian population is speaking only about Bidzina Ivanishvili’s press-conference. Ecstatic comments are endlessly made in social networks and online forums.

My observation shows that journalists are targets of public criticism mostly. “Is it Georgian journalism?!” – people wonders.

I want to start my letter with the answer to this question: “NO, it is not journalism at all and it has never been either Georgian or any other journalism.”

“I am not ashamed,” a journalist from Gori - Goga Aptsiauri published his article under this title and I am with him in his statement.

Why not? Only those should be ashamed who must be ashamed! And please, stop insulting journalists! 

Eliso Chapidze, journalist, editor of the newspaper Mteli Kvira (Whole Week):“I am proud with my polite, nice, courteous boys and girls; I adore you, my journalists from the Resonance (newspaper) and all my well-mannered colleagues…”

Let us recall who asked main questions during the press-conference and what was their purpose when asking the questions: they were journalists from the Georgian Public Broadcasting, Rustavi 1, Imedi, Georgian Public Radio Station, Presa.ge, ITV.ge, Tabula, PrimeTime and of course insubstantially real Real.TV…

These pseudo-media controlled the situation during the press-conference. They were acting like mechanic marionettes, who had been cracked beforehand [to ask questions]. They did not allow each other to ask question and tried to be first to throw a stone at the person whom they had asked a simple question if it had been a normal situation and would have politely waited for his answers…

Did you expect different press-conference with the participation of those coyotes?

Malkhaz Kharbedia,, a literary person:“Today’s press-conference failed everything that was achieved by the century-long struggle for the accomplishment of verbal expression because, what happened today [at the press-conference] it was beyond verbal description.”

It is really impossible to verbally disclose the cruelty of the coyotes from the GPB, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Public Radio, Presa.ge, ITV.ge, Tabula, PrimeTime and Real.TV who attacked Bidzina Ivanishvili – a debutant in the Georgian politics.

So, with your permission I will borrow posts from my friends’ walls on Facebook.

The press-conference debut of Ivanishvili was not very successful.

Tea Topuria;  writer and journalist:  “The press-conference reminded me a wedding-party with about 100 guests in a village, where the situation gets uncontrolled and Tamada starts shouting “please, listen to me”.
 
However, people mostly express their sympathy with Bidzina Ivanishvili rather than with coyotes. Universal online forum – www.forum.ge even launched polls inquiring:How do feel about Ivanishvili after the press-conference? By now, 1450 users have participated in the poll. 67, 78 % of them like Ivanishvili; 26, 16 % has negative impression about the businessman, 5, 77% chose the third question of the poll (I assume they were cynic when selecting it): “And when was the press-conference?”

And yet, despite everything, nobody expected the pseudo-media to be so impudent. Apparently, nobody taught etiquette of press-conference to those coyotes but why did not they recall the talk-shows of their TV-Channels when they allow each guest to ask only one question?! Will they dare to so rudely ask for a microphone or not to allow the “respondent” to answer their question during the press-conference with Misha [Saakashvili]!

Davit Paichadze,  professor of the Ilia Chavchavadze’s University, journalist:“I would have quitted my profession but today my TV-program is scheduled.”

However, Misha never gives press-conference. After traditional weekly press-conferences with the ex-president E. Shevardnadze, Georgian president has never had any press-conference. Misha adores monologues when nobody asks questions and he speaks whatever he wants. Moreover, he adores previously-staged briefings where marionettes from his favorite three national TV-Companies are sitting in the first row and ask him previously agreed questions. It is Misha’s style.

But Bidzina – the person, who was never before interviewed by journalists and we knew nothing about him, turned up more sociable and open-minded than we expected him to be.  The coyotes took advantage of this situation. Supposedly, the chaos during the live press-conference could shock any politically inspired spectator.

Tinatin Khidasheli, a leader from the Georgian Republic Party: “Good save me; I have a high temperature but I do not think I have hallucinations; or I do have it?! Now, I am watching TV and is it true what I see on it?!”

Nino Tarkhnishvili, writer, journalist for the Radio Liberty:“Oh, my god, why are those journalists gasping? Are they tired with struggling for microphone or are they excited?”

Nino’s question cannot be directly answered. However, there were several assumptions in reply to her question.

Erekle Deisadze, writer:  “Georgian journalists lack of a sex life.”

The last assumption is confirmed by the remarks of Irakli Tripolsky, spokesperson of Ivanishvili, in that trouble (maybe subconsciously):  “The woman is crazy about it, give it to her!” or even worse “Look, he is already up. Give it to her!”

Let us finish with psycho-analytic discussion and not to associate microphone with Freudian symbols.

But, I will keep on writing with humor and finish my letter with joke.

Chiti [bird]:“Mother of Georgia has revived yesterday, she camouflaged into Lika Beraia [journalist for the Rustavi 2] and went to Bidzina’s press-conference. “

Ni2News: “Bidzina Ivanishvili’s comment after the press-conference: “I will give next press-conference in the bazaar; I am sure people there will have better culture of asking questions.”

Irma Iantbelidze: “I do not know what to do! Where should I go?”

Bidzina [Ivanishvili to Tripolsky]:“Hei, man, what’s up, at least you let me say something!”