Constrained by prevailing pandemic conditions in the Republic of Georgia, a small but spirited weekend opens the 2021 chapter in UNESCO’s program.
The World Book Day handover from Kuala Lumpur to Tbilisi took place on World Book Day (April 23). Image: Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association
Kaladze: ‘A Unique Opportunity’
As is its custom, UNESCO’s World Book Capital program used World Book Day (Friday, April 23) to make its transfer from the 2020 city to the new 2021 designee.
Less than three years after its 2018 Guest of Honor Georgia program at Frankfurter Buchmesse–World Book Capital Tbilisi (2021) has accepted its new designation in a handover ceremony with Kuala Lumpur (2020). Guadalajara has been named the 2022 World Book Capital by UNESCO.
The violent state arrest Tuesday of Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia prompts a message of alarm to the world publishing community from Tbilisi.
Nika Melia, November 2017. Image: European People’s Party, CC-by-2.5
‘The Threat We Are Facing’
In the aftermath of today’s (February 23) early-hours arrest of Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia, the Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association and PEN Center Georgia have issued an urgent joint statement made available to
Publishing Perspectives.
“The current government of Georgia,” the statement reads, “has embarked on a path of dictatorial rule and after the usurpation of state institutions, began prosecuting and arresting its political opponents.