String of concerts planned in election year, including Robbie Williams

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–As the parliamentary election draws nearer, Georgia’s Culture Ministry is planning a string of concerts, beginning in April, which will feature world famous musicians.

Negotiations have been launched with Robbie Williams and Eros Rammazotti. The names of other musicians are still not known. It is also uncertain how much money will be allocated from the state budget.

The concerts will be held in different regions at different times. One of them will be held on May 26, when Georgia marks Independence Day. The government promises that the ticket price will be ‘symbolic.’

The concerts were discussed at a cabined meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said after the meeting that in order to encourage tourism the government will allocate money for the Ministry of Culture, but he didn’t specify the amount of money.

He said the money will be designated for financing a series of cultural events, which includes bringing ‘high class’ artists to Georgia, as well as financing events with the participation of Georgian artists.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture told DFWatch that all they know at the moment is that there are negotiations with English pop singer Robbie Williams and the Italian singer Eros Rammazotti, and ‘many other popular world stars.’

We asked how much this will cost and were told that this will be known in about a week.

During the Saakashvili presidency, the then opposition, which is now in power, criticized the government for spending state money on holding the same type of events.

Culture Minister Mikheil Machavariani told journalists that the difference is that the events won’t be held in a ‘chaotic and uncontrolled’ way.

“This is why tickets will be sold, but for a symbolic price, so that everyone who wants to will be able to attend,” he said.

Nika Rurua, who was culture minister during Saakashvili, told DFWatch that the government has made the right decision. He thinks that the concerts will have a positive influence on the development of tourism and culture.

“The then opposition used to criticize us when we did the same. The difference is that we are more impartial. If they take the right steps, we will praise them,” he said.