00:01Europe, freedom, democracy.
00:03Values that drove thousands of Georgians onto the streets of the capital Tbilisi two years ago.
00:09They accused the government of electoral fraud.
00:12At the same time, in the city of Gori, artists took up the protesters' chants
00:17and painted them on the walls of a gallery.
00:20Slogans like justice, not police brutality.
00:23Long live independent Georgia.
00:25When the artwork gained national fame thanks to social media,
00:30authorities responded by immediately terminating the gallery's lease.
00:35It was shocking even to us to realize that like culture and free cultural expression
00:42is something that's scary to whoever's in charge, like to ruling institutions.
00:49Demanding the artists vacate the building,
00:52city authorities claimed they planned to convert the site into a youth centre.
00:56They also cut the building's power and water supply.
00:59The artists say it was part of a larger campaign of intimidation.
01:03The real reason behind it is that like they did not like free voices, free cultural expression
01:10to be in a building which is like municipality owned.
01:15This is what they tried to explain to us that like,
01:19how dare you to have protest supporting installation in a place that is municipality owned.
01:29The Gorey Art House was opened five years ago in an old Soviet-era building.
01:36It became a creative hub in a city known primarily as the birthplace of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
01:45Today the gallery is battling a powerful system.
01:48A conflict that mirrors the growing pressure faced by many critical voices in Georgia.
01:57Harsh punishments were handed down to some who took part in the mass protests.
02:02Human rights organisations say the country is holding more than 100 people as political prisoners.
02:08Among them, world-famous operatic bass Pata Burcilatse.
02:14He was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of incitement to the violent overthrow of the government.
02:22At the state-funded House of Literature in Tbilisi,
02:25an exhibition commemorates Georgian cultural figures persecuted during the Stalin years.
02:33Its director is art critic Ketivan Dumbatse.
02:36She's a member of parliament for the ruling Georgian Dream Party.
02:42She sees no indication that artistic freedoms are being suppressed.
02:49I'm not interested in a person's political affiliations.
02:52I'm interested in their work, its literary merit.
02:56I'm in the service of literature, not in the service of any particular people.
03:01Renowned Georgian soprano Sophie Gordelatse, on the other hand, openly displays her solidarity with protesters whenever she returns home from
03:10the opera stages of the world.
03:12She believes democracy in Georgia is under threat.
03:19Unfortunately, much has changed, and not for the better. Fundamental human rights and freedoms have been increasingly curtailed.
03:30Many people can no longer speak their minds freely. Many of my friends and colleagues are afraid to voice their
03:37opinions.
03:42For her, it's especially painful that since the Georgian dream came to power 14 years ago, Georgia has drifted ever
03:50further away from European values such as tolerance and freedom of expression.
03:54This, despite the fact that membership in the EU is enshrined as an objective in the Georgian constitution.
04:00Our culture, our history, its western history. Now the government wants to change all that. That's not good news for
04:09our freedom. It's very dangerous.
04:13New controversial laws are bringing the country's cultural life under greater government control.
04:19Georgian cultural organizations receiving European funding fear they may be classified as foreign agents accepting money from abroad.
04:27The government, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of transparency. Many independent artists now fear for their future.
04:35State-run cultural institutions take a different view. They claim they operate freely. We meet stage actor Tornike Baramice at
04:43the Theatre of Batumi.
04:44He's been a professional performer for seven years and has never taken part in any protests.
04:52I wouldn't say our art is restricted. Art should essentially reflect the moods and views of society and engage with
05:00political and economic issues.
05:03But that's not its most important role. The most crucial thing is that art remains free. Artists should have the
05:11freedom to convey their messages however they choose.
05:15It's imperative that art doesn't lose its individuality and remains as free as possible.
05:23As for the artists in Gori, their fate is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, which is set
05:29to rule on the city's eviction order.
05:31If the artists lose, the gallery will have to close. A story that symbolizes the state of artistic freedom in
05:38Georgia as a whole.
05:40The N wan'
05:46The Roman American
