Literary Prize “Litera” faced a big challenge for the first time this year. The Minister of Culture Tea Tsulukiani sent her representative, an advisor of the Minister, to the jury of the award. The representative is inserted to block books that are unacceptable to the government. The representative of the ministry is homophobic, misogynistic and xenophobic and this is evidenced by almost all of his Facebook posts and letters that he publishes in ultranationalist newspapers.
Until now, the jury of “Litera” changed every year. The members of the jury were writers, literary critics, critics, translators. Despite the fact that the award was funded by the state, no one has ever interfered in the activities of “Litera”. The award was free from political meddling.
Now this situation has changed radically. Tsulukiani decided to introduce a cultural gendarmerie and wants to restore the darkest totalitarian traditions of control over culture.
We find that such brazen interference by a minister in the literary process is offensive to writers and jury members. Both the writers and the jury should be free from any attempt regarding political control. The reputation of this award is determined by the writers who participate in it and the free, democratic decision-making process: decisions are made by recognized professionals and not by dilettante officials selected on the basis of party loyalty. We thank the writers and the members of the jury who have already left “Litera” in protest. We are confident that this list will grow. Currently, 79 out of 110 writers have withdrawn their books from the competition. And all the members of the jury refused to participate in such a process, leaving only one person on the jury – the gendarme of culture.
We call on Tea Tsulukiani to immediately summon a member of the “Litera” jury appointed by her, to stop trying to impose censorship in a field completely foreign to her. We, Georgian writers, translators, literary critics, publishers, despite our different political views, are and will be united on this issue. We will not allow party control over Georgian literature.
1. Paata Shamugia
2. Zaal Andronikashvili
3. Nino SuramelaSvili
4. Nato Davitashvili
5. Dalila Gogia
6. Natia Giorgadze
7. Rusudan Rukhadze
8. Eka Kevanishvili
9. Giorgi Lobzhanidze
10. Darejan Kikoliahsvili
11. Rati Mujiri
12. Beka Kurkhuli
13. David Kashiashvili
14. Bella Chekurishvili
15. Khatuna Tskhadadze
16. Maia Badridze
17. Lana Kalandia
18. Archil Kikodze
19. Ana Kopaliani
20. Beka Adamashvili
21. Gia Gokieli
22. Manana Matiashvili
23. Kate Nizharadze
24. Irakli Kakabadze
25. Giorgi Shonia
26. Diana Anfimiadi
27. Irma Shiolashvili
28. Nato Ingorokhva
29. Natia Mikeladze
30. Otar Jirkvalishvili
31. Beso Solomonashvili
32. Shota Iayashvili
33. Lela Tsutskiiridze
34. Erekle Deisadze
35. Zurab Papiashvili
36. Maia Aludauri
37. Malkhaz Kharbedia
38. Maia kudava
39. Zviad Kvaratskhelia
40. Vasil Guleuri
41. Tamta Melashvili
42. Guram Matskhonashvili
43. Nika Lashkhia
44. Lela Samniashvili
45. Nika Cherkezishvili
46. Maka Ldokoneni
47. Gvantsa Jobava
48. Batu Danelia
49. Elene Kvirkvelia
50. Aleko Shughladze
51. Nestan Nene Kvinikadze
52. Teona Dolenjashvili
52. Davit Robakidze
53. Davit Gabunia
54. Tamar Bartaia
55. Jimsher Rekhviashvili
56. Iva Pesuashvili
57. Lasha Bugadze
58. Karda Kardukhi
59. Nene Giorgadze
60. Rezo Getiashvili
61. Ekaterine Togonidze
62. Dato Gorgiladze
63. Toresa mosi
64. Salome Benidze
65. Nino Amirejibi Rtveliashvili
66. Maia Liparteliani
67. Tornike Sibashvili
68. Lado Kilasonia
69. Gaga Nakhutsrishvili
70. Zura Abashidze
71. Lela Dumbadze
72. Alice Dogson
73. Mikheil Tsikhelashvili
74. Mate Saralishvili
75. Irakli Lomouri
76. Shorena Lebanidze
77. Tato Henkel
78. Lekso Kurkhuli
79. Giga Beriashvili
80. Mari Bekauri
81. Guram Megrelishvili
82. Giorgi Kakabadze
83. Tamar Kvizhinadze
84. Giorgi Maisuradze
85. Medea Imerlishvili
86. Luka Bakanidze
87. Tamri Fkhakadze
88. Nikoloz Agladze
89. Temur Ckhetiani
90. Tornike Chelidze
91. Maia Panjikidze
92. Keti Kantaria
93. Jano Shengelia
94. Sophio Kublashvili
95. Irina Tabaghua
96. Mikheil Ghanishashvili
97.Ia Jincharadze
98. Nino Kharatishvili
99. Natia Rostiashvili
100. Irma Tavelidze
101. Bela Tsipuria
102. Levan Berdzenishvili
103. Khatuna Tskhadadze
104. Kato Javakhishvili
105. Giorgi Arabuli
106. Bidzina Makashvili
107. Eka Kurkhuli
108. Tamar Shanidze
109. Demetre Khupenia
110. Nana Abuladze
111. Irma Shiolashvili
112. Giorgi Varamashvili
113. Nana Chikviladze
114. Maia Turabelidze
115. Rusudan Kaishauri
116. Lika Chapidze
117. Papuna Giorgadze
118. Gorvaneli (Levan Gorvaneli)
119. Nana Ekvtimishvili
120. Irakli Makharadze
