Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus : A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus

First Published in 2015. The author of the acclaimed Azerbaijan Diary and Chechnya Diary now recounts his experiences in the strife-ridden Republic of Georgia. Soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Georgia fell prey to a series of power struggles, rampant crime and corruption, secessionist wars, and the spillover of the war in neighboring Chechenya. Journalist Goltz traces these developments with the same kind of vivid, personal narrative that made his previous books so compelling. This fast-paced, first-person account is filled with fascinating details about the ongoing struggles of this little-known region of the former Soviet Union. Featuring memorable portraits of individuals in high places and low, it traces the story from 1992 through the Rose Revolution, the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, and the new presidency of U.S.-educated Mikhail Saakashvili. "Soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Georgia fell prey to a series of power struggles, rampant crime and corruption, secessionist movements, and the spillover of the bitter war in neighboring Chechnya. Journalist Thomas Goltz traces these developments... This fast-paced, first-person account is filled with eye-opening details about the ongoing struggles in another little-known region of the former Soviet Union. Featuring memorable portraits of individuals in high places and low, it traces the story from 1992 through the 'Rose Revolution,' the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, and the new presidency of U.S.-educated Mikheil Saakashvili."--book jacket. Prologue: A (new) Caucasian chalk circle -- The quest for Gamsakhurdia -- A far-flung piece of paradise -- The Silver Fox -- An Abkhazian interlude -- The fall of Zugdidi -- Along the banks of Mtkvari -- (Muslim) Georgia on my mind -- Storm clouds over Sukhumi -- Pending war and the death of a friend -- Sarajevo by the sea -- Black Sea refugee -- Aftermath in the mountains -- Chaos in the Caucasus -- Bridge across the Inguri -- Trying to square a chalk circle -- Epilogue: The Olympics war -- Photographic essay