@basssiani
Yesterday, Georgia's illegitimate government openly and declaratively rejected the will of the Georgian people to join the European family. The outcome of years of societal work, hardship and struggle-to become a democratic state rooted in freedom and equality-has been temporarily stalled. A country in crisis now faces the threat of international isolation and economic collapse, jeopardizing every aspect of life, including the club culture and the livelihoods of those working within it.
In such circumstances, the existence and preservation of free and safe spaces have become critically important.
Tbilisi's club scene has never submitted to oppressive forces, and it refuses to yield now to the corrupt attempts of an illegitimate government to destroy the collective achievements of our society. The rise of far-right populism, alongside the passage of Russian-backed and anti-LGBTQ+ laws in 2024, represents a direct assault on these achievements, a shared and liberated future.
In this ongoing resistance, the involvement of every individual is essential. Tbilisi's club scene has collectively decided to cancel tonight's club nights, focusing the energy of the dancefloor into the streets.
We stand in solidarity with every victim and captive of the system, with every defiant and unyielding voice, and we demand the immediate release of detained demonstrators who are fighting uncompromisingly against Russian authoritarianism.
We call on every citizen to join the demonstrations of disobedience across all cities in Georgia, reclaiming the space of resistance together.
BASSIANI, CAFE-GALLERY, KHIDI, LEFT BANK, MTKVARZE, TBILI ORGIA, TES
@khidiclub
The events of recent days have once again made it clear that the illegitimate government is rejecting the Western course and resorting to extremely violent measures to protect its own political interests. In such times, it is essential to stand together, support one another, and set aside personal interests to defend the centuries-long aspiration of being part of the European family.
In light of this, we have decided to cancel club night of November 29, an event that represented the motivation and goal of the entire season for our club. However, we believe that even in difficult times, it is better to give up personal interests and face further hardships than to remain silent and compliant. We will always stand where the voices of free and determined people are heard.
Moreover, we believe that if the time comes when giving up a club night could jeopardise our very existence, we will have your support, as shared results can only be achieved through mutual solidarity.
Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude to our local and international artists who supported our decision and stayed with us throughout the night, despite the violent and illegal actions carried out by law enforcement authorities.
The club scene cannot exist under the grip of authoritarianism. Therefore, every individual who respects and is part of this scene bears the responsibility to defend it. With this in mind, we have also decided to cancel tonight's club event and continue to stand where the frontlines of the fight are drawn.
We would like to thank everyone who showed us their support regarding the night of November 29. For those who wish to return or exchange their tickets, we will provide further information soon.
See you on Rustaveli!
Photos: @photomaker_d.k
Night time photo of a barricade on fire at a protest in Tbilisi
Wood carving style illustration of the black bloc at a flaming barricade that says "Find each other"
Love & solidarity to the crew and community at Bassiani and Khidi Club. It is incredibly important in these times to build resilient IRL networks to defend each other, and I am once again in awe watching the techno scene in Tbilisi come out together against authoritarianism. #FindEachOther