Open Governance, Based on the Principles of Accountability and Transparency, as the Foundation of a Democratic Society on the Example of the Public Sector of Georgia

Transparency and openness are one of the mechanisms for implementing good governance. Both of them help create conditions for citizens to evaluate the decisions that the government makes on their behalf. Transparency and citizen participation also ensure that citizens' needs are met and that their positions are taken into account in the decision-making process. Effective transparency and engagement help to eradicate corruption and government malfeasance. At the same time, through transparency and engagement, citizens' trust can be increased. Transparency and engagement also ensure better decision-making by the government and more efficient delivery of public services (Radin, 2006). The relevance of the issue is emphasized by the fact that accountability and transparency represent an important valuable principle that increases the degree of legitimacy of the civil sector and, naturally, affects the effectiveness of the development of public organizations (Walker, 2002). Due to the fact that the accountability of public organizations with donors is regulated by the contracts signed between them, and the accountability with the state is regulated by legislation, special attention was paid to the accountability and transparency of the sector in relation to the public. It is recognized that in order to achieve a high degree of legitimacy of the sector, it is important to raise awareness of public organizations, increase public trust in them and create a positive image (Schedler, 2002,7-16)

Mediterreanization as a Developmental Phase of Media in Transitional Democracies: Case of Georgia

For almost three decades, there has been ongoing analysis of post-communist transitional media as a mutual product of Soviet ideological legacy and Western liberal values in the West, as well as in the post-Soviet sphere. In the transition period, media pluralism has become a common occurrence in contrast with the Soviet period. Reforms directed from the top are rendered arbitrary, and as a result, the unpredictable process gained momentum and was the last straw to end the Soviet Union. What are the specific elements of Mediterraneanization that are clearly expressed in the Georgian reality and what spot should Georgia’s media occupy on the map of systems? To answer this question, emphasis should be placed on specific issues such as the influence of the state and political parties on the media agenda, integration of media and political elites, professionalization of journalism, as well as the sociocultural context of the period of independence. This paper focuses on answering these questions. The present study is the compilation of quantitative and qualitative approaches. 12 media researchers and theoreticians, mainly teachers of Georgian higher education institutions, were selected for the research along with the review of the scientific literature and theory related to the issue. The semi-structured interviews, based on a preliminary questionnaire, were conducted with each researcher. The experts’ responses were processed and compared according to quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Text material was condensed and key messages were highlighted. On the basis of the results, their interpretation and cause-and-effect connection was made

The population of Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) and its parasites in Madatapa Lake (South Georgia)

Gibel carp is a very successful invasive fish species in the waters of Georgian inland and the only fish species in Lake Madatapa. However, almost nothing is known about its biology and morpho-ecological peculiarities at the national level and even the distribution data is not documented. For the first time, we studied the population characteristics of gibel carp in Lake Madatapa (South Georgia) with the aim to reveal the extent of its morphological variability, sex ratio, length-weight relationship and its parasitic community. We showed that the gibel carp population in Madatapa Lake has typical morphological characteristics. The sex ratio is significantly female biased (1/1.8) and the length-weight relationship is within the published margins. The gibel carp population is under the heavy parasitic load, but only two parasitic species (one cestoda and the other digenean species) affect the fishes. Within the framework of the obtained results, we discussed future research needs concerning the gibel carp in the lake

MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION – A STEP INTO THE BETTER FUTURE

Contemporary globalizing processes are often associated with plurilingualism, translanguaging and multiliteracies that foster the implementation of multilingual education in the countries facing an increasing diversity: the mass migration of population, the growing number of refugees, settlements of ethnic minorities. The paper deals with the presentation of the latest state policies directed towards the implementation of multilingual education in Georgia – in the post-Soviet country, which has undergone drastic changes during the last decades. In the Soviet epoch, mastering Georgian or Russian was a prerequisite of a rightful citizenship. After the dissolution of the USSR, mastering Georgian started being obligatory for occupying positions in governmental institutions, organizations, etc. This fact marginalized those representatives of ethnic minorities, who had a poor knowledge of the state language. The government initiated the implementation of multilingual educational policies preventing marginalization of ethnic minorities and facilitating the rearing of plurilingual citizens sharing equal rights and responsibilities. The paper presents certain insights into the multilingual education and makes specific proposals regarding the:usage of innovative teaching methods, models and approaches (CLIL approach, heteroglossic approach);creation of an appropriate lesson design;implementation of intensive training-courses focused on the acquisition of intercultural and cross-national skills, etc.The methodology of research includes observation, analysis and evaluation of ongoing processes.

The record of Ametropus fragilis Albarda, 1878 (Ephemeroptera, Ametropodidae) from Georgia

The representatives of the genus Ametropus (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) were recorded 80 years ago in Georgia. Due to the taxonomic uncertainty, the recorded specimens were considered potentially new taxa. Since then, no other record of Ametropus has been documented from the whole South Caucasus and its nearby regions further south. In the present contribution, we provide a new record of Ametropus from the Alazani River (Kura River Basin, Georgia). Morphological and DNA barcoding of the COI gene fragment showed that the species belongs to the widespread Holarctic species A. fragilis. Morpho-anatomical characteristics also confirmed the high degree of similarity between the newly recorded specimens and those once recorded 80 years ago. In addition, the COI barcode showed a strikingly closer relationship between Caucasian A. fragilis and North American A. neavei (3.54% divergence) compared to Caucasian and European A. fragilis populations (4.3% divergence). The observed pattern clearly indicates the need for further and more thorough revision of the Ametropus species complex in the Holarctic region

Revealing the stygobiotic and crenobiotic molluscan biodiversity hotspot in Caucasus : part I : the phylogeny of stygobiotic Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Georgia with descriptions of five new genera and twenty-one new species

The position of the southwestern Caucasus as a stygobiotic Mollusca hotspot is confirmed. Molecular data of stygobiotic gastropods revealed the diversity of subfamily Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006, inhabiting the subterranean environment of Georgia. In addition to the well-known endemic genera Pontohoratia Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014 and Motsametia Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014, five more genera were identified in northwestern Georgia as new to the science: Kartvelobia gen. nov., Imeretiopsis gen. nov., Caucasopsis gen. nov., Caucasogeyeria gen. nov., and Hausdorfenia gen. nov. Additionally, 21 new species were found to inhabit the studied area (Samegrelo, Imereti, Racha regions in Georgia)

Comparison of Earthworm (Lumbricidae) and Oribatid Mite (Acari, Oribatida) Communities in Natural and Urban Ecosystems

This study investigates earthworm and oribatid mite communities in urban, semi-natural and natural ecosystems of Tbilisi (Georgia). Ten species of earthworms and 100 species of oribatid mites were registered in 45 soil samples. Two species of oribatid mites, Microzetes auxilaris Grandjean, 1936 and Multioppia laniseta Moritz, 1966, are new for the Caucasian fauna. We hypothesized that species number and abundance of invertebrate animals tend to decrease from natural to urban ecosystems. The hypothesis was supported only partially. Number of species of oribatid mites and earthworms decreased together with increase of urbanization, whereas abundance showed no significant changes due to high density of stress tolerant and ubiquitous species in urban sites. Accordingly, species abundance is considered to have minor indicatory value. Our studies support ecological “time-hypothesis” in a way that older (natural) sites were presented with more diverse fauna than recent (urban) ones. Statistical analyses showed that studied ecosystems should be grouped in two rather than three categories: in urban and natural ones.В статье предоставлены результаты исследования сообществ дождевых червей и панцирных клещей в урбанизированных, полуприродных и природных экосистемах г. Тбилиси (Грузия). В 45 почвенных пробах были найдены 10 видов дождевых червей и 100 видов панцирных клещей. Два вида клещей Microzetes auxilaris Grandjean, 1936 и Multioppia laniseta Moritz, 1966 являются новымы для фауны Кавказа. Мы предположили, что количество и плотность населения безпозвоночных должны уменьшаться от природных к урбанизированным экосистемам. Наша гипотеза подтвердилась частично. Количество видов дождевых червей и панцирных клещей сократилось с увеличением степени урбанизированности среды, тогда, как плотность населения существенно не менялась из-за высокой плотности отдельных убиквистовых и толерантных к стрессам видов. Соответственно считаем, что плотность населения не имеет большого индикационного значения. Наши результаты подтверждают экологическую «гипотезу времени» тем, что более старые (природные) участки были представлены более разнообразной фауной, чем более новые (урбанизированные). Статистический анализ показал, что изученные экосистемы должны быть сгруппированны по двум, а не по трем категориям: по природным и урбанизированным

Morphological content and recyclability of separate collected packages: a case study for Kaunas, Lithuania**

Packaging materials can arise from a wide range of sources and are commonly used for food, medicine, household appliances, and items to enclose or protect products during distribution, storage, sale, delivery, and use. The choice of material (paper, plastic, glass, wood, metal, multi-layer or other packaging) to be used depends on the type and properties of product, the purpose of packaging, and the price. The aim of the investigation is to analyse the morphological composition of packaging waste collected separately in Kaunas (Lithuanian) private households and to evaluate its recycling possibilities. The mixture of paper, plastic, and metal packaging waste was analyzed in the winter and spring (one time per month) in the waste management company JSC "Kauno švara"