Elene Khatchapuridze

[email protected]

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Over the next few months, Chai Khana will bring readers a number of features and films that explore how transportation is affecting lives in our region–and how everyday people are dealing with the challenges created by gaps in service and other issues.
🚊Stay tuned!

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

🚴‍♀️"Bikes aren't seen as transport in Georgia. I've cycled and drivers don't respect us," says filmmaker Shorena Tevzadze. Her muse, Mar Mikhelidze, Tbilisi's bicycle mayor, spent a year risking her life to promote cycling as real transport.
https://t.co/VjwcFtJWVJ

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

🌳🍃🌿A team of 21 rangers safeguards Georgia's Lagodekhi Nature Reserve, battling the challenge of poaching daily. Chai Khana's photo project illustrates the rangers’ deep connection to nature.
https://t.co/sD5XL9sRlB

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

"However, it was a challenging time, as I had to choose between my biological mother and the grandmother who had raised me as her own. My grandmother was diagnosed with severe cancer. In her final months, she always apologized to me: "Forgive me, I ruined your life."

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

"Your third child is a girl anyway, give it to them, your brother-in-law does not have any children, do not force him to get a kid from a stranger," They persuaded me.
On the last night before parting, I couldn't bear the thought of being without my child and clung to her.

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Adoption within families is a widespread yet rarely discussed practice in Azerbaijan. Chai Khana's new story explores the reasons behind this discreet practice and the consequences for those involved.

https://t.co/ccdkd7Dvdg

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Azerbaijani drag queen Lady Slim is reshaping drag culture with courage and passion. Tati Sattar's portrait reveals her inspiring journey of defying norms and embracing freedom.

https://t.co/Kzd5taEhea

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Fifteen years have passed since the Russia-Georgia war. A photo story from the Chai Khana archives describes the plight of people who are forced to make a daily choice between the fear of arrest and the instinct of self-preservation.

https://t.co/loP19XfmLp

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

South Ossetia has borne the brunt of modern warfare's violence, yet its people find solace in simple moments. Chai Khana's latest story captures a unique angle of this place, evoking memories of the five-day Russo-Georgian War in August 2008.

https://t.co/4RFTnBryXw

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

The influx of #Russians has left #Armenians feeling like second-class citizens in their home country. Rising living costs and the imposition of the Russian language further fuel this sense of Russian imperialism.

https://t.co/SfNRZmknGj

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Birdwatchers in Azerbaijan, despite limited resources, play a crucial role in environmental protection. @shahlabbakir showcases four dedicated birdwatchers, working to protect habitats, spread knowledge, and promote birdwatching tourism.

https://t.co/IkiqKGWITc

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

In 1933, Lake Sevan faced a turning point as Soviet-era plans emerged to harness its water for energy, impacting its levels. @ShushanAbrahamy explores the ecological mistake that damaged the ecosystem and shattered the community's water-bound identity.

https://t.co/tBau7ZQTmh

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Regenerative farming includes practices like crop rotation, pesticide avoidance, and soil restoration. Chai Khana's @jobava_lela explores whether sustainable but niche agriculture can be an alternative to large-scale farming in Georgia.

https://t.co/KBvC9EG7C4

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Transition poses significant challenges for the #trans #community in Armenia, as the country's universal healthcare system does not cover essential hormonal therapy or address the mental struggles involved in the process.

https://t.co/IGxbERX9XQ

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

From salt to healing mud, #MasazyrLake was a marvel with a pink lake and almond groves. Time and neglect turned it into an asphalt wasteland for waste disposal. @shahlabbakir captures its transformation from beauty to environmental decay.

https://t.co/dTcO1v15vE

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

In Didi Lilo settlement waste from the landfill floats in the air, transforming the surroundings into a dump and invading people's bodies. Environmental pollution captured with an infrared camera highlights its everlasting nature with no end in sight.
https://t.co/UKHDkMauFC

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Fathers shape our lives in many ways. On #FathersDay a story from the Chai Khana archive highlights fathers actively involved in their child's development from day one. However, the practice of men taking paternity leave still faces challenges.

https://t.co/q5wO8xlPIt

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Poland has become a top choice for #Azerbaijani workers, with 13 728 individuals going there for work. @rasamadova reveals the reasons behind the migration and conditions #Poland offers.
https://t.co/S5ntuEobZH

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

From underground to the spotlight. Chai Khana's latest story explores the transformative journey of #drag and #travesti culture in Armenia from fringe to mainstream platform for modern #queer narratives.

https://t.co/7FIrl8P5oN

[Chai Docs @ChaiDocs]

Construction dust is a silent killer. In Georgia's ongoing projects, the dry cutting of stone and cement poses a health risk to workers and citizens alike. @LanaKokaia reports on the legal protections and the challenges obstructing their enforcement.
https://t.co/GyPodRgdNS