Three circles around the sea
The photos in ‘three circles around the sea’ were made throughout Georgia in the autumn of 2022 and spring of 2023. What started out as photographing a trip across the country, developed into an observation of the current tensions in Georgia following the influx of Russian immigrants after the start of the war in Ukraine.
Since February 2022, many Russian immigrants have moved there. Some are availing of the relaxed visa requirements so they can leave Russia for a new life, while others are using Georgia as a springboard to other European countries. Although the tracking is not accurate, as of September 2022 it is estimated that since the start of the war in Ukraine, more that 200,000 Russians have arrived in Georgia, a country with a population of just 3.7 million. Tensions are high, the cost of living has dramatically increased and for the locals, it has resurfaced a lot of painful memories of the war in 2008.
“They are using this country as a comfort zone and Georgia is dying, they are all coming and we’re just standing and watching, what can we do?”
Told through three perspectives-local Georgians, Russian nationals, and foreign visitors-the photos look at the complicated relationship between people and place amid a backdrop of political tension.
The events photographed and mentioned are a precursor to both the recent election that took place in Georgia on October 26th 2024, and the ongoing protests resulting from the ruling Georgian Dream party’s controversial decision to delay Georgia’s bid to join the European Union.
For more, please see https://colinaherne.com/three-circles-around-the-sea
