GEORGIA – According to specialists, there is an increasing number of ‘street-workers’ in Tbilisi. Research indicates that most of these people do the work due to poor economic conditions. Prostitution is neither legal in Georgia, nor is it banned…‘When I worked at Moscow Avenue at a private hotel, one official from the hotel beat me unmercifully… Then I worked at one of the saunas. ‘Ministry Day’ was announced, and that meant we had to work for them free. If it were legalized the rooms would be divided, there would be a special building, and prostitutes would be protected by doctors, solicitors and guards. The government must stamp out secret operations and prohibit minors. When I grow old I would like to work in such an organization as a regular inspector. As for me, I think it better to pay to the government than somebody else. I would be the first prostitute to pay taxes’
Source: The Georgian Times, Georgia, USA
Source: The Georgian Times, Georgia, USA
Published by Natia Bersenadze
According to specialists, there is an increasing number of ‘street-workers’ in Tbilisi. Research indicates that most of these people do the work due to poor economic conditions. Prostitution is neither legal in Georgia, nor is it banned. That’s why in Tbilisi’s streets, bars and restaurants, not to mention saunas and hotels, anyone who wishes can easily find a prostitute. Beginner or experienced depends on desire – and expensive or cheap depends on the pocket.
26 year old, Levan lives in Vera near the Sakartvelo Hotel. He often remembers that he once paid for a woman in the hotel sauna. Levan has been married for 3 years, but three months has passed since he last saw his wife, who has gone abroad on business. Levan says that he would like to go to a legal brothel because he would feel more protected: ‘It would be good, if it were legalized. Things would be healthy at such brothels and you would not be afraid of “picking something up”. The relationship between prostitutes and customers would be simplified. You would not look for them in streets, so you will save time’.
‘Esmeralda’ is thirty three. A psychologist by profession, she has been a prostitute for five years. She calls herself a professional prostitute and believes herself to be a professional. She wants her business to be legalized, to feel more protected: ‘When I worked at Moscow Avenue at a private hotel, one official from the hotel beat me unmercifully… Then I worked at one of the saunas. ‘Ministry Day’ was announced, and that meant we had to work for them free. If it were legalized the rooms would be divided, there would be a special building, and prostitutes would be protected by doctors, solicitors and guards. The government must stamp out secret operations and prohibit minors. When I grow old I would like to work in such an organization as a regular inspector. As for me, I think it better to pay to the government than somebody else. I would be the first prostitute to pay taxes’.
Consultant and psychologist from the Skin and Venereal Disease Department at the Scientific Institute, Nino Shengelia works with such a group. Prostitutes often talk frankly with her, and she knows their thoughts. She comments, ‘Of course, legalization suits girls who are busy with commercial sex. If their salary is official, they’ll have benefits. A woman who has been in this business for 5-10 years, who has got a child and grandson, will at least be informed that the members of her family know about her, and it is better for her to have an official name. Another matter is the law and tax structure, and how this question will be addressed’.
According to Shengelia, the rights of sex-workers are often violated: ‘It’s a paradox, but even prostitutes working in saunas are not protected… The most alarming is that they are forced to work without condoms in order to satisfy their clients. If they become infected, they are kicked out’.
Many commercial sex workers admit to having venereal disease. According to Tanadgomi, in 2006, at the Medical-Psychological Centre, 40 of 160 men were infected. In recent years there have been two or three AIDS cases. Gogi Galdava, chief at the Scientific Institute of Skin and Venereal Diseases, says that venereal disease increased in Georgia 2005 by 20 per cent from 2004. Further increase is expected to be reported this year.
Should prostitution be legalised in Georgia? Opinions vary. Some specialists support legalization, while others do not. All agree, however, that it can’t be banned, as banning would only serve to increase demand and illegal activity. Supporters of legalisation say that making it legal would allow us to count prostitutes, look after their health, and make the business less criminal. The spread of disease would decrease and this would assist reproductive health and increase the birth rate.
Opposing specialists argue that prostitution is amoral in the eyes of the Orthodox Church. Experts ask for a way to solve the problem at any level.
Sex specialist Merab Nebieridze has researched the question of prostitution for many years. For five years he broadcast a program called ‘Sex and Marriage’, in which he devoted time to prostitution. He supports legalisation of prostitution: ‘Of course, I don’t want Tbilisi to become a city of prostitutes, but it exists, so let it be legalized. Prostitution was tolerated in Georgia during the period of Russian control. Once the Gardens of Ortachala were famous just for this business. That’s why prostitution was, is, and will be. As for me, I think it would be better if this sphere were legal. Legal control means that children of 12-13 wouldn’t dare to do this. It would be better for the government to patronise them than somebody else, as the government can render more organised assistance. Then the government becomes one big procurer. In the brothels there would be a distinct group responsible for those women. Today a prostitute pays her employer 50 per cent. According to law, 50 per cent is unacceptable. They should have a trade union. Good or bad, a prostitute is a person we have to protect in order to protect her clients’.
Alexander Nalbandov, specialist in human rights: ‘According to our legislation, [prostitution and brothel operation] are punishable by criminal law. If we manage to legalise them, as some people wish, we will actually legalize sex trade, which for me, as a man who has worked for a long time in the sphere of human rights, is absolutely implausible. Let’s say a prostitute becomes a sole proprietor and her relationship with the government is regulated by the laws of ownership. She will have to pay taxes. Even if the prostitute agrees, for me it is morally hard to realise that the government would become a structure that received taxes from the sale of women’s bodies. Is the government going to become a procurer? I approve legalisation of prostitution only if a special article protecting prostitutes from violence is accepted in [Georgia’s] criminal law. I cannot believe that a woman in Georgia becomes [a prostitute] of her own free will; as a rule, it is because of the extreme social problems’.
Members of Parliament have expressed their point of view to doctors and psychologists, who are well informed. Doctors and psychologists, because of their lack of knowledge legislative law, point to lawyers, and lawyers pass the buck to the politicians.
Chief of Parliament’s Safeguarding Committee, Gigi Tsereteli: ‘This is not only a political question. It must be approved by society. From a medical standpoint, the best way would be if the people drawn into prostitution were given a proper area. Once the powers shoed interest in legalisation of prostitution, as they saw a new way to earn money… They still want to throw money to the brothel heads, as they want to give money to the previous officials’.
Head priest at the Blue Monastery, Davit Sharashenidze: ‘In a holy notation is a consideration that the greatest misfortune is if the Most High loses a man’s reason. Instead of this, government clerks and officials no not try to improve people’s conditions, but make more trouble for them. That is why this reasoning is hostile. It has nothing to do with Christianity or with morals. It is impudence. Whoever backs this law will take part in great trouble and sin. This will fatten officials who have built their happiness on others’ misfortune… In this way, the people’s situation will not improve; on the contrary, it will push many more people toward this trouble and will not bring luck or perspective to any… I strongly suspect that there are people who want to break Georgia’s morals… Georgia is a transition country and great efforts are being made to settle this sphere and provide foreigners with better service, but it is hostile. They shall not have any backing from society, thank God, as most people have church and religion consciousness in Georgia. As I know very well, officials are involved in this business and support it, as there is substantial income. Legalising it will not eliminate the bugs, but create much more trouble than there is now. I advise the people to seek other options and trust in God to show them way. The time will come when those who have assisted in sins shall appear before God and will be held responsible for their sins’.
In a Soviet film called ‘Intergirl’, the main character, who chose prostitution for a successful marriage abroad, says that if the government desires, prostitution will disappear. Perhaps Georgia’s government will support prostitution as one of the only options for many struggling citizens to survive in today’s challenging economic environment.