BBC release audio documentary on Tbilisi's underground club scene

The BBC has shared a new audio documentary on the underground club scene in Tbilisi, Georgia, and how its community is “fighting against a clampdown on freedom of expression and civil society groups amidst the country’s worsening political crisis".

Presented by DJ and journalist Frank McWeeny, Global Dancefloor: Tbilisi is the latest instalment of the BBC World Service's Global Dancefloor series, which has previously documented scenes in Salvador in Brazil, and Beirut in Lebanon.

In the episode, released September 2, McWeeny speaks to activists and artists who are fighting to keep the underground nightlife scene alive following the implementation of a divisive 'Transparency of Foreign Influence' law in May this year.

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The bill, which has been compared to Russian foreign agent laws, threatens to suppress the work of clubs and other cultural venues. The country saw a wave of mass protests after it was approved, which were subsequently met by a violent crackdown.

In the podcast episode, host McKeeny attends one of the protests and speaks to Mutant Radio, a community platform and cultural venue located in a former power station.

He also visits the famous techno club Bassiani, who have openly expressed their condemnation of both the bill and the government’s response to the protests in previous years.

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“The current dire circumstances in Georgia, marked by shifting foreign policies, unlawful arrests, ambushes, physical assaults, orchestrated political retaliations, blackmail, and the humiliating fascist campaign against critics and protesters, vividly illustrate that the government, having forfeited its legitimacy entirely, has resorted to intimidation and terror to maintain power,” the club said in a post on Instagram.

They continued: “We hold steadfast to the belief that in this crucial struggle, remaining silent or stepping back is not a viable choice, as such actions lead only to a void. No fear, terror, or repression can quell the resistance of a united people driven by a shared vision and determination for the future.”

The episode promises to answer the question: "How vital is dancing in a country going through the biggest political and social crisis of its generation?"

Listen to Global Dancefloor: Tbilisi here.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram.