DEMOCRACY HEROES: Please calendar Happy Hour and Speakeasy events with Mamuka Mamulashvili and Anthony Barnett

BETTE MEMBERS: We have two heroic guests this week — the leader of the Georgian National Legion in Ukraine Mamuka Mamulashvili and the co-founder of Open Democracy Anthony Barnett

***Paid Bette members will find the registration link below the paywall. To join our community events and to help support independent investigative journalism in a time of grave peril, please upgrade to a paid membership.***

Every interview leads to another interview and every pro-democracy event leads to new sources.

During Bette’s Happy Hour with Adam Sybera last week, the journalist and analyst was kind enough to hang around for our briefing from Georgia from Bette member Sid White. After Sid’s update, Sybera told us about the Georgian National Legion, which has been fighting in Ukraine against the Russia invaders for more than a decade. He put me in touch with the Legion’s commander Mamuka Mamulashvili, who will be our guest on Tuesday.

During a dinner gathering at the Byline Festival this past July, I met the co-founder of Open Democracy, Anthony Barnett, who will be our Sunday Speakeasy guest at 11 am Pacific.

I have included registration links for both events below the paywall, and if you are not yet a member, please consider supporting our community events with a paid membership.

The Happy Hour and Speakeasy events are open to all levels of paid membership, and for those who support me at the highest level — Founding Member — we have periodic Founder’s Day special events. Although I slowed down on events in recent months, as I observed too much noise and not enough signal, I will continue bringing our community the most inspiring minds and warriors in this fight of our lives.

Here are briefings on our upcoming guests:

Mamuka Mamulashvili — Commander of the Georgian National Legion (Ukraine) — Tuesday, September 23, noon Pacific:

Mamuka Mamulashvili has been at war for 32 years. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, former USSR, he is currently the Commander of the Georgian National Legion (Ukraine). Born into a military family, his father, Lieutenant General Zurab Mamulashvili, commanded one of the brigades of the Georgian army, which included his son as a young volunteer. At the age of 14, Mamuka took part in the Georgian-Russian war in Abkhazia. Towards the end of the conflict, he and his father were taken prisoner. Mamuka spent three months in captivity and was later released through a prisoner exchange program. His father was released at a later stage. Mamuka Mamulashvili fought in Chechen campaigns, fighting on the side of the Chechen independence forces against Russian troops… On April 22, 2014, Mamulashvili founded the Georgian National Legion. Just two days later, on April 24, the Legion arrived in Ukraine and began training Ukrainian volunteer formations preparing for war in Donbas. In February 2016, the Georgian Legion was formally integrated into the 25th Motorized Infantry Battalion “Kyivska Rus”. The unit maintained its own internal structure and command while continuing to conduct combat operations. In 2017, the Legion left this brigade and was transferred to other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where it continued active combat duties. In the months preceding Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Legion actively trained civilians and volunteers. According to Mamulashvili, over 20,000 people underwent preparation within just three months. From the very first hours of the invasion, the Legion took part in the battle for Hostomel airport and in the defense of Kyiv region. Since then, the unit has remained engaged in combat operations along key frontlines.

The Russian authorities placed him on a wanted list and sentenced him seven times in absentia, issuing a wide range of politically motivated charges. He’s reported multiple poisoning attempt with heavy metals, confirmed both through laboratory analysis and officially by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine.

The Georgian National Legion has become not only a military unit but also a symbol of fraternity between Georgians and Ukrainians. It played a decisive role in defending Ukraine, while also embodying Georgia’s own historical struggle against Russian aggression. With thousands of volunteers, decades of combat experience, and deep symbolic resonance, the Legion remains one of the most significant examples of international volunteerism in modern warfare.

Anthony Barnett, co-founder of Open Democracy, Sunday, September 28, 11 am Pacific:

Anthony Barnett led the influential Charter 88 campaign for a democratic constitution in the UK, that was an influence on New Labour, and then launched the global website openDemocracy in 2001. He’s also an author and write a monthly column for Byline Times.

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A note for new members: the Happy Hour began two and a half years ago, when I noticed many Bette members in despair. I thought a weekly wellness checkin for global newsies was in order, and it evolved into a session where guests offer news from around the world. The title was always meant to be ironic, but I know I feel better when our community comes together. The Speakeasy and Founder’s Day events were added to bring great minds together to continue inspiring the labor of demoracy.

Keep scrolling below the paywall for the registration links — hope to see you in the squares!

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More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.

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Begin each day with a grateful heart.

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