Shota Hintsagta

@hintsagta.bsky.social

1881 Followers 3319 Following

Interested in religion and nationalism, gender and queer politics, and media and democracy, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Doctoral researcher at Lund University. https://linktr.ee/hintsagta

A busy, brightly colored children's illustrated map of Europe. The western side is crowded with named landmarks: Big Ben and a red-uniformed guard, the Eiffel Tower with fries and a speech bubble reading "MIAM," the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Sagrada Família spires, and a cow. The center fills with generic snow imagery: pine and fir trees, a snowman, skiers, mountains, and children playing in snow. On the far right, the only eastern landmark is a cluster of colorful onion-domed towers in the style of Moscow's Saint Basil's Cathedral, beside stacking dolls and a reindeer. Along the bottom are pyramids, a sphinx, a camel, and palm trees.
Front page of the newspaper "Pravoslavnaya Litva" (Orthodox Lithuania), the paper of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church, Summer 2026 issue. The lead story, with a large colour photo of a crowd at an outdoor family festival in front of a church, announces an All Saints' Day event, "Hello, Summer!". A sidebar runs thumbnail links to inside pages.
An older man with short white hair and a gray mustache sits indoors, gesturing with one hand while speaking. On-screen text identifies him as “Founder, USSR Gay Rights Alliance – Alexander Zaremba.” Subtitles below him read: “The Bolshevik criminal code was the best in the whole Europe.” The setting appears cozy, with patterned wallpaper, shelves of books, and a table with a cup and snacks beside him.
Luka Jabua speaks during his court hearing in Tbilisi on 3 September 2025. He stands among other defendants, wearing a dark T-shirt, while a guard and fellow detainees are visible nearby. Image and details via Publika.
Transcription of the screenshot: 'At first glance, alt-right “knowledge” occupies a structurally similar position to schools of theory dedicated to emancipation and social transformation since Marx. As Geoff Shullenberger writes, “[w]hat is striking about the redpilling experience is that it resembles some of the most influential currents of modern intellectual life. Since the late nineteenth century, a series of new variants of the Platonic and Cartesian model of knowledge have arisen, in which radical suspicion is the first step in grasping counterintuitive truths that overturn the conventional understanding of reality.” Yet, while alt-right subversive “knowledge” may share the liberating telos, and thus, the energizing impetus, of such leftist epistemic projects as Marxism, Gender Studies or Critical Race Theory, unlike scholars in these fields, producers of alt-right “knowledge” believe that knowledge generated at universities categorically serves the interests of the establishment. Since they view traditional locales and channels of producing and disseminating knowledge (the university and the media) as corrupt, purveyors of alt-right subversive “knowledge” feel a particular need for proselytizing and have mastered spreading their ‘knowledge’ via alternative channels such as social media.'
Venis (Cory Michael Smith) in a turtleneck, mid-gesture with one finger raised, calmly speaking. Subtitle: “I can control the narrative with Traam" (his social media platform).
A smiling woman with light brown hair in a low ponytail points to her ear while signing. She wears a red top, denim jacket, and gold necklace. The caption reads: “No. I don’t want to be hearing.”
Two individuals wearing masks resembling Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sit at a table draped in a Ukrainian flag, holding playing cards. The scene is part of the demonstration ‘Trump revealed his cards: Europe, it’s your move!’ in Prague on 7 March, highlighting alleged collusion between the two leaders over the Ukraine issue. A backdrop features a stylized map of Europe.
Cover of Religion & Gesellschaft in Ost und West (RGOW) 1/2025. Theme: Träume und Alpträume (Dreams and Nightmares) – analyses from Romania and the South Caucasus. The cover image features a mural with the EU and Georgian flags and the phrase WE ARE EUROPE. Articles cover elections in Georgia, religious protests in Armenia, and authoritarianism in Azerbaijan. More: rgow.eu/zeitschrift/2025.
A still from a Yugoslav movie Ćao, inspektore! (1985), where Inspector Boki reports about a very gay and very dangerous international gang.
A hand holds a copy of Václav Havel’s book The Power of the Powerless with its white cover featuring an illustration of Havel in blue and red, raising a peace sign. The book is held in front of a crowded protest scene in Tbilisi with police in black uniforms and reflective vests forming a line. Protesters, some carrying Georgian flags, stand nearby. The background includes an old, beige building of the Georgian Parliament with peeling plaster and cloudy skies above.
A woman is speaking into a microphone in an outdoor setting, addressing a seated audience of students on the steps of a building. She is wearing a long navy coat, light blue shirt, and brown trousers, with a portable speaker placed in front of her.
A woman is pictured at night holding a sign at a protest. She wears glasses and looks determined as she gazes to the side. Her sign reads: ‘WHERE knowledge meets courage, ACADEMIA RESISTS!’ with an added note stating, ‘I didn’t dedicate years to my dissertation to accept dictatorship in Georgia – knowledge thrives only in freedom!’
This photo shows a vigil where people are kneeled and are lighting candles around a portrait of Kesaria Abramidze, a young woman with long dark hair and light features, placed on the steps of a small garden behind the Parliament building in Tbilisi. A bouquet of flowers is placed next to the portrait.