Georgia
Pro-government commentator appointed as advisor to controversial Georgian President Kavelashvili
Luka Ekhvaia has stood out for his harsh rhetoric towards both internal and external critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgia–China Relations
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Bidzina Ivanishvili
Georgian Dream endorses Chinese report accusing NED of ‘instigating protests’ in Georgia
Members of the ruling Georgian Dream party have actively endorsed a week-old Chinese government report accusing the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) of inciting divisions and instigating protests in Georgia, in an apparent bid to discredit reports about Bidzina Ivanishvili’s undisclosed assets in Russia. Members of the ruling party and pro-government pundits endorsed the Chinese Foreign Ministry report over the weekend. Beijing released the report on 9 August. It largely focused on por
China
Opinion | Georgia’s one-sided relationship with China comes with significant risks
The Georgian Government has increasingly moved to strengthen relations with China, hailing the economic potential of the partnership including high-profile infrastructure projects. But despite the optimism, the relationship has so far remained almost entirely one-sided, and in fact, opens the country up to substantial new risks. Georgia’s foreign strategic alignment has been profoundly influenced by its geopolitical location, historical context, and aspirations for closer integration with West
Anaklia Port
Belgian company wins tender for Anaklia Port
The Georgian government has announced Belgian company Jan De Nul as the winner of a tender for the development of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port in western Georgia. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Economy on Thursday, and confirmed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The Economy Ministry stated that Jan De Nul was one of four companies that applied for the tender, all of them ‘European’, with ‘the best international reputation’. In May, the ministry listed Jan De Nul, Boskalis,
Anaklia Port
China drops visa restrictions for Georgian citizens
Georgian citizens will soon be able to visit China for up to 30 days without a visa, the latest in a series of diplomatic agreements between the two countries. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the visa liberalisation act in a cabinet meeting on Monday, with Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili stating after the meeting that China would instate the visa-free regime ‘in a matter of days’. Kobakhidze described the move as ‘an innovative and practical result’ of the strategi
China
Georgian Dream scrambles to apologise to China over president’s comments
Leading members of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party have scrambled to apologise to China, after President Salome Zurabishvili appeared to suggest the Chinese Premier, Xi Jinping, should face prosecution. The president’s office released a translation of Saturday’s interview with French TV station CLI, which was conducted in French. Zurabishvili was reportedly asked if she hoped the Chinese and Russian leaders would face prosecution — Putin, for crimes against humanity, and Xi Jinping, for
China
Georgia seeks closer ties with China
The Georgian and Chinese leaders have agreed to ‘elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership’, during a week-long visit by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili to China. The PM was officially in China to attend the 31st World Summer Games of the International University Sports Federation. According to Georgian media, information about the agreement was not announced in advance. Critics have warned the agreement could endanger the country’s relations with the West. Following a mee
