Two high-ranking army officials on trial in Armenia

The former deputy chief of the General staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces, Tiran Khachatryan, has been arrested on charges of negligence relating to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Lieutenant General Khachatryan was arrested on January 4 and will be detained awaiting trial. State prosecutors allege that Khachatryan failed to perform his official duties during the 44-day war in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If found guilty, Khachatryan might face up to eight years imprisonment.

The Investigative Committee accused Khachatryan of demonstrating negligence after he was appointed Commander of the Southern Group of Forces from 7 to October 17, 2020.

Khachatryan allegedly did not create an effective control point for the southern group and did not “fully implement a number of measures characteristic of management during the conduct of combat operations”, the Investigative Committee said, as cited by OC Media.

It should be noted that following the war, Khachatrian was awarded the title of National Hero of Armenia at the suggestion of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan. According to the presidential decree, Khachatryan deserved the award “for his exceptional services in the defense of the Motherland, courage and devotion shown during the hostilities”.

Khachatryan was dismissed from his position on February 24, 2021, on the same day he reportedly “laughed” at Pashinyan’s comment that the Russian-made Iskander missiles only exploded at a rate of “10%”, which Khachatryan said was “not serious”. A day after Khachatryan’s dismissal, Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces called for Pashinyan and his government’s resignation. Pashinyan called the move a “military coup” and ordered the removal of the head of the General Staff, Onik Gasparyan.

Following this, in June 2021, in response to Pashinyan’s proposal to renounce his title of National Hero, Khachatryan said, “I will not respond to every idiot’s statement”. The Ministry of Defence suggested that the detention was applied “to punish” [Khachatryan] for his active political and civic position, as well as to make him “guilty” of the defeat in the war. “It’s perplexing to give Mr. Khachatryan the title of national hero just days after those operations and to indict and arrest Mr. Khachatryan for the same operations four and a half years later”, one of his lawyers told RFE/RL.

Later, on January 15, 2025, the Syunik Regional Court found former de facto Artsakh Defense Army Commander Lieutenant General Jalal Harutyunyan guilty under Article 550, Part 3 of the Criminal Code for negligence during martial law or wartime, resulting in severe consequences.

According to Liparit Simonyan, the victim’s representative, the court established that Harutyunyan was responsible for the deaths of 20 soldiers on October 12, 2020, near Fizuli (arm. Varanda), in the village of Jivarly, during the 44-day war. Lawyers claim that an erroneous command left the soldiers surrounded by Azerbaijani forces, leading to their deaths.

Simonyan added that the penalty has not yet been determined and will be discussed in a future hearing. He noted that such cases carry a potential sentence of 5–10 years in prison. Harutyunyan’s attorney, Arsen Sardaryan, stated, “He does not accept the charges, and we will definitely appeal the court’s decision.” According to law enforcement, the erroneous command exposed the soldiers to enemy fire, resulting in 20 fatalities, 7 injuries, and the loss of the military base to Azerbaijani control.

As OC Media reminded, on December 29, former Defence Minister Arshak Karapetyan was briefly detained by Russian authorities in Moscow on Yerevan’s request. Karapetyan, who served as minister for three months in 2021, is wanted in Armenia on charges of abuse of authority and power, exceeding the limits of his authority, not performing his official duties, and illegally participating in entrepreneurial activity.

Sources:

• BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Former Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff arrested for war-related ‘negligence’”, https://oc-media.org/former-deputy-chief-of-armenias-general-staff-arrested-for-war-related-negligence/

• RFE/RL, “Armenian General Arrested Amid Ongoing Political Frictions”, https://www.rferl.org/a/aramenian-general-khachatryan-arrested-negligence-nagorno-karabakh/33263959.html

• Panarmenian.net, “Jalal Harutyunyan found guilty in deaths of 20 soldiers, denies charges”, https://www.panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/318338

Armenian government backs EU membership bill in move mocked by Russia

The standing committee on European Integration of Armenia’s National Assembly voted on January 24 to approve a resolution on Armenia’s membership to the European Union, making a vote by the entire parliament imminent. The bill calls for the “start of a process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union” and received the backing of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government on January 9.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pashinyan indicated that his government intends to pursue plans to join the EU. “There is a very high probability that our parliament will adopt that law,” Pashinyan said. “It would mean legally that we start the process of getting more and more close to the European Union.” The prime minister also said he wants Armenia to eventually join the EU because “we are a democracy.”

Pashinyan clarified that this decision does not imply immediate EU membership, as such a step would require a referendum. “With this decision, we confirm an independent foreign policy based on our interests, and it fits into the policy of balancing and equilibrium in foreign policy… The Armenian Cabinet of Ministers is not against this initiative, especially since it comes from the theses announced by us,” Pashinyan stated.

During a briefing on the same day, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian Presidential Spokesman, expressed scepticism about Armenia’s EU accession, noting Yerevan’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Peskov stated, “Being members of two different organisations, hypothetically speaking, is simply impossible. Here is one customs space, there is another zone of free movement of goods and services, people and capital.”

On January 9, Alexey Overchuk, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, stated that terminating ties with the EAEU would result in significant economic consequences for Armenia, including an increase in food and electricity prices and a reduction of up to 80% in exports of goods produced in the country. “Thus, ordinary people will lose their incomes and jobs and pay more for the essentials,” he emphasised.

In contrast, Overchuk noted that joining the EU would enable Armenians to travel to Europe without visas. However, he compared Armenia’s potential accession to the EU to “buying a ticket to the Titanic,” referencing current challenges within the European Union.

Sources:

• Asbarez.com, „Parliament Committee Approves Bill on Armenia’s EU Membership”, https://asbarez.com/parliament-committee-approves-bill-on-armenias-eu-membership
• Caucasus Watch, “Russian Official Compares Armenia’s EU Ambitions to Boarding the Titanic”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/russian-official-compares-armenias-eu-ambitions-to-boarding-the-titanic.html

Armenia and the US sign Strategic Partnership Charter

On January 14, Armenia and the US signed a Strategic Partnership Charter in Washington, DC. The document, signed by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stresses a mutual desire to strengthen relations in the diplomatic, economic, energy, high-tech, educational, scientific, cultural, legal, defence, and security fields.

In a significant announcement, Armenia declared its intention to join the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, underscoring its commitment to global security and the fight against international terrorism. Additionally, Yerevan began negotiations with the US on a nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the 123 Agreement, to advance peaceful atomic energy under strict safety and non-proliferation standards.

“Let this Charter serve as a testament to the deepening strategic relations between Armenia and the United States and as a roadmap for a future filled with shared achievements,” Mirzoyan concluded. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, and the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov, a Kazakh national, stated that developing a strategic partnership with the US was Armenia’s sovereign right but criticised the decision nonetheless.

Peskov claimed that the US “has never played a particularly stabilising role in the South Caucasus, one could even say the opposite”, while Lavrov suggested that Armenia would be “asked” to join Western sanctions. Lavrov also said that bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia are “not without difficulties” but said that “dialogue continues” and added that his counterpart Mirzoyan accepted the invitation to visit Russia and that they look forward to “having him here soon”. In response, the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that Mirzoyan’s visit to Moscow “was planned more than two months ago”.

Caucasus Watch additionally reported that a specialised US team focused on customs and border security is scheduled to visit Armenia in the coming weeks to enhance border security collaboration with Armenian authorities. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this during the signing ceremony of the Armenia-US Strategic Partnership Charter in Washington. Blinken emphasised that the United States remains committed to supporting Armenia’s efforts to safeguard its independence and sovereignty. “We are deepening our cooperation in security and defence, focusing on protecting Armenia’s territorial integrity,” he stated.

Sources:

• BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Armenia and the US sign Strategic Partnership Charter”, https://oc-media.org/armenia-and-the-us-sign-strategic-partnership-charter/
• Caucasus Watch, „Armenia and US Sign Strategic Partnership Charter”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/armenia-and-us-sign-strategic-partnership-charter.html

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Pashinyan accused of “ignorance” after controversial statement on Armenian Genocide

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has caused outrage after questioning why the Armenian Genocide only became a public issue in 1950, stating that “we need to understand what happened and why it happened. And how did we perceive it, through whom did we perceive it?”.

OC Media informed that Pashinyan’s statement came on January 28 during a meeting with the Armenian community in Switzerland. “How is it that there was no agenda for the Armenian Genocide in 1939, and how is it that the agenda for the Armenian Genocide appeared in 1950? How did it happen?” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan’s controversial statement received harsh criticism among Armenians and the diaspora, while historians and opposition members accused him of disseminating Turkish genocide-denial narratives. In his Op-ed, Vartan Oskanyan, Armenia’s former foreign minister (1998-2008), wrote that Pashinyan’s remarks are “not just shocking—they are outright disqualifying for someone tasked with leading Armenia”. “By insinuating that Armenians themselves might bear responsibility, Pashinyan has aligned himself with one of the most harmful narratives of genocide denial—the kind propagated by the Turkish state for over a century. This betrayal of historical truth and national dignity is an affront to the memory of 1.5 million Armenians systematically exterminated by the Ottoman Empire, added Oskanyan.

One week later, on January 31, Pashinyan clarified his comments about the Armenian Genocide, denying accusations of having questioned the facts. Pashinyan underscored at a press conference that the Armenian Genocide is an undeniable and indisputable fact. He reminded that Armenian Genocide denial is a criminal offence by Armenian legislation.

“Overall, it is surprising how one can be accused of genocide denial when he says ‘genocide’ while speaking about it,” Pashinyan said. He explained that his remarks about the genocide were about the need for the topic to become a tool of self-knowledge in a broad sense.

The Armenian Genocide, orchestrated by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923, resulted in the mass killings of nearly 1.5 million Armenians living in Western Armenia — modern-day eastern Turkey, reminded OC Media.

Sources:

• BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Pashinyan accused of ‘ignorance’ after controversial statement on Armenian Genocide”, https://oc-media.org/pashinyan-accused-of-ignorance-after-controversial-statement-on-armenian-genocide/
• Civil.ge, “The Betrayal of Truth: Nikol Pashinyan’s Disqualifying Remarks on the Armenian Genocide”, https://www.civilnet.am/en/news/814007/the-betrayal-of-truth-nikol-pashinyans-disqualifying-remarks-on-the-armenian-genocide/
• Armen Press, “Armenian Genocide is an undeniable fact – Pashinyan”, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1210874

Food security in Armenia: Wavering the potential storm and challenges ahead

With the self-sufficiency ratio of vital food products averaging only 40% in 2023, Armenia remains critically dependent on imports to meet domestic demand. Russia is the primary source of imports for key commodities such as wheat, vegetable oil, sugar, and poultry. Given the country’s exposure to geopolitical and climatic instability in its primary supplier, this poses a significant risk profile, reported Caucasus Watch.

According to the news portal, any instability that impacts Russian agricultural production or results in trade restrictions could trigger price hikes or even lead to supply shortages in Armenia. Notably, recent fluctuations in imports of staples like wheat and flour underscore Armenia’s vulnerability to external shocks and illustrate the potential storm on the horizon.

Armenia significantly relies on wheat, rye, rice, corn (maise), leguminous crops, vegetable oil, sugar, pork, and poultry imports. Russia dominates as the leading import partner for many categories, including wheat (99.67%) and sunflower oil (97.5%). Meanwhile, Russia’s share has grown in most categories, such as wheat, flour, and sunflower oil. This reflects Armenia’s increasing reliance on Russia. Armenia’s dependence on Russia for over 90% of some critical imports (e.g., wheat, sunflower oil) poses risks, especially amid potential geopolitical tensions).

Brazil performs strongly in pork (62.5%) and sugar (42.61%).

Alternative suppliers (e.g., Thailand and Brazil) provide competition in some products, like rice and sugar. Canada and the EU (e.g., France, Austria) have niche roles in specific product categories. Turkey and Georgia appear as more minor but notable contributors in particular product categories. Some product categories saw sharp changes in import dynamics. For instance, imports of dried legumes from Russia decreased significantly in 2023 compared to 2022.

Source:

• Caucasus Watch, “Food Security in Armenia: Wavering the Potential Storm and Challenges Ahead”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/insights/food-security-in-armenia-wavering-the-potential-storm-and-challenges-ahead.html

EU approves extension of Armenia monitoring mission until 2027

The ambassadors of EU member states in Brussels have approved the extension of the EU civilian mission in Armenia, allowing European observers to remain in Armenia’s border regions for another two years, until February 19, 2027, reported Panarmenian.net.

The European Union has not altered the mandate granted two years ago, which aims to reduce incidents in border and conflict-affected areas, lower security risks for the population, and support the normalisation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. This was reported by RFE/RL’s Europe editor, Rikard Jozwiak. According to the draft decision, the composition and number of observers will remain unchanged, with 165 international and 44 Armenian staff members.

The EU mission in Armenia stated that the decision must still be formally approved by the EU foreign ministers, but this is considered a procedural step since the ambassadors have already expressed their governments’ support for the initiative.

According to the official statement, the monitoring mission’s operations cover the entire Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including the Nakhichevan section.

Earlier, in response to Baku’s criticism, the EU’s foreign policy office emphasised that since the deployment of the monitoring mission, the number of armed incidents in the border area has significantly decreased. “The mandate of the EU mission in Armenia is very clear—to observe and report on the situation along the Armenian side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and contribute to the EU’s efforts in the normalisation process,” the EU’s foreign affairs office stated in a written comment to RFE/RL.

The mission’s official website notes that its mandate applies exclusively to Armenian territory, covering “the entire length of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, including the northern section where several Azerbaijani enclaves are located.” For security reasons and to ensure effective monitoring, the mission coordinates all its actions with Armenian authorities and informs the Azerbaijani side before dispatching patrol groups.

Source:

• Panarmenian.am, “EU extends monitoring mission in Armenia until 2027”, https://www.panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/3188

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com

The Georgian government is facing new sanctions

On January 8, Republican Joe Wilson, R-S.C., Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, and Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., introduced the “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act” in the US Congress. The bipartisan bill bars recognition or normalisation of relations “with any Government of Georgia that is led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or any proxies due to the Ivanishvili regime’s ongoing crimes against the Georgian people.” It also prescribes that the United States shall recognise Salome Zurabishvili as “the incumbent President of Georgia before the fraudulent elections on October 26, 2024”, and as the only legitimate leader in Georgia.

In a commentary to Fox News Digital, Rep. Cohen said: “Sanctioned oligarch Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party has now become a tool of Putin. They falsified the October election and illegally picked a pliable president. The United States cannot and will not recognise this illegitimate government. The Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act will ensure that the United States does not recognise the current government. Until it agrees to free and fair elections, the Ivanishvili regime must remain fully isolated by all democratic governments.”

The bill’s goals and spirit resemble the Rep. Wilson-led “Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act,” which passed in February 2023. The bill was passed in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2025 and was signed into law by former President Biden in December 2024.

In an apparent attempt to preempt news of the bill’s introduction, the Georgian Dream Political Council issued another anti-Western and conspiratorial statement the same day. It described sanctions against Georgian Dream officials and politicians as “anti-Georgian steps” orchestrated by what it calls the “Global War Party” and “deep state” networks. “These decisions should once again be assessed as anti-Georgian steps that undermine Georgian society’s trust in Western institutions,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, RFE/RL reported on January 9, citing a “well-informed source “, that the letter was meant to inform Senator Marco Rubio about the “authoritarian rule of the Georgian Dream” and request sanctions on 25 individuals. The sender was not specified.

According to RFE/RL, the letter sent to Rubio mentioned several high-profile figures in Georgian political and business circles, referring to them as “Ivanishvili’s enablers network” and describing them as an “elite circle, corrupt financial operatives, propagandists, and those who operate the repressive state apparatus”. The letter mentions the wife, brother, cousin, and niece of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary head of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Other Georgian Dream officials included in the list are Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and Irakli Kobakhidze, who is referred to in the letter as the “de facto prime minister”. The list also includes the former director of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and the chairman of the GPB’s supervisory board, Vasil Maghlaperidze, who is referred to as the ‘party ideologue’.

In the category of “corrupt financial enablers”, the list includes Irakli Rukhadze, a US citizen and owner of the pro-government media outlet TV Imedi, as well as Viktor Japaridze, a member of parliament and owner of another pro-government TV channel, Pos TV. The others listed in this category are business figures, including Soso Phakadze, the founder of Wissol Group, one of Georgia’s largest oil companies, which also owns supermarkets and subsidiaries of American restaurant chains like Wendy’s, Subway, and Dunkin’, Khvicha Makatsaria, the owner of the telecommunication company Cellfie (formerly Beeline), and Irakli Gilauri, the owner of Geo Capital, as well as businessman Vano Chkhartishvili, who is close to Georgian Dream.

As OC Media reported, the list also includes judges Mikheil Chinchaladze and Levan Murusidze, who critics often refer to as members of the ruling party’s “judicial clan”. On January 10, spokespersons for the German Bundestag’s parliamentary groups issued a statement expressing firm support for Georgian Democratic forces and civil society, emphasising assistance to lead Georgia back onto a democratic and European path. The statement highlighted the necessity of a “pluralistic process” culminating in free and fair parliamentary elections. It condemned the Georgian Dream party’s decision to halt efforts toward EU accession, contrary to its pre-election promises and the European aspirations of most Georgians.

Additionally, the statement noted that the German government is advocating targeted EU sanctions against individuals responsible for serious human rights violations and acknowledged the issuance of national entry bans against nine individuals. It also welcomed the suspension and reassessment of numerous bilateral support measures.

Sources:

• GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, “‘Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act’ introduced in US Congress as Zourabichvili prepares for Trump’s inauguration”, https://oc-media.org/georgian-nightmare-non-recognition-act-introduced-in-us-congress-as-zourabichvili-prepares-for-trumps-inauguration/
• GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, “Congress calls for Trump administration to enact more sanctions against Ivanishvili’s ‘enablers’, media reports”, https://oc-media.org/congress-calls-for-more-trump-administration-to-enact-more-sanctions-against-ivanishvilis-enablers-media-reports/
• Civil.ge, “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act Introduced in U.S. Congress”, https://civil.ge/archives/650356
• Caucasus Watch, “US and German Lawmakers Introduce Sanctions to Isolate Georgian Dream Government”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/us-and-german-lawmakers-introduce-sanctions-to-isolate-georgian-dream-government.html

OSCE PA President cancels her visit to Georgia amid criticism

OSCE PA President Pia Kauma announced on January 6 that she is cancelling her visit to Georgia on January 8. Pia Kauma wrote that “following discussions and after close consideration, I’ve decided to postpone visiting Georgia until a time that the OSCE PA engagement would be most effective.” She added: “We remain ready to listen to all voices and offer assistance in implementing OSCE/ODIHR election recommendations.”

The visit announcement sparked harsh criticism in Georgia and abroad. On January 5, three opposition political forces, Coalition for Change, Unity-UNM, and Strong Georgia, issued a joint letter urging Kauma to condition her visit to Georgia by GD’s government committing to new elections and releasing the detained protesters. The letter reads that “the self-proclaimed regime of Georgian Dream is solely focused on achieving international recognition of the results of the falsified elections of October 26, 2024, its illegitimate one-party ‘parliament’ and ‘president’.”

The statement further noted that the “self-proclaimed regime” of Georgian Dream “does not consider releasing political prisoners or holding new elections,” and the visit will only be deemed appropriate if it facilitates preparations for new elections and the release of political prisoners.

The fourth opposition party, Gakharia for Georgia, later wrote a separate letter to Pia Kauma, urging to reconsider the visit, with the party leader Giorgi Kakharia separately stating on his X account that “OSCE PA President’s visit to Tbilisi risks unintended consequences for the Georgian people’s fight for democracy and European future.”

The German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Michael Roth, wrote on January 5 that the planned trip was “a serious mistake”. “OSCE PA must not legitimise an illegitimate president, government and parliament that emerged from rigged elections. EU, CoE and OSCE should insist on free and fair new elections. That’s the only way out of the deep crisis!” Michael Roth stated.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reacted by saying that Pia Kauma saw that liberal fascism was a large-scale coordinated effort. “First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Pia Kauma for her efforts, for her desire to help the country, and her attitude towards our country has always been positive. This was connected to Pia Kauma’s readiness for a visit to Georgia. However, as you can see, the attitude of certain individuals towards this intention was absolutely shocking. In the past, we had to talk with Mrs. Pia Kauma about how liberal fascism works, for example, in Georgia, and in reality, she herself felt the effects of liberal fascism the most. I think Mrs. Kauma saw that this was quite a large-scale coordinated effort. This is not a Georgian phenomenon, it is an internationally coordinated phenomenon. Liberal fascism is something that we all must fight against, and this movement, this ideology, must be defeated in our country,” said Kobakhidze.

Sources:

• Civil.ge, “Opposition Demands OSCE PA President to Condition Georgia Visit”, https://civil.ge/archives/649940
• 1TV.ge, “Michael Roth: Pia Kauma’s planned trip to Georgia is a serious mistake”, https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/michael-roth-pia-kaumas-planned-trip-to-georgia-is-serious-mistake/
• Inter Press News, „Irakli Kobakhidze: Pia Kauma herself felt the effect of liberal fascism. I think Mrs. Kauma saw that this is a fairly large-scale coordinated effort”, https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/136681-irakli-kobakhidze-pia-kauma-herself-felt-the-effect-of-liberal-fascism-i-think-mrs-kauma-saw-that-this-is-a-fairly-large-scale-coordinated-effort/

Georgia suspends participation in Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

Georgia announced on January 29 that it is withdrawing its delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after the body passed a resolution calling for the country to hold fresh parliamentary elections. We, the members of the Georgian Parliamentary Delegation in Strasbourg and Tbilisi, have debated and, by a collective decision of the Georgian Dream team, are ceasing our work in the Parliamentary Assembly beginning today,” Thea Tsulukiani, the head of the Georgian delegation to PACE, told reporters in Strasbourg.

“Many individuals, particularly our anti-state opposition and members of non-governmental organisations, opposed the acknowledgement of the new Georgian parliament delegation’s credentials,” Tsulukiani said, adding PACE eventually recognised them but also outlined certain conditions which she said are “unacceptable” to Tbilisi because they are “unjust and unfounded.”

Earlier, PACE adopted a resolution with 114 votes ratifying the credentials of the Georgian delegation but called on Tbilisi to address the country’s “continuing and rapid backsliding of democracy.” “The Parliamentary Assembly is not a partial agreement, but a statutory body participation in which is not a choice, but it is an obligation,” the PACE President Theódoros Roussópoulos told journalists on January 31. He added, “Since the credentials were accepted, they have to be in the Assembly. This is their obligation.”

Roussópoulos said that the PACE Presidential Committee discussed the case “thoroughly” last night and will continue to discuss it “within the next weeks” and that the decision will be made at the next PACE session in April. However, he declined to elaborate on what the decision might be if the Georgian delegation continues to refuse its obligation to work in the Assembly. He said, “I am not going to respond to any kind of hypothesis now. I have the hypothesis, but I will keep it in my mind.”

Sources:

• AA.com, “Georgia suspends its participation in Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe”, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/georgia-suspends-its-participation-in-parliamentary-assembly-of-council-of-europe/3466301
• Civil.ge, „PACE President: Georgia’s Participation in Assembly Obligatory, Not Optional”, https://civil.ge/archives/658306

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Georgian Dream MPs attack Georgian citizen in Abu Dhabi hotel, sparking violent chaos

GD MPs Irakli Zarkua, Viktor Sanikidze, and Gela Samkharauli have been implicated in a brawl in Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on January 13, where they physically assaulted a Georgian citizen, Lasha Gabitashvili. MPs were reportedly in Abu Dhabi on a private trip to attend a concert with their family members and other GD representatives.

The footage shows the GD MPs approaching the table and hitting Gabitashvili, followed by a fight, with hotel staff trying to break it up. Following the incident, Gabitashvili reportedly called the police and filed a complaint in the local Abu-Dhabi court. One more alleged attacker, Giorgi Gogoladze, was allegedly detained by local police for hurling a plate at a hotel employee and injuring him.

As he retreats after the fight is broken up, Sanikidze can be heard threatening Gabitashvili with punishment when he returns to Georgia. The footage sparked outrage in Tbilisi, where protests against GD had raged for over 40 days at that time. The day before, on January 12, Gabitashvili confronted Irakli Zarkua inside and outside the hotel, asking him whether he was aware of detentions in Batumi. The incident continued outside the hotel, where Gabitashvili called Zarkua a “Russian slave” and a “traitor.” The two men swore at each other. The footage showed another GD MP, Viktor Sanikidze, looking at his phone and pretending not to hear the accusations, for which he got widely ridiculed after the video went viral the same day.

Later, the ruling Georgian Dream confirmed that their MPs, Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze, had been fined by the authorities in the UAE for attacking a Georgian national in Abu Dhabi. On January 22, Georgian Dream’s parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze told reporters that Zarkua and Sanikidze were back in Tbilisi. He added that fines were imposed on “both sides” of the fight, suggesting that Lasha Gabitashvili, the Georgian national they had attacked, was also fined. Mdinaradze claimed that neither Zarkua nor Sanikidze was in police custody but said that they had spent a day and a half at the police station,’ where very intensive investigations were underway’.

Mdinaradze denied earlier reports made by opposition-aligned TV channel Mtavari that the MPs were fined 80,000 USD by the authorities in Abu Dhabi and said that he “can not remember” the amount they were fined but that it “was not that large”. Later, Mtavari also reported that the two Georgian Dream MPs were banned from entering the UAE. They also cited an anonymous source as saying that a companion of theirs, Giorgi Gogoladze, was “likely still in prison in Abu Dhabi”.

Speaking at the briefing on Wednesday, Mdinaradze stated, “If someone attacks me, I will definitely respond. Violence can never be justified in any case”. “It’s hard for a Georgian man to tolerate swearing”, Mdinaradze said. “Neither has their swaggy rooster’s manliness shown, nor their Georgianness”. Gabitashvili released a statement on January 17, confirming that he had been in police custody in Abu Dhabi, and that he had been released.

Lasha Gabitashvili, who was physically confronted in Abu Dhabi, told Georgian media he was “glad that this incident occurred in a free and responsible country.” In his statement, Gabitashvili noted that he would answer questions later once the case is closed. “Friends, I am free! Many thanks to the Georgian people for their support and love during these days. The judicial system of the United Arab Emirates was fair, effective, and independent. I am glad that this incident occurred in a free and responsible country. I eagerly look forward to returning to Georgia, which deserves free thinkers and responsible leaders. A special thanks to my family, old and new friends, and Olga, who is my personal hero!”.

Sources:

• OC Media, “Georgian Dream MPs fined by UAE authorities for attacking Georgian national in Abu Dhabi”, https://oc-media.org/georgian-dream-mps-fined-by-uae-authorities-for-attacking-georgian-national-in-abu-dhabi/
• Civil.ge, “GD Parliament Members Implicated in Abu-Dhabi Hotel Brawl”, https://civil.ge/archives/651556
• Inter Press News, “Lasha Gabitashvili: I am free – the judicial system of the United Arab Emirates was fair, effective, and independent. I am glad that the incident occurred in a free and responsible country”, https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/136923-lasha-gabitashvili-i-am-free-the-judicial-system-of-the-united-arab-emirates-was-fair-effective-and-independent-i-am-glad-that-the-incident-occurred-in-a-free-and-responsible-country/

Georgian Dream members accused of attacking Gakharia and TI Georgia member in Batumi

Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the For Georgia party and former Prime Minister under the Georgian Dream (GD) government, and Zviad Koridze, a journalist and a member of the Transparency International-Georgia were physically assaulted on the night of January 15, at the same venue – the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi, although in two separate incidents, reported Civil.ge.

GD MP Dimitri Samkharadze and Adjara’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Giorgi Manvelidze, and allegedly several other GD MPs, were involved in an assault on the opposition leader, according to journalist Gela Mtivlishvili, who first reported the incident. Giorgi Gakharia was hospitalised with a broken nose and concussion. Police arrived at the scene hours later, and since eyewitnesses reported the hotel staff cleaned the area, Gakharia’s colleagues expressed fear that the evidence may have been tampered with (or destroyed) from the scene.

The For Georgia party issued a statement calling an incident a “coordinated group assault orchestrated by Ivanishvili’s regime in Batumi.” The party believes the attack was “politically motivated.” The attack on Gakharia was preceded by the verbal and physical assault on Zviad Koridze, a journalist and head of the regional office of Transparency International (TI)- Georgia, in the same venue and by the same people. Koridze was also hospitalised, reportedly with an eye injury.

TI-Georgia said an attack on its member was “a deliberate act of violence and retaliation by Ivanishvili’s party against the Georgian civil sector and the representative of Transparency International Georgia” and demanded an investigation. The prosecutor’s office later recognised Gakharia as a victim. Public Defender Levan Ioseliani called on the authorities to investigate immediately.

Source:

• OC Media, “Georgian Dream members accused of attacking Gakharia and TI Georgia member in Batumi”, https://oc-media.org/georgian-dream-members-accused-of-attacking-gakharia-and-ti-georgia-member-in-batumi/
• Civil.ge, ”Opposition Leader, TI-Georgia Executive Assaulted in Batumi”, https://civil.ge/archives/652141

Judges’ corporate event met with public backlash, several protesters arrested

On January 13, family members of the detained protesters, activists and others gathered at the restaurant Babilo in Tbilisi, chanting and throwing eggs at the judges, who were there to attend a corporate banquet. The gathering began around midday and continued into the night, with several moments of escalation. Those present were outraged upon learning that the judges, including those involved in cases related to anti-government demonstrations, were attending a corporate dinner. At the same time, protesters remained in prison, awaiting sentencing, reported OC Media.

As Civil.ge stressed, the corporate event followed the recent decisions by two judges on January 10 and 11 to remand a total of 19 people arrested during the protests in custody, which caused an outcry and backlash against the judiciary, which is widely believed to be under the complete control of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Several judges of the so-called “judicial clan”, including Levan Murusidze, sanctioned by the US, Estonia, Lithuania and other countries, attended the event.

Police, including MIA’s Special Tasks Department representatives, were mobilised near the restaurant. A water cannon was also brought to the scene. A few judges who left the event earlier had to be escorted out by the police. Some protesters threw eggs at them. Police arrested several people at the scene. Other judges left the restaurant around midnight after heavy police, including riot police, arrived on the scene. They left the restaurant through a police cordon and were put on a bus specially brought to the venue.

Sources:

• GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, „Demonstrators interrupt a corporate banquet for judges, resulting in clashes and detentions”, https://oc-media.org/demonstrators-interrupt-a-corporate-banquet-for-judges-resulting-in-clashes-and-detentions/
• Civil.ge, “Judges’ Corporate Event Met With Public Backlash, Several Protesters Arrested”, https://civil.ge/archives/651380

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Mikheil Kavelashvili pardons 613 convicts

The Georgian Dream-appointed president, Mikheil Kavelashvili,  pardoned 613 convicted persons on January 19. Information about this was published on Kavelashvili’s Facebook page. The pardon occurred in connection with the Epiphany holiday, which is based on the “principle of humanism”. “With a demonstrated humane attitude, the pardoned persons were given the opportunity to return to their families and become full-fledged members of society again,” the Facebook post by Kavelashvili reads.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, later claimed that Kavelashvili had pardoned convicts “based on objective circumstances”, contrasting it with the practice used by his predecessors, which he claimed had been a “matter of political or other bargaining”. The large number of people pardoned has attracted attention. Social Justice Center, the local watchdog, said that yesterday’s pardon was unprecedented, as no Georgian president had ever pardoned so many people at once, even in one year, except in 2013, when a large number of pardons (857) followed the change of government and the previous government’s zero-tolerance policy toward even petty crimes.

The watchdog alleges the pardon may be in connection to the October elections. It notes that Mikheil Kavelashvili’s decision “raises doubts that this is some kind of reward for the pro-government activities of the criminal and violent thugs.” “Such practice of pardon does not serve the public interest and its security, but represents political arbitrariness and a clear example of party instrumentalisation of the current repressive and punitive criminal justice system,” the SJC adds.

Londa Toloraia, the CSO coalition My Vote speaker, also raised the alarm, warning of the consequences of a possible increase in the country’s crime rate. She said there are legitimate fears that “with this act, the GD has thanked the prisoners and their families for their contribution to the elections.”

Sources:

• Civil.ge, “GD President’s Pardon of 613 Prisoners at Once Raises Questions”, https://civil.ge/archives/653873
• Georgia Today, “Mikheil Kavelashvili pardons 613 convicts”, https://georgiatoday.ge/mikheil-kavelashvili-pardons-613-convicts/
• Agenda.ge, „Ruling party official says President has pardoned convicts based on objective circumstances”, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2025/42467#gsc.tab=0

Businesses shutter in Georgia amidst 3-hour general strike

On January 15, hundreds of Georgian companies participated in a three-hour nationwide strike to protest the Georgian Dream (GD) government’s policies, emphasising the potential consequences of Georgia’s international isolation and demanding the release of imprisoned protesters and new elections.

During the strike, protest banners appeared throughout Tbilisi, and participants from various sectors, including shops, universities, restaurants, and businesses, gathered in central locations such as Cafe Stamba near Rustaveli Metro station, Republic Square, and Chavchavadze Avenue. President Salome Zourabichvili joined the demonstrators, stating, “The Georgian people are experienced when it comes to [confronting] regimes, using every tool at their disposal,” and warning that the GD government’s attempts to provoke confrontation would fail.

Source:

• Caucasus Watch, “Nationwide Business Strike in Georgia Pressures Government for New Elections and Protester Release”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/nationwide-business-strike-in-georgia-pressures-government-for-new-elections-and-protester-release.html

EU suspends visa-free regime for Georgian diplomatic passports

The Foreign Affairs Council meeting on January 27 discussed the developments in Georgia and decided to suspend visa liberalisation for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports. The decision did not require unanimity, and only 15 countries’ votes were sufficient for it to be adopted. Hungary and Slovakia voted against the decision. The visa facilitation agreement will be suspended for the following categories: Members of Georgia’s official delegations who participate in official meetings and other events held in the territory of an EU country by intergovernmental organisations; Members of Georgia’s national and regional Governments and Parliaments, Georgia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court; Holders of diplomatic passports.

Ahead of the meeting, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that in addition to the Council’s discussions on the suspension of the EU-Georgia visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports, the bloc’s direct financial assistance to the GD government would be redirected from the government to Georgian civil society and media.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze later said that the decision was “purely technical”. “The main thing for us is that there is no threat to peace in the country and that there is no threat to the interests of the public, our people,” he added.

Sources:

• Civil.ge, “EU FAC Suspends Visa Liberalization for Georgian Diplomatic Passport Holders”, https://civil.ge/archives/656071
• Agenda.ge, “Georgian PM claims EU suspending visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic passport holders purely technical”, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2025/42552#gsc.tab=0