Strategic Analysis Caucasus Brief

Review of January 2026

Tomáš Baranec 

Armenia

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Pashinyan Pushes Patriarch into a Corner

A Church-State showdown in Armenia over government efforts to transform society and the economy may be nearing its denouement, wrote Eurasianet.org in early January 2026. Since the start of the year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ratcheted up the pressure on his avowed political enemy, Garegin II, the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, calling for his ousting. “Serzh Sargsyan also had no intention of leaving, but he was forced to leave; the same will happen to Krtich Nersisyan [Garegin II’s civil name] — he will be forced to leave as well,” Pashinyan said. According to Eurasianet.org, observers contend that Pashinyan’s underlying motivation for seeking Garegin’s removal is the patriarch’s steadfast opposition to the prime minister’s Real Armenia reform agenda.

Earlier in January, Pashinyan outlined a plan to overhaul church polity. He attacked Garegin for engaging in the “uncanonical practice of involving the Church in politics and using it to serve various agendas and interests.” Following the publication of the statement, more than 20 clergy members reportedly joined the reform agenda, according to the ruling Civil Contract party. As the party was celebrating this success, the Mother See announced on Saturday that Garegin II had dismissed Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, one of the 10 senior clerics who had signed the reform statement, from his post as Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese.

According to Armenian Weekly, Pashinyan has come under increasing scrutiny from some of legal and constitutional experts following his recent statements calling for changes in the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Critics argue that such actions may contradict constitutional norms, undermine the Church’s autonomy, and pose potential threats to Armenia’s national identity and security. Some legal experts stress that Pashinyan’s public engagement with the Reform Council, commentary on internal Church matters, and advocacy for leadership changes appear to contravene constitutional and statutory protections, Armenian Weekly reported.

Pashinyan and his allies responded to the criticism by framing their confrontation with the Church as pursuing goals similar to those of the 2018 Velvet Revolution, which brought Pashinyan to power. On January 11, Pashinyan’s wife, Anna Hakobyan, drew such parallels in a Facebook post. „Today, as the people who were the first to adopt Christianity as a state religion, we stand up with the same determination, not allowing unworthy people to humiliate our spiritual ‘self’ and the Armenian Apostolic Church“, Hakobyan wrote as cited by OC Media. She recalled how in 2018, through the nationwide protests, the Armenian population “stood up for our freedom and civil rights”, which led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan.

In mid-January, multiple media reports suggest that military commanders reportedly pressured army chaplains to express support for the Armenian Apostolic Church reform agenda launched by Pashinyan. The Defence Ministry has denied the claims, while the Church confirmed them. In one case, PARA TV cited its sources, saying that Colonel Levon Davidyan, commander of the special forces, had reportedly promised “financial support” to chaplains in exchange for their joining Pashinyan’s agenda and demanding the resignation of Catholicos Garegin II. The TV channel reported that he had made the offer on behalf of the leadership of the Defence Ministry.

Commenting to RFE/RL, Hieromonk Hovhannes Torgomyan said he had personally verified the allegations by contacting clergy serving in the army. He claimed that they had been summoned by the commander and “presented with a paper, asking if they were joining the reform agenda”. He further claimed that some commanders even lied to the chaplains, pressuring them to sign the statement by saying, “Your leader has joined the reformers.” RFE/RL also cited some priests as claiming that certain chaplains were threatened. “This does not correspond to reality”, said Defence Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan in response to the reports.

Meanwhile, on January 17, a court in Armenia ruled that Bishop Gevorg Saroyan be reinstated in his official position as Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese following his dismissal by Catholicos Garegin II earlier in January. While the court ruled that Saroyan’s position be restored, the decision was a temporary measure, with the order being in place only until the end of Saroyan’s court battle against the Church.

In his reaction, Catholicos Garegin II has defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. The official reason was the above mentioned lawsuit challenging his dismissal from the post of Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese.

Sources:
  •  Eurasianet.org, “Armenia: Pashinyan pushes patriarch into corner”, https://eurasianet.org/armenia-pashinyan-pushes-patriarch-into-corner
  • Armenian Weekly, “Constitutional crisis brews as Pashinyan pushes for Church leadership change”, https://armenianweekly.com/2026/01/08/constitutional-crisis-brews-as-pashinyan-pushes-for-church-leadership-change/
  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Armenian authorities liken Pashinyan-led church reform agenda to 2018 Velvet Revolution”, https://oc-media.org/armenian-authorities-liken-pashinyan-led-church-reform-agenda-to-2018-velvet-revolution/
  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Army chaplains reportedly pressured to join Pashinyan’s Church reform initiative”, https://oc-media.org/army-chaplains-reportedly-pressured-to-join-pashinyans-church-reform-initiative/
  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Karekin II defrocks bishop pro-Pashinyan bishop”, https://oc-media.org/karekin-ii-defrocks-bishop-pro-pashinyan-bishop/

Armenian Miners Strike in Demand for Higher Wages

The employees of the Akhtala Mining and Processing Plant in the Lori region of Armenia have been on strike since January 15, demanding higher wages. The employees have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met, reported Civilnet and OC Media.

The management of Akhtala Mountain-Enrich Combinat CJSC, which operates the mine, reportedly rejected the workers’ demands, prompting a strike by around 50–60 workers out of the roughly 500 employed by the company.

The miners told CivilNet on the condition of anonymity that they had communicated their requests on January 10, giving management a deadline of January 15. When their demands were denied — with management saying they lacked the ability to meet them and claiming the plant had been operating at a loss for 10 years — the miners launched the strike.

The management’s reasoning for rejecting the workers’ demands has raised questions among the miners. “If it’s unprofitable, any normal person understands that the business should be closed, not run at a loss for ten years”, a miner told CivilNet. Separately, another striker rejected the premise of the management’s arguments, asserting that “the price of the copper concentrate we deliver was 6,700 USD in 2019 and is now 12,700 USD — it has doubled, but nothing has changed for us”. The strikers also said that they perform additional work without extra pay.

Eduard Pahlevanyan, Chairman of the Branch Union of Trade Union Organizations of Miners, Metallurgists and Jewellers, told Panorama.am on January 24 that attempts to negotiate with the mine management had failed despite formal notification under Armenia’s labour law. “I officially informed the company and the country’s leadership that I was coming for negotiations within the framework of the collective labour dispute procedure,” Pahlevanyan said. “I waited, but the management ignored us and refused to meet.”

Pahlevanyan said he conducted on-site inspections and interviews with workers, concluding that conditions at the mine violated basic standards of human dignity. “These are inhuman conditions. A human being cannot work under such circumstances and generate profit at the cost of their life,” he said, adding that documentation would be submitted to the labour inspectorate and the Ministry of Territorial Administration with a request to suspend the mine’s operations. The union leader said the dispute went beyond social demands and raised broader concerns about worker safety and dignity in Armenia’s mining sector.

Sources:
  •  BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Armenian miners strike in demand for higher wages”, https://oc-media.org/armenian-miners-strike-in-demand-for-higher-wages/
  • Panorama.am, “Armenian miners continue strike amid ‘inhuman’ working conditions”, https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2026/01/24/miner-ptotest/3150458
Kremlin Propagandist Solovyov Says Russia Could Start “Special Military Operation” Against Armenia

Russian state television host Vladimir Solovyov called for a potential Russian military intervention in Armenia during a broadcast on January 11. “For us, the developments in Armenia are far more painful than those in Venezuela. Losing Armenia is a huge problem,” Solovyov said. “We should get our goals straight. The time for games is over. To hell with international law and the global order.” He also added that if Russia justified launching a “special military operation” in Ukraine on security grounds, it could do the same elsewhere.

In connection with Solovyov’s statements, Russian Ambassador Sergei Kopyrkin was summoned to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note of protest. Armenian Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Ani Badalyan previously reported the ambassador’s summons. According to her, the ambassador “was handed a note of protest expressing deep indignation at the statements made during a program on a channel that is part of a state-owned media holding.” “It was emphasised that this is an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, a hostile statement, and a gross violation of the fundamental principles of friendly relations between Armenia and Russia,” she stated.

Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan responded to Solovyov’s statement. On his social media page, he called Solovyov a close friend of Samvel Karapetyan. “The dog barks, but the caravan moves on. The dog in this case is a close friend and compatriot of Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and the caravan is our beloved country, which is moving towards irreversible peace and development,” he wrote.

Sources:

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Armenian Government Adopts New Economic and Institutional Transformation Doctrine

The Government adopted the Doctrine of Armenia’s Economic and Institutional Transformation, presented as a guiding framework for the country’s development, to review and strengthen the state’s economic structure and public institutions. The document consists of 42 pages and covers a wide range of sectors. “This is a guideline and an announcement of our intentions,” stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. “The Doctrine of Armenia’s Economic and Institutional Transformation is presented as a guiding framework for development, aimed at reviewing and strengthening the country’s economic structure and public institutions,” the Prime Minister said. „Strategies are primarily a statement of intentions and a consolidated expression of actions and ideas. This document shows where we currently stand and where we want to move,“ he added.

He emphasised that peace and its institutionalisation remained key priorities and inevitably had to be reflected in economic policy as well. He stated that the doctrine addresses education, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, agriculture, energy, and the development of intensive agricultural and energy sectors, emphasising that all these approaches are based on the principle of the continuity of the state, where governments change, but economic policy logic remains stable and predictable. “At the heart of all this is the idea of the permanence of the state,” Pashinyan stated, emphasising that the state interest had to be clearly defined and that economic development constituted the core state interest, without which no other agenda could be effectively pursued.

The Government also approved the 2026–2030 Strategic Program for the Development of Tourism in the Republic of Armenia, aimed at addressing sectoral challenges and coordinating reforms, including legislative measures.

Sources:

  • Caucasus Watch, “Armenia Approves Doctrine For Economic And Institutional Transformation”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/armenia-approves-doctrine-for-economic-and-institutional-transformation.html

  • Armenpress, „Armenian government adopts new Economic and Institutional Transformation Doctrine”, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1239075

US to Receive 74% of Shares in the Company Overseeing and Developing the Trump Route

On January 12, Armenia and the US published a document outlining the framework for establishing the TRIPP Development Company, which would manage and oversee the Trump Route (TRIPP). According to the document, the US would hold a 74% stake in the company, with the remaining 26% going to Armenia. The document clarifies the goals of the Trump Route and its expected benefits. It also details the conditions for its success, including the “further institutionalisation of peace” between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as progress towards the full normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

The exact location of the route has yet to be disclosed; however, it is intended to be built in southern Armenia, specifically in the Meghri area of the Syunik region, adjacent to Iran. The document did, however, provide details of the TRIPP Development Company, which would develop the route, stating that the US would get a “controlling stake” in the company with Armenian oversight. Additionally, the company would be granted “the right to development for an initial term of 49 years”. During this period, the US will get a 74% share of the company, with the remaining 26% going to Armenia. According to the document, Armenia is expected to extend the company’s control over the route for another 50 years, during which its shares will grow to 49%.

The project is set to include railway and road networks, energy pipelines and digital systems such as fibre-optic infrastructure. It introduces a “front office-back office” operational model, under which US operators will handle document collection and initial service functions, while Armenian authorities will retain responsibility for customs clearance, security checks, migration control and law enforcement. All taxes and fees generated through TRIPP operations will be paid to the Armenian state budget.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said the ownership structure reflects the respective contributions of both parties, with the United States providing financial investment and Armenia contributing development rights. He emphasised that Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over border and customs operations will remain absolute, and that the security of the route will be fully under the control of Armenian authorities.

On the other hand, the Republican Party Vice President Armen Ashotyan sharply criticised the recent TRIPP-related statements by the Government, in which Pashinyan reportedly framed the initiative as a diplomatic success, calling the agreement “unprecedented” in its implications. He compared it to historical projects such as the Panama and Suez Canals and strategic Black Sea straits, arguing that any foreign control over infrastructure of geopolitical significance undermines national sovereignty.

Sources:

Azerbaijan

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Baku and Washington Continue to Develop Diplomatic Relations

On January 4, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a US delegation in Baku.

The delegation included Markwayne Mullin, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee (Republican from Oklahoma); Jason Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means (Republican from Missouri); Ronny Jackson (Republican from Texas); and Jimmy Panetta (Democrat from California).

The President of Azerbaijan stated that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act does not correspond to the current level of bilateral relations, welcomed the decision by the US President to suspend its enforcement, and expressed hope that members of Congress would continue efforts toward its complete abolition (Section 907 of the 1992 US Freedom Support Act prohibits most direct US aid to the Azerbaijani government, passed in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War). Both sides also emphasised the positive development of Azerbaijan–US relations and noted the broad opportunities to expand cooperation across political, economic, energy, defence, education, and information technology sectors.

On January 22, Aliyev met with US President Donald Trump in Davos, during the World Economic Forum. Alongside Aliyev were his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva — who also serves as vice president — and his daughter, Leyla Aliyeva, as well as Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov. The American delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to the official Azerbaijani readout of the Aliyev–Trump meeting, the two leaders discussed a variety of bilateral issues, the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Trump Route, and the newly formed Board of Peace, of which Aliyev is a founding member.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also received and accepted an invitation to join the board and was present at the formal signing ceremony in Davos, but, unlike Aliyev, did not have a one-on-one meeting with Trump, OC Media reported.

Sources:
  •  Caucasus Watch, “Aliyev Meets US Congressional Delegation to Discuss Peace, Trade, Section 907, and Future Cooperation”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/aliyev-meets-us-congressional-delegation-to-discuss-peace-trade-section-907-and-future-cooperation.html
  • OSTEILLER Nate, OC Media, „Aliyev, with family in tow, meets Trump in Davos”, https://oc-media.org/aliyev-with-family-in-tow-meets-trump-in-davos/

Fifteen Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians Transferred to Armenia in January 2026

On January 14, Azerbaijan released four Armenian prisoners arrested during the wars between the two countries in 2020 and 2023. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on the Telegram messaging app that all four men were in satisfactory health and were heading to the capital, Yerevan, after being released by Azerbaijani authorities at the Khankandi Bridge.

The four had been serving prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years for crimes including genocide, espionage and weapons smuggling. Three of the men had been detained in the aftermath of a 44-day war in 2020, in which Azerbaijan was victorious. The fourth man, Vagif Khachaturyan, was arrested in July 2023. Azerbaijan has rejected suggestions that more Armenian prisoners could be released. Government sources told the Azerbaijani media outlet APA there was “no possibility” that former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders and “individuals who committed crimes against the Azerbaijani people” would be released. There are at least 19 other Armenians who remain in Azerbaijani custody, including Nagorno-Karabakh’s former political and military leadership.

On January 23, Yerevan announced that 11 individuals – ten Armenians and one ethnic Russian who is an Armenian citizen – who had been living in Karabakh have relocated to Armenia at their own request. The announcement was made by Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia. “Dear compatriots, I inform you that 10 Armenians and one Armenian citizen of Russian ethnicity, who, until now, were residing in the Republic of Azerbaijan (in Karabakh), applied to the authorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia requesting relocation to the Republic of Armenia.

Based on their applications, these individuals have been relocated to the Republic of Armenia,” the minister said on social media. Healthcare Minister Anahit Avanesyan later said that medics were dispatched to examine the individuals and provide medical assistance if required. All individuals underwent an examination: 10 are in satisfactory condition, while one was taken to Goris Hospital for an additional check-up.

Sources:

  • Reuters, “Azerbaijan releases four Armenian prisoners in sign of deepening peace”, https://www.reuters.com/world/azerbaijan-releases-four-armenian-prisoners-sign-deepening-peace-2026-01-14/

  • OSTILLER Nate, OC Media „Azerbaijan says Nagorno-Karabakh leaders and ‘those who committed crimes’ to remain in custody”, https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-says-nagorno-karabakh-leaders-and-those-who-committed-crimes-to-remain-in-custody/

  • Armenpress, “11 persons voluntarily relocate from Karabakh to Armenia, says official – Updated”, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1240372

Slavoj Žižek Calls for Bahruz Samadov’s Release

Slovenian political philosopher Slavoj Žižek has personally called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, asking him to release OC Media contributor and politicologist Bahruz Samadov, who is currently serving a prison sentence on treason charges he denies. Žižek called for Samadov’s release in a letter co-signed by Altay Goyushov, the director of the Baku Research Institute, Alssandra Russo, professor at the University of Trento, and Daniil Beilinson, co-founder of the Russian human rights organisation OVD-Info.

In the letter, the four decried Samadov’s sentencing to 15 years on charges of treason in June 2025 for “nothing but his peaceful anti-war stance”. “Such mistreatment of peaceful activists has no place in Azerbaijan: a modern nation with deep trade and cultural ties to the EU and US”, they continued. They warned that his basic rights are being violated right now, as he is being held in solitary confinement and being threatened with the transfer to the high-security Umbaku prison. “The latest facility is known for its brutal conditions. Bahruz already attempted suicide twice while in prison, hence a transfer to the Umbaku prison is a borderline death sentence. Bahruz’s only close relative is his grandmother, who will be unable to visit her only grandson there”.

They additionally highlighted major developments in peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that in spite of those, “Bahruz’s sentence was not only revoked but held up in appeal in full”.

Samadov, a young political scientist, was detained in August 2024 and sentenced in June 2025 on charges of treason. Prior to his arrest, he was an outspoken advocate for peace with Armenia, and has written extensively about peace and the deepening authoritarianism in Azerbaijan, writes OC Media

Sources:

Georgia

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GD Announces New Restrictions on Receiving Grants, Party Membership and External Lobbying

On January 28, parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia announced a series of legislative amendments that would impose further restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. The proposals would broaden the scope of what is considered a “grant” that would require government approval. Criminal responsibility and jail sentences will be imposed for violations related to grants. Leaders of parties receiving foreign funding will be prosecuted, and “external lobbying” will be criminalised. New restrictions will also be imposed on political party members and entrepreneurs, reports Civil.ge.

Kirtskhalia said that financing „revolutionary processes“ has become more difficult thanks to legislation passed before, though mechanisms for „circumventing the law“ still remain. „We are introducing legislative changes to ensure that in the future no one can find alternative ways to finance unrest and violence in Georgia from outside the country“, he added, as cited by OC Media.

According to Eurasianet.org, at the core of the latest package proposal is a radically expanded definition of what constitutes a “grant.” Under the new rules, a grant would include virtually any money, service, or in-kind support transferred between individuals or organisations, if it is intended, or merely believed, to influence Georgian government policies, state institutions, or “any segment of society.”

Under the proposed amendments, any organisation registered abroad but conducting “substantial activities” in Georgia will need government permission to receive funding. The same requirement will apply to representative offices or branches of foreign legal entities, even when funds are sourced from their parent organisations. Payments to experts and consultants in Georgia will also fall under scrutiny. If a foreign government or organisation hires individuals in Georgia for expertise, opinions, or technical services, those payments will be treated as grants and will require prior government approval.

The penalties are severe. Violations of the Law on Grants could result in substantial fines, 300 to 500 hours of community service, or imprisonment for up to six years. The new proposed legislation also seeks to prevent the flow of any foreign money into politics, especially to individuals and movements opposed to Georgian Dream’s one-party rule. Money laundering connected to perceived political activity related to Georgia would carry sentences of up to 12 years. Senior officials of political parties would face criminal liability for accepting foreign funding, with penalties including up to 6 years’ imprisonment. External lobbying would also become a criminal offence: transferring money in exchange for conducting political activity on behalf of a foreign citizen or legal entity could lead to similar prison terms.

The amendments also directly target political participation. Anyone employed by an organisation that receives more than 20 per cent of its annual income from a foreign source would be barred from joining a political party for eight years, writes Eurasnaet.org. According to the draft law published on the parliament’s website, some amendments will have a retroactive effect once adopted.

The legislative amendments were swiftly commented on in Brussels, ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, in response to journalists’ questions. The top EU diplomat, Kaja Kalas, said she expects that an EU foreign minister will raise the issue for discussion during the council: „We are supporters of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and press freedom is one of those. We definitely expect that we will make steps towards those who are conducting this“.

Sources:
Georgian Government Launches an Investigation into High Grocery Prices

In late December 2025, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called on law enforcement bodies and parliament to probe what he described as excessively high grocery prices. The PM hinted that price hikes may be due to possible cartel-like coordination among retailers. In a three-minute video address, Kobakhidze said a comparative analysis revealed stark price differences between Georgian and European supermarkets, with some everyday products costing nearly three times as much domestically. “Comparing prices in chain supermarkets of the same international brand in Georgia and France, the price of a specific brand of sunflower oil in Georgia is 34% higher, pasta 97% higher, rice 180% higher, butter 30% higher, cheese 42% higher, and chocolate 47% higher,” Kobakhidze said.

Kobakhidze attributed these differences to what he called excessive markups averaging 86% from Georgia’s border to store shelves. He said some Georgian retail chains report net profit margins of 7% to 14%, compared to 2% in Europe, despite higher operating costs there. Distributor net profit margins in Georgia, he added, range between 6% and 13.5%. “We will actively engage with representatives from distribution companies and market chains to secure reductions in prices for our fellow citizens. If necessary, we will also utilise antitrust mechanisms that have proven effective in various countries,” added Kobakhidze.

On January 22, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) entered supermarket chains and distribution companies as part of an investigation into high grocery prices. The agency told the media it has begun “seizing various types of documents” under “dozens of court orders.” “The investigation concerns the process of price formation, and for the purpose of studying this, electronic versions of documents are being requested from various companies under court orders,” the agency told Civil.ge, adding that it is “not interested in other financial matters.”

The move comes two days after the Georgian Dream government’s coordination commission, set up to study high prices for groceries, medicine, and gas, held its first meeting to discuss an “action plan for the coming weeks.” SSSG chief Mamuka Mdinaradze is a member of the commission, which is headed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The move also follows a January 21 meeting between the commission and representatives of retail chains, after which Kobakhidze wrote on Facebook that an 86% markup on products is “quite high” and linked it to what he also considered a large number of grocery shops per capita compared with European countries.

Sources:
Georgian Dream Complaint Against BBC

The Georgian Dream has filed a complaint with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over a journalistic investigation published in December 2025. The investigation alleged that police used a dangerous chemical agent, bromobenzene cyanide (also known as Kamite), to disperse protests in 2024. This information was initially disclosed during a parliamentary briefing by Shalva Papuashvili, one of the leaders of the Georgian Dream. “In accordance with the intention declared on the day the BBC published its defamatory material, we filed an official lawsuit against the BBC yesterday,” Papuashvili said. “Our complaint demands the removal of the film and related materials from relevant platforms, and a public and clear apology from the BBC for the unfounded assertion that Georgian law enforcement agencies used ‘Kamite’,” he stated.

The BBC confirmed to Radio Liberty that the complaint had been filed, while denying any wrongdoing. “Our documentary, When Water Boils: The Fight for Georgia, produced by the award-winning team BBC Eye, is an investigation into the Georgian Government’s crackdown on protesters in Tbilisi last year and draws on evidence from a range of sources both inside and outside the country. This includes interviews with protesters themselves, numerous informants, UN experts, experts in Georgia, as well as medical research, written documents, and reports. The reportage is entirely in the public interest, and the evidence gathered is presented clearly to the audience. We support this journalistic work and thank the brave people who took part in it,” the corporation told RFE/RL on January 15.

As civil.ge writes that the BBC findings came amid longstanding concerns from Georgian protesters, human rights groups, and medical professionals about the use of toxic substances during rallies, with many reporting long-term health complications. The report intensified both local and international scrutiny of Georgian Dream authorities. Georgian opposition parties and international watchdogs, including Amnesty International, have called for an independent international investigation into the matter.

Sources:

  • Caucasus Watch, “Georgian Dream Complaint Against BBC”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/georgian-dream-complaint-against-bbc.html

  • Civil.ge, “Georgian Dream Says It Filed Complaint with BBC Over Camite Investigation”, https://civil.ge/archives/717530,

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili Sentenced to 5 years in Prison

On January 12, the former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was sentenced to five years in prison and fined GEL 1 million, following a plea agreement approved by the Tbilisi City Court. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Gharibashvili pleaded guilty to charges under Article 194, Part 3 (subsection “g”) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns the legalisation of illicit income involving particularly large amounts. This charge normally carries a prison sentence of 9 to 12 years, but the plea agreement reduced the sentence to five years.

In addition to the monetary fine, the state will confiscate the funds obtained through criminal activity, including cash seized during a search of Gharibashvili’s residence. The former prime minister has fully admitted guilt and agreed to all terms of the plea deal, as reported by BM.ge. Investigations into Gharibashvili and other former senior officials became public in mid-March 2025, when the State Security Service (SSG) announced searches of their residences. That same month, the former prime minister was formally charged and released on bail of 1 million GEL (370,000 USD).

According to the investigation, Gharibashvili, during his tenure as Defence Minister and his second term as Prime Minister, “secretly and covertly engaged in various business activities and received particularly large sums of income of illegal origin”, writes OC Media. The Prosecutor’s Office added that, in order to legalise the aforementioned illegal income, he provided false information in the asset declarations submitted in connection with his position.

The investigation targeting Gharibashvili came amidst investigations and detentions of several former officials from Gharibashvili’s tenure. In September, former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze was arrested on corruption charges, following the detentions of two former deputy ministers. In late December, the Prosecutor General’s Office also announced the detention of Grigol Liluashvili, the former head of the SSSG, on bribery charges. His residence was also searched, along with Gharibashvili’s, in October. Members of the ruling Georgian Dream party have insisted the arrests were part of a fight against corruption, even if the cases involved current or former allies.

Sources:

  • Business Media, “Irakli Garibashvili Sentenced to Five Years in Prison and Fined GEL 1 Million”, https://bm.ge/en/news/irakli-garibashvili-sentenced-to-five-years-in-prison-and-fined-gel-1-million

  • GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, “Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili sentenced to 5 years in prison”, https://oc-media.org/former-georgian-prime-minister-irakli-gharibashvili-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison/

Georgia’s ex-Deputy Health Minister Arrested on Abuse of Office Allegations

Ilia Ghudushauri, Georgia’s former deputy health minister, was arrested on allegations of abusing his official authority in connection with a state procurement tender in 2022, the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance reported on January 27. According to Guga Tavberidze, deputy head of the Investigative Service, the case relates to a tender announced on September 27, 2022, for the purchase of ambulance vehicles for the Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Centre. Tavberidze said that three companies participated, with one offering the lowest bid of 8,523,876 GEL (about 3.2 million USD).

Ghudushauri, who concurrently served as Chairperson of the Ministry’s Procurement Tender Commission, instructed the cancellation of the tender to favour another company, Tavberidze said. On January 28, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia said the suspect had “admitted to the crime and cooperated with investigators” and that prosecutors would ask the court to impose bail as a preventive measure. As Civil.ge reminds, Ghudushauri served as deputy health minister from 2022 until March 2024, working under then-minister Zurab Azarashvili. He previously held the post of deputy director of Georgia’s Municipal Development Fund in 2017–2018.

His detention comes months after the arrest of his brother, Vladimer Ghudushauri, the former head of the Defence Ministry’s procurement department, who was taken into custody in July 2025 and later released on bail. Prosecutors accused Vladimer Ghudushauri and several other former defence officials of embezzling 1,333,728 GEL (about USD 490,000) in connection with the purchase of medical equipment for the military.

Ghudushauri’s arrest marks the latest case in a wider crackdown on former Georgian Dream officials, particularly those who served under ex-Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who is himself currently serving a five-year prison sentence following a plea deal in a major money-laundering case.

Sources:

  • Civil.ge, “Georgia’s Ex-Deputy Health Minister Arrested on Abuse of Office Allegations”, https://civil.ge/archives/718805

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