Strategic Analysis Caucasus Brief

Review of September 2026

Tomáš Baranec 

Armenia

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Armenia ex-finance minister, State Revenue Committee former chair Gagik Khachatryan remanded in custody for 2 months

Gagik Khachatryan, former Minister of Finance and former Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, has been remanded in custody. The Anti-Corruption Court has decided to place Khachatryan under pretrial detention for two months, the court told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Khachatryan was arrested on September 1. He was taken to the court on a stretcher to consider the motion for his pretrial detention. Later, footage was posted of him being taken to court.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia informed that investigative and procedural actions were carried out in the homes of Khachatryan and his son, as well as in the offices and branches of about 21 companies affiliated with them, within the framework of a criminal proceeding launched in connection with receiving bribes and laundering money in particularly large amounts.

As OC Media reminded, Khachatryan’s detention is the latest in a series of arrests launched in Armenia following the June parliamentary elections involving former officials and political figures, including former president Robert Kocharyan and his son, as well as tycoon and opposition figure Gagik Tsarukyan.

Sources:

  • News.am, “Armenia ex-finance minister, State Revenue Committee former chair Gagik Khachatryan remanded in custody for 2 months”, https://news.am/en/news/1059081

  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Former Armenian minister arrested after being taken to court on a stretcher”, https://oc-media.org/former-armenian-minister-arrested-after-being-taken-to-court-on-a-stretcher/

Facing Russian and Belarusian import bans, Armenia turns to EAEU mechanisms and EU trade relief

Armenia has lodged a complaint within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) over restrictions Russia has imposed on Armenian products and expects the obstacles to be removed through existing mechanisms. Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Tigran Gasparyan, announced the move at a press briefing. “Here, not only is our communication with Russia important, but also the opportunities available to us within the EAEU, because there are specific mechanisms that can be applied to remove such obstacles. We are actively using these opportunities. We have lodged a complaint and hope and are confident that the mechanisms will work so that the obstacles are removed,” the deputy minister said.

Armenia’s appeal came in response to a series of Russian trade restrictions on a long list of Armenian goods ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections in June. Many have characterised the restrictions as part of an ultimately unsuccessful effort to sway the election outcome, as Russia did not hide its displeasure with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government, writes OC Media.

Meanwhile, Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, stated that while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is in power, there will be no easing of trade and economic relations between Russia and Armenia. The parliamentarian emphasised that any deterioration in relations is linked to Yerevan’s policy of seeking alliances with Moscow’s adversaries. “Despite periodic contacts, there will be no easing of relations while Mr Pashinyan is in power,” Zatulin stated.

Besides Russia, Belarus has also banned the sale of an Armenian brandy label, claiming it failed to comply with the technical regulations of the EAEU.  The decision concerns Yerevan 2800 brandy, produced by the Armenian company CJSC MAP in the Armavir region. According to the Belarusian committee, the brandy is considered a hazardous product.

The Belarusian authorities cited the product’s “mass concentration of tannins” as the reason for the ban, “from which it follows that the product was given the appearance and certain properties of a particular type of product, but at the same time it cannot be identified as the product it is presented as”. Previously, in July, Minsk imposed a similar ban on another Armenian brandy label for similar reasons.

To mitigate the impact of Russian bans, the EU Council adopted temporary trade-liberalisation measures for Armenian products in September 2022. The measures will suspend import duties on around 80% of Armenian exports to the EU, including selected agricultural products. They will apply for two years from their entry into force, according to the Council.

The preferential arrangement includes conditions and safeguard measures to protect EU producers if imports adversely affect the bloc’s market. It is intended to support trade flows from Armenia to the EU and strengthen bilateral economic ties under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

Sources:
  •  ArmenPress.am, “Yerevan lodges EAEU complaint over Russian restrictions on Armenian products”, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1259942
  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Yerevan appeals to EAEU over Russian restrictions on Armenian products”, https://oc-media.org/yerevan-appeals-to-eaeu-over-russian-restrictions-on-armenian-products/
  • BARSEGHYAN Arshaluys, OC Media, “Belarus bans sale of Armenian brandy label, echoing Russia”, https://oc-media.org/belarus-bans-sale-of-armenian-brandy-label-echoing-russia/
  • MKRTICHYAN Marianna, ArmInfo, “Zatulin: Under Pashinyan, there will be no easing of trade and economic relations between Russia and Armenia”, https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=104004&lang=3
  • AA, “EU adopts temporary trade measures for Armenia after Russian restrictions”, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/eu-adopts-temporary-trade-measures-for-armenia-after-russian-restrictions/4067904
Armenia premier: Russian military base not vital for us, if they decide to remove it, we will not object

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated, that during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in early September, there was no discussion about removing the Russian military base from Armenia. The PM nevertheless stressed that Armenia would not object if Russia decided to close it. “We have never raised the issue of the Russian 102nd Military Base located in Armenia during this time, and it is not that we [i.e. Armenia] consider the presence of the 102nd Military Base on the territory of Armenia to be a vital necessity. If Russia decides to remove the military base from the Republic of Armenia, we will not object. But if they express a desire to stay, we are ready to discuss that, too; but we have never raised that issue during this time,” Pashinyan said.

Later, Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan has hinted that some in the country viewed the Russian military base in Gyumri as a threat. During a press briefing on September 24, Simonyan was asked whether the possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the normalisation of relations would automatically mean the withdrawal of the Russian base from Armenia. „I don’t know whether, if [the border does not open], the presence of that military base here would have been necessary for Armenia’s security or not. There is an opinion that, on the contrary, it was a threat“, Simonyan said without elaborating on who made any comments and when.

Simonyan went on to say that he currently did not see “a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty from Turkey”, adding that since the Washington Summit on August 8, 2025, “I do not see any threat at all, and I do not want to link the military base factor to Turkey”. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia, that Russia has not received any requests from Armenia regarding the withdrawal of the Russian military base from Gyumri and continues to consider it an important element of security for the republic and the South Caucasus. The Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri was first established in the 1940s and is believed to house more than 3.000 Russian military personnel. It has served as a key Russian military presence in the South Caucasus.

Sources:

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Judges and prosecutor recuse themselves in case against Catholicos Garegin II as Pashinyan hints at parliamentary Inquiry

 A third Armenian judge, as well as the prosecutor, have effectively refused to hear the criminal case against Catholicos Garegin II and six senior clergymen amid Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s continuing attempts to depose the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In his reaction, the PM hinted at creating an investigative commission into the Armenian Apostolic Church.

On September 3, Judge Vahagn Melikian of a Yerevan court of general jurisdiction asked the country’s Court of Cassation to determine which court has jurisdiction over the case. The move follows two other judges in Armavir declining to proceed with the case. Soon after, on September 5, the prosecutor in the criminal case against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II also resigned. Prosecutor Khachatur Galstyan left his position at his own request, Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed to CivilNet. The office said his “resignation was unrelated to the case.” The case has yet to reach substantive hearings after being assigned to three judges since proceedings began in August.

In an interview with BOON TV published on September 19, Pashinyan said parliament could establish an investigative commission into the Armenian Apostolic Church. He said he had read the finalised draft, discussed the issue preliminarily with the board of his ruling Civil Contract party and expected the report to be published. “I do not rule out that, following the publication of the report, an investigative commission will also be created in the National Assembly, which will make proposals for legislative changes arising from the report,” Pashinyan said.

The report remains unpublished, making it impossible to independently assess its findings or the evidence behind them. No detailed mandate for the possible commission has been announced. “The situation we have today in the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is simply terrible, because our Church is occupied,” Pashinyan said. Asked who had occupied it, he replied: “It is occupied by Ktrich Nersisyan [Garegin II’s secular name].” The possible investigation would form part of a broader government effort to change the Church’s leadership and governance. The removal of Garegin II is included among the objectives of the government’s five-year program through 2031.

Sources:
Pashinyan excluded the operation of state institutions of Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia.

Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, said he will not allow state structures of Nagorno-Karabakh to operate on Armenia’s territory. The authorities of the unrecognised republic intend to start consultations with Armenian parties, while former de facto Karabakh activists demand to legally enshrine the status of displaced persons as victims of genocide. As reported by “Caucasian Knot”, on May 22, 2026, the Administrative Court satisfied the prosecutor’s claim and recognised the registration of the property rights of the government of Nagorno-Karabakh on the building, as well as land use rights, as invalid.

In Armenia, “there cannot be two states and two governments,” stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a session of the Armenian parliament on September 16, responding to a question from a member of the “Strong Armenia” faction, Areg Ovspeyan, about the protection of the social rights of refugees and the activities of the leadership and parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh in the representation building in Yerevan.

Former de facto Karabakh officials intend to begin political consultations with Armenia’s parliamentary and non-parliamentary political forces, stated the state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Nzhde Iskandaryan. “After the parliamentary elections in 2026, a new political reality has formed in Armenia, which must be reflected in the attitude towards the issue of Artsakh and the further activities of its state institutions. We need to understand how political forces view further activities and cooperation with the authorities of Artsakh, what position they take on preserving Artsakh’s state institutions and protecting the rights of its people, and what practical steps they are ready to take. If a political force believes that this activity should be terminated, it must openly state this and take political responsibility for its position…” he said.

Commenting on the issue, Pashinyan further maintained that the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks concluded successfully after both sides moved away from what he called mechanical reciprocity, which had created a cycle of reciprocal actions without further progress. He presented this approach as part of a broader shift toward a different logic in the bilateral relationship.

Sources:

  • Caucasian Knot, “Pashinyan excluded the operation of state institutions of Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia”, https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/78683

  • Caucasus Watch, “Pashinyan Opposes Former Karabakh Institutions, Reaffirms Armenia’s Territorial Position”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/pashinyan-opposes-former-karabakh-institutions-reaffirms-armenias-territorial-position.html

Azerbaijan

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Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in crisis

After a promising meeting between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in late August, relations between Baku and Yerevan worsened again in September. On August 31, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, discussing opportunities to further expand economic, trade and energy cooperation. The sides also discussed exports of Azerbaijani petroleum products to Armenia, shipments of grain and other goods through Azerbaijan, and steps toward implementing the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

Nevertheless, in mid-September, a two-day visit by representatives of foreign diplomats in Azerbaijan to Nagorno-Karabakh has prompted controversy and outcry in Armenia, as Azerbaijan portrayed Armenian religious heritage as Caucasian Albanian. The visit, organised by presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev, took place on September 11. The delegation included 150 representatives from 58 countries and nine international organisations.

While there, Hajiyev told the diplomats that Nagorno-Karabakh “has been, is, and will remain the cultural heart of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people”. While there, Hajiyev shared a video from the delegation’s visit to the Gandzasar (Ganjasar) and Dadivank (referred to by Azerbaijan as “Khudavang”) monasteries. Hajiyev claimed the two monasteries were Caucasian Albanian and that Gandzasar was built in the 13th century by Hasan Jalal, whom he said was a ruler of Caucasian Albania. However, most sources agree that Hasan-Jalal and his dynasty, the Hasan-Jalalyans, were of Armenian descent, writes OC Media. The EU’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Magdalena Grono, also joined the delegation, marking her first visit to Azerbaijan’s former conflict-affected territories.

The portrayal of Armenian heritage as Caucasian Albanian caused an outcry in Armenia, with questions raised over how genuine efforts in the peace process were. Armenian authorities have generally refrained from commenting on the destruction of Armenian heritage in the region amidst the fragile peace process, but they responded to Hajiyev’s statements on Monday, calling them “unfounded”. “The statements […] naturally do not contribute or are not useful in the context of peace, apart from the fact that they are also unfounded”, Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said.

However, underscoring the importance of the peace process, Rubinyan added: “It is good that we are now in a state of peace, and our disagreements or disputes are about such issues, rather than being expressed through border shootings or clashes”.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the recent diplomatic scandal involving Azerbaijani officials and Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh as he spoke at the United      Nations General Assembly on September 24. “[Something] that fuels pessimistic sentiments is the occasional use of confrontational rhetoric in certain circles of Armenia and Azerbaijan, sometimes at the official level. I think that we, I mean Armenia and Azerbaijan, have achieved more than sufficient results, which should be more valuable for us than the use of confrontational rhetoric, whether it is about history or cultural monuments or anything else,” the prime minister said.

The general turmoil of recent weeks has also affected civil society. Dialogue under the “Bridge of Peace” initiative has stalled. The Azerbaijani side asked to postpone a meeting between experts from the two countries, which was due to take place in Yerevan in the coming days, “until tensions subside”. Boris Navassardian, a political analyst and the initiative’s Armenian co-founder, announced the decision. “We want these meetings to go ahead, not be postponed. The Armenian side believed that, in this acute situation, the two sides needed to meet, try to reach a mutual understanding and agree on the kind of atmosphere they wanted to foster in the media and public sphere. However, our colleagues from Azerbaijan apparently do not consider contact at this stage appropriate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani state media have stepped up attacks against Armenia in mid-September, following the blowback over a controversial visit by foreign diplomats to Nagorno-Karabakh, according to OC Media. Azertac — along with the pro-government outlets APA, Caliber, and others — doubled down, both condemning Yerevan’s response and arguing it was indicative of continued Armenian belligerence on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, wrote the portal.

Sources:
Georgian Church trades barbs with Azerbaijan government over church excavations

A spat has erupted between the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Azerbaijani government over reported works at and around a church in Azerbaijan near the border with Georgia. In a statement on September 24, the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church warned that „any intervention carried out both inside the church itself and in the surrounding area is of particular concern“. The statement was accompanied by photographs showing excavations cordoned off with red-and-white tape. „This raises numerous questions, both about the unclear purpose of the works and the rehabilitation of a Georgian cultural heritage site without the agreement of the Georgian side“, the Patriarchate said. The Georgian Church refers to the site as the Kurmukhi Church of St George. Azerbaijan refers to the site as the Kurmuk Temple, insisting the area was home to an ancient Caucasian Albanian temple.

In their statement, the Patriarchate said the Church was an important monument of „historical and spiritual heritage“ for Georgia and its Church. In a harshly worded response, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry told the Azerbaijani state-run news agency (APA) that it was „not advisable for the Georgian Patriarchate to repeat the well-known approaches of the Armenian Church and follow its path“. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry accused the Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarchate of an approach that “entails territorial claims”. The statement concluded that all historical, cultural and religious monuments located in Azerbaijan “constitute an integral part of the national heritage of the Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijani state.”

Sources:

  • GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, “Georgian Church trades barbs with Azerbaijan government over church excavations”, https://oc-media.org/georgian-church-trades-barbs-with-azerbaijan-government-over-church-excavations/

  • Civil.ge, “Baku Accuses Georgian Patriarchate of ‘Territorial Claims’ Approach Over Comments on Church ‘Works’”, https://civil.ge/archives/752665

Six sentenced in Azerbaijan NGO case as exiled groups call on Council of Europe for action

Azerbaijani courts sentenced six people in September 2026 in a so-called NGO case. Anar Mammadli was sentenced on September 7, 2026, to 13 years in prison in a strict-regime institution, with a three-year leadership disqualification, on charges including currency smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery. On September 7, Anar Abdullayev received a 12-year prison sentence on the same charges.

Ahmad Mammadzadeh was sentenced on September 7, 2026, to 7 years and 6 months, suspended for two years with immediate courtroom release, over foreign grant registration issues. Just three days earlier, on September 4, Maharram Goyushoglu was sentenced to 8 years, with 4 years suspended and a three-year NGO activity ban, factoring in his disability status, for money laundering, abuse of office, and official forgery. Galib Bayramov was sentenced on September 9 to an 8-year suspended sentence with probation, travel restrictions, and a two-year ban on official positions related to money laundering and forgery charges. At the same time, Hafiz Hasanov received an 8-year suspended sentence, with restrictions on financial positions related to foreign grant funds from the German Marshall Fund.

Meanwhile, imprisoned Azerbaijani activist and researcher Bahruz Samadov cut his arm with a sharp object during a Supreme Court hearing on September 25. The incident occurred as the Supreme Court heard Samadov’s cassation appeal. The hearing was presided over by Judge Ilkin Abdullayev. During the hearing, Samadov’s lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, filed an appeal seeking the annulment of the charge of high treason. The court rejected the appeal. Following this, Samadov submitted several motions, which the court also rejected. Lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova told Qəzetçi that when Bahruz Samadov cut his arm, he said, “When words run out, you have to speak with blood.” According to Sadigova, Samadov also said that he was being punished in retaliation, despite being innocent, and that he had been transferred to a high-security prison and placed in a punishment cell for two months. He also said that the law does not work in Azerbaijan.

In late September, five exiled Azerbaijani NGOs have urged the Council of Europe to take concerted action against Azerbaijan, including measures to secure the release of political prisoners and investigate allegations of torture. The NGOs’ statement asserts that Azerbaijan has one of the highest rates of non-implementation of ECtHR rulings: according to calculations cited in the document, 68% of the court’s judgments concerning Azerbaijan have not been enforced. The groups called on the Council of Europe to take action over human rights violations in Azerbaijan and the country’s failure to fulfil its obligations as a member of the Council.

Sources:
  •  Frontlinedefenders.org, “Human rights defender Anar Mammadli sentenced to 13 years in prison”, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/human-rights-defender-anar-mammadli-sentenced-13-years-prison
  • Amnesty International, “Azerbaijan: Lengthy Sentences for Anar Mammadli and Other Independent Voices Point to the Shocking Scale of the Crackdown on Dissent”, https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/azerbaijan-lengthy-sentences-for-anar-mammadli-and-other-independent-voices-point-to-the-shocking-scale-of-the-crackdown-on-dissent/
  • Caucasian Knot, “Azerbaijani activist Bayramov was sentenced to a suspended sentence”,https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/78445
  • Sova News, “Exiled Azerbaijani NGOs call on Council of Europe to take action against Baku”, https://sovanews.tv/en/2026/09/24/exiled-azerbaijani-ngos-call-on-council-of-europe-to-take-action-against-baku/
  • SHAHBAZOV Rafig, OC Media, “Azerbaijan NGO crackdown continues, as 15th person sentenced”, https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-ngo-crackdown-continues-as-15th-person-sentenced/
  • SHAHBAZOV Rafig, OC Media, “Azerbaijan sentences local NGO head to eight years in prison”, https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-sentences-local-ngo-head-to-eight-years-in-prison/
  • SHAHBAZOV Rafig, OC Media, “OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov self-harms during Supreme Court hearing”, https://oc-media.org/oc-media-contributor-bahruz-samadov-self-harms-during-supreme-court-hearing/
France achieved sanctions lift for Russian oligarch in Azerbaijan prisoner deal

Under pressure from Azerbaijan, which has detained two French businessmen, Paris has struck a deal to secure their release in exchange for lifting financial sanctions on the Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, Le Monde reports. The European Union has agreed to remove Usmanov from its sanctions list on September 22 after fraught negotiations. On September 23, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage.  According to the Financial Times, citing diplomatic sources, the two decisions form part of an agreement between Baku and Paris on the release of prisoners.

After years of confrontation over issues involving Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and France’s overseas territories, Baku and Paris reached an agreement on specific issues: France secured the release of its citizen, while Azerbaijan secured the lifting of European sanctions against the billionaire it had supported, JAM News reported.

The French citizen, identified in the pardon decree as Ryan Martin Richard, has been released from serving the remainder of his sentence. Authorities detained him on December 4, 2023, and on March 16, 2026, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes sentenced him to 10 years in prison. According to the Azerbaijani side, Ryan, the head of Merkorama, was supposed to collect military and other information for France’s Directorate-General for External Security. Paris rejected the allegations. On July 30, France’s Foreign Ministry condemned the appellate court’s decision to uphold the sentence, called the conviction arbitrary and demanded Ryan’s immediate release.

On September 14, the Financial Times reported that France was seeking to have Usmanov removed from the EU sanctions list in exchange for the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. Paris and Bratislava called for his sanctions to be lifted and vetoed extending the restrictions for another 12 months. The EU initially granted a one-week delay to allow negotiations to continue.

On September 18, a senior Azerbaijani diplomat told Reuters that between November 2023 and March 2025, Baku and other members of the Organisation of Turkic States sent letters supporting Usmanov to leaders in the United States and European countries. The diplomat described him as a philanthropist who helps strengthen ties between the West, Central Asia and the Turkic world.

The EU sanctioned Usmanov in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, citing his “close ties” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and interests in “key sectors” of the Russian economy that provide “substantial” revenue to the state. The 73-year-old businessman, whose fortune is estimated at 16.6 billion USD, has denied the allegations and challenged the sanctions.

Sources:

Georgia

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Jailed ex-PM Irakli Gharibashvili attacks Georgian Dream in new wave of prison letters

During September, imprisoned former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili released three additional letters in which he sharply criticised the Georgian government. In the fifth statement published as part of a series where he pledged to reveal his “truth,” jailed former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili pointed to “unanswered questions” over the suicides of “multiple” people during the “Kobakhidze-Mdinaradze rule,” and asked what the “real cause” of death was for a conservative commentator critical of Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Gharibashvili singled out the case of Lazare Jorbenadze, who, according to investigators, died by suicide in April. Gharibashvili questioned the “real reasons” for his death, highlighting how Jorbenadze had criticised Kobakhidze prior to his death. On September 8, Gharibashvili published another letter, in which he criticised and mocked the reactions of the ruling party and pro-government circles to his previous letters, describing the accusations against him as a “ridiculous and feeble propaganda tactic”. “I’m lucky that I don’t speak any other foreign languages; otherwise, they would probably have branded me an “agent” of other countries as well”, he said, adding: ‘Stop this dirty political game against me […] People know very well that I serve neither the West, nor the East, nor the North, nor the South. I serve Georgia!” reads the letter.

In his latest – seventh – letter, Gharibashvili claimed that the real purpose of his arrest was not the criminal case against him, but to neutralise him politically and prevent him from returning to politics in the future. According to Gharibashvili, the authorities initially changed the terms of a plea deal they had agreed with him. Later, when his imprisonment proved more politically damaging to the ruling team itself, they offered him a deal under which he would admit to a new corruption charge. The former prime minister says that on the day he was detained, he received a message telling him to withdraw from politics. In return, he says, he was promised that he would not go to prison but would instead receive a lengthy suspended sentence and a fine. “I was screwed over again,” Gharibashvili writes. However, he continues, on January 4, 2026, he was unexpectedly informed that the terms had changed and that he would face five years in prison. By that point, he had already pleaded guilty, been released on bail and was awaiting the formalisation of a plea agreement.

Gharibashvili broke his months-long silence over the charges in August with a series of letters alleging that Georgian Dream’s billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili had orchestrated pressure on him to confess to new charges while already in prison, along with state threats to arrest his father.

Sources:
  •  Civil.ge, “Garibashvili Speaks of ‘Unanswered Questions’ Over ‘Suicides’ Under ‘Kobakhidze-Mdinaradze Rule’”, https://civil.ge/archives/749643
  • GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, “Georgia’s former PM Gharibashvili condemns state ‘propaganda’ in sixth prison letter”, https://oc-media.org/georgias-former-pm-gharibashvili-condemns-state-propaganda-in-sixth-prison-letter/
  • JAM News, “‘My arrest was political from start to finish’ – Georgia’s ex-PM writes seventh letter from prison”, https://jam-news.net/garibashvili-writes-seventh-letter-from-prison/
Georgian state security chief resigns as Tamaz Borashvili appointed as successor

Georgia’s State Security Service Chief Geka Geladze announced his resignation on September 14, marking the fourth time the agency’s head has left the post in less than two years. Geladze, a former Interior Minister who assumed office in April, replacing Mamuka Mdinaradze as the fifth head of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) since its establishment in 2015, did not name the reason for his resignation, but said he would continue his activities “in another agency” following “consultations with the political team.”

In a statement published by the SSSG, Geladze extended “special thanks” to the agency staff and also thanked the “political team, especially the [ruling] party’s Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze” for the trust. Geladze’s resignation came shortly after his predecessor, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced his departure from politics after changing his roles multiple times over the year.

Hours after Geka Geladze announced his resignation, Kobakhidze nominated Geladze’s deputy, Tamaz Borashvili, to replace him, with Geladze set to become Deputy Interior Minister. Kobakhidze described Borashvili as a career official with more than 20 years of experience in the law enforcement and state security system. According to Kobakhidze, Borashvili served as First Deputy Head and later Head of the General Inspection at the Ministry of Internal Affairs between 2017 and 2022. He returned to the SSSG in 2022 as head of its Tbilisi Main Division and later served as Director of the State Security Department. He was appointed Deputy Head of the SSSG in September 2025. “Over the last two decades, Tamaz Borashvili will be the first career official of the state security system to take up the position of head of the state security system,” Kobakhidze said, arguing that his appointment would contribute to the “institutional strengthening” of the agency. Borashvili was approved by Georgian parliament on September 16.

Sources:

  • Civil.ge, “State Security Service Chief Geka Geladze Resigns”, https://civil.ge/archives/751040

  • Civil.ge, “Tamaz Borashvili to Become Next State Security Service Chief”, https://civil.ge/archives/751070

Former State Security Service Head Grigol Liluashvili sentenced to 13 years in prison

Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Tarashvili sentenced former head of Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG), Grigol Liluashvili, to 13 years in prison after finding him guilty in four episodes involving alleged bribery. Liluashvili, who headed the SSSG from 2019 until stepping down in April 2025, was arrested on December 23, 2025, in connection with multiple alleged corruption schemes.

He was tried in four corruption cases. According to the prosecutor, Liluashvili accepted a 1 million USD bribe from a Turkish investor to fast-track and lobby for a major wind power plant construction project. In the second case, he also extorted 1.5 million GEL (approx. 560.000 USD) from a construction firm owner to guarantee they would win lucrative government gasification tenders.

In the final two schemes, Liluashvili leveraged his institutional power for illicit financial gain by pocketing 1.365 million USD to shield international cyber-fraud scam call centres from law enforcement raids, while simultaneously operating a protection racket for a Tbilisi municipal official that allowed him to take a cut of the kickbacks stolen from private firms competing for kindergarten procurement contracts.

Liluashvili’s defence argued that the case lacked evidence. His lawyer, Lana Tsertsvadze, said the day before the verdict that “the prosecution accuses Grigol Liluashvili of four episodes, yet it failed to present four pieces of evidence proving that he actually committed the crime”. According to Tsertsvadze, the only evidence in the case was a “false testimony” by Mikautadze, who is in custody, which had been “fully refuted by evidence presented by the defence”.

Sources:
  •  Civil.ge, “Former State Security Service Head Grigol Liluashvili Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison”, https://civil.ge/archives/751568
  • GVADZABIA Mikheil, “OC Media, Georgia’s former security chief sentenced to 13 years in prison on corruption charges”, https://oc-media.org/georgias-former-security-chief-sentenced-to-13-years-in-prison-on-corruption-charges/

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Georgian Dream seeks ban on Gakharia’s Party as Public Registry rejects “Georgia First”

Georgian Dream has announced plans to add the opposition For Georgia party to the list of parties it wants to ban. Meanwhile, the Georgian Public Registry has dismissed the newly established political party Georgia First’s application for registration. The agency said the party — founded by Viktor Kipiani, Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili’s former lawyer — had not addressed “deficiencies” in its documentation.

For Georgia was founded by Giorgi Gakharia, who previously served as a Georgian Dream prime minister before moving to the opposition. They are the only opposition group that took up seats in parliament after the 2024 elections, ending their boycott in October 2025. Irakli Kirtskhalia, Georgian Dream’s parliamentary leader, announced the decision, citing what he described as For Georgia’s “gross and brazen failure to recognise our country’s constitutional order, as well as numerous destructive actions by its members in parliament, in committees, and in their broader activities”. Kirtskhalia did not specify which actions the ruling party considered “destructive”.

As OC Media stressed, Georgian Dream is now seeking to ban all four major opposition parties that cleared the threshold in the disputed 2024 parliamentary elections, either independently or as part of coalitions with smaller partners. Its initial October 2025 lawsuit targeted Akhali, the United National Movement (UNM), and Lelo. In April 2026, the ruling party added the Federalists. Initially, Georgian Dream excluded For Georgia from its list, citing its participation in parliament.

Regarding the Georgia First party, publicly available documents show that Kipiani initially applied to register the party on July 2, but the Public Registry flagged the application for deficiencies. The agency named eight issues with the application, including alleged problems with the party list and charter. Kipiani submitted additional documents on 3 and 7 August. However, the agency ultimately dismissed the application in mid-August without consideration, with the Public Registry saying most of the deficiencies had not been remedied. The party vowed to challenge the decision. “Now we have 30 days to respond and request details on why the regulator deemed the issues we addressed comprehensively unresolved”, Georgia First member Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani told TV Pirveli. “If the regulator still does not consider our response legitimate, we can also take the matter to court”, he added.

Sources:
  •  GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, Georgian Dream now wants all major opposition parties banned, https://oc-media.org/georgian-dream-now-wants-all-major-opposition-parties-banned/
  • GVADZABIA Mikheil, OC Media, Georgia dismisses registration of new political party over ‘deficiencies’ in application, https://oc-media.org/georgia-dismisses-registration-of-new-political-party-over-deficiencies-in-application/
Georgia and Nauru Establish Diplomatic Relations

Georgia and the Republic of Nauru have diplomatic relations following Nauru’s decision to withdraw recognition of de facto Abkhazia and de facto South Ossetia region as independent states.           The protocol establishing diplomatic relations was signed in New York on September 21 by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Nauru President David Adeang on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. During their meeting, Kobakhidze thanked Adeang for Nauru’s decision to withdraw recognition of Georgia’s occupied territories. The sides also discussed cooperation within international organisations and opportunities to expand bilateral and people-to-people ties.

Nauru ended diplomatic relations with the de facto authorities in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali in July and reversed its 2009 decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Tbilisi welcomed the move and expressed readiness to establish diplomatic relations with Nauru, Caucasus Watch writes.

Sources:
  •  Caucasus Watch, “Georgia and Nauru Establish Diplomatic Relations”, https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/georgia-and-nauru-establish-diplomatic-relations.html

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