Day: February 13, 2024

In the latest edition of the Munich Security Report for the year 2024 titled “Lose-Lose?”, Bidzina Ivanishvili, described as “the pro-Russian oligarch and founder of Georgia’s governing party,” is identified as responsible for Georgia’s recent democratic backsliding and movement away from the European Union, “against the wishes of the majority of the Georgian public.”

Apart from the role of Ivanishvili, the report also highlights Russia’s tactic of using threats of “fueling separatism in Abkhazia and South Ossetia [occupied Tskhinvali region] to sow instability.” The report reads that “Russia may have failed to draw Georgia, Moldova, and the Western Balkans into its camp, but it still seeks to spoil their westward integration.”

According to the report, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the cooperative era of European security has ended, and countries stuck in the grey zone between the Russian and Western camps find themselves in a precarious situation, forced to choose sides, noting that Georgia, Moldova, and the Western Balkans are feeling “the precariousness of being in between the camps.”

The report states that it is in the hands of the EU and NATO to “shrink the grey zone” by actively supporting countries on their paths toward membership while also setting more ambitious milestones along the way.

It calls on the EU to concretize the notion of staged accession and reward reform progress with gradual access to its institutions and policies. This should include, according to the report, “regular invitations of candidate countries as guests to European Council and Council meetings.” Moreover, “NATO Allies should, where necessary, extend bilateral security guarantees in the interim phase until accession,” the report states.

Also Read:

• 27/02/2023 – Opinion | The Munich Security Conference 2023: Missed Opportunity for Georgia
• 18/02/2023 – Prime Minister Garibashvili Attends Munich Security Conference

On February 13, the Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, citing the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, reported the information on foreign individuals wanted by Russian authorities on various charges. Georgia tops the list with its 100 citizens fighting on the Ukrainian side in Russia’s war of aggression in the category Foreigners in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, followed by the UK with 93 individuals, and other countries such as Belarus, Israel, and the United States. According to Mediazona’s this specific category comprises of at least 396 people from 36 different countries.

According to Mediazona, it scraped and analyzed the entire Ministry of Internal Affairs’ wanted database, which reportedly contains up to 96,000 wanted notices and developed a user‑friendly search tool. Among the individuals listed there are Western politicians and civil servants, Ukrainian politicians and servicemen, journalists, athletes, foreigners who served in the Ukrainian army, European politicians wanted for dismantling Soviet monuments, etc. In addition to Ministers of various countries, the list reportedly includes the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

Among the Georgian citizens reportedly listed in the databse, there are Aleko Elisashvili, the leader of the “Citizens” political party, Irakli Okruashvili, a former Minister of Defense of Georgia, and Davit Katsarava, leader of the anti-occupation movement “Power is in Unity.” who have been, at some stage fighting on the Ukrainian side.

Also Read:

• 02/02/2024 – Two More Georgian Fighters Killed in Ukraine

In the framework of her visit to Georgia, USAID’s Assistant to the Administrator (AtA) of the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG), Shannon N. Green, has conducted meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC), and the elections-focused civil society organizations.

On February 12, the USAID official, together with the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan, met with the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, “to discuss the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership and reiterate U.S. support to Georgia’s efforts to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in October” this year.

According to the USAID in Georgia, AtA Green congratulated Speaker Papuashvili on Georgia’s EU candidacy, and “expressed our commitment to continue partnering with Georgia to strengthen the country’s security, democracy, prosperity, and Euro-Atlantic integration.”

According to Speaker Papuashvili, he had a “friendly exchange” with AtA Green on Georgia-USAID cooperation, the implementation of the EU-defined 9 steps for Georgia, and the future areas for multi-dimensional partnership of the parties. “[I am] grateful for strong support of USAID for Georgia’s cause,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted.

On February 13, AtA Green met with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Giorgi Kalandarishvili and his deputy Giorgi Sharabidze. “Giorgi Kalandarishvili provided comprehensive insights into the preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26, 2024…” the CEC reported.

“Today’s meeting once again underscored that the US has always been a supporter of our electoral processes and the institution, and will remain so,” Kalandarishvili said following the meeting, adding: “We will, certainly, maintain close cooperation with them and ensure the timely and regular provision of information to our international partners regarding ongoing election matters.”

AtA Green also met with the elections-focused civil society representatives “to discuss USAID’s support for short and long-term election observation,” USAID in Georgia reported on February 13. “Georgia’s civil society plays a crucial role in strengthening the country’s democracy, including voter education and election monitoring.”

USAID has recently been facing criticism from the Georgian authorities and Speaker Papuashvili dissatisifed with some of the USAID projects involving civil society. In October 2023, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) alleged that USAID-funded trainers were involved in fomenting unrest in Georgia. Later that month, Speaker Papuashvili doubled down on accusations by stating that some of USAID’s programs encourage “extremism” and “polarization.” In January 2024, Speaker Papuashvili again criticized USAID for supporting the Tolerance Center at the Public Defender’s Office.

The article may be updated…

Also Read:

• 26/10/2023 – USAID Official: Claims of “Supporting Revolution” are “Patently False”
• 25/10/2023 – USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Arrives in Georgia