Politicians, judges, propagandists and businessmen — who in #Georgia will be targeted by #MEGOBARI sanctions? via @JAMnewsCaucasus https://t.co/kbrtZR1r4v
Day: May 7, 2025
On May 4, 2025, the Baku Marathon – one of the largest sporting events of the year – took place in the capital of Azerbaijan. It was organized at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and in exclusive partnership with Azercell. This year’s marathon once again brought together thousands of people of all ages, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
For the first time in 18 years, Georgia paid more for natural gas imports from Russia than from Azerbaijan during the first quarter of 2025, RFL-Tbilisi bureau said with reference to the Georgian Statistical Office.
Geostat figures show that in the first quarter of 2025, Georgia imported a total of $183.05 million worth of natural gas. Of that amount, $100.6 million was spent on Russian gas, while $82.4 million was spent on Azerbaijani gas. The information on the volume of gas purchased is not published on the website.
The shift marks a notable change in a long-standing trend of the gradual increase of Russian gas share in recent years. Russia used to be Georgia’s natural gas main supplier until 2007. However, following the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline in 2006, the spy row between Georgia and Russia in 2006, and the August 2008 war, Georgia shifted its focus to the Azerbaijani market.
By 2009, Azerbaijani gas had already overtaken Russian imports. That year, Georgia imported $73.9 million worth of natural gas — $43 million from Azerbaijan and $30.9 million from Russia — with Russian gas purchase accounting for 42% of the total worth, which increased to 55% this year.
Also Read:
- 25/04/2025 – Georgia’s Population 3.704 Million – Geostat
- 13/09/2024 – Geostat: Negative Natural Growth in the First Half of 2024
- 09/12/2024 – Geostat: FDI USD 197.7 Million in Q3’24, Down by 55.2%
- 24/01/2024 – Georgia Increased Natural Gas Imports from Russia by 16.5% in 2023
Kobakhidze becomes head of Georgian Dream
Irakli Kobakhidze has once again become the chairman of Georgian Dream, the party founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012 and in power in Georgia ever since. Ivanishvili is the party’s honorary chairman and is widely seen as the country’s shadow ruler.
Kobakhidze is also the current prime minister from Georgian Dream. He had previously served as party chairman until February 2024. At that time, a political reshuffle took place — then-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili became party chairman, while Kobakhidze was nominated for the prime minister’s post.
The party was left without a chairman on 25 April 2025, when Garibashvili announced his departure from politics.
The decision to reappoint Irakli Kobakhidze as chairman was made on 7 May at the 9th congress of Georgian Dream. The congress lasted just 18 minutes and was attended by Bidzina Ivanishvili, though he had little to say.
The congress also approved a new 15-member political council, which includes:
- Bidzina Ivanishvili
- Irakli Kobakhidze
- Kakha Kaladze
- Shalva Papuashvili
- Mamuka Mdinaradze
- Giorgi Volski
- Tea Tsulukiani
- Vakhtang Gomelauri
- Irakli Chikovani
- Maka Bochorishvili
- Nikoloz Samkharadze
- Mariam Kvrivishvili
- Dimitri Samkharadze
- Sulkhan Tamazashvili
- Nino Tsilosani
At least 10 of these members are likely to be sanctioned under the MEGOBARI Act once it is fully approved.
On 6 May, the US House of Representatives passed the MEGOBARI Act, which proposes sanctions against members of the Georgian government and other individuals deemed threats to the country’s stability, security and democracy. The bill also calls for a full reassessment of US–Georgia relations, including all aid programmes.
The bill must now be approved by the US Senate, with the final step being President Donald Trump’s signature.
According to a list published by the bill’s sponsor, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, the following individuals are at risk of sanctions: Irakli Kobakhidze, Kakha Kaladze, Shalva Papuashvili, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Tea Tsulukiani, Vakhtang Gomelauri, Maka Bochorishvili, Dimitri Samkharadze, Sulkhan Tamazashvili and Nino Tsilosani.
“We have already begun preparations for the local elections in October 2025. Our campaign will officially launch in a few weeks. The party will be fully mobilised for victory in honour of our 10th anniversary.
With the support of the Georgian people, we will win the mayoral and city council elections in all 64 municipalities of the country. This will be a victory for an even stronger, more prosperous, and more developed Georgia,” said Irakli Kobakhidze.