Month: May 2025
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is visiting Georgia, the U.S. Embassy announced on May 30. A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Daines is expected to meet with both Georgian Dream government representatives and opposition political parties.
“He plans to raise domestic and international issues, including rule of law and business and foreign investment priorities,” the U.S. Embassy says.
“He also plans to convey President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s top priorities, including the America-first agenda philosophy, and steps the Georgian government can take to show it is serious about improving its relationship with the United States,” the Embassy adds.
Senator Daines visits Tbilisi as part of a regional tour. On May 29, he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.
The senator’s visit comes amid a critical review of U.S.-Georgia relations. The U.S. suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia last November after Georgia’s ruling party decided to abort the country’s EU accession. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the ruling Georgian Dream party’s honorary chairman who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury last December, recently said he refuses U.S. meetings due to “personal complexes” triggered by sanctions and fears of being “blackmailed.” His statement followed the U.S. Embassy’s announcement that Ivanishvili had declined a meeting. Facing unprecedented international isolation, Georgian Dream representatives – particularly Irakli Kobakhidze – claim that President Trump is engaged in a “fight” against the so-called “deep state,” and suggest that a reset in U.S.-Georgia relations hinges on the outcome of this struggle. If Trump wins, they insist, the reset will favor Georgian Dream.
The Senator has already met with President Salome Zurabishvili, who leads the opposition’s Resistance Platform. “He heard not only about domestic affairs,” Zurabishvili said at a briefing, “but also the strategic challenges facing America in this region and in Georgia, which necessitates greater attention from the U.S.”
Meeting with the Georgian Dream Government
Senator Daines also met with Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The meeting, which took place at the government administration, included GD Vice Prime Minister and Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili, GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, and Head of the GD Government Administration, Levan Zhorzholiani.
“During the meeting, the talks focused on U.S.-Georgia relations, Georgia’s role in the region, and the current political situation in the country,” the official press release from the government administration says.
“The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Georgian government’s readiness to reset relations with the United States and renew the strategic partnership, based on a concrete roadmap that will bring tangible results to both countries,” it adds.
“Georgia’s important role in ensuring peace and stability in the region was emphasized, along with its transit potential. Irakli Kobakhidze noted that Georgia offers its partners opportunities to access multi-million-dollar markets,” the press release says.
“During the meeting, attention was also given to ongoing political processes. The head of government noted that political stability is ensured in the country, with the Georgian government serving as its guarantor.”
“Very productive meeting with U.S. Senator Steve Daines. We discussed the strong partnership between Georgia and the U.S., our country’s vital role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, and the current political context in Georgia,” Irakli Kobakhidze wrote on X after the meeting, adding, “I reaffirmed my Government’s firm readines to restart and renew our strategic partnership with the United States – built on a clear, actionable roadmap that brings tangible benefits to both nations. Georgia stands as a reliable partner, offering strategic opportunities and access to multimillion-strong markets.”
“Senator Daines today welcomed the opportunity to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to discuss strengthening U.S.-Georgia relations. The Senator affirmed Georgia’s crucial role in promoting peace and prosperity in the Caucasus and beyond, and he strongly encouraged Georgia to work closely with President Trump and his Administration to advance our mutual economic and security interests,” Daines wrote on social media after the meeting.
More to follow…
Also Read:
- 28/05/2025 – GD-Elected President Says He Received Congratulatory Letter from President Trump
- 13/05/2025 – Frustrated by Lack of Official Contacts, Kobakidze Pens Open Letter to Trump
- 26/04/2025 – Davitashvili Visits United States, Participates in World Bank, IMF Spring Meetings
- 14/03/2025 – GD’s Foreign Minister Meets with US Ambassador Dunnigan
In the quiet highlands of Azerbaijan’s Lachin district, a meaningful transformation is unfolding—one not marked by dramatic announcements or towering skyscrapers, but by the steady, clean current of mountain rivers. Two recently inaugurated small hydropower plants—Aşağı Malıbəyli and Mirik—stand as symbols of a country quietly realigning its energy future with the rhythms of nature.
Nika Melia, the co-chair of the opposition Ahali party and a leader of the Coalition for Change, was detained on May 29, one day before a court hearing that he had vowed not to attend. The Interior Ministry said Melia was detained for insulting police officers, an administrative offense, while the opposition described the detention as an “abduction.”
The hearing for a separate criminal case, scheduled for today, May 30, relates to Melia’s refusal to testify before the Georgian Dream parliament’s temporary investigative commission probing alleged crimes by former UNM officials. Melia had previously said he would neither pay the court-imposed bail nor attend the hearing. However, he now plans to appear and detail his controversial detention yesterday. He faces possible pretrial detention in this criminal case, like another opposition politician, Zurab Japaridze, who was imprisoned in a similar case under similar circumstances.
Civil.ge has collected both domestic and international reactions to Nika Melia’s detention on May 29:
Domestic Reactions
Resistance Platform: “The arrest of Nika Melia and the details surrounding his detention are the manifestation of fear of the Russian regime. When asked why one should not cooperate with the regime, the answer is clear – every act of non-cooperation, every display of defiance, further exposes the regime’s weakness, fear, and criminal nature. Following Nika Melia’s abduction, it has become even more evident to the Georgian public and our country’s international partners that under Ivanishvili’s Russian regime, it is impossible to establish a fair and peaceful environment, a political situation that is close to normal in Georgia. Solidarity with Nika Melia and all political prisoners!”
Strong Georgia: “Ivanishvili’s Russian regime is in such a state of panic that it no longer even formally waits for the farce to be staged in the courtroom. Against the backdrop of announced repressions, Georgian Dream has already begun abducting political opponents from the streets. The arrest of Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, is nothing but confirmation of the systemic crisis existing in the so-called governmental vertical. As it appears, Ivanishvili’s regime will use all instruments at its disposal to “neutralize” opposition leaders. The Lelo-Strong Georgia coalition expresses solidarity with Nika Melia and his political team!”
Tina Bokuchava, UNM Chair: “I wouldn’t say that Nika Melia’s arrest was unexpected […] he, like Zura Japaridze, decided not to pay Ivanishvili’s tribute, otherwise called bail, which was imposed by the treason commission, the executioner Tsulukiani, on people who do not want to participate in treason. Nika Melia also made this principled, brave decision, and I think it was a very correct decision not to pay this tribute. […] The form of this abduction once again confirms what violent methods Ivanishvili resorts to.”
International Reactions
Joe Wilson, American Congressman: “The anti-American Georgian Dream regime has just arrested key opposition leader Nika Melia on the same false pretense as the previous attack on the opposition. It is clear that the total banning of opposition is underway so as to sell the country to China. Sanctions are the solution!”
Rasa Juknevičienė, Lithuanian MEP: “Just now, another Georgian opposition leader, Nika Melia, was arrested on the street. A week ago – Zurab Japaridze. The situation in Georgia is getting worse. EU and Member states must act!”
Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Estonia’s Parliament: “The goal of the Georgian dictatorship appears to be the elimination of all political opposition – just as has been done in Russia and Belarus. The arrest of Nika Melia is unlikely to be the last. The European Union should respond immediately and begin the process of revoking visa-free travel. Harsher sanctions against the Georgian regime are inevitable if democracies aim to resist the expansionist ambitions of the Russian empire.”
More to follow…
Also Read:
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-…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 30, 2025
Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, held a high-level meeting in Astana to review the implementation of strategic agreements and explore avenues to further expand cooperation among member states, Azernews reports, citing Kazakhstan’s government press service.
Starting May 30, applications for the allocation of agricultural lands for planting purposes in the villages of Ballıca and Khanyurdu in the Khojaly region will be accepted via the Electronic Agricultural Information System (EAIS) at eagro.az.
Azernews reports that the application period for residents living and settled in these villages will continue until June 30.