Day: September 4, 2025
Categories
Moscow Calling – September 4
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses German Chancellor of seeking revenge for Nazi Germany’s defeat
The press office of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service stated that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has allegedly been obsessed since childhood with the idea of revenge for Nazi Germany’s defeat by the Soviet Union. A statement received by TASS claims that “his thirst for revenge grew from childhood” and developed into an all-consuming passion after he began his political career. According to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, the roots of this position can be explained by his family history: his grandfather Josef Paul Sauvigny and his father Joachim Merz allegedly served the fascist regime. It is also noted that European experts are expressing bewilderment at Merz’s harsh anti-Russian rhetoric, especially given the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington regarding the situation in Ukraine (TASS).
Intended effect: Such statements aim to discredit the German chancellor by portraying his anti-Russian policy as a legacy of fascist ideology and personal “thirst for revenge.” The goal is to increase distrust of the German leadership by showing that it is driven by ideological enmity rather than pragmatic interests. At the same time, it emphasizes that Russia is allegedly engaged in constructive dialogue with the U.S., unlike aggressive Berlin.
Sarkozy calls Europe’s hostility towards Russia a historical mistake
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper that Europe’s confrontation with Russia is a “historical mistake,” TASS reports. According to Sarkozy, the real threat to Europe and France is the demographic factor: in the coming decades, Europe’s population will decline, while Africa’s population will grow significantly. Sarkozy noted that in such conditions, it is wrong to identify Russia as the main risk and enemy. He stressed that migration flows create serious difficulties with the assimilation of newcomers, which poses an existential challenge for European countries. The former president also expressed regret over the complete lack of understanding between Russia and Europe, adding that today it is Europe that looks more isolated on the international stage than Moscow (TASS).
Intended effect: The publication of Sarkozy’s statements aims to demonstrate that even former leaders of major European countries criticize the EU’s anti-Russian policy. This should reinforce the narrative of Europe’s strategic mistake, emphasize its isolation and crises, and highlight Russia’s advantageous position in the international arena.
Turkey’s proposal to hold a Ukraine summit goes unanswered
Turkey proposed to all parties, including Western countries, to organize a top level summit to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. A diplomatic source in Turkey told RIA Novosti that there has been no specific response to this proposal yet. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that a high-level meeting is necessary to achieve real results, and Ankara is ready to take on the organization of the summit and facilitate the process (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The article aims to highlight Turkey’s role as an active and constructive mediator in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, portraying Western countries as passive and indecisive. It reinforces the narrative that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations benefit from third-country initiatives, demonstrating the possibility of circumventing Western pressure.
Overchuk: Trade turnover between Russia and Armenia expected to halve
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk reported that trade turnover between Russia and Armenia has declined significantly and could halve by the end of 2025 compared to the previous year, amounting to about $6 billion. He noted that the decline is due to changes in the economic policies and foreign trade of both countries, but Armenia continues to work within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The article aims to demonstrate Armenia’s economic difficulties and the pressure the country is under. It emphasizes Armenia’s dependence on Russia and the need for regional integration. This reinforces the idea that Russia plays a stabilizing and influential role in the region.
Categories
Moscow Calling – September 4
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses German Chancellor of seeking revenge for Nazi Germany’s defeat
The press office of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service stated that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has allegedly been obsessed since childhood with the idea of revenge for Nazi Germany’s defeat by the Soviet Union. A statement received by TASS claims that “his thirst for revenge grew from childhood” and developed into an all-consuming passion after he began his political career. According to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, the roots of this position can be explained by his family history: his grandfather Josef Paul Sauvigny and his father Joachim Merz allegedly served the fascist regime. It is also noted that European experts are expressing bewilderment at Merz’s harsh anti-Russian rhetoric, especially given the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington regarding the situation in Ukraine (TASS).
Intended effect: Such statements aim to discredit the German chancellor by portraying his anti-Russian policy as a legacy of fascist ideology and personal “thirst for revenge.” The goal is to increase distrust of the German leadership by showing that it is driven by ideological enmity rather than pragmatic interests. At the same time, it emphasizes that Russia is allegedly engaged in constructive dialogue with the U.S., unlike aggressive Berlin.
Sarkozy calls Europe’s hostility towards Russia a historical mistake
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper that Europe’s confrontation with Russia is a “historical mistake,” TASS reports. According to Sarkozy, the real threat to Europe and France is the demographic factor: in the coming decades, Europe’s population will decline, while Africa’s population will grow significantly. Sarkozy noted that in such conditions, it is wrong to identify Russia as the main risk and enemy. He stressed that migration flows create serious difficulties with the assimilation of newcomers, which poses an existential challenge for European countries. The former president also expressed regret over the complete lack of understanding between Russia and Europe, adding that today it is Europe that looks more isolated on the international stage than Moscow (TASS).
Intended effect: The publication of Sarkozy’s statements aims to demonstrate that even former leaders of major European countries criticize the EU’s anti-Russian policy. This should reinforce the narrative of Europe’s strategic mistake, emphasize its isolation and crises, and highlight Russia’s advantageous position in the international arena.
Turkey’s proposal to hold a Ukraine summit goes unanswered
Turkey proposed to all parties, including Western countries, to organize a top level summit to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. A diplomatic source in Turkey told RIA Novosti that there has been no specific response to this proposal yet. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that a high-level meeting is necessary to achieve real results, and Ankara is ready to take on the organization of the summit and facilitate the process (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The article aims to highlight Turkey’s role as an active and constructive mediator in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, portraying Western countries as passive and indecisive. It reinforces the narrative that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations benefit from third-country initiatives, demonstrating the possibility of circumventing Western pressure.
Overchuk: Trade turnover between Russia and Armenia expected to halve
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk reported that trade turnover between Russia and Armenia has declined significantly and could halve by the end of 2025 compared to the previous year, amounting to about $6 billion. He noted that the decline is due to changes in the economic policies and foreign trade of both countries, but Armenia continues to work within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The article aims to demonstrate Armenia’s economic difficulties and the pressure the country is under. It emphasizes Armenia’s dependence on Russia and the need for regional integration. This reinforces the idea that Russia plays a stabilizing and influential role in the region.
Police official Irakli Dgebuadze, a central figure in the criminal case of jailed journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, is no longer Batumi’s police chief and is now serving in Tbilisi, the Interior Ministry confirmed to Civil.ge on September 4 after initial reports from Batumelebi.
The Interior Ministry said Irakli Dgebuadze left his post but did not clarify whether it was a voluntary resignation or a removal, adding that he now heads the Center for International Cooperation in Law Enforcement under the Central Criminal Police Department. The initial Batumelebi report claimed Dgebuadze had been appointed chief of police attachés.
Mzia Amaghlobeli, who in August was sentenced to two years in prison for slapping Irakli Dgebuadze in the face, had accused him of inhumane treatment, saying he spat on her and denied her water and toilet access while she was held in a detention facility after placing a protest sticker on a police outbuilding. That same evening, she was rearrested after slapping Dgebuadze during a tense scene between police and protesters. No investigation has been launched into Amaghlobeli’s allegations against Dgebuadze, who is under Estonian and Lithuanian sanctions.
According to Batumelebi, Gocha Vanadze, Dgebuadze’s former deputy, is now serving as acting police chief in the coastal city until a new chief is appointed.
Also Read:
- 07/08/2025 – International and Domestic Reactions to Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Verdict
- 29/06/2025 – Concerns Raised Over Eye Health of Jailed Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli
- 19/06/2025 – European Parliament Demands Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli’s ‘Immediate’ and ‘Unconditional’ Release
- 16/04/2025 – GYLA Slams “Ineffective” Probe into Alleged Police Abuse of Mzia Amaghlobeli
Police official Irakli Dgebuadze, a central figure in the criminal case of jailed journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, is no longer Batumi’s police chief and is now serving in Tbilisi, the Interior Ministry confirmed to Civil.ge on September 4 after initial reports from Batumelebi.
The Interior Ministry said Irakli Dgebuadze left his post but did not clarify whether it was a voluntary resignation or a removal, adding that he now heads the Center for International Cooperation in Law Enforcement under the Central Criminal Police Department. The initial Batumelebi report claimed Dgebuadze had been appointed chief of police attachés.
Mzia Amaghlobeli, who in August was sentenced to two years in prison for slapping Irakli Dgebuadze in the face, had accused him of inhumane treatment, saying he spat on her and denied her water and toilet access while she was held in a detention facility after placing a protest sticker on a police outbuilding. That same evening, she was rearrested after slapping Dgebuadze during a tense scene between police and protesters. No investigation has been launched into Amaghlobeli’s allegations against Dgebuadze, who is under Estonian and Lithuanian sanctions.
According to Batumelebi, Gocha Vanadze, Dgebuadze’s former deputy, is now serving as acting police chief in the coastal city until a new chief is appointed.
Also Read:
- 07/08/2025 – International and Domestic Reactions to Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Verdict
- 29/06/2025 – Concerns Raised Over Eye Health of Jailed Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli
- 19/06/2025 – European Parliament Demands Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli’s ‘Immediate’ and ‘Unconditional’ Release
- 16/04/2025 – GYLA Slams “Ineffective” Probe into Alleged Police Abuse of Mzia Amaghlobeli
When the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened its annual summit this year, two South Caucasus countries were noticeably absent from its inner circle. Azerbaijan and Armenia, both aspiring to at least observer status, faced obstacles not from Moscow or Beijing but from the regional rivalry between India and Pakistan.
This…
78% of Georgians believe losing visa-free travel to the EU would be damaging, while 51% would blame the ruling Georgian Dream government and Bidzina Ivanishvili if it happens, a recent poll by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) suggests, as Georgians brace for losing a vital benefit due to recent democratic backsliding.
CRRC conducted the poll with phone calls on August 8–12 among 1,333 Georgian adults. The results, published September 4, carry a margin of error of 1.56%.
According to the findings, 78% of respondents said suspending EU visa-free travel would be damaging, 3% saw it as beneficial, and 14% said it would make no difference.
If the EU suspends visa-free travel for Georgians, 51% would deem Georgian Dream and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili responsible, with the figure higher among young people and Tbilisi residents, while 13% would blame the EU and 5% the opposition.
The poll also found that 22% of Georgians have used visa-free travel at least once since it took effect in 2017, with the figure higher among people aged 18–34 (33%) and lower among middle-aged respondents (23%) and older people (12%).
The poll also found strong support for EU membership, with 78% of Georgians in favor – 58% completely backing accession, and another 20% being more for than against it.
The Georgian government had until the end of summer to report to the European Commission on its implementation of eight recommendations required to retain visa-free travel with the EU. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry reported back to the European Commission, with a Brussels source recently telling RFE/RL Georgian Service the response failed to address the EU’s concerns.
Georgian Dream members have repeatedly argued that the Commission’s conditions, especially calls to repeal the Foreign Agents Law and anti-LGBT legislation, were imposed by the “European bureaucracy” under “Deep State” diktat to pressure the government and ran counter to the traditions of the small nation.
The GD leaders have also downplayed the risks of Georgians losing their main EU perk, suggesting that giving up what they called “not existential” and merely a “comfort” would only mean returning to embassy queues – a price they claim is negligible compared with “peace” and “stability.” The critics argue there is too much to lose, including family ties of those who emigrated, growing economic contribution through remittances, and access to life-saving healthcare.
“If it comes to a choice between peace and stability or visa liberalization, of course, we will prioritize peace and stability,” GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in July.
Also Read:
78% of Georgians believe losing visa-free travel to the EU would be damaging, while 51% would blame the ruling Georgian Dream government and Bidzina Ivanishvili if it happens, a recent poll by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) suggests, as Georgians brace for losing a vital benefit due to recent democratic backsliding.
CRRC conducted the poll with phone calls on August 8–12 among 1,333 Georgian adults. The results, published September 4, carry a margin of error of 1.56%.
According to the findings, 78% of respondents said suspending EU visa-free travel would be damaging, 3% saw it as beneficial, and 14% said it would make no difference.
If the EU suspends visa-free travel for Georgians, 51% would deem Georgian Dream and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili responsible, with the figure higher among young people and Tbilisi residents, while 13% would blame the EU and 5% the opposition.
The poll also found that 22% of Georgians have used visa-free travel at least once since it took effect in 2017, with the figure higher among people aged 18–34 (33%) and lower among middle-aged respondents (23%) and older people (12%).
The poll also found strong support for EU membership, with 78% of Georgians in favor – 58% completely backing accession, and another 20% being more for than against it.
The Georgian government had until the end of summer to report to the European Commission on its implementation of eight recommendations required to retain visa-free travel with the EU. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry reported back to the European Commission, with a Brussels source recently telling RFE/RL Georgian Service the response failed to address the EU’s concerns.
Georgian Dream members have repeatedly argued that the Commission’s conditions, especially calls to repeal the Foreign Agents Law and anti-LGBT legislation, were imposed by the “European bureaucracy” under “Deep State” diktat to pressure the government and ran counter to the traditions of the small nation.
The GD leaders have also downplayed the risks of Georgians losing their main EU perk, suggesting that giving up what they called “not existential” and merely a “comfort” would only mean returning to embassy queues – a price they claim is negligible compared with “peace” and “stability.” The critics argue there is too much to lose, including family ties of those who emigrated, growing economic contribution through remittances, and access to life-saving healthcare.
“If it comes to a choice between peace and stability or visa liberalization, of course, we will prioritize peace and stability,” GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in July.
Also Read: