Day: January 22, 2026
@CivilGe @SouthCaucasus 159 pardoned and guess who didn’t make the list? Political prisoners! not a single one!
— Anna Nadareishvili (@A_Nadareishvili) Jan 22, 2026
Opinion: Georgia has no allies
International relations expert Giorgi Tumasyan has commented on the current situation in the region, saying Georgia has been left without allies. He said US President Donald Trump invited almost all countries in the region to a newly created “Peace Council”, excluding Georgia.
Tumasyan added that Azerbaijan has said it plans to route transit not through Georgia, but through Armenia instead. In his view, the government of Georgia’s de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili has deliberately removed the country from key geopolitical processes.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said freight traffic using the Georgian corridor would soon switch to the Armenian route. He made the remarks while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Aliyev said Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods from Kazakhstan and Russia to Armenia. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has invited more than 50 world leaders to a newly created “Peace Council”, which he said aims to “restore peace and stability in regions affected by conflict”. Unlike its regional neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia, Georgia was not among those invited.
International relations expert Giorgi Tumasyan said: “Where are we today? Donald Trump has created a Peace Council and invited almost every country in the region, except Georgia. Azerbaijan says transit will no longer pass through Georgia. Armenia also wants to open its border with Azerbaijan. Where is Georgia? On which platform? In which discussions? Whose ally are we, after all?
“Azerbaijan has Turkey as an ally. Armenia is very actively developing relations with the European Union, the United States and India.
“Armenia and Azerbaijan have become key links in transit to Central Asia. Where does that leave Georgia? What function do we serve on the geopolitical map? The government of Bidzina Ivanishvili has deliberately removed Georgia from geopolitical processes. It did not do so to minimise risks. The reality is that Georgia today has been left without allies.”
Aliyev’s statement that “one day transit from Armenia to Russia will pass through Azerbaijan rather than Georgia” reflects the view that Georgia, under Russian influence, no longer appears reliable to its partners.
As a result of the policies pursued by the Georgian Dream government, Georgia has suffered unprecedented damage to its reputation, international standing, trust in its logistics links and long-established partnership formats.
The reason, he argues, is that when critics say the ruling authorities have entrenched themselves as a force advancing Russian interests, many citizens perceive this as part of an internal political struggle. In reality, this is not the case. It is also a key foreign policy factor. In particular, Georgia under Russian influence will not appear reliable to anyone when it comes to major transit corridors and routes.
Aliyev’s statement that “one day transit from Armenia to Russia will pass through Azerbaijan rather than Georgia” is therefore explained by the perception that Georgia, under Russian influence, does not seem trustworthy as a transit partner.
Opinion: Georgia has no allies
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze spoke about the importance of public debates for democracy and for people to make choices based on “proper analysis,” in a January 22 letter posted on Facebook, while accusing “informal forces” and their “Georgian agents” of creating a polarized media environment in the country.
“We are obliged to correct this unhealthy situation; we are obliged to return to the Georgian people the right to enjoy one of the fundamental principles of democracy – debate – and not allow informal forces and their ‘Georgian’ agents to impose their own agenda on us.
So that in the future the Georgian people can make every choice based on proper analysis, we must allow them to publicly hear the positions of all political groups that have ambitions to be in government. We must return public discourse to public life, which is vital for the functioning of a full-fledged democracy,” Kobakhidze wrote on Facebook.
The letter drew swift reactions from opposition politicians and critical broadcasters, inviting Kobakhidze and other Georgian Dream members to appear live on television for debates.
The letter begins by defining debates as a “discourse about the truth” and “one of the main pillars of democracy,” highlighting their societal benefits and calling them “one of the most distinct parts of European civilizations.”
It then claims that the situation in Europe “gradually changed for the worse since 2008,” which Kobakhidze attributed to what he called the “growing influence on European politics of the so-called ‘deep state,’ that is, informal oligarchic rule.”
Blaming the establishment for “agents’ rule” and “pseudo-liberal values,” Kobakhidze said the “informal rulers themselves created artificial problems,” citing “LGBT and gender identity issues, ‘green politics’ and others.” He added that they “redirected” public attention from real issues to artificial ones, resulting in what he described as the “total disappearance of healthy debates” from European politics.
“Especially since 2020, well-known, high-rating debates in leading European media outlets have been repeatedly canceled, removing from public life the opportunity for discussion and hearing differing opinions,” he claimed.
Turning to Georgia, Kobakhidze said the same process had “partially affected” the country, claiming it led to the end of what he called “the many-years-long culture of political, economic and social debates.” He blamed Nika Gvaramia, former head of once opposition-leaning Rustavi 2, founder of Mtavari TV, which went off air last year, and now-jailed opposition figure, for carrying out what he described as the “total radicalization” of the media.
“Gvaramia successfully carried out the task – he established lies, insults, cursing, slander, and hysteria as the media standard, ultimately creating such a toxi media environment that a normal, healthy person no longer wants to participate in debates, which ultimately end in humiliation,” he said. In turn, he added, the situation had “split society” and deprived it of “the right to hear different positions and make choices according to one’s own views.”
Kobakhidze concluded that the “unhealthy situation” must be corrected and the Georgian people’s right to public debate “restored” so they can make informed choices.
The letter drew both surprise and criticism from opposition leaders and media representatives, who often say they are either not invited to appear on pro-government channels or that ruling party members decline invitations to sit with critical outlets.
Zurab Japaridze, leader of the opposition Girchi-More Freedom, responded on Facebook that he was ready to debate Kobakhidze “in any format, at any time.”
Misha Mshvildadze, director of opposition-leaning Formula TV, said the channel was “ready to host debates between Kobakhidze and any opponent.”
Grigol Gegelia, one of the members of the opposition Lelo party, questioned whether Georgian Dream representatives would actually agree to debate opposition figures and said he was also ready to take part.
For many years, opposition and government representatives have rarely appeared together on TV. Moreover, opposition figures usually appear on critical, opposition-leaning outlets, while ruling party members stick to pro-government channels.
Also Read:
- 06/12/2024 – Irakli Kobakhidze Vows to ‘ Completely Neutralize’ Opposition
- 07/10/2025 – Kobakhidze Offers Reset With West, Threatens to End Rustaveli Protests
- 03/06/2025 – Georgian Dream Targets Critical Broadcasters for Questioning Government Legitimacy
- 01/04/2025 – GD Rubber Stamps FARA, Broadcasting Law Changes, Revives Treason, Removes Gender, Excludes CSOs