Day: January 29, 2026

Georgian authorities plan to merge Georgian Technical University with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, combining two of the capital’s major and historic public higher education institutions as part of broader and controversial reforms to the education system.

The move “will be a precondition for Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University to become a leading center of academic and scientific development in the region and significantly improve international rankings,” Georgian Dream Education Minister Givi Mikanadze announced on January 29 while presenting legislative changes as part of ongoing reforms of general and higher education.

Mikanadze said that for this purpose, a “temporary governing body” or a “council” will be created, and acting rectors and vice-rectors will be appointed who will “run the reorganization process.” According to the GD minister, the decision was made based on “a comparative analysis of academic programs, research directions, and infrastructure of state universities,” as well as prior consultations with the rectors.

Tbilisi State University (TSU), founded in 1918, is one of Georgia’s leading public higher education institutions, enrolling around 22,000 students across seven faculties. Georgian Technical University (GTU), established in 1922, comprises 11 faculties and serves approximately 20,000 students. Both universities offer a broad range of bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs, alongside active research portfolios. However, they have faced persistent concerns over weakened institutional autonomy and increasing government influence on university leadership.

The move to merge two universities comes as part of a controversial higher education reform that foresees radical measures to amend Georgia’s public university system. The reform includes geographic “deconcentration,” one city – one faculty principle that would allow a single faculty to be taught in a single state university per system, reduced program lengths, as well as new staffing and funding models.

Georgian Dream authorities have presented the reform as a step toward improving educational quality and expanding access. Critics, however, warn that it could enable repression and political purges, erode university autonomy, and dismantle a century-long academic tradition.

During the briefing, Mikanadze brushed off fears that the process would lead to personnel purges and lower enrollment quotas in public universities. “We will maximally retain academic personnel,” he said during the briefing. “We will make efforts to use their experience and knowledge in both the teaching component and research and scientific work.”

The GD minister also said there are no plans to reduce enrollment quotas.

Also Read:

• 28/01/2026 – Opinion | Georgia’s University Reform Is Not a Neutral Initiative. It’s a Political Act
• 18/12/2025 – International Group of Academics Call on Kobakhidze to ‘Rethink’ Education Reform
• 17/10/2025 – Georgian Technical University Rector Seeks Seizure of University of Georgia Property

In 2025, Azerbaijan collected 6 billion 369.9 million manats (about $3 752 million) in state budget revenues through customs, according to the Ministry of Finance’s annual report, Azernews reports. However, this figure was 4.2 percent lower, or 278.8 million manats (around $164 million), than in 2024, and below the forecast of…

Construction has begun on the Zangezur transmission line aimed at integrating the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic into Azerbaijan’s unified electricity system and forming part of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye–Europe international energy corridor, Azernews reports.

A delegation of U.S. Congressional staff is visiting Georgia as part of a regional trip, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia reported January 28.

“The delegation members will meet with Georgian officials and opposition leaders,” the Embassy said, adding, “They will also visit a settlement for displaced persons in Tserovani to learn more about the situation in Georgia.”

The visit comes amid lingering uncertainty over bilateral relations. The United States under President Joe Biden suspended strategic partnership with Georgia on November 30, 2024, and sanctioned Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili a month later. Since then, Washington under Donald Trump has remained largely silent toward Tbilisi, despite Georgian Dream’s claims of “shared values” and stated efforts to reset relations “from a clean slate.”

In February, Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a peace agreement reached between the two countries in August. The trip will not include Georgia.

Meeting with Maka Botchorishvili

On January 28, Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili met with staff members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“The parties discussed key issues in Georgia-U.S. relations, as well as ongoing developments in the region,” the Foreign Ministry’s press release said. “Emphasis was placed on the importance of peace and stable development in the region, and developments taking place in Georgia were also reviewed.”

During the meeting, particular attention was given to Georgia’s role as a “regional connector,” and in this context, the Middle Corridor project was highlighted. “The Georgian side welcomed the active engagement of the United States in the region,” the press release added.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the members of the delegation reaffirmed the United States’ “unequivocal bipartisan support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” noting the active role of the U.S. Congress.

“During the discussions, the delegation also underscored Georgia’s role in both global and regional political and security matters,” the press release said, adding that the Ministry reiterated Georgia’s desire and readiness to “reboot relations with the United States and to renew the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

Meeting with Levan Zhorzholiani

On January 29, Levan Zhorzholiani, head of the Georgian Dream government administration, met with staff members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

According to the government administration, the meeting focused on Georgia-U.S. relations and “current developments” in Georgia, including the Georgian Dream’s steps and “plans to promote the country’s economic growth.”

“The importance of resetting US-Georgia relations was underscored during the meeting,” the press release said. “Hope was expressed that the strategic partnership would be renewed and continue based on a concrete agenda, taking into account the shared interests of both countries.”

“Measures implemented in the fight against corruption were also addressed.”

More to follow…

Also Read:

• 27/01/2026 – Georgian Coast Guard Officers Take Part in U.S.-Led Multinational Maritime Drills
• 15/01/2026 – Georgian Ambassador to U.S. Meets With Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
• 15/01/2026 – Georgia Among 75 Countries to Face Suspension of U.S. Immigration Visa Issuance
• 18/11/2025 – State Department Representative Visits Georgia to Discuss ‘Trump Route’
• 07/07/2025 – U.S. Ambassador: GD Sent “Threatening, Insulting, Unserious” Letter to Trump Administration
  

The qualifying rounds for the Azerbaijan Chess Championship for players aged 8 to 16 have officially kicked off, Azernews reports.

Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf, Azernews reports via BBC.

On January 28, 2026, a conference titled “The Turkic Language Family: From the First Written Texts to the Modern Era” was held at the Yunus Emre Institute Turkish Cultural Center in Mexico City to mark World Turkic Language Family Day, Azernews reports. The event was jointly organized by the embassies of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Kazakhstan in Mexico, together with the Yunus Emre Institute.