April, 2026 - The South Caucasus News - SouthCaucasusNews.com

The Georgian Dream government ordered the Ministry of Education to allocate GEL 43,035,000 (approximately USD 16 million) to educational institutions affiliated with the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate.

According to a March 26 decree signed by Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the funding will be distributed among 53 educational institutions across Georgia, including the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, as well as schools, gymnasiums, and universities founded by the Orthodox Patriarchate.

In 2025, the Georgian Dream government directed the same amount of funds to the same 53 institutions

In the 2024 state budget, according to Kobakhidze, the government had GEL 35 million (about USD 13 million) earmarked for the Georgian Patriarchate’s educational projects, in addition to the GEL 25 million (about USD 9.3 million) that the Patriarchate receives annually. Later that year, the government allocated an additional GEL 2 million (about USD 743,600) to St. Andrew’s Georgian University (SANGU).

The Georgian Orthodox Church will soon elect a new leader following the death of Patriarch Ilia II on March 17 at the age of 93, after nearly five decades at the helm of the Church. Metropolitan Shio Mujiri is temporarily carrying out the patriarchal duties.

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The 131st meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place on March 31 in the village of Ergneti, near the occupation line in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.

The meeting was co-facilitated by Christoph Späti, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, and Bettina Patricia Boughani, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).

SSSG Statement

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said “all important incidents” along the occupation line that occurred since the previous IPRM meeting were discussed.

Similar to the previous meetings, SSSG representatives “demanded the punishment of those responsible for the murder of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi.”

They also once again raised the issue of the “immediate release” of all individuals held in “illegal detention.”

During the meeting, SSSG representatives also called for “the safe and dignified return” of activist Tamar Mearakishvili to her home, following her unlawful “expulsion” from occupied Tskhinvali.

Tamar Mearakishvili, an activist who has faced repeated detentions and legal pressure from Tskhinvali’s de facto authorities, was most recently detained in December 2025 on espionage charges before being released days later.

According to the SSSG, the discussions also focused on restrictions on freedom of movement. “A lengthy discussion was held on the movement regime at so-called crossing points, including during the upcoming Easter holiday period,” the SSSG said

EUMM, OSCE Statements

The co-facilitators said they “welcomed the participants” and “expressed appreciation for their continued engagement in the IPRM format,” encouraging all sides to “maintain a practical, solution-oriented approach aimed at addressing the human security concerns of local residents.”

They “advocated for the lifting of freedom of movement restrictions” during the upcoming Easter holiday, stressing the need for local communities on both sides of the administrative boundary line to participate in religious traditions. “At the same time, they reiterated their call for the full reopening of crossing points, highlighting the positive impact such measures have on the daily lives of conflict-affected communities,” the press release said.

The meeting also addressed “recent security developments along the ABL,” including the installation of fences and barbed wire, as well as the activities of security actors, with the EUMM and OSCE reiterating “their concern over the practice of detentions” and urging “a humanitarian approach towards the resolution of existing detention cases.”

Participants also discussed other developments related to human security issues, including freedom of movement for conflict-affected populations, including specific cases like Tamara Mearakishvili. “As co-facilitators, EUMM and OSCE continue to advocate for the freedom of movement for all residents affected by the conflict and facilitate dialogue at the IPRM,” the press release said.

“As in previous meetings, participants recognized the importance of cooperation on irrigation and the vital role played by the EUMM-managed Hotline,” the press release added. “They highlighted its importance as a rapid and reliable channel for information exchange, contributing significantly to reducing tensions and managing incidents effectively.”

De Facto Authority’s Statement

Igor Kochiev, a representative of the de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, told reporters the situation along the the administrative boundary line remained “calm, stable and predictable,” saying that the number of “violations” of the so-called “border” has been “minimal” since the last IPRM meeting.

Kochiev listed several incidents of such violations, including one involving an EUMM patrol, an “alleged violation” by a Georgian law enforcement officer, and a case involving a Georgian citizen who remains in unlawful detention, with a criminal case opened against him.

He further said an unmanned aerial vehicle had entered the territory, adding that Tbilisi did not confirm the incident but that it was recorded by flight recorders, with an investigation ongoing.

Kochiev said one of the key issues discussed was what he described as the “illegal presence of a Georgian police post” near the village of Tsnelisi, known as the Chorchana checkpoint. “I wouldn’t say there has been any significant progress in this direction, but I believe a mutual understanding on the issue is emerging,” he said, adding that he hoped the Georgian side would “understand the futility” of the post and remove it.

On irrigation, Kochiev said there was “absolute mutual understanding” between the sides, describing it as “a humanitarian issue of mutual interest.” He noted that rehabilitation works on the main irrigation canal were ongoing on both sides, adding that coordination continued to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for agricultural needs.

The next IPRM meeting is scheduled to take place on May 14, 2026.

The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was established in 2009 within the framework of the Geneva International Discussions that followed the 2008 Russo-Georgian war. It serves as a forum for the regular discussion of security-related incidents and developments on the ground. IPRM meetings have been held regularly in Ergneti, near the Tskhinvali occupation line, with the participation of representatives from Tbilisi and the Tskhinvali de facto authorities. In contrast, meetings in Gali, in occupied Abkhazia, have been suspended multiple times, from 2012 to 2016, and again since 2018. The meetings are co-facilitated by the OSCE and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).

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