Armenian Military Parade Appears To Include Iranian Air Defense System Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Month: May 2026
Georgia’s disputed Parliament adopted amendments establishing a “Diplomacy Academy,” a new higher education institution under the governance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and granting the Foreign Minister the status of holding “the highest diplomatic rank,” which carries an additional monthly payment of GEL 1,360 (about USD 510).
The amendments to the Law on Diplomatic Service , which have been passed the third and final reading with 70 votes on May 28, envisage the creation of a Legal Entity of Public Law (LEPL), the Diplomacy Academy. It would offer bachelor’s degree programs in Political Science and International Relations, as well as master’s degree programs in Political Science and Diplomacy-International Relations.
The initiative comes amid the Georgian Dream government’s controversial “one city, one faculty” higher education reform, under which Tbilisi State University (TSU), one of the country’s leading public universities, was designated as the only state university in Tbilisi offering social and political sciences programs. The planned creation of the Diplomacy Academy has raised questions whether international relations and political science, which are part of TSU’s social and political sciences faculty, could subsequently be phased out and centralized within the ministry’s new institution.
Asked by an opposition-leaning Formula TV journalist whether the creation of the Diplomacy Academy would cause the international relations programme at TSU to be phased out, Georgian Dream Education Minister Givi Mikanadze answered “Yes,” citing the“one city, one faculty” principle. “If a given department at a state university undergoes authorization at the Diplomatic Academy, that program at the university where it is currently taught will be phased out, while admissions will take place at the Diplomatic Academy,” he said.
Under the adopted amendments, in addition to degree programs, the Diplomacy Academy will offer a “one-year professional qualification course” aimed at “familiarizing a person with the specifics of diplomatic service, acquiring professional knowledge and developing skills, as well as training and retraining a person in matters falling within the competence of the [Foreign] Ministry.”
Graduates would be eligible for appointment to diplomatic positions in accordance with rules approved under the Foreign Minister’s “administrative-legal act.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would oversee the academy and approve its charter.
According to the law’s explanatory note, the academy would be financed through the state budget, ministry allocations, grants, and “other revenues permitted by law.” The institution is expected to employ 46 people, with an annual payroll fund of GEL 1,093,350. Student admissions are planned to begin in 2027, with the academy expected to admit 70 bachelor’s students and 50 master’s students annually.
The law also designates the Foreign Minister, currently Maka Botchorishvili, as holding the country’s highest diplomatic position, allowing her to hold the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Holding the highest diplomatic rank carries a monthly salarty supplement of GEL 1,360.
The idea of establishing a Diplomacy Academy was first announced during a government meeting on May 8, where Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the academy’s mission would be to “train highly qualified personnel for our diplomatic service, which is important for further strengthening our country’s foreign policy positions.”
Also Read:
- 25/03/2026 – Admissions at State Universities to Double in 2028-29 Amid Georgian Dream’s Education Reforms
- 13/02/2026 – Professors, Students Vow to Resist ‘Unconstitutional’ Plan to Gut Ilia State University
- 05/02/2026 – Decision to Merge Georgia’s Two State Universities Hits Resistance From Students, Professors
- 08/12/2025 – Education for ‘Free’ or Academic ‘Catastrophe’ – Controversial Reforms Reach Universities
History is less a collection of static dates and more a psychological mirror reflecting the enduring behavioral traits of nations. When examining the long-term trajectory of Armenian foreign policy, a recurring theme emerges with striking clarity: a perpetual search for a powerful patron, followed by a swift pivot away from that very benefactor the moment a more appealing alternative arrives on the global stage.
Kallas on withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe’s security interests include the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia and Moldova.
Speaking to journalists ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus, Kallas said peace negotiations over Ukraine currently “mean very little” and argued that Russia is in a “weak position” on the battlefield.
According to Kaja Kallas, EU foreign ministers will discuss the bloc’s main demands toward Russia that could arise during potential negotiations.
Asked what issues the EU intends to raise in possible talks with Moscow, Kallas said she had already presented a document outlining the EU’s position.
“I presented a document back in February listing all the issues, starting with the fact that Russia must comply with international agreements under which it committed not to attack its neighbours and to respect their sovereignty,” she said.
Kaja Kallas also said the EU believes any demands Russia makes of Ukraine should apply equally to Moscow.
“For example, if we are talking about limiting the size of armed forces, then we should demand the same from Russia. There are also broader issues: if we look at Russian troops in countries such as Georgia and Moldova, then it is in Europe’s security interests for those troops not to be there and not to interfere in elections in other countries,” she said.
Kallas described this as a “maximalist position”, but added that the Kremlin itself follows a similar approach and also puts forward maximalist demands during negotiations.
Kaja Kallas made a similar statement in February 2026, when she said that “for lasting peace” Russia must leave “all occupied territories where it maintains a presence”.
“Some say these demands are unrealistic, but let’s be honest: Russia’s demands are also completely unrealistic. Through diplomacy, they demand territories they have not even conquered militarily.
I counted at least 30 international agreements in which the Russians undertook various obligations that they are now failing to fulfil. For example, Russia agreed to withdraw its troops from Moldova, but in reality we still see the same situation in Georgia and other countries,” Kallas said on 23 February.
Kaja Kallas on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia