Day: July 27, 2026

For the purpose of reconstruction and restoration of the territories liberated from occupation, AZN 1.0641 billion, or 30.4% of the funds envisaged for the year, was used during January-June of this year based on cash order documents submitted by contracting organizations for the relevant projects. The Finance Ministry stated that AZN…

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili says the country’s EU membership should not become an end in itself, and has criticised proposals which, he argues, would weaken the principle of consensus in the bloc’s decision-making process.

Papuashvili said that if such changes were introduced, remaining outside the EU could become more advantageous for some smaller states, as they would retain greater freedom to make independent decisions.

“The question will become increasingly relevant: what’s the point of membership if you’re stripped of its main advantage and leverage from the very beginning?” Papuashvili wrote on social media.

Georgia’s Asian pivot: What does Tbilisi seek in Central Asia?

In less than two months, Irakli Kobakhidze met with the presidents of every Central Asian country in the region.

He said there was a growing perception that Europe’s larger states were seeking to reshape the EU’s system of governance, warning that such changes would threaten both the continent’s political balance and the bloc’s enlargement process, as well as the principles on which the European Union was founded.

Papuashvili was commenting on remarks by Germany’s foreign minister, who said several countries had joined Berlin’s initiative to abolish unanimity in EU decision-making.

According to Papuashvili, if such a reform were implemented, the European Union could evolve from a union of equal member states into one dominated largely by its biggest countries.

“EU membership is not an end in itself. That is true neither for current member states nor for candidate countries. Brexit was the clearest proof of that,” the parliament speaker wrote.

EU ready to work with Syria to revoke recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region – Lithuania

The EU had earlier described the first session of Syria’s People’s Assembly as a step forward in the country’s political transition.

According to Papuashvili, the main purpose of joining the European Union is to expand a country’s opportunities, better protect its national interests and increase its influence over international decision-making. He argued that the principle of consensus is one of the key guarantees of that influence for smaller states, as it allows them to block decisions they consider harmful and defend their national interests.

“If the principle of consensus is abolished and decision-making comes to depend entirely on the will of larger states or a stable majority, smaller countries will lose this fundamental lever,” he wrote.

In his view, EU membership would then cease to represent the voluntary delegation of part of a country’s sovereignty in pursuit of shared economic and political goals, and could instead become a process that significantly reduces the influence of smaller states.

Papuashvili argued that a country which can no longer prevent decisions it considers harmful gradually loses both its political freedom and its ability to make sovereign decisions.

He said such a model could benefit larger states, whose economic and political weight already gives them considerable influence, but would represent a “catastrophic change” for smaller countries.

“That is why the question will become increasingly relevant: what’s the point of membership if you’re stripped of its main advantage and leverage from the very beginning?”

Papuashvili argued that the EU’s value lies precisely in allowing member states to defend their interests, influence decisions and block measures they consider undesirable.

Georgian PM Irakli Kobakhidze: ‘Russia does not recognise Georgia’s sovereignty over 20% of its territory. Kallas does not recognise it over 100%’

At a special briefing, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made a series of sharply critical remarks about the European Union, the OSCE and other Western institutions.

He said the debate over changing the unanimity rule could also result in a slowdown of the EU’s future enlargement.

“Candidate countries are being offered not equal membership in the existing union, but a pre-designed system in which they will assume all the obligations of membership while their rights and influence are curtailed.”

According to Papuashvili, the key question for Georgia should not only be when it joins the European Union, but also what kind of European Union it joins and what rights new members will have.

“Membership that deprives a country of its sovereign rights and offers no mechanisms to defend them is not integration – it is the abolition of sovereignty.”

Papuashvili concluded his statement with an apparent reference to Greek mythology: “It seems that even Jupiter’s abduction of Europa is forgiven.”

Georgian parliament speaker: ‘PACE and European Parliament resolutions crossed ‘red line’’

Shalva Papuashvili: “This is an attack on Georgia’s sovereignty”

Papuashvili questions value of EU membership

The European Union has imposed sanctions on Russian state-owned energy company Inter RAO, which indirectly owns Georgia’s Telasi, Telmico, Khrami HPP I and Khrami HPP II through its subsidiaries.

The decision could affect Inter RAO’s assets in Georgia as well as ongoing corporate transactions.

Inter RAO was added to the EU sanctions list on 23 July as part of the bloc’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia.

According to the Council of the European Union, the Russian government-controlled company is one of the country’s largest energy groups and plays a significant role in the Russian economy.

EU’s 21st sanctions package targets Kulevi oil terminal and cryptocurrency platforms in Georgia

The Kulevi refinery had previously been considered for inclusion in the EU’s 20th sanctions package, but was ultimately removed from the list

According to the Council, the Russian Federation benefits financially from Inter RAO through both the taxes paid by the company and the dividends received by its owners. For that reason, the EU considers the company to be providing financial support to the Russian authorities, which Brussels holds responsible for the aggression against Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

According to the company’s ownership structure, Inter RAO is the indirect owner of 100% of the shares in the Netherlands-registered Silk Road Holdings B.V. The company directly owns a 75.108% stake in Telasi and a 75.471% stake in Telmico.

Inter RAO also indirectly owns the Netherlands-registered Gardabani Holdings B.V., which has full ownership of Khrami HPP I and Khrami HPP II.

At the same time, Silk Road Holdings has launched a tender offer to acquire the remaining 24.892% stake in Telasi. The offer closes on 31 July, applications will be reviewed until 7 August, and the transaction is scheduled to be completed on 21 August.

UK sanctions tanker that delivered Russian oil to Georgia’s Kulevi port

It remains unclear whether this will directly affect Georgian ports or previously completed operations.

What impact could the sanctions have?

The inclusion of Inter RAO on the EU sanctions list could also affect the operations of the companies it indirectly controls in Georgia. Under EU sanctions, banks and companies based in the bloc may be prohibited from carrying out financial transactions, providing economic resources or delivering certain services to legal entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by a sanctioned company.

The restrictions could also limit Inter RAO’s ability to exercise its shareholder rights through its Netherlands-registered subsidiaries. This could affect voting rights, the appointment of directors, the approval and receipt of dividends, the acquisition or disposal of shareholdings, and other key corporate decisions.

Particular attention is also being paid to the planned acquisition of the remaining stake in Telasi. Because the tender offer is being made by the Netherlands-registered Silk Road Holdings, the transaction may require approval from the relevant Dutch regulatory authority, increasing the risk of delays or even suspension of the deal.

At the same time, the EU has not listed Telasi, Telmico or the Khrami hydropower plants as separate sanctioned entities. However, under EU sanctions rules, asset-freezing measures generally extend to companies that are directly or indirectly owned or majority-controlled by a sanctioned individual or entity.

FT: EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia to extend to cryptocurrency platforms in Georgia

Inter RAO sanctioned by the EU