Georgia’s Shift on Ukraine War: A New Era in Relations?
The United States and Georgia have joined forces to create a new UN General Assembly Resolution on the war in Ukraine. This resolution, proposed by the US delegation, has toned down criticism of Russia compared to previous years.
What’s changed? Historically, Georgia supported Ukraine in its yearly resolutions since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Now, Georgia is the sole co-sponsor of this new resolution. The Georgian Dream government has taken a different stance on the conflict.
Criticism from Former Defense Minister
Former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania made some serious claims about the current ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD). He said that in 2021, they could have had a fully developed air defense system from France. However, he accused GD and their patron, Bidzina Ivanishvili, of sabotaging this deal.
Alasania recalled receiving a phone call just before signing the agreement, urging him to cancel it. He believes Ivanishvili was behind that call. This development raises concerns about the handling of military deals by the Georgian government.
Opposition Criticizes Response to Russia’s Remarks
The opposition coalition Strong Georgia criticized GD for their response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments on the 3+3 regional platform. The ruling party, however, stated that there are currently no conditions for Georgia‘s participation but didn’t rule out future involvement.
Press Freedom and Journalists in Danger
The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has spoken out against heavy fines imposed on journalists under Article 174 prima of the Administrative Code of Georgia. This move has resulted in 13 cases, mostly in Tbilisi, where journalists were fined for allegedly “artificially blocking roads.”
A Call to Action: Free Donation Initiative
Amidst financial sanctions from the ruling government on protesters and opponents, an online platform called Free Business has launched a new feature: Free Donation. This initiative aims to support individuals and organizations facing financial repression.
Global Concerns Over Press Freedom and Human Rights
International journalists and human rights defenders have expressed concerns about the release of Batumelebi/Netgazeti director Mzia Amaglobeli, who was detained by Georgian authorities. The International Press Institute has called for her immediate release and an independent investigation into allegations of mistreatment.
Questionable Meeting Between Kaladze and Montella
Kakha Kaladze, a key figure in the ruling party, organized a football match in Tbilisi attended by Roberto Montella, Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. This move has raised concerns about Montella’s impartiality in his role for the OSCE’s election monitoring mission.
OSCE Members Discuss Democratic Backsliding
The 2024 parliamentary elections and Georgia’s situation were discussed at a joint meeting of the three General Committees of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Several members expressed concerns about the state of democracy, alleged electoral fraud, and repression in Georgia.
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