Thursday morning headlines from
#Georgia, 18 June
● The European Parliament adopted a resolution stating that Georgia’s EU accession process is effectively suspended and that the ruling Georgian Dream party bears responsibility. The resolution says the 2024 parliamentary elections were rigged, Georgia has abandoned implementation of the nine recommendations set for its EU candidate status, and is now an EU candidate “in name only.” It describes the European Commission’s 2025 report on Georgia as “the worst report ever prepared for a candidate country.” More details here
jam-news.net/european-parlia…
● Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili said Georgia has never refused dialogue with the EU and has remained in a “one-sided friendship mode” despite what she called “unfair sanctions” imposed by its partners.
● European Parliament President Roberta Metsola referred to Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who was sentenced after slapping a police officer who had insulted her, as a political prisoner during a plenary session and said Europe stands with her.
● According to her lawyer, the health of imprisoned opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria has sharply deteriorated, and Turkish doctors believe she could end up in a wheelchair without proper treatment. Writing from prison, Khoshtaria said she would not engage with what she called “illegitimate institutions created in Georgia by Russia” and would continue her struggle.
● The Special Penitentiary Service dismissed reports about Khoshtaria’s deteriorating health as “disinformation,” saying she has undergone all necessary examinations and that her condition is linked to long-standing chronic illnesses.
● TV presenter Nanuka Zhorzholiani, whom imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili nominated to lead the opposition United National Movement party he founded, said “such a major party needs an elected leader and full legitimacy.” Acting party chair Tina Bokuchava described Saakashvili’s initiative as an “impulsive and inconsistent decision.”
● The Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation following a complaint by pro-government politician Goga Khaindrava over a report by independent TV channel Formula alleging that, in coordination with the State Security Service, he arranged the entry of Indian and Pakistani citizens into Georgia in exchange for money.
● The Interior Ministry arrested 21 people in Tbilisi and other regions for alleged links to organized crime, while nine others were charged in absentia. The suspects allegedly extorted large sums of money from individuals and businesses and threatened to kill them.
● Prosecutors arrested the director of Sando company and an inspector from the National Forensics Bureau. They are accused of preparing and approving a defective retaining wall project in Baghdati, causing state losses of 756,198 lari (about $286,000) and creating a landslide risk for nearby buildings.
● The National Bank of Georgia kept its key interest rate unchanged at 8.25%. According to the NBG, the rise in inflation in May was largely driven by external factors and higher energy prices.
● Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special representative Mikhail Shvydkoy arrived in Tbilisi to attend Robert Sturua’s production of The Knight in the Panther’s Skin and published an article in Russian media about the visit, with a headline referencing a poem by Nikoloz Baratashvili.
🔴 Every morning, a brief digest of the latest news from Georgia,
#Armenia, and
#Azerbaijan, here
tinyurl.com/3zhamx8h