Georgia

Political clash heats up in Georgia in the run-up to the October parliamentary elections. The opposition is looking to Europe, while the ruling leadership is aiming for control of the country (and a new balancing act between Russia and the EU, on the Hungarian model). In the background is Ivanišvili's role between the public sphere and private interests.

Tbilisi's turn towards Moscow also threatens to have repercussions on the gas pipelines that connect Azerbaijan to Europe by crossing its territory. And Armenia, which is trying to break away from Russia, could also lose its most important ally.

Controversial law ‘on the transparency of foreign influences’ promulgated, the ruling Georgian Dream party promises to ‘ferret out all foreign agents, traitors and spies’ starting with the ‘young people enlisted’ to stage the uprising. The walls of the houses of the deputies who voted for the measure are daubed with the words ‘slaves’. Opposition forces also denounce threats and intimidation.

Despite the Georgian Dream's show of strength with the final approval, the demonstrators had a chance to show the ‘European face’ of Tbilisi. Many hope that the measure might not be implemented, to avoid sanctions from Washington and Brussels. Awaiting the October elections.

In Tbilisi, the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party call the demonstrators 'radicals' and even 'Satanists'. The patriarchate openly supports the government, which is committed to fighting 'the imposition of foreign, unusual and dangerous ideologies on the country's population. But the archbishop of Dmanisi, Zenon Iaradžuli, has asked not to approve the law, which could also harm some Church-related NGOs.

Opposition protests continue in Georgia even during the Easter days after the second reading of the law on ‘foreign influences’ was approved. The law is expected to be reviewed by the parliament's legal committee for final confirmation. A situation that risks suspending the country's status as a candidate country for entry into the European Union.

Today's headlines: Thousands of young men try to leave Myanmar after conscription is introduced. A few weeks before India’s elections, the opposition Congress party has its bank accounts frozen. Satellite photos show Egypt is building a wall next to the Rafah crossing. Japan successfully launched the new H3 space rocket. US and China agree to hold follow-up talks on North Korea and the Middle East.

Prime Minister Garibašvili has given way to his namesake Kobakhidze, who succeeds him at the head of the Georgian Dream, the ruling party. The exchange between the two leaders was decided as usual by the oligarch Bidzina Ivanišvili probably to scale down the personal ambitions of the 'vassals'. Who were also competing with each other in relations with China.

A delegation of MPs from the ruling party visiting the People's Republic of China after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement. The opposition is accusing: they are looking for a shore outside the West, to weaken the European integration process.

The billionaire Bidzina Ivanišvili after three years of absence from politics has announced that he will directly take over the reins of the 'Georgian Dream', the pro-Russian party he founded that governs the country. He claims he wants to 'unite Georgia' with a view to joining the European Union in 2030.

With the war in Ukraine the business moved to Georgia, Chinese couples among the "clients." The women who lend themselves are mostly from Central Asia, in need of money. Now Tbilisi assumes a restrictive law, but many agencies already plan to move to Belarus or Azerbaijan.

The decision on Georgia's membership application is expected at the European Council next week. Brussels has already opened up to enlargement as a strategic objective, but asks for guarantees on freedom of public opinion and the role of the oligarchs in the country.