Georgia
COMMENT: Kremlin goes on the offensive in the south by expanding former prime minister Kiriyenko's foreign policy powers
The Kremlin used to tread softly when exercising its influence in the countries along its southern border, but no more, after the powers of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff Kiriyenko were expanded.
European foreign ministers hit out at Georgian ruling party
Statement condemned ongoing democratic backsliding by the ruling Georgia Dream party, which has consolidated power via crackdowns on independent media, NGOs, activists and opposition politicians.
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Russian aid agency seeking to fill USAID gaps in former Soviet Union
Imperial attitudes undermine ambitions for expanded influence.
Former head of Georgian Adjara region hospitalised after what government claims was suicide attempt
Questions raised over "suicide note" pro-government media say was found in Tornike Rizhvadze's clothes after he was hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the chest.
UK Foreign Office summons Georgian chargé d’affaires over ruling party crackdown
London officially condemns the Georgian Dream government’s crackdown on civil society, independent media and its political opponents.
Two more Georgian opposition leaders jailed bringing total to six in one week
The ruling Georgia Dream party’s ongoing crackdown on political opponents has placed the majority of Georgia’s pro-Western opposition leaders in jail and sparked a huge international backlash.
Fourth Georgian opposition leader handed prison sentence
bne IntelliNews witnessed a heavy police mobilisation leading Giorgi Vashadze roughly from the Unity-UNM headquarters and forcing him into an unmarked police car.
Three Georgian opposition leaders jailed in one day
Girchi leader Zurab Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze of the Lelo party have also been barred from holding public office for two years.
COMMENT: Georgia goes from sanctions-dodging transit country to Russia’s oil export backdoor into Europe
Georgia has long been suspected of being a major transit country for European sanctioned goods travelling to Russia, but now it appears the trade is flowing in the other direction: Georgia has become a major backdoor into the EU for Russian oil.