The main part of the high-level meeting was devoted to deepening cooperation in the trade-economic, investment and transport-logistics spheres.Main focus on synchronization of transit routesOne of the central topics of the talks was the integration of regional transport projects. The parties discussed the prospects for the further development of the “Middle Corridor” and mechanisms for attracting additional cargo flows on this route.According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Georgian side is following with great interest the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which is progressing at a rapid pace. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the railway line will significantly contribute to strengthening connectivity between Central Asia and the Black Sea region. He also noted that Georgia is making large investments in domestic infrastructure to expand its transit function.Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov confirmed that connecting the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor with Georgia’s port infrastructure is one of the priority areas on the bilateral agenda. Zhaparov called on Georgian business circles to more actively discuss investment projects in the logistics, agriculture, construction, digital economy and tourism sectors of Kyrgyzstan, where the country creates favorable conditions for investors against the backdrop of sustainable economic growth.Intergovernmental Commission and the Prospects for Direct FlightsAs part of the visit, the second session of the Georgia-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation was held in Bishkek. According to the parties, the resumption of the work of the commission is a timely step that will contribute to increasing trade turnover and establishing direct business contacts.The talks focused on the importance of increasing bilateral flows in the tourism sector. It was noted that the launch of direct air traffic between Georgia and Kyrgyzstan would provide an additional stimulus to both economic cooperation and deepening people-to-people ties.Political dialogue and bilateral documentsAt the end of the meeting, Irakli Kobakhidze and Sadir Zhaparov signed a joint statement. Bilateral intergovernmental documents were also signed, which define the legal basis for future cooperation.The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for his unconditional support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. In turn, Sadir Zhaparov expressed gratitude for the Georgian side's support for Kyrgyzstan's international initiatives related to the sustainable development of mountainous regions.Irakli Kobakhidze invited the President of Kyrgyzstan to pay a reciprocal official visit to Georgia.

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Kobakhidze emphasized that for Kyrgyzstan, as well as for all five Central Asian countries, trade and economic partnership with Georgia and strengthening connectivity are of strategic nature.“Georgia connects all five Central Asian countries to the Black Sea and the Western space. Therefore, it is important for Kyrgyzstan to cooperate with us in economic and trade terms, and it is also important for us to deepen this cooperation. Kyrgyzstan has been developing rapidly in economic terms in recent years and is trying to strengthen its function in terms of connectivity. This creates new opportunities for our bilateral cooperation,” the Prime Minister said.Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze also touched upon the visa dialogue held in Brussels and expressed regret that the issue of visa liberalization is being used as an instrument of political blackmail.According to him, Georgia is absolutely open to dialogue and has clear answers to all questions asked. The Prime Minister expressed hope that approaches in the European bureaucracy will change and a fair position will be formed towards the country.Irakli Kobakhidze also responded to criticism from US Congressman Joe Wilson, who criticizes Georgia for deepening relations with China. The Prime Minister called these statements illogical in the context of the fact that the US itself is trying to strengthen ties with China. According to the head of government, the aforementioned attacks are carried out under the influence of the “Global War Party” and on external orders, although they do not have a special value for Georgia.

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According to Papuashvili, the opposition parties are confronting each other with the same methods that they used to use against their own country.“I said, they have already done it, they have eaten each other, and now they have started to do it again and eat each other. Let’s watch, let’s get a little pleasure from this. What they used to do to their own country, they are now doing exactly the same to each other. So let’s observe and enjoy it,” the Parliament Speaker noted.He compared the National Movement’s positioning in opposition unity to the Georgian feature film “Blue Mountains.”“Like “Blue Mountains,” they can’t tell if they’re here or there. We, as “Blue Mountains,” should watch this comedy that they’re making us watch,” Papuashvili said.According to the head of the legislative body, these processes also indicate the irrationality of the external forces that organize these groups. According to him, this reality reveals “what kind of people are sitting in Brussels and some capitals” who are betting on the aforementioned opposition unity.“Didn’t they stand by them in the 2024 elections? Didn’t they say, ‘Vote for them,’ or ‘Don’t they make resolutions on their orders and in agreement with them?’ The Georgian people should also see what we are dealing with. When Brussels and other forces that are behind them cannot be identified in such simple issues, can you imagine that they should hand over international politics and geopolitics to them? That is why there is chaos in the world today, war in Ukraine today,” Shalva Papuashvili said.The Chairman of the Parliament linked the local opposition’s governance model to the global political context and noted that the collapse of the security architecture in the international arena is precisely the result of such approaches.“What is happening in the opposition is a mini-example of what is happening in the world thanks to the same forces that we call the ‘global war party’ and the ‘deep state.’” "The name may be different, but the essence is the same - these are the people whose governance model we see in the form of the radical opposition. They turned the political space into a circus and they are doing exactly the same thing on the international political platform, and that is why the global security system has collapsed," said Shalva Papuashvili.

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This information became known from material published on X by Laura Kelly, a journalist for the American publication The Hill.GOP donor Steve Nicandros is back in Washington advocating improved U.S.-Georgian Dream relations, reaching out to Joe Wilson, who is leader of holding GD accountable for election fraud, support for Iran and repression of Georgian peopleA journalist who has previously written about Nicandros’ lobbying activities for the Georgian Dream party has released an official letter dated June 8, 2026, in which the businessman personally addresses the congressman.It is worth noting that Congressman Joe Wilson is a harsh critic of the current Georgian government and is a co-author of the “MEGOBARI Act” prepared in Washington.Steve Nicandros emphasizes in the letter that since 1997, his company has invested more than $500 million in the country's oil and gas sector. The businessman does not directly mention Frontera in the letter and introduces himself as the head of TXN Energy. He notes that he respectfully disagrees with the congressman's recent tough stance on Georgia's current political course, but wants to share with him the "unique perspective" of the private sector.According to Nicandros, Washington's attempts to impose sanctions and harsh public messages are significantly harming American businesses operating in Georgia. With the same position, he also addressed other Republican members of the House of Representatives in January of this year and called on them to oppose the "MEGOBARI Act".Congressman Wilson has not yet issued a public response to the appeal.The multi-year, multi-million dollar arbitration dispute between Frontera and the Georgian government ended in 2020.Tbilisi initially planned to terminate the contract, but ultimately changed its mind and continued negotiations.The American company currently owes the Georgian budget GEL 15.4 million, which the state corporation considers “irrecoverable.”

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This bill requires the Department of State to submit a classified report to Congress that examines Russian and Chinese influence and intelligence activity in Georgia.The State Department must also submit a strategy for enhancing bilateral ties with Georgia, a determination of the resources needed to enhance such ties, and whether the United States should continue to invest in its partnership with Georgia and in Georgian projects.Specifically, Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit a classified report, as appropriate, to the relevant congressional committees to examine the penetration of Russian and Chinese intelligence elements and their assets in Georgia; and examine the potential intersection of Russian and Chinese influence and cooperation in Georgia.The bill also calls for a 5-year strategy for US-Georgia relations.Specifically, the bill requires the US to prepare a strategy that outlines specific objectives for enhancing bilateral ties which reflect the current domestic political environment in Georgia; includes a determination of the tools, resources, and funding that should be available to achieve the objectives outlined pursuant to subparagraph (A) and an assessment of whether Georgia should remain a top recipient of United States funding in the Europe and Eurasia region; includes a determination of the extent to which the United States should continue to invest in its partnership with Georgia; and includes a determination of whether the Government of Georgia remains committed to expanding trade ties with the United States and Europe and whether the United States Government should continue to invest in Georgian projects."The illegitimate Georgian Dream regime is in the process of selling out the country to the Chinese Communist Party, war criminal Putin, and Iran  - against the wishes of the Georgian people and the interests of the U.S.," Joe Wilson told Congress as the House passed the bill targeting Chinese and Russian influence in Georgia.The bill will now move to the Senate.

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According to the ministry, the changes mainly concern the regulations for the admission of foreign students and their residence permits, as well as the rules for legal stay in the country based on marriage between Georgian citizens and foreigners.According to the legislative package, the enrollment of foreign students in higher and vocational educational institutions will be subject to the submission of an international language certificate or passing an exam organized by the National Assessment and Examination Center (NAEC). With this regulation, the state aims to exclude the enrollment of those individuals who do not actually possess the appropriate language competence.In addition, a government resolution will establish a maximum quota for the admission of foreign students for educational institutions. Universities will be obliged to reflect any information related to the status of students in a unified information system, to which state agencies will have access. For violation of the rules, educational institutions will be held administratively liable, which, in addition to a fine, also provides for restrictions on the admission of foreigners or cancellation of authorization.A study residence permit will be issued to adults only if they are studying at authorized institutions, and in case of failure to meet academic requirements, violation of labor conditions, or absence from the territory of the country, the residence permit will be revoked.The legislative package tightens the rules for obtaining the right of residence on the basis of marriage. A new legal status is established - “Residence permit for the spouse of a citizen of Georgia”, which is issued before the right of permanent residence. Before issuing the permit, a special commission will verify the validity of the marriage.The draft law makes fictitious marriages for the purpose of obtaining residence or citizenship punishable under criminal law. The sanction is the expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia and a ban on entering the country for a period of 2 to 10 years, or a fine, or house arrest for a period of 1 to 2 years, or imprisonment for a period of up to 2 years.In order to combat illegal migration, the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is granted the authority to carry out operational-investigative measures. In addition, foreign convicts may have their unserved sentence commuted to deportation from Georgia.Changes are also being made to judicial proceedings: the deadlines for appealing immigration decisions and reviewing cases are being significantly reduced, and in some cases the court will be able to consider cases within tight deadlines without an oral hearing.

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As Reuters reports, citing a European official, the package prepared by Kallas for the meeting planned in Cyprus also includes a demand that Russia stop cyber attacks, the use of drones and disinformation campaigns against Europe.The EU’s strategic discussions have intensified after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Europe to become more involved in the peace process. Kiev fears that the United States, currently focused on the conflict with Iran, could distance itself from the talks with Russia, which is why the Ukrainian side wants to keep Europe involved.Despite the plan, according to Reuters sources, there is still no consensus among EU members on the format of future relations with Moscow.“Support for Ukraine remains strong, ⁠but there is no unity on how to approach future relations with Russia, that is more difficult,” said a senior European diplomat. “Some believe there should be no engagement at all, no bargaining - it’s complicated,” they added.According to diplomatic sources, at the same time, Moscow is not ready to start real negotiations at this stage. In February, the diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron visited Moscow for this purpose, but did not find any signs of changes in the Kremlin's positions. Against this background, part of the European Union believes that now is the time to increase pressure on Russia and that any diplomatic test should be considered only in parallel with military assistance to Ukraine.

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The controversy was sparked by Shalva Papuashvili’s statement that German Ambassador Peter Fischer “would not personally have the desire to attend the Independence Day event” because he “takes the oath of the squadrons of contempt.”“As for the statement of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, we recommend checking the facts. The facts are that Germany has been a large and leading supporter of the Georgian Defense Forces for decades. This can be easily verified with the Ministry of Defense. Everything else is disinformation,” the embassy said in a statement.The embassy did not specify whether the ambassador attended the May 26 event, although according to available information, Peter Fischer was not at the ceremonial ceremony. At the same time, the speaker of the parliament stated that an official invitation had been sent to all diplomats.The German mission emphasizes that the country’s goal is to continue friendly cooperation with Georgia and that the diplomatic mission avoids getting involved in any domestic political discussions.

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According to the Government’s Parliamentary Secretary, Vakhtang Bachiashvili, the new legislation will distinguish between improper fulfillment of obligations and dishonest actions committed in order to obtain a contract.Under the current law, being on the blacklist restricts access to state contracts for a period of one year. According to the new draft, in case of detection of dishonest actions, the period of prohibition from participating in procurements will be increased to two years. In addition, this restriction will apply not only to the company itself, but also to its founder and partner.The second part of the legislative amendments concerns the promotion of the development of small and medium-sized businesses, which involves the institutional introduction of the concept of a subcontractor and the creation of a legal framework for its use.After the adoption of the draft law, the rules for relations with subcontractors will be established, including the mechanisms for their selection, distribution of responsibility and control. According to the government, the reform is expected to increase the economic capabilities of both small and medium-sized businesses and the efficiency of the public procurement system as a whole.

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According to the Armenpress agency, Pashinyan made this statement at a briefing in response to a question asked by a journalist regarding comments made by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. According to Kobakhidze, foreign patrons and local groups are trying to set Georgia against Armenia.“As for Georgia, I have clearly stated that Georgia plays a very important and key role in Armenian-European relations and we are very concerned about the current situation. We believe that this situation must be resolved,” the Armenian Prime Minister said.Pashinyan stressed that the partnership between Tbilisi and Yerevan is independent of any external factors and cannot be determined by third parties.“The relations between Armenia and Georgia have nothing to do with relations with third parties. Naturally, these relations are strategic, long-term, historical and fraternal in nature and will remain so. Any other scenario is simply impossible,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

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