"We firmly oppose censorship" - the US Embassy's response to the arrest of Vakho Sanaia

"We firmly oppose censorship" - the US Embassy's response to the arres...

As the Embassy explained, they firmly oppose censorship and restrictive laws that are used to silence people with undesirable views.“The Trump administration has clearly stated that the United States considers freedom of speech a fundamental foundation of a functioning society, and we firmly oppose censorship and those restrictive laws that are used to silence people with undesirable views. As we have also shared with our Georgian partners, stability requires a political opposition that cooperates with state institutions on behalf of the citizens who voted for them. Political stability, ensured by a broad representation of views, is part of the factors that make Georgia a reliable partner for American investments, security cooperation, and long-term strategic partnership.We are concerned about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech. The best response to lies and false views is more freedom of speech, not enforced silence,” - the US Embassy noted.

Georgia, Turkmenistan Agree to Develop Middle Corridor, Expand Trade T...

During the visit, the parties signed a joint statement, as well as agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields.The Middle Corridor and Transport and Logistics PotentialThe meeting between the leaders focused on the importance of developing the Trans-Caspian international transport route - the Middle Corridor - and the need to attract additional cargo flows in this direction.According to the head of the Georgian government, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia is actively following the ongoing infrastructure and logistics projects in Turkmenistan, which have created a solid foundation for expanding regional ties.“Central Asia is a particularly interesting region for Georgia. In this context, we consider Turkmenistan as a reliable partner and friendly state. The relations established between our countries are based on many years of friendship and mutual respect,” Irakli Kobakhidze said.Increasing trade turnover and business forumTurkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Georgia is one of Turkmenistan’s main economic partners in the region and the country highly appreciates Tbilisi’s constructive position in the international arena.According to him, the Turkmenistan-Georgia business forum held within the framework of the visit showed that there is great potential for increasing bilateral trade volumes and expanding product exchanges: Political and diplomatic ties: The parties agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts to ensure long-term partnership. International formats: Cooperation with global organizations is expanding, especially within the framework of the United Nations (UN). Diversification: The Turkmen side expresses its readiness to diversify economic ties with Georgian business. “We agreed to expand political relations, diplomatic efforts so that our ties can continue in the long term. We attach special importance to business relations and we want to diversify our economic ties,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted.Support for Sovereignty and Humanitarian PartnershipAt the briefing, the Georgian Prime Minister thanked the Turkmen authorities for their firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.In addition to economic and transit directions, the leaders discussed better utilization of the potential in the tourism sector, stimulation of bilateral tourist flows, deepening people-to-people ties, and cooperation in the fields of education and culture.For information, this is the second state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Georgia. The first such visit took place in 2015, when former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow visited the country.

Combating Antifa and Security Challenges - Bochorishvili Delivers Spee...

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in her speech, the Minister emphasized that, against the backdrop of modern security challenges, placing the issue of political terrorism on the international agenda is of particular importance.“This discussion is particularly timely, as today we are faced with complex and constantly changing challenges that directly affect our national interests, sovereignty, and security,” said Maka Bochorishvili.The Vice Prime Minister drew attention to the risks posed by radical groups. According to him, these forces often act in the name of democracy, although their real goal is to weaken state institutions.According to the Minister, Georgia is a vivid example of these challenges, where in recent years there have been numerous attempts to polarize society and discredit state systems: Coordinated campaigns: targeted actions against constitutional bodies, including the judiciary and electoral systems. Violence and sabotage: attempts by radical groups to use violent acts as a political tool. In his speech, the Foreign Minister also spoke about the role of international organizations and the need to protect their reputation. According to Bochorishvili, the use of international mechanisms or resolutions for the purpose of external pressure damages both bilateral relations and the credibility of these institutions themselves.“The use of international institutions to legitimize such actions through resolutions and other mechanisms aimed at exerting political pressure on sovereign states is no less worrying,” the minister noted.At the end of her speech, Maka Bochorishvili noted that political terrorism often manifests itself in hidden and imperceptible forms (including intimidation and political violence), which is why the fight against it should be a common task for all democratic states.According to Reuters, the aforementioned ministerial is aimed at mobilizing global support from the US against “far-left political terrorism.” The White House believes that these movements have so far remained beyond the attention of law enforcement agencies.According to the agency, more than 60 countries were represented at the meeting organized by the US State Department - some of them at the level of foreign or interior ministers, and others at the level of relatively low-ranking officials.The Trump administration has made combating far-left groups, particularly Antifa, a top priority since the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year. The US State Department has said that attacks by far-left actors on police, businesses and infrastructure are an ideologically driven strategy aimed at destabilizing free societies. To this end, since November last year, Washington has officially designated several European far-left and anarchist groups as terrorist organizations (FTOs).

Newly established association to protect meat producers' interests

During the meeting, the project’s legal consultant and mediator presented potential organizational and membership fee models, drawing on examples from other countries and local associations. By the end of the meeting, the participants agreed on the best model to ensure the sustainable development of the meat sector.The Georgian Meat Producers' Association aims to facilitate communication between farmers, consumers, state agencies, and international or local partners, while prioritizing the best interests of sector representatives and adhering to international standards. Ultimately, this will contribute to food safety, product traceability, and the sustainable development of the meat sector in the country. The Association actively cooperates with state and international organizations to help refine sector policies and legislation. Its priority is to increase access to financial instruments, investment projects, and various support programs for sector representatives."Meat suppliers represent different sub-sectors and are often competitors, yet they all share a common goal: supplying retail chains with safe products that meet consumer demands. The sector is quite fragmented, which is why our objective is to consolidate them around their shared interests. This will help them find common ground, develop action plans, and focus on addressing existing challenges. Furthermore, the presence of the Association will assist the government in identifying issues within the meat sector and responding to them efficiently. In establishing this Association, we drew upon leading European Union practices, which we believe will significantly support the organization’s future operations and development," said Mikheil Sokhadze, FAO Project Manager.The NAITS project is implemented by the FAO in cooperation with the National Food Agency, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), as part of International Partnerships Austria. 

President Kavelashvili holds face-to-face talks with Turkmenistan’s Pr...

According to the Presidential Administration, Kavelashvili stated that Berdimuhamedow’s first state visit to Georgia marks an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations and serves as a clear indication of strengthened high-level political dialogue between the two countries.During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation between Georgia and Turkmenistan. Particular attention was paid to deepening trade and economic ties, promoting investments, and enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, and logistics, as well as making more effective use of the strategic potential of the Middle Corridor.“The parties noted that Georgia, as a key link connecting Europe and Asia, is interested in further developing transit connections, including through the future opportunities offered by the Black Sea ports and the Anaklia Deep Sea Port,” the Presidential Administration said.The presidents also discussed strengthening cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and science. The importance of people-to-people contacts, the development of youth and academic exchange programs, and support for joint cultural initiatives were highlighted.According to the Presidential Administration, Mikheil Kavelashvili thanked President Serdar Berdimuhamedow for Turkmenistan’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.The official visit of President Berdimuhamedow to Georgia began today. A face-to-face meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Berdimuhamedow, as well as bilateral meetings with Georgian ministers, are scheduled for tomorrow.