During the meeting, the parties discussed the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and the growing dynamics of bilateral relations.Particular attention was paid to bilateral, regional and international cooperation in the field of defense. They also discussed important joint projects and emphasized that the partnership between Georgia and Armenia in the defense sector is developing successfully within the framework of the bilateral cooperation plan.The discussion also touched upon the important role of the region in international processes. The Prime Minister once again reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness to contribute to strengthening stability and peace in the region.

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Kobakhidze emphasized Orbán’s “many years of support” for Georgia and noted that Budapest’s position in the European Union was important in terms of pursuing the country’s interests.“We hope that our people and country will continue to have lobbyists, strong lobbyists in the European Commission and the European Union. Hungary was not the only one supporting us, others were supporting us as well,” the prime minister told reporters.When asked about possible sanctions from the European Union, which have been actively discussed in recent times against the backdrop of tense relations with Brussels, Kobakhidze took a sharp stance.“You expect whatever you want, I expect nothing,” the head of government said in response to the question of whether he expects personal or state restrictions from his partners.Irakli Kobakhidze’s statements come at a time when EU ambassadors in Brussels have expressed preliminary support for the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. At the same time, after the elections in Hungary, where Viktor Orban was defeated, Georgia is facing a transformation in the support of one of its main allies in the region. According to the Prime Minister, Tbilisi is ready to continue working to attract new supporters in the European Commission and the European Council.

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Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said the ruling party would withdraw its old lawsuit and instead submit an expanded list that includes the Federalists party. The previous targets of the ban were the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change, and Lelo.Papuashvili said the lawsuit was amended following a declaration signed by opposition groups on March 2, 2026. According to him, this union aims to “not recognize constitutional institutions and undermine democratic processes.”“We are appealing to the Constitutional Court with a new, amended lawsuit, in which the number of parties has increased,” Papuashvili said. He called the opposition alliance a continuation of the “criminal regime” and noted that the government is monitoring both the parties’ “anti-constitutional goals” and their influence on political processes.Political temperatures in Georgia have been particularly high since the opposition and part of the West did not recognize the results of the October 2024 parliamentary elections as legitimate. The Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012, accuses its opponents of pursuing the interests of the “global war party” and attempting to destabilize the country.Critics and international human rights organizations believe that the possible ban on opposition parties would push the country toward one-party rule and ultimately distance it from its goal of integration into the European Union.If the Constitutional Court upholds the lawsuit, the country's leading opposition forces would be stripped of their electoral status, an unprecedented step in Georgia's modern history.

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The authors conclude that Washington should no longer consider this area as a peripheral part, since its stability is directly related to Europe’s energy security.The Caucasus - Eurasia Economic BridgeThe study emphasizes that the war in Ukraine has accelerated the birth of a new Eurasian order. In this context, the South Caucasus is a key trade and transit corridor connecting Central Asia to European markets.However, analysts say this function is at risk as long as the North Caucasus remains under Russian dominance. The North Caucasus has been described as a “structural lock” that acts as a “sword of Damocles” on southern transit routes.Two key scenariosThe authors consider two main scenarios: Maintaining Russian control: Russia maintains its power projection and imposes a permanent “risk surcharge” on regional ties, which discourages investment and complicates economic planning. Weakening Russian influence: Weakening Moscow’s control over the North Caucasus frees the region from the blockade. This creates the opportunity for the Black Sea-Caspian region to become a fully integrated system, free from external constraints. The article concludes: “In this order, the protection of key points in the Black Sea-Caspian region becomes a strategic imperative for the West.” The authors urge politicians to start thinking about the region as a unified system now, so as not to miss the prospect of a Eurasia free from Russian influence.

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Under the current “Local Self-Government Code”, self-governing cities other than Tbilisi do not have the right to establish LEPLs and carry out activities such as expedited issuance of construction permits, regulation of outdoor advertising or other paid municipal services. According to the new draft, the city council will establish LEPLs upon the recommendation of the mayor, and the mayor will appoint and dismiss their head.According to the submitted document, municipal LEPLs may be established for the purpose of developing urban development concepts, preparing general plans, privatizing property, organizing public transport and regulating parking rules. In addition, the self-governing city council will be authorized, based on the mayor's proposal, to determine the fees required for the provision of these services.The initiators of the draft law are members of the parliamentary majority, including Irakli Kadagishvili, Nino Tsilosani and Dimitri Samkharadze. The enactment of the changes will allow self-governing cities to manage local resources more flexibly and accelerate the implementation of infrastructure or service projects.

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According to the SSSG, the delegation held meetings with senior officials from the Czech Republic’s intelligence services to discuss security matters.

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According to him, some essential solutions must be found in this situation.“We are eager to become a full-fledged member of the European Union. We share the same goal as North Macedonia, but we also recognise that the European Union itself is facing some very significant and fundamental challenges. For many years, there were some specific strengths for the European Union: a strong identity, a strong level of prosperity, and the strengths in terms of democracy and rule of law. But now, if you look at the current state of the European Union, it is facing challenges in all three of these areas. We are very much concerned about that, and we remain hopeful that the situation will improve in the future,” Irakli Kobakhidze has said.When we talk about the South Caucasus, Georgia’s Prime Minister said, all these uncertainties and global challenges are naturally affecting our region as well. At the same time, the South Caucasus is also gaining particular importance in light of these wider developments.“We are doing our best to take advantage of the relevant opportunities. For many years, Georgia has proved to be a reliable bridge between Europe and Asia, and we are working hard to strengthen our connectivity function as much as possible. In the current circumstances, when trade routes face special pressures, we can offer valuable services to our partners in different parts of the world. Georgia serves as a transit hub for the efficient movement of goods, services, energy, and digital data, and we will continue to do our utmost to strengthen that function.Our approach, which is grounded in peace, progress, and development, is proving successful. If you look at the economic data, Georgia’s economic policy and overall governance record speak for themselves. Over the last five years, Georgia has had the highest average economic growth rate in Europe, at 9.3% since 2021, and we have started this year strongly as well, with 8.4% growth in January and February,”Irakli Kobakhidze has stated.According to Georgia’s Prime Minister, the country is working to maintain peace and stability within its borders, ensure economic progress, and promote connectivity.“With this approach, we not only preserve peace at home, but also contribute to broader peace across the South Caucasus region. We are very proud to be a strong partner with Turkey in this regard,” Irakli Kobakhidze has stated.

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Gogita Todradze, who has been the head of the National Statistical Service since 2018, will assume his new four-year term starting May 3, 2026. The official, who holds an academic doctorate in economics, has almost 25 years of experience working in the agency, where he began her career in 2002 as an economist.During his career, Todradze held the positions of Head of the Business Statistics Department and Deputy Executive Director. At the same time, he is actively involved in international statistical activities, including holding the position of a member of the Bureau and Vice-President of the UNECE Conference of European Statisticians since 2025, and in 2020-2022 he was the Chairman of the Bureau of the UNESCAP Committee on Statistics.In addition to public service, Gogita Todradze has many years of academic experience - he is an associate of GIPA and a full professor at the Caucasus International University. In accordance with the legislation, the head of Geostat is appointed by the Prime Minister, which ensures continuity of management of the data production agency.

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According to the draft law, the Georgian Red Cross Society will no longer be required to be in agreement with the government when issuing grants. Financial and credit institutions are also included in the list of exceptions.Key details: Red Cross: For greater clarity, the law will explicitly state that the law’s requirements will not apply to funds issued by member organizations of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Financial institutions: The exception will apply to organizations such as the World Bank. According to the chairman of the committee, Archil Gorduladze, such grants are mainly equivalent to loan agreements, are already agreed with the government through other procedures and do not serve political goals. Existing exceptions: The list already includes the following programs: Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). According to the amendments, funds issued by diplomatic missions and international organizations that may be used for activities in the public interest of a foreign government or political party will no longer be considered grants.

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According to the Presidential Administration, the Georgian President and Kazakhstani FM reviewed Georgia-Kazakhstan friendly and partnership relations, accentuating successful cooperation in various spheres.They stressed that the partnership is based on mutual respect and both national and regional interests. Mikheil Kavelashvili and Ermek Kosherbayev focused on global political processes, challenges facing the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the rapidly changing geopolitical environment and the increasing role of the Middle Corridor in regional connectivity.Mikheil Kavelashvili thanked Ermek Kosherbayev for unwavering support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandre Ghvtisiashvili, Head of Friendship Group with Parliament of Kazakhstan Anton Obolashvili and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Kazakhstan Levan Diasamidze attended the meeting.

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