Executive Summary: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the wide-ranging Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on January 17 to boost bilateral relations for further progress in areas including opposition to NATO expansion, the North-South Corridor, and the 3+3 format. Moscow and... MORE

Executive summary: Georgia is under increasing pressure from Russia to join the 3+3 format on regional cooperation for peace and stability in the South Caucasus, which includes Russia, Iran, and Türkiye along with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and, intentionally, Georgia.  The Kremlin views Georgia’s participation as crucial... MORE

Executive Summary: The Russian Foreign Intelligence (SVR) has been accusing the European Union of conducting influence campaigns in Georgia through funding anti-government protests. EU officials denied these claims, calling them a disinformation campaign aimed at undermining EU-Georgia relations. The ruling Georgian Dream party has escalated... MORE

Executive Summary: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze acknowledged challenges in Georgia-EU relations in early February, citing bureaucratic obstacles, while reaffirming Georgia’s pro-European stance despite concerns that the current ruling party is leading the country toward Russia and undermining democratic principles. Political turbulence in Georgia following... MORE

Executive Summary: Abkhazia, a break-away territory controlled by Russia, is preparing for decisive presidential elections on February 15, which could determine the future trajectory of the separatist region’s foreign policy and relationship to Moscow. Russia is supporting pro-Moscow candidate, former vice-president Badra Gunba, in the... MORE

Executive Summary: The Georgian government, led by the Georgian Dream party, is implementing stringent new media censoring laws that ban foreign financing and introduce regulations for journalistic ethics. Critics fear Georgia's hard-won free media is endangered as these moves signal the erosion of democratic values... MORE

Executive summary: Russia’s strategic interest in the Republic of Georgia has been reenergized as Tbilisi drifts away from the European path and abstains from joining Western sanctions against Russia. A fundamental factor in Moscow’s current view of Georgia is the former’s lack of effective leverage... MORE

Executive Summary:  Russian military losses typically have affected Russia and its neighbors at home even more than Russian victories. Moscow is now worried that the ouster of Bashar al-Assad will influence the post-Soviet space and Muslim regions in Russia. To reduce these dangers, the Kremlin... MORE

Executive Summary: The South Caucasus has grown increasingly close to the Middle East. One region that stands out is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which looks at the Caucasus as a transit and a land for investments. Tbilisi’s closer ties with the GCC present a... MORE

Executive Summary: On January 29, the Republic of Georgia ceased participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after the latter demanded new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. Tbilisi’s exit from PACE threatens its eligibility for EU candidacy. The... MORE