The Kartuli Brief — 2026-06-24 | Sakartvelo Intelligence

საქართველო · ერთობა · ძალა · თავისუფლება

Sovereignty Threat Level

Elevated EU accession suspended · Protest cycle ongoing · Russian pressure steady

Lead

Poll: 67% of Georgians Trust EU, 71% Support Accession, 40% Have Positive Image

71% of Georgians support the country’s accession to the European Union, while 67% trust the EU and 40% have a positive image of the bloc, according to the 2026 Annual Survey Report released on June 17 by the EU-funded EU NEIGHBOURS East Programme. The survey was fielded in January and February through face-to-face interviews with …

Sources: Civil.ge

Russia Watch

Georgian Businessman Temur Ugulava, Prominent Figure in Hospitality Industry, Dies at 56

Temur Ugulava, a Georgian businessman and prominent figure in Georgia’s hospitality industry, associated with the reinvention of Tbilisi’s landmarks, including Fabrika, Stamba, and Rooms spaces, died at the age of 56, his family and relatives confirmed on June 22. According to media reports, Ugulava succumbed to a serious illness while receiving treatment abroad. Ugulava founded …

Civil.ge

Caucasus

Eight More Sentenced to Five Years in Prison in October 4 Case as Six Others Freed on Plea Deals

Eight more people tried over the October 4, 2025, election-day unrest in Tbilisi were sentenced each to five years in prison, while six others in the same case were released after reaching plea agreements with prosecutors. Tbilisi City Court Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili delivered the rulings on June 22, bringing the number of those found guilty …

Civil.ge

Middle Corridor

Georgia’s Population Exceeds 3.9 Million in 2024 Census as Geostat Releases Final Detailed Data

Georgia’s population stood at 3,929,581 as of November 14, 2024, according to the main results of the 2024 population and agricultural census released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), marking an increase of 215,777 people (5.8%) compared to the 2014 census figure of 3,713,804. The census was conducted from November 14 to December …

Civil.ge

"A nation with a populace that is overwhelmingly pro-Western ruled by a government that has frozen that integration—the Sakartvelo Paradox defines the crisis."

— Sakartvelo Unveiled Analysis

GEL/USD

2.65

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GEL/EUR

3.02

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Mid. Corridor TEU

—

YoY

Tourism YTD

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FDI

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Protest Index

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Active

Domestic Politics

Chechnya reportedly enlists prospective university students

Young men are allegedly being referred to enlistment offices at universities in Grozny.

OC Media

Western Response

Georgian census shows mass increase in Russians, Indians, other foreigners

The number of ethnic Russians rose from 26,453 in 2014 to 42,525 in 2024, while the figure for Indians grew from 446 to 23,966 in the same period.

OC Media

Economy

Survey finds 49% of Georgians believe their country not moving in the right direction towards EU

While the vast majority support EU accession, the survey found that Georgians are growing distrustful of the bloc.

OC Media

Regional Intelligence

Armenian opposition leaders Kocharyan and Karapetyan sue state bodies

The lawsuits come as political and legal disputes continue following Armenia’s parliamentary elections.

OC Media

Azerbaijan sentences eight Russians detained during 2025 tensions

The eight Russian nationals were convicted of drug trafficking and cyber crimes.

OC Media

Assessment & Data

Sovereignty Indicators

EU Accession Status Frozen

NATO MAP Progress Stalled

Press Freedom (RSF) Declining

Foreign Agent Law Enacted

Civil Society Space Narrowing

Public EU Support ~80%

Week Ahead

European Parliament plenary to debate Georgia resolution on Wednesday. Georgian National Bank inflation data due Thursday. Opposition rally planned Saturday in Tbilisi's Freedom Square. Bidzina Ivanishvili expected to address GD party congress. OSCE monitoring mission report on media freedom scheduled for release.

Compiled from multiple sources