The Kartuli Brief — 2026-09-24 | Sakartvelo Intelligence

საქართველო · ერთობა · ძალა · თავისუფლება

Sovereignty Threat Level

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

Lead

Georgia’s Foreign Trade Up 8.4% in January-August as Exports to Iran, Togo Spike

Georgia’s external merchandise trade, excluding non-declared trade, reached USD 17,926 billion in January-August 2026, up 8.4% year-on-year, according to preliminary data released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) on September 21. Kyrgyzstan remained Georgia’s largest export market, while Turkey was its top import partner, as exports to Iran and Togo saw major spikes…

Sources: Civil.ge

Russia Watch

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Visits Georgia

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Loomis visited Georgia’s Defense Ministry on September 21, where he met with Georgian Dream Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani, the Ministry reported. According to the Ministry, the meeting covered “the issues of existing cooperation between Georgia and the U.S. in the field of defense and future prospects.” The sides …

Civil.ge

Caucasus

Georgia Establishes Diplomatic Relations With Nauru After It Withdraws Recognition of Occupied Regions

Georgia and the Republic of Naoero, formerly known as Nauru, have established diplomatic relations almost two months after the small Pacific island nation has withdrawn its recognition of Georgia’s two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia as “independent states.” According to the Georgian government’s September 21 press release, the agreement was signed…

Civil.ge

Middle Corridor

Kobakhidze in New York for 81st UN General Assembly

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24. Kobakhidze is accompanied by Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and Levan Zhorzholiani, head of the Government Administration. On September 22, the GD …

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

2.62

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GEL/EUR

2.99

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Mid. Corridor TEU

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Tourism YTD

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FDI

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Protest Index

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Active

Domestic Politics

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Armenia * The leader of opposition Strong Armenia party, Narek Karapetyan, celebrated Armenia’s 35th independence anniversary in Tigranashen yesterday, where he discussed the development of tourism. Previously in the parliament Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the village with its Azerbaijani name, Karki, suggesting that, according to Soviet maps, it is not considered part of Armenia. * Accor…

OC Media

Western Response

Papuashvili Heads to Belgium, Luxembourg for Meetings at Local Legislatures

Georgian Dream Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili traveled to Brussels on September 22 for an official visit, accompanied by a GD parliamentary delegation. He met with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium’s Federal Parliament. A day later, on September 23, Papuashvili traveled to Luxembourg, where, according to a Georgian Parliament …

Civil.ge

Economy

Review | Big Story In A Small City — An Armenian comedy that dares to joke about death

Despite being over 20 years old, Armenian–American director Gor Kirakosyan’s debut remains one of the classic comedies within new Armenian cinema.

OC Media

Regional Intelligence

Man Behind Police Violence Footage Leaks Jailed for 17 Years on Drug Charges

Georgian IT worker Giorgi Kvitsaridze, who was reportedly behind the leak of footage showing police abuse of detainees to opposition-leaning TV Pirveli, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison on serious drug charges, in what the family and lawyers allege to be retribution through drug planting and pressure. Kvitsaridze, 32, reportedly gained access to …

Civil.ge

Chechen opposition claims Kadyrov’s son’s former mother-in-law died after torture

No other sources have confirmed NIYSO’s claims.

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