Brawley Benson | Eurasianet

Many cars on Russia’s roads are believed to have been smuggled via Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. (Photo: gov.ru)

Georgia and Kyrgyzstan suspected of being auto suppliers for Russia, trade data indicates

Giving used-car salesmen a bad name.

Brawley Benson Jan 31, 2025

Thousands took to the streets on January 15 demanding a fresh parliamentary election and the release of detainees deemed political prisoners. (Photo: Salome Zourabichvili’s official Facebook page)

Businesses in Georgia stage warning strike

Concern growing that Georgian Dream’s political course will have bad economic consequences.

Brawley Benson Jan 16, 2025

Salome Zourabichvili walks alongside protesters during New Year’s Eve festivities. (Photo: Zourabichvili’s official Facebook page)

Georgia: Zourabichvili strives to remain relevant for protest movement

Georgian Dream counting on Trump to break current dynamic in Tbilisi.

Brawley Benson Jan 7, 2025

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze meets with about 100 business leaders on December 23 to discuss the government’s “vision for the future.” (Photo: gov.ge)

Georgia: Government struggling to keep lid on business community discontent

US places Ivanishvili on sanctions list.

Brawley Benson Dec 27, 2024

Russia has been Abkhazia’s primary financial benefactor since the territory broke away from Georgia in 1992, but recent protests against Russia’s encroaching influence have strained the relationship. (Photo: Telegram @respublicaabh)

Abkhazia sees the Kremlin’s dark side

Russian retaliation causes cutoff of electricity, mayhem ensues.

Brawley Benson Dec 19, 2024

A European Union flag on the building housing the headquarters of TBC. Shares of Georgia’s two largest banks, TBC and the Bank of Georgia, remain down after the government’s November 28 announcement that Georgia would be halting EU accession talks. (Photo: newsgeorgia.ge)

Georgia: Authorities trying to downplay economic jitters amid protests

Reassuring words at odds with economic reality.

Brawley Benson Dec 5, 2024

With the climate conference coming to a close, environmentalists are departing Baku feeling underwhelmed with the outcome. (Photo: IRENA@COP29, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, t.ly/O2vKp)

COP29 sounding a discouraging note

One participant describes the conference as “Groundhog Day.”

Brawley Benson Nov 22, 2024

Presidents of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan sign a strategic partnership agreement in Baku on November 13 to jointly develop and transmit green energy. (Photo: president.az)

COP29: Caspian and Central Asian states make progress in promoting “green” trade plan

The sidelines are where the action is.

Brawley Benson Nov 20, 2024

Caucasus glaciers could start disappearing by 2050

An interview with Monash and Ilia State Universities climate scientist Levan Tielidze, an expert on glacier melting.

Brawley Benson Nov 15, 2024

Researchers at the Gergeti glacier. (Photo: Guram Imnadze)

Georgia: Caucasus glacier on the “endangered” list

Scientists hope ancient ice holds clues about the future of the region’s climate.

Brawley Benson Nov 13, 2024

Georgian Orthodox Church stakes out neutral stance on parliamentary election dispute

But the Patriarchate provides hints about its political preferences.

Brawley Benson Nov 7, 2024

A polling station worker helps a voter during the October 26 parliamentary elections. (Photo: CEC of Georgia)

International observers say Georgian elections marred by “climate of pressure”

Opposition refusing to accept official voting results.

Brawley Benson Oct 27, 2024

Individuals connected to Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Georgian Dream party received sweetheart deals from the government, Transparency International Georgia alleges. (Photo: gd.ge)

Georgia: Watchdog group blows whistle on suspicious Georgian Dream contracting practices

Friends and relatives of government officials listed as receiving sweetheart deals.

Brawley Benson Oct 25, 2024

A campaign rally in Tbilisi in mid-October. Given the level of polarization among voters, acceptance of the elections outcome will depend to a great extent on perceptions about the fairness of the electoral process. (Photo: gd.ge)

Georgia: Election monitors deploying in advance of country’s pivotal parliamentary vote

Observers ready to blow whistle on any electoral irregularities.

Brawley Benson Oct 23, 2024

Georgian security forces have been quick to use force to quell protesters. (Screenshot)

Georgia: Watchdog group documents use of political violence and intimidation during election campaign

Political climate described as “unstable.”

Brawley Benson Oct 14, 2024

A barbed-wire fence separating Georgian territory controlled by Tbilisi and Russian-guarded, breakaway South Ossetia. Georgian Dream officials have vaguely suggested that, if they secure a parliamentary super-majority, they may try to revise Georgia’s official policies on the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. (Photo: gov.ge)

Georgia: Can parliamentary vote alter relations with separatist territories?

Russia says it is ready to play facilitating role.

Brawley Benson Oct 10, 2024

Bidzina Ivanishvili delivers a speech in Gori during which he suggested that Georgia might apologize for attacking South Ossetia in 2008. (Photo: gd.ge)

Georgian political boss insults large portion of electorate with apology offer

Ivanishvili finding new ways to divide Georgians.

Brawley Benson Sep 18, 2024

The Metsamor nuclear power plant. (Photo: Adam Jones, CC BY 2.0, t.ly/LO-66)

Armenia sending signals that it wants to back out of a nuclear-energy deal with Russia

Yerevan pursuing US option for building new plant.

Brawley Benson Sep 5, 2024

Trucks in Georgia line up at the Russian border. (Photo: Tamuna Chkareuli/OC Media)

Georgia, Kyrgyzstan face scrutiny over possible sanctions-busting

No fire, but lots of smoke.

Brawley Benson Aug 16, 2024

Georgia presents its wines at the Green Week international exhibition in Berlin in 2024. A new study identified Georgia’s wine and beverage sector as among those having the most promising export potential. (Photo: gov.ge)

Georgian economy ready to compete in the EU – report

Tbilisi’s geopolitical pivot injects uncertainty into export growth prospects.

Brawley Benson Aug 6, 2024

An artist’s rendering of the Anaklia deepwater port. (Photo: Anaklia Development Consortium)

International Arbitration Court rules in favor of Georgian government on port development case

Full-speed ahead for Chinese consortium to construct Anaklia facility.

Brawley Benson Jul 30, 2024

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire backer and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, attends the party’s campaign event on July 16. The State Security Service announced soon after, without offering any evidence, that it had uncovered an assassination plot against Ivanishvili. (Photo: gd.ge)

Georgia: Yet another coup plot claimed by government

Ivanishvili a supposed assassination target.

Brawley Benson Jul 26, 2024

A member of Georgian special operations forces pulls security as a Georgian UH-1 Iroquois helicopter lands on a building to extract soldiers during the Noble Partner exercise in Georgia in 2022. In early July 2024, the US announced the indefinite postponement of Noble Partner, and just days later partners in Europe halted major military aid packages for Georgia. (Photo: U.S. Special Operations Command Europe/Sgt. Michael)

Georgian Dream policies damaging Tbilisi’s national security – experts

Fractured relations with NATO raise chances of Russian mischief.

Brawley Benson Jul 24, 2024

Georgia doesn’t have a national security strategy that accurately evaluates the threats and challenges to national security, and plans to prevent those threats, opposition lawmakers say. (Photo: gov.ge)

Georgia: Lawmakers contend national security concept needs updating

Georgian Dream government reluctant to do anything that may rile Russia.

Brawley Benson Jul 9, 2024

The ghost tower of Anaklia. The town seems like a graveyard of investment projects: there are empty villas, remnants of beach bars, and too many half-finished buildings to count. (All photos: Brawley Benson)

Georgia: In the doldrums at the fulcrum of a geopolitical pivot

Locals aren’t optimistic about Chinese consortium’s port plans for Anaklia.

Brawley Benson Jul 1, 2024

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Brawley Benson | 50 Articles