Georgia's ruling party chair defends country's absence from the G7 summit

Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, has justified the country's exclusion from the recent G7 summit in Germany, claiming that anyone concerned over Georgia's absence is "upset because Georgia is not embroiled in a military confrontation."

"The reason [for the lack of an invitation] is because Georgia's current situation is unrelated to war; as a consequence, the reason is extremely positive, as to why we are not attending the G7 summit — we are unrelated to war, unlike Ukraine and Moldova," MP Kobakhidze stated. The ruling party chairman also referenced a May 13th statement to the media by the German Embassy in Tbilisi, which assuaged mounting concerns by claiming that Ukraine was invited because it is at war. Neighbouring Moldova is directly impacted by the war for multiple reasons including the large number of Ukrainian refugees in the country.

Former Georgian Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli voiced fear that Georgia would not be able to win a seat at the summit in Germany. Georgia was also denied an invitation to the NATO military chiefs of defence conference on May 19th, she said in an interview. "This is the sort of gathering where Georgia was always at the top of the invite list, and I say this with full responsibility," Khidasheli said.

Chief of Georgia's Defence Forces was in Brussels

Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces, met with Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, in Brussels, according to the Georgian Defence Ministry. In view of current dangers and challenges, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili underscored “the need [for] enhancing collaboration and boosting interoperability with the Alliance,” according to the press statement. The primary topics of discussion, according to the Georgian Defence Ministry, were the regional security situation and Russia's large-scale assault against Ukraine.

"Both parties emphasised [support] for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as solidarity with its people, and criticised Russia's actions." Major General Matiashvili stated while reviewing the reform of Georgia's defence forces as well as efforts carried out under the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNPG) at the meeting, according to the Defence Ministry. The Georgian Major General also expressed Georgia's continuous willingness to join in NATO training exercises and missions, according to the report.

Georgian Defence Forces Chief attends meeting of EU Military Committee

On a visit to Brussels, Georgian Defence Forces Chief Major General Giorgi Matiashvili joined the European Union Military Committee meeting, which was organised for EU Chiefs of Defence (CHODs). Apart from Georgia, representatives from North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova met with EU Defence Chiefs.

The implications of the war in Ukraine, Strategic Compass, and CSDP Military Missions and Operations were considered by EU Chiefs of Defence.

According to a news statement released by the Council of the EU, the EU CHODs and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee addressed ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation with NATO and the UN.

Major General Matiashvili also met with Eduard Ohladciuc, Chief of Moldova's National Army General Staff, according to Georgia's Defence Ministry.

Georgian Dream lawmaker calls Sweden's former Prime Minister “criminal”

Ruling Former Swedish Prime Minister and former top diplomat Carl Bildt was referred to as "a criminal" by Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua. The lawmaker's harsh words were in response to international condemnation of Georgian authorities for imprisoning Nika Gvaramia, the head of the government critical Mtavari Arkhi TV programme.

However, it was unclear why MP Zarkua chose to single out Carl Bildt, who is currently working as co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank and has made no comments about Gvaramia's detention.

Bildt, according to the Georgian Dream MP, "lobbied for the interests of criminal Saakashvili for years."

In 2014, as Foreign Minister, Bildt condemned the Georgian Dream government of "deviating from European course in utilising court system for revenge" by charging Saakashvili. Then Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze reacted, stating, "[t]o some extent, there is also a burden on the judiciary and on the entire process."

Carl Bildt was Sweden's Prime Minister from 1991 to 1994 and its top diplomat from 2006 to 2014. Sweden, together with Poland, spearheaded efforts to launch the European Union's Eastern Partnership platform with six eastern countries, including Georgia, during his stint as Foreign Minister.