Prepared by Messenger Staff
Kobakhidze Visits Kyrgyzstan, Signs Cooperation Agreements
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze visited Kyrgyzstan on June 11-12, describing the trip as the first top-level visit between the two countries.
Kobakhidze traveled to Bishkek with a delegation that included Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, Agriculture Minister Levan Songulashvili and Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani.
During the visit, Kobakhidze met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, with the two sides signing a joint statement on bilateral cooperation and several agreements in various sectors. They also held a session of the Georgia-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation focused on expanding trade and economic ties.
Speaking after the meeting, Kobakhidze said the visit would give new momentum to relations between the two countries. He thanked Kyrgyzstan for supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and said Tbilisi is interested in expanding cooperation in politics, trade, culture and education.
Japarov described the visit as the beginning of a "new chapter" in bilateral relations and expressed support for deeper cooperation in economic, infrastructure and international affairs.
Both leaders highlighted the strategic importance of transport and logistics projects, including the Middle Corridor. Kobakhidze said Georgia is investing heavily in its transit infrastructure and voiced support for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Japarov also stressed the potential for linking the railway to Georgia's port infrastructure.
On June 11, Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili met her Kyrgyz counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubaev. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the talks focused on bilateral cooperation, transport and logistics, regional issues, and the importance of maintaining high-level dialogue between the two countries.
Zourabichvili Calls for National Unity Against Georgian Dream
Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, has called for a united front against the ruling Georgian Dream party, arguing that the government is showing signs of weakening and that opposition forces must unite to achieve political change.
In a social media post, Zourabichvili said authoritarian regimes rely on violence and corruption to maintain power, but begin to unravel when they can no longer protect those responsible for sustaining the system.
Drawing parallels with the collapse of the United National Movement's rule following the 2012 prison abuse scandal, she argued that Georgian Dream is now facing a similar loss of trust within its own ranks.
Zourabichvili claimed that fear is spreading among government officials, business circles, and law enforcement personnel, pointing to recent developments involving several prominent figures as evidence of growing instability.
"The time has come to form a united front, which is the only way to defeat such a regime," she wrote. "This inevitable struggle can no longer wait for the unattainable unification of political parties. It is time for national unity."
According to Zourabichvili, the weakening of the government's foundations and growing uncertainty within Georgian Dream suggest the ruling party is entering a period of decline.
