Prepared by Messenger Staff
U.S. Intelligence Warns of Increased Russian Influence in Georgia, PM Kobakhidze Calls Report 'Nonsense'
The United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has raised concerns about growing Russian influence in Georgia in its recently released 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment. The unclassified report states that "Russia almost certainly aims to return Georgia to its sphere of influence," adding that the political environment created by the Georgian Dream-led government since the October 2024 parliamentary elections has "enabled Russia to increase its influence in the country."
According to the DIA, Georgia remains a strategic target for Moscow, and developments in recent months have strengthened conditions favorable to Kremlin interests.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the assessment entirely. "This is total nonsense!" he told journalists. "What increased influence are we talking about? We have taken more steps to strengthen Georgia's sovereignty than ever before."
Kobakhidze went on to criticize the credibility of the report, claiming it was driven by internal U.S. political agendas. "The fact that such nonsense ends up in such important documents is precisely indicative of the 'deep state' influence. These kinds of assessments do not reflect reality but rather geopolitical manipulation," he said.
Kobakhidze insisted that Georgia's foreign policy remains balanced and independent, rejecting allegations of a shift toward Moscow. "Our government has never and will never align itself with any foreign interest that undermines Georgia's independence or its Euro-Atlantic aspirations," Kobakhidze added.
Georgian Citizen Freed from Detention by Russian Occupation Forces
Giorgi Bolotashvili, a Georgian citizen who had been held by Russian occupation forces, has been released and is now back in territory controlled by Tbilisi, the State Security Service of Georgia confirmed on May 27.
He was detained near the village of Khurvaleti in Gori Municipality, near the administrative boundary line with the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region. On May 20, Georgian officials reported that three citizens had been illegally detained in the area, including Bolotashvili. One was released shortly afterward, and one person is reportedly still being held.
According to the State Security Service, Bolotashvili's release was achieved with the help of the European Union Monitoring Mission's hotline and other tools available to the Georgian government.
Officials reiterated that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of all Georgian citizens detained in the occupied territories.
