Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Lawmakers Visit U.S. to Restore Strategic Partnership
A delegation of Georgian MPs is visiting Washington to attend the Alliance of Sovereign Nations summit on March 4-5. The group includes Georgian Dream's Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Mariam Lashkhi, Chair of the Education and Science Committee, Lika Shartava, and Eka Sepashvili of the People's Power party. This visit follows the U.S. suspension of the strategic partnership in late 2024 and sanctions against Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
On March 3, the MPs and Georgian Ambassador Tamar Taliashvili met with Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Discussions centered on the "restoration of the strategic partnership". Samkharadze stated that Georgia is committed to starting a "new chapter in developing even deeper and mutually beneficial relations."
Samkharadze also met with Brendan Hanrahan, the State Department's Senior Bureau Official for European and Eurasian Affairs. They discussed the 'alignment of values' between the Georgian government and the U.S. administration. Samkharadze noted that they identified "several areas that will strengthen our renewed cooperation."
The meetings addressed the Trump Route transit project and the Middle Corridor. Samkharadze characterized the new route as "not an alternative to the Middle Corridor and Georgia's route, but rather a complementary factor." Writing on X, Samkharadze called the talks a 'great exchange' regarding "threats stemming from occupation of Georgian territories by Russia" and "security challenges in the wider Black Sea region."
Volski Criticizes Opposition Alliance, Calls its Goals 'Dark'
First Vice Speaker of Georgian Dream-led Parliament, Gia Volski, sharply criticized the unification of part of the opposition, saying the group is staging what he described as a political performance with destructive aims.
"They have formed some kind of internal theater and want to have as many viewers as possible," Volski said, adding that the alliance's goal is "very grave and dark."
According to Volski, the opposition's plan is aimed at harming the country rather than offering genuine political alternatives. He said the same figures linked to the United National Movement and former president Mikheil Saakashvili remain at the core of the alliance.
"The goal is the destruction of the country," Volski said.
His comments followed the announcement by several opposition parties that they had formed an Opposition Alliance. The agreement was signed by the Coalition for Change, United National Movement, Strategy Builder, Federalists, National Democratic Party, European Georgia and Freedom Square.
The alliance says it aims to remove what it calls the autocratic rule of Bidzina Ivanishvili, restore Georgia's Euro Atlantic course and secure democratic governance. It has pledged to continue joint action "until the release of political prisoners and victory in free, fair elections."
