Deputy Regional Development Minister, local authorities meet locals affected by landslide in Kursebi village

Crude oil prices are rising rapidly. The USA is rapidly using up its air defence missiles. Trump exchanges views with Putin on the Iran war and Russia's war of aggression: The Kremlin could hardly have wished for a better scenario. An analysis. The meeting in the Kremlin with the heads of Russian oil and gas companies on Monday this week gave Vladimir Putin cause for satisfaction: "In the current conditions, competition between customers for energy suppliers is intensifying in order to ensure a stable and predictable supply of oil and gas," he said. And with a "large dose of schadenfreude", as the Wall Street Journal smugly put it, Putin reminded "not only my colleague in this room, but all our consumers in general" that stability is "exactly what Russian energy companies have always been known for."A fortnight ago, the Kremlin leader's chances of being able to continue to finance his devastating war of aggression against Ukraine looked bleak. Now Putin can breathe a sigh of relief. Until now, the rising price collapse on the crude oil markets and the immense government spending on the war against Kiev had led to expectations of average economic growth of one per cent or less for 2026 and the coming years. After the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, the exploding prices for crude oil and natural gas "have given the Russian economy a new boost - at least temporarily," analyses the Wall Street Journal. Current information on the USA-Iran war in the tickerIn German Russia significantly improves its revenues The contrast could not be clearer: Last year, Russia was able to sell its crude oil for an average of USD 50 per barrel. In order to stabilise the Russian state budget, the Kremlin needs a selling price of USD 59. At the beginning of this week, the price of crude oil shot up to 120 dollars. Now (as of 12:00 noon on Wednesday), the price of a barrel of Brent Crude Oil is just under 90 dollars. The consequences for Russia's warfare are obvious: "The recent rise in global oil prices is providing a much-needed boost to the Russian government's revenues," writes one of the most knowledgeable foreign correspondents in Moscow, Steve Rosenberg of the BBC. The price jumps would help Russia "to continue financing its war against Ukraine."The longer crude oil prices remained high, the more the Kremlin's war chest will fill up again, he said. Elina Ribakova, Director of the International Programme at the Kyiv School of Economics, fears that this would give Putin the financial means to open up new fronts in the Ukraine war or intensify the hybrid warfare against the West. She is worried that "if this were to continue for six months, Russia would become even more keen to do so", as she told the Wall Street Journal. If US President Trump fulfils his announcement and relaxes the sanctions against Russia, he would be supporting Putin's war against Ukraine and causing massive damage to Kiev and the Europeans. Russia supports Iran in the war The reports did not all cause a stir in the USA: Russia was passing on its satellite reconnaissance on the locations of US forces in the Middle East to Iran. This would enable Tehran to target its missile attacks on US facilities. Several major US media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, unanimously reported this a few days ago, citing US government circles. Since the start of the war, Russia has been supplying the Iranian leadership with the locations of American warships, fighter planes and other US military resources.Russia has denied having passed on intelligence information to Tehran in order to attack American targets in the region, Trump's chief negotiator Steve Witkoff said yesterday on the US television channel CNBC. Trump had spoken to Putin on the phone the day before, Witkoff explained. "The Russians have said that they did not do this (pass on satellite reconnaissance to Tehran)." And Steve Witkoff, a confidant of US President Trump, added verbatim: "We can take them at their word. But they said that." On Monday morning, "Jared (Kushner, Trump's son-in-law) and I had an independent phone call with Ushakov (the Kremlin's foreign policy adviser), who repeated the same thing." Democratic US senator: Iran war helps Putin The longer the war against Iran continues, the greater the risk for Ukraine, the West and the USA. In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, Democratic US Senator Jeanne Shaheen clearly points out the consequences of Trump's and Netanyahu's war of aggression for Ukraine: The war provides Putin with a financial lifeline at a time when his economy is faltering.Oil and gas have accounted for around 30 to 50 per cent of the Russian state budget over the past ten years, writes the US senator. In addition, important military resources that could be used for the defence campaign in Ukraine are now being used up in the Iran war. In particular, the Patriot and THAAD air defence systems and the corresponding interceptor missiles are needed in Ukraine and are no longer available.But the Trump administration is going in the opposite direction, Jeanne Shaheen summarises. "The government is easing sanctions and continuing negotiations with Russia as if Putin didn't already have American blood on his hands."

“This is a complete delusion. I think you all understand why all this started and what is behind it,” Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi, assessed the report prepared on Georgia within the framework of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism.Responding to journalists’ questions, Kaladze said the Georgian government would independently decide which laws are necessary for the country. “We are being asked to repeal the law on family values and the protection of minors, the transparency law, and other legislation, and to act not in the interests of the country but according to their wishes. The Georgian government will do everything that our homeland and the Georgian people need,” Kaladze said. He added that the period when decisions were made under external instructions had ended. According to him, the government elected by the majority of citizens will determine which laws are acceptable within the country. “The Georgian government, elected by the majority of our population, will decide what laws are needed in the country, not someone outside making decisions,” he added. Asked whose interests the report serves, Kaladze said the authorities understand the broader geopolitical processes. “We see what is happening in the world. External actors want countries such as Georgia and Ukraine to be used for their own interests. We have repeatedly said that we will not allow decisions that harm our country, our economy and the Georgian people,” Kaladze said. He also welcomed the fact that several countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Spain, the United States and France, did not support the document. “Our action plan is simple: all decisions of the Georgian government, whether it is the adoption of laws or new legislative initiatives, are made based on the interests of the country. Considering the global situation and the threats the world faces, every country acts according to its own interests. We will not allow anyone to use our country for their own political goals,” Kaladze said. For reference, the OSCE has published a report on Georgia prepared under the Moscow Mechanism, which reviews developments in the country since spring 2024 regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms and includes a set of recommendations.

“The special report of the OSCE ‘Moscow Mechanism’ finally puts an end to the attempts of Ivanishvili and his ugly puppets to make a pretty face in front of the West,” the former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, wrote on a social network.In a post on social media, Saakashvili wrote that after the use of the Moscow Mechanism, regimes such as those in Russia and Belarus were previously “diagnosed.”“After using this mechanism, the Russian and Belarusian regimes were diagnosed. In principle, this most radical mechanism of the OSCE has never been used against anyone else.In short, the democratic world is consolidating from the outside, and the opposition from the inside. Black clouds are gathering over the dictator.To those who ask, ‘Another document has been adopted — what next?’ I will answer that nothing will happen unless each of you acts. Act, and you will be helped,” Saakashvili wrote.For reference, the OSCE has published a report on Georgia prepared under the Moscow Mechanism, which reviews developments in the country since spring 2024 regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms and includes a set of recommendations.

“We are talking about the fact that since 2022 the ‘Deep State’ has been fighting to illegally change the government in Georgia, take away sovereignty and then do whatever it wanted, whether it was to start a war or something else,” the leader of People’s Power, Guram Macharashvili, stated.According to him, officials in the United States, including the president, have confirmed that pressure was exerted on Georgia.Macharashvili also commented on the report prepared under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. He said the recommendations call on Georgia to repeal certain laws and change its policies.“They are telling us that sovereignty has been handed over to them and that they know better how Georgia should be governed. They are saying this about a three-thousand-year-old country. In the twentieth century sovereignty was taken away by force, and now they are telling us to give it back willingly,” Macharashvili stated.When asked how the government would respond if Georgia were taken to the International Court of Justice based on the Moscow Mechanism report, Macharashvili said that those who wish to do so can file a lawsuit wherever they choose.“We remember many decisions made by the Hague Court, including those regarding the Russian Federation. For me, international organizations are respectable if they respect state institutions. We have also won cases against Russia in both The Hague and Strasbourg,” he said.Macharashvili added that, in his view, threats and pressure against Georgia would not be effective and that “the truth is on our side, and the truth always wins.”For reference, the OSCE has published a report on Georgia prepared under the Moscow Mechanism, which reviews developments in the country since spring 2024 regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms and includes a set of recommendations.

Twenty-four participating states of the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) have issued a joint statement calling on Georgia to fully implement the recommendations contained in the OSCE report prepared under the Moscow Mechanism.The joint statement was released by the government of the United Kingdom.“We thank Professor Patrycja Grzebyk, Sole Rapporteur under the Moscow Mechanism, for her rigorous, independent and professional work, and for the comprehensive report presented to participating States today. The report provides a detailed and credible assessment of developments in Georgia since spring 2024 and offers clear recommendations addressed to the Georgian authorities, to participating States, and to the wider international community.At the same time, we welcome the decision of the Georgian authorities to facilitate a country visit by the Rapporteur and to organise high-level meetings with government institutions. We encourage the Georgian authorities to continue this engagement and to view the Rapporteur’s findings as a basis for constructive dialogue and reform.We also wish to express our deep appreciation to members of Georgian civil society, journalists, human rights defenders and other interlocutors who engaged with the Rapporteur. Their willingness to provide testimony and documentation was essential to the integrity and depth of this report. Their contribution underscores the vital role of civil society in any democratic society and the importance of ensuring an environment in which they can operate freely and safely.Mr Chair,The Rapporteur’s central finding is unambiguous. As the report states: “In the period covered by the mandate, a marked democratic backsliding has taken place in Georgia.” The report identifies a pattern of violence and other abuses against protesters, political opponents and journalists, combined with what the Rapporteur describes as “almost complete impunity of perpetrators.” It further finds that, in some cases, the treatment of detainees “has arguably reached the threshold of torture” and that investigations into allegations of ill-treatment have been ineffective.Of particular concern is the conclusion that legislative changes have systematically restricted human rights and fundamental freedoms. The report finds that laws targeting so‑called “foreign influence”, alongside amendments affecting the media, assemblies, and political participation, have unduly limited freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and have had a chilling effect on civil society and independent media.The Rapporteur further warns that: “The ongoing attempt to ban the main opposition parties threatens the existence of political pluralism.” Taken together, these developments undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law to which Georgia has committed as an OSCE participating State.The Rapporteur notes that she assessed these developments while taking account of Georgia’s broader security context, which includes the ongoing Russian military presence in Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.Mr Chair,We urge Georgia to address democratic backsliding and implement in full the Moscow Mechanism recommendations. Today, we wish to highlight the following steps in particular:First, the Georgian authorities should ensure that law enforcement acts in line with international standards, and conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of torture and ill‑treatment, holding those responsible to account.Second, Georgia should repeal or fundamentally revise legislation that is incompatible with its international human rights obligations and commitments, including laws on transparency of foreign influence, foreign agents registration, and related amendments affecting grants, broadcasting and political participation. As the Rapporteur notes, these laws are not capable of being brought into compliance through minor amendments alone. In doing so, we encourage the Georgian authorities to reestablish their cooperation with ODIHR and the Venice Commission and implement their recommendations in full.Third, the authorities should refrain from arbitrary detention and prosecution of political opponents, journalists and other participants of public debate, withdraw arbitrarily brought charges, and release all persons detained for political reasons.Fourth, Georgia should halt efforts to ban opposition parties, withdraw pending applications in this regard, and ensure that political pluralism is fully respected.Finally, the report underscores the need to restore trust in the judiciary by strengthening judicial independence, ensuring fair trial guarantees, and reforming institutions such as the High Council of Justice in line with long‑standing OSCE and Venice Commission recommendations.Mr Chair,The Moscow Mechanism exists to support participating States in upholding their shared commitments in the human dimension. We, as invoking States, stand ready to support meaningful follow‑up, including through continued discussion in the Permanent Council and engagement with Georgian authorities and civil society as well as by seriously considering the Report’s recommendations to the OSCE Participating States and to the International Community,” the statement reads.The signatories are: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom and Poland.