Defending Democracy: Georgian Civil Society Voices at the Riga Conference
Defending Democracy: Georgian Civil Society Voices at the Riga Conference Read More »
Tinatin Khidasheli, Chairperson of Civic IDEA, participated in the panel discussion “Defending Democracy in Georgia: Civil Society Voices and Western Solidarity” held within the framework of the Riga Conference 2025.
The discussion brought together key representatives from Georgia’s media, non-governmental sector, and academia to examine the ongoing challenges facing the country’s democratic institutions and the growing pressure on independent voices.
In her remarks, Tinatin Khidasheli addressed the mounting repressions against civil society organizations, the introduction of repressive legislation, and the broader struggle to preserve democratic space in Georgia. She emphasized the crucial role of civic resilience and international solidarity in resisting authoritarian consolidation and safeguarding democratic values.
The panel highlighted that while democratic institutions in Georgia are under unprecedented strain, civil society continues to stand as a vital line of defense—upholding freedom, transparency, and the principles of democracy with the support of international partners.
Defending Democracy: Georgian Civil Society Voices at the Riga Conference Read More »
China’s Ministry of Transport has announced that vessels owned or registered by U.S. companies, organizations, and individuals will be subject to additional port fees starting October 14. The measure, approved by the State Council, is widely seen as a geopolitical counterreaction to trade policies pursued by the Trump administration.
The decision comes shortly after the United States imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods — a move that Beijing has condemned as unfair economic pressure. Washington’s step is closely tied to China’s export control measures aimed at limiting the sale of strategic materials, such as rare metals and minerals, essential for high-tech industries. Western analysts have described China’s restrictions as an attempt to disrupt U.S. supply chains that heavily depend on Chinese raw materials.
In this context, China’s plan to gradually raise port fees between 2025 and 2028 — from 400 to 1,120 yuan per ton — reflects Beijing’s long-term strategy. On one hand, it mirrors U.S. tariffs with a symmetrical response; on the other, it preserves policy flexibility, allowing the government to adjust both the rate and scope of the fees as needed.
The administrative framework of the new fee is also notable. The charge will increase with each ship’s first annual entry and will apply no more than five times per year — a structure designed to limit disruptions in international shipping and avoid destabilizing global trade networks.
China’s Ministry of Transport added that the country will continue to take reciprocal actions within the framework of law, a diplomatically phrased warning that signals Beijing’s readiness for further economic countermeasures if necessary.
According to the analytical firm Linerlytica, Chinese shipping operators active in the U.S. market could face around $1.15 billion in fees in the first year alone, compared to just $180 million for U.S. companies — highlighting the asymmetry in tariff impacts that China aims to offset with proportional measures.
Meanwhile, the China Shipowners’ Association has urged the government to adopt tougher steps, including imposing additional charges on foreign vessels and implementing targeted counterreactions if required.
Data from Alphaliner shows that by 2026, U.S. tariffs will cost the world’s leading shipping companies roughly $3.2 billion, with China’s state-owned COSCO Group expected to be among the hardest hit due to its extensive fleet operating between China and the United States.
The issue is expected to be a key topic during the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month. Experts predict that the escalating port fee dispute will mark a new phase in trade relations, where economic measures increasingly evolve into geopolitical instruments.
China Introduces New Port Fees on U.S Read More »
The armed forces of China and Malaysia will resume the series of joint exercises from the middle of October 2025. According to the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, the program, named “Peace and Friendship-2025”, will be held in Malaysia and its adjacent waters.
Within the framework of this project, the history of military cooperation between China and Malaysia began in 2014. The exercises were primarily focused on joint search and rescue and humanitarian aid.
In 2018, the 4th “Peace and Friendship” initiative was conducted in an expanded format, where, in addition to China and Malaysia, Thailand was also involved in the training. In 2023, the program expanded even further, as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam also participated in the joint exercises.
The exercises are usually focused on non-warfare operations (Military Operations Other Than War – MOOTW), for example, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and counter-terrorism.
It is important that other ASEAN member states will also be invited as observers to the announced 6th “Peace and Friendship” initiative.
The initiative aims to strengthen practical cooperation between the militaries of China and Southeast Asian nations, improve their ability to jointly respond to non-traditional security threats, and maintain regional peace and stability.
China and Malaysia to hold “Peace and Friendship-2025” joint exercise Read More »
China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang will travel to North Korea this week to attend celebrations held for North Korea’s ruling party’s 80th anniversary this Friday. The high-level visit will last from October 9 to 11. The anniversary will include a massive military parade in Pyongyang, demonstrating North Korea’s military might. The Russian former president Dmitri Medvedev is expected to attend the celebrations on behalf of Russia.
Li Qiang’s visit represents the highest-level Chinese trip to North Korea since 2019. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a Beijing military parade recently this September alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin. Since taking office in 2011, this was the first time Kim participated in an event with such a large gathering of world leaders and politicians.
During this summit, China and North Korea pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation. China for years have been North Korea’s biggest trading partner and continues to be. North Korea, for its part, expressed its willingness to strengthen ties with China and “in multilateral affairs, jointly resist unilateralism and power politics and promote a fairer and more just world order”. The emphasis on unilateralism here probably stems from heavy U.S sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program and the recent imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods.
Amid these developments and statements, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media, addressing China’s president directly, advising him with irony to give his warmest regards to Russian and North Korean leaders “as you conspire against The United States of America”. The upcoming gathering of Russian, North Korean, and Chinese leaders in North Korea will likely spark renewed tension and speculation about their joint cooperation against the U.S. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a letter congratulating Putin on his birthday, framed the alliance among Pyongyang, Moscow, and Beijing as a step forward toward a “just and multi-polarised world order”.
High-level Visit of China’s Prime Minister to North Korea Read More »
Over the decades, Zambia and China have developed strong economic relations. China has financed various infrastructure projects, including airports and railway systems. Chinese companies play a dominant role in Zambia’s copper and cobalt mining and processing sectors.
However, a lawsuit filed by 176 Zambian farmers against local subsidiaries of Chinese companies Sino-Metals Leach Zambia and NFC Africa Mining has triggered a diplomatic crisis. The farmers’ protest was provoked by an incident in February, when the collapse of a tailings dam caused acidic waste to spill into nearby rivers near the town of Kitwe, located about 285 kilometers north of the capital, Lusaka. The spill damaged farmland, and farmers described the event as an environmental disaster that violated their constitutional right to live in a safe and healthy environment. The toxic waste contaminated the soil and destroyed crops.
Supporters of the petition emphasized that the population was not promptly warned about the danger and had to live in an ecologically polluted environment for seven months. The farmers are therefore demanding $ 80 billion in compensation and an additional monthly payment of $ 336 for eco-migrants.
The environmental crisis has also drawn international attention. Dr. Iva Pesa, Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, stated that the farmers’ demand for 80 billion USD carries a symbolic meaning. According to her, the petitioners themselves likely knew that receiving such a large sum was unrealistic. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that their goal is to stop the operations of the Chinese companies’ subsidiaries.
For Zambians, it is more acceptable and easier to confront small Chinese firms and file lawsuits against them than to go after major local mining giants such as ZCCM or Mopani, which appear to provide broader economic benefits to local communities primarily through employment opportunities. According to Pesa, the farmers’ lawsuit was less motivated by environmental activism and more by a desire to share in the economic benefits:
Chinese companies earn enormous profits. Naturally, part of this economic benefit should be distributed to the local communities whose living areas have been devastated by toxic substances.” – Iva Pesa.
Meanwhile, the Zambian government has attempted to downplay the environmental impact of the incident. In August, Minister Cornelius Mweetwa stated that there was no need to declare a state of emergency. The government and Sino-Metals claimed that the pH level in the affected area had returned to normal and that compensation of 14 million kwacha had already been provided to residents. However, the government’s active lobbying in favor of Sino-Metals may ultimately lead to widespread electoral absenteeism. This incident could mark the beginning of the end for state-level relations between Zambia’s political and economic elites and China.
This is the first time a major mining company in Zambia has been accused of environmental destruction. The Zambian farmers’ protest has caused a significant diplomatic rift. Although the U.S. Embassy has also described the incident as an ecological disaster, China’s Foreign Minister denied any connection between the catastrophe and the Chinese subsidiaries or their management, claiming that they were actively cooperating with the Zambian authorities.
Zambian farmers sue Chinese mining companies for ecological disaster Read More »
Civic IDEA is pleased to announce the release of our new publication, “From Schools to State: China’s Quiet Takeover – Illusions of Partnership, Risks of Dependence.”
This report provides a concise overview of the key trends shaping Sino–Georgian relations, with particular attention to the implications of the Georgia–China Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2023.
Drawing on Civic IDEA’s extensive research, the publication explores the complex dimensions of Chinese engagement in Georgia — including opaque business dealings between Georgian Dream–affiliated businessmen and Chinese companies, the growing risks associated with Chinese-made technologies, and the expanding influence of China in Georgia’s educational and cultural spheres.
We invite you to read and share this important study, which sheds light on the increasingly precarious nature of Georgia’s engagement with China and the potential risks it poses to national sovereignty and democratic resilience.
Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli has been awarded the Forum 2000 International Prize “Courage and Responsibility”!
✨ We are especially proud that Mzia was nominated for this prestigious award by Civic IDEA.
In 2025, the award goes to the Georgian resistance movement against authoritarianism and one of its key symbols – Mzia Amaghlobeli.
“Mzia Amaghlobeli has long been fighting against authoritarianism, censorship, and political blackmail. She has become a symbol of commitment to truth, justice, and human dignity,” – said Jakub Klepal, Executive Director of Forum 2000.
The “Courage and Responsibility” Prize, established in 2021, is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional civic courage in defending democracy and supporting human rights.
The award ceremony will take place at the Forum 2000 Conference in Prague, attended by hundreds of guests from around the world.
Civic IDEA stands firm in the face of politically motivated attacks. Forum 2000 and ICDR have issued a statement condemning the pressure on our organization and its Chair, Tinatin Khidasheli.
“Tinatin Khidasheli, Chair of Civic IDEA and a Georgian member of the International Coalition for Democratic Renewal (ICDR), is facing increasing domestic pressure for her international advocacy in support of a democratic Georgia. On September 10, Ms. Khidasheli testified in front of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, warning against Georgia’s drift towards authoritarianism and advocated for more targeted U.S. aid to support its civil society, for deeper security cooperation between the two states, and for accountability and sanctions against corrupt officials (particularly in relation to the Middle Corridor). The following day, on the order of its Director–Razhden Kuprashvili–the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Georgia launched an investigation into Civic IDEA with regards to the “Law of Georgia on Grants,” demanding exhaustive information about all received support, project files, and narrative and financial reports. Ms. Khidasheli is simultaneously subject to a smear campaign by the Georgian Dream government, accused of being a U.S. or Taiwanese agent and spy. Forum 2000 and the ICDR strongly condemn such conduct against one of its members and stand in full solidarity with Ms. Khidasheli and Civic IDEA, as well as other Georgian CSOs subject to similar disproportionate and politically motivated pressure.”
Forum 2000 and ICDR Condemn Political Pressure Against Tinatin Khidasheli and Civic IDEA Read More »
On September 15, Tinatin Khidasheli, former Minister of Defence of Georgia and Head of Civic IDEA, delivered a lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School within the series “The World Stage: Global Connectivity.” Her lecture, “China, Iran and the South Caucasus,” focused on ongoing geopolitical processes in the region and the operations of authoritarian powers’ influence in Georgia and the South Caucasus.
The event was moderated by Oksana Trefanenko (Global Affairs Program) and Markus Vaher (REECA), and was hosted by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard.
The discussion once again highlighted Georgia’s role in global conversations.
Tinatin Khidasheli Speaks at Harvard Kennedy School Read More »
On September 10, the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe—better known as the Helsinki Commission—held a hearing on Georgia. Lawmakers and experts delivered sharp criticism of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s foreign and domestic policies.
The session, titled “From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-American Turn,” featured testimony from President Salome Zourabichvili, former Minister of Defense Tinatin Khidasheli, and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Luke Coffey.
We invite you to read the full speech of Civic IDEA Chairperson and former Defense Minister of Georgia, Tinatin Khidasheli:
Testimony of Tinatin Khidasheli
Former Minister of Defense of Georgia
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission)
Hearing: “From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-American Turn”
September 10, 2025
Chairman, Co-Chairman, distinguished Commissioners, and Members of the Commission,
Thank you for inviting me and for giving me the opportunity to represent the vision of the vast majority of my Georgian compatriots. My goal here today is
The concrete evidence, I bring here today, speaks not just about the Georgian government’s departure from a strategic partnership with the US, but speaks first and foremost about their departure from the will and strategic interests of the Georgian people.
This is a departure from the cause,
I also speak to you as former Minister of Defense, of a country that stood as U.S. partner for over two decades, fighting shoulder to shoulder in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Georgia was the largest non-NATO and second-largest contributor of troops in Afghanistan. We paid a heavy price, with the highest casualty rate and 435 wounded.
I appear before you today as a Georgian citizen alarmed that, since Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the regime in Tbilisi has waged a relentless campaign to dismantle every bond with the U.S., EU, and UK—denouncing these partnerships as a conspiracy of an ‘imaginary global war party’ and in doing so, striking at the very core of Georgia’s sovereignty and independence.
Let me begin with a simple truth:
For more than thirty years, the United States has stood by Georgia as a reliable partner, a supporter of our sovereignty, and a defender of our freedom.
I want to begin by acknowledging this legacy, although this legacy is under attack now.
there is no security plan for Georgia without the United States. Without U.S. assistance and commitment, Georgia’s statehood would not have been secured and would not have survived.
We hope this partnership can be preserved.
Georgia matters to the United States, Europe, and the international community for three fundamental reasons:
Georgia lies at the very heart of the Middle Corridor — the modern Silk Road route linking East and West, North and South – connecting Europe with Central Asia, bypassing Russia and Iran. We may be small in size, but our competitive advantage has been our role as a gateway and a connector.
This is not only a trade route. It is what I call the “corridor of freedom.” When goods, energy, data, and people fly through Georgia, they fly through a country that has chosen democracy and freedom. Unlike its northern alternative, it is a route where there is no political blackmail; it is both practical and politically reliable for the United States and its allies. Ironically, today when Russia’s weaknesses were exposed in Ukraine (demonstrated everywhere from Syria to Karabakh), it still manages to tighten its grip on Georgia, specifically to close off that corridor of freedom.
For the United States, the Middle Corridor’s offer is invaluable: resilience in the face of authoritarian strongholds, given the fundamentalist threat from Iran, the authoritarian menace of Russia, seeking to weaponize its geography and China cementing BRI, the Middle Corridor provides the democratic alternative.
Georgia is its anchor. Without Georgia, there is no free corridor – lose it, and the door opens to Russia, China and Iran.
(Show Iran Report:) Here is our latest publication “-” that documents how a once US’s strategic partner can change alliances, become problematic in avoiding sanctions, and disrespecting partnerships.
The Present Danger: Why Georgia Is Under Threat Today
A free, democratic, Western-oriented Georgia is unacceptable to Moscow, Tehran and increasingly problematic for Beijing. And unfortunately, today’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has chosen a path that serves those authoritarian interests rather than resisting them. They undermined institutions, manipulated elections, and criminalized dissent. They have arrested opposition leaders, used violence against peaceful protestors, and refused to respect the will of the Georgian people expressed at the ballot box.
GD has deepened ties with authoritarian powers. They court Chinese companies while blocking U.S. businesses from opportunities in the Middle Corridor.
(Show report on Anaklya and case) Anaklya case is the best prove of it. Georgian-American consortia kicked out and promised Chinese investor. We wrote a lot about, collected al the evidence and can provide it all.
Make no mistake, the Chinese are not even investing in Georgia.
Instead, they win procurement bids one after another under favorable conditions and reap benefits from Georgia. Here we have been investigating, researching and writing about those dirty deals over the years, company after another. While U.S. companies have invested billions in the Georgian economy and provided over $4 billion in aid for our security and institutions, the Chinese are exploiting the corrupt and kleptocratic nature of the GD government and gaining more and more.
They secured over 4.5 billion, and this represents only a small portion of contracts (8 infrastructure projects out of many) they have received. Let me stress this point once again, so as not to be misunderstood, there is no significant FDI from China in Georgia. It is all your money — IFI money, American, European, or Georgian taxpayers’ money.
The consequences are grave. Georgia drifting into authoritarianism does not only threaten its own people. It directly undermines U.S. interests in the region:
This is not simply Georgia’s internal problem.
It is a strategic setback for the entire transatlantic community.
Our competitive advantage was never oil or gas. It was a democratic Georgia, — European, free and ready to stand side by side with the United States and European allies. It has threatened Moscow’s imperial project and ambitions.
If Georgia can succeed, then Russians may ask: why not us? If Georgians can live under the rule of law, then Belarusians may wonder: why not us? Georgia’s transformation was infectious. And for Russia, China, Iran and for every authoritarian power, this was deeply dangerous. And that is precisely why Russia, and now increasingly China, have a vested interest in undermining our sovereignty, corrupting our institutions, and dragging us back into the orbit of authoritarianism.
If Georgia fails on its democratic path it sets a dangerous example for the whole region.
But here is the good news: the Georgian people have not given up.
Despite repression, despite propaganda, despite the ruling party’s betrayal of our democratic aspirations, Georgians remain overwhelmingly pro-Western. Poll after poll shows support for EU and NATO membership at historic highs. The people continue to believe in freedom. And they continue to believe in the United States. This distinction matters. Because when we speak of Georgia today, we must not confuse the government with the nation. Georgians continue to wave American and EU flags at protests. They continue to demand that Georgia belongs to Europe and to the democratic world.
Georgia has always relied on U.S. support, and in these difficult times, we need it more than ever. We need you to stand by us while we talk to our friends or our enemies. At the heart of these conversations are the questions of EU membership, NATO membership, and the reality of Russian occupation.
For nearly 300 days now, Georgians have been protesting in the streets — in the rain, in the cold, facing batons, tear gas, and prison cells. These are not symbolic gestures; they are sacrifices. Activists, journalists, artists, teachers, risk everything because they refuse to accept a stolen future.
We fight everyday and we need all the support:
sanctions, diplomatic measures targeting political elite of the Georgian Dream, the enablers of the regime, the Russian-style propaganda machine, and the ideologists of a Putin-driven policy.
This brings me to the role of the United States. The U.S. has always been, and must remain, the indispensable ally for Georgia’s democracy. At this critical juncture, I would urge this Commission and the U.S. Congress to consider the following:
Georgia’s story is not finished.
We have stumbled, but we have not fallen. The Georgian people remain committed to the values that made us a partner of the United States. We are at a moment of profound danger, yes.. If left to drift, Georgia may indeed slide deeper into authoritarianism and away from the West. But with U.S. support — steadfast, bipartisan, principled — Georgia can still reclaim its role as a beacon of democracy, stability and business opportunity in the Black Sea region.
Let me conclude by saying that Georgia still matters. It matters for America’s security, Europe’s stability, and the global contest between democracy and authoritarianism.
This is not only about Georgia. It is about the credibility of democracy in a contested world. It is about whether the United States and its allies can still shape the global order in a way that resists authoritarian expansion. It is about whether freedom corridor will be held by those who believe in liberty, or by those who would use it to divide and control.
Back in 2008, we were telling to the whole world that it is not about Georgia, it is about not allowing an aggressor swallow a small neighbor (which would be an irreparable blow to the rules based international order). And here, we have an evidence, how 2008 invasion of Georgia led to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and eventually to the full scale invasion of Ukraine. Now is the continuation of that episode by other means. Russia is trying to finish the business it started back in 2008 by exporting its authoritarian political system.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Members: Georgia has always aspired to be America’s partner, never its problem. Make no mistake: there is no Friendly Georgia without it being a democratic, European state. Authoritarian Georgia with a despotic regime in Tbilisi is a suitable partner only for Iran, Russia and China.
For us, Georgians, America first means Georgia first. That‘s because the United States was the brightest guiding light throughout our journey from communism to the free world. For Georgians, a strong America always meant a strong strategic partner in making freedom, democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, prosperity, and security first on Georgian soil as well.
These temporary setbacks under an authoritarian government cannot erase the lasting truth: a democratic Georgia makes America stronger. Thank you for your attention, support, and unwavering commitment to Georgia’s future
Helsinki Commission Holds Hearing on Georgia’s Democratic Backsliding Read More »