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Tinatin Khidasheli Featured in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Article

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The Chairwoman of Civic IDEA, Tinatin Khidasheli, is featured in a recent article by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which examines China’s growing presence in the Black Sea region and its strategic interests in Georgia.

In the article, Ms. Khidasheli comments on the implications of Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects like the Anaklia deep-water port and highlights the potential risks to regional security and Georgia’s international partnerships.

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Zelensky says more than 150 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Newswire / /

On Wednesday, Ukraine expanded its earlier claims regarding Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in its ongoing invasion, stating that it has collected comprehensive intelligence on over 150 mercenaries allegedly recruited by Moscow through social media platforms. In response, Chinese authorities dismissed the allegations as “totally unfounded.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Tuesday that the country’s armed forces had captured two Chinese individuals fighting alongside Russian troops on Ukrainian territory. It marked the first official statement by Ukraine regarding Chinese fighters taking part in the war.

Zelensky also indicated that Kyiv is open to negotiating a prisoner exchange, proposing to trade the two captured individuals for Ukrainian soldiers currently held by Russia.

Although he did not present concrete proof, Zelensky claimed that Chinese officials were aware of Russia’s efforts to enlist Chinese mercenaries. However, he stopped short of accusing the Chinese government of officially endorsing their involvement in the conflict.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine possesses the surnames and passport details of 155 Chinese nationals serving in the Russian military, adding that “we believe that there are many more of them.”

He reportedly shared documents with journalists that include names, passport information, and other personal details of the alleged Chinese fighters—such as their arrival dates in Russia for training and subsequent deployments. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the authenticity of these documents.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has offered consistent diplomatic backing to Moscow. According to Western officials, Beijing has also supplied Russia with machinery and microelectronics potentially used in weapon manufacturing, in addition to bolstering Russia’s economy through energy and consumer goods trade.

Zelensky said that U.S. officials reacted with “surprise” upon learning about the alleged presence of Chinese fighters in Ukraine.

During a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described the reports of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia as “disturbing.”

“China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine,” Bruce stated. She asserted that China supplies “nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war.”

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Beijing Intensifies Recruitment of Former U.S. Officials

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The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) has issued a formal warning that Chinese intelligence agencies are covertly attempting to recruit American citizens with access to sensitive government information.

According to the statement, Beijing is using increasingly sophisticated and deceptive methods to achieve its intelligence objectives. These recruitment efforts are often disguised as attractive career opportunities. The NCSC highlights that fake LinkedIn profiles and bogus invitations to conferences, or “advisory boards,” are commonly used to lure both former and current U.S. government employees—particularly during a time of mass layoffs and structural reforms within the federal workforce.

These developments come in the context of a major restructuring initiative led by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. The department’s push to streamline bureaucracy has resulted in a sudden influx of unemployed federal employees, many of whom possess experience in sensitive areas such as national security, defense procurement, and foreign policy—making them prime targets for foreign intelligence recruitment.

Earlier investigative reporting by Reuters uncovered a shadowy network of companies allegedly tied to a secretive Chinese technology conglomerate. These firms, operating through shell entities in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, have been linked to efforts aimed at contacting recently laid-off U.S. federal workers.

While the full extent of China’s recruitment campaign remains unclear, officials have described it as part of a broader push to expand Beijing’s human intelligence (HUMINT) operations within the United States. Authorities have observed a “sharp increase in recruitment efforts” originating from Chinese actors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) are actively conducting counterintelligence operations to detect and disrupt these threats. Historically, Chinese officials have denied all allegations of espionage and interference, dismissing them as “politically motivated” and a product of “anti-China hysteria.”

As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to simmer, the latest warning underscores the intensifying contest over intelligence and national security, on which the Chinese Embassy in Washington has not issued a comment on the latest claims.

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Russia’s Naval Expansion in the Black Sea

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The recent announcement of a Russian naval base in Ochamchire, Abkhazia has intensified concerns about regional security, economic stability, and Georgia’s sovereignty. While Russia claims this expansion is a strategic necessity following Ukrainian attacks on its Black Sea fleet, Georgia and its Western allies see it as a direct violation of international law and a further entrenchment of Russian influence in the South Caucasus and the Black Sea.

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Tariff War: Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs

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Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on China if it does not reverse last week’s decision to impose an additional 34% tariff on American goods by April 8. In total, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will increase by 104%.

As a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on April 7, this is bullying by the United States towards China, and threats and pressure are not the right way to deal with China. He called the tariffs „unilateral, economic bullying and protectionism“. At a press conference, he noted that the US tariffs in the name of reciprocity only serve its own interests at the expense of other countries.

“The abuse of tariffs by states deprives countries in the global south of their right to development,” Lin said, citing the widening gap between the rich and the poor in each country, especially in less developed countries.

Lin called on other states to stand together against unilateralism and protectionism, and to uphold the international and multilateral trading system in line with the values ​​of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

China refuses to bow to US “blackmail.” The commerce minister said that the US threat to escalate trade with China is a big mistake and, in addition, once again reveals the US’s blackmailing nature. “If the US does not change its course, China will continue to fight to the end,” Wang Wentao said.

In spite of this, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji assured American companies, including Tesla and GE Healthcare, that the country will always protect foreign-funded companies operating in China, including American companies.

“China has been, is, and will be an ‘ideal, safe and promising investment destination for foreign investors,’” Ling said at a meeting in Beijing on Sunday attended by more than 20 U.S.-funded companies. Ling said Beijing will not hold American companies accountable as President Trump escalates his tariff war with the rest of the world, including China.

At a meeting of the World Trade Organization on April 9, China plans to raise the United States’ retaliatory tariffs as a “new trade concern.” China has already filed a formal complaint with the Geneva-based watchdog.

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Georgian Dream’s New “Grant Law”, A.K.A Repression on Steroids!

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Welcome to Turkmenistan-on-the-Black-Sea. Yesterday (April 7), Georgian Dream introduced another chapter in its authoritarian playbook — a blitzkrieg-style amendment to the Law on Grants that makes so-called “Russian Law” look like amateur hour. If passed (and they’re fast-tracking it to do precisely that by next week), this law will give the government extensive power to decide who may & may not receive foreign grants — and to punish anyone who doesn’t toe the line with crushing financial and legal consequences.

In other words: civil society, media, watchdogs — you’re either silent, sanctioned, or seized.

Want to receive a grant — better ask the government first

Any organization or individual wanting to receive a foreign grant must submit their draft agreement to the Government of Georgia (or its chosen henchmen). The government then has 10 days to say “yes” or “no.” If they say no — tough luck. You can try to appeal, but the rejection takes effect immediately and won’t wait around for your court case.

Who is exempt — and who is clearly targeted

Grants for international sports, scholarships for studies/science outside Georgia, and grants received directly by international organizations in Georgia are exempt. Everyone else — CSOs, media, watchdogs, community groups — fall under strict scrutiny.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau becomes a surveillance agency in all but name

Under this bill, the Anti-Corruption Bureau — led by Razhden Kuprashvili — is granted sweeping new powers to investigate and punish so-called “prohibited grants.” Think less watchdog, more intelligence agency. Here’s what it can now do:

  • Demand financial documents from individuals or organizations, even if there’s just a vague suspicion of a problematic grant.
  • Summon private citizens for questioning, including formal interrogations before a magistrate judge.
  • Request highly sensitive personal data, including banking information and non-public communications — with court approval that must be processed in under 48 hours.
  • Record interrogations with audio and video, including remote questioning via electronic platforms. 
  • Fine individuals for giving “false” information, even under voluntary questioning, while claiming the interrogation is not coercive.

In short: under the pretext of anti-corruption, this Bureau can now act like a law enforcement agency, a financial regulator, and an intelligence service — all rolled into one, with minimal checks and lightning-fast timelines.

Seizing your bank account — fast and without delay

If the Bureau thinks you might not pay the fine, they can freeze your bank accounts or seize your assets on the spot. They’ll ask the court for confirmation — which must come within 48 hours — but their decision is already in effect. You can appeal once. It won’t help. The appeal won’t suspend the seizure, and the court’s word is final.

Penalties designed to punish, intimidate, and repeat

  • If you receive a “prohibited grant”: fined double the grant amount
  • If you “lie” during questioning: fined 2,000 GEL
  • Do it again? The fine doubles
  • Offenses can be punished up to 6 years later
  • During elections, courts are forced to rule on these cases within 5 days — again, with final decisions that can’t be appealed

Let’s not forget: just one day before launching this legislative assault, Georgian Dream’s Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, accused the UK government of “interfering” in Georgia’s internal affairs — all because they dared to fund voter education and election observation efforts. According to Papuashvili, a British grant program supporting free and fair elections was part of a grand conspiracy to “change governments and destabilize countries.” He even called the grant “corrupt,” claiming everyone already knows it’ll go to organizations like ISFED. That paranoid outburst wasn’t a coincidence — it was the prelude. The next day, the regime gave itself the legal tools to crush exactly these kinds of programs.

This is political warfare — and we are not leaving the field

This bill isn’t about transparency. It’s about the extermination of dissent. It’s about silencing media, paralyzing civil society, and building a Turkmen-style system in a country that claims to be “European.”

It’s about pushing international donors out of political life — a direct attack on democracy-supporting assistance, at a time when elections are approaching.
It’s about scaring people into inaction.
But here’s what it’s not going to do: erase us.
We will not disappear. We are not afraid.
We have stood firm in darker times, and we will stand firm now.
We will keep speaking, keep working, and keep building the kind of Georgia the Georgian Dream fears most — a democratic one.

As part of this effort, Civic IDEA remains committed to helping others understand what these recent amendments mean — and how they mirror the Russian-style “foreign agent” legislation. We are ready to offer and already offering legal aid, consultations, support, and guidance to anyone seeking clarity or action.

Georgian Dream’s New “Grant Law”, A.K.A Repression on Steroids! Read More »

Senator Shaheen expresses disappointment over Anaklia port

Newswire / /

American Senator, Jeanne Shaheen expressed disappointment over the decision to award the rights of the development of the Anaklia deep-sea port development project to a Chinese company. The information thereon was reported by an Azerbaijani-American journalist, Alex Raufoglu.

According to the statement, the Georgian side canceled a port contract with Western firms and, as recent reports indicate, Georgia is planning to award the project on the Black Sea to a Chinese company. Senator Shaheen also highlighted that she and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, James Risch, have worked very hard to try and move Georgia forward and find it disappointing that the Georgian side is letting this opportunity slip away.

Senator’s statement follows the statement of members of the Helsinki Commission, or the Commission on European Security and Cooperation, which also responds to the Anaklia port subject and underlines the dangers that will be created by the U.S.-sanctioned Chinese companies. Notably, even after such warnings, the Georgian Dream party continues the process of awarding the port project to a Chinese consortium and once again endangers the years-long partnership developed between the West and Georgia.

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Trump says China might get tariff break in exchange of TikTok deal

Newswire / /

On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he might consider a deal involving TikTok in which China agrees to approve the sale of the video-sharing app, owned by ByteDance, in return for relief from U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. 

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump pointed to TikTok as an example of how tariffs can serve as a negotiation tool with other countries.

“You have a situation with TikTok where China will probably say: ‘We’ll approve a deal, but will you do something on the tariffs?'” Trump said. “We could use tariffs in order to get something in return.” TikTok has until April 5 to secure a deal with a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the U.S.

Trump also noted that his administration is “very close” to finalizing a deal on TikTok, with several investors involved.

His comments came just one day after announcing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S., along with increased tariffs targeting some of the nation’s major trading partners. As a result, China is now subject to a 54% tariff rate on goods exported to the U.S. TikTok has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Following Trump’s announcement of the extensive new reciprocal tariffs—especially harsh on China and its key trading partners—China’s yuan dropped to its lowest level in seven weeks, and stock markets declined sharply on Thursday. Although investors had been anticipating the tariffs for the past week, the severity of Washington’s latest measures exceeded expectations.

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South Caucasus at a Crossroads – Tinatin Khidasheli’s Address in The Hague

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On 3 April, the international conference “The South Caucasus Again in Transition” was held in The Hague, Netherlands. Tinatin Khidasheli, Chairperson of the organization Civic IDEA, participated as a speaker on the panel titled “The South Caucasus: A Region in Transition.”

In her remarks, Ms. Khidasheli addressed the key challenges facing Georgia and the wider South Caucasus region, as well as the opportunities presented during this critical period of transition. She underscored the importance of preserving peace, advancing democratic reforms, and strengthening international cooperation as essential elements for ensuring regional stability and development.

The conference was organized by LINKS Europe Foundation, a Hague-based organization committed to promoting peace and security in Europe and its neighboring regions to the East and South, and to enhancing the European Union’s engagement with these regions.

South Caucasus at a Crossroads – Tinatin Khidasheli’s Address in The Hague Read More »

Helsinki Commission responds to Anaklia port case

New, Newswire / /

The members of the American Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, expressed concern over the fact that the Georgian Dream party has surrendered control of the Anaklia deep-sea port to a Chinese conglomerate, which is sanctioned by the U.S. and backed by the Chinese government.

According to the seven representatives of the commission, one of the parts of the conglomerate, China Communications Construction Company often uses infrastructure development projects to exploit and destabilise the countries and increase their dependence on China. Apart from this, the commission underlines the dangers of the growing Chinese presence in the Black Sea, which, according to them, jeopardizes the region’s safety and free trade. The statement also highlights that China grows its presence in the region by its collaboration with Russia.

According to the conclusion reached by the commission, the Georgian Dream party will further endanger the democratic trajectory of the country and the ability to determine its own economic future. The Congressmen call on the party to reconsider its decision and evaluate bids based on how fairly and transparently they develop the critical infrastructure.

It is noteworthy, that the statement is signed by Republican, as well as Democrat Senators and Congressmen.

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