US-China trade war. All the key dates starting from July 2018
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Research
Global Controversies Surrounding the CEC Contractor “Smartmatic’
As Georgia implements Smartmatic’s e-voting system, global controversies follow close behind. With allegations of manipulated results and corruption across several countries, can this technology be trusted?
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Sino-Georgian Strategic Partnership: Cooperation in Education
Civic IDEA is pleased to share the China academic monitoring report, “Sino-Georgian Strategic Partnership Cooperation in Education”.
The report provides an overview of the educational collaboration between Georgia and China, highlighting key developments under the 2023 Sino-Georgian Strategic Partnership Agreement. This partnership seeks to enhance academic ties, foster exchange programs, and support Chinese language and culture initiatives in Georgian educational institutions. Besides, the study underscores the impact of Chinese investments and the role of Chinese entities in transforming Georgian higher education, exemplified by the rebranding of Guram Tavartkiladze Teaching University to the Georgian International University (GIU) under the ownership of Chinese stakeholders.
The paper also examines the influence of platforms like Sinomedia, which actively promote Chinese educational initiatives, competitions, and language courses in Georgia. This platform, created by Georgian graduates of Chinese universities, plays a significant role in disseminating information about educational opportunities and achievements related to Sino-Georgian cooperation.
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How is the potential Chinese investor in Anaklia linked to the tragic incident in Serbia that left 14 people dead?
The incident in Serbia, which led to the tragic loss of 14 lives, occurred at a railway station renovated by the same company now considered a potential Chinese investor in the Anaklia port project.
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“Russian Businesses of Georgian Dream Donors” Part II
On October 16 th 2024, Civic IDEA presented evidence regarding the financial ties and connections of the ruling Georgian Dream party to Russian interests. Our report demonstrates that most of the party’s major donors are backed by the Russian market and funds, with their interests closely aligned with Moscow. As a result, they actively support policies deepening Georgia’s economic dependence on Russia in exchange for personal financial gain. We revealed that Georgia’s wine exports heavily rely on the Russian market, that is about 73,5% of the total export volume, a dangerously high level that poses significant risks to the Georgian economy.
This dependency leaves Georgia vulnerable to political manipulation, as Russia could leverage market access to exert pressure at any moment. Instead of diversifying export markets, the Georgian Dream leadership, mainly through actions of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family members—Alexandre Ivanishvili, Ucha Mamatsashvili, and other business partner donors—has allowed this dependency to grow, heightening economic risks for the country.
Today, we present the second part of our study, revealing even more alarming findings. Based on concrete evidence, we will show that some donors of the Georgian Dream are not only engaged in trade or economic-political ties with Russia but are also listed as ‘international sponsors of war’.
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“Russian Businesses of Georgian Dream Donors” Part II Read More »
Russian Ties of Georgian Dream Donors: Market Dependency and State-Favored Financial Benefits
The purpose of this report is not to catalog all the donors of Georgian Dream (GD), which has been extensively covered by other organizations. Instead, our goal is to use factual evidence to show the public how the business interests and connections of the ruling party pose a serious threat to national security due to their deep ties with Russia. It is, therefore, no surprise that almost all major GD donors share two key characteristics:
1. They are entirely dependent on Russia and the Russian market, with nearly all having double Russian / Georgian citizenship or a Russian citizen as a founder/partner or director.
2. Direct connection with Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family.
Please see the full report.
Strategic Partnership with China: THE FACTS AGAINST THE FALSE HOPE AND MISLEADING PROPAGANDA OF THE “GEORGIAN DREAM” PARTY
One year has passed since the strategic partnership agreement signed between Georgia and the People’s Republic of China.
We present to you a short analysis of the first results, which clearly shows the propaganda based on the lies of the “Georgian Dream”, which they try to show the superiority of China compared to the USA.
For more information, please see the full report 👇
“The Dragon Dance: Chinese Influence in Georgia’s Media and Academia.”
On September 19, Civic IDEA together with the journalism Resource center hosted the presentation of the 2nd Media monitoring report, “The Dragon Dance: Chinese Influence in Georgia’s Media and Academia.” The report delves into the portrayal of China across various Georgian media outlets and examines the evolving Sino-Georgian academic partnerships. It covers the period from April 1, 2023, to November 1, 2023. The study employed a qualitative research methodology, which included desk research, media monitoring through content analysis, qualitative case study comparisons, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. The media outlets monitored during this research were: Mtavari Channel, TV Pirveli, Public Broadcaster, Tv Imedi, POSTV, BM.GE, Chinesestories.ge, Sinomedia.ge, Sinologia.ge, SputnikGEO.
-Tap to see the slides from the presentation-
Beyond the media landscape, the research explored the development of academic cooperation between China and Georgia, particularly in the wake of the China-Georgia Strategic Partnership Statement. This partnership has paved the way for significant educational collaborations, including establishing scholarships, joint educational projects, and promoting Chinese language programs within Georgian educational institutions. One of the notable outcomes of this partnership is the transformation of Guram Tavartkiladze Teaching University into the Georgian International University (GIU), a rebranding driven by Chinese stakeholders.
The research also highlighted the role of platforms like Sinomedia in fostering these educational initiatives. Created by Georgian graduates of Chinese universities, Sinomedia is instrumental in promoting Chinese educational programs, competitions, and language courses within Georgia. However, the study also raises concerns about the security risks that come with increased academic cooperation with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It calls on Georgian educational institutions to remain vigilant and recognize these risks as their partnership with China continues to grow. The research further outlines various events and initiatives, such as international competitions and partnerships with Chinese agencies, which illustrate the expanding influence of the PRC in Georgia’s academic sector.
Civic IDEA is particularly grateful to Innovations and Reforms Center(IRC) and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for supporting this effort.
-Please find the pictures below-
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PRC’s Contractors’ Environmental Shortcomings on Georgian Highways
Civic IDEA is pleased to present an environmental monitoring report, “PRC’s Contractors’ Environmental Shortcomings on Georgian Highways”.
Since 2018, for the past six years, Civic IDEA has been monitoring PRC state-owned and controlled companies operating within Georgia’s infrastructure sector, focusing on critical projects such as highways, tunnels, and bridges. In this report, we provide comprehensive research on the environmental impacts of these projects, funded by international financial institutions (IFIs) and executed by contractors from the People’s Republic of China. The study offers an overview of the environmental management practices employed and evaluates their compliance, or absence of those, with international standards.
For detailed information, please see the full report below 
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The Power of Stigma How Georgia’s “Foreign Agent” Law—and Others Like It—Can Damage Democracy BY MAXIM KRUPSKIY
The publication “Foreign Policy” devotes an extensive article to the Georgian government’s attempt to stigmatize civil society. The article quotes the head of Civic Idea who states that non-governmental organizations will not obey the law:
“We will make it very difficult for the government to do anything meaningful against us,” she told me in July. “The problem with the law is that it left lots of loopholes, and we will be using those intensively.”
In June 2024, the author of the article, Maxim Krupski, was one of the speakers at the International Conference on Civic Ideas—Strategic Confusion on the Great Power Chessboard—precisely at the session on the adoption and implementation of “agents” legislation by various countries.
Discover more in the full article below