Research

From Strategic Partnership to the Present: China’s Expansion in Georgia’s Educational Space 

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“The study of the Chinese language is becoming increasingly popular among younger generations. For this reason, we have decided to introduce Chinese as a second language in schools. … Mutual trust creates opportunities for new generations to establish connections, cooperate, and act together on the international stage, including advancing shared political interests, which is ultimately in the interest of both countries.” 

Statement by Georgia’s Minister of Education, Science, and Youth, Givi Mikhanadze, given to the Chinese media outlet China Daily on November 15, 2025. 

In contemporary international politics, one of the most effective strategies used by major powers to influence the foreign policy orientation of smaller states is soft power. In this regard, the People’s Republic of China has emerged as a rapidly growing actor. 

Civic IDEA is pleased to share a new report “From Strategic Partnership to the Present: China’s Expansion in Georgia’s Educational Space“ examining China’s growing influence in Georgia’s education sector.

The report explores how China uses education as a key soft power tool, including the promotion of the Chinese language, partnerships between universities, scholarship and exchange programs, and the involvement of technology companies such as Huawei.

 

Key Findings of the Research

The study  conducted by Civic IDEA found that in 2024–2025:

  • Nine memoranda and cooperation agreements were signed between Georgian and ChineseUniversities.
  • Representatives of 12 Chinese educational institutions visited Georgian universities to establish partnerships and initiate cooperation.
  • Georgian universities signed agreements with the following Chinese companies and organizations: Huawei, Zhogge Cultural Development, Belt and Road Georgia Business House, and Guangzhou Dajiang E-Commerce Co. Ltd.
  • Under an agreement with Huawei, the company will establish Georgia’s first Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Academy and introduce “smart classrooms” in Georgian schools.
  • Georgian students participated for the first time in Huawei’s educational initiative “Seeds for the Future.”
  • The Chinese Embassy in Georgia actively promoted educational cooperation and the Chinese language. Within the framework of cooperation between Georgian universities and the embassy, joint academic events were organized.
  • In 2024 and 2025, Georgian students and school pupils took part in the Chinese language competition “Chinese Bridge.” 
  • Georgian students participated in summer schools and youth camps in China.
  • Chinese language instruction was offered in 15 schools in Tbilisi.
  • A Confucius Institute will be established at the Georgian Technical University in cooperation with a Chinese university.

 

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Exporting Technological Authoritarianism: How Chinese Technology Is Integrating into Georgia’s State Infrastructure

New, Research / /

Civic IDEA is sharing a new research report based on a detailed analysis of Georgia’s public procurement records from 2025 through March 2026. Our findings show that Chinese-made surveillance systems and digital devices are being systematically integrated into Georgia’s state infrastructure — from municipal city halls to military educational institutions.

Key findings:

  • 23 public procurements involving Chinese-made surveillance equipment and digital devices were identified between 2025 and March 2026.
  • The largest spenders: Kutaisi Municipality City Hall (GEL 6,600,795), the NNLE Department of Urban Infrastructure and Improvement (GEL 1,972,300), and the National Assessment and Examinations Center (GEL 340,933).
  • Among the manufacturers integrated into Georgian state infrastructure are internationally sanctioned companies: Hikvision, Uniview, Tiandy, DJI, and Autel Robotics — all of which appear on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List.
  • According to CISA and the FBI, Chinese technologies embedded in critical infrastructure create the risk of covert access to sensitive data by the Chinese government.
  • Chinese law legally obliges companies to cooperate with state intelligence services — this is not a choice, it is a statutory requirement.
  • Freedom House describes this process as the export of “digital authoritarianism.” The Atlantic Council calls it the global expansion of a “surveillance ecosystem.”

The integration of Chinese surveillance and digital technologies into state infrastructure is not merely a technical or economic choice — it is a strategic political decision with direct implications for national security, data protection, and democratic development.

Read the full report

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From Promise to Disparity: Two Years of Georgia-China Strategic Relations

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Civic IDEA is pleased to share its latest policy paper:

“From Promise to Disparity: Two Years of Georgia–China Strategic Relations”

The paper assesses the development of Georgia–China relations since the signing of the Strategic Partnership in July 2023 and evaluates whether the promised benefits have materialized in practice.

Our findings show that despite growing political engagement and pro-Chinese rhetoric from the Georgian Dream government, the partnership has produced limited tangible benefits for Georgia. Instead, bilateral relations increasingly reflect structural asymmetry across political, economic, and educational domains.

The paper examines:

  • Political relations and growing party-to-party ties with the CCP
  • China’s lack of diplomatic support for Georgia internationally
  • Trade imbalances and declining Georgian exports to China
  • Limited Chinese investment despite strategic partnership rhetoric
  • Expansion of Chinese companies in Georgian infrastructure and energy sectors
  • Chinese soft power and educational influence in Georgia
Read the full paper

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The Dragon’s Path in Georgian Media: China in Georgia’s Information Environment

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We would like to present our new report: “The Dragon’s Path in Georgian Media: China in the Georgian Information Environment,” which clearly demonstrates how the Georgian media landscape is being shaped in a way that reflects the anti-Western trajectory of the ruling party, while simultaneously promoting the governance model of the People’s Republic of China as a parallel or alternative path for Georgian society.

The media analysis unequivocally reveals the systematic dissemination of propaganda messages and well-crafted narratives aimed at:

  • discrediting liberal democracy;
  • portraying the West as a space of crisis, weakness, and moral decline;
  • establishing China as a stable, successful, and desirable alternative.

Key Findings:

The report shows that China-related content in Georgian media has significantly increased and become more structured, particularly after “strategic partnership” with China became a government priority.

The following trends are identified:

  • Pro-government media consistently portrays China as a strong, peaceful, and reliable partner, while critical assessments are virtually absent;
  • At the same time, the West is frequently depicted in the context of crisis, moral degradation, and political weakness;
  • Media discourse continuously constructs a contrast in which China succeeds where the West fails — in areas such as war and peace, economic development, and global stability;
  • Some media outlets receive direct funding from the Chinese Embassy and disseminate content with clear signs of propaganda;
  • Even the Public Broadcaster fails to provide balanced coverage and often aligns with government narratives;
  • The media environment increasingly promotes the idea that closer ties with China represent a “pragmatic” alternative to the Western foreign policy course.

The report also shows that positive narratives about China are systematically framed within the context of the “failure” of the West, creating a unified informational framework—China is presented as a model of success, while the West is depicted as an example of crisis and failure.

These trends pose a serious challenge to Georgia’s democratic development, the process of Euro-Atlantic integration, and the country’s information security. This demonstrates that informational influence is no longer merely a media issue; it is directly linked to the country’s strategic choices and the future of its democratic development.

Full report

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Behind the Barrels: Iranian Oil and Political Ties in Georgia

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Civic IDEA is pleased to share its Report #2 on Iran, prepared within the framework of our ongoing monitoring of Georgia’s economic and political linkages related to Iran.

Key findings from the report include:

72 companies registered in Georgia imported Iranian oil and petroleum products in 2022–2025, based on official data and documents.

  • 15 companies are related to citizens of third countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia).
  • 10 companies are related to Iranian citizens, and 2 companies have Iranian citizens among their partners as managers/shareholders.
  • 8 companies are linked to donors of the Georgian Dream party; 3 of these are winners of state tenders.
  • 8 companies have contracts with various state agencies. Managers/shareholders of 3 companies are linked to other entities that have won state contracts.
  • 5 companies are indirectly related to Georgian Dream donors — Aisi LLC, Ihlas LLC, Bakhula Motors LLC, Baza-22 LLC, Sulfeco LLC — as member organizations of the NNLE Waste Management Business Association. The association is headed by Bakur Khundadze, a donor to Georgian Dream.
  • 4 companies are indirectly connected to public/political officials and members of the Georgian Parliament, including a former Georgian Dream MP.

Read the full report:

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CHINESE COMPANIES IN GEORGIA

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Civic IDEA presents a comprehensive report examining the activities of Chinese companies currently operating in Georgia and their partnerships with the “Georgian Dream” party

Since 2017, Civic IDEA has systematically monitored cooperation between Chinese companies and Georgian state institutions. This paper consolidates our key findings, drawing on both Georgia’s experience and relevant international cases; 

Alarming evidence shows that every single PRC company cooperating with Georgian Dream government has been implicated in at least one serious legal, financial, or ethical violation.

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From Schools to State: China’s Quiet Takeover. Illusions of Partnership, Risks of Dependence

Research / /

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.

Full report:

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Georgia’s Investment Landscape: Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Western Investments (2018–2025) ( part II )

Research / /

Civic IDEA is pleased to present its latest publication, Georgia’s Investment Landscape: Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Western Investments (2018–2025).

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Georgia, based on official data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia. A closer examination of Chinese FDI flows reveals that, contrary to the expectations promoted by the Georgian Dream party, Chinese investment in Georgia has continued to decline.

The study contrasts these official statistics with public statements made by Georgian and Chinese officials, uncovering the gap between rhetoric and reality, as well as the recurring manipulation of investment-related information.

Furthermore, the report adopts a comparative perspective by examining Chinese FDI alongside Western investment flows. The findings highlight a striking contrast: while Chinese FDI has sharply decreased, Western countries remain Georgia’s leading investors. This comparison underscores the limited role of Chinese capital in Georgia’s economy and challenges prevailing political narratives.

For further insights and a deeper analysis,

please refer to the full report: 

Georgia’s Investment Landscape: Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Western Investments (2018–2025) ( part II ) Read More »

Georgian Dream’s anti-western policy: How Iranian companies are using Georgia to bypass sanctions

New, Research / /

HOW IRANIAN COMPANIES ARE USING GEORGIA TO BYPASS SANCTIONS?

Civic IDEA’s latest investigation sheds light on a little-known but deeply troubling dimension of Iran-Georgia relations. The report exposes how Iranian businessmen are using Georgia as a strategic transit point to evade international sanctions and channel funds back to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Our findings reveal that as diplomatic ties between the Georgian Dream government and Iran have grown closer, several Georgian-registered companies have emerged with direct links to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces Logistics Agency.

The investigation also highlights the role of Georgian citizens and businesses who, in collaboration with Iranian partners, are allegedly involved in arms trafficking and high-risk financial operations.

Read the full report for in-depth evidence of the growing national security risks posed by this opaque and dangerous partnership between Tbilisi and Tehran:

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Georgia’s Energy Sector Without Western Support: A Road to Russian Dependence

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“Today, we have decided not to put the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028. We are also refusing any budget grants from the EU until the end of 2028.” 

“We intend not to enter the EU begging and standing on one leg, but to join the EU with dignity, with a functioning democratic system and a strong economy.“ 

With this statement, the Georgian Dream government seeks to downplay the vital role that Western institutions have played in Georgia’s political, economic, educational, and infrastructural development. In reality, by rejecting EU assistance, the government is not only jeopardizing Georgia’s future in the EU’s political and economic structures but also undermining the country’s opportunity to develop in line with European standards. 

To illustrate this, the report analyzes the European Union’s contribution to Georgia’s energy independence. It is based on both quantitative and qualitative assessments of energy-related projects implemented between 2013 and 20241. Stay tuned for upcoming reports on EU assistance in agriculture, education, and other key sectors.

Full Report:

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