Georgia in the spider’s web of a Russian-backed oligarch

By Alexandra Brzozowski

Recent developments in Georgia are the consequence of more than a decade of deterioration - and Europe's negligence to call them out earlier.

State capture is a funny thing. It is a process of systemic political corruption that is usually only discovered once it is nearly too late.

If it would be a contest, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a business tycoon who has brought Georgia much closer to Russia's orbit of influence, would be one of its winners.

This weekend, his Georgian Dream party claimed victory in parliamentary elections, gaining a majority of nearly 54% of the votes (Ivanishvili had predicted it would be 60, some recounting is still going on). The results and the fairness of the elections are widely contested. But what is forgotten is that Ivanishvili has prepared his victory thoroughly.

When he took power in Georgia in 2012, many observers argued that he would continue the pro-European policies of his predecessor, Mikheil Saakashvili, whom he sent to prison for "abuse of power".

His official term was short, lasting only 11 months as he withdrew from politics just within a year. Ivanishvili returned as chairman of his Georgian Dream party in 2018, left again in 2021, and then returned at the end of 2023 as the honorary head of his party.

Finland’s ex-president Niinistö’s plan for preparing Europeans for war includes bolstering intelligence sharing among EU countries and deterring adversaries.

EU top advisor Niinistö wants to fight ‘increasingly brazen’ attacks on energy infrastructure His report calls for a dedicated anti-sabotage network to be created at an EU level.

Georgia accession talks on hold unless it changes course, EU executive says.

EU Commission to continue engagement with adult content creator industry, despite no-show at an event. It is considering hosting a roundtable, Euractiv understands.

UK detects first case of new mpox variant.

EU adopts tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese electric cars. A Commission official told reporters there were persisting “broad disagreements" around subsidies.

Frontex is set for a big overhaul as talks on returns intensify, with discussions on revising the EU’s Return Directive and tripling Frontex’s standing corps to 30,000 overhauls.

The collapse of a German ‘air taxi’ start-up lays bare Europe’s industrial strategy challenge.

Italian judges turn to the European Court of Justice for ‘safe third country’ criteria. The process could take years, leaving the future of the Albanian migrant centres in limbo.

The German government is in full campaigning mood as coalition parties stage competing business summits. Analysts say they are presenting uncoordinated plans for the economy.

Spanish Supreme Court urged to investigate SALF leader MEP Alvise Pérez, controversial for his xenophobic stance and verbal attacks on corruption in traditional political parties.

• European Commissioner Didier Reynders opens and participates in the Global Privacy Assembly, where he will meet the President Director of the Brazilian Data Protection Authority - ANPD Waldemar Gonçalves Ortunho Junior and Chairperson of Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission - PIPC Haksoo Ko, in St Helier, Jersey.
• European Commissioner Věra Jourová meets with the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil, in Prague.
• European Commissioner Helena Dalli delivers a speech at the Italian Parliament at the Stand Out Women Awards Ceremony in Rome.
• Dalli will also attend a working breakfast with ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations agencies based in Rome, and the Holy See.
• Bruegel organises in Brussels, Belgium, a hybrid conference on ''China's green transition with Wensheng Peng'.
• EPC organises in Brussels, Belgium a conference on the 'Enlargement Package 2024: Expectations and the way forward'.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]