Georgia Refused the "Strawberry"

The "Georgian opposition" blamed the "Georgian Dream" authorities for Georgia's "complete disappearance from the radar"—claiming that after President Saakashvili, no one in the world cares about Georgia. However, facts prove otherwise.

Initially, the Biden administration, through US Ambassador Kelly Degnan—who met behind closed doors with Georgia's top political leadership three times—successively demanded:

• To open a "Second Front" against Russia by attacking its military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Nos. 4, 7), "hold out for about two weeks, and then go to the forests to become partisans," but received a refusal;

• To join anti-Russian sanctions, primarily economic ones, and hand over the "Javelins" (FGM-148 Javelin) purchased from the USA to Ukraine, but received a refusal;

• To send "two planes with servicemen of the Georgian army, no more is needed" to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but also received a refusal.

The Trump administration, truth be told, forgot about Georgia and has not yet sent an American ambassador to Tbilisi. Conversely, the European Union reminded Georgia of a "deadline," demanding, in addition to joining sanctions against Russia, the repeal of laws that infringe on the rights of the opposition, foreign agents, and homosexuals. Having received a refusal (even after suspending the process of Georgia's integration into the EU and freezing EU financial aid to Georgia), Brussels today threatens to cancel the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. But it also receives a refusal: "We do not exchange sovereignty for strawberries!" stated the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Papuashvili, at a briefing, echoing Stalin's famous style of "I do not exchange a soldier for a field marshal!" However, the legend of the Generalissimo turned out to be irrelevant here—Papuashvili explained in the evening that he was echoing Pashinyan's words and that Georgia, like Armenia, will not sacrifice its independence for profit.

But there is a fundamental difference between the words of the Armenian Prime Minister and the Georgian Speaker. Pashinyan was referring to Russia, which refused to accept Armenian fruit and cognac in response to Armenia's "European inclinations." Meanwhile, Papuashvili meant the European Union, which blackmails the Georgian government with a refusal to admit its citizens if Georgia does not join the sanctions against Russia. That is, if Georgia does not stop importing wheat and petroleum products from Russia and exporting Georgian agricultural products, wine, and mineral waters to Russia (the 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia also includes restrictions on Georgian banks, oil traders, and crypto platforms).

In my opinion, Papuashvili, who speaks Russian fluently, actually meant "klubnichka" (little strawberry)—a well-known Russian euphemism denoting something piquantly erotic; it's just that the Georgian language lacks a diminutive form for the word "strawberry." Calling something seductively explicit (18+) a "strawberry" was a concept coined by Gogol in his epic Dead Souls. Thus, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament politically correctly compared the visa-free regime with the EU and other aforementioned European "benefits"—in particular, the propaganda of LGBTQI+ values—to something indecent, which could only be understood by those who know both languages, like Georgians during the USSR era. Most people, however, took it literally: that Papuashvili meant actual strawberries, the price of which broke records this year (1 kg costs 4 dollars, or its equivalent in the national currency, lari), causing the majority of Georgia's population to give it up.

One way or another, Georgia, much to the delight of the opposition, has today finally found itself at the center of the crossroads of the state interests of three nuclear superpowers:

• Russia, wishing to acquire a partner in the South Caucasus in Georgia following the distancing of Armenia and Azerbaijan;

• The USA, having agreed on a partnership with Armenia and Azerbaijan and wishing to acquire Georgia as a third partner in the South Caucasus;

• China, wishing to solidify a strategic partnership with Georgia as a key country of the "Middle Corridor" (East-West route).

For this latter reason, Georgia's South Caucasian neighbors—Armenia and Azerbaijan—have renewed their "Oath of Eternal Brotherhood" with Georgia. The "Trump Route" is only 42 km (like the distance from Tbilisi to Kojori), which, of course, is much closer than going through Georgia. However, these 42 km run along the border where Iran sits on one side of the Araks River, and American military personnel in Armenia sit on the other, guarding the Zangezur Corridor, which has been leased to a US company for 100 years. Therefore, the "Georgian" segment of the Middle Way is without alternative for security and logistical reasons (from Georgian seaports straight to Europe, bypassing Turkey).

So why would Georgia need the European "strawberry" after all this?!

Lavrov's Words Were Distorted

In an interview given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, S.V. Lavrov, to the MIC Izvestia on June 5, 2026, there is a fragment about Georgia, the key words of which were distorted not only by Georgian but also by leading Russian media. Recalling who pushed Saakashvili toward the events of August 2008 and how, Lavrov drew parallels with Ukraine, moved on to current events, and tactfully—without the pressure characteristic of the European Union's leadership—noted that in the event of joining the EU, Georgia (70% of whose trade currently falls on Russia, CIS countries, and China) "will have to stop being a country famous for its agricultural products."

"I believe there are pragmatists in Georgia. We maintain relations on a regular basis. Russian tourists love to go there and enjoy Georgian nature and hospitality,"

With these words, the chief Russian diplomat concluded his remark. However, all media outlets, except GRUZINFORM, did not bother to check the primary source and, as a result, distorted Lavrov's words: allegedly, the Russian Foreign Minister said that "the current leadership of Georgia are pragmatists who understand the negative consequences of the country joining the European Union."

I will not be sarcastic about this, especially since Mr. Lavrov, of course, meant the Georgian authorities or pro-government circles that have an influence on the decision-making process, rather than the Georgian opposition or other unknown "pragmatists" who have absolutely no influence on Georgia's politics. (In the public sphere in Russia lately, we have been observing with surprise civilian volunteers of Georgian descent—grotesque characters posing as "people's leaders," presenting themselves as politicians, journalists, and human rights activists, although they exclusively represent only themselves).

Lavrov's words accurately convey their intended meaning: the phrase "I believe there are pragmatists in Georgia" implies that not everyone in Georgia is a pragmatist; there are non-pragmatists too. Whom did the master of Russian diplomacy mean by pragmatists? The answer is simple, look:

"The notion—deeply rooted in Georgia and widespread abroad—about the founder of the ruling party in Georgia, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, allegedly controlling every step of the government, is disinformation, a plant by foreign intelligence services. The goal of this narrative is to create a legend about a 'dictatorial regime in Georgia under the sole rule of a Russian oligarch.'"

This is how my interview "ANTI-STATE CONSPIRACY IN GEORGIA" from May 31, 2026, begins, discussing the billionaire's role in Georgian politics and the destructive activities of the local "Deep State."

With identical words, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze began a briefing at the government administration on June 9, 2026:

"Everyone knows very well that the main target of aggression and political attacks by the country's external enemies and their local agents is Bidzina Ivanishvili. They claim that the country is not governed by democratic institutions, but single-handedly by Bidzina Ivanishvili. Moreover, they call the democratically elected government the 'Ivanishvili regime,' trying to present the democracy established in Georgia since 2012 as an autocracy."

Why did the Georgian Prime Minister pick up the topic I raised and dedicate the briefing to the role of Bidzina Ivanishvili, calling him a "grandmaster of politics"? Clearly not to sing a panegyric to Ivanishvili, whose choice fell on Kobakhidze precisely because of the latter's cold pragmatism and imperturbability. Kobakhidze is a living ChatGPT, alien to corruption, nepotism, and similar "Georgian" temptations—he deals only in facts and figures. Therefore, Kobakhidze keenly perceived the message coming from me—meaning this topic is in demand in Georgian society!—and to put an end to the insinuations, he himself spoke about the role of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Yes, Ivanishvili takes part in making important decisions as a member of the party's Political Council, and the Prime Minister turns to him for advice when necessary. Furthermore, it is precisely thanks to the firmness of Ivanishvili, who said "no" to the West (referencing the Second Front, anti-Russian sanctions, and sending planes with regular military personnel), that Georgia has not been at war with anyone for so many years and is not wiped off the face of the earth today, like many cities in Ukraine.

This is why, in stating that "there are pragmatists in Georgia," Sergey Lavrov primarily meant Bidzina Ivanishvili, who does not currently hold a government post. That is why Lavrov did not explicitly say "the current leadership of Georgia are pragmatists."

Eccentric Wilson and Rubio's "Rubicon"

"The illegitimate government of the 'Georgian Dream,' which supports the pro-Iranian regime and the Chinese Communist Party, poses a threat to US interests. The elections in Georgia were rigged. Moreover, they are helping Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps evade sanctions. What do you think needs to be done to stop the rapid radicalization supported by the 'Georgian Dream' government in the Republic of Georgia?"

This is what Republican Congressman Joe Wilson asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during hearings in the US House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze, during a briefing dedicated to deepening Georgia's strategic partnership with China, did not consider it necessary to waste time responding to Wilson, calling him "an unserious person at an age when being nervous is contraindicated." But I will still remind readers that this congressman is the author of the "MEGOBARI Act" and the "Act on Non-Recognition of the Georgian Nightmare," acting as the head of the initiative group that submitted them to the Senate. According to these documents, in the US, "no federal official or employee may take any action, and no federal funds may be allocated for the purpose of recognizing, or in any other way implying recognition by the US government, of the government of Georgia operating under the leadership of the 'Georgian Dream' party." Joe Wilson is also the initiator of sanctions imposed on "Georgian officials observed engaging in subversive activities against Georgian democracy" and personally against the political leader, founder, and honorary chairman of the ruling "Georgian Dream" party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and his family members.

Congressman Wilson is a lobbyist for the Georgian radical opposition and received tens of thousands of dollars from the convicted Saakashvili—who committed crimes against humanity—through the lobbying firm Nelson Mullins. According to the US Department of Justice's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registry, this firm was hired by Saakashvili's ex-ruling party, the "United National Movement," for 360 thousand dollars. Joe Wilson regularly invited leaders of the radical opposition and even Saakashvili's son to Washington to provide them with instructions on the violent overthrow of the legitimate government of Georgia, which he claims is a "dictatorial pro-Iranian regime," and its leader Bidzina Ivanishvili a "corrupt puppet of the war criminal Putin." Joe Wilson has repeatedly stated that "Salome Zourabichvili is the only legitimate president of Georgia," and sent her an invitation to President Trump's inauguration, where he introduced her to the Pentagon chief, Donald Trump Jr., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Considering the following facts:

1. Congressman Wilson is a corrupt, two-faced official who was not deterred by Azerbaijan's comprehensive strategic partnership with China from fawning over President Ilham Aliyev and Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva at the official reception for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly;

2. Congressman Wilson completely ignored the US President's visit to the PRC at the head of an unprecedented delegation in the entire history of US-China relations;

3. Georgia's export and import with Iran is exactly 0.0%.

One could, of course, just not waste time on the eccentric Wilson—if Secretary of State Rubio's "Rubicon" did not lie behind him...

"As for Georgia. You are right. Everything you listed refers to our current concerns. At the same time, they have taken certain steps indicating their desire to improve relations with the United States. We explained to them what that would require, what conditions must be met. We received some positive responses. Therefore, we hope that in the case of Georgia, we will see a change in the trajectory along which it is moving today. Of course, we understand everything you just said, and that remains a problem for us. They asked us what needs to be done to improve relations with the United States. We gave an answer and hope that on this basis we can achieve progress: not only to change the trajectory of our relations with Georgia but also to influence a change in its behavior."

This is how Secretary of State Marco Rubio answered the aforementioned question from Republican Congressman Joe Wilson during hearings in the US House of Representatives.

As you can see, Rubio fully shares and supports Wilson's position and unambiguously points to the Rubicon, after crossing which Georgia will not be able to mend relations with the US. It is a fact that the American lobbyists of the Georgian opposition, led by the eccentric Wilson, managed to convince the US leadership that Georgia is guilty of all the sins that Wilson has been trumpeting for years, and has approached a dangerous line—becoming overly close to China, Iran, and Russia, from which there is no return. Ukrainian propagandists operate in exactly the same way as Wilson: on the one hand, Ukrainian television channels claim that Russia is "on its last legs," and on the other hand, in order to extract aid for Ukraine, they frighten the EU leadership with the "Russian threat"—claiming that Russia will not stop at Ukraine and will strike Europe next.

"Georgia is not a schoolboy who can be held back a year and told to correct his mistakes. Georgia is a worthy sovereign state, and we have clearly stated this everywhere,"

Replied Prime Minister Kobakhidze to Rubio, who even started wearing a red tie in solidarity with Trump. "As for our attitude towards the Secretary of State and the American administration, it is that we want to restore our strategic partnership. Therefore, we view with optimism all the signals, including those we heard directly during the visit to Georgia. All this allows us to maintain optimism that the strategic partnership between Georgia and the US will be restored."

Let's not make predictions; only one thing is clear—in the near term, until the conflict in Ukraine is resolved, Georgia's foreign policy "beacons" will coincide with the coordinates of the "Middle Corridor" route.

Arno Khidirbegishvili,
General Director and Chief Editor of the Georgian Information and Analytical Agency "GRUZINFORM", Director of the Center for Security, Strategic Analysis, and Information Policy

June 12, 2026
Georgia, Tbilisi