Georgian Dream Proposes Washington Reset Relations

Georgia's ruling party is proposing that the United States abandon the previous strategic partnership format and build relations on a fundamentally new level. This was stated by one of its members, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations.

According to the MP, Georgian Dream hopes not only to restart dialogue with Washington after several years of tension, but to "raise it to a level never seen before."

Samkharadze said that during his visit to the United States in March, the American side inquired whether the Georgian authorities wanted to return to the previous partnership format. In response, he said, Tbilisi proposed a different approach.

"We often say that we are not satisfied with and do not want the strategic partnership agreement that existed previously. When I visited the United States in March, I was, among other things, asked whether we wanted to restore the previous partnership. Ultimately, we answered that the previous partnership was meaningless. "It would be better to develop a new partnership agreement that would be beneficial to both sides," the MP stated.

The statement came amid a cautious warming of relations between Tbilisi and Washington. In late March 2026, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held his first telephone conversation in a long time with the US Secretary of State. For the Georgian government, this was the first full-fledged communication with a senior State Department official after a lengthy pause in bilateral relations.

Following the conversation, Kobakhidze said that the parties "emphasized the importance of renewing our partnership and strengthening Georgia's role as a reliable partner in the South Caucasus."

Back in February, the prime minister stated that Tbilisi was ready to resume its strategic partnership with the United States and expected reciprocal steps from the US administration. According to him, the further development of relations depends primarily on Washington.

Последние новости
Roza Dunaeva: Brothers of a man who fled forced mobilization in Chechnya have been abducted
Human rights
Roza Dunaeva: Brothers of a man who fled forced mobilization in Chechnya have been abducted
15 October 2026

In Chechnya, Akhmad and Salakh Khaskhanov—brothers of Arbi Khaskhanov, who escaped from a military base in Khankala to avoid being sent to fight in the war against Ukraine—have been abducted. This was reported by the outlet *Kavkaz.Realii*, citing human rights defender Roza Dunaeva, who represents Ichkeria in Austria. According to her, the relatives are being held in an effort to force the young man himself to return to the republic.

Media: Delegations from 13 countries walk out of Baku summit during Israeli President’s speech
Politics
Media: Delegations from 13 countries walk out of Baku summit during Israeli President’s speech
15 October 2026

Representatives from several countries walked out of the hall during a speech by Israeli President Isaac Herzog on October 15 at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), currently being held in Baku. According to the Turkish newspaper *Yeni Akit*, delegations from 13 countries—Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh—participated in the walkout.

In Dagestan, former police officers have had their suspended sentences replaced with prison terms in a case involving the torture of a woman
Human rights
In Dagestan, former police officers have had their suspended sentences replaced with prison terms in a case involving the torture of a woman
15 October 2026

The Supreme Court of Dagestan has ordered that former police officers Shamil Aliyev and Ramazan Saypulayev—convicted for the torture of Yulduz Kurashova and the fabrication of a criminal case against her—be sent to a penal colony. On October 14, the court converted their suspended sentences into actual prison terms, according to the human rights organization "Team Against Torture." The case had been under review for the fourth time.

Concluding a Peace Agreement with Azerbaijan: Pashinyan’s Personal Priority Through 2031
Politics
Concluding a Peace Agreement with Azerbaijan: Pashinyan’s Personal Priority Through 2031
15 October 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has identified the signing and ratification of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan as his primary objective for the coming years. He intends to see this matter resolved by 2031, a goal he announced during a government meeting on October 15, as reported by Armenpress.