A day in Georgia’s Khevsureti region
On a free day in October 2020 I took up the opportunity to travel to one of the few mountain … Continue reading A day in Georgia’s Khevsureti region
Short trip to Armenia’s Syunik province
While in Armenia on business, I took up the opportunity to travel to the southern part of the country, the … Continue reading Short trip to Armenia’s Syunik province
Reviving old rail connections in the South Caucasus
In a fast paced development, the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War between Azerbaijan and Armenia has triggered talk of reopening raillinks in the South Caucasus that have long been closed. Many of these links have an origin that go back to the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Continue reading Reviving old rail connections in the South Caucasus
Georgian Democracy at Crossroads – Civil.ge
19 December 2020 via Georgian Democracy at Crossroads – Civil.ge The Georgian Dream team should make clear on which side … Continue reading Georgian Democracy at Crossroads – Civil.ge
Forgotten Transcaucasus railway connection
In October 2020, on my way to Shatili in the Georgian Khevsureti region, I stumbled upon a large tunnel entrance … Continue reading Forgotten Transcaucasus railway connection
Georgia’s Phantom Treaty — Civil.ge
“From now on, the Georgian Nation is accepted by the great nations, as equal – among equals”. Those were the … Continue reading Georgia’s Phantom Treaty — Civil.ge
Russia’s return to Council of Europe: compliance in a rules based order
On December 11 2019 the Free Russia Foundation organized a mini symposium in The Hague on the return of Russia into the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. It focused on “the balance between the rights and obligations” of being part of the Council of Europe. Here is my contribution to the panel discussion Continue reading Russia’s return to Council of Europe: compliance in a rules based order
Putin: Throwing sand of historic deceit — Civil.ge
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a history lecture in Yekaterinburg on July 9, 2019 on the status of Abkhazia and … Continue reading Putin: Throwing sand of historic deceit — Civil.ge
What could European suspension of visa-free travel for Albania mean for Georgia?
The Dutch government has decided to request the European Commission to suspend visa-free movement for Albanians, who enjoyed this since 2010. Can this decision of the Dutch government influence Georgia’s visa free travel to the Schengen Zone and the challenges it faces? Continue reading What could European suspension of visa-free travel for Albania mean for Georgia?
Passportization: Russia’s tool of state aggression in its near abroad
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced to simplify the procedure for Ukrainian citizens in the Donbass occupied territories to obtain Russian citizenship, a step directly aimed at weaponizing the right of citizenship and has to be interpreted as outright state aggression. Continue reading Passportization: Russia’s tool of state aggression in its near abroad
Russia – Georgia War 2008: Rolling into war
This summer it has been 10 years ago the world was caught by surprise when Russian and Georgian military forces started a war over a small Georgian separatist region that not many had heard of: South Ossetia. While it took many by surprise, the war was in the making for quite some time. A look into the prelude of the war, part three, rolling into war. Continue reading Russia – Georgia War 2008: Rolling into war
Russia – Georgia War 2008: The Prelude #2
This summer it has been 10 years ago the world was caught by surprise when Russian and Georgian military forces started a war over a small Georgian separatist region that not many had heard of: South Ossetia. While it took many by surprise, the war was in the making for quite some time. A look into the prelude of the war, part two. Continue reading Russia – Georgia War 2008: The Prelude #2