**Georgian Dream’s Minister of Infrastructure Resigns, New Appointments Made**
In a recent development, Georgian Dream’s Minister of Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze has resigned from his position. He will be replaced by Revaz Sokhadze, who was announced as the new minister on April 24.
Karseladze had held the position since February 2021, while Sokhadze has served as the majoritarian representative of the Samgori district in the Tbilisi City Assembly since 2017. This change comes at a time when Georgia is facing various challenges, including democratic backsliding and economic issues.
**Visa-Free Regime for Some Countries**
In other news, the Georgian government has issued a decree allowing citizens of 17 countries to enter and stay in Georgia without a visa under certain conditions. The list includes countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Pakistan. This move aims to promote tourism and economic cooperation with these nations.
**New Ambassadors Appointed**
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the appointment of new ambassadors to Slovakia, Ireland, and Malaysia. Konstantine Kvachakidze will represent Georgia’s interests in Slovakia, while Sopio Katsarava and Irakli Asashvili will serve as ambassadors to Ireland and Malaysia, respectively.
**Georgian Economy Minister Visits Washington**
Levan Davitashvili, Georgian Dream’s First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, is currently visiting Washington, D.C. for the 2025 spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF. During his visit, he met with Joshua Huck, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
**Russian Foreign Ministry Comments on EU Membership**
Commenting on a statement from an unnamed Georgian Dream official that Georgia will join the European Union by 2030, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova cast doubt on the bloc’s future and questioned its relevance to national economies. She suggested that the EU is in decline and may not exist by the end of the decade.
**Concerns Over Prison Conditions in Georgia**
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has spotlighted serious concerns regarding prison conditions and psychiatric care in Georgia. According to the CPT, Georgia is one of nine countries in the former Soviet Union that were identified as having a “contemporary informal prisoner hierarchy” that continues to influence the prison system.
**Polish Foreign Minister Expresses Concerns Over Georgia’s Democratic Direction**
In a speech before the Sejm, Poland’s lower house of parliament, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski voiced strong concern over Georgia’s democratic direction. He warned that Poland is “saddened” to see Tbilisi drifting away from its European path and stressed that the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine will shape the future of countries like Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia.
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