We invite you to an in-depth discussion on Georgia’s evolving geopolitical landscape, featuring two expert lectures on the country’s foreign policy trajectory and Russia’s shifting approach to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.
Due to limited venue capacity, attendance will be by confirmation only to ensure an engaging and meaningful discussion.
🕙 10:00–11:10
👤 Dr. Tornike Turmanidze, Professor of International Relations, former Deputy Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, expert in international security and foreign policy.
Since regaining independence, Georgia’s foreign policy has undergone significant shifts, reflecting the country’s evolving domestic priorities and external pressures. These changes have closely aligned with different leadership styles, transitioning from Eduard Shevardnadze’s balancing act (1992-2003) to Mikheil Saakashvili’s staunch pro-Western course (2003-2012) and subsequently returning to a balancing strategy under Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream government (since 2012).
However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked a critical moment in Georgia’s geopolitical alignment. This lecture will explore the historical and contemporary factors shaping Georgia’s foreign policy, analyzing key turning points and the interplay between domestic political forces and international actors. It will provide insights into Georgia’s strategic dilemmas, including its aspirations for European and NATO integration, its complex relationship with Russia, and the implications of the shifting global order for its foreign policy.
Dr. Tornike Turmanidze is a Professor of International Relations at the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and a faculty member at the School of Governance, Caucasus University. He previously served as the Deputy Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council (2011-2013) and held senior positions in the Information and Analysis Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (2004-2011).
Dr. Turmanidze has extensive experience in media, having worked as a producer of political talk shows at the Georgian broadcasting companies “Mtavari Arkhi” (2019-2022) and “Rustavi 2” (2014-2019). His research interests include national and international security, U.S. foreign policy, the foreign policies of small and weak states, and Russia-Georgia relations.
He holds a BA, MA, and PhD in International Relations from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. A former participant of the Rumsfeld Foundation’s Fellowship Program for Young Leaders from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Afghanistan (Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C.), he is also the editor of International Relations Theory: A Chrestomathy and the author of Buffer States (published in the U.S. in 2009 and in Georgia in 2011).
🕦 11:30–12:40
👤 Mamuka Komakhia, Senior Fellow at Rondeli Foundation, expert on post-Soviet politics, regional conflicts, and Russia’s influence in Abkhazia & Tskhinvali.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s policy towards the separatist regions of Georgia—Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region—has undergone several transformations. Initially, in the 1990s, Moscow positioned itself as a mediator, navigating the conflicts between these regions and the Georgian government. However, following the August 2008 war, Russia formally recognized their independence and deployed military forces, solidifying its role as their main security guarantor.
In recent years, particularly after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has intensified efforts to integrate Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region into its political, economic, and legal framework. This lecture will examine the key turning points in Moscow’s strategy, assessing the implications of these policies for the future of the region and Georgia’s sovereignty. The discussion will provide a comprehensive analysis of Russia’s evolving influence and the broader geopolitical consequences of its actions.
Mamuka Komakhia is a Senior Fellow at the Rondeli Foundation and an expert on post-Soviet politics, regional conflicts, and Russia’s influence in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. He has extensive experience in Georgia’s security and emergency response sectors, having served as the head of the emergency response center “112” and held various positions in the Information and Analysis Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (2004-2012).
Beyond government service, Komakhia has worked in media and the NGO sector, contributing to research on ethnic minorities, energy politics, and regional conflicts. He earned his MA in International Relations from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and has been an invited lecturer at both Tbilisi State University and Ilia State University since 2008.
A prolific writer, he is the founder of a Georgian-language online journal dedicated to post-Soviet politics and the author of numerous articles, research papers, and books analyzing Russia’s policies in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, as well as broader trends in post-Soviet politics.
This event is organized in collaboration with the Estonian School of Diplomacy (ESD) as part of a joint initiative to foster academic discussion and regional expertise on security and foreign policy issues.
