Prepared by Messenger Staff
Hudson Institute Defends Iran Report Amid Georgian Criminal Probe
John Walters, the president of the Hudson Institute, has issued a sharp defense of a recent study on Iranian influence in Georgia following a criminal investigation launched by the Georgian State Security Service. The report, co-authored by Luke Coffey and Giorgi Kandelaki, alleges that Tehran is rapidly expanding its economic and political reach within the country, potentially helping Iran bypass international sanctions.
Georgian authorities opened the probe after officials dismissed the findings as misinformation, with some labeling the authors as participants in a coordinated effort to destabilize the state. Walters, however, stood firmly behind the work and its adherence to institutional research standards.
"This is a publication produced by the Hudson Institute in accordance with the institute's research standards. The report is based on verified information that is publicly available, as noted throughout the report's endnote citations, and the Hudson Institute stands firmly behind its findings," Walters said.
The institute's leadership suggested that the government's decision to investigate the authors is an attempt to deflect from the actual security concerns raised in the study. Walters argued that the findings should instead be viewed as a critical warning regarding regional stability.
"This report should serve as a wake-up call, especially at a time when Iran serves as a destabilizing force in the region," Walters said.
He urged the Georgian government to address the actual content of the report rather than focusing on the researchers, noting that the evidence presented requires serious and immediate attention from policymakers in both Tbilisi and Washington.
"Rather than launching an investigation against the authors of the report, the authorities should be concerned about the findings, which overwhelmingly rely on publicly accessible information that the authorities should already be aware of. The report outlines a clear and systematic picture of the expanding influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Georgia. These developments run counter to the interests of both Georgia and the United States and warrant serious attention," Walters noted.
New Criminal Case Opened Against Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia
The State Security Service of Georgia has launched a new criminal investigation into former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia following remarks he made during a recent court appearance. The case falls under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, which involves public calls for the overthrow of the government.
The investigation follows a video shared on social media by Akhalaia's wife, which captured part of a closed-door trial. In the recording, Akhalaia spoke directly about removing the country's current leadership and ending foreign influence.
"I believe that Ivanishvili must be overthrown, overthrown by all possible means. If force is needed, overthrown by force, together with Ivanishvili, Russian tentacles must be overthrown, as widely as possible in Georgia," Akhalaia said during the proceedings.
This latest charge adds to an ongoing case from December 2025. Akhalaia is currently in pretrial detention for his alleged role in organizing a violent protest on October 4, which authorities characterized as an attempted coup. The charges in the December case carry a sentence of up to nine years in prison for organizing group violence.
While Akhalaia has denied the previous charges, claiming the evidence against him is fabricated, this new investigation focuses specifically on his recent statements in court. If convicted of calling for a government overthrow, he could face additional years in prison.
