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Barca edge Real Madrid in extra-time to win wild Copa del Rey final
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'Legendary' Eubank Jr beats Benn in grudge bout
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Thunder sweep past Grizzlies into NBA playoffs 2nd round, Cavs on brink
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South Korea's Ryu and Japan's Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead
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Canada leaders make closing pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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De Bruyne's Man City exit 'so difficult' for Guardiola
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'No regrets' for Amorim over Man Utd move
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Lyon and Strasbourg win to close in on Europe, Montpellier relegated from Ligue 1
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Toulouse thrash Castres as Top 14 pursuers stumble
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Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances
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Olympic champs Russell, Davis-Woodhall win at Drake Relays
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Browns end Sanders long draft slide
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Cavs crush Heat, on brink of NBA playoff sweep
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Fire rages after major blast at Iran port kills 8, injures hundreds
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Kiwi Beamish wins Penn Relays 1,500m crown with late kick
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Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final
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England survive France fightback to seal Women's 6 Nations slam
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Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final
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CAF appoint Moroccan Lekjaa first vice-president
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Major blast at Iran port kills 5, injures hundreds
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Rodgers vows to stay with Celtic after fourth successive Scottish title
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Ipswich relegated as Newcastle, Chelsea boost top five bids
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Canada leaders make final pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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Mullins -- Ireland's national training treasure
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US, Iran say progress in 'positive' nuclear talks
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Mullins emulates O'Brien with second successive trainer's title
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Ipswich relegated after one season in Premier League
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Just Stop Oil activist group holds final march
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Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener
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Syria's Kurds demand 'democratic decentralised' Syria
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Leverkusen win to delay Bayern and Kane's title party
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Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with tears and calls to action
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Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
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Maresca hails 'nasty' Chelsea as top five bid stays alive
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Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelensky talks at pope's funeral
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Major blast at Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
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Napoleon's sword to be sold at auction in Paris
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Iran, US discuss nuclear deal in third round of talks
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Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with call to action
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Warholm sets hurdles world record at Diamond League, Holloway shocked
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US students 'race' sperm in reproductive health stunt
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Wikileaks founder Assange joins crowds for pope funeral
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Leader Marc Marquez claims Spanish MotoGP sprint victory
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Celtic win fourth successive Scottish Premiership title
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Jackson ends drought as Chelsea boost top five push
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Warholm sets 300m hurdles world record in Diamond League opener
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Major blast at south Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
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Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
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Francis laid to rest as 400,000 mourn pope 'with an open heart'
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Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines of pope's funeral
Georgia Slips into Russia’s Grasp
Georgia, a nation long caught between its European aspirations and the shadow of its northern neighbour, appears to be sliding further into Russia’s orbit, prompting alarm among its citizens and the international community. Recent developments, rooted in the controversial parliamentary election of October 2024 and the subsequent actions of the ruling Georgian Dream party, have fuelled fears that the country is relinquishing its sovereignty to Moscow’s influence.
The election, which saw Georgian Dream secure 54% of the vote according to official results, has been widely contested. International observers, including the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), reported significant irregularities, while the pro-European opposition and outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili denounced it as fraudulent, alleging Russian interference. Zourabichvili, in a statement to AP on 28 October 2024, claimed the vote marked "Georgia’s submission to Russia," pointing to tactics mirroring those used in Russian elections. The Kremlin has denied these accusations, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting on 28 October 2024, via tagesschau.de, that Western powers, not Russia, sought to destabilise Georgia.
Since the election, Georgian Dream has tightened its grip. On 28 November 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a suspension of EU accession talks until 2028, a move that sparked mass protests in Tbilisi and beyond. Demonstrators, waving EU flags, have faced brutal crackdowns, with over 300 arrests and reports of police violence documented by Georgia’s Ombudsman on 11 December 2024 (BILD.de). The party’s founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili—whose fortune was amassed in Russia—has been accused of steering Georgia towards Moscow. On 27 December 2024, the US imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili, citing his role in undermining democracy "in Russia’s favour," according to the US State Department.
Russia’s influence is not new. Since the 2008 war, Moscow has controlled 20% of Georgia’s territory—Abkhazia and South Ossetia—where thousands of Russian troops remain stationed. Yet, recent moves suggest a deeper entrenchment. Georgian Dream’s adoption of laws mirroring Russia’s—such as the "foreign agents" legislation in May 2024—has drawn parallels to Kremlin tactics, while trade ties with Russia have surged, with exports rising sharply since 2022, per Georgia’s National Statistics Office.
The EU and NATO have voiced concern. On 4 December 2024, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called the situation "deeply troubling," urging Georgia to recommit to its Euro-Atlantic path (DW.com). Meanwhile, Baltic states have imposed sanctions on Georgian officials, and the EU is mulling visa restrictions. Yet, with protests persisting into April 2025 and no resolution in sight, many fear Georgia’s pro-Western dreams are fading, ceding ground to a resurgent Russian sphere.

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