Opposition figure Gotsiridze: Georgia’s dependence on Russian gas grows as Azerbaijan reduces supply

Opposition politician Roman Gotsiridze has criticised the increasing reliance of Georgia on Russian gas, describing it as a consequence of the country’s weakened international position and a lack of supportive partners.

“Compared to 2020, the volume of Russian gas in Georgia has quadrupled. In 2025, a quarter of the gas we consume comes from Russia, a gas that everyone knows is used as a weapon against other countries,” Gotsiridze said, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on Moscow.

At the same time, Azerbaijani gas supplies to Georgia have been halved. “Two years ago, Azerbaijan supplied 1.4 billion cubic metres. In 2024, this dropped to 700 million cubic metres, and 2025 numbers show a similar trend. Meanwhile, Russian gas volumes are rising, and gas tariffs in Georgia have increased for 2025 and 2026 instead of decreasing,” he noted.

Gotsiridze attributed the situation to both political and economic factors. Politically, Russia benefits from Georgia’s purchase of Gazprom gas, bypassing Western sanctions. Economically, personal and corrupt interests tied to the ruling Georgian Dream party influence these transactions.

He also stressed that Georgia’s international isolation has weakened its negotiating position: “No one wants to engage equally with a defenseless Georgia, without friends or immunity. This was evident in Azerbaijan’s stance. Azerbaijan is reducing gas supplies and telling us to buy from Russia instead, while selling freed-up gas to Europe at three times the price.”

Gotsiridze explained that the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline’s capacity is almost fully utilized, with Georgia receiving only about five percent of the total 20 billion cubic metres transported. “Even if Azerbaijan has more gas, it cannot deliver it to Europe unless the pipeline is expanded. A further expansion would take five–seven years,” he added.