Ketevan Shoshiashvili & Guram Imnadze: GEORGIA’S DEMOCRATIC CRISIS

Cathrin Kahlweit in conversation with Ketevan Shoshiashvili and Guram Imnadze

GEORGIA’S DEMOCRATIC CRISIS

The political situation in Georgia is currently extremely tense. Following the controversial parliamentary elections in October 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party is claiming victory, while opposition groups and international observers are accusing them of massive electoral fraud. The crisis has intensified since: the government delayed EU accession talks until 2028 and appointed the controversial politician Mikheil Kavelashvili as president at the end of December. President Salome Zurabishvili refuses to resign calls for new elections. Massive protests rock the country, with security forces brutally cracking down on demonstrators. The USA has already imposed sanctions against Georgian government representatives. The developments raise serious doubts about Georgia’s democratic development and fuel fears of a possible subversion to Russia. The political, European and democratic future of Georgia remains highly uncertain.

Cathrin Kahlweit talks to Ketevan Shoshiashvili and Guram Imnadze about the current situation and their insights into the political opposition as well as their personal experiences with the ongoing protests.

Ketevan Shoshiashvili,senior researcher at Transparency International Georgia, professional expertise on democratization in the EU’s Eastern Partnership region 

Guram Imnadze,member of the board of directors of the Social Justice Centre

 Cathrin Kahlweit, Journalist and Publicist