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IMAGO / NurPhoto

Georgian Knot: Local Repressions and International Isolation

For weeks, Georgia has been caught in a destructive cycle of protests and repression, isolating the country on the international stage.

Even after nearly 70 days of continuous protests, the de facto government of Georgia—controlled by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili—remains unyielding. However, instead of the brutal crackdowns seen at the start of the demonstrations, authorities are now resorting to targeted intimidation and repression against individuals. The cases of Msia Amaghlobeli and Giorgi Gacharia starkly illustrate how the rule of law in Georgia has collapsed in recent months. Internationally, the country is increasingly isolated. Recent diplomatic visits by the new government leadership to neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia highlight that Georgia’s path to Europe remains blocked under the rule of the Georgian Dream party.

Stephan Malerius, Florian Binder
February 5, 2025
Country reports
Aziz Karimov, AP, picture alliance

“Great Game” in the South Caucasus

How Internal and External Factors Are Fuelling Tensions in the Region

Scarcely any other region is so directly impacted by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as the South Caucasus. It is as if they have plunged Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia into a permanent crisis mode, after years of “stagnant stability” had already been shaken in 2020 with the second Nagorno-Karabakh war. Since then, the South Caucasus has been in a state of unrest. The causes are complex, the landscape of players is confusing, and forecasts would require a crystal ball.

Stephan Malerius
December 16, 2024
International Reports
IMAGO / MAXPPP

Georgia on the barricades

Since the government announced that Georgia would suspend its EU rapprochement, tens of thousands have been protesting across the country every evening.

Less than a month after the controversial parliamentary elections in Georgia, the old and new head of government Irakli Kobakhidze surprisingly declared that the government led by the Georgian Dream party had decided not to endeavour to enter into EU accession negotiations until 2028 and not to accept any further EU payments. This was preceded by a strong resolution by the European Parliament, in which the parliamentary elections of 26 October were described as not free and fair and the Georgian Dream was held responsible for massive democratic setbacks in Georgia. Since then, there have been massive protests every night in numerous cities. The police responds with brutal violence, the demonstrators respond with fireworks. Hundreds of people have been arrested. The fronts have hardened.

Stephan Malerius, Florian Binder
December 9, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Scanpix

Special election operation in Georgia

A historic election in the South Caucasus is characterised by electoral fraud on a presumably historic scale

The Georgians are a creative nation, for better or for worse. The parliamentary elections on 26 October were an impressive illustration of this. At around 10 p.m., the Central Election Commission announced a result of 53% for the ruling Georgian Dream party, with the four opposition blocs accounting for a total of 38%. Exit polls had painted the opposite picture two hours earlier. Independent election observers, who documented and communicated numerous irregularities during the election day, are calling for the elections to be annulled. The president and the opposition declare that they will not accept the election results. The OSCE's preliminary statement is very critical of the general conditions but certifies that the elections were most widely conducted in a technically correct manner. 

Stephan Malerius
October 29, 2024
Country reports
Georgisches Parlament via AP, picture alliance

Polarise and Rule!

Dysfunctionalities in the Georgian Political System

Polarisation is one of the greatest defects of the young Georgian democracy. When Georgia applied to join the EU in March 2022, the country was given a European perspective along with twelve recommendations. The most important point: political de-polarisation. However, the government and the opposition were unwilling to recognise the problem, let alone address it.

Stephan Malerius
October 29, 2024
N/A

Polarisiere und herrsche!

Dysfunktionalitäten im politischen System Georgiens

Polarisierung gehört zu den größten Defekten der jungen georgischen Demokratie. Als Georgien im März 2022 den EU-Beitritt beantragte, wurde dem Land eine europäische Perspektive gegeben, die gepaart war mit zwölf Empfehlungen. Der wichtigste Punkt: eine politische De-Polarisierung. Regierung und Opposition zeigten sich jedoch nicht bereit, das Problem anzuerkennen, geschweige denn es anzugehen.

Stephan Malerius
October 23, 2024
Single title
IMAGO / Le Pictorium

Georgia votes: Calm before the storm?

Georgians will vote for a new parliament on 26 October. It is a directional election, Europe is in demand

For the first time since 2012, the opposition in Georgia appears to have a serious chance of replacing the government of pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Many observers are talking about a mood for change in the country. Although the ruling Georgian Dream party is likely to become the strongest political force again, it will fall short of the necessary majority. There have been no widespread protests during the election campaign so far, but that could change. The current relative calm seems deceptive and a major confrontation could be imminent. Will the government try to manipulate the elections? How will Ivanishvili behave? How will the transfer of power proceed if the opposition wins? What role will the president play? It is an election with many unknowns.

Florian Binder, Stephan Malerius
October 21, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

Azerbaijan - Election without a choice

Aliyev has a new Azerbaijani parliament elected: The voter turnout of 37% speaks for itself

In the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, which were moved up due to the COP 29, President Ilham Aliyev's ‘New Azerbaijan’ party, which has been in power since 1995, won on paper. Although it only won 67 out of 125 seats, there will de facto be no independent representatives in the new Azerbaijani parliament.

Stephan Malerius, Florian Binder
September 9, 2024
Country reports
adobe stock / Ramil

Parliamentary elections ahead of COP29

Despite many hurdles and a predictable outcome, independent candidates are challenging Aliyev's government.

Since 1995, the ruling party ‘New Azerbaijan’ has won every election with an overwhelming majority. The early parliamentary elections on 1 September are likely to be no exception. While the country has allowed Western election observation missions to take part in previous polls, this time only the OSCE has been invited. Chinese and Russian election observers are welcome. Despite major obstacles, independent candidates are also running. One of them is Shahriyar Majidzadeh, whose constituency of Tartar also includes parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. His slogan is: ‘Peace, climate protection, gender equality and education’.

Florian Binder, Stephan Malerius
August 27, 2024
Country reports
KAS

Gateway to Armenia, key to peace?

The history of the South Caucasus could be rewritten from Meghri in southern Armenia - a political travel report

In October 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented his government's ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative at a conference in Tbilisi. This envisages the opening of borders, the restoration of transport routes - road and rail - and the revitalisation of political and cultural connections in the South Caucasus. The initiative is a positive vision for a region that has been characterised by wars and conflicts for three decades. In Meghri, on Armenia's border with Iran, there are glimpses of what a peaceful South Caucasus could look like. But there is still a long way to go, and political will is needed above all. Europe could play a constructive role here.

Stephan Malerius
July 19, 2024
Country reports

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