The Georgian government, whose eminence gris is controversial oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, is suspected of using espionage charges against its opponents. In power since 2012, the Georgian Dream has been criticized for Georgia’s democratic backsliding. Its policies caused a rift in Georgia’s relations with its Western partners, the European Union and the United States.
Against the backdrop of sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and a frozen strategic partnership with the United States, the project looks less like a real estate initiative and more like an attempt to create a convenient pretext for dialogue with Washington.
As the country heads into 2026, it is likely to see further authoritarian moves from the ruling Georgian Dream; at the same time, resistance to the government and the protest movement are not likely to go anywhere.
An anti-corruption campaign targeting former high ranking Georgian officials may hide a drive by Georgia’s eminence grise, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, to get rid of associates that have become too ambitious.
Georgia’s leaders mimicked Donald Trump’s rhetoric hoping to reset the relationship with the US, which was damaged due to Tbilisi’s democratic backsliding. However, Washington didn’t buy it.
The elections will be not only a struggle for power but also an important geopolitical event that will define the future of a country at a crossroads between the West and rapprochement with Russia.