Visul Georgian: Latest news, analysis, video interviews, video reports

Expert: everyone perceives the Georgian Dream as a Russian construct
Expert: everyone perceives the Georgian Dream as a Russian construct

Georgia’s worst political crisis in years continues into 2025, following a year marked by mass protests, accusations of electoral fraud and the derailment, by the ruling Georgian Dream party, of the country’s European integration path.

Diana Shanava
07 Jan 2025
Georgia’s momentous elections: choosing between the West and Russia
Georgia’s momentous elections: choosing between the West and Russia

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.

Diana Shanava
25 Oct 2024
The South Caucasus, a strategic region destabilized by Russia, Turkey and Iran
The South Caucasus, a strategic region destabilized by Russia, Turkey and Iran

The South Caucasus has a strategic position between Asia and the Black Sea, but its stability – and prosperity – are blocked by the three powers vying for influence there: Russia, Turkey and Iran.

The Russian Dream “reunification plan” is a dream scenario for Russia
The Russian Dream “reunification plan” is a dream scenario for Russia

Georgia’s de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili wants Tbilisi to apologize for the 2008 war Russia waged against his country. In return he promises Georgia’s reunification under a scenario that would benefit Moscow.

Diana Shanava
04 Oct 2024
Was Georgia’s shadow ruler really marked for assassination?
Was Georgia’s shadow ruler really marked for assassination?

Tbilisi claims that oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili was targeted for assassination by a cabal that also tried to kill Donald Trump and Slovakia’s Robert Fico. Georgia’s opposition says this is nonsense.

Diana Shanava
21 Aug 2024
Did the Georgian Dream end Georgia’s European dream?
Did the Georgian Dream end Georgia’s European dream?

Following the US announcement to review bilateral relations with Georgia, the EU announced the suspension of the country's accession to the European Union. The party of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili will no longer be able to use the successes of European integration in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Diana Shanava
26 Jul 2024
The Georgian Dream plays the Chinese card against the West
The Georgian Dream plays the Chinese card against the West

Against the backdrop of a crisis in Georgia's relations with the West, Tbilisi is increasing ties with China, which is now building a strategic deep water port on the Black Sea.

Diana Shanava
01 Jul 2024
The Georgian Dream is gambling its political future by moving away from the West
The Georgian Dream is gambling its political future by moving away from the West

Though most Georgians support Euro-Atlantic integration, the ruling Georgian Dream forced a Russian-inspired law to silence civil society and is increasingly critical of the West. Georgia's EU partners are warning that the law will hinder the country's path to European integration, while the United States is talking about revising bilateral relations and introducing personal sanctions against Georgian officials.

Diana Shanava
18 Jun 2024
Is Georgia about to score an own goal?
Is Georgia about to score an own goal?

Georgia could restrict the rights of the LGBT community. The move would hinder the country’s European integration.

Diana Shanava
16 Apr 2024
Georgia’s oligarch is back. Will he steer the country towards Russia?
Georgia’s oligarch is back. Will he steer the country towards Russia?

With elections looming this year, Georgia’s éminence grise, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, returned to politics. Shortly after that, a new, pro-Russian premier was appointed.

Diana Shanava
11 Mar 2024
Pro-Russians in EU-candidate Georgia want to vindicate Stalin
Pro-Russians in EU-candidate Georgia want to vindicate Stalin

A scandal regarding an icon depicting Stalin in Tbilis’s main cathedral brought into spotlight efforts by pro-Russians and Russian propaganda to revive the cult of the former dictator. Following protests against the icon, the ruling Georgian Dream, which claims to be committed to Euro-Atlantic integration, unveiled Russian-inspired plans to criminalize religious insults. 

Diana Shanava
16 Feb 2024
Georgia in 2024: between getting closer to the EU and the domestic struggle for power
Georgia in 2024: between getting closer to the EU and the domestic struggle for power

Georgia was granted EU candidate country in late 2023, but it needs to undertake a number of reforms before the actual negotiations would start. The European Council’s decision came following a complicated year, when the ruling Georgian Dream was faced with criticism from the West and domestic turmoil for what were perceived as pro-Russian and authoritarian policies. Veridica spoke with the co-founder of the Center for Strategic Analysis (GSAC), former Georgian Ambassador to Russia Valery Chechelashvili about how the events of 2023 could affect the future of Georgia, considering the fact that 2024 is an election year.

Diana Shanava
10 Jan 2024