For half a century, Orthodox Patriarch Ilia II was one of Georgia’s most influential figures, a symbol of stability as the country moved from Soviet subject to independent state, changed governments and the political system, and faced revolutions and wars. Ilia’s successor, Shio III, whose ties with Russia have raised brows, may struggle to hold on authority.
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.
An OSCE report denounces multiple human rights violations in Georgia, committed both during the repression of anti-government protests and through the adoption of controversial laws by the parliament dominated by the Georgian Dream. This is a new blow for oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili’s party, which was heavily criticized in recent years for Georgia's democratic regression and the deterioration of relations with the EU and the US.
The opposition denounced the case as politically motivated and says it is an attempt to suppress dissent. The trial is taking place against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis in Georgia, disputes over the election results, and an intensifying conflict between the government and opposition forces.
A BBC investigation alleged that the Georgian government used World War 1 chemical weapons against anti-government protesters. The Tbilisi government claimed that the allegations are part of a hybrid war waged against it.
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.
The ruling Georgian Dream party won, by a landslide, yet another round of elections in Georgia. The elections took place against a background of democracy backsliding, and increasing harassing of a fractured opposition.
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.
Amid a meltdown of relations with the EU and the US, the ruling Georgian Dream is blaming the country’s former rulers for the 2008 war. The move is also seen as an attempt to eliminate the pro-European opposition.
For four months, Georgians have been protesting daily against the abandonment of the European path by a government seen as pro-Russian. The increasingly harsh response of the authorities has failed to deter the protesters.
After its anti-democratic and anti-Ukrainian blunders compromised its relations with the West, the Georgian Dream hopes to be able to "reset" its relations with the US, now that it is led by Donald Trump.
A battle between the people and the [ruling Georgian Dream] Party is being fought on the streets of Georgian cities. The stake: Georgia’s path towards the EU vs. a return to Russia’s orbit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Georgia could restrict the rights of the LGBT community. The move would hinder the country’s European integration.
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.
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.
The recent killing of a Georgian by Russian troops brought into spotlight Moscow’s policy of encroaching of Georgian land. It was also an attempt to sabotage Tbilisi’s EU integration.
As experts warn that Georgia will not be granted EU candidate status this year, authorities allege there was a coup plot and the parliament impeaches the president.
Georgia is increasingly economically dependent on Russia, which generates security risks for Tbilisi. There are also concerns that Moscow is circumventing Western sanctions through Georgia.
The Georgian Dream proposes an anti-oligarch law to unblock Georgia's path to the EU. The law protects Bidzina Ivanishvili and was criticized by the Venice Commission.
While Georgia hopes to be granted EU-candidate status, its government seems unwilling to reform the judiciary, as demanded by both Brussels and the US.
Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili is increasingly distancing herself from the ruling Georgian Dream party that helped her win the elections. Zourabishvili opposes the Georgian Dream increasingly anti-Western rhetoric and seems poised to challenge the Georgian Dream with a new political movement that would bring Georgia closer to the EU.
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream was recently forced to drop a Russian-inspired bill. The party seems determined to return to this project, which may compromise Georgia's European path, but is promoted by Russian propaganda. The problem for the Georgian Dream - and for Moscow - is that most of the population opts for Euro-Atlantic integration.
Formally, Tbilisi maintains its course towards integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, but the movement towards the West has been on inertia lately, while Moscow's influence is only growing. The ruling party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, increasingly links national interests with his personal interests, be it political or business related. At a decisive moment for Georgia's future, such a policy may prove fatal.
Over the past year, the health of the former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is serving a six-year prison sentence, has been a major topic of political debate both inside and outside of Georgia. The opposition and Saakashvili's lawyers say he should be transferred to a European clinic to be treated for mental illness, personality deterioration and severe depression. The government claims that the former president is faking it. Finally, signals are coming from Brussels that if Mikheil Saakashvili dies in detention, Georgia's European future could be jeopardized.
