politics

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A woman holds a poster reading: ‘freedom to Misha’. Photo: Shota Kincha/OC Media.

Georgia

‘Misha must survive!’ — Saakashvili supporters rally for his release

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

Georgia’s largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), has moved to restart pro-Saakashvili demonstrations amidst lingering party divisions and uncertainty over the ex-president’s wishes about how to be helped. Several thousand supporters of imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili congregated on narrow streets of downtown Tbilisi, outside the office of the ruling Georgian Dream office, on Saturday to demand his freedom. The demonstration, which was organised by the p

Badri Japaridze

Georgian lawmakers expel three opposition leaders from parliament

by Shota Kincha

•3 min read

Three opposition MPs in Georgia have been stripped of their seats in a move that will potentially shift the balance of power in parliament. On Tuesday, MPs from the ruling party Georgian Dream party voted to axe the seats of three opposition leaders: Shalva Natelashvili, Chair of the Labour Party, Badri Japaridze, one of Lelo’s leaders, and the chair of Droa (it’s time!), Elene Khoshtaria. Georgian Dream also terminated the mandate of one of their own leading lawmakers, ex-Speaker Kakha Kuch

19 April Agreement

Datablog | Who should solve Georgia’s political crises?

by Tsisana Khundadze

•3 min read

Georgian politics often appears to be in a near-constant crisis — marked by protests, boycotts, and acrimony. But who do Georgians think should solve their political problems? Since the 2020 parliamentary elections, Georgia has experienced political deadlock. The EU and US both supported attempts to mediate between the government and opposition, ultimately leading to the Charles Michel Agreement. This agreement, though, was eventually abandoned. Just this week, the opposition United Nationa

Giorgi Gakharia. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Analysis

Datablog | The Gakharia effect

by Givi Silagadze

•3 min read

In February, then Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigned in response to a disagreement within the ruling party regarding the detention of Nika Melia, the leader of the United National Movement. But how did his resignation affect people’s political views? Gakharia was among the most popular leaders from the ruling party and led Georgian Dream during the 2020 Parliamentary elections. Analysis of a February 2021 NDI survey, which was ongoing at the time of Gakharia’s resignation, suggests th

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan: a hostile environment for genuine opposition parties

by Kamran Mahmudov

•7 min read

Nearly five years after the Azerbaijani government began a renewed crackdown on dissenting voices, the environment remains hostile for opposition parties. The authorities create the semblance of a multi-party system by financing political parties whose role is to function as the opposition while maintaining the status quo. Some fear that suppressing genuine opposition and excluding it from the political arena will lead to more radical forms of activism, which could ultimately be damaging for

abuse

Opinion | Armenia’s female councillors were abused for challenging the patriarchal political system

by Anna Nikoghosyan

•8 min read

On 13 February, female councillors from Armenia’s women-led opposition party Yerkir Tsirani were attacked, physically and sexually, during a Yerevan City Council session. The women were later blamed for the attack, and for ‘inappropriate behaviour’ in the council. While the women politicians’ actions were met with hostility from some, they have also sparked public resistance against gendered violence, and against the patriarchal political system that perpetuates it. Nonviolence meets force

Democracy

Georgian politics — all circuses, without the bread [Opinion]

by Bakar Berekashvili

•4 min read

Georgia’s political elites are engaged in heated debates over a number of issues they claim are of existential importance to the country. These circuses, in which different interest groups fight for their own elitist agendas, has very little relation to the views and needs of ordinary Georgians. Ostensibly, in contemporary Georgia, as in ancient Athens, all citizens are experts in political life. But, a majority of Georgians use their ‘expertise’ only in informal circumstances, in taxis