Georgia between Authoritarian Crackdown and Democratic Activism

On December 18, 08:30 Berlin time, 11:30 Tbilisi time, the Heinrich Boell Foundation Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region invites you to join the Zoom webinar “Georgia between Authoritarian Crackdown and Democratic Activism.”

Following the announcement by Irakli Kobakhidze not to seek the opening of Georgia-EU accession negotiations before 2028, Georgia's pro-European and democratic citizens have again taken to the streets in large numbers. The protest movement is been remarkably diverse, with large street actions in bigger and smaller cities nationwide, students and teachers going on strike, and open letters by public officials criticizing the anti-European steps. This time around, however, the crackdown has been brutal: Kobakhidze, whose Georgian Dream party is accused of electoral fraud in the parliamentary elections on October 26, is now openly threatening the pro-Europeans: “We will do everything necessary to completely eradicate liberal fascism in Georgia,” he said recently. Hundreds of people have been arrested and ill-treated, suggesting systematic and targeted police violence.

For months, Russia has been providing nefarious backing to the policy of the Georgian Dream party, and both have sought to instill fear of violence and conflict in Georgian citizens and EU capitals by propagating a "Color Revolution" and "Maidan" scenario.

During this Boell Talks webinar, we would like to provide space for voices from the ground to share their experience and expectations with the public. Who participates in the protests? What are the protesters' domestic and international demands? What further developments can we expect?

Speakers:

Dr. Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament, Co-President of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly

Mariam Nikuradze, Open Caucasus Media

Prof. Tamta Khalvashi, Ilia State University / Initiative "Education is in Danger"

Nugzar Kokhreidze, Research-Intellectual Club "Dialogue of Generations" / activist from Kutaisi

Moderator: Dr. Sonja Schiffers, hbs Tbilisi 

To join the event, please register here 

Language of the event: English 

In cooperation with Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung - Bundesstiftung Berlin.