Georgia's Election: A Step Backward Towards Russian Influence
After the Georgian Dream (GD) party, guided by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, secured a parliamentary majority in the recent Georgian elections, reactions from Moscow were triumphantly positive. Margarita Simonyan, the head of the Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT, expressed this sentiment on social media, indicating that the desires of Georgians to strengthen their ties with Russia had yielded results. In stark contrast, many Georgians feel disheartened, likening their country's trajectory to that of Russia.
The elections raised critical questions regarding Georgia's future: would it continue drifting into Russia's sphere of influence, or would it pivot towards embracing European integration? However, given numerous reports of electoral irregularities and the outright rejection of the results by the largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), it appears this dilemma is unlikely to be resolved in the near future.
Since he founded the GD party in 2012, Ivanishvili has systematically steered Georgia closer to Russia. While leading a government that initially emerged in response to former President Mikheil Saakashvili's increasingly autocratic rule, Ivanishvili’s approach after 2012 has stirred discomfort among segments of the population desiring a firm European alignment. Throughout history, Georgian thinkers have emphasized Europe as essential for safeguarding their language and culture against domination by neighboring powers, notably Russia. Georgia’s contemporary constitution outlines a commitment to strengthen ties with the West, particularly with the EU and NATO.
Disillusionment peaked when the Georgian government publicly sided with Moscow against Kyiv in 2022, a striking betrayal of Ukraine—a nation that stood by Georgia during its own conflicts, including the 2008 Russian invasion. In recent years, the GD government has enacted repressive laws reminiscent of Russian policies, launching crackdowns on dissenters, activists, and the LGBTQ community while employing disinformation tactics reminiscent of Kremlin strategies. By 2024, this government repression provoked hundreds of thousands of people, especially youth, to participate in regular protests demanding a commitment to Europe.
This election was poised as a crucial moment for redefining the nation's future, arguably the most significant vote since Georgia's independence referendum in 1991. Polls suggested that the opposition was leading, and voters turned out in record numbers—so much so that lengthy queues formed at polling places on election day. Yet, the central election authority declared the GD party as the victor, amidst a backdrop of reported intimidation, coercion, and discrepancies in voter turnout.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) flagged numerous irregularities, including reports of violence and ballot stuffing. Although the GD party’s performance exceeded expectations—largely due to a fear-based pre-election campaign equating the opposition with a potential Russian invasion—the reality remained: fighting for fair treatment in a system influenced by an oligarch is a daunting task.
Even though the opposition rallies to contest the election's legitimacy, they must grapple with the fact that the GD is more politically entrenched than many anticipated. Their campaign effectively evoked memories of Georgia’s occupied territories and the horror of the 2008 invasion, securing enough support to secure a victory.
The implications of the election extend beyond local politics; they resonate with the broader narrative of global democracy. The unsettling truth is that the clearest victors in this scenario are not Georgian politicians, but rather those prioritizing power and money over collective democratic values. In this regard, the Kremlin has emerged as a significant beneficiary, marking a noteworthy triumph in its ongoing conflict against liberal democratic ideals worldwide.
As Georgia struggles to regain its democratic footing, it will require focused support from Europe and the United States. However, the escalating crises in the Middle East and the ongoing U.S. elections may divert attention from Georgia’s plight. Historically, it's essential to remember that the cracks in empires often appear at the fringes; hence aiding Georgia in reclaiming its democracy is vital to sustaining freedom globally.
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