Georgia's politics is in a phase of major change. Since leaving the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991, Georgia has strengthened its ties with the European Union (EU) and the United States. However, in recent years, as the ruling party, Georgia's Dream, has gained more power and influence in both central and local governments, it has gradually rethought its traditional pro-Western stance and shifted toward a more distanced approach. Furthermore, the government is expanding economic ties with Russia and China, a major shift from its traditional diplomatic line. However, a domestic backlash by some citizens is also brewing, and Georgian society is experiencing major divisions. This article will decipher what is happening in Georgia today, focusing on the country's politics and economy, as well as its relations with Western countries and Russia.

People gather in front of the Parliament to protest the results of the 2024 parliamentary elections (Photo:) AlexandreAssatiani / Wikimedia Commons [CC0 1.0]. )

Basic Information on Georgia

Georgia is a South Caucasian country located on the eastern coast of the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea. It borders Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Armenia and Turkey to the south, making it a border between Europe and Asia. Population as of January 2025,Approximately 3.7 million peopleApproximately 1.28 million of them live in the capital, Tbilisi.

Its history is long and its civilization was built in ancient times. Tbilisi, the current capital, prospered as one of the trading centers of the Silk Road.10th to 13th centuryThe United Kingdom of Georgia, with Tbilisi as its center, ruled the South Caucasus until around the end of the 19th century. Later, it was ruled by the Ottoman Empire and Persia,19th centuryIn 1949, the country was annexed to the Russian Empire. After a short period of independence, Georgia was annexed to the Soviet Union. The administrative divisions of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union were used as the basis for the development of Georgia's borders.

Also,4th centuryAround the same time, the king of the time made Christianity the state religion, making Georgia one of the first countries in the world to recognize Christianity at the national level. Christianity has remained the main religion in Georgia and is now the nationalApprox. 83.4%is a member of the Georgia Orthodox Church.

Georgia's topography, bordered by the Black Sea to the west and the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains to the north and south, created geographical conditions that made it easy for foreign enemies to invade. This unique topography has served to protect Georgia's unique culture and language. As a result, Georgia is also different from the language systems of neighboring regionsProprietary Languagesand could continue to maintain their religious independence even under the domination of interfaith forces.

Georgia wavers between the West and Russia

In 1921, Georgia was absorbed into the Soviet Union and has long been under the influence of the Soviet Union. However, in the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union began to disintegrate and independence movements developed throughout the Soviet Union, Georgia also saw moves toward independence. The major impetus for Georgia's turning toward independence came in April 1989, when Soviet troops attacked unarmed civilians in Tbilisi during a protest for independence in Tbilisi.shooting to deathThe first was an incident in which the Soviet Union was involved in a dispute with the Soviet Union. Since then, trust in the Soviet Union continued to decline in Georgia. Finally, like other former members of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared independence in 1991.

Immediately after independence, however, there were several armed conflicts between political forces. Instead of governance by government agencies, it took on the aspect of a criminal organization.forcewas in power. Later, Eduard Shevarnadze, former foreign minister of the Soviet Union, became president and the situation improved, but the country still faced corruption, corruption, and economic stagnation.

In the meantime, South Ossetia and Abkhazia became problematic. South Ossetia and Abkhazia in northern Georgia had autonomous status in Georgia because of their ethnically different language and culture from the Kartveli, who constitute the ethnic majority in Georgia. 1990s attempts to unify the official language of these regions with Georgian, which the Kartveli use, and other In the 1990s, the government attempted to reduce the autonomy of these regions by, for example, trying to unify the official language of these regions with the Georgian language spoken by the Kartvelians. In response, these regions began to rebel and an independence movement erupted.South OssetiaIn the same year, an armed struggle for secession broke out in Abkhazia, which declared its independence in 1992. In the same year, an armed struggle also broke out in Abkhazia, which signed a cease-fire agreement with Georgia in 1994.

In these conflicts, Russia has mediated ceasefires, while some of its military and political forces have provided substantial support to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, through arms transfers and the involvement of the Black Sea Fleet.affectIt is believed that they gave After the ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers were dispatched to South Ossetia and Abkhazia to build infrastructure, etc., and these aids essentially helped maintain separatist forces.

In response, Georgia steered its relations with the West toward stronger ties and joined the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1999. Despite the progress made in foreign policy, the country's internal affairs were plagued by corruption, severe economic stagnation, and rampant organized crime. These dissatisfactions exploded in the wake of allegations of fraud in the 2003 parliamentary elections. As a result of the citizens' protest movement, a bloodless regime change called the "Rose Revolution" took place, and Mikheil Saakashvili assumed the new government that year.

On the day of the Rose Revolution (Photo:) AlexandreAssatiani / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0]. )

Mr. Saakashvili was a strong advocate of a pro-Western line. In addition, since the U.S. had encouraged the student movement and regime change through election monitoring and NGO support before and after the Rose Revolution, the U.S.Indirectly.Some point out that they were involved in the regime change. The U.S. supported this new government becausepetroleumThere is also the presence of For Western countries, oil from Azerbaijan's Baku oil field is transferred through Georgia to Turkey.pipelinewould have provided a more stable supply of oil from the Western point of view than through Russia or Iran. It would also thwart Russia's plans to seize control of energy transported from the Caspian Sea to Europe.Objective.The U.S. also provided significant financial support to the Circassivili administration. In addition, since 2002, there has been a continuous U.S.Military Exercise ProgramThe support was not limited to the economy.

Georgia has also developed pro-Western policies in response to such U.S. support. For example, when the U.S.-led multinational force invaded Iraq in 2003, Georgia sent troops as part of the multinational force. The decision to dispatch troops to Iraq itself dates back to the Shevarnadze administration, but the Saakashvili administration expanded it, and by the time of the withdrawal in 2008, the total number of troops dispatched was second only to the U.S. and the U.K.third (in a series)The country had been the most frequent sending country to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004.Individual Partnership Action Plans (IPAPs)."and in 2006, a precursor to NATO membership.Focused Dialogue."The company is conducting the following activities. (*1)

Conflict with Russia

This attitude of the Circassivili administration was perceived as a threat to Russia. The turning point came at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008. At that time, Georgia's membership in NATO was not approved, but the policy of becoming a NATO member in the future, if the necessary conditions are met, wasspecificationThe Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to this by saying, "NATO's expansion eastward threatens Russia's security. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "NATO's expansion eastward threatens Russia's security.Warning.and further increased its vigilance toward Georgia.

This caution took shape in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where since 1994 Georgia had barely contained these movements, although there had been minor clashes with separatists. In the summer of 2008, however, Russia increased the number of peacekeepers stationed in South Ossetia, prompting a major military intervention by Georgia in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia subsequently established formal diplomatic relations with Georgia.severand officially recognized Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. In the course of this series of events, anti-Russian sentiment rose dramatically in Georgia.

Russian military vehicles in South Oceach territory (Photo:) Yana Amelina /Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0].)

The Saakashvili administration, while being blamed for the defeat, maintained a course of cooperation with the West and continued to rule forcefully on a platform of national reconstruction and the eradication of corruption. Arrests continued to be made, and from 2003 to 2010, the number of people incarcerated in Georgia's prisons was,300%The number was increasing. However, just before the 2012 parliamentary elections, political corruption and images of torture in prisons wereeffluenceThe public's trust in the company rapidly declined.

Against this background, the people sought other political leaders. As a result, the opposition party "Georgia's Dream" won the 2012 parliamentary elections and a change of government took place. Since then, "Georgia's Dream" has been in power until the present day in 2025. The new prime minister was businessman and billionaire Bizina Ivanishvili. He had spent the 1990s in Russia, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he had been working in the banking, steel, and telecommunications industries.財The opposition forces have said that Ivanishvili is loyal to Russia because, among other things, his wealth is rooted in Russia. Because his wealth is rooted in Russia, and for other reasons, opposition forces believe that Ivanishvili is loyal to Russia.criticismHe has been doing so for a long time. Although Ivanishvili retired from the prime ministership after one year and was officially retired from politics, he continued to hold a very powerful influence in the "Georgian Dream" and was called a "shadow power. "In 2024, the "Georgian Dream"honorary presidentThe company officially returned to the public stage with its appointment to the

Impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Changes in Ukraine-Russia relations affect the Georgian public's sentiment toward Russia. Let's look at a Georgian public opinion survey, launched in 2010, by the International Republican Institute (IRI).surveyIn the following section, respondents answered the question, "Do you agree or disagree with further dialogue with Russia?" in five categories: "completely agree," "somewhat agree," "somewhat disagree," "completely disagree," and "don't know/no answer.

The above graph shows a gradual increase in the number of people who do not want dialogue with Russia after 2014, the year of Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, which may have had some impact on the thinking of the Georgian public. Ukraine, like Georgia, is a former member of the Soviet Union and has long sought membership in NATO. Also, the security situations of Georgia and Ukraine are similar in that they share a border with Russia. The government also strongly opposed Russia's actions at the time.blameThe company is doing so.

On the occasion of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the number of people unwilling to engage in dialogue with Russia increased again. Volunteer soldiers from Georgia to Ukraine were among the foreign troops in Ukraine.largest scalegroups. On the other hand, the Georgian government has criticized Russia for its aggression, but has not officially participated in the economic sanctions against Russia imposed by the Western powers, and has shown itself to be distancing itself from Ukraine.

The "Georgian Dream" claims that Ukraine and the West are trying to involve Georgia in this war, and that thisdeclineThe government has been doing so. In addition, the government has given the returning soldiers from UkrainequestioningThere are reports that the Russian troops stationed in South Ossetia, from the capital Tbilisi.40kmdistance, and the government seems to be struggling to strike a balance between Russia and the West so as not to provoke Russia.

Economic Situation in Georgia

Foreign affairs are not the only issues of concern to Georgians; according to a June 2021 IRI poll, "What are the biggest challenges facing your country?" In response to the question,73%of the respondents cited economic events such as unemployment and the rising cost of living as major challenges. In fact, the percentage of people living below the ethical poverty line (*2) of US$7.4 per day will beApprox. 37.5%The unemployment rate was In addition, the unemployment rate, as of 202413.9%The first time the company was in

Trucks line the border between Russia and Georgia (Photo:EvaL Miko / Shutterstock)

As reasons for this, the experts cited the still inadequate redistribution of labor from low-productivity to high-productivity activities, as well as serious economic disparities.pointing outOn the one hand, the company has been working on a plan to expand its business in Georgia On the other hand, after 2021, Georgia'sGDP growth rateis high and trending. In other words, Georgia as a whole is experiencing a gradual upturn in the economy, but many citizens do not perceive it.

The graphs referenced in the previous chapter show that sentiment toward Russia improved in 2021. This could be related to the economic context: the pandemic of the new coronavirus in 2020 had a significant impact on Georgia. And the following year, the country's economic dependence on Russia increased in 2021. This was the year of Georgia's biggestimporting countryIn terms of wine produced in Georgia, 551 TP3T of wine was exported to Russia. The amount of goods brought to Georgia from Russia, including remittances by migrant workers and tourism, was the second largest contributor to GDP in this year, with 551 TP3T of Georgian wine exported to Russia.6.7%accounted for the majority of the respondents. Regarding the strengthening of Georgia's ties with Russia, they are aware of the risks, but also recognize the importance of the ties with Russia for economic stability.

Election 2024 and two bills

In October 2024, Georgia held parliamentary elections. One of the factors that intensified these elections, commonly known as the "Foreign Agents Act" (*3)The Transparency in Foreign Influence Act."in the "Foreign Interests Act". While the law requires organizations that receive more than 201 TP3T of funds from foreign countries to register as "organizations pursuing foreign interests," it also requires the Georgia government to have a large and obscureauthority to investigateThe law gives the The government says the law is intended to stop foreign powers it considers harmful from threatening Georgia's peace and security.claimThe company is working on a new project.

Irakli Kobahidze as Prime Minister of Georgia in February 2024 (Photo:) Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office /Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0])

The government says the law is based on a similar law in the U.S.claimbut those who oppose it say it is similar to a similar Russian law.claimThe company is doing so.Human Rights Watch.states that the law is contrary to the legal obligations of the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Georgia is a signatory. The law is also against Georgia's constitutional provisions.violation (of law)It has been pointed out that it is very likely that the The President (*4) vetoed the bill, but this decision was overturned by the "Georgia's Dream" administration's majority in Congress, which ultimately passed the bill. Furthermore, in the same year, the Georgian governmentProtecting the Family View."The "Anti-LGBTQ Law" (*5), which prohibits same-sex marriage and gender reassignment surgery on the grounds of "LGBTQ", also caused a stir.

Against this backdrop, this election will be the third in a series of threeexit pollThe two exit polls conducted by opposition-leaning TV stations commissioned by an American polling firm predicted a cumulative victory for the opposition. Two exit polls commissioned by an American polling firm and conducted by an opposition-leaning television station predicted a cumulative victory for the opposition, while an exit poll conducted by a ruling party-leaning television station predicted an overwhelming victory for the ruling party. In the end, "Georgia's Dream" received the largest percentage of votes53.9%and won re-election. Despite some protests about the election results, the police arrested some of them andRisk of violencewent up. International election observers likewise have been working during the elections toViolence against votersThe report confirmed the following.

In response to this situation, the European Parliament announced in November that it would not accept the election results, citing "grave irregularities. In contrast, the "Georgian Dream" government has been in power since the invasion of Ukraine, EU Accession Negotiationsto be cancelled for four years.announcementThe United States has also decided to suspend its Strategic Partnership Charter with Georgia. In response, the United States also decided to suspend the Strategic Partnership Charter with Georgia, which it has been following since 2009.decisionThe first time this happened was in 1949. This further opened the distance between Georgia and the Western countries.

In December 2024, the electoral law was revised. ThischangeThe local elections held in October 2025 were the first elections in which this revised electoral law was applied. As a result, candidates of the "Georgia's Dream" party won first place in all 64 local councils, demonstrating the dominance of the ruling party in local politics. In the background, the opposition parties' policyInconsistencyand the failure to present a unified regime change option was noted.

People protesting against the government at the end of November 2024 (Photo:George Khelashvili / Shutterstock)

summary

Asian Development Bank says Georgia's economic situation in 2025 "continues to grow steadily"evaluationto the world. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, the long-standing problems of poverty andunemployment ratehas not improved. These socioeconomic grievances, combined with political mistrust and social fragmentation, have contributed to instability in Georgia's domestic politics.

On the diplomatic front, at a time when relations with the West are at a crossroads, Georgia is seeking another partnership: in October 2025, Russian crude oil in GeorgiaRefining facilitiesThe deepening of economic ties with Russia has been reported, including the ongoing construction of In addition, there has recently been arelationshiphas been making progress, and through exchanges among high-level officials, the strengthening of economic and infrastructure cooperation was confirmed. Georgia is being asked more than ever to strike a balance between advancing domestic economic growth and the types of countries with which it will join hands.

1 Mr. Sarkashvili at the time of his re-election in January 2008.inaugural speechin which he stated that "Georgia is forever tied to Europe." The pro-Western stance of the Saakashvili administration is evident in these statements.

2 GNV uses the ethical poverty line (US$7.4 per day) instead of the World Bank's extreme poverty line (US$1.9 per day). For more information, please refer to GNV's article "How do you read the global poverty situation?"See also.

3 The official name of the law commonly known as the "Foreign Agents Act" passed in 2024 is the "Transparency of Foreign Influence Act". 2025 saw the passage of the "Foreign Agents Act" which expanded the scope of audits from organizations to individuals and imposed more severe criminal penalties. 2025 saw the passage of this law, officially known as the Foreign Agents Law".

4 2017/18 revision adapted as of 2025constitutionThe President, then, is considered only the head of state and does not represent the executive or the government. Although the president has veto power over congressional decisions, a majority of Congress usually allows the president to veto a congressional decision if it is approved by a majority of Congress.supremacyDo.

5 LGBTQ is a Western countrypropagandaThe "Georgia's Dream" administration has long argued that the "Georgia's Dream" is a "Georgia's Dream" law. The law not only bans same-sex marriage and gender reassignment surgery, but also forbids events like Pride parades and the display of the rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, in public spaces. The "anti-LGBTQ" law gives the government the power to censor LGTBQ-related movies and books. A day after the law was passed, a trans woman was killed in Georgia.incidenthas occurred, and human rights groups claim that the law has promoted transphobia (hatred of transgender and transsexual people).

Writer: Ito Risa

Graphics: A. Ishida, Seita Morimoto

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