Understanding Georgia’s Ongoing Protests

Since late 2024, Georgia has experienced significant social and political unrest, marked by persistent street protests. For over four months, Georgians have been taking to the streets daily demanding snap elections. The protests erupted following the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement to suspend European Union accession talks until 2028, a move that contradicted public aspirations for closer ties with the West. In response, the government has enacted repressive laws and employed excessive force against demonstrators, leading to widespread human rights concerns. The authorities in Georgia continue to arrest protesters, imposing harsh sentences, and enacting laws to increase penalties for protest-related offenses. Reports from human rights organizations detail instances of police brutality, including beatings and torture of detainees, as well as the levying of substantial fines against demonstrators. Ms. Chkhikvadze has been covering the protests and following the events closely. She will speak about the underlying causes behind the turmoil in Georgia, including concerns about democracy, human rights, and Russian influence. She will discuss what these protests signify for Georgia’s democratic future and geopolitical positioning.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER; Ani Chkhikvadze is a journalist reporting on international politics, security, and U.S. foreign policy, specializing in European and Eurasian affairs. Her extensive coverage of geopolitical developments has appeared in The Foreign Policy Magazine, The Washington Post, The Spectator, and The Free Press. Ms. Chkhikvadze spent eight years at Voice of America’s Georgian Service in Washington, D.C., reporting extensively on U.S. foreign policy, transatlantic relations, wider European affairs, and developments in the Caucasus and Georgia. Ms. Chkhikvadze holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and is fluent in Georgian and Russian.