In a detailed analysis for CNN, American journalist Jill Dougherty warns that Georgia’s democracy is collapsing, opening strategic opportunities for Russia, China, and Iran. Once a beacon of post-Soviet democratic reform, Georgia is now accused of silencing opposition, jailing political rivals, and aligning with authoritarian powers—all under the control of the Georgian Dream party and its informal leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been sanctioned by the US.
The bipartisan Megobari Act, currently moving through the US Congress, seeks to sanction Georgian officials involved in election fraud and repression. Its aim is to support democratic institutions and counter the influence of authoritarian states.
“The Georgian people have made clear their Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and the US must continue to support them against Georgian Dream efforts to erode their democratic institutions,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, co-sponsor of the bill.
Protests have filled Tbilisi’s streets for over 200 days, with demonstrators waving Georgian, EU, and US flags. But the government has responded with increasing repression—including arrests, surveillance via Chinese-made cameras, and legislation described by critics as “Russian-style.”
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has become a prominent target. He is currently abroad, facing treason charges widely viewed as politically motivated. His party, For Georgia, has warned that the October municipal elections could be the last democratic chance to halt authoritarian consolidation.
“While the Megobari Act offers hope for strengthened Western engagement, international pressure alone cannot reverse Georgia’s current trajectory,” Gakharia told CNN.
“The regime is aggressively working to eliminate all credible alternatives, but I am convinced that Georgian society has the determination and courage to resist, and to reclaim our rightful place in Europe—so long as the world remains engaged and vigilant.”
Dougherty also highlights the erosion of US-Georgia ties. Outgoing US Ambassador Robin Dunnigan described Georgian Dream’s rhetoric as “anti-American,” and revealed that the party had sent a letter to the Trump administration that was “threatening, insulting, unserious.”
Despite government policy shifts, the Georgian public remains strongly pro-Western. However, growing trade with Iran, contracts with Chinese companies, and the government’s suspension of EU accession efforts are increasing concern in Washington and Brussels.
“Today we have an anti-national, anti-state government that is destroying everything we have done over the past 20 years to bring us closer to Europe,” warned a Georgian opposition voice quoted in the piece.
In conclusion, Dougherty’s article portrays Georgia not only as a democracy in crisis but as a geopolitical battleground, with rising authoritarian influence threatening both its sovereignty and Western alignment.
Header image: Protesters gather in the capital on June 22, 2025 to demand the release of prisoners of conscience and new elections in Georgia.
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