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A Democracy in Freefall

„What we are witnessing is not a gradual erosion of democratic norms, but an orchestrated and aggressive shift toward authoritarianism. It is deliberate. It is accelerating. And it is being carried out by Georgia’s ruling party – Georgian Dream – under the informal direction of its founder, Russia-linked oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.“ Terje Helland has published another valuable article on his substack analyzing the current political developments in Georgia.

„This is the fastest democratic collapse in Europe in recent memory. And it offers urgent lessons for the entire West.“ His analysis of the situation thus adds an outsider’s perspective to OC Media’s write-up of the legislative changes passed by Georgia’s ruling party since 2023.

Helland concludes by mentioning what should be done by „the West“, how Western/European governments should act in support of the Georgian people, because „… amidst this darkness, one fact stands out: the people of Georgia have not given up. For over six months, they have taken to the streets, every day, in the largest pro-democracy protests since the Rose Revolution. Protesters carry EU and US flags. They sing the European anthem.

This is not an elite movement. It is grassroots. It is broad-based. It is deeply Georgian.“

Check out his substack for more interesting articles and if you like what you see, here’s how you can support his work.

People demonstrating their support for a European future outside the Georgian parliament, May 2024.
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16 Steps to Authoritarianism

OC Media is an independent media platform focused on news, issues, analysis and backgrounds from the Caucasus region. Based in Tbilisi, they obviously have a tireless watch on political shifts and protests in Georgia.

This week, they published an excellent write-up on the legislative changes introduced and passed by Georgia’s ruling party since 2023, which have pushed the country further down an authoritarian path.

Here’s where you can find the article and if you like what you read, consider supporting their effort to become the first member-funded media platform in the Caucasus.

People gathered outside the Georgian Parliament for an overnight sit-in on the eve of the third reading of the so-called ‚Russian Law‘, May 2024.
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Happy Independence Day

Today, May 26th, is a national holiday in Georgia, commemorating the day in 1918 when the Democratic Republic of Georgia was established.

To all my friends in Georgia: I wish you a happy Independence Day! Especially in these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to remember what’s at stake—not just in Georgia, but everywhere.

A young protester on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue during 2024’s demonstrations against the „Russian Law“.
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Trying to Make Sense of it All

Just arrived back in Tbilisi for another three weeks packed with plans and projects, ideas and meetings. I’m happy to be once again staying with my friend Otar Karalashvili and his family.

One of our favorite things to do while I’m here is talk—about photography, art, design, the educational system, and what it would take to change the world. And of course, politics: what’s happening in both our countries and on the world stage, just trying to make sense of it all. Not an easy task these days.

Trying to make sense of the world with Otar Karalashvili, April 2025.

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Remembering April 9, 1989

On this day 36 years ago, horror descended upon Tbilisi as Soviet forces violently cracked down on peaceful protesters, leaving 21 people dead and hundreds injured in the streets of the capital. Since then, this day has become one of the most significant in Georgia’s history and so again today, people are gathering on Rustaveli Avenue in remembrance and protest.

Honoring this memory I am sharing a now-iconic photograph made on this day by Georgian photographer Yuri Mechitov, that was also featured in our 2018 book „Tamar, Where Are You?“.

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„From Storm to Vineyard“

For over 130 consecutive days, people have been protesting in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, and across the country, demanding free and fair elections, the release of all political prisoners, and the continuation of the EU accession process. Slowly, however, voices of doubt are beginning to emerge—not questioning the necessity of the protests, but rather the prospects of their success.

One such voice belongs to Tornike Metreveli, Associate Professor at Lund University, who is, as he describes it, writing „from grief, solidarity, and stubborn hope“. In an article published on his Substack he discusses why „Georgian protests need a paradigm shift“.

„What Georgia needs now is something closer to a vineyard. A vineyard doesn’t bloom overnight. It is planted with care, rooted deep into hard soil, pruned through seasons, and tended across generations. It requires patience, labor, trust in cycles. And when it bears fruit, it does so not just once, but year after year—sustaining life long after the storm has passed. Protest may spark change, but only the slow, deliberate work of cultivation can make that change endure.“

It is a thought-provoking perspective on how to move forward and definitely food for thought. „What I am calling for is not less resistance, but deeper resistance—not retreat, but resilience.“

You can subscribe to his Substack or pledge your support here.

„Never too small to make a difference“ – success starts with belief, Tbilisi, May 2024.
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Never Give Up

Ghia Nodia is a professor of political science at Ilia State University and director of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy, and Development in Tbilisi, Georgia. In a recent article published online in the Journal of Democracy, he analyzed the current situation in Georgia, laying our why Georgians will never give up. „Everyone realizes that if the public is defeated now, there might not be another chance for a long time.“

Meaning another chance to turn things around because, as he states, „the ruling party’s fundamental weakness is that its policies go against the core of Georgia’s national project as long understood and endorsed by most of its people“. It’s a compelling read to understand what’s at stake for the Georgian population. 

Flashing a victory sign during a demonstration behind the Georgian Parliament, May 2024.

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Yes to Independence

Honoring 34 years today since Georgians declared a thundering YES to independence for the world to hear.

Students carrying a the flags of Europe and of the first Republic of Georgia (1918-1921) during a march in May 2024.

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Independence

Congratulations Georgia!

Thirty-Four years ago on March 31st., the Georgian people were asked a very simple question: „Do you agree or disagree with restoring Georgia’s state independence based on the Act of May 26, 1918?“

To which an overwhelming majority of 98,9 % answered „Yes“. Thus, the Georgian independence was once again restored, following its first independence from 1918 to 1921 and 70 years of Soviet occupation.

So today, once again be a big rally will take place in Tbilisi celebrating the referendum including an appearance of President Salome Zourabishvili who is said to announce an action plans of democratic powers.

Picture of the referendum, copied from a Bluesky post of journalist and editor Anna Gvarishvili.

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4000 Members Needed to Stay Afloat

In 2023, I had the opportunity to meet Mariam Nikuradze, an award-winning journalist and co-founder of the Georgian independent media platform OC Media, at their office in Tbilisi. She shared the history of OC Media, their focus on reporting issues concerning the Caucasus region, the political situation in Georgia, and the challenges they were already facing due to increasing pressure on independent journalism in the country.

Fast forward to early 2025, erratic developments in U.S. politics led to a standstill in major funding sources for this independent journalism outlet, threatening its very existence. In response, they launched a campaign to gain new subscribers, aiming to sustain their work independently—free from external financial influence and accountable only to their readers and supporters.

According to co-founder Dominik K. Cagara, they need 4,000 members out of approximately 450,000 active users of the platform. I’m one of them … will you join too?

Mariam Nikuradze, co-founder of OC Media, Tbilisi, May 2023