Discussion

In December 2023, the European Union granted Georgia EU candidate status and imposed concrete conditions on the Georgian government for future accession negotiations. Instead of focusing on these reforms, the ruling "Georgian Dream" party stepped up its anti-Western rhetoric and, despite harsh criticism, passed the law "on transparency of foreign influence" with its ideological proximity to Russia. This so-called "Agent law" not only poses an existential threat to civil society and the free media in Georgia, but also shifts Georgia's geopolitical orientation from Europe to Russia. In parliament, the verbal debate was accompanied by fierce clashes and on the streets, protests were met with Russian-style police violence and thugs. Georgia is in an existential crisis, and it is not clear whether the parliamentary elections on October 26 will end this crisis. 

A cooperation of the Center for Liberal Modernity together with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and SCRIPTS, the discussion series "Georgia in Focus" aims to take a look at the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia and ask what significance they have for the country, for Europe and for its relations with its important eastern neighbors.

• What is at stake in the parliamentary elections on 26 October and why are these historic elections also a fundamental decision for Georgia?

• What scenarios are possible after the elections?

• How does the Georgian population view the EU and Germany?

• What significance do the elections in Georgia have for Europe?

• How should Russia's influence in Georgia be assessed?

Speakers

• Knut Abraham MdB (CDU), Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the  Bundestag
• Dr. Julia Langbein, Head of Research Cluster, ZOiS, Principal Investigator at SCRIPTS
• Ana Natsvlishvili, Member of the Committee on EU Integration in the Georgian Parliament (Lelo)
• Eka Tkeshelashvili, Head of the USAID, Anti-Corruption Program in Ukraine, former Georgian Foreign Minister

About the event

• Participation is only possible after confirmed registration, please register here.
• The event will be simultaneously translated into German and English.
• A reception with catering will take place after the event.