As a small country in the Caucasus, Georgia is no stranger to being caught between Russia and Western powers. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it brought flashbacks for Georgians — of their cities being bombed, of Russian tanks rolling across their border in 2008. Memories of war and occupation. It also was a reminder that in 2008 the United States and its allies promised much, but delivered little. That geopolitical challenge facing Tbilisi has increased anxiety among the Georgian people and has renewed questions about a choice Georgians feel they need to make. In which direction do they see their future?
Imran Garda travels to Georgia where he meets protesters and sits down with two politicians on opposite sides to hear their arguments: former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Georgian Dream lawmaker Levan Makhashvili.
Makhashvili says the ruling party, Georgian Dream, is being pragmatic and wants to survive. Georgian Dream stands accused by opposition leaders and even its Western friends of election fraud and steering the country toward Russia. The government claims it’s all a distortion of reality. But with Russia still occupying parts of Georgian territory and the recent introduction of the controversial “foreign agents” law that Human Rights Watch calls a law designed to “extinguish critical voices” and seems to mimic similar legislation in Russia, it has pushed some young people over the edge. They have taken to the streets to say they want a clear commitment away from Russia and towards Europe.
For months, waving EU flags and defying their government, thousands of Georgians have protested outside parliament against what they say is an alarming slide away from Europe—and into Russia’s shadow. Giorgi Gakharia was once Prime Minister and oversaw a clampdown on dissent when he was Interior Minister. This time around, he stands with the dissenters, saying Georgian Dream is not merely being pragmatic and has made an active decision to be anti-West.
On this episode of The InnerView we listen to Gakharia’s criticisms and Makhashvili’s defense of the current policy and the controversial law. Can Georgia balance its interests, and the reality of its geography? Can Georgian Dream still keep Georgia’s dream of the European Union alive without upsetting Russia?
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00:00 Anti-government protests erupt in Georgia
02:52 Does Giorgi Gakharia miss being Prime Minister?
03:50 The challenges of being a post-Soviet country
05:15 Meet Levan Makhashvili
06:18 Is the Georgian government aligning more with Russia?
07:12 Gakharia: The government has taken an anti-Western stance
09:14 Georgia’s internal and external policies
10:51 Why does Gakharia believe Russia has influenced the Georgian government?
11:25 The controversial “foreign agents” law
13:06 Makhashvili on Western influence in Georgia
14:46 The 2008 Russian-Georgian war
15:08 Government’s current stance on Russia
16:24 Claims of a “hidden hand” escalating tensions with Russia
18:27 Allegations of election irregularities
18:49 Gakharia’s list of political priorities
20:21 Makhashvili: “Certain EU forces aimed to topple the government”
22:45 President Salome Zourabichvili
23:13 Makhashvili’s message to protesters
23:50 Crackdown on anti-government demonstrations
26:10 Why is Imran banned from entering Georgia?
