What's happened
Georgia is experiencing significant unrest following the election of Mikheil Kavelashvili as president amid widespread protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party. The opposition claims the election is illegitimate, and tensions are escalating as calls for new elections grow louder. The situation reflects a broader struggle over Georgia's direction towards the EU or closer ties with Russia.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Mikheil Kavelashvili's election has been described as a 'mockery of democracy' by outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili, who insists she remains the legitimate leader. The Guardian highlights the ongoing protests, with demonstrators expressing their discontent over the ruling party's actions and calling for new elections. Meanwhile, AP News reports that the EU is considering sanctions against Georgian officials, reflecting international concern over the political situation in Georgia.
How we got here
The political crisis in Georgia intensified after the ruling Georgian Dream party won disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024. The party's decision to delay EU membership talks sparked mass protests, leading to Kavelashvili's election as president, which many view as a move to consolidate power and shift the country closer to Russia.
Common question
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Why are protests happening in Georgia right now?
Georgia is currently facing significant political unrest following the controversial election of Mikheil Kavelashvili as president. This situation has sparked widespread protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party, raising questions about the legitimacy of the election and the future direction of the country. Below, we explore the key issues surrounding these protests and their implications.
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How are other countries responding to Georgia's election crisis?
The political turmoil in Georgia following the controversial election of Mikheil Kavelashvili has drawn international attention. As protests escalate and calls for new elections grow louder, many are wondering how other nations are reacting to this unrest. This page explores global responses, the role of diplomacy, potential sanctions, and the historical context surrounding this crisis.
More on these topics
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Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaija
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Mikheil Kavelashvili (Georgian: მიხეილ ყაველაშვილი; born 22 July 1971) is a Georgian politician and former professional footballer. He is the co-founder of the People's Power party.
As a player, he was a striker who notab
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Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia is the governing party of Georgia. The party was established on 19 April 2012 by the billionaire businessman and politician Bidzina Ivanishvili.
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Bidzina Ivanishvili is a Georgian politician, billionaire businessman and philanthropist, who was Prime Minister of Georgia from October 2012 to November 2013.
Ivanishvili founded the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party on 21 April 2012.
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Salome Zourabichvili is a French–Georgian politician and former diplomat who currently serves as the fifth President of Georgia, in office since December 2018.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in the United Kingdom focused on human rights. The organization says it has more than eight million members and supporters around the world.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in