The country depends heavily on Russia for its wheat. Now, with the war in Ukraine disrupting global supplies, concerns are rising that Georgia could be left vulnerable.
The territory’s outgoing leader says the vote will take place in July. But he’ll be out of office by then and neither his successor, nor Russia itself, appear as interested in it as he is.
Few took it seriously when Georgia’s ruling party promised to formally apply for EU membership in 2024. But then events pushed them to apply even earlier. Is Georgia ready?
Many outsiders have been calling on Georgia to take advantage of Russian weakness to reclaim its lost territories. But Georgians themselves aren’t having it.
While Anatoliy Bibilov tried to boost his electoral chances by tying himself more tightly to Russia, analysts say his defeat will still not likely result in any substantial change in relations with Moscow.
The incumbent has come under fire for a controversial military deployment to Ukraine, and it’s not clear that a proposal to annex the territory to Russia will help him.
What started out as Ukraine’s dissatisfaction with Georgia’s cautious stance on sanctions has grown into a major controversy filled with mutual accusations, insults, and conspiracy theories.
It’s not the first time the breakaway Georgian territory’s de facto authorities have signaled the intention. In the past Russia has blown the calls off, but its calculations may be different now.
The ruling party, apparently fed up with President Salome Zourabichvili’s outspoken support for Ukraine, now says it will appeal to the Constitutional Court because she has overstepped her duties.
Alt-info, a right-wing, anti-Western group that rose to prominence for leading anti-queer pogroms last year, is now opening offices around the country amid rising anti-Russia sentiment.
Journalists from the final remnants of Russia’s independent media are trying to find refuge in their southern neighbor. But there are doubts about how safe it really is.
Salome Zourabichvili has largely been seen as a ruling party-managed figurehead. But she is lately charting a more independent path, particularly on Ukraine, cheering many of her former detractors.
More than 20,000 Russians have already fled to Georgia in the days since their country launched the invasion of Ukraine. Many Georgians say they are not welcome.