Persistent political instability
The "Rose Revolution" overthrew Eduard Shevardze in 2003. The new president, Saakashvili, had two objectives: modernization and democratization. Georgia looked to Europe, turning its back on Russia. Russia responded with ever-increasing diplomatic and economic pressure. The war of 2008 was the culmination of these tensions. On the domestic front, the newly-elected President advocated the eradication of corruption, a liberal ideology and real social and economic transformation of the country. Under his leadership, Georgia has become a free-market democracy. The road was far from "paved with roses": following his abuses of power, Saakashvili was ousted in 2013. He was replaced by the oligarch Ivanishvili, at the head of the Georgian Dream coalition. On October 28, 2018, a wind of change swept through Georgia's political scene. President Margelashvili has just completed his term of office, with mixed results. His party, the Georgian Dream, had ultimately backed former French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili, who had initially stood without a ticket. Shortly after the election of the new president, Georgia was again faced with a deep political crisis when a Russian Communist deputy intervened in the Georgian Parliament, reviving accusations of Russian influence... In February 2021, the arrest of an opposition party leader provokes a new political crisis in Georgia. The European Union tried to mediate, but the government party finally refused to sign the compromise agreement.
The European Union's mediation efforts culminated on April 19, 2021 in a compromise agreement signed by the "Georgian Dream" and part of the opposition, but the government party announced its withdrawal from the agreement on July 29. The conditions under which former President Saakashvili is being held in prison continue to fuel the fire on the Georgian political scene, and tensions between the majority and opposition parties are on the rise.
In 2024, the torch continued to burn when, on the one hand, the Georgian Dream party took a pro-Russian stance by passing the law on foreign influence, which was considered to be pro-Russian, while the pro-European president decided unsuccessfully to veto the law.
The parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024 are therefore eagerly awaited by the population.
The institutions
Georgia has been a presidential republic since 1991. The current president, Salome Zurabishvili, elected in 2018 - exceptionally for six years - by direct universal suffrage, holds executive power. Since 2015, the President's role has been purely representative, with the bulk of executive power held by the Prime Minister, currently Irakli Kobakhidze. Legislative power is in the hands of the Parliament, or Supreme Council.
In October 2024, major changes will take place after the parliamentary elections: the President will now be elected by indirect suffrage.
The "owner of the house on the hill."
There's no need to name him, in Georgia we know who he is. The Georgian Dream remains the instrument of one man: Bidzina Ivanishvili. Before the 2018 presidential elections, he endorsed President Salome Zurabishvili, even if relations are no longer necessarily rosy. The billionaire doesn't need an official position: he's the country's real strongman. His fortune, made in Russia, officially stands at $4.9 billion, equivalent to 45.4% of Georgia's GDP. In 2024, he officially comes out of "political retirement", although it was an open secret that he continued to pull the strings of power during this period of retirement.
Freedom and human rights in Georgia
According to a European Parliament report dated July 2018, Georgia still has progress to make in terms of human rights, particularly towards "minority and vulnerable groups": ethnic minorities, LGBT people, women prey to sexual violence...
NGOs accused the government of interfering in trials deemed unfair. According to Amnesty International, law enforcement officers who fail to respect the fundamental rights of citizens go unpunished. Some political refugees are forcibly repatriated to their countries of origin, as was the case for Turkish and Azerbaijani refugees kidnapped by Georgian law enforcement agencies.
On September 17, 2024, a law on the "Protection of Family Values and Minors" was passed solely by deputies from the Georgian Dream party, with other deputies boycotting the vote. The law is clearly anti-LGBT and aims to deny the rights of sexual minorities, notably by banning "gatherings and demonstrations" that promote homosexual relations. The day after the law was passed, Georgia's most famous transgender woman, Kesaria Abramidzé, was murdered in her home, and the authorities opened an investigation for "premeditated murder with the aggravating circumstance of gender-related cruelty".
Geopolitics: an issue, Europe or Russia?
Georgia's policy is to ally itself with Europe and spare Russia, even if its relations with its large neighbor are particularly stormy. The 2008 war over Abkhazia and South Ossetia was not perceived by the rest of the world as a simple local conflict. In reality, it was an indirect conflict between the West and Russia. There were two options: Russian domination of this highly strategic region, or continued European political and economic investment. The region is now an issue, not exempt from future conflict between the Western world and Russia.
"Go East"
Things have changed for Georgia. It is no longer alone on the geopolitical chessboard. In the eyes of the West, starting with the United States, the entire Caucasus represents a new focus of interest. Since the early 2000s, NATO and Europe have been looking eastwards with two objectives in mind: the search for new energies and the establishment of a new geopolitical strategy. Great minds think alike: Georgia, for its part, has adopted a largely pro-Western stance. It is definitely turning towards Europe.
Georgia is now a member of the UN and various international organizations such as the WTO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The Georgian population perceives Russia's attitude as a perpetual threat, and is therefore overwhelmingly in favor of joining NATO and the European Union. In fact, a NATO base was opened in Georgia in 2015. On your travels, you'll often see European Union flags, waved more than ever alongside national flags at demonstrations.
Georgia and its neighbors
Turkey and Georgia: a geostrategic position. Situated between the oil-producing regions of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, Turkey and Georgia occupy a key position. The Baku-Tbilissi-Ceyhan (south-east Turkey) and Baku-Tbilissi-Erzurum pipelines carry the precious black gold from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. Turkey is Georgia's third-largest trading partner.
Opposite Iran. In its history, Georgia, repeatedly annexed by Persia, was once considered a region of "Greater Iran". Georgia is therefore heavily influenced by Persian culture, politically, economically and culturally. Relations between the two countries are good, and economically very fruitful.
With Armenia. Georgia is Armenia's only "opening point". The country gives Armenia access to the Black Sea via its land links and ports. For Armenia, these infrastructures represent the only means of land transit for exporting and importing products. Georgia is also the only transit point for the gas pipeline linking Vladikavkaz and Yerevan.
Relations with Azerbaijan. Georgia and Azerbaijan have common interests: complex relations with Russia, separatist conflicts threatening their territorial integrity... It is therefore in their interests to strengthen their relations. Azerbaijan exports gas and oil, supplying Georgia with energy resources instead of Russia. The country is also a transit country. Nevertheless, the two countries continue to bicker regularly over the issue of the historic David Garedja site.
Economy of the country
Since the Rose Revolution, the Georgian economy has undergone a metamorphosis. Over the past seventeen years, the country has embarked on a major program of economic and political reform. Despite its socio-economic fragility, the country has been able to modernize. A liberal economy has been adopted, with a policy of privatization, sales and low taxes, enabling a boom in the tertiary sectors. Georgia also benefits from its geographical position as a transit country for hydrocarbons from the Caspian Sea.
In 2023, GDP per capita will be just over 6,000 US dollars.
In terms of foreign trade, Georgia mainly exports copper ore and ferroalloys, and re-exports cars. In the agri-food sector, Georgia is known for its wine, spirits, gold and medicines. It imports hydrocarbons, cars, copper, industrial equipment, wheat and rye.
Tourism, which is booming, is a major focus of the economy. In 2018, Georgia welcomed 8 million visitors, almost three times its population. By 2023, the country had almost returned to its pre-Covid level for international visitors. Thanks to its structural reforms, the country is increasingly integrated into the global economy and attracts investors thanks to a number of assets: a very liberal policy, a strategic position, an advantageous tax regime, easily acquired residency permits and easy access.
