A Stolen Election and a Stolen Future: Georgia’s Defiant Resistance - European Platform for Democratic Elections

A Stolen Election and a Stolen Future: Georgia’s Defiant Resistance

A stolen election, a stolen future—Georgia stands at a crossroads. In the face of political betrayal, violent repression, and shattered democratic aspirations, a defiant resistance has emerged. From the streets of Tbilisi to international political platforms, the fight for free and fair elections is intensifying. The vast majority of Georgians demand new elections. Will the voices of the people prevail against authoritarian rule, or is Georgia on the brink of losing its European future?

This article delves into the roots of Georgia’s uprising, examining the fraudulent elections that sparked nationwide protests, the government’s crackdown on dissent, and the broader implications of abandoning EU integration path. It explores the growing demand for new elections, the international response, and the leadership vacuum within the opposition. Through a detailed analysis of political dynamics, public sentiment, and external pressures, this piece unpacks Georgia’s ongoing struggle for democracy.

About the author

Mariam Chikhladze is an independent international consultant specializing in democratic elections, civil society development, and parliamentary and political party strengthening. She has extensive experience with USAID’s governance programs in Georgia, managing the parliamentary support portfolios. She has also contributed to UNDP’s key legislative strengthening project. Previously, Mariam worked with the International Republican Institute (IRI) on programs in Georgia and Armenia and on behalf of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, facilitated the political parties’ pledge for election integrity in the 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia. Earlier in her career, she managed the grassroots empowerment program of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) in four regions of Georgia. Mariam Chikhladze holds a Master’s in Public Policy Analysis from the Bush School of Public Service and Government at Texas A&M University, awarded through the Fulbright Graduate Student Program. She also completed the Edmund Muskie Professional Fellowship at the Hudson Institute, in Washington, DC.

(February 21, 2025)

Georgia