Elections in Georgia: Between Europe and Russia

Registration is required. This is a hybrid event. Online attendees will receive the event’s zoom link one day before.

Event Details:

Elections in Georgia on October 26 will determine its path: a pro-European orientation or one linked to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.  Georgian Dream, the ruling party, has taken steps to stifle civil society and turn Georgia into an illiberal democracy along the lines of Victor Orban’s Hungary.  A divided but strong opposition seeks to continue to the path of European Union integration.  The War in Ukraine casts a long shadow as do pocketbook issues.  The outcome is impossible to predict, as is how various parties will react especially given the possibility of election manipulation.  A roundtable of speakers that include Carleton experts and those on the ground in Georgia will discuss the election results and post-election fallout.

Speakers:

• David Sichinava, Adjunct Research Professor, Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies and Political Science, Carleton University
• Jeff Sahadeo, Professor, Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies and Political Science, Carleton University
• Nino Antadze, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, University of Prince Edward Island
• Anna Rekhviashvili, PhD in Gender Feminist and Women’s Studies, York University
• Kornely Kakachia, Director, Georgian Institute of Politics, Tbilisi