Georgians are heading to the polls to decide if they want to keep the current Georgian Dream government, which wants to keep them moving towards Moscow, or reverse course and go down the European path. Black Diplomats has been in Georgia for the past week talking with voters and politicians alike to gauge what people are thinking.
Georgian Dream has been under intense scrutiny at home and from Western leaders for its authoritarian governance, including cracking down on protesters, creating laws that weaken civil society groups, and forcing civil employees to vote for its party or risk losing their employment. The opposition consists of more than one dozen parties that have formed coalitions they hope will show a united front against Georgian Dream and simplify the choices of who they want to lead the country.
Journalist and Black Diplomats host Terrell J. Starr sat down with members of two of the leading opposition parties to learn of their plans for Georgia.
Zurab Tchiaberashvili, the foreign secretary of United National Movement (UNM) and the biggest opposition party, told Black Diplomats that if Georgian Dream wins, the country stands the risk of becoming a Russian satellite state. Giorgi Gakharia, leader of For Georgia, has elected not to join any coalition and says his party is an alternative “between two radical parties: Georgian Dream and UNM.”
Tchiaberashvili and Gakharia offer different visions for the country, but both agree on one thing: Georgian Dream must go.
This video was supported with funding from the Pulitzer Center.
Host: Terrell J. Starr
Producer and camera: Mike Hull