2024 Georgia Parliamentary Election: Beyond the Russia-EU dichotomy

Summary

On 26th October 2024, the country of Georgia heads to the polls again to elect representatives that will lead the country for the next four years. Although not the first of such elections, the parliamentary election this month is widely portrayed as a bid for the survival of Georgia’s opposition, democracy, and trajectory towards the European Union (EU). Democratic backsliding, corruption, and Russian influence await on the other side. Although not denying the seriousness of these stakes, this report aims to present the more nuanced and complex picture that hides behind the Russia-EU dichotomy - a country battling political polarisation and popular disillusionment, while navigating a rapidly changing geopolitical and security environment.