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What's happening in Georgia?

What's happening in Georgia?

By: One Man Army
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What's happening in Georgia? In October 2024, the Georgian Dream party extended its 12 years in power following rigged elections. A month later, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced Georgia was freezing its application to become a member of the European Union. His speech sparked outrage, and daily public protests. Police, special forces and state-approved heavies (or 'titushkies') were deployed to brutally supress protests and target protestors and journalists. Repressive laws (FARA, the Law on Grants) were enacted to make it almost impossible for NGOs, civil society groups, independent media and lawyers to remain solvent, and to challenge the government... but still they do.

What is the story of Georgian Dream, and its backer, the billionaire oligarch Bidzhina Ivanishvili? When did this nominally 'pro-European' government cast off its mask and reveal its desire to create a Russian-style authoritarian state in pro-European Georgia?

English language podcast about the situation in Georgia.

#GeorgiaProtests #TerrorInGeorgia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Man Army Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 1. Introduction: What's happening in Georgia?

    1. Introduction: What's happening in Georgia?
    Jul 15 2025

    On 28 November last year, the man many Georgian's refer to as their 'so-called Prime Minister', Irakli Kobakhidze, announced that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, was pausing the country's participation in the EU membership process until 2028. Supporters of Georgian democracy poured onto the streets, where they were met over the next two weeks with a violent response from state security. Georgians continue to protest, despite further repressive laws designed to discourage peaceful protest and undermine civil society, the democratic opposition and Georgia's remaining independent media.

    Stephen Matthews, a writer and filmmaker based in the UK, speaks to those involved in the peaceful protests and the wider opposition to authoritarianism in Georgia.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    9 mins
  • 2. Rewind: The very generous oligarch

    2. Rewind: The very generous oligarch
    Jul 18 2025

    Who is Bidzina Ivanishvili? What are his politics? And how did he rise to power?

    The billionaire founder of Georgian Dream made his money in Russia in the 1990s, and retains business interests and political contacts in the Russian Federation. In this episode, we chart Ivanishvili's 'long game', from his funding of the UNM, to his strategic philanthropy, his recognition of the desire for multi-party coalition politics and his first steps on the road to state capture.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    16 mins
  • 3. Mzia

    3. Mzia
    Jul 22 2025
    When a regime persistently violates a range of human rights, what should journalists do? If they report the facts, should they be targeted, threatened and physically abused? Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of the independent news platforms Batumelebi and Netgazeti, is currently on trial in Georgia. In January, she was arrested twice in in one night, by the same officer. Her first arrest was for distributing stickers calling for a general strike - this is not illegal. Having been identified as a senior figure in the independent media, she was released, but then a trap was set. Having been knocked to the ground in a stampede, she was verbally abused by the arresting officer until she final cracked and slapped him. Her subsequent detention and ill treatment has had a profound impact on her health. If convicted, she faces 4-7 years in jail. Mzia is not the only journalist targeted by Georgian Dream - far from it - but she has become a symbol for the resistance to authoritarian rule. In this episode, her friend and colleague, Irma Dimitradze, explains the background to Mzia's arrest, and summarises her detention and trial.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    13 mins
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