Georgia

A few days ago, the Georgian population elected a portion of the 9th parliament since the country’s independence. In more than 50 single-member districts a second round of elections is scheduled.

The success of Georgia’s Euroatlantic integration would greatly contribute to the protection of the sovereign rights of small states and to the restoration of European security.

No matter what outcomes Georgia will face in this eventful year, it should hold firmly to its chosen path toward Europe and the West. First and foremost, this means an increased commitment to move closer to NATO, the only military guarantee against expansionist Russia.

Ensuring that workers are guaranteed basic labor rights is still a serious challenge in Georgia. The source of these problems is the state’s policy of inaction, which, on the one hand, is the result of the country’s transformation of its historical formations, and on the other hand, the realization by each of the Georgian governments that ensuring secure working conditions creates a space for people to think and act freely.

Georgia's unique location at a strategically important crossroads makes it a country of key geopolitical interest to Russia, Turkey, USA and the EU. It is located in a region known for its volatility due to the existing ethnic, religious, political and military tensions after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The emergence of the Islamic State implies significant political and geographic transformation. Georgia as a territory is not in the spotlight of these changes unless appropriate conditions take shape, in particular, if they win a big number of supporters.

On April 23, 2015, Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office hosted public debates "How has civic activism changed local democracy?"

In Georgia, there are many women who have created new things, who made discoveries, who brought about change and weren't afraid of alterations.

Debating the totalitarian part of a country’s history is a precondition to shape the transition process dedicated to democratic values. To help overcome these legacies of the past, the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office (HBF) has a new initiative to develop new projects on rethinking the Soviet Past. To set up the projects, the HBF and partners are drawing on international expertise, in both coming to terms with a dictatorial past and in engaging the public with such difficult questions.