TBILISI – As Georgia heads to the polls on Saturday, a polarized electorate is grappling with stark choices that could reshape the country’s future, with European Union aspirations and relations with Russia dominating the debate.
Nana Malashkhia, a former civil servant turned political candidate, became a national figure in 2023 when she waved an EU flag during anti-government protests against a “foreign agents” law. The law, critics say, threatens Georgia’s chances of joining the EU, and Malashkhia, now a candidate for the opposition’s Coalition for Change, considers this election “the front line” in securing Georgia’s European future.
But for Georgian Dream supporter Sandro Dvalishvili, a 23-year-old law graduate, the opposition’s European agenda could come with risks. “People of my age are often swayed by emotions in protests,” he said, arguing that anti-Russian sentiment could lead to conflict.
The tension between these opposing visions has boiled over in recent months. Georgian Dream, the ruling party, emphasizes peace with Russia, even as critics accuse it of courting Moscow and jeopardizing EU membership. In response, the opposition labels Georgian Dream as “Russian Dream,” accusing it of leaning towards the country’s former imperial ruler, which fuels an already divided electorate.
Georgia’s historical scars add complexity to the debate. The brief 2008 war with Russia, still fresh in many minds, hangs over Georgian Dream’s peace-focused campaign, underscored by billboards urging voters to “Choose peace, say no to war.”
While Malashkhia believes the EU is essential to safeguarding Georgia from Russian interference, Dvalishvili fears the opposition’s policies could push Georgia into renewed conflict. “For me, if we don’t win, it’ll be very bad,” he said.