In recent months, Georgia has found itself at the center of a geopolitical struggle between the West and Russia, with the European Union (EU) and the United States ramping up their pressure on the small Caucasus nation. As Georgia’s upcoming parliamentary elections approach on October 26, both Brussels and Washington are making their displeasure known regarding the current Georgian government, led by the Georgian Dream party. While the government has been duly elected through a democratic process, it has failed to toe the West’s line on issues like Russia, leading to threats of sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and attempts to sway the nation’s political course.
The European Union’s recent threat to suspend Georgia’s visa liberalization scheme is just the latest example of how Brussels is wielding its influence over Tbilisi. Since 2017, Georgians have enjoyed the right to travel to the Schengen Zone without a visa for short stays. However, this privilege is now on the chopping block, with the European Commission warning that “all options are on the table” if Georgia continues what they perceive as democratic backsliding.
The official reasoning behind this threat is Georgia’s alleged retreat from democratic norms, but the reality is far more nuanced. Georgia’s government, while imperfect, has maintained a functioning democracy and upheld legal processes. The core issue here is not democracy but rather geopolitics. Unlike Ukraine, which is lauded by Brussels despite its severe democratic shortcomings, Georgia has refused to adopt a sufficiently hostile stance toward Russia. This has left it out of favor with the EU, which is increasingly using tools like visa suspensions and sanctions to punish countries that stray from its geopolitical objectives.
Despite Brussels’ rhetoric about democracy, its actions in Georgia amount to interference in the electoral process. The EU’s message to the Georgian electorate is clear: remove the current government, or face repercussions. This kind of external pressure threatens to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty and self-determination. By dangling the threat of sanctions over the heads of........