Sun Sep 15 13:55:00 UTC 2024: ## Georgia on the Brink: Fear of Dictatorship Looms as Election Nears

**Tbilisi, Georgia** – Georgia is facing a pivotal election on October 26th, with the outcome potentially determining the country’s future direction: closer to Europe or under Russian influence. The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, has faced heavy criticism for its pro-Russia leanings and its controversial “foreign agents” law.

While GD claims to still support EU accession, critics believe its rhetoric is a smokescreen. “They want to blur the focus of the opposition voters,” said Shota Utiashvili, senior fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. “If both parties are for the EU, why bother going and voting for the opposition?”

The GD’s rhetoric has focused on a “war party” conspiring to drag Georgia into conflict with Russia, while simultaneously touting peaceful relations with Moscow. This strategy, observers believe, aims to frame the election as a choice between peace and war, rather than between Europe and Russia.

Adding to the tense atmosphere is the GD’s alleged plan to ban leading opposition parties, a move that has drawn comparisons to Russia’s crackdown on dissent. The opposition, united in its pro-European stance, fears a repeat of Belarus’s authoritarian turn, a scenario aptly dubbed “Minsk II” by local observers.

Concerns over potential violence are high, particularly if the election results are close. Experts fear the GD might manipulate the vote, triggering protests, especially from young people. “The worst-case scenario is that GD falsifies the elections, leading to protests by young people…who are not easily intimidated,” said Nodar Kharshiladze, founder of the Georgian Analytical Center think tank.

While Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service head, Sergey Narshkin, issued veiled threats of intervention if GD does not win, security experts believe Moscow lacks the resources to intervene due to its ongoing war in Ukraine.

The election outcome will have far-reaching consequences for Georgia’s future, with the country teetering on the edge of a crossroads: embracing its European aspirations or succumbing to Russian influence.

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