A Kremlin-aligned narrative to justify the annihilation of all political opposition

In March 2022, as soon as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine broke out, the “Georgian Dream”, then in power in Georgia for ten years, abruptly took an anti-Western, anti-democratic turn. Since then, it has used a discourse with conspiracy overtones, modelled on that of the Kremlin, to play on fears, get rid of the opposition and justify its repressive policies.

Refusing to take a stand in the Ukrainian war, the “Georgian Dream” is thus making a 360-degree turn, breaking with the unity of almost the entire Georgian political class against Russian imperialism.

This trend seems to be accelerating in the wake of Georgia’s accession to the European Union in December 2023 and the approaching parliamentary elections in October 2024. In addition to the adoption, in May 2024, of the law on “foreign agents” directly modelled on a Putin law [Russian laws], the government has multiplied statements and communication operations aligned with the Moscow narrative. On September 15, Bidzina Ivanishvili, billionaire and founder of “Georgian Dream”, the country’s de facto leader, suggested that Georgia should apologize for having “started” the war with Russia in 2008 (1). A statement immediately applauded by the Kremlin. Ten days later, on September 26, the “Georgian Dream” broadcast a new campaign poster throughout Tbilisi, showing burnt-out Ukrainian towns and destroyed religious buildings under the
names of the opposition parties on the left, and colorful photos of Georgia’s most beautiful landscapes under the ruling party’s emblem on the right. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reacted immediately, condemning the use of war images in political posters.

This simplistic ‘war vs. peace’ strategy is supposed to play on fears, allowing the government to pose as the guarantor of peace. However, as the legislative campaign progressed, and following the massive rigging of the elections that enabled the “Georgian Dream” to hold on to power by force, this narrative was gradually transformed into a tool of political repression.

Multiplying his speeches on the “global war party”, with the supposed aim of opening a new front in Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze promised to dissolve the Unity National Movement [UNM, the party of former president Saakashvili, who came to power in 2008], accused of being the representative of this movement and the main instigator of the 2008 war. He also promised to dissolve “all its satellite parties”, in other words, the entire opposition. On May 13, the government put its threats into practice by adopting a legislative package facilitating the dissolution of political parties that had “committed the country to war”, as well as those “inciting conflict” (2).

Earlier, in February, the ruling party had set up a parliamentary commission of inquiry into alleged crimes committed by the opposition during the 2008 war. Summoning all opposition party leaders – most of whom had not been in power at the time of the war – and knowing that they would boycott the invitation, the government used this leverage to decimate the opposition once and for all. To date, eight party leaders or former ministers critical of the government have been imprisoned for failing to appear before Parliament. Four of them have already been sentenced to 7 or 8 months in prison (3).

According to President Salomé Zourabichvili, who appeared before the French Senate, “repressive laws are adopted with such speed that they can only be imported directly”. As we retrace the course of events in Russia over the last few years, it’s hard not to foresee the next blows this government seems so eager to strike at democracy and civil liberties in Georgia.

Highlights

• September 15, 2024: Bidzina Ivanishvili’s statement on the 2008 war, calling on Georgia to “apologize” to South Ossetia.
• February 5, 2025: creation of a parliamentary commission to investigate alleged crimes committed by the opposition during the 2008 war.
• May 13, 2025: Adoption of legislative package simplifying dissolution of political parties.
• June 2025: Arrest and imprisonment of 8 oppositions figures for failure to appear before the parliamentary commission.

A few links

1. Georgia’s most powerful man suggests an apology for 2008 war with Russia | Reuters
2. GD Parliament Extends Mandate of UNM Investigative Commission – Civil Georgia
3. En Géorgie, quatre figures de l’opposition condamnées