Georgian Dream Starts Election Campaign with Controversial Tactics

In the wake of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, has adopted a markedly anti-Western posture, leveraging disinformation campaigns against Western allies. As the nation approaches critical elections, the party has framed the electoral choice as one between "War and Peace," suggesting that Western nations are attempting to drag Georgia into the conflict and create a "second front." This narrative has extended to encompass all opposition parties, civil society groups, and even EU officials, painting them as part of a so-called "Global War Party." Central to this rhetoric is Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party's founder, who has accused Western powers of meddling in Georgian affairs and instigating tensions with Russia. Ivanishvili claims that Georgia is under the control of an "external revolutionary committee" rather than an elected government, labeling NGOs as pseudo-elites backed by foreign interests. His campaign has positioned the ruling party as the defender of peace against a perceived war agenda, intensifying the political divide ahead of the elections. In response to the ruling party's pro-Russian shift, the West has expressed serious concerns, with potential sanctions and a reassessment of bilateral relations on the table. The Georgian government has introduced a controversial foreign agents bill, which critics argue targets dissenters and civil society. EU officials have warned that continued deviation from democratic norms could jeopardize Georgia's aspirations for EU integration, with financial assistance from Brussels now under review. As tensions escalate, the U.S. has also begun implementing sanctions against Georgian officials accused of undermining democracy. The upcoming introduction of a law requiring organizations to register with a central authority further signals the government's tightening grip on civil society, raising alarms about the future of democratic freedoms in Georgia.