How Georgia's election campaign is becoming less peaceful and what will happen after the election
The parliamentary election in Georgia is set to be held in less than three weeks with the decisive vote on 26 October.
Although the European Union avoids actions that could be interpreted as interference in the election process, this time Brussels has been unequivocal: the outcome of this election will determine Georgia's European future.
It may even affect its existence as an independent state, warns Amiran Khevtsuriani, founder of the Georgian-Ukrainian Center, in his article – A revolution is possible: How Georgia prepares for decisive election and street clashes.
As the election date is coming closer, the political conflict intensifies both within the country, between the government and opposition coalitions, and outside Georgia, between the government and its Western partners.
An unprecedented situation has emerged in Georgia. For the first time in modern history, opposition and strategic partners are united in accusing the current government of changing the country’s foreign policy direction and serving Russian interests.
As a result, the Georgian government faces full international isolation from the US and the European Union.
Moreover, this isolation has extended beyond diplomacy and taken on harsher forms.
While key sanctions against the Georgian government have not yet been imposed, preparations for their implementation are already underway.
It is likely that after witnessing mass violations during the elections on 26 October, Washington will move ahead without much hesitation.
After having been "slapped" by the West, official Tbilisi briefly softened its tone but then returned to escalation.
On 3 October, the ruling party Georgian Dream delivered a surprising "slap" to official Washington. This is how analysts and experts are interpreting the move.
The Georgian Interior Minister involved sanctioned individuals in election preparations. Furthermore, he acknowledged that sanctioned individuals continue to receive salaries via bank transfers, which could trigger a new scandal and deal a severe blow to Georgia’s banking system.
At the same time, as the ruling team faces tough days, the influence of President Salome Zourabichvili is growing. She is a welcome guest in major European capitals.
The president has created a platform (the Georgian Charter) around which she has united all four leading opposition forces.
The Charter proposes forming a temporary technical government after the election. The role of this government would be to swiftly implement democratic reforms, restore damaged relations with partners and, most importantly, return the country to its constitutionally-supported course toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
The president has announced that she has selected a candidate for the head of this government and intends to urgently discuss this candidacy with the main opposition forces.
This strategy significantly reduces the risk of a split among opposition forces.
Independent sociological surveys predict that the current opposition will have a stable majority in the new parliament.
The problem is that no one believes in free and fair elections in the country anymore.
The political situation in Georgia is reaching a peak of tension. The opposition has declared that they are ready to defend the people's choice, but do they have the strength to resist the violent apparatus of Georgian Dream?