The country of Georgia is headed to a pivotal election at the end of October, a contest the U.S. and pro-democracy forces see as the last chance to stand up to aspiring autocrats inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s billionaire founder and de-facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili is viewed as employing Putin’s playbook to stifle dissent, consolidate power and jeopardize Georgia’s ascension to the European Union.
Ahead of the election, the party is promoting conspiracy theories that the U.S. and European leaders are working to institute a coup and push the country into opening a second-front of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Biden administration has levied sanctions against the government for pushing legislation criticized as suppressing civil society organizations, the free press, and rolling back LGBTQ rights. And the European Union has halted Georgia’s accession to the 27-nation bloc.
“The regime is the instrument of Russia’s hybrid warfare,” said Tamara Chergoleishvili, co-founder of the Federalists party, one of more than a dozen political opposition groups which are united in their opposition to GD, but divided over a strategy to oust the ruling party.