Fredrik and Leilani dive into Georgia's unprecedented protest movement with Gota Chanturia, education policy specialist and member of the Movement for Social Democracy. For more than 180 days, Georgians have been on the streets opposing their government's dramatic shift away from European integration and toward Russian influence.

Gota explains how the parliamentary elections of October 2024 were manipulated and how the introduction of the so-called "Russian law" targeting civil society organizations sparked nationwide outrage. The conversation explores the deep connections between democratic backsliding and social inequality in a country where 700,000 people live in extreme poverty while oligarchic interests dominate politics.

This episode offers rare insight into a crucial resistance movement happening at the intersection of Europe and Russia, where citizens are fighting not just for democracy but for a vision of society that addresses profound social and economic challenges. Gota shares how international solidarity matters and what lessons Georgia's struggle holds for democratic movements worldwide facing similar authoritarian threats.

Also check out this episode mentioned during the talk:

Mass Protests and the Missing Revolution - a conversation with author Vincent Bevins

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