Georgia’s 2025 Municipal Elections: A Critical Test for Democracy amid Repression and Isolation

Описание: On 4 October 2025, Georgia held nationwide local elections – the first such important elections since the controversial parliamentary elections in 2024. Taking place amid deep political polarisation, protests, and increasing democratic erosion, these elections are expected to strengthen the dominance of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Independent monitoring has been limited in an unprecedented way: for the first time in nearly 20 years, neither the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights nor the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) was able to conduct full-scale observation of these elections. Civil society and opposition representatives face increasing repression, while Georgia’s relations with the EU and the US remain frozen.

Watch our webinar to learn what these elections mean for Georgia’s democratic institutions, and what recommendations the international democratic community should consider in response to this situation.

On the panel:
Mamuka Andguladze, Chairperson, Media Advocacy Coalition, Non-executive Director of the Center for Media, Information and Social Research
Laura Thornton, Senior Director for Global Democracy Programs, McCain Institute
Ghia Nodia, Professor of political science Ilia State University Tbilisi and director of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy, and Development

Moderated by Levan Natroshvili, Executive Director, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

0:00 Introduction
8:14 Laura Thornton
18:16 Ghia Nodia
37:24 Mamuka Andguladze
56:33 Q&A