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Georgian opposition supporters gather outside the parliament in Tbilisi on March 9, 2023, ahead of a vote on the ruling party's controversial ''foreign agent'' bill. 

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The rejection of the controversial bill will reduce the intensity of recent demonstrations, but the country's greater path toward Western integration remains uncertain.

Georgia Drops Its 'Foreign Agents' Bill, Easing Protests and Western Concerns -- For Now

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French President Emmanuel Macron (left) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an Eastern Partnership summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 15, 2021. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Economics

European Disintegration

These countries will probably receive more EU funding and political support to help fend off threats from Russia, but they're unlikely to join the bloc anytime soon.

For Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, EU Aid Remains More Likely Than Accession

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EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The chairman of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, attends a press conference following EU-mediated talks with opposition leaders in Tbilisi on March 31, 2021. 

The ruling party’s withdrawal from the EU-brokered pact it signed with opposition leaders could undermine the legitimacy of Georgia’s upcoming elections. 

An Annulled Political Deal Plunges Georgia Back Into Uncertainty 

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The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

In this episode of Baker's Dozen, host Rodger Baker speaks with Lasha Kasradze, a Eurasia analyst who specializes in the Caucasus about Georgia and the tentative geopolitical situation of the Greater Caucasus, where great powers and lesser powers have been jockeying for position.

Baker's Dozen: The Geopolitics of Georgia

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast, Stratfor Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker speaks to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili about her visit to Brussels to discuss progress on Georgia's inclusion in the EU and NATO.

Essential Geopolitics: Georgia's Role in NATO and the EU

Echoes of the Cold War

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from Stratfor, a RANE company, Rodger Baker, senior vice president of strategic analysis for Stratfor and RANE, looks deeper at the concept of "squeezed states" with Dr. Zurab Khonelidze, the rector of Sokhumi State University, located in the South Caucasus nation of Georgia.

Essential Geopolitics: At the Intersection of Empires, the South Caucasus Gets Squeezed

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The Caucasus Mountains on Oct. 9, 2020. Conflict in Nargorno-Karabakh will eventually subside amid renewed negotiations that will have major implications for Russian and Turkish influence in the broader region.

Conflict in Nargorno-Karabakh will eventually subside amid renewed negotiations that will have major implications for Russian and Turkish influence in the broader region.

The Southern Caucasus: Where Post-Soviet and Neo-Ottoman Interests Collide

Turkey's Resurgence

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

Eurasia connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. 

Eurasia

<p>Eurasia is the world&rsquo;s most expansive region. It connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. Forming the borders of this massive tract of land are the Northern European Plain, the Carpathian Mountains, the Southern Caucasus Mountains, the Tien Shan Mountains and Siberia. At the heart of Eurasia is Russia, a country that throughout history has tried, to varying degrees of success, to extend its influence to Eurasia&rsquo;s farthest reaches &mdash; a strategy meant to insulate it from outside powers. But this strategy necessarily creates conflict throughout Russia&rsquo;s borderlands, putting Eurasia a near constant state of instability.</p>

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Relatives of the five Israeli victims of a suicide blast that targeted a bus of tourists in Bulgaria mourn in Sofia on Aug. 28, 2012.

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Recent history indicates that despite its global networks and ambitions, Iran is a far more formidable threat closer to home. 

Iran Will Find Retaliating Against the U.S. Easier in the Middle East

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Thanks in part to a blind eye from authorities, Georgia's far-right movement is growing.

Georgia's neo-Nazi movement is growing fast, whether thanks to indifference or connivance on the part of the country's political and ecclesiastical authorities.

In Georgia, It's Open Season for the Far-Right

Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a 2019 flight ban on Georgia and introduced a 90-day visa-free regime with the country, Reuters reported on May 10.

Georgia, Russia: Russia Lifts Flight Ban, Enacts Visa-Free Regime With Georgia

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the imposition of sanctions on four judges serving on Georgia's High Council of Justice for "significant corruption" that "undermined the rule of law and the public's faith in Georgia's judicial system," Civil Georgia reported on April 6.

Georgia: U.S. Sanctions Georgian Judges for Corruption

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, citing the interest of maintaining domestic "tranquility" and its European integration aspirations, said it would "unconditionally" stop considering draft laws that would force foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations, media outlets and possibly individuals to register as "foreign influence agents," Eurasianet reported on March 9.

Georgia: Ruling Party Relents on Foreign Agents Bill

Georgians protested outside of the country's Parliament building after the body adopted a bill in a first reading introducing the concept of a "foreign agent" in the country, The New York Times reported March 8.

Georgia: Protests Begin Against Foreign Agents' Law

High-ranking officials from Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party indicated that their party will support a bill to force foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations, media outlets, and possibly even individuals to register as "foreign influence agents," Eurasianet reported Feb. 28.

Georgia: Ruling Party Backs Foreign Agent Bill, Likely Ending EU Candidate Status Bid

The European Commission recommended that Georgia gain a "European perspective" and be admitted as a formal candidate for European Union membership, but only once it fulfills additional conditions, Eurasianet reported June 17.

Georgia: European Commission Does Not Recommend Candidate Status

Reports that the European Commission will recommend EU candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, but not for Georgia, have led to calls for demonstrations from across the political spectrum and forced the Georgian government to do damage control, Eurasianet reported June 16.

Georgia: Dimming Prospects for EU Candidate Status Prompts Reckoning

Instability in Central Asia

Alan Gagloyev, the new president of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, canceled a referendum on joining Russia that his predecessor had scheduled for July 17, and he instead ordered "consultations with Russia on the entire range of issues related to the further integration of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation," Civil.ge reported May 30.

Russia, Georgia: South Ossetia Cancels Referendum, Orders Consultations With Russia

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Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

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Georgia is located in the Caucasus region, a transcontinental zone between Europe and Asia, and is surrounded by powerful neighbors that have controlled part or all of the country throughout much of its history. These include Russia to the north, Turkey to the southwest and Iran to the southeast.      Georgia's core is found in the capital city of Tbilisi, where the country's economic, political and demographic resources are concentrated. But because of Georgia's largely mountainous terrain, the country has distinct regional differences and contains various non-Georgian ethnic groups that have traditionally maintained autonomy from Tbilisi. These groups, most notably the Abkhazians and Ossetians to the northwest and north, have posed a separatist problem for the Georgian state. The territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia established de facto independence from Georgia with the help of Russia in a 2008 war.    Because of Georgia's disputes with Russia and its military vulnerability, Tbilisi has sought to integrate with Western blocs like NATO and the European Union. However, Georgia's geographic distance from Europe and its exposure to Russia has made that a difficult prospect. Thus, Tbilisi also seeks supplementary partnerships with countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey. 

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Outgoing South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov said the Georgian breakaway region will hold a referendum on joining Russia on July 17, RFE/RL reported May 13.

Georgia: South Ossetia May Hold Referendum on Joining Russia on July 17

SITUATION REPORTS

Georgia, Russia: Russia Lifts Flight Ban, Enacts Visa-Free Regime With Georgia

Georgia: U.S. Sanctions Georgian Judges for Corruption

Georgia: Ruling Party Relents on Foreign Agents Bill

Georgia: Protests Begin Against Foreign Agents' Law

Georgia: Ruling Party Backs Foreign Agent Bill, Likely Ending EU Candidate Status Bid

Georgia: European Commission Does Not Recommend Candidate Status

Georgia: Dimming Prospects for EU Candidate Status Prompts Reckoning

Russia, Georgia: South Ossetia Cancels Referendum, Orders Consultations With Russia

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