The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), German Association for East European Studies (DGO), and German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) jointly organize the annual meeting of the Working Group South Caucasus.
On October 31, 2020, Georgians will be called upon to elect a new parliament. These elections will take place in turbulent times amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At least until recently, daily new infections in the country were low and the Georgian government received international praise for its efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Still, quarantine measures and international travel restrictions have hit Georgia’s economy hard. Political polarization remains strong; controversy surrounding Georgia’s electoral and judicial reform has attracted the (critical) attention of Western partners.
The discussion in this year’s meeting of the Working Group South Caucasus will offer an initial assessment of both the election and its results. Please join us as we explore key questions, including: Will these elections reconfigure Georgia’s political landscape? What can we expect from Georgia’s domestic reform process? Where will Georgia’s foreign policy trajectory lead, particularly when it comes to Euro-Atlantic integration?
Welcoming Remarks
Gabriele Freitag, Managing Director, German Association for East European Studies (DGO)
Speakers
Marina Kaljurand (tbc), Chair of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee, European Parliament
Keti Maisuradze, Country Director, Georgia, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Stefan Meister, Head of Tbilisi Office, Heinrich Böll Foundation
Franziska Smolnik, Deputy Head, Division Eastern Europe/Eurasia, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
The debate will be held under the Chatham House Rule and in English.