Tbilisi
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been active in the South Caucasus since 1996. The work began with projects of the political education in Azerbaijan, from 2002 also in Armenia and Georgia. The office is located in Tbilisi, Georgia. The main focus of the work is the transformation process of former soviet republics towards modern democracies with free political systems based on social market economy and the rule of law.
News
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Political homophobia under the legal guise
Just a few weeks prior to the elections, the Georgian parliament has passed an anti-LGBTQI law package, which mirrors Russia’s “traditional values” law and threatens to erase LGBTQI visibility and rights. This legislation curbs freedom of expression, restricts public gatherings, bans same-sex adoption, limits gender identity recognition etc. While the government claims to protect family values, it uses hate speech against LGBTQI for its election campaign. It fuels political homophobia and deepens societal marginalization of the queer community.
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Early election in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan held an early parliamentary election on September 1. It was the second snap election this year ahead of COP29, which Azerbaijan hosts in mid-November.
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The Russia-Georgia War in the election campaign
The Caucasian War of 2008 has become an election issue in Georgia, where a new parliament will be elected on October 26. The ruling party is trying to shift responsibility for the outbreak of the war onto the party of then-President Mikheil Saakashvili and use it as a justification for its planned ban of opposition parties.
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A Destructive Venture
The draft "transparency of foreign influence" law in Georgia poses a severe threat to civil society and democratic freedoms. With ambiguous definitions, excessive scope, and draconian penalties, the law enables arbitrary enforcement to repress any kind of dissent ahead of the 2024 elections. Non-profit entities receiving over 20% foreign funding must register, subjecting them to intrusive inspections and devastating fines.
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Armenia Leaving Russian-Lead CSTO?
In a speech in Parliament in June, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia would leave the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). He did not provide details on when and how. From Yerevan, Areg Kochinyan discusses the risks Armenia may face by leaving CSTO and the opportunities that step can bring to Armenia.
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The Fight for Freedom: Georgia's Battle Against Authoritarianism
Georgia stands at a crossroads once more as the ruling Georgian Dream party resurrects its controversial law targeting Western-backed civil society and media. With mass protests erupting and echoes of Russian interference, the nation's Euro-Atlantic future is at stake. Delve into this critical moment shaping the region's geopolitical landscape.
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Armenia’s route to EU
A recent European Parliament resolution and intensified contacts between the EU and Armenia signal an active move to deepen relations. Is Armenia ready for this, and what challenges might it face along the way?
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Geopolitical Future of South Caucasus
The South Caucasus faces rising geopolitical tension after key conflicts like the 2020 Karabakh War and Azerbaijan’s recent actions. Analyzing these is vital for the region’s future and prosperity.
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Statement by the German Political Foundations in Georgia on the Law on "Transparency of Foreign Influence"
Representatives of German political foundations in Georgia sound the alarm over a proposed draft law on "transparency of Foreign Powers". Urging Georgia's Parliament to heed the nation's aspirations for a European path, they warn that the proposed legislation threatens to stifle civil society and independent media.
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Transparency Woes
Georgia's state agencies are criticized for lacking transparency in budget spending and activities, with access to public information deteriorating since 2021. Despite legal obligations, journalists and opposition members face delays or no responses to their inquiries, indicating systemic issues within government institutions.
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IDEOLOGICAL NARRATIVES OF RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
This paper is dealing with the ideological elements of the Kremlin propaganda, and the presence of these elements in the right-wing populist discourses of Georgia and Armenia. The research shows that the Kremlin propaganda relies on social-conservative ideas, and seeks to promote the propaganda construct which puts ‘traditional family values’ against the West. How this construct echoes in Armenia and Georgia is the main question the paper tries to answer.
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Georgia is Europe!
Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili is trying to accelerate Georgia's reform process towards Europe. The author spoke at length with her and liberal Georgian partners about the country's tortuous path to becoming a truly liberal democracy that will one day qualify for EU membership.
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Georgia receives candidate status
The European Council keeping the appetite for the EU’s eastward enlargement, decided to grant the candidate status to Georgia and open the accession negotiation with Ukraine and Moldova. The decision has a great political weight and sends a strong signal to the Georgian people. It says that Brussels sees and appreciates the Georgian people’s dedication and fight for freedom and Europeanization. However, this is not the end of the road, but rather the start of it.
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Georgia's Recent "Municipality Index" report has been published
New Economic School-Georgia and supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation have published their 9th Annual "Municipality Index" research paper, The index aims to assess the business environment, living conditions, and administrative efficiency of five self-governed municipalities (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, and Poti) and 59 self-governed community municipalities in Georgia.
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WAYS OUT OF INFORMAL ECONOMY
This policy brief is also intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to the research and statistics available on informal economy in Georgia over the years. By shedding light on this often-overlooked aspect of economic activity, Informal Economy.
