Category: Publications
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Undercurrents: Defining Pandemics, and Mikheil Saakashvili’s Ukrainian Comeback
This week, Ben speaks to Charles Clift from the Global Health Programme about the WHO’s communication challenges around the coronavirus. They explore how pandemics are defined, and the implications of when the announcement was made. Then Agnes meets Max Fras to find out how former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has gained political office in Ukraine.
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In Georgia, the opposition may become the next COVID casualty
By Max Fras While Georgia’s lockdown enjoys support at home and abroad, the public health crisis has had a negative impact on the country’s political pluralism and opposition. As every Caucasus democratisation conference speaker is likely to remind you, democracy is what happens between the elections as much as what happens during them. In order…
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In Georgia, State Bows to Church amid Coronavirus Crisis
By Tornike Zurabashvili As Georgian Orthodox Church defies government-imposed restrictions ahead of the Easter festivities, the country braces for further virus fallout.
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The origins and use of some propaganda techniques and conspiracy theories
Armen GrigoryanAIISA partner expertEurasia Democratic Security Network fellow INTRODUCTION Disinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories have been a part of the Armenian political discourse for a long time, also long before the Internet was there. A part of the younger generation of Armenians may be less aware about some realities, so the narrative about the…
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Crisis in Abkhazia: What You Need to Know
Tornike Zurabashvili is a former editor of Civil.ge and a fellow at the Eurasia Democratic Security Network (EDSN). The past few months have been eventful in Abkhazia, a region of about 200,000 inhabitants located on the north-western edge of Georgia, and controlled – militarily, politically and economically – by the Russian Federation.
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Why is Georgia succeeding with the coronavirus where many Western countries are failing?
By Alexander Scrivener When the biggest health crisis in a century hits, where would you prefer to be: the Netherlands or Georgia? Until very recently, almost no one would name the South Caucasus country as their choice. Even the most patriotic Kartveli would admit that having the money, facilities and expertise of a very high…
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The Ghost of National Movements Past
Vano Merabishvili was surprisingly energetic when he emerged from prison in February. The 51-year-old had been behind bars since 2013, put away for abuses of power allegedly committed between 2004 and 2012. Georgia’s former minister of interior and prime minister, he looked pale and had dark circles around his eyes. Nonetheless, he radiated defiance, declaring…
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A Year in Review: Armenian Government Hampered by Path Dependence
By Armen Grigoryan In 2019, Armenia’s economic situation markedly improved, registering GDP growth of 6.5 percent, a stable financial system, upgraded credit ratings, higher budget revenues and reduced public debt (Emerging Europe, December 30, 2019). According to a poll conducted in September and October by the International Republican Institute (IRI), 28 percent of citizens noted…
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Should revolution reach the Constitutional Court? Armenians will decide on April 5…
By Armen Grigoryan On 6 February, an extraordinary session of the National Assembly of Armenia approved a referendum on amending the Article 213 of the Constitution. The decision was approved by 88 votes, including the ruling My Step coalition and the only independent MP, Arman Babajanyan. The Bright Armenia faction’s 15 present members voted against,…