A nation torn between Russia, the West: Your simple guide to Georgia’s vote
Al Jazeera
Experts say Saturday’s elections will define where the Caucasus nation’s geopolitical future lies.
Georgians will vote in parliamentary elections on Saturday that look set to define whether the mountainous nation that straddles Eastern Europe and West Asia will pivot towards Moscow or Brussels.
The geopolitical bifurcation of the country’s politics has been gradually building for years but came to the fore in April, when wide-scale protests broke out.
They came in opposition to a controversial “foreign agents” law passed in May. Critics say it resembles Russian legislation, which has been used to crack down on dissent.
For many protesters, it also points to the Georgian Dream’s pro-Russia tilt, as the governing party seeks to secure a fourth term in power.
Pro-Western opposition parties aim to form a coalition to secure a majority government and set the country back on the path to European Union membership.
