Tbilisi on Edge as Georgia’s Election Becomes a Battle for Its Soul

As night falls, Tbilisi teeters on the brink. Special police units flood the streets, tension is palpable, and Georgia’s future hangs in a fragile balance.

Tbilisi, GEORGIA — The air in Tbilisi is thick with tension, anticipation, and, most of all, the whiff of transformation. This weekend’s election in Georgia isn’t just another post-Soviet formality; it’s a tipping point. The decision made here will either pull the country closer to Europe or keep it teetering on the edge of authoritarian rule. And as citizens flock to polling stations, some under the wary gaze of police and others under the watchful eye of international observers, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

In the shadow of these election results looms Bidzina Ivanishvili, oligarch and powerbroker behind the ruling Georgian Dream party. Standing behind bulletproof glass at a rally just days before, Ivanishvili’s rhetoric didn’t hide his intent: Georgian Dream promises stability and a cold but “necessary” separation from the disruptive influences of Western liberalism. His message? Siding with Europe is a gamble, and Ivanishvili won’t let Georgia roll those dice without a fight.

Bidzina Ivanishvili addresses the crowd from behind bulletproof glass, with the Georgian Dream emblem prominently displayed, during the party’s rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024. His speech emphasizes Georgia’s political future, focusing on themes of stability and European integration as the parliamentary elections draw near. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)

Across Tbilisi, campaign posters layer a visual contradiction. Georgian Dream’s EU-inspired symbols are plastered side by side with grim images of Ukrainian destruction, subtly warning that the path to European integration could lead Georgia to a similar fate. Georgian Dream positions itself as a bulwark against war, while the pro-European opposition, a coalition of fractured parties under the banner “Coalition for Change”—are framed as reckless idealists ready to sell out Georgian peace for a Western fantasy.

Meanwhile, transparency in the electoral process is at a breaking point.