Episode 66: Political turbulence shakes Georgia

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope" rel="noopener">www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope</a><br /><br />This episode of Talk Eastern Europe returns to the Southern Caucasus with a look at the political situation in Georgia. Immediately following the parliamentary elections last October, the united opposition failed to recognize the outcomes of the elections as free and fair and refused to take their seats in the parliament. Since then, social frustration with the political situation has grown and exploded after the brutal arrest of Nika Melia – the leader of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement. The current situation, which is exacerbated by the pandemic, leaves a lot of questions ahead for Georgia, including its Euro-Atlantic path. To help understand the situation there, Adam sits down with Anastasia Mgaloblishvili an analyst and recent election observer in Georgia for her take on the situation.<br /><br />>> Resources<br />“When institutions fail, boycott and street protests remain the only instrument” By Anastasia Mgaloblishvili. New Eastern Europe issue 1-2/2021, <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/when-institutions-fail-boycott-and-street-protests-remain-the-only-instrument/" rel="noopener">https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/02/03/when-institutions-fail-boycott-and-street-protests-remain-the-only-instrument/</a><br /><br />“Make Georgia great again”, By Archil Sikharulidze . New Eastern Europe 04 January 2021: <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/04/make-georgia-great-again/" rel="noopener">https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/01/04/make-georgia-great-again/</a><br /><br />“Georgian democracy on life support” By Shota Kincha. New Eatsern Europe 02 March 2021 <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/02/georgian-democracy-on-life-support/" rel="noopener">https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/02/georgian-democracy-on-life-support/</a><br /><br />“Crisis spiral in Georgia and Moldova – commonalty, distinctions and wa