Join us for an online conference “Charting the Road Ahead: Reflections on Georgia’s Future” on 20 October to assess Georgia’s democratic trajectory, information environment, and long-term resilience through the lenses of governance, civil society, media, and academia.

Register here

PROGRAMME

Panel I – Democracy Under Pressure: Human Rights and Legal Implications of Democratic Backsliding in Georgia (12:00-13:15 CET)

The panel will examine the current state of democracy in Georgia through the prism of governance, human rights, and electoral integrity. With the civic space narrowing and public trust in institutions declining, how can democratic actors push back against authoritarian tendencies and ensure free, fair, and inclusive environment? Speakers from human rights organizations, election watchdogs, and political scientists will discuss the lessons from recent political developments and outline priorities

Speakers:

Levan Natroshvili – Executive Director, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
Nika Simonishvili – Attorney at Law, Human Rights Defender
Iago Kachkachishvili – Expert–Analyst, Institute of Social Studies and Analysis (ISSA)

Break (13:15-13:25 CET)

Panel II – Truth at Risk: Media Freedom, Disinformation, and the Struggle for Public Trust (13:25-14:40 CET)

As disinformation campaigns grow more sophisticated and independent journalism faces mounting pressure, Georgia’s information environment stands at a crossroads. This panel will bring together journalists, media analysts, and digital resilience experts to unpack the challenges of fake news, state influence, and foreign information operations. What can be done to strengthen media pluralism, rebuild public trust, and counter hybrid threats to democracy?

Speakers:

Ana Chitaladze – Researcher, Myth Detector
Mariam Nikuradze – Journalist, OC Media
Anna Gvarishvili – Disinformation Specialist, Journalist, Project 64

Break (14:40-14:50 CET)

Panel III – Georgia 2030: Reflections on Policy, Security, and Democratic Resilience (14:50-16:00 CET)

Meet the speakers of Panel III “Georgia 2030: Reflections on Policy, Security, and Democratic Resilience

Speakers:

Shota Gvineria – Senior Fellow, Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
Tornike Parulava – Security Policy Professional
Liam O’Shea – Political Analyst

Moderator:

Megi Benia – Researcher, South-East Europe and Black Sea Region Programme (SEEBSR), Platform for Peace and Humanity