Tag: Georgian Dream

Georgian Dream is the ruling political party of Georgia, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012. The party came to power promising to balance Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration with pragmatic relations with Russia, but in recent years has moved sharply toward authoritarian governance and a posture increasingly hostile to the EU and Western institutions. Its disputed 2024 parliamentary election victory triggered mass protests in Tbilisi that lasted months, and the EU suspended Georgia’s accession process in response to the government’s democratic backsliding.

The Georgian Dream government’s trajectory has direct implications for Armenia and the South Caucasus. Georgia is Armenia’s primary transit corridor to the outside world — the only route for goods that does not pass through Turkey, Azerbaijan, or Russia. A Georgian government that accommodates Russian pressure or destabilizes the country’s relationship with Western institutions creates logistical and political risks for Armenia. Georgia’s domestic politics also serve as a proxy indicator of Russia’s ability to maintain influence in former Soviet states that have expressed European aspirations.

Groong covers Georgian Dream and Georgian politics as a South Caucasus story with direct Armenian relevance. Episodes in this category address the party’s electoral controversies, the protest movement, the EU’s response, and what Georgia’s political direction means for regional stability and Armenia’s Western integration pathway.

Johnny Melikian on the Georgia Law on Foreign Agents, Protests and Aftermath| Ep 238 - March 15, 2023 [EP238]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 15, 2023 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Ukraine | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • On March 7, the Georgian parliament voted into law a bill that would require political actors to clarify their foreign funding sources and their activities to lobby lawmakers with such funding. This ignited large protests in Tbilisi, and on March 9 the parliament agreed to rescind the law and to release arrested opposition members. We analyze the events and the outcome.

Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023

Johnny Melikian on the Georgia Law on Foreign Agents, Protests and Aftermath| Ep 238 - March 15, 2023 [EP238]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 15, 2023 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Ukraine

Guest:

Topics:

  • On March 7, the Georgian parliament voted into law a bill that would require political actors to clarify their foreign funding sources and their activities to lobby lawmakers with such funding. This ignited large protests in Tbilisi, and on March 9 the parliament agreed to rescind the law and to release arrested opposition members. We analyze the events and the outcome.

Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023

Armenian News: Ukraine Crisis Update | Parukh - Brussels - Moscow | Ep #131 - Apr 3, 2022 [EP131]

Posted on Monday, Apr 4, 2022 | Category: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, China, Genocide, Artsakh, India, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Middle East | Series: WIR

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

Armenian News: Ukraine Crisis Update | Parukh - Brussels - Moscow | Ep #131 - Apr 3, 2022 [EP131]

Posted on Monday, Apr 4, 2022 | Category: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, China, Genocide, Artsakh, India, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Middle East

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

Zoom for Democracy | Domestic & Regional Politics | Artsakh Republic at 30 | Ep #106 - Dec 12, 2021 [EP106]

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, China, Israel, Syria, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy, Armenian Genocide | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021

Topics:

  • Zoom for Democracy
  • Domestic Politics
  • Regional Politics
  • Artsakh Independence at 30
  • Analyst Rants

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
  • Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021

Zoom for Democracy | Domestic & Regional Politics | Artsakh Republic at 30 | Ep #106 - Dec 12, 2021 [EP106]

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, China, Israel, Syria, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy, Armenian Genocide

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021

Topics:

  • Zoom for Democracy
  • Domestic Politics
  • Regional Politics
  • Artsakh Independence at 30
  • Analyst Rants

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
  • Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021

Georgian Runoffs | Turkish Drones in Donbas | Iran-Turkey | G20 Palooza | Ep #96 - Oct 31, 2021 [EP96]

Posted on Monday, Nov 1, 2021 | Category: Russia, Iran, Armenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, China, Artsakh, Israel, Economy, Geopolitics, Human Rights, India | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 31, 2021

Topics:

  • Georgia’s Runoff Elections
  • Turkish Drones in Donbas
  • Iran-Turkey Tensions
  • The G20 Palooza

Guests:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 96 | Recorded: October 31, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211031.html

Georgian Runoffs | Turkish Drones in Donbas | Iran-Turkey | G20 Palooza | Ep #96 - Oct 31, 2021 [EP96]

Posted on Monday, Nov 1, 2021 | Category: Russia, Iran, Armenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, China, Artsakh, Israel, Economy, Geopolitics, Human Rights, India

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 31, 2021

Topics:

  • Georgia’s Runoff Elections
  • Turkish Drones in Donbas
  • Iran-Turkey Tensions
  • The G20 Palooza

Guests:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 96 | Recorded: October 31, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211031.html

Saakashvili in Georgia | Putin Erdogan in Sochi | OSCE MG in NK | Tonoyan in Jail | Ep 91 Oct 3 2021 [EP91]

Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Georgia, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Artsakh, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, China | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 3, 2021

Topics:

  • Saakashvili Back in Georgia
  • Putin, Erdogan, in Sochi
  • OSCE Minsk Group in Artsakh?
  • Tonoyan, Galstyan in Jail
  • Hovik in Stepanakert

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
  • Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan

Episode 91 | Recorded: October 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211003.html