Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2358-A
Streaming live here
Since October 2024, Georgian Dream, Georgia’s ruling party, has plunged the country into its worst human rights crisis since independence. They have passed more than 20 new laws that expand state power to suppress dissent and strip the judiciary of its independence.
The crackdown has swept up civil society, journalists, and political opposition alike. Authorities have frozen the bank accounts of organizations providing legal aid to protesters, arrested journalists, and summoned opposition figures for sham proceedings, jailing them for refusing to recognize their legitimacy. Peaceful protest now results in steep fines and lengthy prison sentences.
This briefing will examine the deteriorating human rights situation, Georgian Dream’s evolving tactics to punish and demoralize dissenters, and paths forward for Georgia.
Panelists:
Dr. Claire Kaiser, senior managing director, McLarty Associates
Laura Thornton, senior director, Global Democracy Programs, McCain Institute
Olesya Vartanyan, researcher, George Mason University
###
