The European Plot
On the left, a photo of a classroom destroyed by a Russian rocket in the Ukrainian town of Zelenyi Hai. On the right, a Georgian classroom in perfect condition. It is written in red ‘No to War’ and in blue ‘Choose Peace’. Credit: Giorgi Metreveli
The Georgian Dream poster campaign is based on photo montages designed to arouse fear of foreign intervention. The format is simple but striking: each poster juxtaposes two photos. The first, in black and white, shows a destroyed infrastructure in Ukraine, while the second, in colour, shows a similar scene in Georgia, but in perfect condition. These images, which include bridges, buses, churches, and buildings, convey the idea of a comparison between the war in Ukraine and a hypothetical conflict in Georgia, which Western countries, according to the rhetoric of the Georgian Dream, would seek to provoke.
By propagating this conspiracy theory, the Georgian Dream is seeking to justify its distance from the European Union by portraying the West as a threat, thus drawing closer to Russia. Yet the European integration project has long been an aspiration shared by Georgians. The association agreement with the European Union, signed in 2014 and which came into force in 2016, is concrete proof of this. According to opinion polls, over 80% of the population would like to join the European Union. However, the Georgian Dream campaign is now modelling its arguments on those of the Russian regime, which describes Europe as a harmful influence.
By adopting this stance, the Georgian leadership has also sought outside support, particularly from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is in favour of a vision of Europe based on “traditional values". After the parliamentary elections, Orban was the only European leader to officially congratulate the elected members of the Georgian Dream, even though he currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Political consequences of the campaign posters
Poster showing the leaders of the pro-European opposition parties on a leash. It reads: ‘No to war! No to agents! Credit: Giorgi Metreveli
The Georgian Dream’s recent political decisions reflect the directions announced by its campaign visuals. In May 2024, the Georgian government adopted a law inspired by the one on “foreign agents” in Russia, which obliges all organisations receiving foreign funding to declare themselves as such. The law, denounced by NGOs and the independent press, is designed to discredit critical voices, accentuating the regime’s authoritarian slide.
A few months later, a law restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community was passed, under the guise of protecting “family values” — an argument often used by Russia and Hungary to restrict the rights of minorities. This series of measures, accompanied by the organisation of contested elections on 26 October, in which suspicions of manipulation were raised by many NGOs and European leaders, are taking Georgia further away from its goal of European integration.
The campaign posters and their disturbing messages are raising fears of increased repression of the opposition and checks and balances. The Georgian Dream could implement its law against “foreign agents,” suppressing any form of resistance or criticism. Georgia’s independent press and NGOs are already under threat and President Salome Zurabishvili is under heavy pressure.
Popular Mobilisation in the Face of Authoritarianism
Faced with these authoritarian excesses, the Georgian people did not remain passive. Tens of thousands of citizens gathered on Rustaveli Avenue to denounce the electoral irregularities and defend their right to democracy. Against a backdrop of increasing polarisation, this massive mobilisation testifies to the population’s attachment to democratic and European values, despite the repression.
The unity of the Georgian people in the face of the authoritarian manoeuvres of the Georgian Dream could well be the most powerful response to the government’s attempts to manipulate and divide them, even if this collective stand entails considerable risks for activists and opponents.
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