#High-Stakes #Vote in #Georgia: A #Decision #Between #Europe and #Russia

Today, Georgians head to the polls for a vote many consider the most critical since Georgia’s independence in 1991. This election is widely seen as a referendum on the country’s future in the European Union. Pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili cast her vote, saying, “I voted for a new Georgia,“ and expressed hope for an end to “one-party rule.“ The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party faces challenges from a coalition of opposition groups promising to revive Georgia’s EU integration. With 80% of Georgians favoring EU membership, the stakes are high. However, GD claims an opposition victory could provoke conflict with Russia, echoing its 2008 war and ongoing occupation of Georgian territory. With GD campaigning on peace, opposition leaders argue for closer European ties, vowing to roll back recent laws criticized by the EU. The vote will shape Georgia’s path: closer to Europe or closer to Russia. The world awaits the outcome. #GeorgiaVotes #EuropeanUnion #Geo