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Episode details

World Service,22 Mar 2025,26 mins

Behind Georgia's political turmoil

The Fifth Floor

Available for over a year

Georgia finds itself in political turmoil. For decades many Georgians have longed to be a part of the EU, feeling that their values align more closely than they do with neighbours such as Russia and Turkey. But the goverment, led by the conservative Georgian Dream party, has suspended talks to join the EU, in a move that critics say is kowtowing to Russia. Protests have been going on every day since November 2024. Journalists are left to navigate this complex picture as the country finds itself at a crucial moment, reckoning with its past relationship with Russia and its potential future relationship with Europe. BBC's Nina Akhmeteli, Rayhan Demytrie and Maka Dzneladze all live and work in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. They discuss the current political situation and its cultural and historical backdrop. Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Hannah Dean and Caroline Ferguson (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

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