Elections will be critical to Georgia’s future

Significance Though likely a pre-election ploy to garner votes, Ivanishvili’s comments highlight how important tomorrow’s parliamentary elections are for Georgia’s development as a democracy and its foreign policy orientation. The ruling Georgian Dream’s recent policies have already severely undermined Georgia’s EU aspirations. Impacts Continued political polarisation is likely to undermine Georgia’s EU aspirations for the foreseeable future. Elevated trade levels with Russia are likely to continue to drive economic growth. Relations with China will keep improving as Beijing takes a growing interest in Georgia’s transport and logistics industry.