In Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, weekly demonstrations persist as part of a sustained protest movement against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Since the contested parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, opposition groups have mobilized each Saturday, marching from Avlabari Square through central parts of the city to parliament. The protests target the government led by Irakli Kobakhidze, accusing it of authoritarian tendencies and a perceived pro-Russian orientation.

The political unrest escalated following the government’s November 28 announcement that it would not prioritize opening negotiations for European Union accession until after 2028, despite Georgia having been granted EU candidate status in 2023. Protesters, mostly affiliated with pro-European parties and movements, view these developments as a setback for Georgia’s aspirations to strengthen ties with the West and deepen democratic governance.

This political turmoil unfolds against a backdrop of significant social and economic contrasts in Georgia. Although facing instability in governance and ongoing tensions over Russian influence—reflective of the country’s fraught history with Russia, including conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia—the nation has seen a notable increase in international tourism. According to the Georgian National Tourism Administration, over 5.5 million foreign visitors entered Georgia in 2025, marking an 8.4% rise from the previous year and a dramatic increase from approximately 560,000 tourists two decades earlier.

Tourists are drawn not only to Georgia’s historic and natural attractions but also to its Soviet-era cultural sites and evolving urban environment. Destinations such as the Black Sea port city of Batumi, known colloquially as the “Las Vegas of the Black Sea” for its casinos and vibrant nightlife, continue to flourish. The capital itself offers a mix of aging Soviet infrastructure and contemporary cultural life, evident in its metro system and repurposed industrial spaces.

Simultaneously, Georgia faces economic and environmental challenges in regions like Chiatura, a key manganese mining town, where industrial decline has prompted worker protests. Meanwhile, areas such as Tskaltubo, once a thriving spa town during the Soviet era, remain in relative decline, with only limited tourism activity today.

The presence of tens of thousands of Russians who relocated to Georgia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine has injected capital and business activity into the country but has also intensified local concerns given Georgia’s historical conflicts with Russia. Many Georgians continue to regard Russia as an occupying force, reflecting enduring regional tensions.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian billionaire who founded Georgian Dream and briefly served as prime minister from 2012 to 2013, remains a significant figure in the country’s political and cultural landscape. His investments include the renovation of the Rustaveli theatre, a national symbol of independence, underscoring the complex interplay between economic influence and political power in Georgia.

As the country navigates its course between competing geopolitical influences and internal demands for democratic reform, Georgia remains a nation at a crossroads, balancing a rich cultural heritage, growing tourism appeal, and a contentious political future.