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My drive comes from my family. It sounds cliché, but it comes from my family. It comes from my friends and it comes from my country. I really love my country. I love our history, it’s super rich, I just love it. And I don’t want my country to be in bad hands, you know? I want my country developed, I want my country to be advanced.

Klaas Janowsky: Welcome to our Eine Welt Landeskonferenz, where we talk about democracy and young participation. Today I have a young democratic activist here: my dear friend Saba from Georgia. Saba, how are you?

Saba: I’m glad to be here. I’m feeling good and I hope that the information which I will provide will be useful and it will be interesting. Hello everyone and thank you.

Klaas Janowsky: So to start off: For those who might not know; what is happening in Georgia at the moment?

Saba: The political situation in Georgia right now is really complicated, because we have protests going on in different cities, especially in the capital city, for more than 100 days already. The protesters demand new elections and freedom for the prisoners of the conscience. The people who are arrested during this time were arrested because of their political views and because they were going on to the protest. So that’s why it’s important to set them free again, otherwise they are under the threat of seven years of prison. We have two main demands at the moment and the whole situation is really complicated.

Klaas Janowsky: What sparked the protests initially?

Saba: There are two main reasons that started the protests. The first reason I would mention is that the election which was held in October 2024, was rigged. We had a lot of observations about the elections and there are reports which say that the election was not held under the best environment. There were heavy pressures on the electorate and different kind of manipulations. For example the audience reports say so too.

And the second reason, which was actually the trigger point, is that the Georgian Dream and the Prime Minister of the regime announced on the 28th of November that they will stop the negotiations about the accession to the European Union until 2028. So which means stopping this really important process of the negotiations for the accession to the EU. That was the trigger point for the Georgian society. And everyone on the same day just went to the streets. The protests are continuing from the 28th of November. That‘s the two main reasons what started the protest: What the prime Minister said and the elections.

Klaas Janowsky: Before we go further into the European Union, let’s focus on the protests first: Who organizes them? Are they organized or spontaneous?

Saba: The thing that makes the Georgian protest unique, is that it’s really hard to find a specific group that organizes the protest. Of course, there are people who are more active than others, but still it would be wrong to label someone as an organizer, because the fuel for this protest is just the rage of the people. Everyone is a leader, as we say in Georgia. The main motivation comes from success itself.

Klaas Janowsky: How are you involved there?

Saba: My involvement is just going to the protest and trying to declare my position via social media or communicating with the supporters of the ruling party. Because to say that the ruling party has zero supporters would be a lie, they have some part of the supporters. I’m trying to communicate with them and I’m going to the protest.

Klaas Janowsky: From you being involved in the protests, I get that you are agreeing that Georgia needs to be an EU member state?

Saba: Yes. Even historically, I think the main motivation could be economical wealth, but also with the Georgian and the so called western values, they‘re really close to each other and we feel that tradition too. Because when we had our first independence from the Russian Empire, we had a really, really progressive constitution for that time from 1918 on. With all these human rights, that were returning during that time in early 20th century, we already tried to make big steps towards Europe, so I think that we’re really close with values and perspectives and I think that Georgia should join the European Union.

Klaas Janowsky:Georgia has the status as a European Union candidate since the December of 2023 with the condition of following a 9-step plan, which involves many democratic restructurings. It also includes fighting disinformation and foreign information manipulation. Is there any progress yet?

Saba: Actually, we don’t have that much progress with that. Because it’s difficult to hold the power – and our government tries to hold the power at maximum. We have repressions right now and the government just goes in every sphere. They announced the reforms in the educational sphere, so they can get their hands at universities and youngsters. They can control what is taught there. We also have huge repressions with the civil servants, because a lot of people were fired from the jobs. And you can’t just do it if you don’t have misinformation. The actual problems which arise in our country are just getting left behind. For example: Our government is fighting the „Deep State“ and the „Global War Party“. Can you tell me about that, what’s the „Global War Party“? Or what is the „Deep State“?

Klaas Janowsky: We know about the Deep State. it’s a right, far right wing conspiracy theory.

Saba: So our government, they’re trying to defend us from those two „movements“ or things and that’s the thing. The misinformation and propaganda is getting worse and worse so their electorate won’t focus on actual problems, I would say. And because of that, all these repressions, and just getting their hands everywhere ,and all these fines. Everything is going on in the second, in the background for their electorate. And they are just trying, they are just like „yeah, we’re fighting the Global War party“, „we are not under influence of the deep state“ and different stuff okay? So they put themselves as the defender of freedom. They say, they are defending our country with „dignity“, so we are going towards EU with „dignity“. And what does that mean? Nobody knows, I guess it’s a broad term.

Klaas Janowsky: Okay. Coming back to the EU assessment: Kaja Kallas, the vice president of the commission, and the commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, state the concern on the serious setbacks of Georgia’s democratic development. How do you think or do you think Georgia can get back on the track of the European course?

Saba: The interesting thing about the Georgian case also is the pace. The pace of the government, so called government, the regime, of how fast they are legislating the repressive laws. For example, just administrative detention went from 15 days to 60 days. 60 days and fines. If it was 500 Laris for, let’s say, closing the road without having enough people in the protests, now it’s like 5000 Laris, which is up to 1700 Euros, somewhere there. You know? So, we have huge fines, we have this pace, unbelievable pace, of getting the power. And I think the best thing that Georgia could do right now, if there really were political will, is at first to get back to the laws which were not that repressive And just cancel these huge fines. And the most important thing, I think, is to make free the prisoners of conscience, you know? Because these people are held there for their political views, again. And to make them free, it will be really important. And the third one, as I said, would be having new elections, because there are serious proofs, serious concerns, that the elections, which were held in 2024, were rigged. Those are the three main tasks, three main steps which I think, it’s my personal opinion, will set Georgia back on trail to, with certain  democratization, joining the EU. And just, I think that would be great if there would be political will.

Klaas Janowsky: You also mentioned the foreign proof that the elections were rigged. What do you and your fellow protesters expect from foreign organizations, foreign governments?

Saba: About international staff, our regime is desperate for the recognition on the international stage. And the most of the countries, for example, which congratulated them on winning the elections, were just authoritarian regimes. It already says something, you know? The West still doesn’t recognize the elections. It totally says something. And if you will talk about the activists, if you will talk about governments, I think right now, in my personal opinion, Georgia’s topic is drifting away from the focus and it’s really important for us to prevent this. Maybe Georgia won’t become the main mainstream, but we really need to be in the Daily Agenda, you know? Because if the focus drifts away, then they can even do more. They can even have faster pace towards Authoritarianism. And some of the research, some of the rankings already say, that Georgia is leaning super-fast towards Authoritarianism, and it’s really sad actually. So right now, what we need is more active support.

And from the governments, I know that some of the governments are implementing some sanctions on the officials, but more personal sanctions also, I think, would put more pressure on them.

Klaas Janowsky: Okay going a bit away from the government, but more towards the young generation, which is our topic as well in this online conference. Studies by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation say that young people feel not represented, or in 2023 felt not represented by Georgian government. Would you agree? Do you also feel like that?

Saba: Yeah, I agree and there is a lot of reasons. Because, I think, if someone wants to, if you want someone to be representing you, then that person should understand what are your struggles, what are your problems, to be the proper representation. And usually the youngsters are facing this problem. And I think it’s not just Georgia, but in Georgia too. When you’re a youngster, you need someone who understands you, who understands your fights, who understands your struggles, because with the time passing, the generational struggles change. So yeah, I agree with that statement.

Klaas Janowsky: Maybe also because of that, but also for other reasons, mainly young people are at the protests, not mainly but especially and seemingly pro EU. Is there a generational difference?

Saba: If I would say that there is a huge generational difference, I would be lying. But at the start of the protest, the most part of the protesters here were youngsters. And of course, we have the older generation fighting alongside with us, too. And there is a gap, but it’s not that huge, I would say, but still. So at the start, when the brutal force were used against the protesters, like breaking the face, facial bones, and really really brutal force. And there’s footages, you can just search for it. How they were trying to dismantle the protest, mostly they were at the front line where the youngsters stand.

Klaas Janowsky: And you’ve been in the protest since the beginning, since over 100 days now. What gives you power?

Saba: My drive comes from my family. It sounds cliché, but it comes from my family. It comes from my friends and it comes from my country. I really love my country. I love our history, it’s super rich, I just love it. And I don’t want my country to be in bad hands, you know? I want my country developed, I want my country to be advanced. I want, for my country, all this wealth. And I just want my country, and the population, to be happy. And I want to put my small brick into this huge construction. So, that’s basically what drives me: people around me and just my country.

Klaas Janowsky: You also function as a role model in some positions. You work with young people, you work with young adults, and grown-ups. What would be a message to young people in Georgia, but also internationally?

Saba: I feel a little bit shy, because I’m not a motivational speaker. And it’s really strange for me to say a Motto or something. But I just believe, simply believe, that no one will do the thing, which should be done by you. So, take an action. Act. I believe that if there is something, if there is that should be done; for example: if this glass should be moved, no one will do this, if it’s my stuff to do. You shouldn’t wait for someone, for doing this or taking responsibility for this. Just take an action, act and do the stuff which should be done by you.

Klaas Janowsky: As a last question: what are your plans for the future?

Saba: When I was talking about what drives me, I said my country. And I just really want to make my country a better place. And if you will talk about the future, I just wish my country to be a better place, I just wish to have the contribution to that. And, because of that, I will study a lot, and even get more qualifications. I want to make my country a better place.

Klaas Janowsky: Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for your energy, your power and your fight. And we hope for the best in Georgia, but also internationally!

Saba: Thank you for inviting me. I hope it was interesting, and yeah, thank you again.