A priori, they have nothing in common, apart from their name. And yet, the two Georgias dramatically symbolize the threats weighing on Western democracies. In Europe, in this small Caucasian state (4 million inhabitants), the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, founded and financed by a wealthy oligarch in the pay of Moscow, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has just won legislative elections accused of fraud and interference. To the point that President Salomé Zourabichvili, in unison with the pro-European opposition, denounces a “takeover by Russia”.
This country, where the government methodically undermines the rule of law despite massive demonstrations, is of strategic importance for the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, who has occupied 20% of the territory since his military offensive in 2008. His goal: to do everything to prevent Georgia from joining the European Union – the accession process was frozen after the introduction in this country of a law on “foreign agents” inspired by Moscow.
The protest had already started in Georgia in 2020
10,000 kilometers away, another Georgia, almost three times more populated, is just as worrying. Located in the southeast of the United States, and named after King George II of Great Britain, it is one of the seven pivotal states which risk tipping the presidential election on November 5.
Ready to do anything to win whatever happens, Donald Trump’s troops, who control the electoral authorities in Georgia, are preparing to contest the result from the polls in the event of Kamala Harris’ victory. For example, in September they introduced a measure imposing the manual counting of ballots. But this rule, which could have significantly delayed the proclamation of the results, was blocked by a judge on the grounds that it created “uncertainty and disorder”.
Already, in 2020, the wind of suspicion had begun to blow from this state. Calling fraud, Trump had requested several recounts of the votes. And, while Joe Biden finally won in Georgia with less than 12,000 votes in advance, his Republican opponent had, in vain, pressured a local official to “find” the missing ballots for him. With complete impunity, since, despite his indictment, the billionaire’s trial is still in limbo.
After giving in in Tbilisi, the dikes of democracy will be put to the test in Atlanta. Faced with enemies who nevertheless advance with their faces exposed, democracy has never seemed so naked, to the great delight of Putin and his autocratic friends.