#Georgia is one of many countries where robust citizen #protests belie the global storyline of autocratization. Richard Youngs and I unpack the source of #Georgia’s democratic #resilience in our recent article for Journal of Democracy 👉 journalofdemocracy.org/articles/the-s…

This is how we welcomed the New Year in Tbilisi: with unity and purpose. To the West: Georgia’s current government is illegitimate. Please do not shy away from calling it by its name.

#GeorgiaProtests Today: "You will all see what a theater can do” — Today, actors from the Vaso Abashidze State New Theater presented a protest manifesto to hundreds of demonstrators, announcing plans to travel to the regions to engage directly with the public and expand their

Today, the court ruled to remand Saba Skhvitaridze, a political prisoner of Ivanishvili's regime, in custody. These were his words in court, please take a moment to read: "Of course, I do not expect an objective decision. I am a political prisoner, and this entire process is

SOS! "Mzia Amaglobeli has been trying to send out the letter for nearly a week, but it remains stuck somewhere in the system. Most likely, they will shift the blame to the postal service, just as they did with her appeal, which supposedly “arrived late” at the court of appeals.

The headlines out of Munich this weekend need to be about European action, not American appeasement. Trump & Putin will only respond to strength. Europe needs to show it: Announce serious new military aid, major new sanctions, real enforcement of existing ones, & #MakeRussiaPay

Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interest. This plan must be prepared now. There’s no time to lose.

Leaving Munich with an anxious mood. - Zelensky made clear Ukraine does not hope for U.S. to work for a just peace. It’s up to Europe. - Not sure if Europe is up to the task. Should stop whining about not being invited to negotiations and focus on what it can deliver.

In the midst of Munich Conference & Vance important that EU addresses the compelling Opinion in Saturday’s Financial Times by Mario Draghi who does not pull his punches. EU internal barriers cost EU more dearly than anything the US can do. Radical change needed on said barriers

Churchill reminds us of Munich’s mistake—big powers deciding over smaller ones.

Zelensky pushes back on Trump with facts, not rhetoric. Zelensky: The U.S. has provided Ukraine with $67 billion in military aid and $31 billion in budget support. Trump’s $500 billion fossil fuel claim isn’t a serious conversation. 1/

As the 3 year anniversary nears, remember Ukrainians’ courage in the darkest hour. A young man who gave his life to destroy a bridge, stalling the Russian advance on Kyiv. An old woman who took down a drone with a jar of tomatoes. Crowds of civilians who blocked the roads and

Ukrainians will go down in history as the nation who said fuck off to the biggest bullies of the world. Bravo Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year. The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers.

So very right.

Italy and Spain are objecting to the €40 billion aid package to Ukraine. As I've said before, these countries are not committed to defending Europe. You get all kinds of fiery speeches from them, but when it comes to actual aid, they're not willing to do much.

Nato backsliding

Tbilisi today. Europe day protest. 163 days of protesting.

Russians: We want to conquer Ukraine & kill Ukrainians Useful idiots: Maybe they’re mad about NATO Russians: *invade Ukraine, kidnap, torture, murder Ukrainians nonstop for 3 years* UI: But what do they want? Russians: We want all of Ukraine UI: Wow they must be super mad at NATO

Chancellor Merz: For far too long, we in Germany didn’t want to hear our Baltic neighbours’ warnings about Russia’s imperialist policies. We have recognised this mistake – and there is no going back from this realisation.