Discussants

• Ambassador David Bakradze, Embassy of Georgia to the United States
• Hatia Jinjikhadze, Media Program Manager and Deputy Executive Director, Open Society Georgia Foundation
• Eka Gigauri, Executive Director, Transparency International Georgia
• Sopho Verzeuli, Judiciary and Democracy Program Director, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre (EMC)

Moderator

• Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) invites you to a timely conversation with Ambassador David Bakradze and leading Georgian civil society representatives to discuss Georgia’s continued political and economic transition. Speakers will also focus on the upcoming Georgian Presidential election on October 28, and internal and external challenges to Georgia’s security, democracy, and Euroatlantic aspirations, including continued Kremlin interference.

Georgia has taken positive steps to implement the EU–Georgia Association Agreement, and a recent meeting between NATO Defense Ministers and the Georgian Defense Minister on October 3 reconfirmed the alliance's commitment to Georgia’s future in NATO. However there remain serious obstacles that threaten further progress to Georgia’s membership in NATO and the European Union.

Looking ahead, what steps does Georgia need to take to strengthen its case for membership in NATO and the European Union? What is the Georgian government doing to move Georgia closer to becoming a full member of the two international organizations? How will the upcoming presidential election impact this process and internal Georgian politics? What more should the United States and European Union do to strengthen Georgia’s integration process and address Kremlin efforts to pull Georgia back into its orbits? Georgian civil society has played a critical role in supporting and strengthening Georgia’s democracy, rule of law, and market-oriented economy. What are the priorities and main challenges facing Georgian civil society?

If you have any questions, please contact John Alexander at jalexander@gmfus.org.