For more than 15 years, the former Soviet republic of Georgia has moved steadily, if haltingly, toward democracy and integration with the West, despite fierce opposition from Russia. Now it has taken a big step backward. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, police raided the headquarters of the leading opposition party in Tbilisi and arrested its leader, Nika Melia. The detention culminated months of political conflict that have brought Georgia’s political system close to collapse and endangered its ties to the West — developments that benefit no one more than Vladimir Putin.
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Washington Post: Democracy is on the brink in Georgia, and Putin is delighted
Georgian opposition parties members and supporters march demanding snap polls - three days after police arrested a top opposition leader and raided his party headquarters - in downtown Tbilisi on Feb. 26, 2021.
