Authoritarian Pressures in the South Caucasus: Can Democratic Practices Prevail?

Across the South Caucasus, democratic spaces are shrinking at an alarming pace.

In Azerbaijan, where authoritarian rule is longstanding, repression has intensified significantly since late 2023. A wave of arrests has targeted independent media, civil society, and political activists. Most democratic voices are now either imprisoned or forced to operate from exile.

In Georgia, autocratization is accelerating. Following contested parliamentary elections, new laws restrict civil society, media, the queer community and opposition groups, while mass protests are met with violent crackdowns. Politically motivated arrests are driving activists abroad, and civic initiatives in exile are emerging.

The Azerbaijani and Georgian governments are increasingly aligned and backed by Turkey. Russia lends rhetorical support to Georgia’s ruling elite, which is adopting repressive tactics modeled on Moscow’s approach and building ties with authoritarian regimes such as Hungary. 

In this troubling landscape, Armenia stands out as a democratic exception. However, democratic reforms since the 2018 Velvet Revolution have been incomplete, and Armenia’s democracy faces internal and external pressures — especially from Russia — as the country approaches pivotal parliamentary elections in 2026. 

• What space remains for democratic resistance and resilience in the South Caucasus?
• How can democratic practices be advanced from exile and within these countries?
• What role should Germany and the EU play in supporting pro-democracy actors? 

Join us for an urgent,high-stakes conversation about authoritarianism, resistance, and the future of democracy in the South Caucasus.

Panelists: 

• Giorgi Rodionov, Untitled Gallery /South Caucasus Center for Culture
• Andranik Shirinyan, Human rights activist,Yerevan
• Emin Aslanov, Free Voices Collective
• Sonja Schiffers, Heinrich-Böll-Foundation South Caucasus, Tbilisi

Moderation: Walter Kaufmann, Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, Berlin

The discussion will be held in English.
 

Information:
Irina Ghulinyan-Gerz
Eastern and Southeastern Europe Division
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Berlin
E Irina.Ghulinyan-Gerz@boell.de

» Participation on site
At the the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin
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Livestream in English

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