Irakli Sirbiladze
@iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social
Researcher; Georgia, the EU and Eurasia; IR Theory; GMF's ReThink.CEE Fellow 2023; Queen Mary University of London graduate.
The final verdict is in. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/30/d...
Donald Trump Will Never Be a Restrainer
The final verdict is in.
foreignpolicy.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The final verdict is in. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/30/d...
Spread the word! Do not forget Georgia!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
From my prison cell in Georgia, I implore Europe not to abandon us to Russia | Mzia Amaglobeli
My fellow journalists are putting their lives in danger every day, but we refuse to surrender to a regime that threatens Europe’s own security, says imprisoned Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli
www.theguardian.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Spread the word! Do not forget Georgia!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
290th day of protest.
"Protect visa free [regime with EU]" - was the main message for today.
More photos: www.instagram.com/p/DOjd0SPjIw...
"Protect visa free [regime with EU]" - was the main message for today.
More photos: www.instagram.com/p/DOjd0SPjIw...
September 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
290th day of protest.
"Protect visa free [regime with EU]" - was the main message for today.
More photos: www.instagram.com/p/DOjd0SPjIw...
"Protect visa free [regime with EU]" - was the main message for today.
More photos: www.instagram.com/p/DOjd0SPjIw...
290 day of uninterrupted protest 🇬🇪
September 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
290 day of uninterrupted protest 🇬🇪
What a paper!
Blinded By Bias: Western Policymakers and Their Perceptions of Russia before 24 February 2022 - HCSS
Why did so many Western governments fail to anticipate Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, despite all the warning signs? Based on 44 interviews and in-depth analysis, this groundbreaking new HCSS repo...
hcss.nl
September 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
What a paper!
Averting acute escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine url: academic.oup.com/ia/article/1...
Averting acute escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine
Since 2022 Russia's war against Ukraine and western military assistance for Ukraine's defence have continued to raise dangerous escalatory risks. Referenci
academic.oup.com
September 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Averting acute escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine url: academic.oup.com/ia/article/1...
A peace treaty would settle a long and bloody conflict—and create new geopolitical options in the region. foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/26/a...
With the Armenia-Azerbaijan Deal, It’s a New Era in the Caucasus
A peace treaty would settle a long and bloody conflict—and create new geopolitical options in the region.
foreignpolicy.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
A peace treaty would settle a long and bloody conflict—and create new geopolitical options in the region. foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/26/a...
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
The Russia-Ukraine war isn't just about Trump and Putin.
Russia’s imperial state structure shapes the state’s behaviour, regardless of who leads it or how the West reacts.
✏️@pierzynskigabriel.bsky.social @ho-centre.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Russia’s imperial state structure shapes the state’s behaviour, regardless of who leads it or how the West reacts.
✏️@pierzynskigabriel.bsky.social @ho-centre.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Why the Russia-Ukraine war isn’t just about NATO and Putin
Even without Putin, Russia may have invaded Ukraine. Russia’s imperial state structure shapes state actions regardless of who leads it or how the West reacts.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
August 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The Russia-Ukraine war isn't just about Trump and Putin.
Russia’s imperial state structure shapes the state’s behaviour, regardless of who leads it or how the West reacts.
✏️@pierzynskigabriel.bsky.social @ho-centre.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Russia’s imperial state structure shapes the state’s behaviour, regardless of who leads it or how the West reacts.
✏️@pierzynskigabriel.bsky.social @ho-centre.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Georgian Dream uses all the repressive measures at once. Still, the protests carry on.
Court Grants Request for Detained Activist’s Involuntary Examination in Psychiatric Facility - Civil Georgia
Tbilisi City Court has granted prosecutors' request of involuntary transfer of detained activist Nin
civil.ge
August 2, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Georgian Dream uses all the repressive measures at once. Still, the protests carry on.
Some good read there
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
International relations and the revolutionary geopolitics of the European New Right - Jean-François Drolet, Michael C. Williams, 2025
The international politics of the 21st century has seen a remarkable surge in geopolitical thinking and rhetoric, in evocations of both Europe and the West, and...
journals.sagepub.com
July 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Some good read there
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Due to protests, Georgian Dream also withdrew the first foreign agent law in 2023. Then you know what happened.
The point is, once autocratic logic sets in, it can resurface. Ukrainians must remain vigilant.
The point is, once autocratic logic sets in, it can resurface. Ukrainians must remain vigilant.
Zelensky has submitted a draft law to Parliament that prohibits the Prosecutor General from issuing directives to anti-corruption agencies.
The agencies have confirmed that the bill RESTORES full procedural powers and guarantees their institutional independence.
The agencies have confirmed that the bill RESTORES full procedural powers and guarantees their institutional independence.
July 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Due to protests, Georgian Dream also withdrew the first foreign agent law in 2023. Then you know what happened.
The point is, once autocratic logic sets in, it can resurface. Ukrainians must remain vigilant.
The point is, once autocratic logic sets in, it can resurface. Ukrainians must remain vigilant.
Khazaradze sure has money but that cannot buy the popularity he and his party desperately needs to be a sole opposition player.
They are so unpopular, the best they can do is to organize meetings with their party members and they will probably struggle even with that.
They are so unpopular, the best they can do is to organize meetings with their party members and they will probably struggle even with that.
In addition to other parties and public polls decisively favoring boycott, Lelo had no support by Strong Georgia coalition partners Freedom Square and For the People either (Freedom Square is outright in the boycott camp).
And now the party is seeing resignations too. 2/2.
And now the party is seeing resignations too. 2/2.
July 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Khazaradze sure has money but that cannot buy the popularity he and his party desperately needs to be a sole opposition player.
They are so unpopular, the best they can do is to organize meetings with their party members and they will probably struggle even with that.
They are so unpopular, the best they can do is to organize meetings with their party members and they will probably struggle even with that.
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
Across the #SouthCaucasus, democratic spaces are shrinking at an alarming pace.
Join us for an urgent conversation about #authoritarianism, #resistance, & the future of #democracy in the South Caucasus.
Wed, 09 July / 6:30 – 8:00 pm
At @boell.de Berlin & online!
calendar.boell.de/en/event/aut...
Join us for an urgent conversation about #authoritarianism, #resistance, & the future of #democracy in the South Caucasus.
Wed, 09 July / 6:30 – 8:00 pm
At @boell.de Berlin & online!
calendar.boell.de/en/event/aut...
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 wav...
calendar.boell.de
June 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Across the #SouthCaucasus, democratic spaces are shrinking at an alarming pace.
Join us for an urgent conversation about #authoritarianism, #resistance, & the future of #democracy in the South Caucasus.
Wed, 09 July / 6:30 – 8:00 pm
At @boell.de Berlin & online!
calendar.boell.de/en/event/aut...
Join us for an urgent conversation about #authoritarianism, #resistance, & the future of #democracy in the South Caucasus.
Wed, 09 July / 6:30 – 8:00 pm
At @boell.de Berlin & online!
calendar.boell.de/en/event/aut...
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
🇬🇪 "Western partners can and must take steps to help Georgia back toward a more democratic path, which would also aid their geopolitical objectives."
Read @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social's latest insight:
Read @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social's latest insight:
How To Help Georgia Out of Its Growing Democracy Crisis
Georgia is fighting for its political future. The ruling Georgian Dream party now governs through an expansive repertoire of repressive tools to stifle dissenting political voices. Pro-democracy…
www.gmfus.org
June 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
🇬🇪 "Western partners can and must take steps to help Georgia back toward a more democratic path, which would also aid their geopolitical objectives."
Read @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social's latest insight:
Read @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social's latest insight:
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
Very pleased about our new @gmfus.bsky.social policy brief by @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social, taking stock of Georgia's democracy crisis and its international context, with a clear view of how Europe and the US can and should help address it, not least by supporting the country's civil society
How To Help Georgia Out of Its Growing Democracy Crisis
www.gmfus.org
June 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Very pleased about our new @gmfus.bsky.social policy brief by @iraklisirbiladze.bsky.social, taking stock of Georgia's democracy crisis and its international context, with a clear view of how Europe and the US can and should help address it, not least by supporting the country's civil society
No one thought it before but seems like LinkedIn is becoming a new Twitter. Bluesky gotta do better job I guess
May 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
No one thought it before but seems like LinkedIn is becoming a new Twitter. Bluesky gotta do better job I guess
He also said Kier Starmer could not hold his head up when Kobakhidze was talking at the EPC panel 🤦♂️
Kobakhidze said: "Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry isn’t a real institution—it’s just a front for the deep state and foreign intel. Its statements hold no weight. 🇱🇹🤝🇬🇪
But nothing can break the traditional friendship between Georgians and Lithuanians".
🧵1/4
But nothing can break the traditional friendship between Georgians and Lithuanians".
🧵1/4
May 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
He also said Kier Starmer could not hold his head up when Kobakhidze was talking at the EPC panel 🤦♂️
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
It's become almost commonplace to say that the promise of democracy is that it will deliver higher standards of living.
But that was never the claim made by the Chartists, the women's suffrage movement or those who struggled to win democracy in the past.
And it's a bad test to set for the present.
But that was never the claim made by the Chartists, the women's suffrage movement or those who struggled to win democracy in the past.
And it's a bad test to set for the present.
May 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
It's become almost commonplace to say that the promise of democracy is that it will deliver higher standards of living.
But that was never the claim made by the Chartists, the women's suffrage movement or those who struggled to win democracy in the past.
And it's a bad test to set for the present.
But that was never the claim made by the Chartists, the women's suffrage movement or those who struggled to win democracy in the past.
And it's a bad test to set for the present.
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
"When citizens must think twice about criticizing or opposing the government because they could credibly face government retribution, they no longer live in a full democracy. By that measure, America has crossed the line." @stevelevitsky.bsky.social, @lucanway.bsky.social and @dziblatt.bsky.social
Opinion | How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?
www.nytimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:20 PM
"When citizens must think twice about criticizing or opposing the government because they could credibly face government retribution, they no longer live in a full democracy. By that measure, America has crossed the line." @stevelevitsky.bsky.social, @lucanway.bsky.social and @dziblatt.bsky.social
In this piece, I argue that Georgia's attempt to pursue multi-alignment has fallen short due to its limited strategic value.
Multi-alignment is successful if states offer value that forces all competing actors to accept the multi-aligning state’s engagement with their rival power.
Multi-alignment is successful if states offer value that forces all competing actors to accept the multi-aligning state’s engagement with their rival power.
Aligned or Multi-aligned? Georgia’s Foreign Policy in Flux
Georgia faces a mutually reinforcing domestic and foreign policy crisis. At home, unprecedented autocratization is met with unprecedented democratic resistance. In foreign policy, an increasingly auth...
gip.ge
May 14, 2025 at 5:20 AM
In this piece, I argue that Georgia's attempt to pursue multi-alignment has fallen short due to its limited strategic value.
Multi-alignment is successful if states offer value that forces all competing actors to accept the multi-aligning state’s engagement with their rival power.
Multi-alignment is successful if states offer value that forces all competing actors to accept the multi-aligning state’s engagement with their rival power.
Some insightful readings on Russia and the Black Sea. There, you will find our article too.
Russian Intentions and Actions in the Black Sea - Transatlantic Leadership Network
www.transatlantic.org
May 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Some insightful readings on Russia and the Black Sea. There, you will find our article too.
While Moscow parades tanks on Red Square, Georgians are flooding towards Europe Square.
After 163 days of arrests, draconian fines, and crackeowns, we're stronger than ever. The biggest turnout I've seen on a long time. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Mo Se
After 163 days of arrests, draconian fines, and crackeowns, we're stronger than ever. The biggest turnout I've seen on a long time. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Mo Se
May 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
To address Europe’s most fundamental political and security challenges, European governments will need to design a new regional order—one that includes more fluid and flexible alliances, write @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social.
Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate
How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.
www.foreignaffairs.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
To address Europe’s most fundamental political and security challenges, European governments will need to design a new regional order—one that includes more fluid and flexible alliances, write @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social.
Reposted by Irakli Sirbiladze
Is Russia really that powerful? Is it a waning power coasting on the nostalgia of the Cold War? Or a power that punches well above its economic weight? @spaikin.bsky.social hears from @seva.bsky.social (@uoft.bsky.social), Kathryn Stoner (Stanford), and Angela Stent (Georgetown University)
Is Russia Weaker Than We Think? | The Agenda
YouTube video by TVO Today
www.youtube.com
April 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Is Russia really that powerful? Is it a waning power coasting on the nostalgia of the Cold War? Or a power that punches well above its economic weight? @spaikin.bsky.social hears from @seva.bsky.social (@uoft.bsky.social), Kathryn Stoner (Stanford), and Angela Stent (Georgetown University)