Georgia’s government takes on the diaspora
Georgia’s ruling party argues that new restrictions on diaspora voting are meant to protect elections from foreign interference. In practice, however, the changes could make it nearly impossible for many Georgians living abroad to participate in future elections.
June 23, 2026 -
Nino Chanadiri
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AnalysisIssue 4 2026Magazine
Georgia’s government seems to be choosing the path in diasporic politics that prioritizes framing a diaspora as a “de-stabilizer” for the regime and thus chooses to alienate it.
Photo: k_samurkas/Shutterstock
In November 2025, the Georgian government announced that Georgians living outside the country would soon no longer be able to vote in Georgian elections from polling stations abroad. To exercise their constitutional right to vote, they would need to travel back to Georgia. The amendments to the election code were passed in a month. Previously, Georgians living abroad were able to vote at polling stations specifically set up for election day. The embassies and consulates were involved in the organizational process to enable citizens to exercise their constitutional rights from abroad.
The Georgian government argues that the new rules are there to limit external interference in elections and to make the process more resilient. The government believes the decision is fully in compliance with European and democratic practices and cites examples from other countries, such as Ireland and Malta. Yet, it raises questions on the motives behind the decision when the country has been experiencing a dramatic democratic backsliding in general. How does it affect the diaspora for whom in practice the decision might mean complete inability to vote; and what does the case say about wider and common practices of securitizing diasporas, including or excluding them from political process to maximize the gains for the regime?
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elections, Georgia, government, politics, South Caucasus
