The Russian Federation has failed to seize Ukraine by military means — neither in three days nor in three years. Now, amid ceasefire negotiations and potential future agreements to end the war, a pressing question arises: might Russia attempt to reclaim influence over Ukraine through peaceful means, by infiltrating pro-Russian political projects or narratives that could ultimately lead to a renewed rapprochement with the aggressor? A case in point is Sakartvelo (Georgia): despite Russia’s 2008 invasion, the occupation of part of its territory, and years of the Kartvelian (Georgian) government proclaiming a pro-European course, the country is now gradually drifting away from democratic principles, with official rhetoric increasingly echoing pro-Russian narratives.
What challenges is Kartvelian (Georgian) civil society facing today, and what lessons can Ukraine draw from Sakartvelo’s (Georgia’s) experience? Could similar scenarios unfold here? How crucial are the first post-war elections? What should Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policies look like to prevent a Russian resurgence disguised as peace, to safeguard democracy, and to stay on the course chosen during the Revolution of Dignity? And why is it essential to start this conversation today?
Speakers:
Olha Aivazovska, Chair of the Board of the Civic Network OPORA;
Oleksandr Salizhenko, Editor-in-Chief of the Chesno Movement;
Giorgi Mrevlishvili, Kartvelian (Georgian) documentary filmmaker, jury member of the RIGHTS NOW! 2025 category.
