David Sichinava

11 Posts

0 Followers

David is Research Director of CRRC Georgia.

The Home to Europe demonstration in 20 June 2022. Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Analysis

Datablog | Who’s to blame for Georgia’s EU candidacy debacle?

by David Sichinava

•7 min read

As Georgian officials ramp up their anti-Western rhetoric, recent CRRC Georgia data suggests that most Georgians are uncertain who to blame for the country’s failed European Union membership bid. On 17 June 2022, the European Commission decided not to grant Georgia EU candidate status, unlike Ukraine and Moldova. In its memo, the Commission recognised the country’s ‘European perspective’, while pointing at an extensive list of issues it needs to address before its candidacy bid is re-examined.

Analysis

Datablog | Georgian public opinion on the SSG files

by David Sichinava

•5 min read

According to a survey by CRRC Georgia, up to 59% of the Georgian public is not aware of the State Security Services leak of September 2021, while opinions are split along party lines as to whom the leaks benefit. On 13 September 2021, gigabytes of secret files allegedly belonging to Georgia’s State Security Services (SSG) were leaked and sent to various Georgian media outlets. The files contained classified intelligence on multiple clerics of the Georgian Orthodox Church and journalists tha

2021 Homophobic Riot in Tbilisi

Datablog | What do Georgians think about Tbilisi Pride?

by David Sichinava

•6 min read

On 5 July, a homophobic riot broke out on the streets of Tbilisi, leading to injuries and possibly a death. While Georgia’s population is generally conservative, what do people think of the events of 5 July, and how have these views shifted since a similar riot on 17 May 2013? On the morning of 5 July 2021, hundreds of Georgians responded to the calls of the Patriarchate of Georgia and far-right, pro-Russian, and anti-Western groups to protest against the planned Tbilisi Pride march. Ostens

Analysis

Datablog | Georgia has a vaccine inequality problem

by David Sichinava

•4 min read

While COVID-19 vaccination is gaining pace in Georgia, data shows that access differs between different groups. A fast and timely rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is essential for keeping the pandemic at bay. While far-reaching immunisation helps save lives, it also helps with quickly reopening the economy. Nevertheless, not everyone has access to life-saving vaccines. Rich countries have been quick to hoard doses to vaccinate their own populations, leaving poorer states lagging behind. But une

Analysis

Datablog | Georgia among worst in the world for vaccine hesitancy

by David Sichinava

•3 min read

As Georgian authorities struggle to convince people to get vaccinated for COVID-19, data suggests that the problem could run along party lines. Scientists agree that global mass immunisation against COVID-19 is the only pathway to putting the virus under control. Yet, the World Health Organisation has argued that actually getting people to take vaccines is ‘an unprecedented challenge’, which might undermine mass immunisation efforts. New data suggests that the Georgian public is among the l

Abkhazia

Datablog | Georgians increasingly open to compromise with Abkhazia and South Ossetia

by David Sichinava

•3 min read

Territorial integrity has been consistently ranked among the top issues in Georgian public opinion polls. But data from the 2019 Caucasus Barometer survey shows that many in Georgia are open to compromise. The issue of territorial integrity remains a top concern for many Georgians, albeit with declining salience. In 2009, a CRRC/NDI public opinion poll showed that 49% perceived territorial integrity as the top national issue. Only 29% named it in a similar survey conducted in 2019. Despite i

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