Georgia
Institutional erosion
↓↓Rapid deterioration2026 development data - not published research
The score supports the assessment. It does not compute the status on its own.
Executive and legislative interference in courts remains a substantial problem.
Journalists face intimidation and violence, weakening independent media.
Regular elections continue, but political pressure and unequal conditions reduce confidence.
New restrictions, surveillance fears and attacks on dissent have narrowed civic space.
Oligarchic and ruling-party influence materially weaken independent checks.
Confidence: high. Confidence reflects evidence quality and assessment certainty, not democratic quality.
Direction analysis
The downward movement is broad rather than sector-specific. The combination of oligarchic influence, pressure on opposition and journalists, and restrictive legislation points to accelerating erosion.
What changed
Freedom House cut Georgia's score from 55 to 51 and details intimidation, violence, judicial interference and new restrictions on expression. V-Dem identifies Georgia among autocratizing countries.
RETHINKK assessment
RETHINKK classifies Georgia as institutional erosion with rapid deterioration. Competitive politics still exist, but the institutional environment around them is weakening quickly.
Evidence
- Freedom HouseFreedom in the World 2026 - Georgia2026-03-19 / 2026-08-30Source ->Supports: judicialIndependence, mediaFreedom, electoralIntegrity, civicSpace, checksAndBalances
- V-Dem InstituteDemocracy Report 2026: Unraveling The Democratic Era?2026-03-17 / 2026-08-30Source ->Supports: judicialIndependence, mediaFreedom, electoralIntegrity, civicSpace, checksAndBalances