New Civic Forum 'For the Love of Georgia' Seeks Alternative to Georgian Dream Rule
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
A new civic forum, For the Love of Georgia, was held on February 8 in Tbilisi, bringing together politicians, academics, artists, intellectuals, and activists to discuss the country's long-term future and explore alternatives to the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The conference took place at Expo Georgia and was organized by the opposition political party Freedom Square and the public movement Georgian Public Assembly. According to the event's official press release, participants focused on "what kind of country Georgia should aim to build over the next two to three decades, the obstacles that have hindered this vision since independence, and Georgia's role in the international community."
Speaking to the attendees, Levan Tsutskiridze, chairman of Freedom Square, said, "We must agree on the future. Because an agreement on the future will pave the way for us to reach it. All of us here must create a new foundation for the politics on which we want to build and imagine the future of our country."
The forum featured contributions from a wide range of figures, including Ilia State University Rector Nino Doborjginidze, philosopher and teacher Levan Gambashidze, teacher Datia Badalashvili, doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, journalist and human rights defender Tozu Gulmamedli, and actress Nino Kasradze. Participants generally welcomed the effort as a way to identify common ground among groups opposed to what they see as Georgian Dream's increasingly authoritarian and anti-European policies.
Organizers stressed that the forum was not intended to be a single event. "This is the starting point of a broader civic process aimed at strengthening public participation, forming shared direction, and building a responsible democratic alternative," the press release said.
By bringing together diverse voices from civil society and the opposition, the forum aimed to encourage discussion on Georgia's democratic development, civic engagement, and long-term strategy, signaling a coordinated effort to chart a different path for the country outside of the current ruling party's influence.
