IRI Georgia Poll Finds Support for EU Accession High, Weariness of Russian Presence, Lack of Faith in Political Parties

Tbilisi, Georgia – A new nationwide poll conducted in Georgia by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows strong support for EU membership, disapproval of Russian citizens within the country, and a lack of faith in political parties.  

When asked about the European Union (EU), 89% of Georgians either “fully support” or “somewhat support” joining the alliance. This represents an increase of four percentage points from the most recent poll, matching an all-time high.  

“It’s explicitly clear that Georgians want to join the European Union and continue their integration with Western, democratic institutions,” said Steve Nix, Senior Director for Eurasia at IRI. “It’s now incumbent upon leaders in the government to deliver what the people want.”  

Georgians are also weary of the Russian presence in their country. Seventy-nine percent oppose visa-free travel for Russians, Russians registering businesses in Georgia, or Russians buying property in Georgia.  

“Our poll shows clear dissatisfaction with the recent arrival of Russian citizens in Georgia,” said Nix. “The government should address this problem with policies that prevent tensions from increasing.” 

The poll also highlights a lack of faith in political parties. Forty-two percent of Georgians say no political party represents their interests. At the same time, the survey found that 78% believe there should be more youth in Georgian politics.   

Taking into account both the low public trust in political parties, as well as the high desire for youth in political leadership, IRI is pleased to continue its work supporting multi-party democracy in Georgia – that is, ruling party, opposition and emerging movements – in order to ensure that citizens have a diverse range of political options available both in governance and at the ballot box. 

Methodology    

This survey was conducted on behalf of IRI’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by Dr. Rasa Alisauskiene of the public and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization between March 4 and March 23, 2023. The fieldwork was conducted by the Institute of Polling and Marketing. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. The sample consists of 1,500 Georgians aged 18+ and eligible to vote. The data was weighted for age, gender, region, and settlement size. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, and the response rate was 63 percent.  

This survey was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).