Dessie Zagorcheva

Oct 9, 2024 | cepa.org | Anda Bologa |Ketevan Chachava |Dessie Zagorcheva |Mark Temnycky

The country faces a defining moment. On October 20, voters will choose their next president and decide whether to enshrine the country’s European course into its constitution. The stakes could hardly be higher.

Oct 8, 2024 | cepa.org | Ketevan Chachava |Dessie Zagorcheva |Mark Temnycky |Samuel Dempsey

Georgia’s previous elections have been plagued by allegations of fraud, manipulation, and widespread public distrust, undermining confidence in the process and triggering protests and political instability. The October 26 vote will therefore see significant reforms, including full proportional representation and the adoption of electronic voting.

Oct 1, 2024 | cepa.org | Dessie Zagorcheva

In August, the Bulgarian parliament passed a law banning what it termed LGBT+ “propaganda” in schools. It was proposed by the far-right, pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane (Revival), which sits with the likes of Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the newly-formed Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group in the European Parliament.

Mar 18, 2024 | cepa.org | Dessie Zagorcheva

When Vladimir Putin declared 2024 the “Year of the Family,” it was an extension of previous campaigns portraying Russia as the last bastion of Christianity against a West where nefarious elites are apparently pushing “dozens of genders or gay pride parades.”His concept of the family unit contains little sentiment. “The main purpose of the family is to have children, about procreation, and thus, the perpetuation of our people and our centuries-old history,” he said on January 23.

Jan 3, 2024 | cepa.org | Dessie Zagorcheva

After two years of political stalemate, and a series of caretaker governments appointed by Kremlin-friendly president Rumen Radev, many were relieved in June when Citizens for European Development (GERB) and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) formed a government in Sofia and agreed to rotate the premier’s role.