Safeguarding Democracy in Georgia and Moldova: Innovation in the Super Election Year

by Harun Bala

Last month, we got a personal scoop on the three democracy tech fellows, Anton Tarasyuk , Dmytro Bilash and Mariam Akhalkatsi . Picking up where we dropped off, we want to continue from Tbilisi, Georgia, with George Gogua and Ana Toklikishvili before heading to Chisinau, Moldova for a chat with Ariadna Dron .

Before delving in to the inspiring stories of our democracy tech fellows, we want to extend our support to the Georgian people who have bravely gone to the streets, protesting the foreign agents bill or “Russian law”, in the name of freedom and democracy. The contentious law threatens Georgia’s democracy, and a free and thriving civil society because it stifles dissent and targets independent voices. By forcing individuals and organizations to register as "foreign agents," it undermines freedom of expression, leading to self-censorship and a tight leash on civic engagement. In light of this, all three fellows in this piece have a shared mission on developing solutions for an integrous, democratic progress. Ahead of both elections in Georgia and Moldova, they are innovating in the Super Election Year of 2024.

George Gogua of Gzavnili

Calling in from a sunny terrace in Tbilisi, laid back and smiling, George Gogua’s good mood makes you forget the political tumult that is going on in his country. But inevitably, it quickly becomes the topic of discussion when talking about the media ecosystem in Georgia.

Once again, the menacing shadow of Russia has casted itself over Tbilisi through the reintroduction of the foreign agents law. In the face of adversity, media foundations have rallied together, determined to figure out a way to survive instead of surrender, George explained. Last year, Georgia’s government first introduced the law, but through a series of forceful protests it was dropped. George attributes last year’s success to Gen Z, who took to the streets to claim their country's democratic future back, and temporarily stop the spread of an ideologically authoritarian frontline. Unfortunately, this has almost worked to the benefit of the government this time around. George recalls major social media campaigns rolled out by the government in the interim of the two times the bills were up in parliament. The Georgian government has skillfully manipulated the discourse and are now stronger and more stubborn on passing the foreign agents bill. George draws stark parallels between Georgia and Russia – “nothing indicates that they are not heading towards the same direction as Russia,” he says.

Gzavnili, the tool with which George is participating in the fellowship, uncovers how the government’s rhetoric of Georgia’s government is like that of Russia’s and skillfully manipulates public opinions. Emphasizing religious and nationalist sentiments at the expense of outliers like LGBTQ+ individuals, pushing a narrative of a strong Georgian identity that is only compatible with what they try to dictate to be Georgian.

George has been on many paths that led to his participation in the fellowship. A multimedia master, he is a journalist who has done it all – radio, writing, photography, and the list goes on. It is a “professional identity crisis,” he jokes. Whatever he has done, or whatever he will do, at his state of nature, he is a storyteller.

“The one thing that I am is a journalist. Everything around me is tools to tell the stories, and I use all the tools. That’s what I do – I tell stories.”

Now, he is co-founder and director of Project 64, where he leads a dynamic team of journalists, editors, and designers. Together, they meticulously craft compelling content on vital topics ranging from social issues and human rights to environmental concerns and cultural trends. As part of the fellowship, he is developing Gzavnili, leveraging innovative methods like data visualization and interactive storytelling for a transparency tool ahead of the Georgian elections in the fall.

Ana Toklikishvili of VINICI

Staying in Tbilisi, Ana is the last fellow from Georgia in the fellowship. A seasoned professional, Ana has +20 years of experience in communications and strategy. She has contributed to many industries from civil society, international organizations, and corporations but is now ready for a change. In the fall of 2023, she took a leap of faith and participated in the Democracy Tech Hackathon in Georgia at DataFest Tbilisi . After winning 1st prize with her transparency tool, VINICI, she is now on the journey to Copenhagen alongside the rest of the cohort.

After a dynamic career, she is ready for a new chapter, “I came to the realization that I am capable of doing more things,” Ana explains – and this is what has put her on track for Democracy Tech Entrepreneurship. VINICI is a user-friendly platform providing unbiased profiles of politicians based on speeches, official statements, and more. Its standout feature, the Political Rhetoric Timeline, helps users track politicians' positions over time. Prioritizing issues for both majority and minority interests, VINICI aims to boost informed voting and civic engagement. She's working on the solution with a team of 4 including her younger brother, who's 11 years her junior. There's a strong bond between them, rooted in family loyalty, and they feel a sense of responsibility toward each other in this project.

As she talks about her motivations, the topic of conversation quickly lands on the foreign agents law. Like her peers, she is frustrated with the direction the country is headed, however, the tenacity and vigor of the Georgian youth shines like a light of hope. She recalls how huge masses of young people protested the law, both this year and last year. “Rustaveli Avenue is the hottest spot for young people these days,” she says, referring to the address of the parliament, in front of which the protests are happening.

Like the young lionhearts of Georgia, Ana too is determined to make a change in Georgian society. Without a doubt, she is already doing so. VINICI?is set to work in both Georgian and English, highlighting the need for locally accessible democracy tech solutions. Ana believes that the lack of information available in Georgian creates fertile ground for disinformation and propaganda. ?And although the political elites are promoting the foreign agents law by abusing a patriotic appeal, we must not let that capture Georgian identity and heritage – democracy knows no borders. With her pitch at Copenhagen Democracy Summit in two weeks, Ana is set to represent Georgian democracy.

Ariadna Dron of Marmoris

The final fellow of the 2024 Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship is this cohort’s youth ambassador. Ariadna Dron from Moldova is an 18-year-old senior in high school, but she already has a lot of wind in her sails. She is CEO of Marmoris, a dynamic and young team who emerged victorious at the Moldova Democracy Tech Hackathon. Developing a ballot counting hardware, she is working to protect election integrity. Her journey from the hackathon to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit has so far been one of growth and enlightenment. From stumbling into the hackathon as the “least prepared team” to perfecting her pitch in the masterclasses, she is getting ready for the Copenhagen stage.

But the Summit might not be the only time we will catch Ariadna in Copenhagen. As she is figuring out her future, she is considering several cities to study in – Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, the list goes on. Passionate about politics, economics, and philosophy she is ready to make a change in Moldovan society. Moldova is familiar with a skill exodus – the youth are leaving in heaps, but Ariadna wants to bring everything she will learn in university back to her home country. She aspires to drive change, development, and democratization in Moldova.

“You have a bond with what you want to change. The biggest change you can make is in your home country.”

Moldova stands at a crossroad. Torn between their EU candidacy status and the relentless grip of authoritarian forces. Despite a European promise from the government, Russia’s influence through media control and separatist region, Transnistria, continuously subjects Moldovan society to the spread of propaganda. But in talks of geopolitical tensions and information warfare, Ariadna also leads with empathy. For the socially and economically vulnerable, the day-to-day struggle for survival trumps any concerns for democracy. Immediate needs take precedence, leaving little room to philosophize about governance. Ariadna recognizes these struggles and cannot blame these people who frequently fall for Russian disinformation, despite believing in the pro-European path to prosperity in Moldova.

True to the spirit of her whole team, the name Marmoris is derived from an ancient word meaning “the sparkle on the surface of water”, symbolizing their commitment to bringing clarity and transparency to the democratic process. As they work together to innovate and advance their visions for a democratic future, the Alliance of Democracies is likely the first stop of many, that the team will make in their professional journey. Already reaching for the skies, Marmoris represents a whole generation poised to reshape the future of Democracy at home in Moldova and abroad, driven by the values embodied in their team’s name.

The fellows are now in the final sprint of the fellowship, as they will stand on the stage of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in two weeks. They are finalizing their pitches and preparing for their travels at this very moment. We at the foundation are witnessing their hard work firsthand.? We want to take this opportunity to thank the top-notch mentors of the fellows. Torsten Kolind is mentoring George, Mathias Sundin is mentoring VINICI, and Daniel Dudas-Schwarz is mentoring Marmoris. The expertise they offer is invaluable for the fellowship. Additionally, we would like to extend our gratitude to our honorable program supporters Trifork , International Strategy Forum, and the New Democracy Fund . Without their generous support, the efforts of the Democracy Tech Entrepreneur Fellowship would not be possible.

At the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, we are proud to continue our efforts in the intersection of democracy and technology. We wholeheartedly believe in its potency, in the efforts in safeguarding democracy.