documentary photographer
based in Munich, Germany

mail@janaislinger.com
+49 (0)152 28728008

After Georgia voted for independence in 1991, various powers in the country tried hard to expand their influence. Some nationalist paramilitaries even accepted Russian support, only to overthrow the first democratically elected government. Other groups increasingly developed criminal and mafia structures and were able to easily undermine the authority of state power. This political turmoil, rampant corruption and stagnant economy initially made it impossible to successfully lead Georgia to sovereignty. In 2003, the first unified reform movement took place with the so-called „Rose Revolution“. Its leader, Mikheil Saakashvili, enacted extensive investments and fought corruption, but also came under pressure for his authoritarian approach. In 2012, his party was then defeated by the „Georgian Dream“ party alliance, whose founder and initiator Bidsina Ivanishvili is one of the richest and most powerful people in the country. In the meantime, there are many small parties, all of which are seeking a way to defy the superiority of the Georgian Dream and the influence of its oligarchs.