In the Karabakh Conflict’s Shadow: Ethnic Divides and the Challenges of Social Cohesion in Georgia (Report from the Project)

Abstract

This report from the project Azerbaijanis and Armenians in Georgia: Uneasy Peace and Conflict Mobility in the Context of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War presents the findings of field research conducted particularly in the rural areas of Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and cities of Tbilisi, Marneuli, and Akhalkalaki, and media research carried out between 2020 and 2022. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has affected not only Armenia and Azerbaijan but also Georgia, home to sizable Armenian and Azerbaijani minorities. Although relations between these groups were largely stable before the war, the hostilities reignited tensions, manifested through grassroots (pro-war) activism, propaganda, and ethnic divisions fueled by social media. The impact of war varied by region – mixed villages maintained fragile coexistence, while homogeneous communities saw intensified animosity. External influences from Armenia and Azerbaijan shaped conflicting narratives, deepening polarization. Despite a slight post-war improvement, the continuing difficult political situation deepened distrust, fueled by propaganda and limited interethnic interactions. Georgia’s lack of a comprehensive minority policy has led to the marginalization of both communities, posing challenges to social cohesion and national integration.