Fresh polling data shows a vast divide separating Georgia’s governing class from the governed when it comes to the future direction of the country. The general population remains firmly attached to integration with Western political and economic institutions, while the Georgian Dream-dominated government is intent on maintaining a retrograde course back towards Russia’s geopolitical orbit.

A survey conducted under the auspices of the EU-funded EU NEIGHBOURS East Programme shows that public support for EU membership remains high, despite a comprehensive and prolonged effort by government-controlled mass media outlets to undermine the EU’s image. At the same time, trust in almost every domestic institution is falling fast.

Survey results show 71 percent of Georgians either strongly or somewhat strongly back joining the European Union. Strong support slipped slightly from last year’s 42 percent to 41 percent, and those somewhat supporting membership fell from 32 percent to 30 percent. Only 11 percent either strongly or somewhat oppose EU membership, with the remainder either ambivalent or undecided.

Despite a constitutional provision mandating that the government seek EU membership, the Georgian Dream government suspended the country’s EU accession process in late 2024, sparking ongoing public protests.

Meanwhile, public concerns over controversial legislation are rising fast: 56 percent say recent laws restricting the ability of civil society organizations and independent media outlets to operate are harming Georgia’s EU prospects, compared to 50 percent in 2025.

Political parties came out worst in the poll. Only 21 percent of respondents expressed trust in political parties, while 70 percent expressed distrust in them. The government fared only slightly better: 41 percent trust it, while 54 percent don't. Georgia's judicial and electoral systems each scored around 60 percent distrust.

Foreign policy perceptions reveal a clear divide. Russia ranks as the least trusted international actor, with only 12 percent of respondents expressing trust and 79 percent distrusting the Kremlin. Meanwhile, 26 percent trust China and 60 percent do not. Over 1,000 citizens participated in the poll.

While ordinary Georgians remain wary of China, Georgian Dream is racing to deepen ties with Beijing. Tbilisi and Beijing recently upgraded their relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze went further, calling China “the only peaceful superpower in the world.”

The Georgian government’s geopolitical pivot away from the West continues to attract the ire of US legislators. The House of Representatives recently approved a bill targeting Russian and Chinese influence in Georgia, the latest sign that Washington is losing patience with the direction the country is taking under Georgian Dream.

The bill, known as the Countering China's Control of the Caucasus Act, would require the US State Department to submit a classified report assessing “the penetration of Russian and Chinese intelligence elements and their assets in Georgia,” as well as “the potential intersection of Russian and Chinese influence and cooperation” in the country.

Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina, the Georgian Dream leadership’s fiercest critic on Capitol Hill, introduced the bill back in February. It appears to be an attempt to keep pressure on Tbilisi after the MEGOBARI Act, which would have sanctioned Georgian officials, stalled in the Senate, despite winning overwhelming support in the House.

The US Congress is moving on other fronts too. In early June, the House Armed Services Committee approved two Georgia-related amendments to the draft National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense spending bill. Both call for reporting, one on people considered political prisoners in Georgia, the other on Russian and Chinese intelligence operations there.

Meanwhile, Georgia is facing renewed scrutiny over whether the government is helping Russia dodge sanctions. The United Kingdom’s Embassy in Tbilisi recently stated that a vessel from Russia's “shadow fleet,” newly added to Britain's sanctions list, had docked at a Georgian port earlier this year.

Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency pushed back, saying the vessel called at Kulevi Port in February 2026 and “was not subject to sanctions” at the time.

But the explanation hasn't settled the matter. Kulevi Port has long been a flashpoint in Western sanctions discussions, and Georgia previously avoided tougher measures there only after the government promised it wouldn't assist Russia in evading sanctions. This latest episode suggests that Georgian Dream may not be upholding its commitment.