Though it rarely makes news headlines, in the Southern Caucasus a geopolitical battle is underway. Georgia is locked between democracy - with closer ties to Europe - and authoritarianism, with the Russian bear looming ever larger.

It all started in April 2024, when a new law was introduced dubbed the 'foreign agent law', which mandated that any organisation receiving more than 20 per cent of its funds from abroad needed to register as organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power. 

In response, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets calling for closer union with NATO and the EU, and for the government to turn away from Russia. 

Here, Nicola Kelly speaks to Georgian journalist Tornike Mandaria about the growing movement and what these demonstrations tell us about the future of this embattled nation and its people.

Presented by Nicola Kelly
Producer: Kevin Caners