One Man’s Fight for Democracy in Georgia Ft. Dr. Giorgi Akhobadze w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy

Democracy is worth fighting for. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this powerful episode featuring Dr. Giorgi Akhobadze, a political activist from Tbilisi, Georgia, who was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.Despite enduring eight months in prison under trumped-up drug charges and the devastating loss of his mother while behind bars, he remained steadfast in his convictions. Thankfully,  after massive public pressure, he was released and declared not guilty, a decision that became a symbol of hope for many Georgians fighting for democracy and freedom.Together, we discuss:Georgia’s so-called Russian law and the erosion of democracy The personal cost of being a political prisonerHow public solidarity sustained him in prison and helped secure his releaseWhy the fight for freedom in Georgia is far from overThis conversation is a moving reminder of the human cost of political repression and the courage it takes to keep fighting for democracy.00:00 Preview00:54 Introduction 02:48 About Dr. Giorgi Akhobadze04:36 Giorgi’s backstory06:37 The rise and fall of Georgian democracy10:11 Protests erupt over the so-called Russian law: A BBC report from the frontlines13:26 Why young Georgians resist government propaganda18:43 Giorgi’s arrest and imprisonment20:00 The loss of his mother during his incarceration21:58 Giorgi’s message to fellow political prisoners23:37 The inner strength that fuels Dr. Giorgi’s activism29:41 What motivates Giorgi to keep fighting for freedom?32:23 How can the world support Georgia today?34:13 Dr. Giorgi Akhobadze’s Purposeful Empathy storyCONNECT WITH GIORGI✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tsakra/ ✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/giorgi.akhobadzeCONNECT WITH ANITA✩ Email [email protected] ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.socialSHOW NOTES✩ Giorgi’s release https://civil.ge/archives/693669Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio