Georgia – protests as the young look west

Tens of thousands of Georgians have demonstrated in Tbilisi to protest a controversial “foreign influence” bill backed by the government which is seen as a move towards authoritarianism and restriction of free speech. A commentator said: “What’s happening here right now is an absolute face-off between people who want Georgia to have a European future and the person who does not.” A similar law in Russia since 2012 has been used to marginalise voices challenging the Kremlin.

 This is also a clash between the young Georgians and an older generation with a predominantly conservative Orthodox Christian background who dislike imported western ideas such as the promotion of equality for LGBT+ minorities.

  In the middle of it stands Bidzina Ivanishvili, a multi-billionaire with a personal fortune estimated to be equal to a third of the country’s GDP, ‘much of it made in the shady and shambolic Russia of the 1990s.’ He has no formal government role on paper but his influence is vast.

Since the 1990s Georgia has cracked down on corruption and worked towards gaining membership to the EU, a step supported by 89 per cent of the population, according to one poll last year. But there has also been recent democratic backsliding, with the EU making recommendations for political reform, including “de-oligarchisation”, a direct reference to Ivanishvili.

  Georgia declared independence around 12.30 pm on 9 April 1991, Tbilisi, Georgia and has a 10^th house Aries Sun which was buffeted by last month’s Solar Eclipse as the country faces the worst unrest since 1991. Tr Uranus will conjunct the Venus for emotional reactions in June and again in November (after the October election) and again in early 2025. So the ramped-up mood won’t subside anytime soon.

  The Aries sun is inconjunct Pluto and Pluto is opposition Venus and square Moon – so the national temperament will always be super-intense. It was in a state of high tension over the Russia Ukraine invasion in early 2022 when the Solar Arc Sun was opposition the Pluto.  There is also an up-and-down Jupiter opposition Saturn for mood swings; and the inventive but nervy and can-be-fanatical Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn of the time. That Uranus Neptune is moving by Solar Arc to square the Pluto later this year into next with a devastating SA Neptune square the Pluto, followed in 2027 by what could be a rebellion or revolution as SA Uranus squares the Pluto.

 The relationship chart between Georgia 1991 and Russia, 8 December 1991, has a tussle-for-the-upper-hand built in with a composite Jupiter opposition Mercury Sun square Pluto. When the Ukraine invasion took place tr Saturn in Aquarius and tr Uranus in Taurus were both shaking up that T square by hard aspect. Tr Uranus is in its final assault this month and again late December to mid March 2025 – so protests against the Russian-isation of the country will continue.

 Ivanishvili, 18 February 1956, certainly has a chart for a mega-billionaire with an Aquarius Sun opposition a super-lucky and determined Jupiter Pluto in Leo; with his Mars in Sagittarius trine Pluto Jupiter and sextile his Sun. Not short on chutzpah.

 He’s in a couple of years of significant upheaval with tr Pluto opposition his Uranus, finishing late this year; and tr Uranus square his Jupiter Pluto from this July into 2025 when it squares his Sun. He’ll lose as much as he wins. Tr Pluto is also square his Neptune and conjunct his Mercury through this year and next so muddles, evasions and worries.

 His relationship chart with Georgia 1991 is sagging badly at the moment through till early 2025 – with the April and October solar eclipses rattling up the connection between them.