06/02/2026
Check out the video of the New Talk:
Courts and Authoritarian Governance in the South Caucasus
Since independence in 1991, Georgia and Azerbaijan followed different constitutional and geopolitical trajectories — yet today both face strikingly similar challenges. Despite their membership in the Council of Europe, growing concerns surround democratic backsliding, rule of law, and the protection of human rights.
Azerbaijan’s authoritarian consolidation dates back to the early 2000s under the Aliyev family, while Georgia has seen an increasingly visible authoritarian shift in recent years under the Georgian Dream government. In both countries, legal institutions — particularly domestic courts — have played a critical role in these developments, with some disputes reaching the European Court of Human Rights.
This seminar examines how authoritarian governance reshapes judicial systems and explores the possibilities and limits of international legal intervention in Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Speakers:
• Dr. Shorena Nikoleishvili — University of Strasbourg / University of Turku
• Dr. Toni Selkälä — University of Turku
• Dr. Dmitry Kurnosov — University of Helsinki
Watch the full talk to learn how law, courts, and international institutions intersect with authoritarian trends in the South Caucasus.
AAleksanteri-instituutti - Aleksanteri InstituteUUniversity of Helsinki
