We had the pleasure of observing the promotion and implementation of the idea of Citizens' Assemblies in Georgia, initiated by the Council of Europe and the Center for Blue Democracy in Poland. Prior to the assemblies, Prof. Paulina Pospieszna participated in training for NGOs and potential coordinators organized by the Center for Blue Democracy in November 2022, and later in an online meeting for local authorities. Citizens' assemblies eventually took place in two cities: Ozurgeti and Rustavi.
The Citizens' Assembly in Ozurgeti focused on addressing challenges related to the local parking system. The goal was to collaboratively find the best solutions that would consider the interests and concerns of citizens. The assembly commenced in Ozurgeti on April 22, 2023 (learning phase), April 29, 2023 (first deliberative meeting), and May 13, 2023 (second deliberative meeting). Organized by the Management Systems Development Center in collaboration with the local government, the assembly brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the municipality, experts, and members of non-governmental organizations. The assembly involved 28 citizens who engaged in a deliberative process to generate recommendations for improving the parking system in Ozurgeti, emphasizing citizen input and collaborative decision-making.
The Citizens' Assembly in Rustavi was centered around the strategic design of the floodplain forest, aiming to engage citizens' perspectives and interests. The overarching goal was to enhance the quality of ambient air in the city and preserve biodiversity in the floodplain forest, contributing to the overall development vision for Rustavi. The assembly took place on April 23, 2023 (learning phase), April 29, 2023 (1st deliberative meeting), and May 14, 2023 (2nd deliberative meeting). Organized by the NGO Eco Centre and the Mayor of Rustavi, the assembly had a total of 36 participants distributed across four tables.
We had the pleasure of cooperating with Mariam Kikvidze, a student at European University Viadrina at that time, who joined our team and acted as a collaborator. She conducted observations and interviews for the project.