In brief

• Nino Kalandadze, Founder and Executive Director of the Chavchavadze Center, took part in the 13th Freedom Games (Igrzyska Wolności) in Łódź, Poland.
• The festival ran from October 23 to 25 at the EC1 cultural complex under the theme “Tech for Humanity.”
• In panel discussions she addressed how to prevent the “Georgian scenario,” pressure on civil society, and the need for international partnership.

The 13th Freedom Games, one of Europe’s leading festivals of ideas, took place in Łódź, Poland, on October 23-25, 2026. It was organized by the Liberté! Foundation and held at the EC1 cultural complex. This year’s edition, “Tech for Humanity,” focused on the impact of technology on society and on protecting human rights and freedoms in the digital world.

Nino Kalandadze, Founder and Executive Director of the Chavchavadze Center, took part in panel discussions on the challenges facing Georgia and the wider region. She spoke about how European and regional states can avoid authoritarian drift and state capture, which Georgia is now experiencing. She also discussed the pressure on NGOs and independent institutions across Central and Eastern Europe: restrictions, deliberate discrediting campaigns, and the effect of Russian-style “foreign agents” legislation on a country’s European integration.

Kalandadze also stressed that the international community, think tanks and civil society organizations must consolidate around democratic values.