What happens to dialogue when political opponents, civil society organisations and minorities are increasingly portrayed as enemies? Georgian human rights activist Mikheil Lazginiani will bring his first-hand experience to this year’s Opinion Festival in Paide, where a discussion will examine how trust and cooperation can survive in societies shaped by conflict and deepening polarisation.

Lazginiani is a Yezidi activist and the executive director of the Georgian NGO World of Tolerance. His work focuses on human rights, minority communities and intercultural dialogue. He has also participated in protests against Georgia’s controversial “foreign agents” legislation and spoken publicly about the pressure faced by activists and civil society organisations. As relations between the Georgian government, opposition and pro-European civil society have deteriorated, the space for meaningful dialogue has become increasingly narrow.

The discussion, titled “If Polarisation Deepens, How Can Dialogue Be Sustained in International Crisis Regions?”, will look beyond Georgia to Armenia and the Middle East. It will explore whether dialogue is still possible when parties no longer trust each other, political disputes become questions of identity and security, and compromise itself is treated as betrayal.

Lazginiani will be joined by Kersti Luha-Räim, Leading Expert on Strategic Communication at PractNet, and Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council. Together, they will discuss the role of mediation, strategic communication and civil society in maintaining contact across political and social divides.

Discussion: If Polarisation Deepens, How Can Dialogue Be Sustained in International Crisis Regions?

Time: Saturday 08.08, 16:00-17:30

Location: Opinion Festival, area 18 “Pingeväljad”, Paide

Speakers: Mikheil Lazginiani, Kersti Luha-Räim and Eero Janson