In this episode, we’re continuing our conversation on disability rights, but this time shifting the focus to the South Caucasus. Georgia, a post-Soviet candidate for European Union membership, finds itself navigating a critical transitional period. While European integration promises social reforms, growing democratic backsliding, authoritarian legislation, and a lingering Soviet mindset continue to leave disabled Georgians excluded from civic, economic, and daily life. Joining the conversation from Tbilisi, Salzburg Global Fellow Esma Gumberidze explores the frontlines of grassroots activism in Georgia. As a blind activist and legal scholar, Gumberidze details how structural barriers, from inaccessible court systems and public infrastructure to retaliatory fines and anti-protest measures, are actively used to disenfranchise vulnerable populations and strip disabled citizens of their political agency. From the medicalised approach to disability status to the criminalisation of civil assembly, this episode provides a candid look at the brave fight for accessibility, representation, and basic human rights at the intersection of a nation’s democratic future. Chapters 00:00 EU Ambitions, Soviet Legacies, and Georgia’s Crossroads 02:22 The Medical Model: How the State Determines Disability 05:12 Democratic Backsliding and its Impact on Disability Activism 09:14 Weaponised Stigma, Legal Aid, and Loss of Agency 11:00 Fines, Safety, and the Risks Facing Activists on the Streets 13:12 Physical and Institutional Barriers: The Fight for Accessible Courts 16:19 Why Accessibility Progress Remains Stalled in 2026 20:51 From Infantilisation to Political Agency: Changing the Narrative 22:14 Gender, Quotas, and the Invisibility of Disabled Women 25:33 Media Representation and Challenging Ableist Assumptions About The Guest: Esma Gumberidze Esma Gumberidze is a Salzburg Global Fellow, human rights defender, disability rights activist, citizen journalist, and blogger based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Holding a degree in law, Esma is at the forefront of the movement uniting accessibility campaigns with the broader struggle for democracy and human rights in the South Caucasus. Through strategic litigation, grassroots organising, and public advocacy, she works forcefully to challenge societal ableism, dismantle systemic barriers, and ensure disabled citizens, particularly disabled women, are recognised as equal actors in shaping their nation's future. Follow Esma Gumberidze below to find out more about her work with civil society initiatives in Georgia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esma-gumberidze-408955306/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esma.gumberidze/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@esmagumberidze833 About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world. Follow Eric Olander on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/ Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/