George Melashvili is a Georgian public figure, political sciences scholar, and civic activist. As the founder and president of the Europe-Georgia Institute since September 2016, he has significantly influenced the civic landscape in Georgia. The Europe-Georgia Institute, initially a student organization, evolved under his leadership into a leading civil society organization in Georgia, joining the European Liberal Forum and founding the annual Black Sea Security conference focused on international security policy.
Melashvili’s academic interests are deeply rooted in comparative politics and East Asian studies, with a particular emphasis on Korea. His work has earned him a fellowship with the German Marshall Fund’s Policy Designers Network since August 2020. Additionally, he contributes as an invited lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi and the University of Georgia, sharing his insights on IR theory and East Asian studies, and authored “Korea: Success Story – Lessons for Georgia”, the first book about Korea in Georgian language.
Throughout his career, Melashvili has played a crucial role in promoting civic engagement, democratic values, and global security in Georgia. His initiative, “Your Voice, Our Future,” notably increased youth participation in the 2016 Georgian parliamentary elections, showcasing his talent for mobilizing volunteers. Melashvili actively contributes to the global discourse engaging with both academic and general audiences, and regularly appears on television, covering international affairs on both Georgian and international media outlets.
As a participant in the New Security Leaders (NSL) program of the Warsaw Security Forum, Melashvili continues to address global security challenges, while focusing on mitigating the impact of propaganda and bolstering national resilience and creating several initiatives focused on these topics.