Georgians have named Ukraine as the country’s third most important political partner after the EU and the US in the International Republican Institute’s polls released on Tuesday. 

In the survey 63 percent of respondents named the EU as the most important political partner for the country, while the figure stood at 47 percent for the US and 27 percent for Ukraine. 

The survey has also shown strong support for EU membership, disapproval of Russian citizens within the country, and a lack of faith in political parties.When asked about the EU,  89 percent of Georgians either “fully support” or “somewhat support” joining the alliance, which represented an increase of four percentage points from the most recent poll, matching an all-time high. 

“It is explicitly clear that Georgians want to join the European Union and continue their integration with Western, democratic institutions,” said Steve Nix, Senior Director for Eurasia at IRI.

“It’s now incumbent upon leaders in the government to deliver what the people want."

The polls said 87 percent of respondents saw Russia as a major political threat to the country and 79 percent opposed visa-free travel for Russians, their registering businesses in Georgia, or buying property in the country. 

The poll also highlights a lack of faith in political parties. 42 percent of Georgians said no political party represented their interests. At the same time, the survey found that 78 percent believed there should be more youth in domestic politics.

The survey named the Georgian army as the most trusted institution, followed by the Patriarchate, and Patriarch Ilia II as the most trusted figure, followed by Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze, president Salome Zourabichvili and prime minister Irakli Garibashvili. 

The survey was conducted on behalf of IRI’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by Dr. Rasa Alisauskiene of the public and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization between March 4 and March 23, 2023. 

The fieldwork was conducted by the Institute of Polling and Marketing.

Data was collected through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. The sample consisted of 1,500 Georgians aged 18+ and eligible to vote.