The panel discussion explores how core democratic freedoms erode under political rupture and how they can be reclaimed. It brings together academic analysis of state repression with the lived experience of a human rights defender who has witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union, civil wars, Russian aggression, and today’s dismantling of democratic institutions in Georgia. Through a dialogue on freedom of expression, assembly, and the shrinking space for civil society, the seminar examines how states justify limiting dissent, how fear reshapes public life, and how digital and political tools are used to silence critical voices. Using Georgia as a case study, it connects structural criminological frameworks with personal testimony to illuminate early warning signs of repression and inspire collective strategies for defending rights in times of crisis.