Photo taken by Nino Gozalishvili: “We are Europe: Tbilisi’s Layers of Identity.” Captured during a June 2023 exploration of Tbilisi’s historic old town, this photograph reflects the intricate layers of identity negotiation in the public space amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. The image provides a visual commentary on the local multifaceted discourse surrounding national identity vis-à-vis the geopolitical shifts and security crisis in the region. Posters - that were positioned atop the door of an unrenovated basement at different periods of the year - summarize sentiments that echo the prevailing geopolitical tensions. Prominent among them are declarations asserting “We are Europe,” branding Russia as an occupant, and expressing solidarity with Ukraine, all next to one another. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the counterbalance between Russia and Europe (“the West”) becomes a central theme in the local negotiation of identity and belonging. This mixture of statements and mundane expressions unveils the nuanced dynamics of local national identity, where Russia, Europe, and Ukraine emerge as pivotal players in the ongoing discourse. While exhibited in the banal form, it encapsulates the ongoing dialogue in Tbilisi regarding the influences of Russia, Europe, and Ukraine on local perceptions of belonging, inclusion, and exclusion. As Georgia navigates its stance amidst the regional security crisis, the image underscores the complex relationship between global events and their local echo in the form of negotiating identity and belonging.