Protests in Georgia Raise Questions Over Country’s Future

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has criticized protestors opposing a proposed law that would label many civil society actors as foreign agents (Wikimedia Commons). 

In early March, the Georgian Parliament voted to advance legislation that would effectively label civil society and media organizations that receive at least 20 percent of their funding from foreign entities as foreign agents. Eurasia Net reports that the legislation would also enable the government to conduct investigations and enact restrictions on groups deemed non-compliant. 

The legislation, advanced by the Georgian Dream party, is eerily similar to the Russian Foreign Agents Act. Eurasia Net reports that the Russian law was found by the European Court of Human Rights to violate the freedoms of association and assembly, and handicapped the country’s civil sector. The European Union even warned that the bill could damage Georgia’s EU integration prospects. 

Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities to protest the proposed legislation. They viewed the legislation as an attack on democracy and an act of repression. They also saw it as a geopolitical turn away from the West. According to the Guardian, the Georgian government dispersed the protests with tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades. Officials also arrested many protesters.  

The protests have been effective, at least for the time being, as the government has withdrawn the bill and released imprisoned protesters. 

Moscow has taken note of the protests. Foreign Policy Magazine reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov labeled the protests an “attempt to change the government by force.” 

According to Foreign Policy Magazine, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili labeled the protesters “destructive anarchists” and claimed the protests were an attempt by the West to drag Georgia into the Russian-Ukraine conflict. 

The Georgian government has continued to double down on its fight against civil society, a worrying sign for many Georgians. Many still feel insecure about the threat of further violence and government regulation.