Russia or Europe: Where is Georgia heading?

#83

Dear Friends of Democracy,

Maybe you've seen the video from the Georgian parliament, where Mamuka Mdinaradze, parliamentary leader of the ruling party Georgian Dream, has been punched in the face by opposition Member of Parliament Aleko Elisashvili. Or, you might have seen pictures of thousands of protesters outside parliament in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.  

In any case, it is high time to look at Georgia.

Last year, the government tried to introduce a "foreign agents" bill but withdrew it in the face of mass street protests. This month, they announced that they would reintroduce the legislation under a different name: a bill on the "transparency of foreign influence."

Explain. 

The bill would require organisations receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as being agents of foreign influence. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says the proposed law is needed to ensure the financial transparency of grant recipients. Critics compare it to Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. 

Who is right?

The ruling party, Georgian Dream, and the government face accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian leanings. GRASS, a respected and professional fact-checking organisation, writes about the bill: "The Georgian draft law aims to undermine civil society under the pretext of transparency.” Also, Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany, have urged Georgia not to pass the bill. During yesterday's debate in the parliament, Tina Bokuchava, parliamentary leader of the United National Movement opposition party, said: "Recall this law, once and for all! There is no place in Georgia for a Russian law. Europe is the choice of the Georgian people."

Will the law be implemented?

The majority seems to be there. The bill must pass three readings in parliament and will then likely face a fourth vote to override President Salome Zourabichvili's veto. Zourabichvili is a Georgian Dream critic who opposes the bill but whose powers is mostly ceremonial.

Why does the government want this law?

Georgia has been a candidate country for joining the EU since December 2023. Therefore, it has to implement reforms in the judiciary, electoral system, anti-corruption, and de-oligarchisation. If they implement these reforms, Georgian Dream could lose power. "So they decided to get rid of all civil society and critical media and stay in power forever, like Putin in Russia," says opposition politician Zurab Japaridze of the libertarian Girchi—More Freedom party. Time could be running out for the Georgian Dream party since the country is gearing up for parliamentary elections later this year.

See you in Europe, 

Johannes