Georgia: second attempt at passing "foreign agent" law
In Georgia, mass protests against the adoption of a "foreign agent" law targeting institutions that receive funding from abroad are gaining momentum. Just over a year ago, in March 2023, protests against a similar bill ultimately led to its withdrawal. Commentators discuss the motives behind the legislation.
Russia as a deterrent
In a post on Facebook, Russian opposition politician Elvira Vikhareva explains why the bill is so controversial:
“The ruling party Georgian Dream wants NGOs and media that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as 'organisations representing foreign interests'. That's the official wording. ... It seems like a small thing, doesn't it? But we remember very well what such a small thing led to in our country. The Georgians look across the border and understand everything. And of course there are hardly any media or NGOs in Georgia without this 20 percent. The country is very poor, it lives only on being open to the world and foreign funding, especially in the tertiary sector.”
The people will have their say in the autumn
Georgia has only been a candidate for EU membership since December, the Süddeutsche Zeitung points out:
“But instead of moving closer, it is already moving further away. ... Tens of thousands are protesting because they see the proposed law as a threat to the country's European course. ... The words of the most powerful man in the country also give the people good reason to be sceptical. Bidzina Ivanishvili, billionaire, former prime minister and leader of the ruling party, has now launched a massive attack on the West. He claims the West wants to use Georgia, like Ukraine, as cannon fodder in the fight against Russia. This is completely untrue. Instead such words reinforce the impression of an increasingly authoritarian leadership that is unsure about pursuing the path towards the EU. It has the say. However, the Georgian people will also have their say in the parliamentary elections in the autumn.”
Even willing to jeopardise EU ties
The Georgian Dream party which has ruled the country for many years is under pressure now, observes Ukrainska Pravda:
“The most common explanation is that the law, which makes control over the public sector and independent media possible, is being used to secure victory in the parliamentary elections on 26 October. For the first time, these elections will be held without the single-mandate constituencies in which the ruling party has always won. That is why it will be more difficult for Georgian Dream to win this time round. ... Retaining power (it should be remembered that Georgian Dream has been in power for almost 12 years) is the party's key objective. And it is prepared to sacrifice even its ties to the EU to achieve this.”
It sounded harmless at first
Exiled TV-Rain journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze warns on Facebook:
“Thanks to the Russian experience, people in Georgia understand very well where a 'law on foreign agents' leads and what it is needed for. Let me briefly recapitulate: The Russian state had promised us, too, that nothing terrible would happen, that the law would merely ensure 'transparency' and not prevent anyone from working or living in Russia. ... There is not a single major independent media outlet or international human rights organisation left in Russia today. That was the aim of the Russian authorities when they claimed that the law on foreign agents was just a trifling matter.”