The Georgian capital is in turmoil. A new demonstration is expected this Sunday, May 12 in front of the Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, to protest against the controversial bill on “foreign influence pushed by the government, the day after another large gathering. Saturday, there were already several thousand in the city center of the capital, including many young people, to say “No to Russian law!”, in reference to this text inspired by Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to repress dissident voices .
On the streets, many activists working for NGOs and other rights groups said they had received threats over the phone. Among them, some chanted “Georgia! Georgia!” along the Koura River, despite a heavy downpour, noted an AFP journalist. These anti-government demonstrations have been going on since April in this small Caucasian country.
On the diplomatic side, this law is also criticized by the United States and the European Union. Friday May 10, the Georgian ambassador to France, Gotcha Javakhishvili, made the decision to resign. The diplomat called for the withdrawal of the text which, according to him, hinders the country’s relations with its foreign partners. With this gesture, the senior official, in office since 2022, hopes to “make the ruling party, the Georgian Dream, think This is what he declared in an interview with our colleagues at. World the same day.
Bidzina Ivanishvili at the helm
While Gotcha Javakhishvili defends Georgia’s integration into the European Union, leaving his post was, for him, a “question of principle and honor”. And for good reason: If the controversial law is adopted, it will require any NGO or media organization receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
An initiative reminiscent of the law on “foreign agents”, passed in Russia in July 2012, the objective of which was to muzzle the opposition. Hence its nickname “Putin law”. In charge of this project? The discreet founder of the ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, pro-Russian billionaire and former Prime Minister. The 68-year-old claims to have retired from political life in 2021, but it is to him that we owe the forceful passage of the law on foreign influences.
The bill must still pass its third reading in Parliament very soon and President Salomé Zourabichvili, in conflict with the ruling party, is expected to veto it. However, the Georgian Dream has enough votes to override it. The executive assures for its part that this measure is intended to force organizations to demonstrate greater “transparency” regarding their funding.
Legislative elections in sight
And this is not the first time that the executive has tried to force it through. The law on “foreign influence” was first presented by the Georgian Dream in 2023. But massive protests had already forced the government to shelve it. His return, at the beginning of April, created the surprise and anger of many Georgians. And this time, the ruling party does not seem, at this stage, ready to back down, causing yet another political crisis in this small Caucasian country accustomed to turmoil.
Furthermore, these unrest occurs a few months before legislative elections in October, considered an important test for democracy in this former Soviet republic. As elections approach, the ruling Georgian Dream party “sees this law as a means of controlling the opposition and maximizing its chances of retaining its parliamentary majority”, underlines the Financial Times, taken back by International mail.
In December 2023, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status, but affirmed that Tbilisi should carry out reforms to its judicial and electoral systems, increase press freedom (103rd place on the ranking of Reporters Without Borders) and limit the power of the oligarchs before accession negotiations are officially launched. On Wednesday May 8, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reacted by saying she was following the demonstrations in Georgia with “deep concern”. One thing is certain: this pro-Russian bill could move them away from the European course.