When the Georgian government earlier in April presented and voted through the controversial “foreign agent law” in the parliament in a first round, huge protests started. Thousands took to the streets, which were also filled with riot police. Two weeks later, the protests continue against the government and against the bill, which is believed to be a step closer to Russia.
During Tuesday, a second hearing took place in parliament on the bill. Images from Tbilisi show large protests and clashes with the police. Among other things, water cannons and pepper spray have been used against the demonstrators.
The bill, which has been criticized among other things by several international organizations, would mean that the organizations that receive a certain part of their funding from abroad must register as a “foreign agent”.
– The law could be what puts the final nail in the coffin for Georgia’s European future, says Hugo von Essen.
The government’s countermeasures – buses with protesters
On Monday came one of the government’s responses to the protests – a demonstration of its own. People were bused from different parts of the country to the capital Tbilisi by the ruling Georgian Dream party. During the demonstration, the former prime minister and founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili gave a speech that was strongly critical of the EU and the West.
– The financing of non-governmental organizations, which want to appear as if they are helping us, is in reality to strengthen foreign intelligence services and to give them power, Ivanishvili said.
Analyst Hugo von Essen believes that Ivanishvili’s speech on Monday showed a big change.
– It represents a new level of narrative regarding anti-EU, repression and threats to civil society, says von Essen.
“More pro-EU than any other EU country”
The law has been heavily criticized as the opposition and the demonstrators believe that it is a rapprochement with Russia. Georgia was granted candidate status to the EU in December last year, even then Georgian Dream was in power. At the same time, the EU was clear that the country had several measures to take in the future.
– When you talk to Georgians, they often bring up figures that 80-90 percent of the population is in favor of the EU, they usually say that the population of Georgia is more pro-EU than the population of any other EU country, says Hugo von Essen and adds:
– It’s a strange dilemma. A large part is for the EU, at the same time there are many who support the Georgian dream. Not everyone understands that the Georgian dream is not for the EU.
He believes that the opposition is divided and has not succeeded in capitalizing on the strong pro-EU opinions in the country. At the same time, there are more issues than the EU for the people to consider.
– Georgian Dream plays a lot on people’s fears. They have strong narratives that the EU, the opposition and the West are trying to force them into a second war against Russia. Then the question is whether ordinary Georgians care more about joining the EU or about not being drawn into war, says von Essen.