85 percent of Georgia’s population wants the country to become a member of the European Union. Most Georgians distrust their large northern neighbor Russia. Russian soldiers have occupied part of the country since 1993.
In December, Georgia became a candidate member of the European Union, but now the Georgian government seems to be trying to get closer to Vladimir Putin. Much to the dissatisfaction of the population: there are mass protests in the capital Tbilisi against a law that would make the country more like Russia and less like the European Union. What explains the dual attitude of the Georgian government?
With this law, Georgia seems to be following the same path as Russia.
The bill was also discussed last year, but was then withdrawn by the ruling party Georgian Dream after fierce protests. The law was recently submitted again. A majority of parliament is in favor, the president is against. The European Commission has reacted with disappointment to the bill and spoke of “very worrying developments”.
“The law is intended to provide greater control over critical media and civil society organizations that receive part of their money from abroad,” says Europe expert Wouter Zweers (Clingendael Institute). “They are then classified as foreign agents or under the influence of a foreign power. The idea behind this seems to be that they somewhat silence those organizations in the run-up to the elections that will take place in Georgia.”
The Georgian ruling party, Georgian Dream, hopes to gain an absolute majority in those elections in the autumn. “They apparently think that this law helps to counter critical voices from society,” says Zweers.
Parliament is strongly divided over the law. The pro-European opposition recently came to blows with members of the ruling party:
Georgian MPs receive blows from colleagues
Government critics are therefore concerned. Such as the Russian Egor Kuroptev, who fled to Georgia twelve years ago because he was labeled a foreign agent in Russia. Now the same thing threatens to happen to him in Georgia. “This does not come as a surprise to me. The government has been increasingly saying goodbye to democratic processes for years.”
Kuroptev supports Russian migrants and fights Russian disinformation with his NGO. He also receives financial support from abroad. “Of course, our projects are supported by Western subsidies. Where else are we going to get our money from? The Kremlin?”
‘Expression of opinion and democracy in danger’
It is not surprising that countries view this type of foreign influence with suspicion, says Zweers. “There are more countries that have legislation to prevent this. But the law that is now being discussed in Georgia is very similar to a law that was previously passed in Russia. You can say that that law is the end of freedom of expression and the freedom of democracy has meant. Georgia really seems to be putting this law in place to follow the same path as Russia.”
The protests in Tbilisi are therefore also about the question: does Georgia choose a European or a Russian future? In December, the government seemed to be going for EU membership, but Kuroptev thinks that the government will not act on it any further. “After receiving the candidate membership, the government’s rhetoric has changed significantly.”
The relationship between the government and the EU has indeed been difficult recently, says Zweers. “Georgia has not joined the sanctions against Russia. In addition, there is a narrative from the Georgian government that the EU is trying to break traditional family values and is pursuing a kind of LGBTI+ propaganda.” The population is quite susceptible to that story, Zweers thinks. “The country is also somewhat conservative; the Orthodox Church has a major role.”
Zweers also distrusts the pro-EU voices from the government. “The party appears to be formally on the EU path, but is particularly interested in its own position of power in the run-up to those elections.”
No friends
In addition, a Russian-minded oligarch, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, plays a key role behind the scenes in the ruling party. Zweers: “He made his fortune in Russia and has a number of personal ties that also seem to be in line with that party. Russia occupies Georgian territory, so you cannot really call the countries friends. But there seems to be rapprochement is now underway.”
That is exactly what Russian dissident Kuroptev fears. “Georgian society should revolt against any signal that the country is moving in the direction of Russia. The Russians have let Putin have his way for too long, so we are now in the situation where a war criminal is in power.”
