A Toxic Tale: Georgia's dark twisted political spin
Citizens' Decision Time: Georgia's Future Hangs in Balance
A poisonous political drama unfolds in Georgia, where the ruling party, the Georgian Dream, has declared a war against its own people. In a deeply divisive speech, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary head of the Georgian Dream party, accused internal enemies and foreign adversaries, tragically echoing the language of Stalinist speeches from the 1930s. His words were not merely about the Foreign Agents' Law, but a sinister search for traitors within and saboteurs outside.
Ivanishvili's speech was riddled with unsubtle antagonism, phrasing Georgia's sovereignty as threatened by "foreign governance" - not Russia, which occupies a fifth of the country, but the European Union. He promised punishment for the opposition, implying that they would "strictly answer" for their transgressions.
A sober crowd, bussed in from various Georgian provinces, listened to the speech, many of whom were state bureaucrats who feared losing their government jobs if they didn't show up. Party leaders praised Ivanishvili, touting him as a shining beacon of selfless patriotism, who had brought "peace and economic progress" to Georgia.
The rally in Tbilisi resonated eerily with those held by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, with youthful flag-waving representatives, dressed in white, glorifying a virtuous image of the future. Emphasis on family values, an aggressive anti-intellectualism, and the labeling of enemies bore a striking resemblance to Putin's speeches.
The hunt for traitors is palpable in the air, and conciliation seems a distant memory. In a stunning display of power, Georgian Dream, once a champion of liberal democracy, has shed its European mask in favor of a Christian and civilizational understanding of Europe. This vision of Europe aligns with that of potential allies such as Viktor Orban, Giorgia Meloni, and Robert Fico, all champions of illiberal democracy.
Adopting an authoritarian approach, the Georgian Dream government employs violent tactics to suppress opposition. Peaceful protestors were met with stun grenades, water cannons, and tear gas, only a day after Georgian Dream's rally. This brutal suppression represents a clear break from the party's earlier claims of being the party of peace.
Georgian Dream's decision to cast itself as a party of peace was short-lived. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government argues against imposing sanctions on Russia with a spiritual quote: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." The government justifies this by claiming Russia poses no threat to Georgia, clinging to the narrative that they are defending Georgians from the "global party of war."
However, the days of false promises are over. Georgian Dream has demonstrated a willingness to use repressive tactics to achieve its goals, marking a dark turn in the political landscape of the nation. The time has come to confront this challenging situation, utilizing civil disobedience as a tool to counteract government overreach and demanding accountability from our representatives.
Can democracy be restored in Georgia? The upcoming elections in October may offer a glimmer of hope. However, given the party's history of manipulating the electoral process, a peaceful uprising might be a more effective solution. Engaging the police in activities that serve the people's interests, not the government's, should be the focus of any ongoing civil disobedience campaign.
Georgia has already survived three decades of political turmoil, revolution, and autocratic rule. But the question remains: will the state be able to overcome its past and embrace a genuine European future, one that fosters citizen participation, political accountability, and genuinely democratic institutions? Only time will tell.
- The history of Georgia's politics has taken a dark turn with the Georgian Dream party, once a champion of liberal democracy, adopting an authoritarian approach reminiscent of war-and-conflicts eras.
- Amidst this toxic political spin, policy-and-legislation has become increasingly decisive, with the government justifying inaction against Russia by quoting peace-oriented policy while suppressing opposition with violence.
- The future of Georgia is shrouded in uncertainty as it navigates through general-news headlines of crime-and-justice, political backlash, and anti-intellectualism, mirroring the language of speeches from Stalinist times and contemporary authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin.
- It is essential for citizens to remain vigilant and demand both free and fair elections and accountability from their representatives as they strive for a democratic future that prioritizes finance, economics, and progress,While engaging the police in activities that cater to the people's interests, not the government's, will be crucial in any ongoing civil disobedience campaign.
