Standoff in Georgia: A Crisis of Power and Freedom
Demonstrations Erupt in Tbilisi, Georgia: Prime Minister Declares Widespread Support for 'Foreign Agents' Legislation Amidst Unrest
The streets of Georgia are brimming with tension as a power struggle erupts between authorities and a formidable protest movement. At stake is a controversial piece of legislation that could potentially hamstring independent watchdogs, limiting their ability to scrutinize government actions. This legislation, termed pejoratively as the "foreign agents bill," has sparked one of the largest public protests in recent decades in Tbilisi, with university students from across the country pledging to boycott classes from the 13th of May. The government, unyielding in its determination, vows to proceed with the legislation andretaliate against dissenters.
Approximately 50,000 protesters participated in a massive rally on the 11th of May, protesting the so-called foreign agents bill. This contentious legislation, according to critics, would leave non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media outlets vulnerable to government harassment if they receive substantial funding from foreign entities. Critics claim that the law could serve as a tool to shield officials from accountability for their actions, and irreversibly tilt the political landscape in favor of the incumbent, Georgian Dream-dominated government. Moreover, passing this bill could significantly damage Georgia's constitutionally mandated efforts to join the European Union, European officials in Brussels have warned.
Student groups from at least 10 higher education institutions across Georgia announced a boycott of classes to amplify their participation in protests against the foreign agents draft law. These students accuse the government of pursuing anti-EU policies. "Today, it's not merely about protecting the European future, which we've never been so close to losing," asserted a statement issued by students at Tbilisi State University. "It's also about combating the dictatorial processes in the country." Additionally, a prominent business organization announced its opposition to the bill on the 13th of May.
At a press conference on the 12th of May, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed criticism, citing uncited statistics purporting to show strong public support for the government's stance. He claimed that 60% of Georgians allegedly favor the foreign agents bill, which officials portray as a measure to enhance the transparency of NGO operations. He did not reveal any specifics about who conducted the survey, when it was taken, and how the data was collected. He pledged that parliament would pass the foreign agents bill at its third and final reading, currently scheduled for the 14th of May.
Kobakhidze also made unsubstantiated claims about potential violent disturbances by radical opposition elements, threatening harsh penalties for anyone involved in such actions. He also leveled criticism at the United States and EU, arguing that the handling of mass demonstrations by Georgian police was superior to responses in Western countries, according to a report published by the Tbilisi-based outlet Civil.ge.
"The harsh forms that are normal for American and French police should not be acceptable for Georgian law enforcers," Kobakhidze said. Georgian police have been accused of using excessive force against peaceful protesters in recent weeks, including firing rubber bullets, deploying water cannon, and employing violent tactics. According to an eyewitness account of a protest outside the Georgian parliament on the 13th of May, police repeatedly resorted to force during attempts to disperse peaceful demonstrators.
While the Georgian Dream's unwavering pursuit of a foreign agents law has drawn denunciations in the West, it is receiving applause from state-controlled media in authoritarian-leaning states, including neighboring Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government has yet to publicly comment on the situation in Tbilisi, but official media has offered unwavering support for the bill.
One prominent Azerbaijani news agency, Report.az, characterized Western criticism of the Georgian draft law as a case of double standards. "The West itself adopts normative legal acts on foreign influence ... but tries to prohibit [adopting such laws] to other countries. This is the most obvious example of double standards," stated the Report.az commentary. "It can be assumed that the US and the EU are doing this on purpose - deliberately putting the government against the people."
Report.az, in conjunction with another commentary published by the APA news agency, speculated that the West wants to oust the Georgian Dream government and is preparing the ground for another "color revolution" in Georgia. Last fall, the Georgian Dream government, without providing any evidence, accused USAID of involvement in a coup attempt, a claim vehemently denied by the US Embassy in Tbilisi.
Top Biden Administration officials have recently amplified their rhetorical pressure on the Georgian government. "Georgian Dream's recent rhetoric, proposed legislative changes, and actions go against the aspirations of the Georgian people and are designed to isolate Georgians from the United States and Europe," Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We stand with the Georgian people."
- This contentious legislation, a potential threat to independent watchdogs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving foreign funding, is also causing concerns in the world of general news, with the Biden Administration expressing opposition to it.
- Moreover, the approval of this foreign agents bill could have significant repercussions for Georgia's business sector, as a prominent business organization has stated its opposition to the bill. Critics argue that such a law could serve as a tool to shield officials from accountability and irreversibly tilt the political landscape.
- The controversy over the foreign agents bill has not only sparked protests in Georgia's news landscape, but it has also drawn attention in the realm of war-and-conflicts and politics, with authoritarian-leaning states like Azerbaijan offering support for the legislation. In contrast, Western countries and organizatisions, such as the Biden Administration, have condemned it.
