Georgia's Dangerous Drift Towards Autocracy: New "Foreign Agents" Law Sparks Protests and Fears of Russian Influence

Georgia's fragile democracy faces a major setback with the passage of a controversial "foreign agents" law, fueling fears of a return to the oppressive Soviet era. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to voice their opposition, while the international community condemns the law as a chilling threat to free speech and fundamental rights.

Georgia's aspiration to join the European Union has suffered a major setback with the passage of a controversial "foreign agents" law, which has sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about the country's drift towards autocracy.

The law, which requires civil society organizations, including media outlets, to register as foreign agents if they receive over 20% of their funding from abroad, has been condemned by human rights groups and Western governments for its potential to stifle dissent and marginalize opposition voices.

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia to demand the repeal of the law, which they see as a threat to fundamental rights and civil liberties. Protesters have faced a heavy-handed response from riot police, with hundreds arrested and injured.

International condemnation of the law has been swift, with the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom expressing deep concerns. Human Rights Watch has called the law a "dark day for Georgian democracy," while the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media has warned of the "chilling effect" it will have on free speech.

The law's proponents claim it is necessary to prevent foreign interference in Georgia's domestic affairs, but critics say it is modeled on a similar Russian law used to crack down on dissent. Georgia's former Minister of Defense, Tinatin Khidasheli, has warned that the law will allow the government to launch a "witch hunt" against critics and silence opposition voices.

The passage of the law has been a victory for the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has been accused of being sympathetic to Russia and obstructing Georgia's European integration ambitions. President Salome Zourabichvili, who is pro-EU and pro-West, has vowed to veto the law, but the parliament can override her veto with a simple majority.

The law has been met with strong opposition from civil society groups, which have been mobilizing for weeks to protest its passage. The Georgian parliament initially withdrew a similar bill in 2023 due to mass protests, but the government has since pushed it through despite continued public opposition.

The "foreign agents" law is seen by many as a threat to Georgia's progress towards EU membership. Tbilisi formally applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in December 2023, but its aspirations to join the bloc could be compromised by the passage of this repressive law.

Experts warn that Russia is watching Georgia closely and may be emboldened by the passage of the law. They fear that Russia's proxies in the region, including Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, may enact similar laws to further undermine democracy and erode the West's influence.

Despite the challenges, Georgian protesters remain optimistic and determined to continue their fight for democracy. Former Minister of Defense Khidasheli believes that Georgia will eventually overcome this setback and return to its path towards EU and NATO membership, but she acknowledges that it will be a "long and difficult fight."