Georgians Protest Against ‘Russian Law’ Threatening Democracy, EU Membership

• Mitra Nazar

  Journalist from Turkey, now in Georgia

Tens of thousands of Georgians crossed the water on Saturday night. They walked from all corners of the capital Tbilisi to Europe Square, on the banks of the Kura River, to demonstrate. The turnout was higher than at previous shows, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 people.

On Monday, the Georgian parliament will vote on a controversial law that is very similar to the Russian law used in Russia to silence non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media.

“There is no Russian shadow on Georgia’s future,” read one of the many protest signs, held up by a young woman. Other signs read: “No to Russian laws” and “No to Russia, yes to Europe”.

Many European flags also flew:

Georgians make no bones about it: they believe that their government is following the Kremlin’s tune. And that with the introduction of the law promoted by Russia, their young democracy is at stake.

The ‘foreign influence law’ places organizations that receive more than 20 per cent of their income from foreign currency under greater scrutiny. This is similar to the law that has existed in Russia since 2012, requiring NGOs that receive money from abroad to register as ‘foreign agents’.

In recent years, the Kremlin has used this law to criminalize and silence NGOs and independent media. Georgian groups fear Russian practices if Tbilisi implements the law, which the opposition simply calls ‘Russian law’.

The word ‘foreign agent’ previously appeared in the text of the law. Under pressure from the opposition, ‘foreign influence’ has replaced it, but according to critics the content is still worrying. In the Georgian version of the law, organizations must register as ‘under the influence of foreign powers’.

“This is more than a fight over one law,” said Levan Tsutskirizde, director of the Center for Eastern European Democracy, an NGO funded by several EU countries. “We are fighting to keep Georgia free and democratic and to keep Georgia on the path of European integration. “

Last December, Georgia officially became a candidate member of the EU. That level was widely celebrated by the public, with more than 85 percent of them in favor of EU membership. So it was a blow when the government reintroduced the law in April.

The government also considered the law last year, but it was withdrawn after two days of mass protests. This time, despite repeated protests, the government intends to move forward.

Ahead of Monday’s vote, the atmosphere is tense in Tbilisi. Police have regularly used tear gas and rubber bullets during protests. Opposition members and demonstrators were injured by police violence. Several famous activists were met at night and beaten by masked men.

Masked men also hung threatening posters on the windows and doors of NGOs. For example, NGO director Tsutskirizde found posters with his face on the wall of his office and on the window at his house. Under his picture were texts like: “This is a foreign agent” and “he tells lies with the support of foreign money”. Tsutskirizde says he now has security for the first time in his career.

The posters, masked men and violence reinforce suspicions of Russian interference. “These are clearly Russian-style scare tactics,” said Tamar Kintsurashvili, director of an intelligence-gathering NGO. She also found posters with her face on her office porch. “There is no evidence existence that this is directly coordinated by the Kremlin. But what they are doing is in the interest of Russia and no one else.”

Rising Georgians are convinced that it is related to the Russian agenda to bring Georgia back into Russia’s sphere of influence and undermine the country’s accession to the EU. “For the first time there is a real chance that we will be a member of the EU. The government is now busy taking that view away from the people,” says Levan Tsutskirizde.

According to critics, Russia is under pressure from the government through the infamous founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanisvili. He is the only oligarch in Georgia and has strong ties to the Kremlin.

“Russia would prefer a loyal authoritarian regime in Georgia,” says Tsutskirizde. As with Ukraine, Russian President Putin is known to believe that Georgia belongs to Russia. “In fact, we are fighting the same battle as Ukraine,” he says. “Only through different, hybrid and political means.”

Georgia has a long history of popular uprisings against Russian influence, the most famous of which was the Rose Revolution of 2003. After that, Georgia embarked on a pro-European path. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia and Putin’s army expelled the Georgian army from South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The European Union has told Georgia that the controversial law to be voted on on Monday goes against core European values ​​and could have consequences for the membership process. Despite the bill, the Georgian government says it is still pursuing EU membership.

According to the government, the law is needed to increase transparency about the funding of organizations. With the majority in parliament for Georgian Dream, there is a good chance that the law will be passed.