The escalating situation in Georgia has been linked to its status as an EU candidate country, according to researchers from the Italian foreign policy institute ISPI. This week’s protests in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, were met with excessive force from riot police, resulting in arrests and injuries among protesters. The underlying cause of the protests is a controversial bill proposed by the Georgian government that requires non-governmental organizations and other entities receiving at least 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to declare themselves as “agents of foreign powers.” This bill, which is considered contrary to European values, was previously attempted a year ago but was withdrawn due to protests.
According to ISPI researchers, the bill has exacerbated an existing political crisis in Georgia, dividing the country between pro-European integration groups and an increasingly authoritarian populist government. The Kremlin has accused the West of stoking anti-Russian sentiment among Georgians and defended the controversial bill, attempting to delegitimize the protests and link them to Western influence. Despite this opposition, Georgian civil society has demonstrated vitality and determination through their protests, drawing comparisons to Ukrainian activism.
The situation in Georgia remains complex, with geopolitical ramifications and ongoing tensions between different factions within the country. However, ISPI researcher Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti emphasizes the importance of watching how the Russian government and media describe the demonstrations and their attempts to discredit the protestors’ motives. As Georgia continues on its path towards EU membership, it will be important for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that its democratic institutions remain strong and resilient in the face of external pressure.