Georgia: the study of a law on "foreign agents" makes NGOs fear "Russification"

The Georgian government has been increasing its rapprochement with Russia for years, although the majority of the population says it wants to join the European Union.

Here, a demonstration in defense of Ukraine and for the EU in front of the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, February.

© Vano Shlamov / AFP

Text by: Régis Genté Follow

3 mins

In the former Soviet republic of Georgia, parliament is currently considering a bill on “ 

 ”.

A project baptized by opponents and civil society as " 

 ", in a context of political rapprochement with Russia.

While many Russian opponents had taken refuge in the country since the start of the war in Ukraine, Georgia is tightening the screw, refusing them entry.

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From our correspondent in Tbilisi,

The bill consists of obliging civil society organizations or the media that receive foreign funding to declare themselves “ 

 ” on their official documents or at the top of the articles they publish.

Most NGOs, Georgian media and many civil society figures denounce it as a means of crushing the ideas and values ​​promoted by the West in Georgia.

This law is described as

by its detractors because it seems to them to be directly inspired by the

.

The “ 

 ” party in power, of the oligarch

, who made all his fortune in Russia, says he is inspired by American law: the “ 

 ”.

But that doesn't deceive anyone in the South Caucasus country: the " 

 "

for several years.

Anti-Western rhetoric, refusal of Russian opponents

Other signs of rapprochement with Russia are legion, notably with constant anti-Western rhetoric for two years.

According to this narrative, the United States and Europe would like to force Georgia to become a second front in the war in Ukraine, dragging the Georgians towards the total destruction of their country.

This with repeated attacks on key institutions and values ​​if we want to get closer to the EU… like freedom of the media or secularism.

And then gestures aimed at pleasing Moscow, whether it be adopting very critical positions towards Ukraine and its leaders or talking about resuming air flights between Russia and Georgia.

Last small act to date: the rejection at the airport of Russian opponents who came to take refuge in Georgia after the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A few days ago, it was Anna Rivina - a human rights lawyer and activist against domestic violence - and journalist Filipp Dzyadko who were not allowed to return to Georgia, where they had installed last year.

Danger of an authoritarian anti-Western drift, despite the majority desire for EU membership

With this “ 

 ”, the country could experience an authoritarian drift, like Russia for nearly twenty years.

There is an exit strategy from the “ 

 ”, which is supported by

at least

Moreover, other aspects of Georgian political life could become Russified.

2023 will be a crucial year, as

Georgia the status of " 

 " to the EU: last June, Brussels asked Tbilisi to meet 12 points for this.

Everything indicates that this will not happen, despite a population that has been dreaming overwhelmingly of Europe for three decades.

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• Georgia

• Freedom of press

• Russia

• Human rights

• NGO