“Not a reason, but a reason for protests”: experts on Georgian bills on foreign agents and unrest in Tbilisi

In recent days, the confrontation between the authorities and the opposition has escalated in Georgia.

The reason was an attempt by the parliamentary majority to adopt a law on foreign agents, which provides for the creation of a register of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media, whose budget consists of more than 20% of foreign funds.

In February, two versions of this bill were registered in the country's parliament on the initiative of the deputies of the Power of the People public movement, which, along with the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, is in the parliamentary majority.

One version of the document is a copy of a similar American law on the registration of foreign agents, and the second was developed by Georgian specialists.

In a milder, “Georgian” version, only a legal entity can be recognized as a foreign agent, and a fine is provided for non-compliance with the law.

In the "American" version, the law also applies to individuals, and its violators may face criminal penalties.

Both versions of the document caused sharp discontent both in the West and among the Georgian opposition.

The country's president, Salome Zurabishvili, also spoke out against the law.

Opponents of the adoption of the document call it "pro-Russian", since the Russian Federation also has a law on foreign agents.

In their opinion, the adoption of the law may prevent Georgia from joining the EU.

• Deputies at a meeting of the Parliament of Georgia

• RIA News

As a result, on March 7, the country's parliament adopted the “Georgian” version of the bill in the first reading, but under pressure from protests organized by the opposition, which escalated into clashes with police in the center of Tbilisi for two nights in a row, on March 9 the ruling party announced the withdrawal of the document.

Despite this, the opposition intends to continue the demonstrations.

In an interview with RT, experts assessed the Georgian bill on foreign agents and expressed their opinion about the role the West played in aggravating the situation in the republic.

- The reason for the protests in Georgia was the law on foreign agents, which the Georgian parliament tried to pass.

Why did he evoke such a reaction?

Expert on the South Caucasus Andrey Areshev

- I would say that the law on foreign agents is not a reason for protests, but an excuse.

In Georgia, mass protests on various formal occasions are quite common.

I believe that here we are talking about the desire of the West to undermine the political stability in the country and, if possible, to remove the government formed by the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party.

Or move it in the right direction.

It's no secret that the current pragmatic position of the Georgian authorities regarding the Russian special operation causes strong dissatisfaction among Western curators and embassies in Georgia, as well as the opposition.

Such protests were to be expected sooner or later.

The specific reason for this is not so important.

It is important to stir up passions, launch destructive processes and exert maximum pressure on the Georgian authorities in order to put them in a hopeless situation.

Thus, they are trying to force the government to join the anti-Russian sanctions or leave.

- What is the essence of the draft law on foreign agents in Georgia and how does it differ from similar laws in Russia and the United States?

Political scientist Andrey Suzdaltsev

- Fundamentally, it is no different from similar laws in the Russian Federation and the United States.

They relate to the financing of non-governmental organizations and structures by external forces.

However, in the United States, unlike Russia and the Georgian document adopted in the first reading, one can go to jail for violating this law.

The Georgian ruling party wanted to use this law in order to reduce pressure on Georgia from the West, NATO and Ukraine, who are not satisfied with the position of the Georgian authorities on the Russian special operation.

After all, the government of Georgia did not join the sanctions against Russia, maintained trade and economic relations with our country and refused military assistance to Ukraine.

The West doesn't like it.

• President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili

• RIA News

Andrey Areshev

There are such laws in many countries.

It exists both in the United States and in Russia.

For Georgia, it is relevant.

It affects a fairly serious group of people who are associated with the so-called non-governmental organizations.

It is quite understandable that they are extremely sensitive to this issue and are ready to protest at the first call if they consider that there is at least some ephemeral danger for them and their free activities.

— Are there many organizations in Georgia that fall under the definition of “foreign agent”?

Head of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences Leonid Vardomsky

- There are a lot of such foreign agents in Georgia: the press, television - everything is under the control of the West.

The bill was supposed to make the expenses and incomes of non-governmental organizations more transparent.

But these NGOs do not want to be controlled.

This is the essence of the conflict.

— Who do you think can be behind the protests in Georgia and who benefits from them?

Andrey Suzdaltsev

- The current leadership in the country can be called legitimate - it was formed as a result of elections.

It should be noted that it adheres to anti-Russian views.

They shout that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are occupied.

We actually do not have diplomatic relations with Georgia now.

As a result, the current pro-Western government of Georgia is trying to remove the same pro-Western politicians.

“Good” guys, in the understanding of the West, are trying to overthrow even more “good” guys.

They are trying to use the methods of "Euromaidan" against the Georgian authorities.

External forces, in particular Washington, do not even hide this.

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- What parties and forces organize protests in Georgia?

Who opposes them and what is the balance of power between them?

Leonid Vardomsky

- The main role in this is played by political parties that are supported by Western countries.

Directly or through an NGO, it doesn't matter.

Naturally, they will protect the interests of their sponsors, who are located outside of Georgia.

The ruling party also receives some fees from abroad, but it is less radical.

I believe that the positions of the authorities in Georgia now look stronger.

- What are the consequences of the protests in Georgia?

Andrey Suzdaltsev

- Protests can lead to a change of government in the spirit of the Ukrainian “Euromaidan”.

Success will depend only on the amount of money that the West will invest in it.

Moreover, there will be not only investments in the opposition, but also an attempt to buy the current ruling regime.

- Will the Georgian authorities be able to resist a possible coup attempt?

Did they draw conclusions from the events in Ukraine?

Leonid Vardomsky

- For the "Maidan" we need more compelling reasons, provocative actions - executions, blood.

As long as this is not the case, the government will not be able to move.

The main forces of the opposition, which are in Tbilisi, will not be enough for this.

And most of the population does not want to be drawn into wars and confrontations.

— The bill on foreign agents was withdrawn from the Georgian Parliament.

Will this help resolve the situation?

Andrey Suzdaltsev

- The withdrawal of the bill will not be able to influence the developing events in any way.

It was just a pretext for protests.

There are specific customers of these actions who do not even hide it.

Their goal is to sever relations with Russia.

Now there will be hints that ideal circumstances have developed in order to return by military means the regions lost to Tbilisi - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia will be pushed to open a second front against Russia in the Caucasus, and to help finally isolate Armenia from Russia.

Andrey Areshev

- There can be a variety of scenarios.

It depends on the intensity of the protests and whether they move into a more extreme phase.

We see that there are quite a lot of people running around under Ukrainian flags, and this indicates that the situation may become radicalized.

Moreover, radicalize at the behest of foreign puppeteers.

We see that Zelensky has already supported the Georgian protesters.

By and large, everything will depend on whether the West considers the goals of the riots achieved or whether they continue to put pressure on them.

Much will depend on the endurance and composure of the Georgian government, which adheres to a pragmatic position in relations with Ukraine and Russia.

External forces are now trying to exacerbate relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, given the well-known unresolved issues between the two countries.

It is difficult to say how much they will raise the degree and how far they will go.

Scenarios can be different, including the most severe ones.