INTERNATIONAL – Lunar scene at the Georgian Parliament. At the beginning of April, the ruling party in Georgia, the Georgian Dream, announced the return of a particularly controversial bill around the notion of“foreign agents”. Enough to lead to a heated debate in Parliament, where several deputies came to blows this Monday, April 15, as you can see in our video at the top of the article.
Despite large-scale protests which caused power to cede last year by denouncing a bill inspired by Russian legislation (aimed at constraining critics of the power in place), the Georgian Dream has put the question back on the table. agenda of the day’s debates in Tbilisi.
An opposition lawmaker did not hesitate to punch a Georgian Dream lawmaker (and co-drafter of the bill) in the face. A confused scene which turned into a general brawl in Parliament. The live broadcast of the parliamentary session was also interrupted to avoid the broadcast of violent images.
But the tension already seemed very present in the morning. Dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the Georgian Parliament to unfurl a large European Union flag as a sign of protest against this law deemed pro-Russian. The use of the EU flag was mainly intended to remind members of the ruling party that Georgia aims to join the EU in the near future.
And a sign that anger is still strong among critics of the project aimed at persecuting dissident voices, another rally is planned for the evening, in the Georgian capital.
Rification with the EU or with Russia?
In this Caucasian country, the divide is now clearly visible between the ambition to deepen relations with the West and the ambitions of the ruling party, accused of wanting to get closer to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Because this text would force organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register under the infamous label of“organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power”, under penalty of fines. This label was also modified after the widespread discontent of 2023, because it was initially presented as “ agent of foreign influence.”
With this law, the Georgian Dream seeks above all to force organizations to demonstrate greater “transparency” on their financing. Except that for NGOs and independent media, it is above all a tool of intimidation. As is already the case in Russia.
“The party keeps saying that it is leading Georgia towards the EU, but in fact it is sabotaging Georgia’s European path”, estimates political scientist Ghia Nodia for AFP. The European path is also supported by around 80% of the population, according to opinion polls, he says. Despite criticism from Brussels and its request to abandon the law, the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidzé, known for his anti-Western rhetoric, defends himself against any sabotage of the EU accession process.
A process which took a major step forward in December, when the EU granted it official status as a candidate for membership. The starry horizon is still far away for Georgia, which must carry out vast judicial and electoral reforms, not to mention the strengthening of press freedom and the reduction of the power of the oligarchs.
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