Lecturer of Tbilisi University: Russia is trying to swallow our country completely

Non-governmental organizations disrupt authoritarian and repressive regimes. They help different groups of society, help protect such basic values ​​as the rule of law and freedom. Civil society is particularly important in Georgia.

Independence was restored in Georgia a month before Latvia – on April 9, 1991. The role of non-governmental organizations in the country could be seen very soon. The Rose Revolution of 2003, which led to the resignation of President Eduards Shavarnadze, is considered one of the brightest examples of the ability of independent organizations to influence political processes in Georgia.

Currently, around 10,000 non-governmental organizations were operating in Georgia. Often their viability depends on foreign investment, restricting them would be fatal for civil society.

Last spring, the Georgian parliament was about to adopt the so-called law on foreign agents. It provided: if at least 20% of the organization’s funding comes from abroad, it must register as a foreign agent. Local activists and democracy advocates called it Russian law.

Lasha Sakulashvili

Lecturer at Tbilisi University

“The law is all Russia needs to demonize us. For example, Article 8 provides for a whistle-blowing mechanism. Basically, this means that any person can complain about me to the Ministry of Justice, saying that I am not doing something or that I am behaving suspiciously. The same article states that the Ministry can invade my personal or my organization’s privacy and suspend operations until the issues are resolved. Also, the law allows them to get absolutely all my personal information, as well as about the people I work with.”

The law is copied from Russia, which started the fight with the non-state sector in 2012. 12 years later, power has won. Media, non-governmental organizations and individuals who do not agree with Putin’s course have fled Russia and found refuge in other countries. Some have found refuge in the Baltics, but a large part have moved to Georgia.

When the ruling coalition party “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” tried to approve the law last March, mass protests began. Hundreds of thousands of Georgians flooded the streets of Tbilisi demanding the withdrawal of the bill. Parliament relented and it was promised that such a law would not appear on the agenda again.

Lasha Sakulashvili

Lecturer at Tbilisi University

“In the same year, the government took a rather bad foreign policy course. Direct flights to Russia were resumed. I can’t tell you how much people are against the many direct flights to Russian cities. Suddenly, Putin announced a visa-free regime with Georgia. […] They are trying to swallow our country whole. The main reason for the introduction of the visa-free regime and the resumption of direct flights is Georgia’s approach to the European Union.”

Now, with minimal changes, the law has reappeared in parliament. In its title, the term “foreign agents” has been replaced by “foreign influence”.

Since April 15, the streets of Tbilisi have been flooded by streams of protesters almost every night. Crowds can be seen in the streets until dawn. Residents form support groups so that residents of more remote regions can also get to the capital. Protesters help each other, offer accommodation, distribute protective equipment such as glasses and masks, even look after children so that as many active citizens as possible can attend the protests.

Giorgis Loladze

Georgian journalist

“We fear that the government will use this law to further restrict and oppress us. I represent the media “Realpolitika” and part of our funding comes from foreign donors. And that’s why people protest. The reason for the protests is not only this law, but the fact that, in my opinion, the government is changing Georgia’s foreign policy. We hear more and more pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian statements from them.”

The government is trying to suppress the protesters using violence, tear gas and even water cannons.

Salome Gasviani

Activist

“People stop their cars in the middle of the street and join the protests with their children, spouses, friends, family. To be honest, I have never seen Georgians so united. I think these protests are much stronger than they were before.”

The Euro-Atlantic course in Georgia is constitutionally established. In 2017, the constitution included an article that the government and parliament must implement policies so that the country can join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Georgia has been part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative for a long time, its soldiers have participated in various NATO missions.

Maris Riekstins

Ambassador of Latvia to NATO

“I cannot deny that the developments in Georgia in recent months raise a lot of questions. These issues are also clearly expressed to the representatives of Georgia, with whom there is a constant dialogue within NATO. With Georgia, an annual program is approved every year, which defines the main goals and priorities of the reforms, and every year it is evaluated how the implementation of these reforms went. It is a little sad that now it looks like Georgia is sending signals that call into question Georgia’s real desire to join the North Atlantic Alliance.”

David McAllister

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament

“If the law is approved, it will threaten Georgia’s progress along the path of the European Union. We call on the Georgian government to withdraw the bill and focus on the necessary reforms to join the European Union and NATO.”