Inner work?
Some Georgians fear the foreign agents law could be used to stifle critical voices ahead of October’s parliamentary elections, in which Georgian Dream will seek a fifth term.
“The government wants to stay in power and has therefore stepped up its efforts to silence critical voices, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They call journalists enemies of the people, that’s how they want society to perceive us,” said journalist Lika Zakachvili, co-founder of the independent online publication Publika, who was among the protesters this week and l ‘last year.
If the bill passes, Zakashvili’s media outlet, which is almost entirely funded by foreign donors, would not only be presented as an agent: the government would also be able to carry out impromptu checks and access data personal information of journalists.
Others say these plans are part of a much broader shift in Georgia’s international positioning.
“It looks like they are sabotaging Georgia’s European aspirations,” said Kornely Kakachia, director of the Georgian Institute of Politics. According to him, the government is unwilling to follow through on key EU demands regarding the accession process, such as judicial reform and reducing the influence of its wealthy donors, because this could weaken their hold on power.
To distract from this reality, Kakachia argued, the ruling party is trying to draw Brussels into a debate on sovereignty, foreign influence and LGBTQ+ rights, topics that he believes will resonate with the voters.
Politices
