Georgia goes to Russia: how to prevent Putin's appearance of another ally

Politically, Georgia is becoming more and more like Russia, warning an expert from this country, political scientist Laura Thornton in a column for Politico. The event needs to do something - otherwise Putin will receive another external ally. Last week, my husband and I woke up from the messages from my stepson about how Omon used tear gas during Tbilisi protests.

He and many others went out on the street every night for two weeks, peacefully expressing his disagreement with the new law on foreign agents, which was pushed through the Parliament by the Governmental Party of the Georgian Dream (GM), while opposition deputies were expelled from Parliament.

This law is largely repeated by the Russian law on foreign agents, which significantly restricted the organization of civil society receiving money from the US and Europe, calling them "foreign agents", even if their work has a charitable, developmental or educational nature.

In addition to such a label, the law will enable the government to investigate, access personal data, require detailed reporting and impose restrictions, penalties and prison terms on the media and public groups that are considered not compliant.

An important point here is that the law specifically defines countries that have historically been Western allies and friends of Georgia, as opponents, at the same time, in particular, Russia is not mentioned - a country that physically occupies a quarter of Georgia, which makes creeping occupation and constantly detrimental influence on the policy of the country and people through financial, technological and misinformation operations.

The Georgia government made it clear that it changed the script, changing their friends and enemies. That is why my stepson and many other Georgians who are hotly believe that their country's future depends on the EU and NATO, went outside. This is the second attempt of the Georgian government to pass this law - and this time it is determined to finish the case. Last March, the same law was met with the same fury as today.

But at that time, the status of a candidate in the EU hung before the GM government as an attractive gingerbread. Faced with a sharp condemnation by the EU, the USA, the European Court of Human Rights and the Public, the government has retreated. But though later, Georgia was awarded the EU candidacy, it was clear - as I wrote then - that it was not the end.

Immediately after the GM government abolished the law, the then party chairman and current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that protests were a "liberal fascist campaign", managed by "LGBTK-Propaganda". Meanwhile, then Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili accused civil society of being "anarchists" who fulfill the desire of the "Global War Party", referring to the US and EU member states. But two things in 2023 were different from today. First, now the year of elections.

And, like ambitious autocrats around the world, the GM government understands that the supervision that civil society organizations are being carried out, especially by observing elections, can expose violations and undermine the legitimacy of their possible victory. The new law will help to negate these efforts.

Secondly, although the GM government has been inconsistent in its foreign policy messages for many years, I believe that he finally chose his trajectory-and it is not directed to the West. EU membership is far away, and the reforms required for membership can also jeopardize the party's control over the authorities.

Truly free and fair elections, impartial judicial system, rule of law, strong and free civil society and media, clear distinction between civil servants and political appointments, protection of marginalized communities, as well as transparent and accountable forces To be part of the playing field, which will continue to bring the parties to victory. As one deputy from the ruling party said clearly: "EU is not the main" and Georgia should not join the immoral body.

Meanwhile, Kobakhidze Prime Minister, in fact, called the United States an enemy and a liar, saying that they made two "revolutions" in Georgia. It is noteworthy that it is similar to the Kremlin line, which accuses the West of the Protests, at the same time the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev suggested that this was involved in the "famous Hollywood hand". Georgia is a warning story that many of us have shouted for many years, but it has been out of sight.

Those who worked as practices of democracy around the world know the warning signs of decline, and we noted Georgia in this sense ten years ago. Illiberalism is a gate to autocracy, and as we saw in the example of Hungary and Poland, Turkey and India, this program has a clear first step.

For example, by declaring the war of the LGBTK+ community and covering these attacks with the words "preserving religion" and "tradition", Georgia secured heterosexual marriages in its 2016 Constitution - it was a pure communication, since single -sex marriages were already illegal by law.

The following are attempts to displace women from public life with the help of many sexual threats, which are often carried out by state security or police, as well as measures to decriminalize domestic violence. For example, the publication of video recordings of personal life of women leaders and activists is an effective tactics of displacing women from the public sphere-and Georgia has surpassed itself in this field.

Then there are attacks on immigrants and colored people, which in the case of Georgia include Turks, Muslims and ethnic Azerbaijanis. All this is intended to confirm the traditional hierarchy, in which there are privileged white Orthodox men who possess the greatest power. The authoritarian scenario also includes attacks on independent media, civil society and independent institutions that serve as a restraining factor for the government.

Again, Georgia has succeeded here, using punitive measures against the media, and now adopting this law on foreign agents. This trajectory will be difficult to turn back. Georgia has already jumped into the Conservative Conference of Political Action (CPAC), joining the Prime Minister of Hungary Victor Orban and other European pets of anti-liberalism.

Kobakhidze performed at the CPAC in Hungary only last month, appreciating the Orban leadership, stating that the Liberals needed to beat the sledgehammer, demanded to put an end to the "Propaganda LGBTK" and accused throughout the United States and Europe. In response, the US and the EU should be careful not to achieve what the GM government wants. Reducing assistance - especially civil society - can lead to the closure of important democratic organizations on the ground.

Most likely, it is necessary to consider the possibility of surgical reduction of the powers of the Georgian government, conducting joint exercises and other bilateral support. In addition, sanctions against lawmakers and government leaders who support this law, as well as against the former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Russian oligarch, which continues to remain a force behind the ruling party, are needed.