The United States has expressed concern about a new bill regarding foreign investment proposed in Georgia, where a democratic backslide will be imminent should the bill pass in Parliament. The Caucasus nation has recently experienced some of the largest peaceful protests, as the bill has passed two readings and is now set for final adoption on May 13. Many foreign partners have joined Washington in renouncing the proposed legislation, which would classify organizations that receive at least 20% of their funding from abroad as “agents of foreign influence.” Mass demonstrations in the streets of Tbilisi have occurred in opposition to the bill, dubbed “the Russian Law,” in a nod to how Vladimir Putin shuts down political opposition.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan took to X, formerly Twitter, to express Washington’s position on the developments in Georgia. Sullivan wrote that the U.S. government is “deeply alarmed about democratic backsliding in Georgia.” Sullivan noted the public protests and made the comparison with Russia, acknowledging the key decision between “the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations” or the passage of “a Kremlin-style foreign agents’ law that runs counter to democratic values.” Bidzina Ivanisvhili, a politician and oligarch leader of the Georgian Dream party that proposed the new bill, said the law would promote transparency and national sovereignty.
The proposed legislation aims to increase governmental control over non-governmental organizations (NGOs), restricting their operations and limiting foreign funding. This move will undoubtedly undermine Georgian civil society’s independence and stifle dissent, reminiscent of tactics seen in many authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Georgians and outside Western influences fear that such measures, if enacted, will further entrench political power and erode the democratic gains made since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. Georgia has been trying to join the E.U. for many years, being granted candidate status in late 2023. However, it is clear that potential Russian retaliation for this move is striking fear into certain politicians and parties like the Georgian Dream.
Despite moving towards joining the E.U., Georgia has also pursued increased relations with the E.U. and United States’ international rivals, namely China, which has increased its economic and political influence in Tbilisi and the greater Black Sea region. The future of Georgian development will be of great interest, as great powers could pull it in three separate directions. Russia will attempt to continue its historical control and influence, while China will attempt to develop Georgia through the Belt & Road Initiative to serve its own aims. And, of course, should Georgia join the E.U., it will have to make major changes and align its foreign and security policies with those of Brussels.
The proposed foreign agent bill in Georgia has ignited significant alarm both domestically and internationally, with the United States and other Western nations expressing deep concern over its implications for democracy in the region. This legislative move by the Georgian Dream Party is viewed as a step towards increased governmental control and regression from democratic principles. As Georgia stands at a crossroads between aligning with Euro-Atlantic values, succumbing to Russian influence, or engaging further with China, its future trajectory remains uncertain.
- France Supports Morocco As Tensions Grow In North Africa - October 26, 2024
- Brazil And France Team Up For New Submarine - October 26, 2024
- Namibia, A Leader In Advancing L.G.B.T.Q. Rights Across Africa - October 8, 2024