The Georgian Parliament is set to hold its final reading of the controversial bill “On the transparency of foreign influence” on Monday. Inspired by legislation from the Kremlin, which banned Russian opposition, the country has seen weeks of protests against the reform. Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of Tbilisi in opposition, fearing that the law will jeopardize their path towards EU accession and lead to an authoritarian government.
Georgian President Salomé Zurabishvili supports integration into the EU and opposes the law promoted by the Georgian Dream party, which has ties to Moscow. However, despite this support, tensions have risen as voting nears, with three opponents being attacked by unknown individuals last week.
As the committee studying the bill prepares for its final reading on Monday and a plenary session for a vote on Tuesday, opposition leaders plan to continue protesting if the bill is approved. They fear that it will lead to increased repression and limit freedom of expression. Georgian Dream is trying to consolidate power while balancing between EU integration and maintaining relations with Russia.
The party’s actions have sparked fears of greater authoritarianism, with accusations that it is using legal resources to stifle dissent. The European Union has approved negotiations with Georgia for integration, but concerns about human rights and democratic backsliding have raised questions about whether progress can be made towards achieving these goals. As Georgia navigates these challenges, it remains unclear what direction its future holds.
