The Republic of Georgia has been rocked by demonstrations for weeks over a proposed law that would require organizations that receive over 20% of their income from foreign sources to register as "foreign agents" or face severe fines. The law would apparently cover not only charitable organizations and media, but businesses that export products from Georgia. It mirrors a law in Russia that war criminal Vladimir Putin has used to intimidate its citizens and stifle dissent. The demonstrations have also called for Georgia to join the European Union, a direct rejection of Russia's influence over them and their government. From the linked article:
"Georgia’s government tried to pass the same law last year, but was forced into an embarrassing climbdown after a week of intense protests, which saw citizens waving EU flags buffeted back by water cannons. In a move widely seen as an effort to reward Georgia’s citizens – of whom about 80% support joining the bloc – and reverse the country’s drift towards Russia, the EU granted it candidate status in December."
Georgia's government has employed brutal police crackdowns and suppression of demonstrations as the bill moves through their process.
There are echoes of Ukraine's popular EuroMaidan uprising a decade ago in which pro-Russian puppet Viktor Yanukovych was forced into exile in Russia and a new democratic government took over. Not long after, Putin invaded Ukrainian Crimea. Putin is no doubt watching Georgia's government and any signs of a move toward the democratic West, which would be contrary to his imperialist plans. Stay tuned.
(photo: Pro-democracy demonstrators outside of Georgia's parliament. Vano Shlamov / AFP / Getty Images)
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