Since late April, Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, has been shaken by a wave of protests in response to the new ‘foreign influence’ legislation.
The bill, mimicking Russia’s infamous law, would require any NGO or media organisation receiving foreign funding to register as a ‘foreign agent’, potentially hindering their ability function.
The turmoil comes after Georgia managed to secure EU candidate status based on its promise to commit to upholding democratic values and supporting media and civil society freedoms.
With an upcoming election in October 2024, this crisis may prove to be an inflection point: burying Georgia’s European ambitions or sinking the Georgian Dream ruling party.
Key questions:
- What is in the foreign agent law and how it will affect Georgian media and civil society?
- What have we learnt from how similar laws have been applied elsewhere?
- What would the law mean for Georgia’s European aspirations and its relations with the EU and other partners?
- Would the law bring Georgia closer to Russia?
- What levers can the EU and pro-democracy countries apply to protect media freedom and civic space in Georgia?
- What’s next? Where is this heading?
