By Dea Bakashvili, MDI YoCoJoin project participant
In Georgia, the pro-European population is fighting for their human rights while a corrupt government seeks to align with Russia, blocking the country’s path to EU membership. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, enforces highly restrictive laws that threaten Georgia’s chances of joining the EU, causing massive protest outbreaks led by the youth, who advocate for European future. This year, for the first time in the history of independent Georgia, voting in the parliamentary elections was fully proportional and parties will have to receive five percent of the vote to be allocated seats. It has fostered opposition parties to form coalition lists.
Georgia is a country in the South Caucasus. It lies at the eastern side of the Black Sea, at the interface of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It borders on Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Twenty percent of the country is occupied by Russia and creeping occupation continues to causing the gradual loss of several border-villages over time.
Georgia spent more than 70 years under Soviet rule before declaring independence in 1991. This marked the beginning of a continuous struggle to build democracy from scratch, following the destructive influence of the USSR, leaving the lasting impact on the national identity and political landscape of Georgia and its people.
Prior to Soviet occupation, Georgia had progressive policies, including being one of the first countries to grant women the right to vote and electing the first Muslim woman to parliament, representing ethnic minorities.
Tensions with Russia have always been an unresolved issue. In 2008 Russia invaded Georgia , which resulted in Russia occupying on fifth of Georgia’s territory. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both occupied regions that Georgia and the majority of the international community still consider part of Georgian territory.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 heightened tensions and empathy in Georgia. Most Georgians, knowing firsthand the consequences of Russian aggression, have supported Ukraine through protests. While the pro-Russian ruling party, Georgian Dream, is still avoiding to address Russia’s intentions or the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, European leaders opened EU membership talks with Ukraine, and discussions about Georgia-EU relations moved to the frontline, resulting in Georgia being granted EU candidacy status with nine remaining recommendations yet to be fulfilled. However, the pro-Russian ruling party in Georgia – Georgian Dream – is taking democracy-threatening steps to avoid joining the EU.
A choice between autonomy or russian control?
The ongoing acts of aggression from Russia is still current. Following the massive protests in Georgia in the spring of 2024, Russian forces have been kidnapping individuals from border villages, intended to intimidate the Georgian population aiming to distance them from pursuing closer ties with the West. Such tactics reflect the broader strategy of using fear to maintain influence over Georgia and discourage its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Due to Georgia’s illegitimate parliamentary elections and “complete falsified” results, president Salome Zourabichvili urged Georgia’s international partners “to protect Georgia by standing with the people, not an illegitimate government”.
In her speech at the press conference on 27th of October after election results were published, Ms. President said “Recognition of these elections is the same as legitimizing Russia’s take over here…We were not just witnesses but also victims of what can only be described as a Russian special operation – a new form of hybrid warfare waged against our people and our country”
Ms. Zourabishvili along with all the opposition parties and coalitions calls for urgent protests on 28th of October, Monday evening on the capital’s main street, Rustaveli Avenue to “Peacefully defend every vote and most importantly our future”.
“No one has the right to take your (Georgian people’s) European choice away from you… We’ve seen the massive falsification of the results by Georgian Dream using all the possible ways to take your votes away. New voting technology has been used to justify the unjustifiable, you have been stripped off your constitutional right to vote, our immigrants – who have suffered the results of unopened electoral districts abroad, and not only… I’m grateful to our foreign partners who have documented the massive violations that took place”.
Nastasia Arabuli is an award-winning journalist at Radio Liberty’s Tbilisi service, recently recognized with the 2024 Free Media Award. Through her reporting, she has exposed the impact of political power structures in Georgia, offering insights that resonate with audiences across Radio Liberty. Radio Liberty, is an international media organization, delivering news, information, and analysis to audiences in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Arabuli is currently leading a significant series of in-depth interviews with political leaders, activists, and civil society representatives due to Georgia’s parliamentary elections.
Observation by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) says:
“On the elections day, ISFED documented serious violations, such as multiple voting, ballot stuffing of ballot papers, unprecedented level of bribery, expulsions of observers, as well as mobilizing voters outside polling stations, collecting their personal data, and controlling their voting intentions”.
At the briefing on 27th of October, opposition party “Coalition for Change”, Nika Gvaramia and Nana Malashkhia said that they “do not recognize the results of the elections and refuse parliamentary mandates”. While the coalition “Strong Georgia” and “Unity National Movement” are urging that the “election results are illegitimate.”
Arbuli, before the outcomes of 2024 elections, said that “In Georgia, there is a clear fear of war, rooted in past traumas and a realistic understanding of current threats, which has only intensified since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. What Georgian Dream does with this fear, however, is deeply offensive and goes against Georgian traditions and culture. The way they cultivate this fear and push the narrative that people must simply accept evil as inevitable feels completely unnatural to Georgian society. It’s a cheap, poorly constructed propaganda campaign, and unfortunately, there isn’t enough meaningful discussion about the dangers of normalizing relations with the occupier or pursuing a so-called conditional peace.”
“In my opinion, while we witness the ongoing destruction of places like Gelati Monastery and the continuous abductions, kidnaps near the occupation line, the government should be actively countering these harmful narratives. Sadly, neither civil society, the opposition, nor the media are making enough effort to expose the damaging impact of this messaging.”
A political culture of corruption
Georgia’s political culture has always been very vulnerable to corruption and the country suffers of the effects of the widespread corruption on almost all levels of society. Which makes it very difficult for journalists and organizations scrutinizing government to investigate the government’s excesses. According to Nastasia Arbuli, it’s “nearly impossible to conduct an effective investigation into government officials or those serving within the system.”
She says: “I cannot recall a single high-profile case of high-level corruption where the state has shown the ability to conduct a thorough and effective investigation to uncover the truth. The newly established anti-corruption bureau seems to be following the same ineffective practices as the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Special Investigation Service. The lack of judicial independence, combined with politically controlled investigative structures, makes it almost impossible to properly investigate both elite corruption and official crimes. Instead of focusing on improving and reforming these systems, Georgian Dream invests its efforts in crafting legal frameworks that allow illegal actions to appear lawful.”
While the majority of Georgians are critical of the corrupt government and its dependence on Russia – According to the United Association of Georgia and a survey by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC), 82% of the Georgian population supports the country joining the European Union, with this number rising to 93% among those aged 18-34. Georgian youth are at the main actors of protests, advocating for EU membership. In contrast, only 48% of people aged 55 and older share this sentiment. The youth are diverse in their activism, with various voices and communities represented in these movements – Georgian Dream has other plans for the country, using its power to maintain Georgia as a satellite state of Russia. It has changed its political strategy by getting closer and closer to USSR system.
Appointing non-political figures such as athletes and Olympic champions to political positions was a well-used tactic in the Soviet Union and remains so in contemporary Russia. It is a common populist strategy that aims to leverage the popularity and public trust these individuals have gained. The conflict happens because of Russia’s ongoing aggression and interest toward Georgia, especially after Russia’s invasion and occupation of 20% of Georgian territory in 2008, followed by the fear-driven tactics as a part of a larger strategy to keep Georgia under Russian influence and away from its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Complicating matters, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s shadow ruler, has business interests in Russia and close ties to the Russian elite.
Foreign agents
Georgian Dream is changing legislation at a rapid pace. In March 2023, parliament – despite the president’s veto – approved the controversial Foreign Agents Law, which labels NGOs and media receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad as “foreign influencers,” putting their lives at risk. When this law was first proposed, it quickly attracted widespread international criticism and triggered some of the largest peaceful protests in the country’s recent history. People regardless of age, gender, religion, sexuality, or beliefs came out to the streets to oppose the law. However, the government’s handling of the protests has been marked by violence and repression. There have been numerous reports of unjustified police violence abusing demonstrators. Police have frequently used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray to disperse the overwhelmingly nonviolent protesters. On the night of April 30, just before the bill’s second reading, there were credible reports of police using rubber bullets. Human Rights Watch documented cases where individuals, including a 17-year-old high school student, were beaten by police. These individuals were charged with disobedience or petty hooliganism and detained, facing potential trials if the charges are not dropped.
One of the main aspects of the protests was the active participation of youth. Despite a 2020 IRI Survey showing that over 400,000 young Georgians were disengaged from politics due to nihilism fostered by government actions, the proposed law caused a significant youth movement. Students and younger generations, who had previously been politically apathetic, emerged as powerful. The widespread protests reflected a common value: a rejection of Russian influence and a strong desire to align with European Union values.
Nestan Ananidze is a lawyer and young activist of the “Solidarity Community” NGO based in Adjara, western Georgia. Solidarity Community works on social and civic engagement, supports the self-organization of the local Muslim community and actively promotes solidarity practices on the local level. Focused on empowering marginalized groups, Nestan, along her team members works with women, youth, Muslim population, and the LGBTQI+ community in Adjara, aiming to build an inclusive society through active involvement and advocacy.
“This initiative (the Foreign Agents Law, red.) is clearly a part of the propaganda strategy employed by the Georgian Dream party”, says Nestan Ananidze. “Their goal appears to be to convince the Georgian public that grants received from Western countries are inherently aimed at influencing Georgia’s sovereignty. By offering state funding, they claim to address this so-called “problem” while attempting to undermine and diminish the effectiveness of critical civil organizations.”
Georgian government announced a new governmental grant program for NGOs that serve the “Georgian Nation’s Purpose,” explicitly excluding organizations involved in promoting LGBTQI+ rights, criticizing religious identity, or opposing strategic economic developments.
Ananidze: “In the context of Georgia, independent non-governmental organizations primarily operate on the basis of grants. Accepting state funding directly contradicts the core principles of independent NGOs and poses a significant risk, especially in a country with a fragile democratic framework. This funding model could lead to increased government control over the activities and agendas of NGOs.”
The “Foreign Agents Law” has caused significant student movements, with over 200,000 people taking to the streets. Protests were mostly organized by the majority of students from different universities. It is similar to a law implemented in Russia in 2012, which has led to severe restrictions on non-governmental organizations and their employees, cracking down independent civil society and opposition by jailing those who disagree.
Keti Tsotniashvili is an Associate Professor at Ilia State University and a former head of the Authorization Division. A passionate advocate for education and democracy, she co-founded the movement “Georgian Education is in Danger” alongside fellow professors and educators, responding to the country’s shifting geopolitical course and rising violence.
“This Law is particularly threatening in terms of safeguarding research ethics. It undermines the protection of research participants’ anonymity, confidentiality, and personal data, jeopardizing implementation of various research projects and international collaborations, ultimately damaging the reputation of Georgia’s academic system and potentially isolating it internationally—an outcome that would negatively impact not only Georgian universities but also prominent universities worldwide.” – says Keti.
The response from the ruling party, Georgian Dream was not peaceful at all. These protests were being smashed down with hard measures: intimidation, violence against activists, freezing (international) funding, imprisoning people and by all that establishing total control. During that time, government has been afraid by the scale of the demonstrations, temporarily put the law on hold and promised not to bring it up again. However, by 2024, the party returned, better prepared and more determined.
New laws, more repression
Other bills followed very quickly. Amongst them two others stand out: with the Anti-LGBTQI+ legislation the government aims to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals and impose restrictions on assembly and expression, which is the total opposite of the European values. The “Offshore Law” allows oligarchs like Bidzina Ivanishvili to flow their wealth into Georgia tax-free, further consolidating his shadowy control over the country.
“Civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are generally weaker in Georgia’s regions, with most strong organizations concentrated in the capital, Tbilisi”, says Nestan Ananidze “For civil organizations already struggling to develop in the regions, the adoption of the so-called “Russian law” and Anti-LGBTQI+ is especially damaging, particularly for those working on the legal status of vulnerable groups. Solidarity Community focuses on supporting groups that have little societal backing: religious and sexual minorities, rural women, and youth. In addition to the “Foreign Agents” law, Georgian Dream has passed the “Law on Protection of Family Values,” which severely limits our ability to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.
“The Georgian government is working to foster negative perceptions of NGOs, aiming to reduce public cooperation with us and unfortunately, this strategy is proving effective”, Ananidze continues. “Donor funding opportunities have also diminished, and staff members within our organization are increasingly experiencing job insecurity, which impedes their ability to work effectively… If Georgian Dream wins, we fully expect the enforcement of the laws to intensify. Ultimately, this could force many civil organizations, particularly those advocating for the rights of vulnerable groups, to cease their operations.”
Despite the nearly 200,000 protesters taking to the streets 15 April – 5 June 2023 (the second round) the government moved forward, approving the law along with other controversial restrictions, besides the Georgian president’s, Salome Zourabichvili, veto against it.
“Organizations that work to promote community unity, inclusiveness, and human rights are seen as threats to the government’s narrative, as they weaken the government’s propaganda”, says Ananidze. “This is why, even before the law was adopted, they attempted to disrupt the work of civil organizations in various ways. When those efforts failed, they resorted to enacting laws such as the “Russian law” on “foreign agents” and the “Law on Protection of Family Values,” along with other legislative changes”
The ruling party’s conservative decisions on LGBTQI+ issues and efforts to discredit active protestors to the older, rural population have further polarized the nation. They argue the law is about transparency, falsely claiming that NGOs are wealthy and politically influential. The propaganda machine is working overtime. Across the capital of Georgia government propaganda posters feature active civil society figures threatening red mark scrawled across their faces. The captions accuse them of becoming profited by foreign money or trying to “sell out” the Georgian state.
Meanwhile, in the West
In the meantime, the European Union and the United States have openly condemned Georgia’s legislative decisions. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that if the government did not rescind the law the country would “not progress on the European Union path’ and the block would consider freezing financial aid to Tbilisi.
Following the parliamentary elections, the European Union has called on the Central Election Commission of Georgia and other relevant authorities to “swiftly, transparently, and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof”.
The preliminary findings from the OSCE’s International Election Observation Mission indicate that while election day was generally well-organized, it took place in a tense environment with frequent issues regarding vote secrecy and procedural inconsistencies. Reports of voter intimidation, particularly towards public sector employees, were common, raising concerns about voters’ ability to cast their votes freely. Additionally, observers noted an uneven playing field, a divisive campaign, and significant worries about the effects of recent legislative changes on the electoral process.
Regarding the destructive legislation, the United States announced sanctions, including travel bans, against dozens of Georgian officials who supported the legislation. “These actions risk derailing Georgia’s European future and run counter to the Georgian constitution and the wishes of its people,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on June 7.
Although Georgian president Salome Zoerabisjvili has attempted to veto controversial parliamentary decisions, these have been overridden. Despite this, she continued to engage with young people in the presidential palace, even when the government sometimes sent violent groups to disrupt these gatherings. Ms. Zourabishvili openly criticized Georgian Dream, stating that it was more aligned with “the Russian Dream” rather than Georgia’s future. In 2023, the government attempted to impeach her, but the process failed. Recently, the ruling Georgian Dream party has announced new impeachment proceedings, accusing her of making official visits abroad without government approval. The president continuous active engagement with international actors, voicing opposition to the ruling party, and seeking to ensure that the EU continues to support Georgian democracy and the will of its people.
On the international front, the EU has frozen 121 million euros in aid due to Georgia’s democratic setback, and discussions about suspending visa-free travel for Georgian citizens are underway. Additionally, members of the ruling party who supported these laws have been sanctioned and banned from entering European countries. Emigration has surged, with 205,857 people leaving the country since 2023, out of a population of just 3.6 million.
Meaning that the consequences of this law could indeed lead the Western sanctions, which are already imposed to Ivanishvili and his team, and consequently, the isolation of entire country if no success comes out of the massive resistance after the massive falsification of the results of the elections.
No backing down
Since the legislation went into effect, several NGOs have been forced to shut down, and those that don’t register under the “Foreign Agents Law” face fines of 25,000 GEL, equaling 8500 Euro and are forced registration. Youth activists are being imprisoned, beaten, and threatened by government-backed groups, with warnings left at their homes. Despite this, the youth and active professors refuse to back down, continuing their activism and writing a new chapter in Georgia’s history.
“We, a group of professors and doctoral students, initiated the movement “Georgian Education Under Threat” in response to the country’s divergence from its European geopolitical path and the introduction of the so-called Russian/Agents Law last spring”, says Keti Tsotniashvili. “We viewed these political developments as attempts to exert total control over every social sphere, including academia, which constitutes a direct attack on academic freedom and university autonomy. Furthermore, authoritarian tendencies in the higher education sector were increasingly reflected in various statements by high-ranking officials and governmental institutions, including the national education quality assurance agency, further suppressing an already struggling academic system. This system has faced years of inconsistent policies, underfunding, and repeated governmental efforts to control it, trapping it in a constant state of transition.”
Two days before the start of the new academic year, the authorization process for Ilia State University came up with an unexpected decision. Besides the high-level European expert’s decision about giving Ilia State University authorization, due to full compliance across all standards, government decided to halt and “delay” final decision of University’s future after elections.
Tsotniashvili: “Besides full compliance across all standards, unexpectedly, the council announced that the university’s authorization was granted with the condition of monitoring after one year, without providing any explanation or justification for this decision. I must emphasize that the unfair decision made by the Authorization Council regarding the Ilia State University reveals a broader systemic issue and the malfunctioning of the national quality assurance system. Rather than serving its primary goal of enhancing educational quality, the system is being used to impose political and, at times, private business interests.”
Normalizing hate speech and violence
Alongside restricting personal and family life for LGBTQI+ individuals, homophobic legislation also includes provisions for censorship and restrictions on assembly and expression. The law says:
“Public assemblies that promote same-sex families or intimate relationships, incest, adoption or foster care of minors by same-sex couples or non-heterosexual individuals, also, medical interventions related to sex change, or non-use of gender specific terms, shall be prohibited”.
Just a day after the LGBTQI+ law was passed on September 17th,2024 a tragedy occurred on September 18th when Kesaria Abramidze, the first-ever openly transgender woman in Georgia, was murdered in her home on Avtandili Street, Tbilisi, by her boyfriend who is a government employee involved in beating protesters during previous marches. This crime fueled further chaos and reinforced the government’s tightening control. “Just like with media freedom, the rights of minorities in Georgia have never been fully protected,” says Nastasia Arabuli. “However, the current situation is even more shocking when compared to the past. The government openly uses offensive language against LGBTQI+ people and their human rights defenders. They attempt to stigmatize actions by associating them with Pride events and pushing a homophobic narrative. Through legislation, they are now normalizing hate speech and violence in society.”
In response, many people took to the streets, protesting the government’s propaganda, which they believe has created life-threatening conditions for the LGBTQI+ community. Protesters carried slogans such as “No to the fascist government and their laws,” “Don’t turn our tears into blood,” “Russian Georgian Dream Kills,” and “We will remember you, Kesaria.” Kesaria’s murder was not just a senseless killing but a wake-up call for those who underestimated the dangers posed by these laws. Unlike the government’s response, the Georgian society became more united and determined to fight back, standing up to defend everyone against this oppressive system.
But the protests and persistence to fight back come with a price for the activists and advocates. A member of my family received a threatening phone call in the middle of the night, warning that serious harm would come to my family if I did not stop my activism”, says Nestan Ananidze. “Fortunately, my family member recorded the call, and I reported the incident to the prosecutor’s office and relevant investigative bodies. However, to this day, no real investigation into the case has begun.”
“So as an individual activist, I no longer feel that there is a safe space for me to work in Georgia, which has severely impacted both my personal and professional life. My open and direct criticism of the current government has made it particularly challenging to operate.”
Additionally, it must be noted that alongside the proposed legislative changes, the ruling party is conducting public discussions on constitutional changes “On the Protection of Family Values and Minors” in various regions of Georgia. The government is trying to convince the public that without constitutional changes, the concepts of man and woman, gender, mother and father, and generally, Georgian identity, are under threat.
Big Money off shore
In the meantime, very destructive offshore laws are having huge impact on the country’s economy and this has not been seriously taken due to all the threats around. Gia Khukhashvili, Georgian political analyst, says:“In my view, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s main task was to pass the offshore law. In order to do that, attention needed to be diverted to something else. I believe that the losses from the offshore law are much greater than those from the “foreign agents” law. Ivanishvili is supposedly attracting foreign assets to Georgia right now. But civilized businesses have no motivation to switch from one offshore to another if there are no problems with the first one and everything is in order. Obviously, this proposal will only interest those who have issues with traditional offshore jurisdictions. For example, holders of illegal or disputed assets.”
“It’s hard for me to assess the effects of the offshore law due to the lack of concrete examples”, says Nastasia Arbuli “A few weeks ago, I attempted to find out which companies had taken advantage of this opportunity to relocate their business from offshore zones to Georgia, but I wasn’t able to obtain the information I requested from the state. Theoretically, we can argue that a country with decreasing foreign investment, no independent judiciary, and one that is distancing itself from the Western world, will face negative consequences after implementing such a law. However, I don’t believe that the country will enter a new stage of reputational damage or face new sanctions concerns, as both of these problems already existed, even before this law, due to the policies of the current Georgian government.”
Sharp decline in media freedom
NGO’s and human rights activists are not the only ones being targeted by the government. Independent media – the few that still exist in the country – are having a hard time to survive, especially since the installation of the Foreign Agents Law. “Unfortunately, freedom of speech and expression in Georgia has never been fully protected in practice”, says Nastasia Arabuli of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Today the organization is spread throughout Europe and the Middle East. The organization is based on touting the values of democracy and institutions, by spreading factual information and ideas. Sources often remain anonymous in reports given the consequences of cooperation with RFE. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is banned in some countries such as Iran and Uzbekistan, but reporters from the organization are also at risk of arrest in other countries. Reasons for the blocking include that RFE pays close attention to minority rights and is highly critical of the governments in question. “In recent years, we’ve witnessed a sharp decline in media freedom, with the government taking almost complete control of it”, says Arbuli. “There are many tools the authorities use to suppress free media—whether it’s making access to public information more difficult, refusing accountability, or simply ignoring the media’s important questions. We’ve also seen attacks on journalists.”
“As an independent journalist in Georgia, I don’t feel secure, and I don’t believe any of my colleagues do either”, says Arabuli. “There are dozens of unsolved cases of attacks on journalists, and now we have a “Foreign Agents” law that the government could enforce at any moment. This law could devastate independent media within just a few months. Additionally, there is a well-organized propaganda machine working to silence independent journalists. Unfortunately, even the mainstream media is not free from political influence, as much of it is funded by political money, leading to a general loss of public trust in the media.”
So what’s next?
“The outcome of the parliamentary elections will definitely impact the media landscape, freedom of speech, and the overall quality of democracy in Georgia”, says Arbuli. “If the elections do not bring about political change, we can already say that we are living in an authoritarian state.”
“As for Radio Liberty, we have not registered as Foreign Agents, and despite the turbulent political climate, we have no intention of stopping our work or changing our editorial policy. We will continue to uphold our mission, guided by professional ethics, conscience, and our responsibility to society, just as we have done so far. However, we have no illusions—we know it will be difficult to carry on with our plans in the face of a deteriorating democracy.”
Keti Tsotniashvili hopes that “The months of protest and struggle will lead to desirable outcome, resulting in change of the ruling political party and ensuring that Georgia remains committed to its path toward European integration. I expect that such an outcome should empower the academic community, strengthening the belief that our activism and collective efforts can truly make a difference.
However, “If we see a coalition government where no party achieves a constitutional majority, we anticipate the possibility of repealing harmful legislation, including the “Foreign Agents” law. This shift could enable civil organizations to operate more actively, particularly in advocating for minority rights and pursuing Georgia’s European integration within this new political context” says Nestan Ananidze.
This article is produced by a youth community journalist, supported by the YoCoJoin partnership. YoCoJoin received EU funding from Creative Europe.
Top pictures by Mirko Kuzmanovic; https://www.shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Media Diversity Institute. Any question or comment should be addressed to [email protected]
