Georgia in 2023 and 2024 witnessed large-scale civil unrest linked to the draft law on the transparency of foreign influence. The law required certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence." The subsequent events unfolded in a manner that captured global attention.
2023: Taking to the Streets
In March 2023, the Georgian Parliament passed the draft law in its first reading, which served as the trigger for mass protests. Thousands of people took to the streets of Tbilisi, carrying signs and slogans against the law, which many compared to similar legislation in Russia. The police used tear gas and water cannons, but the protests only grew larger. Under pressure from the public and the international community, the authorities were forced to withdraw the bill.
Georgia has found itself at the center of a political crisis that escalated after the adoption of controversial laws on "foreign agents."
These laws triggered mass protests and provoked sharp reactions both domestically and internationally.
The Laws on "Foreign Agents": Essence and Consequences
In March 2024, the Georgian Parliament, dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, approved draft laws on foreign agents. According to these laws:
Organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad are required to register as "foreign agents" and regularly submit reports on their activities.
Failure to comply with these requirements results in heavy fines and potential cessation of the organization's operations.
The government stated that the legislation aims to ensure transparency in the funding of civil and media organizations. However, the opposition and representatives of civil society viewed this as a threat to democratic freedoms and an attempt to restrict the work of independent media and NGOs. Many activists compared these laws to Russian foreign agent legislation, which is used to suppress opposition and civil initiatives.
Protests Against the Law
The adoption of the laws sparked a wave of outrage among Georgian society. Thousands of people took to the streets of Tbilisi, accusing the ruling party of anti-democratic actions and abandoning the country’s European development path. The main slogans of the protesters were "No to the Foreign Agent Law!", "Georgia is Europe!", and "Down with Autocracy!", "No to the Russian law!".
Protesters organized massive rallies near the Parliament building. Some demonstrations turned into clashes with the police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
International Reaction
The European Union, the United States, and international human rights organizations strongly condemned the adoption of the foreign agent laws.
An EU representative called this step "unacceptable for a country aspiring to be part of the European family."
The U.S. State Department expressed concern, stating that the law "undermines the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people."
The international community saw these laws as a threat to Georgia’s European integration, casting doubt on its prospects for obtaining EU candidate status.
The Position of Georgian Dream
The ruling party justified the adoption of the laws as necessary to protect the country from foreign interference. According to party leaders, Georgian society has the right to know "who is behind the external influences and the funding of opposition forces." However, their refusal to engage in dialogue with protesters and their dismissal of international criticism deepened mistrust in the government.
The Opposition and Civil Society
Opposition parties, such as the United National Movement and Lelo for Georgia, sharply criticized the law, calling it "Russian" and aimed at dismantling free media and independent organizations. They also accused Georgian Dream of pursuing an anti-democratic agenda and attempting to weaken the country’s European trajectory.
Civil society, particularly youth movements and student organizations, played a key role in organizing the protests. They emphasized that the fight against the foreign agent law is not just a struggle for freedom of speech but also for preserving the country’s European future.
