Russia Beyond its Borders: Foreign Agent Bill in Georgia
Image courtesy of Denis Arslanbekov via Unsplash
Across the streets of Old Tbilisi and Vake Park, graffiti fills the walls of Georgian buildings. “Free Ukraine” and “Russians Go Home” are just some of the messages painted across Georgia. As a former state of the Soviet Union, anti-Russian sentiments run deep throughout the country, even as the Georgian government leans closer to Russian influence and integration.
Between March 7 and 8, thousands of Georgians flooded the streets of Tbilisi to protest the “foreign agents” bill. The bill stipulates that any businesses ranging from non-governmental organizations to private media companies that received at least 20 percent of their funding from foreign countries (many coming from Western countries) would need to declare themselves as a “foreign agent” in order to do business in Georgia. The bill, which has received backing from parliament but not yet passed, would make it harder for businesses with foreign funding to survive. Critics have largely stated that passing such a bill would lead Georgia backward and further away from European integration. With Georgia’s past filled with Russian oppression, this legislation and the future overall may be bleak for Georgian democracy.
If this bill were to be passed, it would force all NGOs, organizations, and media sources that receive 20 percent or more of their funding through foreign aid to declare themselves “foreign agents.” Under this law, failure to do so would result in fees of around 8,500 euros. The Georgian Dream Party believes that passing this bill would expose the organizations feeding off of foreign influence, these being media sources such as “Radio Free Europe” falling under the umbrella of organizations and media that are affiliated with “foreign influence.” The Georgian Dream Party has attempted to fight off allegations of being a “Pro-Russian” government by stating the US has a similar law. Though the US has in place “FARA” (Foreign Agents Registration Act), which was put in place in 1930, this law between 1990 and 2010 was used in one criminal prosecution. While the Russian government has used their foreign agent law much more extensively to shut down freedom of speech, something Georgians fear may also become their reality.
Georgia claimed its independence after the 1991 collapse of the USSR, yet, Russian influence is ever persisting. In August 2008, Russia invaded disputed Georgian territories in support of pro-Russian separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Those areas, still considered Georgian land, however, have separate pro-Russia governments. Looking at Russia’s most recent invasions in Ukraine, Georgians feel unease as they watch from afar, hoping Georgia isn’t next on Russia’s list. Similar to Ukraine and several former Soviet countries, Georgia has been hopeful of joining the European Union and NATO.
Though hopes run high, they have been squashed by the “Georgian Dream Party'' in the hands of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili is the former Prime Minister and founder of the Dream Party, which favors Russian integration over European integration. Georgia’s current parliament is still largely composed of lawmakers who support the Georgian Dream Party, with only a few seats given to the opposition. Most recent data from the 2016 elections shows that of 150 parliament seats, 75 percent of parliament consisted of the Georgian Dream while the remaining 25 of opposition parties. 76 representatives voted for the most recent proposal of the foreign agent bill, while 13 voted against it, requiring more readings for the bill to pass. The vote caused a major uproar among Georgian civilians, inciting protests and making it clear that they do not stand for corruption and the furthering of Russian influence in their society.
After protests erupted, Parliament followed with a dropping of the foreign agent bill. With thousands of Georgians disfavoring the bill and showing their opposition through the protests that filled Tbilisi, parliament had no other option than vetoing the passing of the bill. However, this shift away does not signal a move toward democracy. Sources state that in the year which led up to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, foreign agent laws were adopted in Russia to restrict the presence of free media and non-governmental organizations. In July of 2022, right before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of that year, Russia continued to extensively add onto their foreign agent bill to a point in which any opposition towards the Russian government was considered a foreign agent, allowing Russian powers to shut it down. Critics and other Georgians fear that Georgia is following the steps of Russia.
Georgian civilians, however, remain strong in their desire for a European future. Their perseverance and love for their culture, country, and people continue to thrive. A country as small as 3.7 million people is able to hold a strong stance on its ideals and hope for democracy, shutting down the passing of the foreign agent bill in less than a week. Georgians remain unafraid to fight against Russian power and will continue to do so.
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