Georgia's administration jeopardizes its path towards the EU.
The Georgian government's proposed draft law has become a significant test for the country, with tens of thousands of Georgians protesting against its intentions to tighten control over groups in civil society, potentially making EU accession a remote possibility. The legislative process recently commenced, with the Justice Committee rushing to approve the bill during a three-minute session on Monday evening. The final plenary vote is set for today.
Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze has expressed his conviction that the law will be passed. However, if President Salome Zurabishvili vetoes the bill and sends it back to parliament, any changes will be discussed then. Zurabishvili has urged the bill's withdrawal, adding her voice to the growing opposition.
The Georgian Dream party, which governs the country, argues that the law is necessary for transparency relating to foreign financial assistance for non-governmental organizations. Critics, on the other hand, fear that this law aims to suppress critical organizations, much like what happens in Russia. With Georgia's authoritarian movement, the dream of EU accession, a country located in the South Caucasus region, appears threatened. The EU has urged the government to withdraw the laws multiple times.
German Social Democratic Party (SPD) foreign policy expert Michael Roth is urging a stern response from the EU to the Georgian government. Roth, who is currently observing the situation in Georgia with other parliamentarians, believes that the government has ceased to engage in talks. He remarked that the Georgian Dream had previously pursued a balancing act between Russia and the EU. However, as EU accession negotiations progressed, the government would need to implement reforms for more rule of law and freedom. "I think people are afraid of this course and willing to pay a high price for it," said Roth.
Despite attempts to intimidate citizens, large numbers of them have taken to the streets to protest against the law. Thousands demonstrated outside the parliament in Tbilisi on Monday night, and the police used force to disperse crowds before the session began. They also arrested approximately 20 people. Further protests are occurring tonight.
Situated on Russia's southern border, Georgia sits at a crucial global political crossroads. A majority of the population seek to distance themselves from Russia while feeling strongly about joining the EU and NATO - a goal enshrined in the country's constitution. Simultaneously, Moscow governs the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which it acknowledges as independent states. The Georgian Dream, led by the mysterious billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, promotes closeness with Moscow.
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The proposed law in Georgia, aimed at tightening control over civil society groups, has sparked widespread protests, with President Salome Zurabishvili urging its withdrawal due to concerns it mirrors suppression tactics used in Russia. Georgia's EU accession could be significantly impacted if the controversial law is passed, as many see it as a threat to democratic freedoms and transparency.
Source: www.ntv.de
