Hot! A new war arena emerges between Russia and the West: Georgia

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International

Tommy Patrio Sorongan, CNBC Indonesia

News

Thursday, 02/05/2024 13:00 WIB

Photo: A demonstrator carries a Georgian flag during a rally protesting the bill on “foreign agents”, in Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2, 2024. (REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze)

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Conditions in Georgia are heating up. Massive demonstrations hit the Caucasus country, with the police taking firm action against protesters.

Collect The Guardian, Thursday (2/5/2024), demonstrators called for the withdrawal of the draft law which was referred to as the “foreign agent” regulation. According to critics, the law is deeply anti-democratic and inspired by Russia.

Security forces used water cannon, tear gas and stun grenades against demonstrators on Tuesday night, drawing criticism from human rights groups. Sixty-three protesters were detained, according to Georgia’s interior ministry.

There have been numerous reports of police violence, including against journalists. The police action then went viral after the head of the main opposition United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, was beaten.

Journalist CNBC Indonesia who was in Tbilisi said further demonstrations started at 21.00 local time and ended before dawn. The demonstrators were dominated by young people, many carrying Georgian flags.

Based on this, the tension of the demonstration eased slightly compared to previous days where there were violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Background to the Pro-Russian Law

Thousands of Georgians have demonstrated every night since April 17. It was the day when the country’s parliament approved the first discussion of the controversial “foreign agents” law.

The bill, which critics have called the “Russian law,” would require groups that receive more than 20% of their funding from outside Georgia to register as foreign agents.

Some say this is Tbilisi’s way of monitoring the sources of incoming foreign funds, most of which come from Western countries currently at odds with Moscow, which is a powerful regional power in the region.

It is known that this rule is also said to be inspired by the rules that apply in Russia. Moscow has a rule that any citizen who receives enough money from abroad will be labeled a foreign agent.

“Everyone clearly understands that the goal of implementing Russian legislation is not the notorious ‘transparency’, but a change in the country’s foreign direction and the completion of Russification,” Transparency International Georgia said in a statement.

At Monday’s rally, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, defended the bill and criticized western parties. In his speech, the billionaire denounced the “global war party” and said the country’s pro-Western opposition was controlled by foreign intelligence services.

Residents’ Reaction

Police violence has shocked Georgia. Watchdog and monitoring agencies have warned that security forces are already using “disproportionate force.”

The Georgia Young Lawyers Association said that peaceful protests are a mechanism to put the democratic process in the hands of citizens. They stressed that any attempt to suppress it was anti-constitutional.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, whose role is largely ceremonial, criticized what she said was “a completely unwarranted and disproportionate use of force.

“Full responsibility lies with the government. The right to peaceful protest is not given to the Georgian people,” he said, adding the hashtag “#notoRusialaw”.

What Does Europe Say?

This crisis occurred when Georgia was still a candidate country for the European Union (EU). Therefore, the crackdown on protesters sparked criticism from Brussels.

“I strongly condemn the violence against protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against the foreign influence law,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

“Georgia is an EU candidate country. I call on the authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly. The use of force to suppress it is unacceptable.”

Similarly, the Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, said the harsh and brutal crackdown underscored “the deeply concerning direction the Georgian government is taking with regard to democratic freedoms”.

“This law has the potential to derail Georgia’s path to EU membership,” he threatened.

Apart from the EU, the United States (US) also opened its voice. Jim O’Brien, the Department’s Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, said his office was in talks with Georgian lawmakers regarding bilateral relations between Washington and Tbilisi.

“This includes our strong concerns about the Kremlin-inspired ‘foreign influence’ bill and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations,” he said.

(luc/luc)