Could Georgia’s ‘foreign influence’ law spell trouble for Europe?

The Georgian ruling party’s controversial “foreign influence” bill has sparked massive protests and international condemnation ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in October. The bill, which aims to restrict the political influence of foreign-funded NGOs, has drawn comparisons to a similar law in Russia that cracked down on civil rights and freedoms.

Under the proposed law, NGOs receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad would be required to register as “foreign agents” and disclose details about their foreign financing. Critics argue that this move is unnecessary, as organizations already provide this information to the Ministry of Finance for tax purposes.

The ruling party, Georgian Dream, justifies the bill as a measure to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from interfering in Georgian politics. Party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili claims that foreign-funded NGOs are working to bring foreign powers to power in Georgia, and the law is necessary to protect the country’s national interests.

However, the bill has faced strong opposition from Georgian citizens, who have taken to the streets in protest. President Salomé Zourabishvili has also spoken out against the law, positioning herself as a defender of Georgia’s European and Western commitments.

With the upcoming elections set to be a critical turning point for Georgia’s geopolitical future, the country faces a potential shift towards the West or a further alignment with Russia. The outcome of the elections could have significant implications for the region and the balance of power between the West and Russia in the Southern Caucasus.