Georgians Protest Proposed Law in Tbilisi
After spending his days making wine in the Caucasus Mountains, Tsotne Jafaridze joins thousands of Georgians protesting in Tbilisi. They fear a proposed law will push the country closer to Russia and away from the European Union. The law requires organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face fines.
Protests have intensified for a month against the ruling Georgian Dream party, as they attempt to pass the controversial bill. Critics compare it to measures introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to silence dissent.
The demonstrations have been met with a fierce police response, with reports of brutal beatings and the use of powerful tear gas. Many protestors feel a deep hostility towards Russia, which invaded Georgia in 2008 and still occupies parts of the country.
While the EU granted Georgia candidate status in December, the government’s resubmission of the bill has sparked renewed outrage. Some observers fear the situation could escalate into a revolution if the government does not back down.
Georgians like Jafaridze remain adamant in their protest. “This is not Belarus. This is not Russia,” he said, highlighting the country’s commitment to retaining its Western ideals.