Georgian Nightmare, 2nd Act
The Protests in Tbilisi
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Georgia stands at a crossroad. The increasingly authoritarian regime supported by billionaire politician Bidzina Ivanishvili wants to return the country to Moscow’s orbit at the very moment when, after years of effort, it has achieved the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in many of the country’s cities to protest legislation modelled on Russia’s law on foreign agents. The aim of this legislation is to break the backbone of independent civil society. The situation is very reminiscent of Ukraine in 2013. All signs point to confrontation, and the outcome is uncertain: Euromaidan, Belarus 2020, or a withdrawal of the law after all.
(Osteuropa 4/2024, pp. 17–25)