The governing Georgian Dream party has said the rules are necessary to prevent influence from abroad, accusing NGOs of promoting “LGBT propaganda” and attempting to stage “a revolution.” Critics at home fear it could be a precursor to a Russian-style crackdown on civil society ahead of nationwide elections in October. Europe’s top legal authority has warned the rules resemble ones used by Moscow to silence dissent and shutter NGOs.
Washington has announced it will impose travel bans and other sanctions on politicians “complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia,” and the EU had declared passage of the bill would torpedo the South Caucasus country’s hopes of joining the bloc.
Brussels handed Georgia EU candidate status in December despite concerns over backsliding on human rights issues and a failure to implement key reforms.
Responding to the passage of the bill, the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a statement that the EU “deeply regrets” the move, warning it would contravene Georgia’s commitments under the terms of its candidate status. He said “insufficient political attention” had been paid to other key areas in which reform was needed, and that Brussels would now weigh up its response.
Speaking to POLITICO as the vote came in, Tina Bokuchava, leader of the largest opposition party in parliament, the United National Movement, accused the government of “trying to deprive the Georgian people of their European future.”
“Georgia’s European aspirations can be safeguarded only through regime change. Ahead of October’s elections, it is essential that opposition leaders rally together to rescind this Kremlin-inspired law and get Georgia back on the European track,” she said.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
