Georgia Protests: Defying Authoritarianism, Fighting Russia’s Influence
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, despite widespread opposition, passed a “foreign agents” bill reminiscent of Russian legislation, further escalating tensions. Subsequent protests, now in their third month, have been met with mass arrests, police brutality, and restrictions on freedoms of assembly and the press. These actions, coupled with a disputed election and the replacement of the pro-Western president, are pushing Georgia towards authoritarianism and away from its stated goal of EU membership. Many believe that the government is prioritizing support from Moscow over Western alliances, a decision fueled by decreased US aid and the party’s increasingly authoritarian tactics.
John Q. Hosedrinker