The Rising Importance of the Voice of the People in Georgia
Background on the protests
The recently befallen wave of street demonstrations in Georgia has become more than just a demonstration of a resilient pro-democratic attitude of the people, it has turned into a wake-up call for the global community to reflect upon what democracy means nowadays. What the situation depicts is that the strive for the cultivation of democratic values as well as the protection of innate citizen rights can, in some cases, defeat the power of the seemingly unyielding governmental machinery. It appears clear that the lessons one might learn from the Georgian 2023 protests will not always unfold in the same way, given different political as well as social circumstances. Nevertheless, the Georgian experience can serve as an example for other states, and especially the citizens, of how undeniably influential the will of the people can sometimes be.
Adopted after the first reading and then successfully withdrawn due to the mass protests throughout the country, the Georgian law on “transparency of foreign influence” has reflected pro-Russian motives and, in the opinion of many, alluded to the Russian foreign agent law. The latter to a great extent discriminates against any public or governmental activity of individuals who are found under the influence or anyhow supported by foreign state actors. The Georgian version of the bill also included the obligation for the legal entities receiving more than 20% of the annual income from foreign bodies to register as “agents of foreign influence”. Such agents later become subject to monitoring by the Ministry of Justice.
The mass demonstrations following the passing of the foreign agent bill spilled over the whole country and led to mass confrontations between the police officers whose main duty was to disperse the protesters and deescalate the tensions. Eventually, more than 130 individuals were charged with administrative offenses, and around 60 police officers were reported to have received major injuries during the rallies.
How does it relate to human rights activism?
The vast majority of the protesters appear to be supporters of the former Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili who was eventually arrested back in 2021, after eight years spent in exile on the territory of Ukraine. Those familiar with Alexei Navalny’s story, the most famous and hence in-numerous-circles controversial Russian oppositionist who was likewise arrested in early 2021 after a prolonged period of medical treatment in Germany. With both political leaders being currently arrested and both having experienced severe health issues, Saakashvili’s case has not been enough regarded in the larger political arena. The former president is currently in a critical health condition after a self-initiated hunger strike as well as the consequences of poisoning. Hence, given that many of those who stood up for the Georgian rule of law, the issues gained greater relevance than before and initiated wider public discussions.
Interestingly enough, the protests brought public attention to broader issues that have long been adamant within Georgian political discourse. In the latest public interview, Bill Browder, who currently actively engages in political activities aimed at targeting human rights abuses after the inhuman death of his friend Sergei Magnitsky most likely caused by degrading treatment in Russian detention, criticized the lack of enthusiasm for the side of the EU in terms of using the sanctioning mechanism, especially given the Georgian case. The Magnitsky story became a catalyst for the US government to pass the well-known Global Magnitsky Act in 2016 which gradually became one of the most powerful human rights sanctioning instruments to target the perpetrators globally. The European Union, however, has only sanctioned 40 individuals under the scope of the law. Bill Browder has initiated a long-standing process of directing European attention to Saakashvili’s continuously deteriorating health condition after receiving his release in late December 2022. The big question is whether the European top-tier authorities will enact official procedures or temporarily shift the focus to other burning matters until the case ends with a political prisoner’s death will indeed contribute to the future of Georgian democracy.
Interconnectedness with Ukraine
The Ukrainian war became another aspect that defined the attitudes of the protesting crowds. Many showed up with Ukrainian flags to express solidarity with the war-torn country and refer to the unbreakable strive for pro-European integration that has been a prevalent topic within the society since the 2014 nationwide protests and is something that Georgian people are willing to stand for, too. While the foreign agent law would surely derail Georgian pro-European ambitions and threaten the future of such integration, the society conveyed a strong message that should foster global faith in the power of the will of the people. Eventually, the once-passed law was quickly withdrawn by the Georgian ruling coalition, right after four full days of nationwide demonstrations.
Although Georgia thus far seems to be averting the Russian scenario, there is a high likelihood that the situation can escalate once again. In the extremely interlocked transboundary political reality, political reactions, joint actions, and statements play a crucially important role. And human freedoms are one of the driving factors detrimental to the outcomes of this political strife.