Resilient and Determined: Gen Z Activists Striving for a European Vision

Will Cathcart, an American freelance journalist based in Tbilisi, shares his own views in this commentary. He previously served as a media adviser to Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia. To read more opinions, visit CNN.

Riot police, donning gas masks and balaclavas, appear like a surreal army amidst the tear gas fog on Rustaveli Avenue, the main street in the Georgian capital. They grab protesters from the crowd and pull them into a sea of black uniforms. The beatings persist within their ranks.

Will Cathcart

Will Cathcart

Hundreds of thousands of people in Georgia have been protesting on the streets in the past few weeks. They are against the government's decision to pass a bill that is similar to one from the Kremlin, calling it a "foreign agents" bill. Many believe that this new law is a step towards autocracy.

NGOs and media organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad are required to register as "agents of foreign influence" under the bill. This law is similar to legislation enacted by Russia in 2012 following protests against Vladimir Putin's presidency. Putin used this law to weaken civil society, independent media, and political opposition, a strategy also seen in Belarus and more recently in Kyrgyzstan.

The new law appears to be part of a deliberate effort to undermine Georgia's relationship with Western partners, create division among the population, and help the ruling party maintain its grip on power.

Hans Gutbrod, a professor at Ilia State University in Tbilisi, expressed concerns about the new law that grants the government the authority to monitor individuals suspected of having foreign connections and access their private information, including emails.

The bill was passed by lawmakers on Tuesday. Despite President Salome Zourabichvili vetoing the bill, deeming it unconstitutional and likening it to Russian practices, Parliament is likely to override her veto due to having enough votes. This veto may only delay the implementation of the law.

Georgians are not sitting idly by. Protestors, many of whom are from Generation Z and were born in a newly independent Georgia, are taking a stand for their future with Europe. The mass demonstrations they have organized are on a scale that I have not witnessed in my over 15 years of living here.

In fact, hundreds of students from a minimum of 40 universities have initiated a strike and are actively participating in the protest.

Riot police have resorted to using tear gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades, water cannons, and bare fists in response to the pro-democracy protests. However, these violent tactics have not deterred the growing size and frequency of the protests.

Georgian students protest in Tbilisi on May 13 against the bill which would require NGOs and media organizations who receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence."

Georgian students gathered in Tbilisi on May 13 to protest against a bill. The bill would make it mandatory for NGOs and media organizations to register as "agents of foreign influence" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

The protest in Tbilisi was captured in a photo by Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP/Getty Images.

Spreading false information

Another bill has been introduced to benefit billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. This bill, which was quickly approved last month, makes it easier to bring offshore money into Georgia. Similar to the foreign agents law, the creators of this bill argue that it promotes transparency, which is a ridiculous claim.

Ivanishvili and his group consistently spread false information to support their populist agenda. The Georgian Dream party falsely accuses NGOs and protesters of being funded by the West to cause trouble and overthrow the government, leading to Georgia becoming a mere pawn in international conflicts.

Recently, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Georgian Dream party in parliament, claimed that Western NGOs are part of a Soviet-style campaign to tarnish the reputation of the Georgian judiciary, promote liberal ideas, LGBT rights, and diminish public trust in the Georgian Orthodox Church. It's a lot to process.

The Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, recently announced that the government is creating a "database" to keep track of opposition members involved in illegal activities like violence, blackmail, threats, or supporting these actions, including attending protests.

Last week, when US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O’Brien, arrived in Tbilisi, Ivanishvili declined to meet with him, stating that they would not follow foreign instructions reminiscent of Soviet-style mandates.

Perhaps he should also tell Russia, which occupies 20% of Georgia’s territory.

On Tuesday, the bill was approved by lawmakers. As expected, President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the bill days later. But Parliament has the votes to override her veto. 

Lawmakers approved the bill on Tuesday. President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed it a few days later. However, Parliament has enough votes to override her veto.

Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP/Getty Images

US must also shift course

The Georgian government has changed. And if US policy does not reflect this change, then advocates for democracy will suffer the consequences.

Zviad Adzinbaia, a Doctoral Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, emphasized the importance of clear communication if the US and EU decide to sanction Ivanishvili. It is crucial to prevent him from creating a false narrative like the 'Global War Party' and to remind him that the Georgian people are not powerless against their government and Russian occupation.

The ruling party in Georgia finds it easier to blame foreign powers rather than addressing the reasons behind thousands of citizens protesting in the streets wearing helmets and gas masks. Ivanishvili's unfounded fears could potentially become a reality if not addressed.

For over 20 years, the majority of people in Georgia have consistently shown their support for joining both NATO and the EU. In response to this, the United States has provided intelligence sharing and dedicated resources to Georgia for various joint military activities, including Combined Special Forces Exchange Training (JCET), counterterrorism initiatives, anti-corruption efforts, and investments totaling $6 billion.

Despite the strong strategic partnership between Brussels and Washington, it is no longer safe to assume that Georgia will align itself with the West or be a secure haven for Western officials. This situation only benefits Moscow, as Western governments need to acknowledge the reality of an exposed vulnerability in an escalating conflict with Russia.

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The issue with the foreign agents bill goes beyond just politics - it's about money. Ivanishvili's investments in politics and putting his friends and former employees in key government positions suggest that loyalty is more to him than to the Georgian people. If the US and EU truly want to support the people of Georgia, they need to acknowledge the true impact of the Georgian Dream's changes.

The Georgian government may have shifted its focus away from the West, but the Georgian people have remained steadfast in their support. Despite facing authoritarian intimidation and systematic violence, the young protestors in Georgia have only grown stronger, like diamonds. They are organized, optimistic, and proudly identify as European. Most importantly, they are not afraid.

Another generation of Georgians have learned their own strength. Georgia’s democratic future rests firmly in their hands.

Editor's P/S:

The article presents a concerning account of the deteriorating democratic situation in Georgia, where a new law similar to Russia's "foreign agents" bill is being implemented. This law aims to stifle civil society, independent media, and political opposition, raising concerns about the country's shift away from Western values. The government's spread of false information and violent suppression of protests further highlight the authoritarian tendencies taking hold.

The article emphasizes the importance of the US and EU taking a firm stance against these developments and supporting the Georgian people's aspirations for democracy and Western integration. The article suggests that sanctions against key figures in the ruling party, such as billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, could be considered to prevent them from creating false narratives and undermining Georgia's relationship with the West. By acknowledging the reality of the exposed vulnerability in the conflict with Russia, Western governments can ensure that Georgia remains a secure haven for Western officials and a strategic partner in the region.