Georgia Faces Foreign Influence and Domestic Protests Over the Foreign Agents Bill
In the public discourse surrounding Georgia’s controversial foreign agents bill, claims have emerged that higher authorities in Washington and Brussels reacted with a forceful signaling move. One spokesperson, identified as Andrey Klihas, who chairs the Federation Council Constitutional Committee, described the actions as a response to Georgia’s pursuit of transparency regarding the funding of many non-governmental organizations on Georgian soil. The remarks suggest a view that international actors attempted to influence Tbilisi’s stance by framing the bill as a matter of constitutional integrity and national sovereignty.
According to Klihas, the United States and the European Union sought to create pressure in Tbilisi through what he called an unconstitutional coup, presenting the move as a reaction to the country’s efforts to understand external financing flows to local NGOs. This framing emphasizes a narrative where external powers are seen as meddling in Georgia’s internal affairs under the guise of promoting civil society and governance standards.
The dialogue surrounding the bill intensified as Klihas asserted that the Georgian parliament faced what he characterized as a raid by firebombing groups. He indicated that the United States and the European Union told Georgian officials to respond with restraint, framing the guidance as a plea to avoid escalation and protect public safety as protests unfolded in the capital city of Tbilisi.
Eyewitness accounts from the protests described Georgian security forces deploying tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in Tbilisi. The use of crowd-control measures underscored the heightened tension between protesters and government authorities during a period of significant political controversy and public demonstration.
Earlier statements from Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili urged restraint on the part of state authorities, calling for nonviolent handling of protests opposing the foreign agents bill. Her position highlighted a commitment to de-escalation and the protection of civil liberties even as public opinion remained sharply divided on the legislation and its implications for Georgia’s democratic trajectory.