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Georgia Charges Opposition Leaders With Plotting to Overthrow Government

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Georgian prosecutors have filed criminal charges against eight opposition figures, including jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, accusing them of attempting to topple the government and aiding foreign adversaries. The move follows a recent EU enlargement report that sharply criticised Georgia’s democratic backsliding, warning that its progress toward membership has stalled.

Six of the accused are already serving prison terms on separate charges, while the opposition has denounced the latest case as a politically motivated effort to silence dissent. One of the targeted groups, Strong Georgia, said the ruling Georgian Dream party is trying to impose “a Russian-style dictatorship” and vowed to continue peaceful resistance through legal and political means.

Despite positioning itself as a future EU member, Georgia’s ruling party has maintained close economic ties with Russia and avoided sanctions over the Ukraine war. Critics say billionaire and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, seen as the country’s de facto leader, is driving the authoritarian shift — an accusation both the government and Moscow reject.

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Georgia to vote on controversial law that sparked mass protests

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Georgia’s parliament is on the verge of passing a highly controversial “foreign agent” law, despite facing significant opposition from both within and outside the ruling Georgian Dream party. Critics of the proposed legislation, often referred to as the “Russia law,” argue that it poses a severe threat to civil liberties within the country.

The bill has sparked weeks of mass protests, with thousands of people gathering near the parliament building to voice their opposition. Protesters fear that if the law is enacted, it could be exploited by the government to suppress dissenting voices and undermine Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has remained steadfast in his support for the bill, vowing that it will pass despite the ongoing protests. He has issued warnings about the consequences of not implementing the law, drawing parallels to the situation in Ukraine without providing specific details.

President Salome Zurabishvili, although an opponent of Kobakhidze, has expressed her intention to veto the law. However, Georgian Dream holds sufficient parliamentary support to override her veto, indicating that the bill is likely to be approved.

The proposed legislation would require NGOs and independent media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations with foreign interests. They would be subject to government monitoring and could face significant fines if they fail to comply with the regulations outlined in the law. Critics argue that this would create a chilling effect on freedom of expression and civil society in Georgia.

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