Georgia’s Ruling Party Resurrects Controversial Pro-Russia Law

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The Republic of Georgia has resurrected a law that may allow Russia to take over the nation.

Georgia was, for nearly two centuries, part of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union. But that ended in 1991: The Soviet Union dissolved, and Georgia became independent.

Ever since, Russia has tried to regain control over Georgia. We saw that dramatically in 2008, when Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly went to war in Georgia. His forces conquered a fifth of the nation and made it de facto Russian territory.

Now Putin may want to extend Russia’s power over this small East European nation even further. And Georgia’s ruling party seems ready to help him with new legislation.

The proposed law now under consideration brands charities and media groups that receive funding from the West as “agents of foreign influence.” This will make them easier for Georgia’s pro-Russia politicians to intimidate and persecute.

For this reason, the people of Georgia protested this “foreign agent” bill in great numbers when it was first introduced last year. The overwhelming majority of Georgian people want their country to align with Europe—not Russia. Those vehement protests were intense enough to force the Georgian government to drop the bill.

But now Russia looks to be using its influence in the Georgian government to resurrect this law and try again. If passed, it could help pull the rest of Georgia away from Europe and into the control of Russia and Vladimir Putin.