Two years ago, a fringe pro-Kremlin channel in Georgia aired a fake story featuring photoshopped images of NGO representatives, including myself, being arrested at a fictional trial. This was seen as a joke at the time, but the current situation in Georgia is no laughing matter. The government’s decision to reintroduce a “foreign agents” law, inspired by the Kremlin, has caused concern among foreign diplomats and deepened societal divisions. The ruling party‘s actions are seen as a threat to the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. The government, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been playing a double game, presenting itself as pro-Western to the outside world while promoting an anti-Western narrative at home. This transformation is not surprising to local watchdog organizations, who have long tracked the party’s deceptive behavior. Ivanishvili sees democracy as a threat and has focused on dismantling key democratic institutions, such as the media, NGOs, and the political opposition. This tactic is reminiscent of Stalinist repression. A year ago, a documentary about a Russian youth activist caused a stir in Georgia’s liberal circles, with some questioning if the country would ever experience government-supported oppression. However, recent changes have caused Georgia to resemble Putin‘s Russia, with alarming similarities.
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