Georgia’s future path at stake as protests divide nation

Georgia’s youth, vocal in their desire to join the EU and radicalised by events in Ukraine, have given new momentum to opposition parties in protesting against a new and deeply controversial law.

The law was passed by parliament, then vetoed by the president, but is expected to be come into force soon regardless.

It mirrors a similar one introduced in Russia and appears designed to demonise many civil society groups as “foreign agents.”

As currently written, the law would almost certainly also scupper Georgia’s stated goal of EU membership.

“It kills Georgia’s European future,” warned Salome Samadashvili, an opposition MP and former ambassador to the EU.

“That’s why this is the most important moment in Georgia’s modern history. If, at the next elections, we manage to get rid of this government and we build a strong pro-European coalition, then Georgia can move forwards and I think our future can be irreversible,” she said.

But October’s elections seem a long way off right now, amid widespread fears of more violent confrontations on the streets of the capital, Tbilisi.

“We see that our government escalates this situation. I think the aim is to initiate civil confrontation. If we lose, then we lose our country, our freedom, our independence. We become part of Russia,” said David Katsarava, a well-known activist still in hospital recovering from concussion and other injuries after being assaulted by police at a protest rally earlier this week.

Mr Katsarava’s eye socket was fractured and there are dark strangulations marks around his neck. Other activists and opposition politicians report being targets of violence, abusive phone calls, threats, and intimidation.