Tbilisi, Georgia – The picturesque nation of Georgia is currently in a state of upheaval, with protests erupting in April over a controversial “foreign agents bill”. This bill requires organisations receiving a significant portion of their funding from overseas to register as “agents of foreign influence”, a move critics liken to Russia’s own restrictive legislation.
The law, passed in May, has sparked concerns among the younger, Western-leaning population that the ruling Georgian Dream party is aligning more closely with Russia, potentially jeopardizing the country’s aspirations of joining the European Union.
Opposition parties have been accused of promoting Western ideologies at the expense of traditional values by the government, while Georgian Dream defends the law as a measure to enhance transparency and safeguard against external interference.
As the country gears up for October’s elections, which will determine the ruling party for a potential fourth term, tensions between generations are on the rise, with older Georgians generally supporting Georgian Dream while young protesters voice their dissent.
Al Jazeera spoke with a variety of Georgians about the protests, the country’s relationship with Russia and its EU aspirations.