Is Georgia on the Cusp of a Colour Revolution?

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Protests erupted across Georgia after the government brought back a controversial bill against "foreign agents". So in this video, we'll explain Georgia's post-Soviet history, what this divisive bill is and how these protests have escalated recently.
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1 - www.ndi.org/sites/default/fil...
2 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_...
3 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikheil...
4 - www.wsj.com/articles/SB121874...
5 - www.ft.com/content/924bc1f0-1...
6 - carnegieeurope.eu/2021/04/06/...
7 - www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
8 - www.ft.com/content/0cb1cb9a-5...
9 - www.ft.com/content/896088b3-8...
10 - www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/...

[@PikeProductions23]

Georgia is one of my favorite countries. The food, geography, and people are all wonderful. I hope the political situation gets sorted out for this great nation

[@dianawanderlust]

❤

[@george_davituri]

👍

[@Egill2011]

Many thanks.

[@kwari1120]

❤

[@shzarmai]

Same here, Georgia 🇬🇪 is my favourite Caucasus country

[@montimuros2837]

I guess Russia will have to "defend itself" from Georgia too

[@kendalson7100]

You know it. Russia isn't even bright enough to switch their propaganda up.

[@Soberfuzz]

If it joins NATO , they will be cautious. Now, is Georgia really European?

[@globuscola]

It already "did" - Abkhazia and South Ossetia are the results.

[@Gobber04]

@@Soberfuzz ye

[@sandro3796]

@@Soberfuzzhopefully

[@GeorgeGzirishvili]

4:49: One correction: Giorgi Margvelashvili was never pro-Russian or Eurosceptic. He had disagreements with Ivanishvili and eventually endorsed the opposition. He's often out on the protests today, just like an ordinary Georgian.

[@nanadjaochvili9599]

Today yes ( as many others!), but please find any speeches of G.Margvelashvili during his election in 2012 … very pro- russia , unfortunately…

[@sergicheishvili6082]

As a Georgian, I find myself in an incredibly difficult position. On one side, We have a terrorist neighbor - Russia which occupies 20% of our territory and constantly terrorizes (by constantly kidnapping and killing Georgians) our population to comply with their demands, or else face severe consequences. On the other hand, while we appreciate the support from Western countries (especially from USA, UK, Netherlands, Scandinavian nations and Eastern Europe), we cannot forget that the German government (Angela Merkel) has stopped our accession to NATO, leaving us in a precarious position. We were promised NATO membership without any present security guarantees, contributing to the vulnerabilities that sparked the 2008 war. To truly grasp our situation, we must recognize that we have implemented more reforms and developed our nation faster than many EU member states. We achieved the first democratic transition of power in our region this century, had significant economic growth, and have the most active civil societies in the region. To put it simply we have transitioned from the failed state into a functional society that has all the potential in terms of human capital to succeed into the stratosphere. IF WE DID NOT HAVE A TERRORIST STATE AS A NEIGHBOUR. We’ve mostly taken the right steps, but unfortunately, in 2008, we witnessed how Germany and France underestimated the severity of our situation. Their actions effectively gave Russia the green light to start a war. Even during and after the conflict, there were attempts (by both Germany and France) to portray it as if Georgia had initiated the hostilities, which is absurd considering the conflict occurred on our internationally recognized territory. Today, we are still terrorized daily by Russian forces, while vividly recalling how Germany and France turned a blind eye to our existential threats and even pointed us as provocators of war. The Future looks dark and grey but we have been here and fought for our liberty for 3000 years and will continue to do so. P.S. Thanks for all the support, especially from people in Eastern Europe and, most notably, from Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Long live Georgia, Long live Ukraine and all independent and proud nations of post-soviet countries who are being pressed, threatened, tortured, and harassed by the imperial claws of the Russian Empire. Carthago delenda est

[@thefpvlife7785]

Then the only question you have may answer all of your concerns and that is, is the fight worth your freedom?

[@lydiazielinski]

Yes, Yes Jerry....

[@sergicheishvili6082]

@@thefpvlife7785

[@sergicheishvili6082]

@@thefpvlife7785 My people are braver than I am, and they are the only reason I have confidence that the fight for freedom is worthwhile.

[@huquui8789]

We hear you but why should OTAN accept countries that are sympathetic towards Russia ? There are already enough problems with Hungary and Turkey. How can a pro-russian billionaire be your head of state !?

[@ImreBertalan86]

Guess which country was able to apply this rule for the 1st try.... Hunagry.

[@ireminmon]

Well the US has had very similar law for several decades now. But I guess their colonies are not allowed to have one.

[@gidanITA]

@@ireminmon The US is not a member of the EU

[@ireminmon]

@@gidanITA But it is a thriving NATO democracy that Georgia aspires to be, right?

[@gidanITA]

@@ireminmon By watching the video and looking through the internet I would say they want to become an EU member. I also didn't see many NATO or US flags in the protests pictures but many more european ones

[@user-jz8po2eu2d]

@@ireminmon their law is similar only in the name, every authoritarian regime keeps saying this line as an excuse but the substance of that law and the consequences are different

[@Rude_i_Wredne]

I don't think that a government that passes such an unpopular bill is planning of having a free and fair elections. My heart goes out to Georgians. I know you dreamed of EU life, but I doubt you had specifically Hungary in mind . :(

[@nox5555]

yeah what with goergias and stealing elections?

[@kaboonali5466]

Why is this law good for the west but bad for Georgia? Can you please explain it to us otherwise we consider these comments to be made by the US state departments’s troll farms

[@dshaw8356]

Maybe your interpretation of free and fair is different.

[@Rude_i_Wredne]

@@kaboonali5466 I'm not affiliated with the US in any way, I'm an EU citizen. US might have a problem and truth be told, doesn't have its democracy up to the european standards, but in the EU there is no such law (with possibly some exceptions in the more authoritarian EU countries, I've heard that Hungary has some version of that, I can't say for sure though). And in terms of the law itself, from what I understand it has several issues and all of them boil to the central point that with designing a "foreign agent" status, you open up a legal avenue to punish certain objects and individuals purely on a basis of having access to the foreign capital. The obvious problem, which would be consider a part of "democratic backsliding" is that the ruling party might easily use that law to stop the key opposition forces from equally participating in the elections. (This is especially obvious to me as a Pole, as our local authoritarians - the Law and Justice party, were intending on enacting a similar bill with the sole purpose of posing legal challenges for the then opposition leader Donald Tusk, midway the parliamentary election season. Luckily, they backed out after hundreds of thousands of people went to the streets. And mind you, it's not like Donald Tusk is funded by Russia, as they were trying to claim, but he would still have to go to courts and prove that he was not, which would severely interfere in his parliamentary campaign, so don't say that your opposition parties don't cross the threshold, so it's fine.) The slightly less obvious one, and not really related to the health of the democracy, but possibly even more impactful for Georgian lives is that this law discourages foreign investors, as they now won't be playing on an even field and might fear getting "the russian treatment" (where this law was used to basically take over a lot of the assets of foreign investors who wanted to scale down their operations following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war). Less foreign investment means weaker economy and a drop in life quality.

[@sandrogzirishvili6800]

​@@kaboonali5466if you think they are gonna apply this against russia our main enemy you are gullible. This is against only the west. Best proof of that is that the oligarch bidzina ivanishvili has money coming in from gazprom but that company will be exempt from this law and he wont be branded as a foreign agent. See the double standard? The law should have been directed towards your strategic enemies not allies.

[@sergirakhmania4410]

To the Westerners who are commenting in favor of transparency: Yes in a country where there is the rule of law and independent courts, having this kind of bill is not an issue, because you can get justice if you are wrongly labeled as a foreign agent. But in post Soviet countries this law has been consistently used as a tool to crack down on dissent! Context matters!

[@awellculturedmanofanime1246]

Exactly

[@jennyjessop576]

I can see why the Georgian people are so against this becoming law. They feel the tentacles of Russia coming to get them in its grip once again.

[@jirislavicek9954]

I understand. We need this law in Europe

[@hus390]

@@awellculturedmanofanime1246 Rubbish! So your entire excuse of opposing this bill is that you are afraid some will be mislabelled? Then this law helps you not being mislabelled. What stops anyone from lying and saying today that you are a foreign agent? It’s fine to have FARA law in 🇺🇸(Foreign Agents Registration Act), and jail those who violate it. But when Georgia and other countries do that, it’s a threat to freedoms and democracy?🧐

[@EZIC_Official]

​@@jirislavicek9954 no government lies it's this law in reality they are doing other law

[@ninagogoladze7967]

Thank you for covering this! 🇪🇺🇬🇪

[@kmjsjeheh1417]

Yes FORY Nice 🇬🇪🇪🇺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@davidbowie5023]

Georgia is Europe. As an Irishman, we support Georgian determination. 🇮🇪❤️🇬🇪

[@novak7970]

Just like the Brits did in nth Ireland. This bill is the same USA has adopted.

[@jossiesh7649]

Mind your own business.

[@meso8848]

haha like everything is Europe for you ? lol. what a joke... You don't even know what's going on there

[@jirislavicek9954]

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan all lie in Asia. Irish people should worry about their country being invaded by illegal immigrants and don't stick nose in other countries affairs.

[@dzonikg28]

You don't need to support anything, Georgians will decide them self on elections and not western that want war and chaos anywhere they can't control

[@dannydenison6253]

Somehow its always still a billionaire who is just helping billionaires whichever side

[@MC-yt1uv]

It is a good daily reminder that Class Struggle is real and that throughout history the majority of crimes have been committed by the wealthy and powerful against the poor and weak.

[@ratitsiklauri1468]

we have only one billionaire in whole country lol

[@uapnewdiscoveryimages]

Absolutely fucking true… normal people who just want to live their lives dictated by the wants of greedy, power hungry Psychopaths. If all of the world’s citizens just refused to play their games, the majority would guide humanity down a sane path towards unity amongst mankind. Psychopaths need to be weeded out from society by some form of screening to ensure they don’t end up holding any position where they can perpetuate their insane, self motivated plans. Putin for example, only really cares about himself. He has no real thoughts to the mothers, fathers and children killed by his actions. The same applies to all the other war mongers and weapons industry complex foxes. Relishing the prospect of making more money at the expense of innocent lives. They make me sick.

[@vktengizik9916]

classic

[@caad5258]

Capital is international. Its eager to fuck over all people, regardless of nationality.

[@MsLovingdance]

Dude totally skipped Georgias first president Zbiad Gamsakhurdia.

[@lashanadirashvili6362]

hi does not know anything about real history. video is misinformation

[@thewitheringproduction1761]

@@lashanadirashvili6362 ბატონო ლაშა, ჩაიჯვით.

[@BOB-oe7zd]

​@@lashanadirashvili6362 ბატონო ლაშა, დაიჯვით

[@Georgianmapping19283]

​@@lashanadirashvili6362ბატონო ლაშა, ჩაიჯვით

[@PapaFeo]

​@thewitheringproduction1761 so you agree with this video making sakashvili a badass?

[@Clock_Man_2763]

Good luck to Georgia fighting against this madness 🙏🇬🇪🇪🇺

[@citizenoftheworld6868]

Georgia should join Iranian union, not the EUROPEAN union.

[@Sopushynskyi]

US has betrayed Georgia in 2008 and now wandering why they are “pro-russian”

[@schwarzarbyter]

are you living under a rock? EU already has exactly the same law

[@temoffon8226]

what madness?

[@awellculturedmanofanime1246]

​@schwarzarbyter the eu doesn't decide countries laws you clown some eu countries have that law but the difference is Georgias president Russian coward wants it only to crack down on eu accession etc

[@Siranoxz]

Europe is living in quite difficult times.

[@RabbitShirak]

Europe is living quite Russian times

[@patlotpotlot6154]

That is what you get when you intervened on a third world countries affair

[@puraLusa]

​@@patlotpotlot6154my dude that very infantile propaganda had it's time, it's dead. U really need to try something original.

[@jkr648]

@@patlotpotlot6154georgia is second world

[@cugeltheclever3766]

​@@puraLusakeep intervening in other countries problems and see where it leads.

[@Hadar1991]

I have sincere question. What is controversial in that bill? Shouldn't disclosing foreign NGO funding be a standard in any democratic country?

[@JimJimWACA]

I believe the worry is that with this the Georgian government can just label anything against their interests "foreign agents". I'm not too knowledgeable about this but I know Russia uses similar tactics like this in labeling certain groups as "foreign agents"

[@Nolego]

The law has unnecessary negative effects on civil society because it automatically categorizes any NGO, or media company receiving more than 20% of their funds from abroad as having "foreign influence". This makes no sense, as lots of developmental NGOs receive funding from abroad through tenders but still make their own decisions. The real intent behind the law itself is to stigmatize pro-west NGOs and delegitimize them further. If it was truly about transparency, this sort of automatic categorization would not be needed.

[@robertaugustijn1157]

I'm curious too. I would like to know if let's say a Russian funded NGO is buying influencing in my country. Or an Hungarian/ American one for that matter.

[@rando4065]

@@robertaugustijn1157 It's not directed to Russia, you can clearly see from their rhetoric. They blame every single problem on western NGO's, and smaller openly pro-Russian politicians and Russia itself loves this law.

[@eldrago19]

The US has a very similar law (Foreign Agents Registration Act) though it applies to NGOs acting 'on the behalf of' foreign individuals and governments not funded by them.

[@bentrinker1937]

We the people of the great state of Georgia in America stand by our friends in the caucuses in Georgia 🇬🇪

[@nox5555]

i doubt anyone in the country of georgia wants political trials and incredible badly run elections... that election would have been redone and everyone involved fired in any european country. Berlin had to vote again because of much smaller issues.

[@temoffon8226]

why cant we have the same bill like "FARA", youre having? ours is much, muuuch softer.

[@corenwalts]

​@@temoffon8226 Go read about why not. რა ვეღარ გაიგეთ რომ რუსეთში ზუსტად ეს კანონი( ამ ფორმით და არა FARA-ს როგორიც აქ, გამოიყენეს ოპოზიციური მედიის, არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციების და ბოლოს ხალხის შევიწროებისთვის! პროტესტებზე რომ აპატიმრებენ ეგრევე და ვერავინ ცხვირს ვერ ჰოფს გარეთ, ამ კანონის დამსახურებაა! 2012 წლიდან დღემდე გაართულეს და ჩაკლეს ოპოზიცია! ამას რომ თავი დაანებო შეხედე მედიებს შორის პარალელს, იმედი როგორ აშუქებს ამ ამბებს და TV pirveli მაგალითად. არ აჩვენებენ როგორ თელავენ პოლიციელები ხალხს, ბავშვებს. ეს არ გადარდებს? ქართველი თუ ხარ და კარგი მომავალი გინდა, დიანტერესდი რატომ დგას შენი ხალხი გარეთ კვირები და რატომ ამწარებს მთავრობა ასე. მთავრობა რომაა კორუმპირებული ისე არავინაა დღეს აქ.

[@corenwalts]

Thanks to the EU and USA we developed faster and our government tries to disrespect everything they've done and go on having private businesses linked with Russia. The only thing that concerns them is money! Nothing new here, it happens when people aren't on guard and have the same government for more than a decade! These elections are our responsibility and by this I also mean ppl who are currently either honestly confused about this law(in which case I can personally send you links where it's very well explained) or just has personally gained sth from the government and is choosing to be blind. If you're the first case, I can help

[@hus390]

It’s fine to have FARA law in 🇺🇸(Foreign Agents Registration Act), and jail those who violate it. But when Georgia and other countries do that, it’s a threat to freedoms and democracy?🧐

[@MarcusLangbart]

the video is a good summary but it should have also underlined the connections between russian church and georgian church, powerful and influential orthodox institutions. Georgia's strong traditionalism is still a huge factor helping "georgian dream" win elections. I remember a nice graphic where Georgia was seen as the most conservative country in the christian sphere. Russia is also clearly exploiting these cultural aspects and residual nostalgia despite young people not caring.

[@khvichakuprashvili6338]

Nope, they win elections because they bribe or threaten people. Public sector is almost always voting for the government because they have this idea of being fired if a new government comes in power. Then there are people who are dependent on the government subsidies and welfare checks, especially in rural areas and they are threatened to be cut off of these incomes. At least half of the voters for the ruling party wouldn't really vote for them if there were really free and fair elections. Vast majority of Georgians are pro-EU and pro-NATO (especially NATO because of the security reasons) no matter who they vote. The last parliamentary election in 2020 was rigged and there was a crisis, no opposition party acknowledged the results and entered the parliament. For some time, it stayed like this, there were protests too, but the west didn't support the boycott and tried to arrange an agreement between the opposition and the government, even Charles Michel visited Georgia and personally involved in some of the talks.

[@rocketsfan05]

Spot on analysis. The same is happening with Russia and religious conservatives in the West

[@NewsGuyFred]

That is an excellent comment! I’ll have to look further into but that was my observation too

[@temoffon8226]

this video is one big fake news

[@ryanthreesix]

Georgian here, can confirm. The church here does have a habit of backing the Pro-Russian parties. Also they are consistently seen riding around in very expensive cars in a country where the average salary is ~600 USD (Most people still don't get paid this much, it's offset by the horrendous wealth inequality.) It's hard not to believe that they're on that Kremlin payroll.

[@bababababababa6124]

I think this answers the question of who Russia’s next target will be

[@Trolligi]

@@meteorknight999Georgia has had a western commitment for like 20 years now stop pretending that this is new

[@Revokefarleft]

But still Georgia isn’t part of NATO so nato members have no responsibility on protecting them the same way as the Ukraine

[@mrbad3036]

@@meteorknight999 The difference is NATO is a voluntary alliance, they don't annex soverign countries.

[@socialistrepublicofvietnam1500]

​@@Revokefarleftukraine isnt a nato member either

[@lsd310]

​@@mrbad3036then why did it bomb Yugoslavia for Kosovo?

[@otherguylb5629]

Good video. Just one thing - calling Saakashvili liberal is absurd. Half the nation was in prison and the rest were being beaten up and businessmen had to give up most of their money to government. This is why Georgian Dream came to power. The situation is tense now and 5 months seems very long till election. If either side does not back down, it's not looking good unfortunately.

[@nonradicalnationalist6608]

That sounds liberal to me i mean they were the ones who nuked the japan, liberal is just some one who's socially leftist and he was that

[@LAZISH]

Ja, ja, ha. ProRussian propaganda. If you still believe in this bullshit then you are stupid af. If you purposefully distribute this false info than you are an agent of Russian aka Georgian Dream influence.

[@Georgianmapping19283]

What about rebuilding Georgia? Didnt saakashvili do that? Look on the good side, not bad

[@nonradicalnationalist6608]

Far as i know that's how liberals run the country

[@alekhandro89]

​@Georgianmapping19283 by those standards, Shevardnadze was the most pro-western politician and had the best ratio in terms of rebuilding from what he inherited and what he left behind. Saakashvili is the one who sold all strategic companies and facilities to Ruzzia (GWE), his foreign minister in 2008 was Grigol Vashadze who at the time held Ruzzian citizenship and was (?) previously KGB member. He then ran for presidency, where his PR campaign was run by Russian company and his wife same year took a medal from Putin, while thanking him to be "the best president in the world". Saakashvili aslo agreed on UN resolution that hindered Georgia for 2008 war with Ruzzia claiming that Georgia initiated the fire in Samachablo. He also greeted Ruzzians on the boarder and his ministers kept selling companies and receiving investments from Ruzzian state actors, while Merabishvili and Bendukidze stated in the Parliament that "Money does not smell, whether its Ruzzian or not". These are just facts and you can call him pro-western as much as you want, but reality is different

[@hildegunstvonmythenmetz6095]

Oh hey I remember this from Gattsu

[@Dan_The_Man0-0]

Gattsu Mentioned 💪 💪 💪 🇬🇪 🇬🇪 🇬🇪

[@jemalajemalai552]

Gattsu is Armenian

[@skymakker313]

​@jemalajemalai552 A lot of Georgians have some armenian mixed in here and there. Doesn't mean he ain't mostly georgian.

[@jemalajemalai552]

@@skymakker313 Yeah, but he's straight up Armenian. He looks Armenian, acts like an Armenian and loves Armenians. He is just some random ass Armenian who larps as Georgian patriot and shills for gay and black people. I know it because I had same experience with that kind of Armenians multiple times

[@MegrelMamba]

@@skymakker313 *South-east Georgians

[@apr0l]

TLDR, you can't say that the war in Georgia was in part a result of their Nato bid and not mention that the main reason for the war in Georgia was ruzzian imperialism!!!

[@hughjass1044]

Well, I would say the two are rather linked together, are they not?

[@mrboxheadd748]

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT ATTACKED RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN SOUTH OSSETIA IN ORDER TO BRING NATO INTO THE CONFLICT AND JOIN IT AND RECOVER THE SEPARATIST STATES THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN WAR IN 2008

[@lydiazielinski]

A nie amerykański?

[@apr0l]

@@lydiazielinski bot moment

[@MC-yt1uv]

I feel like that was implied.

[@Castiel667]

Yesterday Ivanishvili made political statements naming the West (The Global War Party) as the N1 enemy. He blamed everything from the past 20 years on the west and their financed NGOs, saying that they hate him because he declined to open a second front on Russia. He also named this law as the mechanism of defending country from a second Revolution led by NGOs. He also announced mass persecution of “Collective UNM” (meaning every opposition party)… In other words, he has announced a new Foreign Policy, Mass persecutions to follow, the wiping out of NGOs… A total Dictatorship… So things got a lot worse yesterday and there’s an increasing sentiment of civil unrest/Revolution/civil war coming our way. All of this is made worse by the fact that we don’t know what will Russia do if things get ugly here.

[@mand4Iex]

Blitzkrieg to Tbilisi to 'save democratically elected government from western agents, radicals' ?

[@YN-ot9jk]

Don't you think it would be stupid to open the second front against Russia, given Georgia's size and resources? That would be guaranteed disaster for tye country.

[@Castiel667]

@@YN-ot9jk Don’t you think it is stupid to believe that anyone expects a second front from Georgia?

[@Darkseidsolosfiction]

​@@YN-ot9jkstupid ruzzian bot

[@YN-ot9jk]

@Castiel667 i do, but many expected, including some Georgians

[@Just4Kixs]

საქართველოს კი!! 🇬🇪 ❤️

[@kmjsjeheh1417]

Yes FORY Nice 🇬🇪🇪🇺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@user-xd4dk5kd2r]

love philippines, ❤ respect from georgia

[@sabakobaidze3123]

This guy portrayed Saakashvili like a hero, but the reason why he is in the prison is that he and his controlled government tortured humans, business was under constant attack and there was no freedom of speech at all , citizens were scared to share anything bad about government. So, he was building "pro-EU" image (just like in this video), while he was having fun with women, doing cocaine and torturing Georgian people.

[@Georgianmapping19283]

I dont know how a georgian (by your name) supports ivanishvili. SAAKASHVILI build batumi greater and made remonts to nearly everything. He rebuilt the country. The thing you are talking is pure propaganda. (Aa a geoegian myself)

[@cedricvogt2576]

u can copy paste this on many Ukrainian politicians.. ah oh wait, he was there too 😂

[@cedricvogt2576]

@@Georgianmapping19283maybe the future of prosperity lies more with Russia China and the east instead of the crippling European Union.. why as a Georgian who truly loves his country would u want to join the EU? First, they just play with you and use u s a pawn when attacked (see Ukraine), second, all eastern european countries who joined EU are in even more shambles now as they have no more youth left as all young people try to move to Europe (see Croatia). The problem is that if u come to Western Europe as someone who got educated in Georgia, nobody will hire you, as the competition is too high… unless u like to be a cleaner with a ph.d. As a Swiss I can honestly tell u that even locals in Western European countries like Italy etc. struggle to make ends meet and survive … see fertility crisis

[@PapaFeo]

Yep he lost all credibility to me when he started talking about saakashvili. bro is a yepper that simply looked at things on surface level

[@hermaeusmora2945]

AND ol' Saakashvili was a US agent that just so happened to get a nice cushy job in UKRAINE when he fled Georgia (prior to arrest).

[@lifelesspile]

THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT US! 🇬🇪🇪🇺

[@sandro11235]

I love TLDR for calling them what they are - ‘pro-Russian’. Thanks for the great reporting x

[@mrboxheadd748]

REPORTING BS THESE PRO-NATO THUGS DON'T WANT TRANSPARENCY THEY WANT TO HIDE NATO FUNDED RIOTERS AND CHAOS

[@RUTHLESSambition5]

Pro Russian?? This is an American law😂😂This law is word for word copied from the American law. This channel counts on people like you that are uneducated about subjects like this

[@user-yg4nl2ex5r]

@@RUTHLESSambition5That's why you here😅

[@RUTHLESSambition5]

@@user-yg4nl2ex5r great comeback😂😂 These fools are protesting a law the west has😂😂😂😂😂😂 Good lord this is cringe

[@elljay13]

@@RUTHLESSambition5​​⁠Read the laws first. This law is a quite literally a direct translation from the Russian one. The American law you’re talking about, FARA, does not concern media and NGOs. FARA is meant to control actual propaganda, and to this day doesn’t have any media companies registered, or NGOs that do get funding from other countries. There’s a similar law in Australia, which, like the US, directly states that it applies to people/organizations working under and for the good of other countries’ political parties, for example. All these countries also have a list of possible ‘threat countries’, like Canada adopting this law after Chinese attempts of election interference. This law meanwhile, is aimed towards the EU member countries or the US, the funding from which is crucial for most organizations in Georgia. None of these laws restrict the free functioning of media or NGOs in these countries, but the Russian law does. That’s why us Georgians don’t like or agree with this law, which is directly taken from the Russian one. It’s repressive and directly contradicts our wishes for eurointegration and halts our democratic processes.

[@khookeekeng]

Smells like Victoria Nuland is here 😢

[@ro--M]

What does she smell like?

[@crkn8771]

@@ro--M cookies

[@ro--M]

@@crkn8771 Which ones?

[@mesh01550]

Oh my?? Is this history doomed to repeat itself all over again

[@adampgrm]

"Pro-Russian" law is when you want people receiving 20%+ of their income from foreign governments to disclose that fact. The pro-EU political opposition is now in the streets rioting. I wonder why?

[@meso8848]

it will yes... US loves to meddle in ex Soviet Republics!!

[@vladimirgorelov8633]

Saakashvili is in prison. You didn’t think it necessary to say why?

[@WSCGoat]

Why would he, its not like he has stolen hundreds of millions from Georgian citizens or caused Georgia to have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Maybe we should ask one of his (publicly funded) prostitutes if all of this is true.

[@SlabtheKiller89]

Would it cost you much to mention why?

[@nickkhutsishvili89]

He needs to be in prison

[@marseldagistani1989]

​@@nickkhutsishvili89 For what? Being pro Europe and Anti Russian?

[@SlabtheKiller89]

@@marseldagistani1989 wikipedia says charges of abuse of power and organizing the beating of an opposing politician.

[@magnvss]

If you are a dispassionate observer from anywhere in the world other than the West (or Europe), this bill doesn't sound particularly crazy. Why wouldn't you support the disclosure of every organization that receives a significant portion of its funding from foreign sources? What would the USA say if it were the Chinese who funded certain media outlets that, curiously, seem overly interested in news that encourages public protest? What if it's a media outlet or organization promoting agendas aimed at selling or buying things that don't align with national interests? Why would it be wrong for these NGOs to disclose the origin of their funds and provide annual financial statements? Understanding their activities can improve transparency and accountability. This can help in assessing the extent of foreign influence and funding in domestic organizations and media outlets, thereby ensuring transparency in their operations. As for the potential influence of European funds instead of Russian ones, why would it be beneficial for Georgia (or any country) to conceal another 'master', instead of disclosing any funds, regardless of their origin, that have foreign backing (whether Russian, Chinese, European, or American)? Wouldn't it be right for Georgians to know who is influencing discussions regarding their national interests? If an NGO (etc.) is financed by Russia or China, or any other entity, and strongly advocates agendas that diverge from national interests, wouldn't it be better to understand why such funds are being directed towards them? Such interference could also undermine democratic processes. If you don't know who is supporting certain agendas in a small and economically disadvantaged country, what can a small politician do against another politician who, indirectly, through support from a favorable NGO with its media, receives substantial financial backing for interests originating abroad? Finally, Georgians fear the Russian threat, which is understandable given the historical context of Russia's annexation of parts of their country under the guise of ethnic differences. However, the EU offers no guarantees other than potentially draining the country of its youth (as has already happened in countries like Bulgaria), who see better prospects for work and life in EU countries, leaving the country to stagnate with an aging population, mounting debts, and a perpetual dependence on the EU for survival each passing year.

[@i34g5jj5ssx]

It does not sound crazy because it is not crazy at all. This law is a measure against foreign influence (including Russia), so if someone is against it, that means that someone is prioritising foreign interests instead of Georgian ones. In these protests we see how Western funded NGOs have severe problem with this law just because it does not allow them to impersonate as Georgian organisations.

[@randomjake1488]

This is just a ChatGPT Russian bot trying in very possible way to make a bill that 75% of the population doesn’t want popular when it will never be because European or American funded institutions aren’t the issues, really because there aren’t any. But the pro Russian organizations that ultimately want to succeed and continue the 2008 war are.

[@bussesandtrains1218]

it will be used by the government to brand the opposition as traitors. same shit happened in russia

[@bobmarli6095]

“Georgia has developed into a two party state” so essentially what the UK and USA is

[@cgt3704]

Which is amusing since the USA already has a state called Georgia

[@Cannon952]

@@cgt3704 hilarious

[@nodarikirtadze8220]

Yeah, but there are independent democratic institutions in US and UK, like the free court which make sure a single party doesn't take the initative to create an authoritarian regime. This is not true for Georgia, therefore we only had 2 changes of government in the last 30 years. Both UNM and Georgian Dream ruled the country according to their leaders wishes and financial intrest while capitalizing all power into a single hand.

[@kmjsjeheh1417]

Yes FORY Nice 🇬🇪🇪🇺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@iraklitchigladze9729]

Couldn't be further from the truth. There's GD, which uses administrative resources to get a solid 40% (+ or - 10%, hopefully it will be minus come this election). The rest of the vote is pretty fragmented, there is no one large opposition party. And that's how it should be to be honest

[@sophiko-lagvilava]

Perfect analysis 👍❤👌

[@dinontricer]

I watched Wikipedia i searched Georgian dream theres no russophila as ideology

[@Onkelkjell.]

Props to you man if your information source is Wikipedia😂

[@OPPER_HAMMER]

becuse they are pro russia but peole hates russia just like me

[@caad5258]

Yeah because Politicians are typically honest about what they believe in their Wikipedia pages.

[@luishernandezblonde]

It's up for us to speed up ascension to the European Union for Georgia, Moldova and Armenia, as well as include new members like Norway.

[@nenasiek]

Norway dont wanna join last tine i checked, and if we dont get the tier system i will be for my country (sweden) leaving. I dont want other countries deciding everything (laws and regulations)

[@bussesandtrains1218]

georgia isn't going to join any time soon sadly

[@fatherofthenoo]

Does anything good ever come from being close to Russia?

[@jossiesh7649]

Why are you blaming Russia? This happening in Georgia

[@tttuu3309]

It’s not a Russian problem but clearly the west making sure Russia focus on defending thr countries against neighboring countries to halt thr rise and support of other small nations around the world

[@diversified170]

@@jossiesh7649 because georgian government is controlled by russia :) you know this but you act its not like that.

[@kieragard]

​@@jossiesh7649 are you completely ignorant of what's happening in Europe😂

[@LAZISH]

Nope:))))) Being Russia's neighbor deeply sucks:)))) As Georgian I testify this:)))))))

[@gilpolin3261]

Honestly the law seems quite sensible… If a media outlet is sponsored 20% or more by foreign player, i would like to know

[@caad5258]

Yeah a failure in TLDRs reporting for not detailing why the Protestors and the EU are critical of the law. The devil is always in the detail. From what i've read, the main problem is that this law will enable the ruling party to crack down on civil society, and consolidate power. This is what happened in 2012 when Russia passed its own NGO law. It was enforced selectively to target orgs and people that were critical of the ruling government. Journalists, activists and aid workers.

[@Miamcoline]

Very well said and contextualised. Thank you. Very sick of news outlets regurgitating Russian narratives as if there were any validity to them, without serious framing. Poor Georgia. They deserve a lot better.

[@hus390]

Not really!! It’s fine to have FARA law in 🇺🇸(Foreign Agents Registration Act), and jail those who violate it. But when Georgia and other countries do that, it’s a threat to freedoms and democracy?🧐

[@voice.of.reason]

@@hus390 Yes, this law is good for Georgia, it protects it against foreign interference - including from Russia! People are happy,, apart from the EU paid protesters

[@dirckthedork-knight1201]

​@@hus390 Its almost as if the West only cares about maintaining its hegemony and doesn't actually care about democracy or something

[@lunachu8691]

It must be a difficult decision for Georgians. Do they join the EU and undergo gigantic economic growth like other Eastern European countries, receive huge EU infrastructure investment and reduce corruption, OR, seek closer ties with Russia who have tanks on their soil, are building a naval base on Georgian territory and are bankrupting themselves through a disastrous military blunder?

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

but if they do that the EU will poison the georgian water supply and turn them all gay.

[@andrewrogers3067]

Hungary, Bulgaria and numerous EU Eastern European nations experienced a horrible demographic crisis after they joined the EU since freedom of movement caused a brain drain of skilled workers. So while I do think the EU is preferable it isn’t perfect.

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

​@@andrewrogers3067it's not eu fault. Workers want better wages. They would still immigrate even though they will face more hurdles

[@lydiazielinski]

​@@ShubhamMishrabro 😅

[@danielutriabrooks477]

​@ShubhamMishrabroThe benefits are entirely thanks to you, but the downsides are not your fault. Got it

[@sammyzord]

Are we in 2008?

[@Ceiteach.O.Duibhir]

If time travel were possible i'd go back to that year I'd jump at the chance to give my younger self a well needed reality check on what's to come in the future😂

[@danielutriabrooks477]

​@@Ceiteach.O.Duibhir"Hey, kid. Buy crypto now"

[@mamuka815]

November 2003, Roses with minor changes. Pretty similar.

[@n0name264]

I'll just remind you how this law works in Russia. There is a civil activist and blogger Ilya Pigalkin in the Russian city of Ivanovo. He is not affiliated with any foreign organization. He was just an observer at the local elections. Once his female neighbor borrowed 2,000 rubles ($25) from him, and then her husband repaid the debt with a transfer from his bank card. The husband at that time was a citizen of Afghanistan, then he obtained Russian citizenship. And this bank transfer became the reason for declaring Pigalkin a "foreign agent". This is no joke: a neighbor paid back a debt and the man was declared a foreign agent. All because the ruling party doesn't need honest election observers.

[@Silver_Prussian]

What a nice story how much time did it took you to make it ? It must have taken you like 20 minutes to think about, the names the scenario, the countries. The law is very simple and very clear any ngo or person recieving money from a foreign government or foreign government backed organisations must declare themselves as foreign agents (in a sense they are) they receive money to spread a certain narrative and agenda that most likely serves foreign interests so its only fair that they state their funding.

[@Silver_Prussian]

What a nice story how much time did it took you to make it ? It must have taken you like 20 minutes to think about, the names the scenario, the countries. The law is very simple and very clear any ngo or person recieving money from a foreign government or foreign government backed organisations must declare themselves as foreign agents (in a sense they are) they receive money to spread a certain narrative and agenda that most likely serves foreign interests so its only fair that they state their funding.

[@giorgikhmiadashvili5913]

Thank you for reviewing it ❤ make it more public ❤❤❤

[@mb-jq1gn]

Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA - US act

[@NBer0]

Don't make false claims if u aren't Informed. 1. The Georgian law differs from the US law in its requirements for local grant recipients, lacking the stipulation of control by or acting on behalf of a foreign power. 2. In contrast to the US law, which does not automatically designate recipients of foreign funds as foreign agents, the Georgian law assumes such designation solely based on receiving foreign funds, even for organizations acting in the interest of Georgia. 3. Under the US FARA, exemptions are granted to various entities, including humanitarian aid organizations, religious, academic, and media organizations with foreign ownership not directed by a foreign power, allies of the United States, and legal representatives in legal proceedings. However, the Georgian law does not provide exemptions for these entities or activities. . . . I can go on forever.

[@TakoGoksadze]

whom do you think you are lying to? we are familiar with all this propaganda already, say something new :D

[@OPPER_HAMMER]

yes in 20th century you are funny ivan

[@jron20r51]

Yes funny how the US can havea bill like this, but Georgia can't?

[@jdg9999]

You gloss over the bit where Georgia started the war, eh?

[@nutsabenidze581]

Because Georgia didn’t?

[@Georgianmapping19283]

When did georgia start the war? In 2008? Thats when Russia did. Maybe, you are talkking about old ages.

[@jdg9999]

@@Georgianmapping19283 Lol, even the EU report on the war, not exactly pro Russian, says that Georgia was responsible, which caused many Georgian politicians to accuse the EU of "betraying them". And before you play dumb, there's a story on it in Reuters (a British, utterly establishment, pro Western source that is never pro Russian) about it: "Georgia started war with Russia: EU-backed report" is the headline. To some extent I sympathize with Georgian anger over the war, because they did in fact think America had given them tacit approval to attack, and then when they did it the Americans failed to back them up. But it is nonetheless established fact that Georgia started the war.

[@jdg9999]

@@nutsabenidze581 Reuters headline; "Georgia started war with Russia: EU-backed report" The most pro neoliberal news source, and a report from the most pro neoliberal, anti Russian insitution in the world. Don't let facts get in the way of your neocon brainwashing though.

[@Georgianmapping19283]

@jdg9999 what is your proof of Georgia starting the war except brlieving in unreliable sources? Probably, south ossetia bombing Georgian houses.

[@alekhandro89]

Portraying Saakashvili as democratic and pro-Western is the exact problem of all this. His party have grew several smaller branches; his political leaders established most powerful NGOs in the country who now are advocating against the rulling party and labeling everything they do as Ruzzian. Saakashvili is the one who sold all strategic companies and facilities to Ruzzia (GWE), his foreign minister in 2008 was Grigol Vashadze who at the time held Ruzzian citizenship and was (?) previously KGB member. He then ran for presidency (2018), where his PR campaign was run by Russian company and his wife same year took a medal from Putin, while thanking him to be "the best president in the world". Saakashvili aslo agreed on UN resolution that hindered Georgia for 2008 war with Ruzzia claiming that Georgia initiated the fire in Samachablo. He also greeted Ruzzians on the boarder (literally month after the war), while removing visa-requirements for them in 2010. His ministers kept selling state-companies and receiving investments from Ruzzian state actors, while Merabishvili (Internal affairs minister) and Bendukidze (minister of economy, who previously was in charge of Putin's state economical board) stated in the Parliament that "Money does not smell, whether its Ruzzian or not". He surpressed every independent media by force (Imedi, Maestro TV, Kavkasia TV, Channel 9, Iberia TV, etc). It was a police state, where 99% of court cases were decided in favour of the state. These are just facts and you can call him pro-western as much as you want, but reality is different.

[@thecomrade302]

"or the support of NGOs"... kind of reveals the truth right there.

[@kart_velian18_91]

As Georgian, I wish peace to my country and EU membership asap 🇬🇪🇪🇺

[@GEZ_Inkasso]

EU already has exactly the same law as you are fighting against. When joining EU you gain some peace in exchange for your freedom. EU Politcal elite in Bruxelles will oppress their laws and rules onto your country and your own government will lose more and more of its power every single day. Do you really want this?

[@kmjsjeheh1417]

Yes FORY Nice 🇬🇪🇪🇺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@Nezalezhnyi]

Georgians are strong, I believe you will end up in the EU soon. Much love from Ukraine 🇺🇦❤️🇬🇪

[@kart_velian18_91]

@@Nezalezhnyi You are strong people too, Ukraine. I hope we will both become an EU member 🇪🇺 and defeat our common enemy! (🇬🇪🇺🇦)🤜🇷🇺

[@vespercore8882]

As an american, wish you lgbt freedom! There is no democracy without love! You need more gays in goverment, to free from bloody russian aggression!

[@thejourney6712]

I wish my country had a law like this. I dont see a problem with it

[@tonylyons7711]

Good on Georgia 🇬🇪. Keep standing your ground against Vladimir Hitler..

[@kmjsjeheh1417]

Yes FORY Nice 🇬🇪🇪🇺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@vasilijesamardzic4151]

Ah so at the end you admit NGOs get involved in internal politics of a country. Why shouldnt they be considered foreign agents ?

[@Lewa500]

Because that's not what the law is intended for, as seen in Russia. It's intended to suppress dissent by cracking down on those that have been labeled as such, even if they've done nothing wrong.

[@kevChess]

Can some explain to me why they are protesting AGAINST transparency!?

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

The law is ironically transparently not in good faith and only meant to be used selectively to suppress political dissent.

[@temoffon8226]

cause theyre slaves

[@alexandersamsonidze4026]

Cuz the law is not for transparency... Duh.

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

@@ND-yc7ij as you are only a 2 week account that (likely from a disinformation unit) does not see exactly how this law will be abused to suppress dissenting voices I shall simply remind you that their government itself has not been aublt about how they will selectively enforce it.

[@kevChess]

@@cynthiaherbst3909 But if it was applied to everyone you admit no one should have a problem with it right? In principle it seems like a pretty good law...

[@emermage]

But what is so bad and undemocratic about funds disclosure?

[@gringo6362]

In russia they just made everyone who doesn't support Putin "a foreign agent"

[@florianpollard3460]

TLDR, i just want to say i appreciate the content. In todays world your media is almost the most nuanced out there. Hard to find unweaponized media nowadays.

[@user-ld6jv3vc3b]

We have a day of family strength in Georgia and we go out in every Citys to protect our nation 🇬🇪🙏🙏🙏

[@przemslaw]

NGO abbreviation is never explained and one needs to google it

[@rrinterieur6842]

As an Armenian i know what they are going through. Pro Russian goverment is even worse than Russia.

[@JmKrokY]

Sad

[@vespercore8882]

As an British we support georgian lgbt freedom! They need more trans genders rights! Freedom to georgia! Freedom to georgia gays!

[@NewFortniteEvent]

​@@vespercore8882mf in one of the comments you mentioned that you were american and now ur a brit?

[@dirckthedork-knight1201]

You've been brainwashed

[@user-hy8wn2oz9v]

1:27 incorrect map

[@davidhall7744]

Has anyone else complained to you that the shaky grid background on your graphics is somewhat triggering?

[@joehead4081]

Hopefully Georgia doesn't drift too much further west. I don't think it's a good idea to fully submerge the country in the Black Sea.

[@voice.of.reason]

Classic example of people not knowing anything about Georgia like 99% of comments here

[@Onkelkjell.]

We got a jokster here

[@OPPER_HAMMER]

you dont decide where my country goes buddy

[@franzyuri5751]

Really poorly explained video. If the majority of Georgians want to be closer to the EU you should explain better how a pro Russia party was elected...

[@meso8848]

Europe should mind their own business rather than trying to destroy Georgia just like they are destroying Ukraine

[@hus390]

@@meso8848 It’s fine to have FARA law in 🇺🇸(Foreign Agents Registration Act), and jail those who violate it. But when Georgia and other countries do that, it’s a threat to freedoms and democracy?🧐

[@meso8848]

@@hus390 👏 well said .. unfortunately less people see it this way (the FARA thing).. the worst thing is that on news they blame Russia by saying it’s Russian law while originally it’s US 🤦‍♂️

[@giorgilobzhanidze1095]

at the time when they were elected they were posing as pro Western and the relations with the west the did prosper and deepen, it just until recently they decided to copy the best practice for authoritarian regimes and use it here. Until then there were not many signs of treason.

[@mariamhgg]

The leader of that pro Russian party is still calming that they will lead Georgia to join EU by 2030. It's not just the bill honestly past few weeks also leaders of this same party are holding meetings with people, mostly in rural areas of Georgia with very open anti-LGBT agenda, started talking about banning/restricting abortions and questioned woman's capabilities of parenthood as single mothers as a way to envision EU as an enemy. Up untill now they managed to mask their pro Rusaian interests, but now it's clear for everyone with two braincells what values they have...

[@Bruce12349]

Fight for your FREEDOM!

[@jovanlipovatz4503]

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a US law passed in 1938, requiring foreign agents in the US who represent the interests of foreign powers in a "political or quasi-political capacity" to disclose their relationships with a foreign government and information about related activities and finances.

[@taipizzalord4463]

This is Good! The UK needs a similar law disclosing funding of NGO's ThinkTanks and Media Organisations.

[@jirislavicek9954]

Every country on the planet needs this 👍 There is enough American / Russian / Chinese / globalist agenda and interference pushed through these harmful NGOs.

[@Drakkenite]

Man I don't get it. I'm American and this bill sounds great! All NGOs should have to reveal their source of income, and many, if not most, are foreign agents.

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

If it were in good faith. It won't be. You see when authoritarian leaning or outright authoritarian promise transparency, it is to maximize the identification and suppression of any and all political opposition by labeling them as "foreign agents". What's more, not a single Pro Russian government is even subtle about exactly what they really intend to do with said laws.

[@temoffon8226]

​@@cynthiaherbst3909you really need to calm down

[@jirislavicek9954]

Exactly! 👍 Every country on the planet desperately needs this law! NGOs are mercenaries for the global elite a the biggest force that subverts democracy.

[@dzonikg28]

At least one men for USA that is honest, I am from ex Yugoslavia and in 1989 I first time listen to radio call " Radio free europe" on local station,, I was listening how communism sucks, how people off Yugoslavia should be free, I was then how is this even allowed. In just 2 years we had war. I only learned 30 years after that radio station is Actually US government and has nothing to do with Europe at all like I thought and they were paying local station money for emitting they well prepared crap to make a chaos

[@user-xw3vi4nk2y]

Yes. But those with nefarious intentions prefer secrecy.

[@peterrobertnixon2243]

The first half of the video focuses on clandestine Russian influence in Georgia. The second half states that a law requiring transparency of ngos to disclose foreign influence is a bad thing. Weird

[@Samada500]

გავიმარჯვებთ სახელოვნად! არა რუსულ კანონს!

[@bug4099]

ყველა ერთობით ევროპისკენ ✊🇪🇺🇬🇪

[@temoffon8226]

😀😀😀 რა რუსულ კანონს?

[@catalinaros641]

​@@temoffon8226არა დედაშენის ტრიპერიანი მუტლიდან გამომძვრალ ბრმა მატლებს, such as yourself

[@dagotauri]

@@temoffon8226 დედისტყვნა რუსულ კანონს

[@bug4099]

@@temoffon8226 აუ აქაც ხართ ტროლები? 😓😭😂

[@calmyourminditdeservesit..2223]

Georgia wants the money circulation of the NGO sector and their goals to be transparent, why do you think that this is not democratic? Why should a project implemented by the NGO sector be covered?

[@JuanMarioShalvarez]

That's not the only thing in the law. Even that part will prove to have some extremely exploitable loopholes, but the main, and worst thing about the law is that it gives government agencies right to temporarily(which means indefinitely) forbid organization(which is almost anyone because most of Georgian economy is built upon foreign income) from operating. And yes, there's NO NEED for justification for "temporary" stopping NGO. One day one corrupt bureaucrat can straight up WISH to stop your activities and you have no countermeasure. It's a prescription for complete autocracy. Unfortunately, up until now every Georgian government employed it's elements. In 90s they did it with corruption. In 2000's they did it with iron fist. Currently we have an attempt of both.

[@whitemoon5752]

US also has similar law under national security.

[@joergquasnowitz3495]

It would be interesting to know, if people like Bidzina Ivanishvili and media that support him would have to report the funds they have received from outside Georgia under the proposed law, or if only the opposition would be targeted.

[@hilaryhongkong]

I was in Georgia (Armenia border-Tbilisi-Gori-Sighnaghi) over the past weekend and saw absolutely nothing.

[@loserstuff4346]

well you obviously missed a massive protest in central streets of Tbilisi on Sunday evening, the attendance was at least very impressive

[@temoffon8226]

​@@loserstuff4346on monday there was a much bigger pro government rally

[@georger1599]

how can anyone pretend like transparency is bad, especially when its about funding from foreign nations

[@deadboy9955]

In western countries, such laws would be applied in a fair and just way. In post soviet countries, such laws are generally used to suppress opposition and monopolize power. We call it "The Ruzzian law" because in Russia there are many cases of such "foreign agents" being persecuted, restricted from participating as political parties and many more.

[@TurtleTurtle-ii3lq]

@@deadboy9955 Especially those who want to introduce GMO's (banned in Russia), transfer farmland from farmers to agrobusiness companies, or LGBTP crap ideology and similar westerner "achievements".

[@hermaeusmora2945]

@@deadboy9955 No, it's just slandered as "Russian" to get people to oppose it. Do your research, it's through NGOs that people like Soros and the CIA infiltrate countries and reak havoc. All Color Revolutions have CIA finger prints on them, look it up!!

[@bussesandtrains1218]

because it gives the government the power to declare anyone with foreign ties as an enemy of the state

[@hermaeusmora2945]

@@bussesandtrains1218 Why is that necessarily a bad thing? The CIA and George Soros are two people that have used NGO's to undermine the national sovereignty of people. Exposing these type of people BEFORE they can ruin a country is a good thing, don't you think?

[@GiorgiBekurashvili]

Damn, watching this kind of videos about my country, while being on these protests, hits hard ...

[@LeMilk]

From the very early days of Georgia, way back from the ancient times the country strove towards Europe and had an outstanding political and trade relationship with the western civilized world. Being an integral part of Europe along with many other countries is not a wish of the present, but a mission and legacy which our ancestors left us to achieve and fulfil.

[@Cheattoe]

From one Georgia to another bless your fight for freedom!

[@kaboonali5466]

Tell us why you are not fighting the same law in the US? Why are foreign agents banned but you want another nation to allow your NGOs to run a mock

[@NewsGuyFred]

@@kaboonali5466 ​​⁠you offer nothing to back your argument- that’s typically the work of a Beijing or Moscow “worker”. But please do expand on your point. What US law is the same and how the situations the same?

[@Cheattoe]

@@NewsGuyFred I know right?! What’s this bot trying say lmao 😂

[@dzonikg28]

So foregeint NGOs that want chaos in country is freedom lol

[@namelessking8905]

What in the bill will take their freedom away? How is disclosing foreign funding any danger to them? Unless they have an ulterior motive?

[@andrewdunbar828]

I seem to recall that for a while Adjara was also at risk of being lost but ultimately stayed with Georgia.

[@Los_Altos_Mapper_89]

isnt that where erdogan is from?

[@user-si1bb4zj5o]

Аджария не граничила с Россией. Россия не могла туда отправлять своих наемников как в Абхазию и южную Осетию и на донбасс

[@Naviamold]

That was an attempt made by the living piece of shit named “Aslan Abashidze”. He didn’t like that the pro-Russian president Shevardnadze was overthrown by pro-Western Saakashvili. Thus he declared mobilization of troops. Unfortunately for that garbage, noone in Adjara sided with him and thus he was ousted and fled to Russia with bunch of stolen money from Adjarian state.

[@Raised_by_God]

Very well laid out 👍🏻

[@wessexfox5197]

So why is this bill unpopular? Surely it’s a good thing to know about foreign influence and involvement in your own country. If NGOs have nothing to hide then why should they fear this law.

[@udhayakumarMN]

Maidan 2.0

[@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrection]

AKA Insurrection and Coup

[@ZviadiZviadauriVelox]

Wrong. Ukraine is way behind Georgia in many ways, including that. We already had wars with Russia and ‘Maidan’ in 2003. Maidan was the Rose Revolution 2.0

[@temoffon8226]

we the Georgian people, will not let that happen. Our institutions are on a high level as well. so everything will be a o k.

[@thefpvlife7785]

Please fight for your freedom Georgia. Russia is a dictatorship so fight back.

[@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrection]

I say the same thing about my American government.

[@AgentHigh5]

Sure thing """@@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrection""". In fact, I think I too am an American today ;)

[@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrection]

@@AgentHigh5 go away echo chamber person

[@vespercore8882]

As an British we support georgian lgbt freedom! They need more trans genders rights! Freedom to georgia! Freedom to georgia gays!

[@Georgianmapping19283]

​@@vespercore8882troll

[@jaedme]

I don't see why countries shouldn't try to prevent foreign influence? Shouldn't the media be funded by the people within the country?

[@datolapauri2918]

As a Georgian you missed or didnt cover a lot of signifficant events and details.Wouldnt say your video is too relible but still some facts that you stated are very true

[@temoffon8226]

whole thing is just fake. our government isnt proRussian in any way.

[@Matt_from_Florida]

So you're against transparency? Wow.

[@Theman-qs9vw]

As someone who knows nothing about the topic, can someone explain why the foreign agents law is such a bad thing? How does NGOs having to disclose sources of funding hurt democracy? It seems at least somewhat reasonable on a conceptual level? In general I'm pro-transparency in almost all circumstances, but given the backlash in this situation it seems like I'm missing something important.

[@zanizone3617]

If you are genuinely interested, there's a video from the channel The Researcher (a Russian KZbinr, BTW), that details how a similar law has been used as a starting point and gradually expanded, in Russia, to choke out all opposition and gain full authoritarian control. It also explains the difference between that law and similar ones existing in democratic countries like the US.

[@onceupongeorgia]

@@zanizone3617Russia isn’t Georgia. Georgian dream was in the government 12 years and during this time media is free, which it never was, proved by strasburg. So, your worries hasn’t evidence

[@PonutsAreGreat]

It means any media organization or NGO which receives part or all of it's funding from abroad, operating in your country is labeled as a "foreign agent" and can face sanctions from the government. In practice it is a perfect way of curbing Western intelligence operations since they heavily rely on such tactics. For example Russia's way to influence country's is through trade agreements, they generally never concern themselves with the politics of the country itself as long as they aren't blatantly against Russia or try to join a hostile military alliance.

[@LAZISH]

​@@onceupongeorgia Georgian dream has sucked from the very beginning and had been a tots Russian soft-power project. Local fools could not realize this. Now we have the Georgian Dream with "no cap" lolz.

[@Theman-qs9vw]

@@zanizone3617 I know these laws proved to be a slippery slope in Russia, but that seems to be more the fault of the government than the law itself. I understand that a lot of Georgians are opposed to it, but a large percent of the population approves of it. Are all those people just morons? I feel in many situations the opponent at least has some sort of argument, but I guess it could be as bad as u say…

[@RedBlackDish]

5:50 "independent NGO... receiving more than 20% of it's funding from abroad" More like "innocent murderers" or "dry rain"

[@marianakremser3292]

they have been in all the structures for decades, you can't defeat them because you don't know where they are...in all the structures....

[@gp-1542]

I doubt Russia will do a “special military operation” electric boogaloo in Georgia

[@meso8848]

we're talking about Georgia not Russia.. but of course you need to leave Transnistria alone otherwise yes Russia will do something about it!!!! Never forget what Saakashvili did back in 2008 uh !!!

[@lukasvitkauskas9811]

I don't understand the problem with NGOs having to be transparent with what they're funded by. On paper this sounds like it should be a thing everywhere including the west. I feel like people oppose this law just because they know those hidden fund sources help their cause. I'd appreciate if someone could enlighten me with a non-partisan point why influential NGO's shouldn't declare where their funding comes from.

[@sandromdivani9935]

NGO already are displaying who are they founded by right now and people can see it freely, but with this law as a know they will be Lebbeld as "foreign agents" And government will use this law not in "American way" but in "Russian way"(suppresing AGO, suppress opposition groups, control elections, )

[@dzonikg28]

​​@@sandromdivani9935Because they are foregeint agents, I had female friend from secondary school, one fat girl who no one liked, while I was learning hard and studing university she start working at one NGO and it was here only job, every day she would say and write trash about my own country, when I finish university she allready bought 2 new appartments and new German car with 0 working anywhere gb

[@ratitsiklauri1468]

NGOs, as any other comercial and non-comercial organizations already have to disclose their finances and funding. We have a law for that since forever. Problems with new law are: 1.)Allows government to shut down any NGO or news media for months just based on anonymous tip without any court procedure (they will come to you for 'checkup' take all the equipment and servers and you need to wait until they decide if the tip was correct or not... again outside of court, just some government department). 2.)Government can take and publish any personal information stored by those organizations and media. (again, if someone, for example, went to the media anonymously and said anything against government they will have right to find out who the person was). 3.)It makes no distinction between friendly and unfriendly countries and doesn't require for government to prove that you are being influenced from outside. (in FARA and europan versions prosecution needs to prove that you are a foreign agent in the court to be on the list but in Russian and new Georgian law there are no such demands). 4.) In Russia they soon used this law as blacklist and added more and more restrictions, our government will do the same for sure.

[@TheYellowKing779]

Look how they try to mimic a fraction of our strength

[@user-ks3ds4pu1h]

We Georgians need peace this hard situation around us!! So no matter what we need right now, no NATO if we have to die ✊ we survived until now and we will continue it with god, as always

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

Why is it so controversial that NGO's have to disclose who's funding them? That doesn't make any sense, it's a pretty reasonable rule. There must be more to it than that.

[@Pizzonia295]

They already disclose that. It is controversial to call them foreign agents.

[@temoffon8226]

​@@Pizzonia295there is no such word as "agent" in a bill. and no, they dont disclose anything.

[@corenwalts]

It's controversial because they will be controlled by the government after this. Every organization has to write their names as agents (now they changed this specific word for "influence" but content is absolutely the same, they said that too) and give their personal info, who works there, who went to get help to this organisations and that way they can scare people by relieving their personal info because our government is corrupt and if sth is against them, they will know and stop the process. Government will become all powerful without critical media and organizations, we don't want that, we know they only want money and power. Law itself, if the content were differently written, wpuld be good. But in our case it means losing of freedom, so BIG NO!

[@ratitsiklauri1468]

All Commercial and non-commercial organizations in Georgia are required by the law to disclose their finances and funding(including NGOs) problem is that this law allows government to functionally shut down any NGO for months without a court order plus extract and publish any personal information stored by these organisations.

[@temoffon8226]

@@ratitsiklauri1468 no theyre not required. they disclose whatever they want on their webstes.

[@datdumbguy1067]

“Hi yes i am western, i love you Europe and What you stand for, now, let me vote In this extremely Anti-Europe party which discriminates against minorities and people who aren’t at fault for Their background. Now Then let me proceed to do the exact thing our government does and get angry when you reject me!” Georgia is confusing to me, on one hand i love Them and want to see the best for Them, But on the other i have No fucking clue What Their plan is.

[@VakhtangBerikashvili]

We don't know either. Nobody understands what is happening inside our paranoiac rulers mind.

[@VakhtangBerikashvili]

Thus, we have (as a society) the plan to NOT GIVE UP our Independence, Liberty and Western values.

[@BernasLL]

Rigged elections are "very confusing." Voter intimidation, and use of government power and resources in service of the ruling party's campaign. Particularly to get old people to vote, raised in pro-russian authoritarianism and comfortably subsidized by the ruling party as the young struggle and lack opportunity.

[@Brown95P]

Well yes, that is populism in a shellnut, indeed. Then again, it could also be genuinely rigged elections; wouldn't be the first in the region.

[@datdumbguy1067]

@@VakhtangBerikashvili 💪Good to know!

[@maanvol]

Salome Zourabichvili: French J$w! So, how come she is president of Georgia! She is a disciple of Zbigniew Brzezinski now you know what time it is!

[@OPPER_HAMMER]

stop making up some fantasy shit bro

[@eagleeye182]

Irakli Kobakhidze`s forlorn attempt to persuade the Georgian public of this draft bill`s harmlessness is absolutely preposterous. What do you take us for Mr. bushy head, huh?

[@shiftystheory7862]

I am still not understanding what the issue is with having NGOs declare their foreign influence is? Is the problem registering as foreign agents? I dont see a problem with having the population know openly that a group has foreign influence due to taking foreign money.

[@ignasmatulevicius7953]

That in inself isnt the problem, label is. Because you are treated as national security threat and you could be shut down without really a reason why. So basically sort of censorship

[@Bayard1503]

Oh but it's not only about foreign money, you basically need to make public every donor, I mean that's how you prove if your money comes from another country or not, right?? So then the government will know who is giving money to what NGO... for individual citizens that's a big problem. Anyway, these laws always lead to the same result: foreign money stops and then the NGOs are closed through different pressure mechanisms.

[@magalicochet4327]

I didn't understand it either when Russia did the same thing. But the fact is Russia used these kind of laws to crush freedom of the press, and destroy any opposition to Poutine.

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

because the label is ultimately used for the purposes of censorship and cracking down on any media not tied to government control. its a step 1-step 2 prcess. -first the government labels organizations critical towards it as being "foreign influenced", which is already vague. and more often than not, very arbitrary since a lot of organizations are influenced indirectly by foreign forces. the goverment of georgia is deeply tied to russia, but because its both governmental and ran by georgian citizens its not considered "foreign influenced". its perverse. -secondly, the government decides to limit the reach and funding of these NGO's in favor of governmentally approved media and news. -thirdly, and lastly, it completely cracks down on NGO's in a bit to protect its "national security".

[@raheemharris766]

Why would a government want foreign interference ngo can shape public opinion most ngo are in the form of media which can shape who is elected by propaganda ect

[@MWBFurlong]

I think that law makes perfect sense. Any instuition that is operating in a country while being funded by foreign institutions should have to declare it. Seems perfectly reasonable to me. A free press shouldn't become a vehicle for foreign institutions to basically buy up the media and spread chaos or manipulate democracy.

[@P4NT5U]

Are you drunk or what? This law is used in Russia and if we use this law, we will literally become Russia

[@MWBFurlong]

@@P4NT5U That's a rediculous argument. If Russia has a law saying murder is illegal should we also campaign to not adopt that law too? If the law is used to only attack EU/US funded NGOs then yes, that would push Georgia towards Russia, but the law could just as easily be used against NGOs funded by Russia. All in all, if there are politically active organisations, particularly in the media, that are largely owned or funded by foreign countries then that should be made clear . . . . whether those organisations are funded by Russia, China, the US, EU, or Saudi Arabia. I'm British, not Georgian, and I 100% support any law that would force all organisations to disclose the sources of their funding.

[@temoffon8226]

they dont want us to have it, because they treat us like we're their colony. :)

[@Memphis-15bs]

​@@MWBFurlong Truth is the real reason for this law is to reduce US influence in Georgia. US and EU are funding NGOs and Medias to further their geopolitical and ideological interests. By this law NGOs will be forced to declare who really funds them as there been cases where they lied and also a way to control pro westerners aka homosexuals

[@EZIC_Official]

I got pepper sprayed

[@mgronich948]

No mention of the US law, Foreign Agents Registration Act. The US congress some years ago split the non-military part of the CIA to form the NED, which in turn funds NGOs. When these NGOs operate in democratic countries, they are some of the best at election meddling. Look at what NGOs brought to Ukraine.

[@defaultkoala2922]

The foreign agents thing is what really hits me as an outsider. In America we have issues with lobbying and campaign donations that are obscured through multiple orgs so we don't know who is buying our politicians. Forced transparency is nice but the issue is limiting it to only 'forign influence'

[@username7735]

The money coming from the West is already transparent, anyone can download pdfs and see where every penny goes. The big deal here is "registering as a foreign agent" meaning govt can now categorize "Western-influenced people" and pave grounds for persecuting them. It's like having a tattoo that says "opposition"

[@dontwalkdontrun]

We have a foreign agent law in the United States. If a foreign country pays you to advocate for an issue you must register with the DOJ or you go to prison.

[@thomasjohnson2862]

Question: are revolutions harder to achieve these days? Because governments have access to better military and surveillance technology than ever.

[@close_all_tabs]

I think technology has nothing to do with it. It depends more on the level of dissatisfaction with the standards of living in such places. Most of the time, you need to have a military backed movement in a large city or even the capital city to achieve a successful revolution. To get the military to have your back, there are two factors that could lead to this; - People protesting are in the vast majority (for example Bucharest, Romania '89, or Berlin, East-/West-Germany '89, or Iran '23 - now) - Police/military are acting for own motives (example Sudan '19- now, or Myanmar '21- now, or Iran '79)

[@hannibal7533]

revolution is harder these days not because government has better military and surveillance, it is harder because there are not the leaders who can actually lead and unite people

[@CaptainCobbler]

Not in Africa apparently, their governments don't have any money and that's why there are so many.

[@dzonikg28]

So why revolution if you lose elections??

[@alexzalk9860]

There is no democratic backsliding and Government is not pro-Russian. That perception comes from opposition

[@AurediumRiptide]

Georgia is being prepper for a Russian SMO. Originally Russian time schedule would dictate full control of Ukraine and Moldavië already but that didn't pan out. Currently Russia is holding back some of its arms production to invade Georgia under similar reasons as Ukraine. I am pretty certain Russia will launch this invasion in a few years from now regardless of the Ukraine war. The Russian delusional dreams of grandure must endure! (I am being sarcastic in that last line) Lets see if Russia will stick its paw in that bear trap.

[@krashme997]

Russia already had its own SMO in Georgia in 2008, and then declared two new "independent" republics in Georgia, the exact same as it did in Ukraine. Guess there might have been nazis hiding in the Geogian bushes, or it posed "security concerns" for Russia /s

[@franciscoduarte2190]

It does seem to be the case. Russia was already crumbling three years ago, the smo was a way to attempt to halt that process like all autocracies do. At this point it's either keep feeding its own population to the grinder or feed it the leadership. Thus, the population it is, sadly.

[@Medvedev_Dmitry2008]

The georgian problem was already resolved in 2008 there is no need to invade again

[@NKillBruh]

I think you mean Transnistria

[@cultural-and-historical]

@@franciscoduarte2190 how??

[@markojovanovski3372]

Mentioning "inequality" while talking about a 3x increase in wages and lower corruption is crazy. This is why people think youre biased

[@razeguy9639]

The current government has done pretty good economic reforms the current protest is mostly just sponsored by a radical opposition that blames everything on the government, some are actually their fault, some aren't.

[@jirislavicek9954]

I don't understand the people's obsession with equality