Eurasian Security and Geopolitical Risk | Eurasia Group Analyst | Author of “Stalin’s Millennial.”

May 28, 2024

A few minutes ago, I was standing in the heart of Washington, DC, facing the White House and holding my phone, watching a live feed from the Georgian Parliament on my phone. As anticipated, Georgian Dream MPs voted to overturn the presidential veto of the Russian-inspired #foreignagentlaw, shamelessly passing it after nearly two months of mass protests in Tbilisi and across the country.

This day marks a very dark chapter in our history. After more than three decades of great struggle and immense progress, 84 members of parliament voted against Georgia’s European future, succumbing to Russian demands and prioritizing political survival and self-interest. Their decision inflicts a profound wound on their own country and citizens.

The fight is far from over, but the masks are off—once and for all. The ruling regime has betrayed its people and their future, halting the country’s European path and inviting well-deserved punitive measures from Western allies. This demonstrates to the nation that the people’s interests and objectives don’t matter. What matters is self-preservation and absolute power, both of which inevitably corrupt.

Rest assured, the Georgian people will not give up until justice prevails. Georgia belongs, now and always, with Europe. A direct ticket back to the Soviet Union is not an option. Never again.