Kelly Degnan, the USA’s former Ambassador to Georgia, suggested that the reason for reintroducing the law on so-called Foreign Agents, which was previously rejected by the people, might be the upcoming October 26 parliamentary elections.
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On April 18, Kelly Degnan, who is now the foreign policy advisor to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, participated in a panel discussion in Bologna called Georgia - The Struggle for Democracy and Euro-Atlantic Integration. The translation of her statements was broadcast by Formula TV.
"Now Georgians are on the streets again as the ruling party initiates this Russian-style bill in parliament. It was passed in the first reading yesterday, and I will not be surprised if, despite the will of the people, this process goes through to the end. I think the law on foreign agents might be reintroduced to ensure that there are no international observers (members of Georgian Dream have spent the last year discrediting local observers), so that no one can criticize them or comment on the fairness of the October elections. I really have no other explanation for the pretext of restoring a law that society has so seriously rejected.
Georgian history is full of struggles and examples of freedom-loving Georgians saying 'Enough.' I don't know what will trigger such a struggle this time; maybe it's a law on Foreign Agents or another rigged election in October of this year, or something else entirely. But I am sure that the spirit of independence and attachment to freedom, which has kept Georgia as a sovereign nation for 26 centuries, will win once again," said Degnan.
Kelly Degnan stated that Georgia, like other former Soviet countries, has its own oligarchs and endemic corruption, mostly at the top level.
“Georgia has made impressive progress in building its democratic institutions over the years, but it is very hard work, and the institutions are still fragile. Many of them are under attack as the current government consolidates power and tries to reverse some of the reforms that would create a more level playing field. Since independence, Georgia has had one-party rule and a policy of large personnel, which is also a legacy of the Soviet system.
Fortunately, it also has an active civil society, but now it too is under attack, most likely due to the reintroduction of this foreign agent bill. This law was categorically rejected by the people a year ago, when tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets to reject the law, which was designed to silence critics of the government. Any of you who know the impact of a similar law passed in Russia will know that this law drove civil society out of Russia or completely suppressed it.
There is a clan of judges in Georgia - the same clan that existed during Saakashvili's time. These are judges who make themselves indispensable to those in power and have consolidated power. If you are an independent judge and you don't follow their order, you will be transferred to some part of Georgia, far from your family, and you will be punished like that," said Degnan, noting that the last independent institution in the country is the presidency.
