Georgia — once seen as one of the most democratic and pro-Western states to emerge from the Soviet Union — is becoming increasingly authoritarian as it deepens economic ties with Russia, Reuters reports.
The article reads that several leading opposition figures are currently imprisoned, while police have stepped up arrests of demonstrators during regular anti-government protests that have persisted for over a year.
On Monday, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced that the ruling Georgian Dream party has appealed to the Constitutional Court to outlaw three of the country’s largest opposition groups — the United National Movement of jailed ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, the “Coalition for Change,” and the “Strong Georgia” bloc.
Reuters describes the move as “a sharp escalation in the drive toward authoritarian rule in the EU candidate country.” All three targeted parties are strongly pro-Western.
The publication also notes that lawmakers recently passed legislation that makes it easier to ban political parties. Meanwhile, Georgian Dream has halted talks on EU accession and accuses the bloc of attempting to stage a revolution in Tbilisi — claims the European Union firmly rejects.
Header image: pro-European protests in Georgia/IPN
Related story: Parliament Speaker files constitutional lawsuit to ban three major opposition parties
