The return to conservatism in Georgia

Translated by Andrea Solazzo

After the approval of the Foreign Agents Law last May, Georgia seems to be moving further and further away from the European orbit with the final approval of a new law against “LGBTQ+ propaganda”.

The bill had been presented in March by Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili's party in power since 2012. Although it initially presented itself as a pro-European party with the prospect of Georgia joining the European Union - with which it signed the Association Agreement in 2014 - it has increasingly been accused of having authoritarian tendencies and of wanting to get closer to Russia.

In order to avoid doubts about its ties with Russia, pro-Western parties were included in the “Georgian Dream” coalition in 2012, but over time these members were excluded, replaced by its inner circle, and after twelve years, almost all the members of the original coalition have not remained at its side, taking an increasingly anti-liberal stance.

The passing of the law against LGBTQ+ propaganda in Georgia took place in a complex political and social context. Most of the population is of conservative orientation and the Georgian Orthodox Church is still very influential in the country. For this reason, the bill is seen by LGBTQ+ rights organisations and opposition parties as an attempt by the Georgian government to increase its popularity ahead of the elections next October by restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

The law against “LGBTQ+ propaganda” aims to restrict and prohibit the promotion of content that relates to sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly content that may be considered favourable or positive towards sexual minorities. The main features of the law include:

1. Prohibition of “Propaganda”: the law prohibits any form of promotion of LGBTQ+ rights, restricting the depiction of same-sex relationships.
2. Restrictions in Media and Education: there is a ban on television programmes, films, and educational materials that present the topic in a favourable or informative light.
3. Penalties: those who violate the provisions of the law risk penalties ranging from fines to more severe punitive measures.
4. Impact on Freedom of Expression: the law has raised concerns about how it can be used to suppress freedom of speech, undermining respect for human rights in general.

Georgia along with other countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary have witnessed a worrying legislative development that marks a departure from European values of tolerance and inclusiveness. In particular, the passing of laws against “LGBTQ+ propaganda” reflects an increasingly hostile political and social climate towards sexual minorities. These laws, which align with practices already widely criticised in countries such as Russia and Hungary, have provoked vibrant protests and a heated debate on respect for human rights.

Opposition demonstrations mobilised thousands of people, highlighting strong dissent. In response to the protests, the government justified the law by claiming the need to protect family values and local cultural traditions.

However, within days of the bill's approval, on 19 September 2024, Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender Georgian model who was the first in Georgia to publicly reveal her sexual identity, was murdered by her boyfriend in her flat. The news caused outrage and concern among human rights activists, highlighting the challenges and dangers transgender people already face in the country.

This situation has led to an increase in social and political tensions in the country, with concerns from international organisations regarding respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Georgia, which is taking an increasingly ambivalent stance towards Russia, with which it maintained tense relations until the past decade, however, after neighbouring Armenia joined the Eurasian Union in January 2013, Georgian Prime Minister Ivanishvili showed some openness towards a more cooperative approach, pointing out that Georgia could consider closer integration with the Eurasian Union, of which Russia is the leader. Currently, Ivanishvili's party would appear to be the favourite in the elections according to the polls, but support for him has declined steadily in recent years. If at the beginning of his term Ivanishvili promised with Georgian Dream to solve all social issues in the country, in reality his actions have turned out to be attempts to calm and moderate the protests without, however, fulfilling his promises. The law against “LGBTQ+ propaganda” in Georgia highlights a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in the country. These regulations not only violate fundamental freedoms, but also reflect an attempt to reaffirm patriarchal values at a time when the international community supports inclusivity and tolerance.

Such laws could have significant consequences, not only for LGBTQ+ communities, but for society, limiting freedom of expression and fuelling a culture of fear and repression.

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