As democracy in Georgia collapses, Russia, China and Iran see an opening

As democracy in Georgia collapses, Russia, China and Iran see an opening

CNN-July 16th2025

By Jill Dougherty, for CNN

A decade ago, Georgia was the poster child of post-Soviet countries on their way to democracy and freedom. The government was taking steps to fight corruption. Civil society was blossoming. The economy was growing. American businesses were investing.

In 2004, even though it was not a member of NATO, Georgia sent its soldiers to Afghanistan to join the United States and other members of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), becoming the largest non-NATO contributor to the operation. In 2005, US President George W. Bush visited the capital, Tbilisi, and the highway leading to the airport was renamed “George W. Bush Street.”

That street sign is still there, but today, democracy in Georgia, a small but strategically located nation of 3.7 million people, is collapsing. On Capitol Hill, in a bipartisan effort, Republicans and Democrats are pushing for passage of the Megobari Act.

In the Georgian language, “megobari” means friend, and its sponsors say it aims to bolster democratic practices, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia. It would impose US sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on officials judged to be responsible for election fraud, corruption and political repression. But, the American lawmakers warn, Georgia is quickly slipping under the influence of Russia, China and Iran.

Last December, the US imposed sanctions on Georgia’s shadow ruler, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia in the 1990s. The party he founded, named Georgian Dream, controls all branches of government. Almost all political opposition leaders are in jail; according to human rights groups, about 60 political prisoners languish in prison.

For more than 200 days, protesters have filled Tbilisi’s main street, carrying Georgian, American and European Union flags.

Many now wear masks, trying to avoid being identified by what anti-corruption groups say are increasing numbers of Chinese-made facial recognition cameras installed by the government. Violators of what rights group Amnesty International says is repressive new legislation to crack down on dissent can be fined up to the equivalent of $2,000.