Tbilisi, Georgia – Georgia finds itself in a precarious situation. In mid-April, protests erupted in the mountainous country in the Caucasus over a controversial “foreign agents law,” which requires organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence.” Critics accuse the law of mirroring Russia’s own legislation, which is used to target Kremlin adversaries.

The Georgian government, led by the ruling party Georgian Dream (Georgian Dream), justifies the law as a necessary measure to promote transparency and protect the country from foreign influence. However, many young Georgians, who are oriented toward the West, perceive the law as a sign that the government is moving closer to Russia. They fear that such a direction could undermine the country’s chances of joining the European Union (EU), an aspiration enshrined in the constitution.

The protests have intensified as the approaching elections in October draw near, where voters will choose between re-electing Georgian Dream for a fourth term or opting for an opposition party. A national opinion poll conducted in March indicated that Georgian Dream had 31 percent support, roughly twice that of the strongest opposition party.

Mindiashvili, a museum worker from Gori, expressed her support for EU membership and emphasized the need for Georgia to maintain a balance between the West and Russia. “We must simply keep relations with both Russia and the EU,” she stated. However, she is reluctant to support the opposition, believing they are connected to previous governments under Mikhail Saakashvili, whom she criticizes for human rights violations.

Shoshiashvili, a staff member at Transparency International, voiced concerns that the law would penalize NGOs like hers, which focus on combating corruption. She noted that the government has expedited a package of laws that restrict LGBTQ rights, which she believes further stigmatizes the LGBTQ community.

Lagidze, an actress who previously worked in Moscow, warned that Russia harbors imperialistic ambitions and believes Georgian Dream will win the election in October. “It is terrible what is happening, but it seems many will vote for them because they do not trust the opposition,” she remarked.

Chlaidze, who lives near the separation line between Georgia and the Russia-backed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, has lost faith in political maneuvering. “I prefer to be deaf to politics and grow roses,” she said, but admitted that her grandchildren are strongly opposed to the government and its laws.

Kolkhii, a taxi driver who has experienced the wars in Abkhazia and in 2008, also feels deeply distrustful of Russian influence and supports a European direction. “We must choose between the EU or the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union is a dead idea,” he noted.

With a growing rift between generations and a population divided between nostalgic feelings for the Soviet Union and the desire to move toward the West, Georgia faces an uncertain future that hinges on the upcoming elections.