TBILISI, August 4 – Georgia’s ruling party is preparing possible new legislation to protect “national identity”, a move supporters say is needed to defend traditional values and critics warn could deepen social divisions.
The Georgian Dream initiative follows the creation of several groups in recent days claiming to defend Georgian identity, national unity, traditions and values.
One group, founded on July 30 by actor Giorgi Shanidze, director Giorgi Sikharulidze and Batumi Theatre director Kote Mzhavia, called for a legal framework to protect national identity, unity and civil peace.
MMA fighter Giorgi Kartvelishvili had earlier launched a separate movement which he said was created to defend Georgian values and traditions.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the goal of what he called “foreign agents” was to undermine national identity and that the state should respond within the law, including through changes to legislation.
Georgian Dream lawmaker Irakli Kadagishvili said he did not yet know what the proposed law would contain. He argued that organised efforts were being made to weaken society and said the state should respond carefully without allowing abuse, bullying and attacks on human dignity to become normal.
Some supporters of the idea say the law could help preserve national and religious values in a globalised world. Historian and analyst Edisher Gvenetadze told Rezonansi that such legislation is vital and even overdue. He said laws must change with modern developments and called for moderation and respect between religious groups.
Conflict specialist Paata Zakareishvili said the initiative could encourage ethnic and religious tensions. He accused the ruling party of moving toward far-right politics and warned that groups organised around identity could fuel conflict between Christians and Muslims, Georgians and ethnic minorities, and Georgian speakers and non-Georgian speakers.
The opposition has also warned that further legislation in this area could worsen Georgia’s already tense political climate.
As a draft bill has still to be presented, it is yet unclear what the proposed law would restrict or how it would define “national identity”.
