On Monday, the Georgian government reintroduced the controversial foreign agents law into parliament. Public revolt outside evoked a sense of déjà vu as the government dropped the same bill due to popular demand exactly a year ago.
Shockingly, this new crisis is the result of the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking Russian ties for an assault on democracy. With almost 40% of Georgians thinking the country is headed in the wrong direction, the government should be busy winning hearts and minds among the electorate, instead of gratuitously triggering civic unrest with Russian-style laws.
Last year, Georgian society rose up against the government's attempt to close democratic space. This wave of protests against limiting democratic freedoms indicates a strong commitment to defending democracy in the face of political challenges.
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