There is a struggle for the soul of Georgia underway
and the former Soviet country appears to be heading towards
a crossroads.
On the one hand, the direction Bidzina Evashvilli wants to
take George Rin.
He's a rich, powerful oligarch,
seen by many as under the thumb of Vladimir Putin,
who seems to want to take Georgia back within the
sphere of Russian influence against him.
The direction that opinion polls say most Georgians want to
take the country and towards closer European integration.
And they're fighting over a proposed controversial foreign agents bill
which would give the government more control over the media
and human rights organisations and could spell the end of
freedom and democracy here. Critics.
So there is enormous strength of feeling 10s of thousands
of people out on the streets protesting.
Hoping to block the final reading of that bill in
parliament in the coming days,
a huge amount will depend on how many people turn
out,
but also the kind of tactics the government uses,
which are becoming increasingly violent and intimidatory.
What's at stake, really, is the national identity of Georgia,
but also Vladimir Putin's ability to keep control and influence
over these former Soviet countries.