**Georgia’s Slide into Authoritarianism: A Personal Account**
As I step down as managing editor of Civil.ge, a news outlet committed to professional and unbiased reporting on Georgia’s international standing, I am compelled to share my personal story amidst the country’s rapidly deteriorating democratic landscape. My husband, opposition leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze, has been detained for two months on charges that seem trumped up by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
**The Crackdown on Dissent**
Just last week, Zurab was taken into custody after refusing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission. His “crime” is defying an institution whose legitimacy he contests alongside the broader opposition movement. This move sends a chilling message: in Georgia, dissenting voices are no longer tolerated.
**The Courts and Police Intimidation**
I was present at the court hearing, which felt like a personal attack on my family’s values. The police presence was overwhelming, with officers lining the corridors of the courtroom. Even I faced difficulties entering the tiny room where the proceedings took place. The judge seemed predetermined to uphold the prosecution’s demands.
**The Struggle for Georgia’s Future**
As someone who has dedicated 17 years to serving Georgia in various capacities, including as a career diplomat working towards EU and NATO integration, it pains me to see our country slip away from its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The dismantling of democracy is a tragedy that echoes through generations.
**A Fragment of a Broader Picture**
My experience is but one part of the larger narrative unfolding in Georgia. Our children are struggling to understand why their father has been imprisoned for standing up against injustice. How do we explain to them that our homeland is drifting into authoritarianism?
**Georgia’s EU Dream Slipping Away**
When the EU opened its doors to Georgia after Russia’s invasion, the GD party revealed its true colors: an affinity for power over progress, and a rejection of democracy in favor of authoritarian rule. The party turned away from EU membership, which most Georgians desire.
**The Struggle Continues**
Liberal democracy is being dismantled before our eyes. Civil society and independent media are under siege. Protests erupted, followed by repression and police violence. Intimidation of the press has intensified, with government TV channels promoting propaganda reminiscent of Belarus and Russia’s practices.
**Existential Threats to Media and Civic Space**
Georgia’s civil society is facing an existential struggle. The GD party has erected a straitjacket of repressive laws aimed at independent media and civic organizations receiving funding from Western allies. These measures constrict the space for dissenting voices.
**A Call to Action**
I implore Georgia’s international partners to stand by the Georgian people and impose a heavier price on those pushing the country into authoritarianism. I also urge Civil.ge readers to continue supporting this publication in these trying times, as we strive to maintain our commitment to truth, accuracy, and unbiased reporting.
**The Fight for Georgia’s Future**
This is not just my story; it’s one shared by many others fighting for loved ones unjustly imprisoned for their beliefs. I have two wishes: that international partners continue to stand with the Georgian people, and that Civil.ge continues its work in support of its loyal readers.
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Read More @ civil.ge
