Victory lap: Jeremy Lichtman’s Georgia forecasts, latest news
May 14, 2024, we published Jeremy Lichtman’s “Georgia Protests Could Escalate.” All his specific forecasts have been correct. The "foreign agent" law passed, Georgia's president vetoed it, parliament overrode it, June 3 it was enacted into law. Now, Georgia is facing the beginnings of the consequences of which he warned. Thank you, Jeremy – The Editor, BestWorld.
To recap his warnings of the oncoming consequences, “Russian interference in Georgia forms part of a potential escalation chain that is potentially similar to the Maidan Square protests in Ukraine in 2013. Historically, Russian manipulation of the information space has often been a precursor of more active operations on their part.” To read his full analysis, please click here.
Latest news:
Dateline 6-7-2024 @NGnewsgeorgia: Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called for Georgia to suspend its EU candidate status after the adoption of the law on foreign agents.
He criticized the existing EU policy towards Georgia. Rinkevics believes that Brussels must act urgently and firmly to respond to the growth of Russian influence.
“If we do not send a very clear and very firm signal, but only express our concerns verbally, the situation will worsen,” Rinkēvičs said, speaking at the Riga StratCom Dialogue 2024 conference.
Source: https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/prezident-latvii-prizval-priostanovit-gruzii-status-kandidata-na-vstuplenie-v-es
Dateline 6-6-2024 The United States remains deeply concerned with the Georgia Dream party’s anti-democratic actions as well as its recent statements and rhetoric. These actions risk derailing Georgia’s European future and run counter to the Georgian constitution and the wishes of its people. Secretary Blinken recently announced a comprehensive review of all bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia. As part of that review, the department implemented a new visa restriction policy to address these actions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Today, under this policy, we are taking steps to impose visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian individuals. This includes individuals responsible for or complicit in and immediate family members of those responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, such as by undermining freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, violently attacking peaceful protestors, intimidating civil society representatives, and deliberately spreading disinformation at the direction of the Georgian Government.
Source: https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-june-06-2024/
Dateline 6-3-2024 Georgia's parliamentary speaker signed into law on Monday a bill on "foreign agents" that has caused a political crisis in the South Caucasus country and drawn sharp criticism from its Western allies.
Dateline 5-20-2024 On May 24, a march will be held from Freedom Square to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tbilisi.
According to the organizers, the march will start at 19:00, they will express their solidarity with all the arrested, imprisoned and injured persons participating in the protest.
"Since the initiation of the "Russian Law" until now, the police have arrested more than 200 people participating in the protest on fabricated charges. Dozens of people receive fines for offenses they did not commit. Hundreds of people are being summoned for questioning as part of an investigation that has been started without any reason.
Dozens of people were severely beaten by the police, some of whom are still receiving treatment.
Source: https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/800189-tavisuplebis-moednidan-shs-saministromde-24-maiss-marshi-gaimarteba/
Dateline 5-20-2024 I call on the Parliament of Georgia not to override the veto and withdraw the law, said Nusrat Ghani, Minister of European Affairs of Great Britain. "The UK supports President Zourabichvili's veto of Georgia’s foreign influence legislation. The law is contrary to the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. I urge the Georgian parliament to heed their allies’ concerns and not overturn the veto and withdraw this legislation," the minister tweeted.
Dateline 5-16-2024 Kremlin and Georgian officials promoted established Kremlin information operations alleging that the West is orchestrating protests against Georgia's 'foreign agent' law in order to overthrow the Georgian government.
Source: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-16-2024
