Anna Dolidze

Illustration by Margarita Babina

Recently, the Georgian parliament passed a divisive bill so-called “foreign influence law” resulting in an eruption of protests on the streets of Tbilisi. The government passed the law despite the warning from Washington and Brussels that this law will jeopardize Georgia’s relationship with the West. We caught up with Human Rights Lawyer and Georgian politician Anna Dolidze to learn more:

News outlets in Georgia now must register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. What do you think about foreign investment in Georgia’s media?

This law will jeopardize foreign investment in Georgia in general. It’s a hurdle for European investment in the private sector because it leads to stringent audits. At the moment Georgian media hardly receives any investment from the European Union. Maybe some grants. But undoubtedly this law will prevent Georgia media from growing.

Do you feel safe taking a stand against the current government’s views?

I don’t feel safe taking a stand against this new law. Many people who are standing up to the current government are being targeted and persecuted. Growing up in Tbilisi and being a politician for a while here in Georgia I am getting used to the idea of constant threat and the idea of not being safe.

President Putin has waged a brutal war in Ukraine for over two years, killing thousands of Ukrainians (and Russians). With such a neighbor do you still believe that Georgia has a chance at democracy without another violent attack from Russia?

I absolutely believe we have a chance. It's a strange time of two political reconfigurations. It would take thorough plans and allies in the West to develop strategic relationships in the region. I believe there is a way to avoid confrontation with Russia. Although, it remains a factor and has remained one historically, always.

What’s your experience being a woman politician in Georgia? What are the pros and cons?

Great question. I think about it all the time, especially in times of crisis. Georgian politics become quite physical and visceral. So it is literally physically challenging for women because streets erupt with protests and demonstrations, even in the parliament. Also, women are more vulnerable to smear campaigns in politics.

But as women we should know we have other powers. And one of those powers is the power of the mind. Luckily we have social media as one of the tools to exercise this power. I think Napoleon said this, “A pen can be more powerful than thousands of soldiers”. Power of speech and power of mind I regard is one of the top influences. And we women, as well as men, have this capability.

What’s your motto?

Don’t worry!