"We left Russia - and Putinism came for us"

In Georgia, Russian emigrants also go to rallies against the adoption of the Law on Ino -Agents. They told Medusa why they do it

In Tbilisi, many thousands of shares are not terminated against the bill “On the Transparency of Foreign Infant”, which the opposition calls “Russian law” - by analogy with the Russian repressive law on “foreign agents”. On Tuesday, May 14, the bill will be considered in the third and final reading in parliament. If it is accepted, Georgian media and other non -governmental organizations, more than 20% of the financing of which comes from foreign donors, will have to register as “foreign agents”. According to the forecasts of many local and foreign experts and politicians, this law will limit the activities of everyone who disagree with the policy of the ruling party “Georgian Dream”, and will greatly hit civil society, democracy - and the prospect of the country's entry into the European Union. In addition to local opponents of the law, Russian emigrants living in Georgia also come to protests. "Medusa" spoke to them.

Anton

programmer

I left Russia in January 2023: I realized that it was better not to stay up longer. There were no criminals against me, but it could appear: there was already an administrative case for participating in an anti -war action, the police had already come home. Then my colleagues considered that I was engaged in anti -state activities - and brought me to the security service of our enterprise, where they began to conduct conversations with me. I did not wait for the denouement - I quit and left.

I go to Georgia promotions because democracy with dictatorship collided here - and the field of struggle is now right here. Russia is coming here - now I have a constantly deja vu: anti -Western rhetoric has immediately gone, they also pursue activists, adopt the same law on “foreign agents”, again tightly pressed everyone, delay even [participating in the protests] of Russians who live here. The state employees began to bring to rallies [in support of the law]. I saw how a string with these buses went through all Georgia-and then he examined the people themselves closer: there were also asocial elements, and just such poor-united touched people who themselves do not know why they arrived.

In general, [the ruling party] "Georgian Dream" how it broke off the chain - as if Putin had mighted in them! That is, we left Russia - and Putinism came for us. What is it? It is necessary to stop it at least here-at least something here is not possible. Either we are defending Georgia now, or we all will have to be evacuated somewhere further. So far, local authorities have not begun to issue us all to Moscow.

These protests differ from Russians in that it can be more here. Promotions are not agreed - they are only notified of them. Something flies to the police periodically, once even a garbage basket over the fence overturned on them. The barricades are building calmly - if they are trying to storm them, then not very actively. In general, it is unthinkable for Russia.

Sometimes we just go to the procession: go, cars will be alarmed to us, people scream in Georgian: “There is no Russian law!” They dance, sing. There are songs, as called, proven who already know everyone by heart : “Smile”, “Long live Georgia”, “Homeland”, “Dynamo”, “Step”, “Sakartvo”.

Please do not forget that we are together. And that even in the dark times you can believe in a miracle. We think about you and work for you. If you do not live in Russia, then you can arrange a donat in favor of Medusa.

And if the action takes place at the parliament, then at the side entrance to it everything begins at once: tear and pepper gas, rubber bullets fly, wateringles, batons. The police and [checkers] throws with gas, and tries to grab someone from the crowd, and uses the titles. Once a column of policemen chased us - we simply escaped from a cordon, disappeared in the yards. Another time, the column stepped on the barricades, which were no longer at the parliament, but a little further, behind the church in the neighborhood - and I saw how people were watered with water.

A lot of people suffer from gas: there is surely a respirator is needed and glasses that do not miss gas, or even a gas mask. I still take with me a supply of water and saline, Powerbank, raincoat - from water bodies.

Sometimes I go to promotions in the first aid group - to wipe the eyes of those who suffered from gas with saline. It is extremely recommended to do this right in the cloud-then there will be no sense: first you need to close your eyes and somehow go out of it to the touch.

In groups of medical care, there are enough Russians: many doctors who fell under mobilization come here. Plus, this is the most legal and safe way for an emigrant to participate in protest: it would probably be strange if the Russians were breaking into the Georgian parliament.

Many Russians are afraid to go to protests: it’s not so scary that you will find or beat with gas, as the fact that they will manage the criminal and deported to Russia. A lot of risks: there are more cameras on the streets - they can be used, including to identify participants [shares]. You have to wear a mask and clothes more affectionate. Now that the humanitarian visa of Germany was approved for me, it became easier for me to be easier for me: after all, there was a chance to leave from here not to Moscow, but to Berlin.

On the one hand, there are a lot of things here, that Russia is already unthinkable. On the other hand, protest and chaos here exist separately from politics. The protests went naughty, parted - how does this prevent the law from adopting? No way. And if the authorities do not physically interferes - if the shares participants do not block the entrance to the parliament, the main roads or strikes do not paralyze the economy, then they will accept this law.

In general, you may have to leave earlier. Suddenly, as soon as the protests subside, they will begin, like in Russia, to walk to addresses.

Artemy Maslov

musician

On May 11, I protested in a depressed mood: [according to previous shares, it became clear that] the police quickly began to use violence and everything turned into a Russian picture. But then I saw how many people came out with me - and fresh hope appeared. I never felt such unity as at Georgian rallies. This is not even my country and not my people, but in Russia I never felt that.

When I lived in St. Petersburg, I, to my shame, did not go to protests so much. If I realized five years ago that the war would begin, I would make more efforts. But in Russia, hopelessness was already felt, but here the people still have some kind of power, he can still change something! When we are walking in a march in Tbilisi, we are shown from the windows from the windows, they wave. Here, teachers support students, parents - children. Many people come out with whole families: grandfather, grandmother, mother, dad, children of all ages, dog. Changes are impossible without such unity and support.

In Georgia, I have been for exactly two years and three days: I have been studying and earned in the field of concert promotion, I discovered my solo postpank and Gothic-Rock-Project Podwall here. I love this country - in Russia I did not feel like this in my place, as in Georgia. And it is important for me to influence the outcome of events so that Georgia does not turn into the “backyard of Russia”.

Georgians are now struggling with the same thing we once lost. We have one enemy - the Putin regime. And it would be better for us to join forces.

Of course, I’m scared that I, an emigrant, will detain me - but it is even worse to stay at home and watch this black hole from the outside, this Russian epidemic sucks the country that I love. In addition, I am still awake: I do not throw stones at the police, I do not break the surveillance cameras, I don’t even draw posters. I have a first-aid kit with me, I go out to stocks with friends-volunteers who distribute masks, respirators, and saline. But if it goes far, I can neglect my safety.

I saw how on May 2 from the court of parliament to protesters bullets from water bodies and threw gas grenades. And then construction work was going on then - and the guys began to disassemble them, transfer them to each other along the chain [boards], so that in the end the most daredevils were barricaded by one of the doors of the parliament and protect the rest. There were people around with the flags of Georgia and the European Union. Even a fire was divorced to keep warm.

Rallies are also held for the “foreign” law, but state employees are driven to them. In one of the buses on which they were taken there, the driver even turned on the EU anth system [in protest against the actions of the ruling party]. The difference is that the Russian manual will not work with Georgians. They will not let themselves be deceived.

Cyril

Once at a rally, I spoke in great Russian with my friend, and young Georgians approached me to ask what I am doing here. It was evident that the guys were charged, on adrenaline, on the nerves: in this state you can get to the bottom of anyone, and the police did not come to the action then. I answered them in English that "no one is better than my friends, Russian journalists, knows how this law works-if not for the same in Russia, I would be in my country now." And they immediately changed in the face, understood, even thanked: "It is cool that you came - thanks."

I am 25 years old, I was born in Russia and have never seen examples of successful protest. There was always a vile feeling that it would only be worse further. And in 2023, when I was already in Tbilisi, we went outto protest against the same “foreign” law (we tried to adopt it last year)-and after several shares, the authorities recalled him! And I am: "Wow, and so it was possible?" There was an incredible feeling of freedom and inspiration. And when they returned this law [for consideration], I began to walk again.

I have been at all major Moscow rallies since 2017 - and it was always very scary. You leave the tram - and already as if in a cordon: everywhere the "astronauts", there is nowhere to hide - in general, the ass. Here you go to the center of Tbilisi - and only protesters around. The police are mainly at the parliament, and from it a million opportunities to gently leave.

To build barricades, [protesters] break the sheets of temporary [construction] fences. If gas falls into the eyes, you are immediately surrounded by [health workers and volunteers] and wash your face with a saline. They see that you are standing without a mask - they fit and give you a mask. In the hairdresser, where I am cutting, now the respirators are distributing. They let in any cafe and let them catch their breath. You can go to church and they will help you. The feeling that the whole city belongs to us.

And it just looks cool. Going to a rally here is how to get to a very large beautiful festival: everything is stylishly dressed, everyone with beautiful flags and cool posters, sing songs, drive round dances, whistle, dance. All people around are your values, and you yourself feel as safe as possible.

On Easter night, the action was incredibly beautiful: people wrapped in Georgian flags with candles in their hands crossed around the temple. An amateur projector on the parliament building projected a quote from the Bible. And everyone just stood and talked in a whisper, so as not to interfere with those who came to the service. These are indescribable sensations - I get a very cheap dopamine there, and it very much motivates to go there.

I am absolutely on bird rights, my residence permit does not guarantee anything - and I, of course, are scary. They can stop letting me into the country at any time. So I do not climb into the ramp, but look more from the outside. I hope it will work: compared to Moscow, the police in Tbilisi is not enough.

We would like this law not to reach the third reading, but he reached. Plus, some people in masks began to arrange ambushes and attack the opposition, people at rallies. For Georgians, this is a new red line that the authorities crossed: "Is this violence, this abomination takes place in our country?" The atmosphere is now becoming not at all festival.

Now everyone understands the tragedy of the situation: that [the Georgian oligarch and the chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzin, who has earned a state in Russia] Ivanishvili is quite strong and everything is captured here. The feeling that people are at a crossroads - and if they do nothing now and let them go [the situation], then there will be an ass.

In Russia, we would already be afraid - I was always terribly afraid of the Russian police. And the Georgians are now incredibly offended and are not at all afraid: "Fuck them, not this law." And the point here is not that he copies the Russian (although this also causes great rejection). He will simply divide society into “his” and “strangers”. But they try to accept his second year, ignoring the position of society, to which all Tbilisi reacts unequivocally: "How dare they behave like that?" I envy that they are so cool mobilized. The heart is in collapse that in Russia we did not succeed.

And even if this law will be accepted (and I think they will accept it), it will still not be even close in Russia. There is another country. They are not threatened with authoritarianism, it seems to me. When Georgians are divided by fears that they will become the “province of Russia”, I tell them: no, you won’t become.

Recorded Lilia Yapparova