Among the states that emerged from the Soviet Union, Georgia - one of the most democratic and pro-Western - has become increasingly authoritarian since the start of the war in Ukraine and is deepening economic ties with neighboring Russia, according to an article published by Reuters.

The outlet reports that several leading opposition figures are in prison, while police have intensified arrests of protesters attending regular anti-government demonstrations that have continued for more than a year.

The article notes that Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, announced that Georgia's ruling party is appealing to the Constitutional Court to ban three of the largest opposition parties, aiming to declare as illegal three parties - the "Coalition for Change," the United National Movement of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and the "Strong Georgia" bloc.

"This marks a sharp escalation in the drive toward authoritarian rule in the EU candidate country," the article states.

The publication notes that the three aforementioned parties are sharply pro-Western.

The article mentions that the Georgian Parliament has adopted a law that simplifies the banning of political parties.

"Georgian Dream" has frozen talks on Georgia's accession to the European Union and accuses the bloc of plotting a revolution in Tbilisi. The EU denies the accusations," Reuters writes.