Thousands took to the streets of Tbilisi on Friday to protest Georgia’s foreign agents law. There is only one reading left before the ‘Russian law’ comes into force
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New night of protests in Tbilisi, Georgia. Demonstrators took to the streets on Friday in the center of the capital to protest against the so-called “foreign agents law”, which was approved at its second reading earlier in the week. Friday’s protest is the latest in a long series of large demonstrations across Georgia in recent weeks. The bill lacks a third reading to come into force.
What does the law on foreign agents in Georgia say?
Critics say the disputed bill is a threat to media freedom and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.
The bill requires media, non-governmental organizations and other nonprofits to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.
The ruling Georgian Dream party claims that the bill is needed to stem what it sees as harmful foreign influence on the country’s political scene.
The opposition denounces the bill as “Russian law”because Moscow uses similar legislation to stigmatize independent media and organizations critical of the Kremlin.
Law criticized by European institutions
The bill and the clashes between police forces and demonstrators during the protests have been criticized by European Union institutions. “I follow the situation in Georgia with great concern and condemn the violence in the streets of Tbilisi. The Georgian people want a European future for their country. Georgia is at a crossroads. It should stay on course towards Europe,” he said in the the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in recent days. Shortly before her, the High Representative for European Foreign Policy Josep Borrell condemned the violence that erupted against demonstrators in Tbilisi during the protests.
2024-05-04 18:34:37
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