Riot police in Georgia began clearing demonstrators from around the ex-Soviet state’s parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers debated a bill on “foreign agents” the opposition denounces as authoritarian.
The bill would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as being agents of foreign influence. It is likely to pass in a parliament controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its allies.
Opponents say the legislation will damage Georgia’s bid to join the European Union.
More than 5,000 protesters had massed by parliament for a second day to denounce the bill, approved by a parliamentary committee on Monday.
Officers, some carrying shotguns, ordered protesters to disperse and deployed what appeared to be a crowd-control substance like pepper spray.
The bill must pass three readings in parliament, and will then likely face a fourth vote to override a veto by President Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgian Dream who opposes the bill. Her powers are mostly ceremonial.
Western countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have urged Georgia not to pass the bill.
Georgia’s government, which has faced accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian leanings, says the law is needed to promote transparency and combat “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners.
Opponents say the legislation will damage Georgia’s bid to join the European Union.
More than 5,000 protesters had massed by parliament for a second day to denounce the bill, approved by a parliamentary committee on Monday.
Officers, some carrying shotguns, ordered protesters to disperse and deployed what appeared to be a crowd-control substance like pepper spray.
Critics have compared the bill to Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent - a potent charge in the South Caucasus country, where Russia is unpopular for its support of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia defeated Georgia in a short war in 2008.Behind the parliament building, where riot police began dispersing protestors, there is a noticeably small number of protestors compared to the large police force deployed. #NoToRussianLaw #Georgia pic.twitter.com/RKZ6AITB3y
— Netgazeti (@netgazeti) April 16, 2024
The bill must pass three readings in parliament, and will then likely face a fourth vote to override a veto by President Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgian Dream who opposes the bill. Her powers are mostly ceremonial.
Western countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have urged Georgia not to pass the bill.
Georgia’s government, which has faced accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian leanings, says the law is needed to promote transparency and combat “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners.
Source: Reuters
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