Similar to Russia, the Georgian leadership wanted to classify media and non-governmental organizations that receive money from abroad as foreign agents. The opposition wants to continue demonstrating.
After widespread protests, Georgia has withdrawn a controversial bill introducing a “foreign agent” registry. This was announced by the ruling party Georgian Dream in the capital Tbilisi. The opposition wants to continue demonstrating anyway.
Similar to Russia, the Georgian leadership wanted to classify media and non-governmental organizations that receive money from abroad as foreign agents. Critics have accused the government of having drawn up the planned law based on the Russian model and paving the way for an authoritarian orientation in Georgia. They also saw the EU prospects of the former Soviet republic in danger. There was also international criticism.
“We see that the draft law has led to differences of opinion in society,” said the Georgian Dream party. “In light of all of this, we (…) have decided to withdraw the bill we have supported without reservation.”
Opposition politician Zotne Koberidze said that “clarity is needed as to exactly how they intend to withdraw this law.” He also called for the release of dozens of demonstrators who have been arrested in recent days.
Several thousand people have gathered on the streets of Tbilisi in recent days for the anti-government and pro-European protests. The police repeatedly used violence against them, using tear gas and water cannons. There were also arrests.
Zelensky thanks demonstrators in Tbilisi for their solidarity
The demonstrators waved Georgian and Ukrainian flags as well as the blue star flag of the EU. Georgians also sang the Ukrainian anthem in solidarity with Ukraine attacked by Russia. In a video speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the demonstrators in Tbilisi for their solidarity. During the later street battles, the police pushed the remaining demonstrators away, who in turn threw stones and bottles.
The small ex-Soviet republic of Georgia on the Black Sea with 3.7 million inhabitants has long been under pressure from its large neighbor Russia. Moscow also supports the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The current leadership of the Georgian Dream party is pursuing a more pro-Russian course. However, the majority of Georgians want their country to become a member of the EU and NATO. They fear that this opportunity will be destroyed by authoritarian rules like those in Moscow.
In Russia, numerous independent media – but also non-governmental organizations – are branded as “foreign agents”. The regulation has been criticized internationally as a politically motivated measure aimed at stigmatizing and silencing critics of the Kremlin. Especially since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin more than a year ago, Russia has been taking massive action against dissidents in its own country.