Protests in Georgia are spreading

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated again in Georgia against the controversial “foreign influence” law. Parliament voted for the law in its second reading, the third is still pending.

The mood at the demonstrations in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is becoming increasingly tense. If the protesters get too close to the parliament doors, the police use gas and water cannons.

Those pushed back respond by whistling, blowing whistles or blowing horns, and some throw water bottles and stones at the police officers, who are equipped with helmets and protective shields. Nevertheless, several officers are said to have suffered injuries, such as also demonstrators. Most of them are unshakable – like David: “We’re not afraid of anything,” he says. “This is our future and we choose Europe.”

The government wants to push the law through parliament in the coming days

The now almost daily disputes are sparked by a bill with a cumbersome-sounding name. It reads: “On the transparency of foreign influence.” The government plans to put the draft through parliament in the coming days.

If she succeeds, all non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their money from abroad would have to disclose their income. The governing party speaks of the need for transparency.

The opposition in parliament says: It is a “Russian bill”. One of their MPs explains: “The fifth article is Russian because this law, like a Kremlin law, aims to publicly declare people agents, spies and traitors.”

Fisticuffs in Parliament

In the second reading yesterday, 83 MPs voted for the bill and 23 against it. The project must then be passed in the third reading. Following the latest vote, there were scuffles in parliament. “Russians out,” people chanted in front of the building.

In Russia, the authorities have been using a similar legal provision since 2012, critics say, to systematically destroy civil society and independent media. This is also what the ruling party in Georgia is aiming for, according to protester Nina: “We don’t believe it’s about transparency,” she says. “It’s about control of media and non-governmental organizations. I say it’s pro-Russian.”

Georgia is an EUcandidate for accession

Georgia has enjoyed EU candidate status since last December. The people who are loudly marching in front of Parliament these days want it to become a membership. Dimitri also: “We have to fight against this law,” he says. “And against everything that keeps us away from Europe. And we have to do our best to get into the EU as quickly as possible.”

The governing party has declared that it also wants a rapprochement with the EU. At the same time, however, it maintains good relations with Russia. Their politicians do not want to see any inconsistency in this.

The leader of the largest opposition party in parliament is different. People close to him said he was arrested the night before last and beaten by police officers. With obvious injuries to his nose and one eye, he then called on the ruling party in parliament to turn away from its chosen path: “There are only five months left until the elections. Maybe I will never be able to see with this eye again, but in the country one will recognize the truth.”