Violent mass protests in Georgia over “agent law”

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State of emergency in Georgia: Thousands of people protested in the streets of the capital Tbilisi on Tuesday evening against the plan to classify the media as “foreign agents” in the future if they are financed more than 20 percent from abroad. Police deployed water cannon and tear gas. According to independent broadcaster Pireli TV, the protests were initially largely peaceful. At least one participant threw a Molotov cocktail at police officers.

The protest was pointless. Nevertheless, the controversial regulation was launched. The majority of the deputies in the Georgian parliament voted in favor of the draft law “On the Transparency of Foreign Influence”, which officially aims to make the flow of money from abroad public.

The new law prescribes that organizations that are financed for more than 20 percent with money from abroad must register as a so-called foreign agent. Otherwise, they risk sanctions. The bill is reminiscent of a law passed in Russia in 2012. The Kremlin has used this extensively to suppress media outlets and organizations critical of the government or other critics.

EU accession in danger?

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili (70) supported the protesters in Tbilisi. “Today you represent a free Georgia that sees its future in Europe and will not let anyone rob that future,” she said during a state visit to New York.

The president called for the bill to be abolished and announced her veto of the text. However, since the ruling party, the Georgian Dream, has an absolute majority in parliament, it can override this veto.

The small former Soviet republic of Georgia is seeking to join the EU and NATO. In recent times, however, several government moves have fueled fears that the country could turn to Russia.

Application submitted shortly after the start of the war

The US embassy in Georgia said Tuesday after the first reading of the “foreign agents” bill was passed that it was “a dismal day for Georgian democracy”. If the government in Tbilisi sticks to the plan, it will damage relations “with its strategic partners”.

A few days after the Russian attack on Ukraine, Georgia, along with Ukraine and Moldova, applied for membership of the European Union. In June, EU leaders granted official candidate status to Kyiv and Chisinau, but said Tbilisi needed to implement a series of reforms first.

Plans to join NATO and the EU are enshrined in Georgia’s constitution. According to opinion polls, they are supported by at least 80 percent of the population. (SDA/AFP/jmh)

Source: Blick