- Georgian protests erupt over controversial “foreign agents” bill
- Bill, labeled “Russian-inspired,” sparks mass demonstrations in Tbilisi
- Critics see legislation as authoritarian, risking Western relations
Thousands of Georgians took to the streets in protest, and politicians engaged in heated exchanges in parliament after legislators of the ruling party approved the preliminary reading of a bill on “foreign agents” that has been deemed Russian-inspired by both domestic and Western critics.
On Monday in the capital, Tbilisi, over 5,000 protesters congregated in front of the Georgian parliament building, which was constructed in the Soviet era. Their demand was for the government to revoke the regulation that mandates foreign fund-accepting organisations to register as foreign agents or face fines.
Critics derive the moniker “the Russian law” from their comparison of the bill to legislation that the Kremlin employed to suppress dissent.
The ruling Georgian Dream party announced this month that it would reintroduce the measure following mass protests that halted its progress thirteen months prior.
The bill was approved by the legal affairs committee of Parliament, a body under the authority of Georgian Dream and its allies. This approval paves the way for the bill to be presented for a first reading on Tuesday.
Demonstrators chanted “Russians! Russians!” in the vicinity of water cannons stationed near police cordons that were safeguarding approaches to the parliament. Others unfurled a colossal flag of the European Union in front of the legislature.
Protesters were persuaded by activists to return in time for the parliamentary sitting on Tuesday.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the parliamentary faction of Georgian Dream and a driving force behind the measure, was punched in the face by opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili on Monday while testifying before the legislative body, according to footage broadcast on Georgian television.
Actors engaged in an altercation in response to the incident.
Georgia holds Russia in contempt due to its backing of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia within Georgia. Georgia was also defeated by Russia in a brief conflict in 2008.
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Georgia has endeavoured to strengthen ties with the West for years, but the current ruling party is accused of attempting to reunite the country with Russia.
Relations between the measure and the United States and European nations have been strained due to their opposition to its passage. Since December, when it granted Georgia candidate status, the EU has stated that the action is contrary to the bloc’s values.
Georgian Dream has actively pursued NATO and the European Union, despite the country’s increased diplomatic relations with Russia and domestic accusations of authoritarianism. It asserts that the measure is essential for promoting transparency and combating “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners.
