For the second day in a row, people are demonstrating against the law that bans “foreign agents”. On Thursday morning, the demonstrations have progressed, and the government is withdrawing the controversial bill. The critics compare the law to a similar Russian law and claim it will restrict freedom of the press and freedom of association. There were fierce clashes between large police forces and thousands of protesters in the Georgian capital overnight into today. The controversial proposal would require media outlets and organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence.” According to the BBC, the bill was launched by an anti-Western party. But in the first vote in parliament, it was supported by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Those who wanted the law argue that it is necessary to gain more transparency about businesses that are financed by foreign states. On Thursday morning, Reuters reports that the country’s government, after two days of demonstrations, will still not implement this bill. For several days there have been protests against a law that will force foreign-backed organizations to register as “agents under foreign influence”. Demonstrators: – No to the Russian law The demonstrators first marched to mark Women’s Day, and thousands then gathered in front of the National Assembly with Georgian and EU flags. There they shouted “no to the Russian law”. Reuters journalists heard both the Georgian and Ukrainian national anthems as well as the European anthem being sung or played through loudspeakers. A correspondent from the AFP news agency said on Wednesday evening that the police have tried to break up the demonstrations with tear gas and water cannons. The National Assembly approved a draft of the proposal on Tuesday. In the demonstrations on Tuesday evening, the demonstrators threw petrol bombs and stones at the police, who also then used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 66 were arrested. The EU and the US have expressed concern about the bill. The president supports the protesters Georgian President Salomé Zurabishvili says, according to the AP news agency, that she will veto the agent law. SAYS NO: Georgian President Salomé Zurabishvili is a clear opponent of the agent law. Photo: IRAKLI GEDENIDZE / Reuters – Nobody needs this law. It is unclear where it comes from, perhaps it was dictated from Moscow, says the president. Thus, she gives clear support to the protesters. But even if the president stops the bill with a veto, this can be overridden by the national assembly. Copying Russian law The opposition in Georgia believes that the draft law is very similar to a law that was adopted in Russia in 2012. In Russian society, the law has been used to crack down on most opposition and criticism. WATER CANNONS AND TEAR GAS: Police in Tbilisi used harsh methods against the protesters. Photo: STRINGER / AFP Most media and organizations that have been called foreign agents have eventually had to shut down their business or move abroad. – The law is Russian, as we all know. We don’t want to be part of the former Soviet Union, we want to be part of the EU, one of the protesters in Tbilisi told Reuters. Harsh reactions from the western side The USA and the EU warn the authorities in Georgia and say that the country’s opportunity to join NATO or the EU will be weakened if the law is adopted. WANTS TO EUROPE: Thousands of demonstrators in Tbilisi protested against the agent law. Photo: Zurab Tsertsvadze / AP A statement from the US Embassy in Georgia states that “this is a dark day for Georgia’s democracy”. The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, says that the bill is not compatible with the Union’s values. Ukraine and Moldova received candidate status last year. But Georgia was told to implement several reforms. Another group of countries Opinion polls show that 80 percent of the population in Georgia supports membership of the EU and NATO. The country’s constitution also stipulates that Georgia must orientate itself towards Europe. PREPARED: Riot police in full gear met the protesters outside the parliament in Tbilisi. Photo: AFP But if the law is adopted, Georgia will join the ranks of authoritarian and undemocratic countries. This applies to Belarus, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, which have also copied the Russian law, writes the BBC. Historically, the word “agent” has had a negative meaning in Georgia and Russia. It is associated with words such as “spy” and “traitor”.
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Withdraws controversial bill after massive demonstrations – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
