Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets every night in recent days to protest the so-called “foreign agents” law, which many see as an authoritarian mechanism to create room for maneuver from civil society that brings the country closer to Russian politics. System.
On Wednesday, Tbilisi's parliament approved the draft on its first reading, taking the first step toward the diploma becoming law — three parliamentary approvals are required — and on the same night, more than ten thousand people gathered on the capital's main street for a demonstration. In the previous days, there were already demonstrations that continued until Friday, without any signs of demobilization of the anti-law movement.
The Ministry of Interior reported that at least 13 people were arrested and a police officer was injured during the clashes.
The government describes the law in question as a certificate to ensure “transparency of external influence,” but its opponents interpret it as a way to limit the actions of many civil society organizations. If approved, the law would require all NGOs or media outlets that receive at least 20% of their funding from abroad to register as a group that “serves the interests of a foreign power.”
Critics of the law liken this legislation to similar legislation passed a few years ago in Russia, under which almost all NGOs and independent media were forced to close or suspend their activities. Many Georgians also fear that approval of this type of legislation will enhance the country's possibility of joining the European Union.
“We are fighting for our freedom. We want to have a bright future and I believe it is the responsibility of every person living in this country to take to the streets,” Marisha, a 23-year-old Georgian, told the BBC during a demonstration in front of her headquarters. Parliament.
The controversy surrounding the legislative draft was intense. On Monday, during a parliamentary session, Georgian MP Mamuka Medinaradze, who has been in power for more than a decade, was attacked by an opposition lawmaker while defending the merits of the law.
Brussels also criticized the government's intention and expressed concern about the first approval of the law. The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said, “This law is not consistent with the basic values and standards of the European Union,” warning that “the final adoption of this legislation will have a negative impact on Georgia's progress toward membership.”
NATO also criticized the approval of the law, describing it as a “step backwards.”
About a year ago, the Georgian government presented a similar legislative draft. However, in the face of a wave of popular protests, Parliament ended up failing him.
This time, the opposition accuses Georgian Dream of wanting to use the law to remain in power after the October elections. “We must implement reforms in the judicial and electoral systems, anti-corruption and anti-oligarchy. This is what the West is asking of us so that we can join the European Union and NATO,” Zurab Japaridze, a Girshi party lawmaker, told the BBC.
“But if [o Governo] By implementing these reforms, they will lose power, so they decided to get rid of all civil society and middle He added: “His critics should remain in power forever, just as happened with Putin in Russia.”
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, promised to veto the law if Parliament approves it, but if the parliamentary majority gives the diploma the green light again, its entry into force is mandatory.
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