Amidst the historical streets of Tbilisi, Georgia’s parliament finds itself at the epicenter of intense national debate over the proposed ‘foreign agents’ bill. The session of the parliament’s Legal Committee got under way after tens of thousands of people on April 28 again took to the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, to voice their opposition to the so-called “foreign agents” bill, regarded by many as mirroring the one used by the Kremlin to silence its critics.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, amidst cries of alarm from opposition members and civil society, maintains that this legislation is intended to enhance transparency in the political landscape, and combat what they call “values imposed by foreigners.”
However, the opposition and a large section of the public are not convinced. Opposition figures, including Levan Bezhashvili and Ana Tsitlidze from the United National Movement, view the bill as echoing Kremlin tactics, fearing it will be used to silence critical voices in the country. The expulsion of seven opposition lawmakers during the legal committee session on April 29.
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Republic Square in central Tbilisi into the night on April 28, with many singing Georgian and European Union anthems and holding EU banners. The sentiment of the crowd was further inflamed when, on April 29, some protestors breached security lines, leading to the use of tear gas and pepper spray by police in attempts to disperse the assembled.
International reactions have been equally stern. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators cautioned Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that introducing a “Russian-style foreign agents law” risks altering U.S. policy toward Georgia. EU officials have said that if Georgia adopts the bill as law, it would disrupt the South Caucasus country’s membership hopes.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated her intention to veto the bill, expressing deep concerns over its similarity to Russian legislation. Despite this opposition, the Georgian Dream party possesses sufficient numbers to overturn the veto.
The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17. Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the parliamentary faction of Georgian Dream, said earlier this month that the party planned to reintroduce the bill, which would oblige noncommercial organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding and who are engaged in broadly defined “political” activities to report their activities to the authorities. It would also introduce wide oversight powers by the authorities and potential criminal sanctions for undefined criminal offenses.
Relevant articles:
– Several Opposition Lawmakers Expelled During Discussion Of Georgia’s ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:21:27 GMT
– Georgia: Draft law would negate 30-plus years of work to promote rule of law – activists, Eurasianet, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:19:24 GMT
– EU Parliament condemns the reintroduction of Georgia’s foreign agent bill · Global Voices, Global Voices, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:52:00 GMT