Thousands of Georgians have flooded the streets of Tbilisi, the capital city, in a wave of protests against a contentious foreign influence bill slated for parliamentary voting on Tuesday.
The bill, if passed, would mandate organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
The demonstrations, which have escalated in recent weeks, reached a climax on Saturday as massive crowds marched through European Square draped in European and Georgian flags, chanting slogans in defense of Georgia’s sovereignty.
Sunday saw protesters gathering in front of the parliament for an overnight rally, attempting to block lawmakers’ access to the building ahead of discussions scheduled for Monday. However, police intervention dispersed the crowd, resulting in several arrests.
Monday witnessed a further escalation as hundreds of students from universities across Tbilisi joined the protests, walking out of classes to voice their dissent against the bill dubbed as targeting “foreign agents.”
Critics fear that if the bill becomes law, it could be exploited by the government to suppress dissenting voices. The European Union, which granted candidate status to Georgia last December, has warned that the legislation jeopardizes the country’s chances of joining the bloc, aligning with the sentiments of the majority of Georgians who support EU accession.
The proposed bill has drawn comparisons to Russia’s controversial foreign agent law enacted in 2012. This Russian law requires organizations receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” and subjects them to increased scrutiny and labeling of their publications.
Despite mounting protests and criticism, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the ruling Georgian Dream party remain steadfast in their support for the legislation. They argue that the bill would enhance transparency and safeguard Georgia’s sovereignty.
However, President Salome Zourabichvili, in a rare divergence from the ruling party, has pledged to veto the bill. Nonetheless, Georgian Dream holds a majority in parliament, potentially enabling them to override any presidential veto.
The unfolding protests underscore the deep divisions within Georgian society over the balance between safeguarding national interests and protecting civil liberties, setting the stage for a contentious parliamentary session on Tuesday.
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