Georgia passes foreign agents bill amid protests
Georgia’s Parliament passes foreign agents bill on Tuesday amid protests and scuffles. Concerns rise over potential government suppression of dissenting voices
The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday approved the draft bill on transparency of foreign Influence in its third and final reading, ushering in measures to regulate foreign financing of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the country.
The bill is now facing the possibility of a veto from Georgia’s president, a move that could potentially be overridden by Parliament through an additional vote.
Thousands of protesters have gathered near Parliament in Tbilisi to demonstrate against the decision. They are now seeking to breach Parliament’s premises.
The parliamentary session, broadcast live on Parliament’s website, witnessed heightened tensions, including a physical altercation between supporters and opponents of the legislation. Despite the disruptions, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced that the bill was successfully passed, with 84 votes in favor and 30 against.
Earlier in the day, parliamentary proceedings were interrupted by a physical confrontation among lawmakers triggered by debates over the foreign agents bill. The altercation involved accusations of violence instigation against opponents of the bill, leading to a scuffle between members of the United National Movement opposition party and the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned on Monday that Georgia risked losing its sovereignty and potentially facing a fate similar to Ukraine’s if officials withdrew their support for the bill during the third reading.
Intervening to restore order, Papuashvili briefly suspended the meeting. Once calm was regained, debates resumed, concluding with the legislation’s passage.
The bill has sparked protests, particularly from NGOs, as it requires organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as entities pursuing foreign interests or face penalties.
Protesters fear that the proposed legislation could be exploited by the government to stifle dissenting voices. Comparisons have been made to an authoritarian law enacted in Russia in 2012, which the Kremlin has utilized to suppress dissidents.
Opposition parties argue that the implementation of this law could undermine Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, for which it holds candidate status. The EU has cautioned that the bill may impede Georgia’s advancement within the bloc and has raised concerns about its potential consequences.
Source: Newsroom
