Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets to protest against a new piece of legislation that could stifle the survival of NGOs, critical associations and social projects funded with external aid. The government had previously ruled out this legislation after massive protests last year. However, it has now resurrected the law despite opposition from the European Union which has criticized it as incompatible with Georgia’s candidacy for the EU, which was approved last December.
The Georgian Parliament met on Wednesday to debate the controversial legislation after two days of intense protests. Demonstrations outside the assembly building have gathered over 10,000 people every night since Monday, resulting in arrests and injuries due to police repression. The approval of the Transparency Law on Foreign Influence in its first reading was supported by 83 out of 150 deputies. Protests continue against what protesters see as a replication of a “Russian law” in Georgia.
The legislation requires organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of the interests of a foreign power” and undergo inspections every six months by the Georgian Ministry of Justice. Critics view this as a direct attack on political and human rights organizations that monitor power. The opposition, protesters, and social organizations have condemned the law as an attempt to impose the Kremlin’s “foreign agents” legislation in Russia.
The president of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, has joined the criticism against the Government, accusing them of sabotaging the country’s European path and serving Russian interests. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has faced backlash for resurrecting a law that had been overturned by protests last year. The EU has expressed concerns about the legislation and its impact on Georgia’s European aspirations.
Pro-European protesters have found new allies in the national football team whose players have spoken out against
