The citizens of Georgia did not like the decision of the deputies and they went out under the parliament building with posters. Law enforcement officers began to use water cannons and tear gas against the protesters.
The Georgian parliament approved in the first reading the scandalous bill on “foreign agents”, because of which citizens took to mass protests. This was reported by the portal “News Georgia”.
During the meeting of the parliament, the deputies in an accelerated mode approved the draft law “On the transparency of foreign influence.” 76 deputies voted in favor and 13 voted against. This document was submitted by the Power of the People movement and supported by members of the ruling Georgian Places party.
Another bill called “On Registration of Foreign Agents” has also been submitted to Parliament, which is going to be discussed during the next meeting. Initially, the discussion of the bill was supposed to take place on March 9, not March 7, which came as a surprise to citizens and the opposition.
The “News Georgia” portal also notes that the police started using tear gas and water cannons in front of the parliament, and opposition deputies are trying to break into the office of Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.
“Outside, there are clashes between the police and the protesters. The special forces are trying to clear the passage so that the deputies from the ruling party can leave the building,” the message says.
Mass protests in Georgia over the bill on “foreign agents”
At a meeting of the Legal Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia on March 6, a fight broke out between deputies of the ruling party and representatives of the opposition. It’s all the fault of the bill on “foreign agents”, which began to be compared with the Russian one.
Activists gathered under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi, a mass protest. Citizens brought with them the flags of the European Union and Georgia, and also began to play the EU anthem. The police were called to the scene, and an order was given to introduce limited access to the parliament building. The action was called “No to Russian Law in Georgia”.
Georgia adopts bill on “foreign agents”
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Photo: News Georgia
Georgia adopts bill on “foreign agents”
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Photo: News Georgia
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported that the action near the parliament was of a violent nature, therefore they warned citizens that “proportional force, including special means” could be used.
Draft law on “foreign agents” in Georgia
As early as February 26, a draft law on “foreign agents” was submitted to the Georgian parliament. It almost completely copies Russian legislation, and also provides for prison terms for its violation. If the bill is passed, a special register of “agents of foreign influence” will be created.
Those organizations and mass media, 20% of whose income is financed from other countries, will be considered as such. This will not affect organizations founded by administrative bodies, as well as sports federations.
“The adoption of this law will significantly improve the quality of public awareness, which will help people make the right decision,” MP Guram Macharashvili said before the bill was submitted to parliament.
It should be reminded that on February 26 it was reported that the Georgian parliamentarians may toughen the law on foreign agents. Deputies of the Power of the People movement are proposing to introduce prison sentences for individuals for violating the norms of the law On the Registration of Foreign Agents. The initiative was criticized in the EU and the US.
