After protests, Georgia in the South Caucasus passed a controversial bill introducing a register for “foreign agents” withdrawn.
After massive protests against a planned law “foreign agents” Georgia’s ruling party has announced that it will abandon the project. “As the ruling party responsible for every member of society, we have decided to unconditionally withdraw this law that we support”the Georgian Dream party said on its website on Thursday.
The party complained that the law was “in a bad light and in a misleading way” been presented. The intention behind the project should be in public talks “better explained” become.
Violent protests in Georgia
The draft law stipulated that organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their financial resources from abroad must register as so-called foreign agents. Otherwise they face penalties. The bill was reminiscent of a law passed in Russia in 2012. There are numerous independent media – but also non-governmental organizations – as “foreign agents” branded. The regulation has been criticized internationally as a politically motivated measure aimed at stigmatizing and silencing critics of the Kremlin. Especially since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin more than a year ago, Russia has been taking massive action against dissidents in its own country.
Thousands of people have been demonstrating against the law in the capital Tbilisi since Tuesday. They gathered with flags of Georgia and the EU in front of the parliament building. There were isolated riots and clashes with the police, who used water cannons and tear gas.
The former Soviet Republic of Georgia is actually aiming to join the EU and NATO. Recently, however, several government measures have fueled fears that the country could turn to Russia under Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. This speaks of one “balanced” policy that for “peace and stability” should take care of.
Source: Stern
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