NOS News•today, 11:56 am
63 people have been arrested in the Georgian capital Tblisi for demonstrating against a controversial bill on ‘foreign agents’. There have been demonstrations for weeks against the plan, which is said to be intended to silence critical organizations in the country.
The thousands of demonstrators were dispersed with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and flash grenades. According to police, the demonstration was no longer peaceful and public order had to be restored.
Georgian media report that there have been injuries and the Ministry of the Interior speaks of six injured officers. A demonstration was also ended with violence last Monday.
The law concerns organizations that receive support from abroad. Many projects in Georgia depend on this. If more than 20 percent of their financing comes from abroad, they must register as a ‘foreign agent’. The government wants to have more control over foreign influences.
Russia or Europe
The law is similar to a law introduced in Russia years ago, which has severely limited the freedom of movement of civil society organizations. In Georgia, critics therefore call the proposal ‘the Russian law’.
The European Commission has reacted with disappointment to the law. In December, Georgia became a candidate member of the European Union.
The plan was also submitted last year, but withdrawn after two days of fierce protests. So now the law is on the table again. Georgia’s parliament must approve the law three times before it can be introduced. The second vote is likely to take place today, after an initial vote was approved last week.
