Alienation from the EU
Georgians take to the streets against Russian-style law
April 18, 2024, 8:55 a.m
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Is Georgia moving politically to the west or east – i.e. towards the EU or Moscow? The first reading of a law suggests the latter. This is how the government wants to control influence from abroad, she claims. However, tens of thousands are taking to the streets.
In Georgia, tens of thousands of people took to the streets again on Wednesday against the law on “foreign influence” after parliament approved the controversial plan in its first reading. In the evening, around 20,000 demonstrators blocked traffic in front of the parliament in Tbilisi and chanted: “No to Russian law.” Hundreds of police officers were on duty.
The demonstrators gave the authorities an ultimatum, demanding that the bill be withdrawn within an hour. They then moved on to Prime Minister Iraqi Kobakhidze’s office and demanded a meeting with him. Protest rallies also took place in other cities across the country, including the second largest Georgian city of Batumi, as the Interpress news agency reported.
Parliament had previously approved the law on “foreign influence” in its first reading. The draft law stipulates that organizations that receive at least 20 percent of their funding from abroad must register with the authorities. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which the opposition accuses of being excessively close to Russia, says it wants to use the law to ensure greater transparency, control the extent of foreign influence more closely and combat “pseudo-liberal values” imposed from abroad.
Russia remains uninvolved
Critics see parallels to the law against “foreign agents” in Russia, which allows the authorities there to take massive action against critical media and organizations. The Russian leadership said it had nothing to do with the legislative plans, which it defended as “normal practice.” Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that the plans would be used by external actors to stir up anti-Russian sentiment.
“This is a sad day for Georgia,” said protest participant Makvala Naskidashvili. Because the government has “taken another step towards Russia and away from Europe”. But she added that she was happy to see such unity among young people. They are “proud Europeans” and “will not allow anyone to destroy their European dream”.
“It is very worrying that the Georgian government wants to pass this law despite the loud protests of the population,” said Minister of State for Europe, Anna Lührmann, to the Reuters news agency. “Freedom of the press and a free civil society are core components of every democracy and important prerequisites for EU accession.”
Government threatens chance of EU membership
The EU, which granted Georgia candidate status in December, reiterated that the draft law was incompatible with its values and called it a “very worrying development.” Lührmann said the protests showed that Georgians see their future in the EU. Georgia should not jeopardize its “historic” chance of membership. The USA and Great Britain also warned against the law.
Thousands of people had already demonstrated in Tbilisi against the ruling Georgian Dream party’s plans on Monday and Tuesday, and there were riots between protesters and the police. There were arrests and attacks on reporters.
The proposed law still needs to be passed by Parliament in its second and third reading. Although the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili can exercise her veto, the pro-government MPs in the parliament in Tbilisi have a sufficient majority to override the president’s veto. In 2023, the government withdrew the initiative after massive protests.