Tear gas against demonstrators
Georgia’s parliament approves “Russian law”
May 2, 2024, 12:46 a.m
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Tens of thousands of Georgians are mobilizing against the government’s plan to target organizations that receive funds from abroad. The police are once again taking massive action against demonstrators. The protest made no impression on the parliamentarians.
Overshadowed by heavy protests, the parliament in Georgia in the South Caucasus passed a controversial law on tighter control of non-governmental organizations in the second reading. Tens of thousands took to the streets again, waving Georgian and European Union flags. According to media reports, the police again used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators. There are said to be several injured.
The law is intended to limit the alleged influence of foreign countries on civil society in the EU candidate country Georgia. 83 of the 150 members of parliament voted for the controversial legislative initiative. 23 voted against. Three readings are necessary for the law to be approved. Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze has already announced that the third reading will be held in two weeks despite the ongoing protests. Another two weeks later, parliament will override President Salome Zurabishvili’s expected veto against the law, he said at a press conference.
The planned law requires that non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20 percent of money from abroad must account for its origin. Many projects to promote democracy in the ex-Soviet republic work with money from EU countries or the USA. The ruling Georgian Dream party speaks of greater transparency.
Von der Leyen is worried
Critics expect the law to be abused, as in Russia, to stop money flows and persecute pro-Western forces. You talk about “Russian law”. The Georgian Dream party, which has been in power since 2012, is becoming increasingly authoritarian ahead of the parliamentary elections in the fall. The pro-European demonstrators fear that this course will endanger the hoped-for accession to the EU. Kobakhidze took over as prime minister in February. The 45-year-old accuses Western states of wanting to drag Georgia into Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Interior Ministry justified the police’s crackdown on the demonstrators by saying they had tried to break down the doors of parliament. To restore order, the officers used pepper spray and water cannons, among other things, the ministry said. There have been violent clashes between security forces and protesters in the past few days.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern about the renewed escalation. “Georgian citizens are showing their deep commitment to democracy. The Georgian government should take this clear message into account,” von der Leyen wrote on X. At the same time, she condemned the violent action against the demonstrators.