|
Georgian Parliament Adopts 'Foreign Agent' Bill On Second Reading Amid Protests
Protesters swarm the streets of Tbilisi to demonstrate against the so-called foreign agent law on April 28.
Updated May 01, 2024
By RFE/RL's Georgian Service
TBILISI -- The parliament of Georgia on May 1 voted to advance a controversial 'foreign agent' bill that has sparked weeks of mass protests in the capital, Tbilisi, and warnings from Brussels that it would damage Georgia's hopes of becoming a member of the European Union.
Lawmakers voted 83 to 23 to adopt the bill in a second reading after a heated debate that included the expulsion of four opposition deputies and a fight between members representing opposition and majority parties.
The ruling party has said it wants to sign it into law by mid-May.
Outside the parliament police officers started dispersing a demonstration by opponents of the bill using rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons. Video recordings circulating on social media, injured demonstrators are seen receiving first aid from other demonstrators or paramedics.
The incidents followed overnight clashes between police and demonstrators over the foreign agents bill regarded by many as mirroring a law used by the Russian government to stifle dissent in that country.
The Interior Ministry issued a statement calling on the demonstrators not to block streets and not to try to picket the parliament. But the statement also said people would have an opportunity to protest on the street at the front and back of the building.
At the same time police officers belonging to special forces units took over the street at the back exit of the parliament, where a small group of people were protesting.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement on May 1, saying Georgia is at a crossroads and should "stay the course" on the road to Europe.
Citizens of the EU candidate country "are demonstrating their strong attachment to democracy and the Georgian government should heed this message, von der Leyen said.
"The European Union has also clearly expressed its concerns regarding the law on foreign influence. The Georgian people want a European future for their country," she added.
Police used tear gas and water cannons overnight to disperse an illegal demonstration and detained 63 people. Five protesters and six police officers were hospitalized with injuries.
Lawmakers Aleko Elisashvili and Levan Khabeishvili were injured in the clashes, Interior Ministry spokesman Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said.
Khabeishvili, chairman of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), was taken to a hospital and photographs showed he had bruises and cuts on his head and torso. The UNM said he had been “kidnapped” by police and claimed he was “helping an injured citizen” when he was detained.
An RFE/RL reporter at the scene recorded two incidents in which a masked individual punched demonstrators in the face.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the “violence against protesters” in a May 1 post on X, formerly Twitter.
“Georgia is an EU candidate country,” he wrote. “I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly.”
The Special Investigation Service announced that an investigation into excessive force against the demonstrators is ongoing.
The demonstration was the latest in a series of mass protests over the past two weeks against the legislation put forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Critics call the bill "the Russian law," and President Salome Zurabishvili, who has distanced herself from the policies of the ruling party, has promised to veto it if it is formally adopted in a third reading, as expected.
However, the government has the votes to override a veto and has said it would do so. Lawmakers ended the session on April 30 without a vote.
Levan Ioseliani, public defender of Georgia, said there were reports of possible excesses of force by law enforcement officers circulating on social media and called on demonstrators "not to go beyond the scope of the peaceful assembly."
Ioseliani warned that the use of any kind of force or special means by law enforcement officers "must meet the strict test of necessity and proportionality." The use of pepper spray aimed at the face is not allowed, he said, adding that the use of any special means must be preceded by a warning.
On April 30, the international hacking collective Anonymous expressed support for the protesters and warned the Georgian police that "attacking protesters will result in the release of information about all your government officials."
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the group threatened to hack and release databases and e-mail, saying "this is your first and only warning." Copyright © May 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 conncwsecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. http://www.rferl.org
Back To Country Profile
|