Following a couple of days of intense opposition in the capital, Georgia’s governing party announced on March 9 that it is dropping a draft law from the Parliament that has been criticized for possibly curbing media freedom and civil society.
Outrage and Protests: Reaction to Georgia’s Proposed Foreign Agents Law
The proposed legislation has been withdrawn, according to the Georgian Dream party and its allies, who cited the “controversy in society” it caused. The legislation would have mandated the registration of media outlets and nongovernmental groups as “agents of foreign influence” if more than 20% of their funding comes from abroad. Georgian Dream had earlier claimed that the law was required to expose detractors of the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the most influential organizations in the nation.
The bill’s opponents, which include Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, have drawn parallels between it to a 2012 Russian legislation that has been used to repress dissent and threatened to veto it if it came to her desk. Its opponents claimed that it was modeled after a law that Russia uses to quell criticism and that it might obstruct Georgia’s efforts to become a member of NATO and the EU. Massive demonstrations that lasted for several days in the nation’s capital, Tbilisi, preceded the withdrawal.
The Georgian government claims that the laws are based on US foreign agent rules, which have been in effect since the 1930s.
On March 9th, 2023, lawmakers stated that consultations were held among the political council of Georgian Dream, People’s Force, and Deputies of the Parliamentary majority and that they had accepted that the Bill had caused discord in society. Thus, the Bill was unconditionally withdrawn without any reservations as a result.
On Tuesday, the parliament gave its initial approval; however, thousands of protesters congregated outside the building, and they did so again on Wednesday. Police were attacked by some protesters who hurled rocks, bottles, and gasoline bombs. A police vehicle was turned over, and the parliament building’s windows were broken in at least one place.
After several hours of demonstration, police employed tear gas, stun grenades, and water cannons to disperse the crowds. According to Georgia’s interior minister, 77 people were detained during the protest on Tuesday.
The controversial legislation was swiftly rescinded on Thursday, and the EU delegation in Georgia urged Georgian politicians to begin pro-EU reforms in accordance with the 12 requirements outlined for Georgia to become a member state.
Many Georgians who supported the country’s application to the EU were concerned that the planned legislation would prolong their already protracted application process.
The draft legislation was described as an extremely bad situation by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who also noted that it might harm Georgia’s relations with the bloc.
The 3.7 million-person nation, wedged in the Caucasus between Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, has endured several periods of political unrest since breaking away from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Ilhan Kyuchyuk who is a member of the European Parliament for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) stated that he welcomed the promise of the Georgian Dream to abandon their hazardous Kremlin-inspired ‘foreign agents’ legislation. Nevertheless, they will keep observing the same until it is genuinely withdrawn in Parliament.
Despite the fact that parliament could have overridden the president’s veto, Salome Zurabishvili had declared she would veto the measure.
Georgia received criticism for the legislation’s introduction from a number of sources, including American and European officials.
According to polls, a sizable majority of Georgians support entering NATO and the EU. The concept is backed by all main parties, including the Georgian Dream.
Brussels had turned down Georgia’s request for EU candidate status along with Moldova and Ukraine last year, blaming the failure of both political and judicial reforms.
Also Read- Georgia bustles over a Controversial bill