Thousands Rally In Georgia After Parliament Passes 'foreign Influence' Law
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 15, 2024 | 01:20 AM
Tbilisi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th May, 2024) Thousands of protesters rallied Tuesday in Georgia after parliament adopted a law to brand overseas-funded NGOs as groups under "foreign influence", a measure Brussels has warned will undermine Tbilisi's European aspirations.
Lawmakers voted 84 to 30 in favour during the third and final reading of the law, which was widely denounced as mirroring repressive Russian legislation used to silence dissent.
Protesters skirmished with riot police in the street outside the parliament building in the centre of the capital, where demonstrations have raged for the last month.
Scuffles even broke out inside the chamber earlier, as opposition lawmakers clashed with members of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Critics say the bill is a symbol of the ex-Soviet republic's drift closer to Russia's orbit over recent years.
Chanting "no to the Russian law", around 2,000 mainly young protesters gathered outside parliament ahead of the vote and several thousand joined the rally in the evening after news spread that lawmakers had adopted the law.
Protesters later blocked traffic at a key road intersection in central Tbilisi.
The interior ministry said 13 demonstrators were arrested for "disobeying police orders."
The wife of prominent opposition activist David Katsarava said he was badly beaten by riot police after he was detained at the protest.
- US warning -
Weeks of mass rallies against the bill in Tbilisi culminated on Saturday, when up to 100,000 people took to the streets in the largest anti-government rally in Georgia's recent history.
The EU has said the law is "incompatible" with Georgia's longstanding bid to join the 27-nation bloc, while Washington has warned its adoption would signal Tbilisi's departure from the Western orbit.
On a visit to Georgia, US Assistant Secretary of State Jim O'Brien said the US could impose "travel restrictions and financial sanctions against individuals involved and their families" if the law is not brought in compliance with Western standards and there was violence against peaceful protesters.
He also warned that some $390 million allocated this year by Washington in assistance to Georgia would come "under review if we are now regarded as an adversary and not a partner."
UK defence minister Grant Shapps labelled the foreign influence law an act of "Russian interference in Georgia."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov hit back, accusing the West of "undisguised interference in Georgia's internal affairs."
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told AFP that he would be travelling on Tuesday to Georgia together with his counterparts from Iceland, Estonia and Latvia to express "our concerns.
"
Both protesters and the ruling Georgian Dream party have vowed not to back down, and fresh rallies have been called for Tuesday evening.
Some protesters say their ultimate goal is to vote out Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012.
- Fears for EU integration -
The bill requires NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as bodies "pursuing the interests of a foreign power".
Russia has used a similar law to silence public figures and organisations that disagree with or deviate from the Kremlin's views.
The EU on Tuesday repeated its position that the bill undermines Tbilisi's desire to move closer to the bloc.
"EU member countries are very clear that if this law is adopted it will be a serious obstacle for Georgia in its European perspective," said its spokesman, Peter Stano.
Last year, Georgia was granted official EU candidacy, and Brussels is set to decide in December on the formal launch of accession talks -- an unlikely prospect after the law's adoption.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is at loggerheads with the government, has vowed to veto the law in what she said would be a "symbolic move" as Georgian Dream has enough lawmakers in parliament to override her veto.
"This law is taking away my future," 19-year-old protester Anano Plievi told AFP outside parliament.
"I am angry, and proud of all these people at the same time. We are going to keep going towards Europe."
Georgian society is widely anti-Kremlin. Georgia's bid for membership of the EU and NATO is enshrined in its constitution and -- according to opinion polls -- supported by a majority of the population.
NGOs and government critics have reported months of intimidation and harassment in the run-up to the bill being reintroduced.
Georgian Dream has depicted the protesters as violent mobs, insisted it is committed to joining the EU, and said the bill is aimed at increasing transparency of NGO funding.
The controversy surrounding the bill comes five months before a parliamentary election seen as a crucial democratic test for the Black Sea country.
oc-im/rox
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Infinix soars to new heights with exceptional global market share growth in Q1, ..
Pakistan, UK sign LoI to improve coordination among LEAs
Imran Khan declines to meet FIA on cyber crime investigation
Ignoring the importance of digital terrorism accounts for 60% of the country's p ..
Babar Azam reflects on T20I series loss against England
Former US President Donald Trump convicted in fraud case
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 31 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 31 May 2024
HRCP builds case for a constitutional amendment to strengthen local governments
Govt importing urea to ensure uninterrupted supply to farmers: Rana Tanveer
First women-led home appliances workshop opens in Multan
Osama Mir directly contacts Mohsin Naqvi for not being selected for T20I World s ..
More Stories From World
-
Swiatek looks for French Open birthday boost, Gauff into last 16
11 minutes ago -
French nurse dubbed 'Angel of Dien Bien Phu' dies aged 99
21 minutes ago -
French nurse dubbed 'Angel of Dien Bien Phu' dies aged 99
21 minutes ago -
Nigerian army says 11 killed in clash with separatists
31 minutes ago -
G7 urges N.Korea, Russia to 'cease unlawful arms'
31 minutes ago -
French minister says New Caledonia capital 'under control'
50 minutes ago
-
Cricket in uncharted territory as T20 World Cup starts in Texas
50 minutes ago -
Foreign legion 'proud' to provide security at Paris Olympics
51 minutes ago -
Trump case shows US 'eliminating' rivals, Kremlin says
1 hour ago -
India court urges heatwave emergency declaration
2 hours ago -
Chinese property giant Evergrande fined $576 mn for 'fraud'
2 hours ago -
S. Korea military warns of more trash-filled balloons from North
2 hours ago