NewsGeorgia's streets alight. Protests surge against controversial foreign agents bill

Georgia's streets alight. Protests surge against controversial foreign agents bill

Tens of thousands of people protested in Tbilisi.

Images source: © East News | Zurab Tsertsvadze

3 May 2024 12:24

Tens of thousands of people protested in Tbilisi on Thursday against a government-enforced bill on foreign agents that has already passed its second reading in parliament. Demonstrations also took place at the Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater.

Protests in Georgia have been ongoing since 9 April, when the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced a bill that requires non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations "acting in the interests of a foreign power" and to submit special annual financial reports.

Critics of the Georgian bill compare it to a measure adopted in Russia in 2012, which was used to brutally suppress dissent and stigmatize anti-Kremlin campaigners. They argue that one of the bill’s objectives is to bring Georgia closer to Russia. Similar measures have been adopted by two other former USSR countries: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In December, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status but stated that it needs to implement judicial and electoral reforms, increase press freedom, and limit the power of oligarchs before membership negotiations can begin.

Georgians protest

In recent days, there have been massive demonstrations calling for the rejection of the bill, which is believed to quell dissent and weaken the country's aspiration to join the European Union.

Protesters on the streets of Georgia's capital chanted "No to Russia!" One of the protesters told AFP that they were all together to show the Kremlin puppets that they would not accept a government contrary to the will of the Georgian people.