Tensions flare in Georgia over contentious 'foreign agents' law

Scuffles broke out again during the debates of the Georgian parliament. The ruling party, the Georgian Dream, is pushing a law on "transparency of foreign influences," akin to the one in force in Russia. Protests continue in Tbilisi over this issue. The European Union has urged Georgian authorities to ensure the right to peaceful gatherings.

The Georgian Dream, ruling Georgia for the third term, revisits the law on so-called foreign agents (now rebranded as the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence"), from which it had backtracked in March last year following extensive protests and criticism from Western nations.

The law, inspired by the Russian legislation and dubbed the "Russian law," stipulates that organizations receiving at least 20 percent of their financing from abroad would need to register and report, placing them in a special register of foreign influence agents.

"Internal news from the party: The morale among Georgian Dream parliamentarians is exceptionally low. There are internal tensions and fear. GD deputies realize that Bidzina Ivanishvili has completely lost touch with reality. Some advocate for dropping the matter and scrapping the bill," reports Dr Grigol Julukhidze.

63 individuals were detained, and six police officers were injured during Tuesday's protests in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, against the so-called law on foreign agents – this was reported on Wednesday by the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, Alexander Darakhvelidze.

Georgian security forces employed water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas to break up the protest in front of the parliament on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, the European Union called on Georgia to respect the right to peaceful assemblies and refrain from using force against protesters.

"Georgia is an EU candidate country, I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly. Use of force to suppress it is unacceptable," - Josep Borrell posted on the X platform.

Thousands of individuals took part in the protest. It was one of the largest demonstrations since the Georgian Dream ruling party resumed the legislative process for the law on transparency of foreign influences at the start of April.

Last year, in response to mass protests and pressure from Western countries, the Georgian Dream had retracted its intent to adopt the law. This time, however, the ruling party is adamant about passing the bill, which, it claims, will ensure the "transparency of financing" for NGOs, the opposition, and the media.