The ruling party Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia has withdrawn from the country’s parliament a bill on foreign agents that caused rallies and protests in Tbilisi.
The decision was taken with the joint declaration of the ruling team, the parliamentary majority and the People’s Power popular movement that initiated the bill.
“The bill was given a false label of “Russian law”, and its adoption at the first hearing was presented as something the country had deviated from the European course … As a ruling power responsible to every member of society, we decided: without any persuasion, withdraw the bill that was supported by us” it was said.
The deputies emphasized that the public was misled by the “polygraph machine”, which managed to present the bill in a negative way.
Georgian lawmakers are confident that radical forces are driving young people into illegal actions. Deputies thanked the police, who adequately responded to the violent actions of the demonstrators.
The politicians, “First of all, we must protect the peace, tranquility and economic development in our country and the progress of Georgia on the path of European integration.”
Once citizens have calmed down, lawmakers intend to better explain to the public why this bill is needed and why it is important to ensure transparency of foreign influence in the country. In particular, the representatives will start working with the public and hold meetings where they will “tell the residents of the neighborhood the truth about every detail of the issue”.
But the opposition has no intention of stopping. Tsotne Koberidze, a member of the Girchi-More Freedom Party, said this, according to the news of the Imedi TV channel. The party demanded more clarity from the Georgian Dream regarding the release of those detained at the rallies and the withdrawal of the bill.
There will definitely be a show today because there are many young people who do not trust the Georgian Dream.”
According to Koberidze, it needs to be clarified how the party will withdraw the bill on foreign agents. On the other hand, the Georgian Dream should not be an easy task as long as the prisoners standing next to us are not free.”
Meanwhile, Imedi TV channel stated that the EU welcomed the decision of the Georgian Dream, referring to the statement made by the EU Delegation to Georgia.
Europeans “urged all political leaders of Georgia to renew pro-European reforms.”
“We welcome the ruling party’s announcement that it will withdraw the bill on transparency of foreign influence. We call on all political leaders in Georgia to undertake an inclusive and constructive renewal of pro-European reforms in line with the 12 priorities for Georgia’s candidate status.”
mass protests
Protests began on 7 March. Protesters have gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi since the early hours of the morning. They opposed the passage of the Foreign Agents Act, which was passed at the first reading that day.
The next day, March 8, dissatisfied citizens of Georgia reported that they would surround the parliament building to prevent deputies from meeting. Opposition politician Giorgi Vashadze urged protesters to go to the parliamentary entrances so that lawmakers would not appear in the government office building on March 9. Shortly before that, the protesters delivered an ultimatum to the country’s authorities: to withdraw the project within an hour and release the demonstrators detained the previous day.
“Time is up, our demands were not met. Now we must all act at the first and second entrances of the building to prevent the deputies from entering the parliament for tomorrow’s general assembly.”
A clash broke out between the demonstrators and the police. Special forces began dispersing the demonstrators, who responded by breaking windows of the building and firing fireworks inside.
Since March 7, law enforcement has detained 133 people. They are accused of petty hooliganism and disobeying the lawful demands of the police. There are 50 policemen among the injured.
At the same time, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also supported the protesters.
“I’m calling out to you standing on it tonight. [проспекте] Rustaveli, where I stopped more than once. Today I stand in New York with the Statue of Liberty behind me. This is a symbol that Georgia has always fought for and we have come to this day. In Zurabishvili video message, I am with you today for representing free Georgia. Posted this on social media.
On the night of March 9, clashes with the police intensified, and the protesters did not stop, although law enforcement officers used tear gas (neither masks nor glasses helped) and water cannon. Protesters threw fireworks and heavy objects at the enemy in response, the RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
According to Sputnik.Georgia, on the morning of March 9, special forces had removed the barricades near the parliament building.
Evaluation of the draft law “on the transparency of foreign influence” began on 2 March. There was a brawl at the meeting because representatives of the United National Movement and non-governmental organization entered the hall and tried to disrupt the meeting.
According to the document, it is proposed to create a registry for non-governmental organizations, media and organizations that receive funding from a foreign government in Georgia. The initiators of the bill assured that this version was a softened version of a similar American law.
But the State Department thinks otherwise. The ministry said this law threatens the country’s Euro-Atlantic future and relations with its partners, and is also “inspired by the Kremlin”. The United States urged Georgian authorities and protesters to show restraint.
“Passing these Kremlin-inspired bills in Parliament is incompatible with the clear desire of the Georgian people for European integration and their democratic development,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing.