Protests in Georgia continue after 'foreign agents' bill withdrawal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
9 Mar 2023 12:59
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Following two days of violent protests, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced earlier today its decision to withdraw the bill on "foreign agents" from the Parliament.

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside Georgia's parliament. (Reuters)

The Girchi-More Freedom party spearheading the protests in Georgia announced that it would continue demonstrations despite that the bill on "foreign agents" has recently been withdrawn from the Parliament earlier in the day.

"There will definitely be a demonstration today. Young people do not have confidence in the Georgian Dream [ruling party]. We demand two things: we need clarity on how they plan to withdraw the project, and second, we need to release the people who fought with us," party member Tsotne Koberidze told a briefing.

Following two days of violent protests, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced today its decision to withdraw the bill on "foreign agents" from the Parliament.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in #Tbilisi to protest a new proposed bill that seeks to limit foreign influence in Georgian politics through NGOs.

So what's happening in #Georgia? pic.twitter.com/OX340Orl63
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 8, 2023

The law, adopted on Tuesday by a majority vote, would mandate the creation of a list of individuals and entities receiving foreign financing.

This sparked widespread protests and concerns among the opposition, who are concerned that it will allow the government to suppress the work of NGOs and activists in the country.

Meanwhile, the government maintains that this is intended to limit foreign meddling in Georgian politics.

Following the announcement of voting results in Georgia's parliament on Tuesday, clashes erupted near the parliament building between special forces and demonstrators who had gathered earlier in the day to protest the bill, injuring several law enforcement officers and protesters.

Anti-Russian critics said that Russia used similar laws to push the opposition.

The EU office in Georgia welcomed the government's decision, saying that "We encourage all political leaders in GE (Georgia) to resume pro-EU reforms in an inclusive & constructive way."

We welcome announcement by the ruling party to withdraw draft legislation on “foreign influence”. We encourage all political leaders in GE 🇬🇪 to resume pro-EU 🇪🇺reforms, in an inclusive & constructive way and in line with the 12 priorities for Georgia to achieve candidate status pic.twitter.com/pKSFIOQv88
— EU Delegation Georgia 🇪🇺 (@EUinGeorgia) March 9, 2023

Following the government's announcement, protesters were seen outside waving EU flags, which Georgia applied to join in March 2022.

US and Ukraine flags were also seen among the group of protesters.

Mass protests in Tbilisi continue. The Ukrainian anthem can be heard in the background.

Protesters gave Georgian government one hour to gulfill their demands: remove the "foreign agents" law from parliament and release all arrested protesters. pic.twitter.com/xOLyOvggzb
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 8, 2023

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday that the bill was "Kremlin-inspired."

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Georgian protesters for raising Ukrainian flags. "I want to thank everyone who has been holding Ukrainian flags in the squares and streets of Georgia these days," he said.

08.03. Pr. Zelensky's speech this evening: "I want to thank everyone who has been holding Ukrainian flags in the squares and streets of Georgia these days. I want to express gratitude for our national anthem that was played in Tbilisi..." - Full video! pic.twitter.com/GvNMcfKfUs
— Dénes Törteli 🇪🇺🇭🇺🇺🇦 (@DenesTorteli) March 8, 2023

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that the United States has had a law since 1938, mandating the registration of entities lobbying foreign interests.

The statement was delivered in response to comments issued by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell earlier in the week, that Georgia's controversial draft law on foreign agents was incompatible with EU values, contradicting the country's goal to join the European Union.

Zakharova wrote on Telegram that "it is now clear why the US is still not in the EU. This law [on foreign agents] has been in effect since 1938."

The United States Foreign Agents Registration Act, enacted in 1938, requires any individual or entity who becomes an "agent of a foreign principal" to disclose their affiliations, related activities, and finances, with penalties for violations.