Georgia: tens of thousands demonstrate against the law on “foreign influence”

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are at risk. took to the streets again Wednesday evening in Georgia to protest against the controversial bill. on "foreign" influence", adoptedé in second reading by Parliament despite the the massive mobilization of its detractors.

The Caucasus country has been plagued by anti-government protests since April 9, after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill seen as an obstacle to Tbilisi's aspirations to join the European Union.

The deputies voted Wednesday 83 for and 23 against this text which the Georgian Dream intends to adopt definitively by mid-May, despite three weeks of mobilization in the streets of its opponents.

Protesters attempt to block the entrance to Parliament during a rally against the controversial “foreign influence” bill, May 1, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia © AFP – Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE

The text must still pass a third reading and President Salomé Zourabichvili, who is in conflict with the ruling party, is expected to veto it. The Georgian Dream, however, has enough votes to be able to override it.

Like the day before, demonstrators gathered Wednesday evening in front of the Parliament brandishing Georgian and European flags, while the Ode to Joy, the EU anthem, resounded, noted an AFP journalist.

The police, who the day before had dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets, this time dislodged a small group of demonstrators who tried to block the side entrance to Parliament.

Police use tear gas and water cannon against protesters in Tbilisi, Georgia on May 1, 2024 © AFP – Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE

The rest of the rally continued peacefully into the evening.

“Their senseless violence is futile. The protest will only serve “amplify because popular anger is growing against our government”, commented one of the demonstrators, Tato Gachechiladzé, 20 years old.

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“Georgia belongs to Europe and we will not tolerate Russian laws and a pro-Russian government,” he added.

The controversial text is inspired by Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to repress dissenting voices.

Demonstration of the controversial “foreign influence” bill on May 1, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia © AFP – Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE

The Ministry of the Interior assured him that the police had used “the special means provided for by law — pepper spray and water cannons — in order to restore public order”.

The European Union condemned the “violence” of the police the previous night during which journalists, including an AFP photographer, were targeted. Around sixty demonstrators were also arrested.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, indicated on Wednesday that she was following the demonstrations with “deep concern”, calling for Tbilisi to “stay the course” towards the EU.

Similar rallies took place this week across the country, including in Batumi, Georgia's second city, and Kutaisi, the main city in the western Imereti region.

If this law is passed, it will require that any NGO or media organization receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad registers as “an organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.

The government assures for its part that this measure is intended to force organizations to demonstrate greater “transparency” regarding their funding.

A first version of the text had been abandoned last year after large-scale street protests.

Demonstration of the controversial “foreign influence” bill on May 1, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia © AFP – Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE

These unrest comes a few months before legislative elections in October, considered an important test for democracy in this former Soviet republic accustomed to political crises.

< p>In December, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status, but said Tbilisi would need to carry out reforms to its judicial and electoral systems, increase press freedom and limit the power of oligarchs before accession negotiations are officially launched.

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