Thousands protest in Georgia over contentious ‘foreign agent law’

Thousands have taken to the streets in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi after the country’s parliament passed the first reading of a controversial draft law which campaigners say will put limits on press freedom and suppress civil society.

Georgian civil activists and opposition representatives “blocked both entrances to the parliament building”, said the Daily Telegraph, chanting: “No to Russian law!” “Russians!” and “Slaves!”

Police “used tear gas and stun grenades” during a clash with demonstrators, “some of whom threw petrol bombs and stones”, reported France24.

The new legislation “has been described as ‘Kremlin-inspired’ because it is strikingly similar to a 2012 law adopted by Russia that allows authorities to crack down on NGOs, media outlets and others deemed ‘foreign agents’”, added the Telegraph.

Historically, “the term ‘agent’ in Russia and Georgia has the meaning of ‘spy’ and ‘traitor’, giving a negative connotation to the work done by civil society”, said the BBC. “It suggests they are acting in the interest of foreign forces rather than doing good for the country and society,” added the broadcaster.

The two bills, on the “transparency of foreign agents” and the “registration of foreign agents”, were submitted to parliament by the openly anti-Western People’s Power movement, a close ally of the governing Georgian Dream party.

Before parliament passed the legislation, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Garibashvili reaffirmed his support for the law, saying the proposed provisions on foreign agents met “European and global standards”.

But the bill has been widely condemned by international observers as an “act of sabotage to Georgia’s EU candidacy aspirations” and an attack on freedom of speech, “stoking concern that it will lead to crackdowns on civil liberties similar to that in Russia”, said Radio Free Europe.

Georgia applied for EU membership, together with Ukraine and Moldova, in the days after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The US embassy in Georgia called the legislation “Kremlin-inspired” with the US state department spokesman Ned Price, saying the draft legislation would be a tremendous setback and “would strike at some of the very rights that are central to the aspirations of the people of Georgia”.