2024-05-13 00:14:59
About 50,000 people organized a peaceful march in heavy rain in the streets of the Georgian capital to express their objection to the draft “foreign agents” law, after the United States said that the country must choose between a “Kremlin-style” law and the aspirations of the people.
The bill, which requires organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence,” sparked an escalating political crisis in Georgia, as thousands took to the streets to demand the withdrawal of the bill.
The crowd waved Georgian, European Union and some Ukrainian flags. Unlike before, the crowd included more older protesters as well as many young people who had crowded the streets over the past month.
Parliament, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its allies, will begin sessions to discuss the third and final reading of the bill on Monday. Opposition groups called for a new wave of protests starting Saturday.
Opponents of the bill call it the “Russian law,” comparing it to legislation used to target Kremlin critics under President Vladimir Putin.
“We are deeply concerned by the democratic setback in Georgia,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrote on X.
He added, “Members of the Georgian parliament are faced with a very important choice: either support the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people or pass a Kremlin-style foreign agents law that opposes democratic values.” We support the Georgian people.”
The European Union, which granted Georgia candidate status in December, said the draft law would constitute a serious obstacle to completing the bloc’s accession process if passed.
The Georgian Dream Party says the bill will enhance transparency and Georgian national sovereignty.
Last updated: May 12, 2024 – 19:07
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2024-05-13 00:14:59