Despite protests, the Georgian Parliament has approved the controversial “foreign agents” law, which many see as a threat to the country’s efforts towards European integration. Critics have previously said that the law could be used to threaten civil liberties.
The law was passed with 84 in favor and 30 against. A similar law is also in force in Russia.
For weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have been protesting against the law advocated by the ruling party “Georgian Dream.” Demonstrations have been repeatedly violently suppressed with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Protesters are concerned that the government could use the law to suppress dissent.
The proposed law has been condemned by the United States (U.S.), the European Union (EU), and others for its similarity to the Russian law that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses to silence dissent and stifle independent institutions.
The bill was smoothly adopted in the third and final reading in the parliament controlled by the “Georgian Dream.” Support for the law was earlier confirmed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
Under the provisions of the now-approved law, media outlets, non-governmental organizations, and other non-profit organizations should register as “representing the interests of foreign powers” if more than 20 percent of their funding comes from abroad.
Members of the opposition were prohibited from attending the legal committee meeting on March 13th, where lawmakers from the Georgian Dream took only 67 seconds to consider and approve the law, allowing it to move to a vote in the full assembly.
While the law was being approved, the Georgian police arrested 20 people after forcibly dispersing a rally outside the parliament.
Human rights organizations had earlier called on the “Georgian Dream” to withdraw the law.
Mass protests against the controversial law are some of the largest protests in the country since Georgia became independent in 1991.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who expressed support for peaceful protests, had previously promised to veto the law if lawmakers approved it. However, a simple majority in parliament is enough to override the president’s veto, Slobodna Evropa reports.
E.Dz.
