Protesters Return to Tbilisi After Police Break Up
Demonstration Against New Law
Thousands of protesters have returned to the centre of Georgia’s
capital, Tbilisi, following a violent police crackdown on a demonstration
against a new Russian-style law. The law would classify non-governmental and
media groups as “foreign agents” if they receive more than 20% of their funding
from abroad.
Riot police broke up the initial protest, which took place
on Sunday, arresting 66 people, including an opposition leader. Zurab
Japaridze, who was among those detained, suffered a serious injury during his
arrest, according to a public official who visited him in detention. It is
reported that Mr Japaridze was hit with a baton by police.
Despite the police action, thousands of people returned to
the streets of Tbilisi on Monday to voice their opposition to the new law.
Protesters held up signs calling for the release of those who had been arrested
and demanding the withdrawal of the “foreign agents” bill.
The Georgian government has defended the new law, saying
that it is necessary to prevent foreign interference in the country’s affairs.
However, many activists and opposition groups see it as an attempt to stifle
dissent and limit freedom of speech.
The controversy surrounding the “foreign agents” bill comes
amid rising tensions between Georgia and Russia. The two countries have been at
odds since a brief war in 2008, and relations have deteriorated further in
recent years over issues including Georgia’s bid to join NATO and Moscow’s
support for separatist regions in Georgia.
The Georgian government has faced criticism from
international organizations, including the European Union and the United
Nations, over its handling of the protests and the arrests of opposition
figures.
The situation In Tbilisi remains tense, with protesters
vowing to continue their demonstrations until the new law is withdrawn and those
arrested are released.
Georgian Prime Minister Denounces Controversial “Foreign
Agents” Bill Amid Protests
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili has spoken out
against the controversy surrounding a proposed “foreign agents” bill, which has
sparked protests across the country. The bill, which would classify
non-governmental and media groups as “foreign agents” if they receive more than
20% of their funding from abroad, has been criticized by activists and
opposition groups who see it as an attempt to limit freedom of speech.
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, maintains that the
legislation is based on US legislation from the 1930s, but many protesters have
dubbed it a “Russian law” due to its similarity to a law passed by Russia in
2012.
Russia’s law has since been expanded to suppress
Western-funded NGOs, independent media, journalists and bloggers, requiring
anyone identified as a foreign agent to label their publications as such.
Opponents of the Georgian bill fear that it could be used in a similar manner
to silence critics of the government.
The controversy surrounding the bill has brought thousands of
protesters to the streets of Tbilisi, with many of them being students who
believe that the government is under Russian influence. The government has
denied this, with Prime Minister Gharibashvili denouncing the “stir” over the
bill and saying that it is necessary to prevent foreign interference in the
country’s affairs.
However, the protests have continued, with
opposition-supporting TV stations also speaking out against the proposed
legislation. The European Union has also expressed concern, with EU foreign
policy chief Josep Borrell warning that the bill is “incompatible with EU
values and standards”.
The situation in Tbilisi remains tense, with protesters
vowing to continue their demonstrations until the bill is withdrawn and those
arrested in connection with the protests are released. The controversy has
raised questions about Georgia’s relationship with Russia and its aspirations
to join the European Union and NATO.
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