They fear that a new law from the Moscow-friendly government will bring their country closer to Russia again. Thousands of demonstrators are protesting against this – including tonight – on the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
Mass protests continue in Georgia in the South Caucasus against a controversial law that could make the work of numerous non-governmental organizations and critical media more difficult. In the center of the capital Tbilisi, thousands of people gathered again in the evening to express their dissatisfaction. In their eyes, the legislative initiative endangers their country’s EU prospects.
The law, which passed the second reading in parliament the day before despite protests, is called “On Transparency of Foreign Influence.” It stipulates that NGOs that receive more than 20 percent of money from abroad must account for the origin of their funds. According to the demonstrators, the model is a Russian law with which the Kremlin hinders the work of critical associations and media. On its basis, numerous organizations and individuals in Russia have been branded as “foreign agents” and thus silenced.
If the new law is approved in its final reading in mid-May, the opposition and the protest movement fear that the EU accession they long for will become a long way off. Meanwhile, the Georgian police’s harsh crackdown on the demonstrators has met with harsh criticism. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern about the “unnecessary and disproportionate use of force” by security forces. Several people were injured the night before when water cannons and tear gas were used.
