The law, supported by the ruling Georgian Dream party, follows the law already in force in Russia and is seen by the opposition as an attempt to conceal information. President Zurabishvili supports the protesters. Borrell: “Law incompatible with our values and standards”. USA: “Black Day for Democracy”
The Georgian Parliament at first reading the two drafts of the The invoice which aims to introduce new rules for the control of the so-called “foreign agents”mainly for i Averagecauses the protests by thousands of people facing the police he reacted violently. The law supported by the ruling party Georgian dreamfollows the already applicable in Russia and is seen from resistors as an attempt to set the information stunt. It’s at Tbilisi have occurred clashes among the protesters – publicly endorsed by the President Salome Zurabishvili – and the police guarding the seat of Parliament in protective gear and raise barricades at the entrances. There police It was deployed immediately as soon as the bills were passed. In fact, thousands of people rallied outside Parliament to protest the law and tried itbreak into the building. They were used on her tear gas, water cannon And spray.
The pro-government party put forward a proposal to pass a law on “foreign agents” in Georgia as well power of the people and met with protests from non-governmental organizations and Average. That’s what the law says non-commercial companies you get over 20% from their own financing from foreign sources are accurately registered as foreign agents, with possible restrictions to their activities. The invoice will now be sent to Venice Commission of European Council for an opinion. Subsequently, these bills will be heard and possibly passed by the Georgian Parliament at second and third readings, Interfax reported.
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvilifrom New York, where she is currently visiting, addressed the protesters and expressed their support – as Ukrainska Pravda reported: “I am addressing you who represent them Free Georgia. Georgia sees hers future in Europe and she will not allow anyone to take that future away from her,” the President underscored, specifying that her country did not need the law on “foreign agents” and promising to do so objection. However, the parliament in Tbilisi has the opportunity override the veto Presidential elections, as in the past year on the so-called law listenwhat had been criticized from the European Union and human rights activists.
The European Union’s reaction was immediate: “This is a very negative development for Georgia and its people. The law in its current form should a deterrent effect on civil society and media organizations, with negative consequences for the many Georgians who benefit from their work,” the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs wrote in a statement. Joseph Borrell. “This law is incompatible with i Values She default of the Union – he added – It contradicts Georgia’s stated goal of joining the European Union, as supported by a large majority of Georgian citizens. Be final acceptance can have series impact about our relationship.” Borrell also urged Georgia to “reflect its commitment to the advancement of democracyof rule of law and gods human rights” and recalled “the right of citizens to protest peacefully”. for theUS Embassy in Tbilisi it is instead a “Black Day” for “Georgian democracy”.