Georgia: proposed law on "foreign agents". Sparks protests

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the Parliament of Georgia voted in the first reading to approve the law on "foreign agents". This bill proposes that media and NGOs receiving at least 20% of their funding from abroad must register as entities pursuing the interests of a foreign power.

Once media and NGOs are identified as foreign agents, they can be subject to scrutiny and limitations on funding and activities. This can make it easy for the government to control the information disseminated by the media, sometimes leading to their closure. A harsh blow to transparent and independent reporting.

A first attempt to pass the law occurred in March 2023, a year ago, but after numerous protests, it was abandoned. Clearly undeterred, the Georgian government has decided to try again. Protests against this law stem from concerns about an authoritarian turn by the government, fearing also the jeopardization of Georgia's accession to the European Union. The formal application for membership was indeed submitted in March 2022, and in December 2023, Georgia obtained candidate country status. This law could significantly hinder this path. The EU's Chief Foreign Policy Officer, Josep Borrell, has warned that adopting this legislation, which is not in line with the EU's fundamental values, would have a negative impact on Georgia's progress towards the EU.

For many people, this law ominously resembles a 2012 Russian law used to suppress dissent and independent media. "No to the Russian law" is indeed one of the main slogans used by protesters to express dissent against this law. The fear of an authoritarian turn by the government, as already highlighted, remains extremely high. Giorgi Rukhadze, founder of the Georgian Center for Strategic Analysis, has stated that "if this law is adopted, Georgia will align itself with Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and all those countries where human rights are trampled, destroying Georgia's European path".
Thus, Georgia could also join the list of countries that do not particularly appreciate freedoms. Nowadays, it's no longer surprising; freedom and rights, apparently, are out of fashion.

The first protests erupted on the evening of Tuesday, April 16, when more than 10,000 protesters gathered in front of the Parliament of Georgia. 10,000 people who, unlike the parliament, care about independent and transparent information.

Protests erupted not only on the streets but also in Parliament, where opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili punched Mamuka Mdinaradze, secretary of the ruling party, in the face. After the punch, Elisashvili decided to join the protesters on the street.

However, there was also a demonstration of support for this law. The Kremlin has indeed defended the reintroduction of this law. There were not many doubts; when it comes to human rights violations and fundamental freedoms, the Kremlin seems to always be at the forefront.

For this proposal to become law, it must pass the second and third readings in Parliament and gain the president's support. In this regard, Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili has stated that she is opposed to this bill and intends to exercise her veto right if this liberty-restricting law were to be passed. However, the ruling party can override the veto by collecting 76 votes.

International concern is high regarding this bill: will the protests have an effect?

Mondo Internazionale Post - All Rights Reserved 2024

Translated by Stefania Errico