Russia or EU? Controversial bill draws Georgians onto streets
By Rayhan Demytrie
For the last ten days, thousands of Georgians – many in their late teens and early twenties – have been bringing the traffic of the capital, Tbilisi, to a standstill.
They demand that the government scrap plans to introduce a controversial bill – dubbed the “foreign agent” law – many say is inspired by authoritarian legislation neighbouring Russia uses to crush dissent.
On 17 April, parliament passed the bill in its first reading – the first of three barriers it must overcome before becoming law.
“I am here for my European future,” says 23-year old Gvantsa “Pertso” as she sits with her friends next to the Georgian parliament, a meeting point for rallies.
She is among members of Georgia’s Gen Z who have been marching through Tbilisi with EU and Georgian flags draped around their shoulders, holding banners and chanting “No to the Russian law!”
Under the bill proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party – which has been in power for the last 12 years – NGOs and independent media that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors would have to to register as organisations “bearing the interests of a foreign power”.
They would also be monitored by the Justice Ministry and could be forced to share sensitive information – or face hefty fines of up to 25,000 GEL ($9400; £7500).
Because NGOs and civil society organisations in Georgia are involved in election monitoring, protesters are also concerned the bill could be used to crush critical voices ahead of the parliamentary elections later this year.
