The Parliament of Georgia cancelled their plenary session on Thursday due to a highly controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill amid widespread protests and significant criticism from the EU and US. The cancellation was attributed to damage caused to the parliamentary building from mass protests against the bill.
Thousands of Georgian correspondents filled the streets of Tbilisi to protest against the bill this week, with many perceiving it as authoritarian. Reports of violence, use of rubber bullets, pepper spray, and arrests have surfaced, painting a concerning picture of the police’s response to the protests.
The shelved sessions would have followed the second reading of the bill, which received 83 votes in favor and 23 against. The bill pertains to the “transparency of foreign influence” concerning media and non-profit organizations, necessitating such groups to register as pursuing the interests of a foreign power if they receive over 20% of their funding from overseas.
The criticisms stem from the belief that this bill could obstruct Georgia’s chances of EU membership. The EU has expressed concerns about possible infringements on media and civil society freedoms, stating that media freedom is a pillar of democracy and that the bill deviates from EU norms and values.
The US Department of the State also criticized the bill, accusing it of being influenced by the Russian government and highlighting the government’s “false narrative” justifying it. Spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned any violence against the protestors in his statement:
“We stand with the Georgian people and their right to have their voices heard. We condemn the use of violence against peaceful protests, including against journalists covering the demonstrations. Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression.”
Despite these interventions, the protests carried on into Thursday and Friday, with further reports of police violence. The final reading of the bill is projected to happen later in May, but it remains uncertain how these recent developments will affect the legislation progression.
Original coverage by JURIST can be found here.