International Pressure Mounts on Georgia to Scrap Controversial Bill Amid Ongoing Protests
The Georgian government has been called upon by the UN Human Rights Commissioner to withdraw a controversial bill that has sparked thousands of protests in the country. Despite attempts by police to quell the demonstrations, they have continued to be massive, with protesters in Tbilisi shouting “No to Russia” in opposition to the bill, which has been compared to a similar law in Russia that silences dissenters.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has expressed concern about the violence used by police against peaceful protesters and urged Georgians to exercise their right to protest against the bill on foreign influence. The UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk also urged Georgia’s government to withdraw the bill and condemned the use of water cannons and tear gas by police against protesters.
The law under discussion would require media and non-governmental organizations that receive more than a fifth of their funding from outside Georgia to register as promoters of foreign interests. Critics argue that this is essentially a replica of Russia’s law on foreign agents. However, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili defended the bill, stating that it was necessary for national security and sovereignty.
Valtonen emphasized that Georgia has received candidate status for EU membership and urged them to continue on this path. President Ursula von der Leyen also noted that Georgia is at a crossroads and should continue towards Europe. The ongoing protests and international pressure highlight the importance of this situation regarding the controversial bill in Georgia.
