Tbilisi: Tensions are escalating in Georgia as protests intensify against a proposed law that many fear could curtail media freedom and jeopardize the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. The contentious bill, resembling one withdrawn last year amid street demonstrations, mandates media and non-governmental organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive over 20% of their funding from abroad.
Advocates of the bill, predominantly from the ruling Georgian Dream party, argue its necessity to safeguard against detrimental foreign influence and political destabilization. However, critics perceive it as a “Russian law” that could impede Georgia’s EU accession prospects. They interpret its presence in parliament as a manifestation of Moscow’s sway over Georgia, amid strained relations since the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.
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Protests have persisted for days, with thousands besieging the parliament building in a bid to thwart the bill’s passage. Police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, resulting in over 60 arrests and numerous injuries, including that of Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the United National Movement. Thursday’s parliamentary session was canceled due to damage sustained during Wednesday’s protests.
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The European Union has voiced apprehension over the proposed legislation, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asserting that it contradicts EU core norms and values. Borrell cautioned that its enactment could impede Georgia’s EU trajectory, limit civil society and media operations, curtail freedom of expression, and unfairly stigmatize organizations benefiting Georgian citizens.
