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Tbilisi erupts in violence after Georgia passed a Putin-inspired 'foreign agent' law. [1]

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Date: 2023-03-08

Violent reaction to a Russian-inspired proposed law that would label media and NGOs to register as foreign agents. Pro-western protests started peacefully and ended in violence in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Protestors were furious that the law would end chances to join the European Union and better ties with the West.

Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the thousands who took to the streets in protest.

x The situation in Tbilisi is escalating - protesters started throwing "Molotov's cocktails" at police. President of Georgia will address the nation soon. pic.twitter.com/nwHeubcbtZ — Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 7, 2023

Radio Free Europe:

TBILISI -- Georgia's opposition has called for new protests after dozens of activists were detained during clashes with police while demonstrating against parliament's move toward approving a controversial "foreign agent" law that has drawn sharp criticism from the West. Nika Melia, chairman of the main opposition United National Movement (ENM), called for Georgians to gather at 3 p.m. (1100 GMT) on March 8, while rights groups plan to hold further actions outside of parliament later in the day. Protesters clashed with police inside and outside of Georgia's parliament on March 7 as lawmakers took up the controversial "foreign agent" law that critics say will harm press freedoms and push the country toward authoritarianism.

x Emotional footage from ongoing rally in #Tbilisi pic.twitter.com/B5xbjZWa45 — Lasha Chikovani 🇬🇪 (@lashachikovani) March 7, 2023

The proposed legislation, which is backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party and was approved in a first reading on March 7, forces civil society organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to be classified as "foreign agents." Some have likened the bill to legislation passed in Russia, where all organizations or individuals receiving financial support from abroad can be declared "foreign agents," a label that stigmatizes them and forces them to submit to audits. Later revisions of the law targeted foreign-funded media.

x 🇺🇦🇬🇪 Georgians sing Ukrainian anthem today during the protest



Video shared by Mariam Nikuradze#Tbilisi pic.twitter.com/l9jyxpKI74 — Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) March 7, 2023

The Financial Times provides detail on the unfolding situation.

The clashes are the latest blow to what was once one of the EU’s best relationships with an aspiring member state, after years of souring ties between Brussels and Tbilisi over what EU officials say is a slide towards a less democratic form of government. Tbilisi has also offered only tepid support for Kyiv and refused to join in western sanctions against Russia after last-year’s invasion of Ukraine. That stance defies large public support for the war-torn country that echoes painful memories of a disastrous five-day war with Russia that cost Georgia a fifth of its territory. Georgian Dream, the ruling party backed by reclusive billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has defended the draft law as a measure against “spies” and “agents of foreign influence” it claims are paid to criticise the government and the Georgian Orthodox Church.But the US, EU and Georgia’s own president have fiercely criticised the law, which its critics say marks a lurch towards Russia-style repression even though the constitution mandates Georgia to “take all measures” to join the EU and Nato.

x In Tblisi, Georgia things really get out of hand. Protestors against the foreign agent legislation law passed by the pro-Russian government are breaking into the Georgian parliament.



Georgians do not want to be a Russian puppet state. pic.twitter.com/3DCW91PxYB — NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) March 7, 2023

Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s president, said she would veto the bill and backed the protesters in a video shot by the Statue of Liberty in New York.“I stand beside you because today, you represent a free Georgia!” she said. “A Georgia that sees its future in Europe and that will not allow anyone to deprive [us] of this future.

President Salome Zourabichvili vows to veto the law. However, the ruling party that controls Parliament can override the veto.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/8/2156875/-Tbilisi-erupts-in-violence-after-Georgia-passed-a-Putin-inspired-foreign-agent-law

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