Despite government threats of long prison sentences, thousands of people in Georgia have once again taken to the streets to protest against a planned law on ‘foreign influence’.
People gathered in front of parliament in the capital Tbilisi on Sunday evening. Many said they wanted to stay all night. A few hours earlier, Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri had threatened arrests in case of a blockade of parliament.
Thousands for Parliament
“Blocking by groups of facilities of special importance is punishable by up to four years in prison,” Gomelauri said. “We will use this article against lawbreakers without exception.” Despite this, thousands gathered in front of Parliament in the evening, many of them waving Georgian and EU flags.
Soon “Russian conditions” in the country?
The mass protests that have been going on for weeks are against a planned “foreign influence” law, which critics say would create “Russian conditions” in Georgia. The text is scheduled for its third reading in Parliament on Monday.
According to the government’s bill, organizations that receive at least 20 percent of their funding from abroad will have to officially register in Georgia. Independent media organizations would also be affected.
Critics see this as clear parallels with the law against ‘foreign agents’ in Russia. This allows the authorities there to take massive action against critical media and organizations. The United Nations, the US and the EU have also criticized Georgia’s legal plans.
Source: Krone
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