The Georgian bill on “foreign influence” worries France, the United States and the United Nations (UN), while the mobilization continues. Thursday, May 2, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, requested the ” withdrawal “ of the text currently under consideration in the Parliament of Georgia and expressed his concern about the use “disproportionate force” against those who oppose it.
“I urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw this bill and engage in dialogue, particularly with civil society and the media”declared Mr. Türk in a press release, believing that “Qualifying foreign-funded NGOs and media as “organizations acting in the interests of a foreign power” constitutes a serious threat to the rights to freedom of expression and association”.
“I am concerned by reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement against protesters and media workers in the Georgian capital Tbilisi this week.”underlined Mr. Türk.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers In Georgia, repression begins, after the authorities’ anti-Western discourse
Add to your selections
France, for its part, condemned the repression of demonstrations in Georgia and called on the Georgian authorities “to ensure respect for the right to peaceful protest as well as freedom of the press”. Paris “reiterates its deep concern” regarding the bill, which will “against the values on which the European Union is founded and to which the Georgian people have shown their deep attachment”, https://twitter.com/francediplo/status/1786046353652486614.
Final adoption of the text by mid-May
The United States says to itself, “deeply concerned by this legislation, by the consequences it could have in terms of stifling dissent and freedom of expression”. Georgia matters “a vibrant civil society” Who “plays an essential role in combating government excesses” And “we would not like to see anything move forward from a legislative point of view that (…) would make it more difficult for the Georgian people to express themselves”added John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council of the executive branch.
Also read the editorial | Georgia at the heart of the Russia-EU confrontation
Add to your selections
Georgian opponents of the law continued their mobilization and tens of thousands of people took to the streets Thursday evening. Unlike previous days, the rally took place in two different places: in front of the Parliament, a traditional place for demonstrations, and on Heroes’ Square, where a monument in memory of Georgian soldiers who died in combat stands. Protesters blocked the road leading to this square. The police arrested several of them and used pepper spray, like the day before. As a sign of solidarity with those arrested, the demonstrators in front of Parliament marched towards Heroes’ Square.
Since April 9, tens of thousands of demonstrators have been protesting against the controversial bill on foreign influence, adopted on Wednesday in second reading by Parliament. The ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill, seen as an obstacle to Tbilisi’s aspirations to join the European Union.
The text, severely criticized by the European Union or the United States, must still pass a third reading, and the Georgian president, Salomé Zourabichvili, in conflict with the ruling party, should veto it. Georgian Dream, however, has enough votes to be able to override it.
