the UN calls for its withdrawal, Paris and Washington worried

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday called for “withdrawal” of the bill on “foreign influence » under consideration in the Parliament of Georgia and expresses its 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”affirmed Volker Türk, in a press release, estimating that “characterizing 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”.

At the same time on Thursday evening, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched again in the streets against the controversial law. 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.

Condemnation of France and Washington

France, for its part, condemned the repression of demonstrations in Georgia on Thursday 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 on “foreign influence”who go “against the values ​​on which the European Union is founded and to which the Georgian people have shown their deep attachment”underlined Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The United States said “deeply concerned” by the bill on “foreign influence”, on the grounds that it is likely to“to choke” dissenting voices, a White House spokesperson said Thursday. “We are deeply concerned by this legislation, by the consequences it could have in terms of stifling dissent and freedom of expression”, said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council of the executive branch. 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”he added.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets again Wednesday evening in Georgia to protest the controversial tax bill.“foreign influence”adopted at second reading by Parliament despite the massive mobilization of its detractors.

If passed, this law will require any NGO or media organization receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an“organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power”. The government assures for its part that this measure is intended to oblige organizations to demonstrate greater “transparency” on their financing. A first version of the text was abandoned last year after large-scale street protests.

In December, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status but said Tbilisi would need to carry out reforms to its judicial and electoral systems, increase press freedom and curb the power of oligarchs before negotiations on membership is officially launched.