In Georgia, the prepared draft law responsible for debates on „Transparency of Foreign Influence“ was once again presented to Parliament, causing confusion in the country. A scuffle broke out during parliamentary discussions in which a government party deputy was punched by an opposition member. The session, briefly interrupted due to these tensions in Parliament, later resumed.
The ruling Georgian Dream Party in Georgia reintroduced the draft law on „Transparency of Foreign Influence“ that had led to demonstrations and a brawl in Parliament last year in Tbilisi.
Protest with Opposition Slogans
In Georgia, the draft law on „Transparency of Foreign Influence,“ previously referred to as the „Law on Foreign Espionage,“ is being discussed in the Parliament’s Legal Committee. Opposition party deputies reacted to the reintroduction of the draft law by the government party this year, chanting slogans against the draft law during the committee meeting.
„This poses a threat to integration into the EU“ – Reaction
Opposition deputies argued that the draft law in question posed a „threat“ to the country’s integration into the European Union (EU) and emphasized that the law should not be passed.
„When he struck, everything went crazy.“
Parliamentary Majority Leader of the Georgian Dream Party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, presented the draft law in the committee meeting. Opposition party deputy „Citizen“ and reaction to the draft law, Aleko Elisashvili, struck Mdinaradze while he was speaking. The session, interrupted due to a brawl, resumed a few minutes later.
Protest at the Parliament’s Entrance
On the other hand, protests are being held at the entrance of the Parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi against the government’s reintroduction of the draft law to Parliament. Demonstrators gathered in the early morning hours chanting slogans like „Yes to Europe, No to the Russia clause.“ Protesters carried flags and banners from Georgia and the European Union (EU) expressing their opposition to the draft law.
Detail „Organization promoting the interests of a foreign power.“
Parliamentary Majority Leader Mdinaradze argued in his statement last week that over 90% of the funding for non-governmental organizations operating in Georgia is opaque.
Mdinaradze stated that it is impossible to obtain transparent information about the funding of institutions such as NGOs and media in Georgia by international financial institutions in his country, and it was decided to reintroduce the draft law on „Transparency of Foreign Influence.“
Mdinaradze explained that the content of the draft law is the same as in last year’s draft, using the definition „Organization promoting the interests of a foreign power“ instead of „Agent with foreign influence.“
Protests forced them to resign
The ruling Georgian Dream Party first presented the draft law on „Transparency of Foreign Influence“ to Parliament in March 2023. The draft law proposed that Georgian organizations receiving more than 20% of their funds from abroad must register as „foreign agents,“ otherwise they face fines.
The opposition and President Salome Zurabishvili called for the repeal of the draft law, arguing that it was prepared at the behest of Russia.
As opponents started demonstrations demanding the repeal of the draft law, disturbances occurred among the deputies in Parliament and protests took place in the streets of Tbilisi. As protests escalated, the Georgian Dream Party withdrew the draft law that had been provisionally approved in Parliament.