Protests in Georgia Turn Violent as Security Forces Clash with Demonstrators Over Controversial Legislation
Tensions reached a boiling point in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday night as security forces clashed with protesters following the advancement of controversial new legislation by the country’s Parliament. The bill, pushed through by the governing party, Georgian Dream, has sparked weeks of demonstrations by the pro-Western opposition.
The legislation in question would require nongovernmental groups and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations “carrying the interests of a foreign power” and provide detailed financial statements. Critics of the bill, dubbed “the Russian law,” fear it could be used to suppress dissent and align Georgia more closely with Moscow.
The protests escalated on Wednesday after Parliament approved the bill in a second vote, prompting a larger turnout of demonstrators on the streets of Tbilisi. The situation drew international concern, with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, expressing “great concern” and calling for Georgia to stay on the path to Europe.
The United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Türk, also weighed in, condemning the reported use of excessive force by law enforcement personnel and urging Georgia to withdraw the draft law. The government, however, maintains that the bill is aimed at increasing transparency around foreign funding and is modeled after laws in Western countries.
Despite facing opposition and criticism, Georgian Dream appears determined to push the legislation through Parliament, even if it means overriding a veto by the country’s president, Salome Zourabichvili. Zourabichvili, who was initially endorsed by Georgian Dream, has since become a vocal critic of the party.
As the situation in Georgia remains tense, with protests continuing in the capital, the country finds itself at a crossroads between its pro-Western aspirations and concerns over potential authoritarian measures. The outcome of this political standoff will have far-reaching implications for Georgia’s future trajectory.
