Protests continue in Georgia over “Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill: 14 detained

While protests against the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill, which led to demonstrations last year in Georgia, continue, 14 people were detained during a demonstration held in front of the parliament in the evening hours.
Protests continue against the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill in Georgia, which caused great controversy last year due to concerns that it would restrict freedom of expression and suppress civil society organizations. Thousands of people gathered in front of the parliament building in the capital, Tbilisi, in the evening hours to protest the reintroduction of the controversial bill to the parliament. Clashes erupted between protesters and police as the demonstration progressed.

A statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 1 police officer was injured in the incidents and 14 demonstrators were detained. The statement used the following words: “Law enforcement authorities repeatedly called on the organizers and participants of the event to comply with the legal requirements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not to exceed the legal limits of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and to maintain public order. Due to disturbances to public order, resistance to law enforcement, and verbal harassment, 14 people were detained.”

Brawl in the Georgian parliament
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the parliamentary majority of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was attacked by Aleko Elisashvili, a member of the opposition Citizens’ Party, while speaking about the bill. Elisashvili verbally assaulted Mdinaradze, who defended the bill’s lack of connection with Russia, and then continued his verbal attack with physical assault. Following Elisashvili’s physical assault, members of both the ruling and opposition parties also clashed. Some MPs suffered minor injuries in the incident, and there was a brief interruption in the hearings at the Legal Affairs Committee.

“Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill
Protests began in Georgia after the ruling Georgian Dream party introduced the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill to parliament in March 2023. According to the bill, which protesters referred to as the “Russian law,” civil society and media organizations receiving more than 20% of their annual funding from abroad would be required to register themselves as “foreign agents” every January. Those who fail to register would face a fine of 25,000 lari (approximately 300,000 lira). Critics argue that the adoption of the law would restrict press freedom in Georgia, suppress civil society organizations, and harm the country’s integration process with the European Union. Protesters and opposition parties claim that the bill resembles Russia’s “Foreign Agents Law.” The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations have also criticized the bill.
After intense protests in the country, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced on March 9, 2023, that the bill had been withdrawn. However, the bill was reintroduced to parliament on April 8 of this year.

“Financing of organizations is not transparent”
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the parliamentary majority of the ruling Georgian Dream party, stated last week that more than 90% of the funding for NGOs operating in the country is not transparent, and it is impossible to obtain transparent information about the financing provided by international organizations to Georgian NGOs and media outlets.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili stated that the bill was prepared at Russia’s behest, accusing the government of “sabotaging” the country’s integration with the EU.