Tbilisi witnessed a massive gathering as thousands are rallying ahead of the final reading of a contentious foreign transparency bill scheduled for Friday in the Georgian state legislature.
Under the banner of the Europe March, demonstrators congregated at Europe Square in central Tbilisi to voice their opposition to the bill reintroduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party in March. The legislation, previously rejected last year amidst widespread protests and a commitment not to pursue it, has drawn vehement criticism both domestically and internationally, being likened to a "Russian law."
Although the substance of the bill remains largely unchanged, with only a superficial alteration to its title - replacing "agent" with "Organization Pursuing the Interests of a Foreign Power" for entities receiving over 20 percent of their funding from abroad - the discontent among the populace has not waned.
Amidst waves of applause, protesters brandished Georgian and European Union flags, accompanied by banners bearing slogans such as "Strength lies in unity, strength lies in Europe," and "Yes to Europe, no to Russian influence." The anthem of Georgia reverberated through Europe Square, underscoring the fervor of the demonstrators.
Eka Gigauri, head of Transparency International-Georgia, underscored the government's susceptibility to both internal and external pressures.
"The government's aggressive stance will inevitably backfire," Gigauri asserted, emphasizing the unwavering pro-European sentiment among the Georgian populace. "Despite any attempts at Russian influence, the Georgian people stand resolutely pro-European. Western leaders will convey firm messages, urging governmental compliance both domestically and internationally."
Tina Bokuchava, chair of the United National Movement opposition parliamentary faction, decried what she portrayed as the government's efforts to intimidate protesters, affirming their determination to persist until Georgia “realigns with its European trajectory”.
In a separate development, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili expressed openness to incorporating feedback from both domestic and international stakeholders regarding the draft legislation, but after its adoption by the legislative body.
The opposition parties swiftly rejected suggestions of post-veto alterations to the bill, denouncing them as mere cosmetic changes.
"The ruling party's attempt to pass off superficial alterations to this Russian-inspired law is a deceitful ploy aimed at both Georgian society and our international partners," the opposition's statement read, calling for the withdrawal of the contentious legislation.
While the ruling party contends that the bill serves only to enhance transparency, civil society organizations counter that the allegations of unrest fueled by opaque foreign funding are baseless. They argue that existing procedures ensure transparency in funding, characterizing the bill as an attempt by authorities to stifle dissent.
Criticism of the bill has extended beyond Georgia's borders, with the EU, US, and other foreign partners warning that its enactment could impede the country's European integration, following Tbilisi’s obtaining of EU candidacy last year.
