Georgian opposition displays EU, NATO flags amid protests in parliament

The Georgian opposition members on Monday displayed the European Union and NATO flags amid protests in and outside the legislative body amid noisy discussions of the foreign agents bills proposed by the People’s Power movement – composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party who still remain in the parliamentary majority. 

 

Several opposition lawmakers and members have been forced out from the session of the legal affairs committee, where the bills are now being discussed that envisage the registration of domestic NGOs and media organizations as foreign agents if they obtain more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad. 

 

The ruling party says it backs both the Georgian and the “American version” of the bills that have been sent to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for recommendations. 

 

The GD claims it would wait for the commission’s opinion before voting on the bills. 

 

The international community has condemned the bills as a “Russian law “ that were expected to “stigmatize and restrict” the activities of domestic entities that receive western funding and are critical to the current Georgian Dream government.