Ivanishvili “trying to end Georgian democracy” in parliament – ex-PM Gakharia

Bidzina Ivanishvili, in reference to the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party cited as a “shadow ruler” of Georgia by the domestic opposition, is trying to “end the Georgian democracy” in the parliament now, former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia tweeted on Thursday. 

 

The chair of the For Georgia opposition party he founded after quitting the premiership and the GD in 2021, has responded to the ongoing turmoil over the foreign agents bill proposed by former members of the ruling party, who still remain in the parliamentary majority.  

 

The bill which is backed by the ruling party and envisages the registration of “non-commercial legal entities and media outlets as agents of foreign influence if they receive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad”, was set to be discussed in the legislative body today amid protests, with the members of the opposition, media and NGO forced to leave the building. 

 

“Ivanishvili is acting against the will of the Georgian people. Now in the parliament he is trying to end Georgian democracy, our freedom and take away our children’s European future. We will protect Georgia in Europe and Europe in Georgia!” Gakharia tweeted. 

 

Opposition parties called on citizens to protest the bill at parliament later today “to protect the country’s European future”, ahead of the EU’s forthcoming decision whether t o grant Georgia its membership candidate status.