The law on “foreign influence” takes a new step in Georgia, tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets again

The controversial text was adopted at second reading by Parliament on Wednesday, despite weeks of massive mobilization by its detractors.

A new evening of protest in Georgia. Tens of thousands of demonstrators continued their mobilization against the controversial bill on “foreign influence” on Wednesday, May 1, after deputies adopted the text at second reading by 83 votes for and 23 against.

This Caucasian country has been plagued by anti-government protests since April 9, when the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill seen as an obstacle to Tbilisi’s aspirations to join the European Union. The text must still pass a third reading in the coming weeks, but the president, Salomé Zourabichvili, in conflict with the Georgian Dream, is expected to veto it. The ruling party, however, has enough votes to be able to override it.

Like the day before, demonstrators gathered in front of the Parliament brandishing Georgian and European flags, while theOde to Joy, the anthem of the EU. The police, who had dispersed the demonstrators the day before with tear gas and rubber bullets, this time used pepper spray and water cannons to dislodge a small group of demonstrators who were trying to block the side entrance to Parliament . The rest of the rally continued peacefully into the evening.

Von der Leyen expresses “deep concern”

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Wednesday that she followed with “deep concern” protests in Georgia repressed by police, calling on Tbilisi to “stay focus” towards the EU. In December, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status, making the opening of accession negotiations conditional on a whole series of prior reforms.

The controversial text is inspired by Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to repress dissenting voices. If passed, the law would require any NGO or media organization receiving more than 20 percent of its funding from abroad to register as an “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” The government assures for its part that this measure is intended to oblige organizations to demonstrate greater “transparency” on their financing. A first version of the text was abandoned last year after large-scale street protests.