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Georgia: mobilization against the law on foreign influence grows, violence spreads
Georgia: mobilization against the law on foreign influence grows, violence spreads
(franceinfo)
Demonstrations against the Georgian government continue. But the police response is violent and clashes also occur between elected officials. At the origin of the discord, a law limiting the independence of NGOs and the media, supposed to combat foreign influence.
Scenes of rare violence occurred in the streets of Tbilisi (Georgia) between the police and demonstrators. In Parliament, a punch from an elected official targeted a member of the government, and an MP claims to have been injured by the police. Evening after evening, the crowd continues to increase. 50,000 people were present in the capital at the beginning of May. For the first time, demonstrators come from several regions of the country.
80% of Georgians want to join the European Union
At issue is a law that requires NGOs or media that receive more than 20% of funding from abroad to register as organizations serving the interests of a foreign power. It targets support from the European Union, which 80% of Georgians say they want to join. A similar law was adopted in Russia, which is denounced by the Franco-Georgian president, who accuses her Prime Minister of acting under the influence of Moscow. Russia occupies two regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. South.
