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Georgia: the streets rise up against the law on foreign influence
Georgia, divided, wonders about Russia’s influence on its future. On one side, a pro-European president, on the other a government which has just adopted a law copied from that chosen by Vladimir Putin. The street expresses its anger and its thirst for democracy.
(France 2)
Georgia, divided, wonders about Russia’s influence on its future. On one side, a pro-European president, on the other a government which has just adopted a law copied from that chosen by Vladimir Putin. The street expresses its anger and its thirst for democracy.
Scenes of rare violence in the streets of Tbilisi (Georgia) between the police and demonstrators. In Parliament, a punch from an elected official targeting a member of the government, or even a deputy who claims to have been injured by the police. Evening after evening, the crowd continues to increase. 50,000 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.
Negotiations for accession to Europe have begun, but on the evening of Friday May 3, demonstrators took to the streets once again, and will do so until the next elections in October.
