Thousands of protesters blocked a central intersection tonight in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, where protests against the controversial “foreign agents” bill continue.
Protesters blocked traffic in Heroes’ Square, a busy hub in the Georgian capital.
On Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament approved a second reading of the “foreign agents” bill that has been criticized as being Russian-inspired. According to this, organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad will be registered as “foreign agents” – that is, serving the interests of a foreign power.
The Georgian parliament is expected to consider the bill in a third reading in about two weeks.
The UN is calling for the withdrawal of the bill
The UN high commissioner for human rights today called for the “withdrawal” of the “foreign influence” bill being considered in Georgia’s parliament, expressing concern over the “disproportionate use of force” against those who oppose it.
“I urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw this bill and start a dialogue, especially with civil society and the media,” said Volker Turk, according to a statement, estimating that the characterization of non-governmental organizations and mass media that benefit from foreign funding as ‘organizations acting in the interest of a foreign power’ constitutes a serious threat to the rights to freedom of expression and association”.
“I am concerned by reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by security forces against protesters and media professionals in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, this week,” Turk stressed.
Since April 9, tens of thousands of protesters have been protesting against the controversial “foreign influence” bill, which was approved in the second reading by the parliament despite the mass mobilization of its critics.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has re-introduced the bill, which is seen as an obstacle to Tbilisi’s aspirations to join the European Union.
Lawmakers voted 83 to 23 on Wednesday in favor of the bill, which Georgian Dream aims to adopt by mid-May, despite three weeks of protests in its street battles.
The text – which has been strongly criticized by the European Union and the United States – is expected to pass a third reading and President Salome Zourabisvili, who is at odds with the ruling party, is expected to veto it. Georgian Dream, however, has enough votes to override it.
“I call on the authorities to conduct swift and transparent investigations into all allegations of ill-treatment during or after the protests or during detention,” Turk stressed.
It calls for the release of the people arrested “arbitrarily” and also calls on the protesters to “exercise their rights peacefully and without resorting to violence”.
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