The Parliament of Georgia has withdrawn the law on “foreign agents”. Georgian Dream, which has been ruling the country for many years, amid protests in the country, withdrew the bill on “foreign agents” from parliament.
We have decided to unconditionally withdraw the previously supported bill without any reservations, the parliamentary majority said in a statement.
The ruling party said that “the lie machine was able to present the bill in a negative light and mislead a certain part of the population.”
We must be very attentive to peace, peace and economic development in our country, as well as Georgia’s progress through European integration.
Therefore, it is necessary to spend the energy of each of our fellow citizens not on confrontation, but on developing the country in the right direction, the Georgian Dream added.
At the same time, its leadership does not agree that the law is similar to a similar Russian one, but withdraw the document “unconditionally”. But they promise to further explain to society the importance of this bill.
On the evening of March 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for the Georgian protesters, assuring that Kyiv wants to be a member of the European Union along with “friendly Georgia.”
I would like to thank everyone who these days held Ukrainian flags in the squares and streets of Georgia. I would like to thank you for our national anthem, which was played in Tbilisi. This is respect for Ukraine, and I want to express my sincere respect for Georgia,” Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation. – There is no such Ukrainian who did not want the success of our friendly Georgia. Democratic success. European success. We want to be in the European Union – and we will. We want Georgia to be in the European Union, and I’m sure it will. We want Moldova to be in the European Union, and I’m sure it will. All the free peoples of Europe deserve this,” Zelensky said in an evening address to the nation.
Recall that mass protests against the bill on “foreign agents” have been held in Georgia for several days. On March 7, when the country’s parliament approved the document in the first reading, the police brutally dispersed a protest rally in the center of Tbilisi, using tear gas and water cannons.
On March 8, protesters again gathered outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. The commandos used water cannons when the protesters tried to cordon off the parliament and get inside the building. On Thursday night, protesters tried to build barricades in the city center, but as a result they were dispersed with tear gas.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated that 133 people were detained as a result of the actions on March 7-8. They pass under administrative articles on petty hooliganism and disobedience to the police. Another protester was detained on criminal charges of assaulting a police officer. He could face up to seven years in prison.
Western countries warned that the bill on foreign agents could deprive Georgia of the possibility of joining the EU and NATO. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said she supports the protesters and will veto the law.
Source: Racurs
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