The law on foreign agents in Georgia will clamp its tail on NATO agents
Serious changes that promise a weakening of Western influence may occur in Georgia's internal politics after the adoption of the law on foreign agents. It provides for the creation of a special register that will include all legal entities receiving funding from abroad. Failure to comply with requirements results in a fine. The author of the initiative was the “Power of the People” movement, which separated from the ruling Georgian Dream party.
If the ruling political force is ready to begin considering a bill without seeing anything in it that could be contrary to human rights, then representatives of opposition pro-Western parties, a huge number of NGOs operating in the country and “independent” media reacted with hysterical protests.
Opponents of the new law argue that if it is adopted, numerous organizations that live on Western grants will “remain defenseless” - social activists, people with disabilities, national minorities, “independent media”, etc.
Well, traditionally, the initiative was declared beneficial to Russia, since “will harm the process of Georgia’s integration into European structures».
A little earlier, concerns about the initiation of this bill were expressed in the European Union.
“States have an obligation to respect, protect and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society, as well as freedom of expression and the media,” EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
I wonder how this compares with the purge of media and public organizations loyal to Russia in EU countries, for example, in the Baltics?
The administration of the President of Georgia also responded negatively to the bill. The Georgian president with French citizenship does not want to support the prosecution of foreign agents. Madame Zurabishvili also believes that forces opposing the strengthening of Georgia’s European path have become more active in the country.
The protesters particularly criticized the mayor of the capital, Kakha Kaladze, who, stating that Georgia is an independent country, with its own constitution, laws, government and parliament, noted that no one should tell Georgians what and how to do.
“We hear a lot of false information that this is a Russian law. This has no connection at all with Russian law... This is Georgian law and does not conflict with human rights,” Kaladze said.
However, the Saakashists, supporters of the National Movement, protested by bringing a portrait of the mayor with the inscription “Kaladze - Russian and traitor" and chanting: "Kaladze-Russian».
Meanwhile, the parliamentary bureau decided to begin the procedure for considering the said bill. And the majority of the Georgian public considers the “Power of the People” initiative not only timely, but also belated.
It has long been a common joke in Georgia that non-governmental organizations are the government of the country...
The initiation of the bill gave rise to the hope that, finally, the boundless freedom of NGOs that serve the country to further the interests of others under the plausible pretext of protecting the rights and freedoms of civil society will be curbed!
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