Arrests made at reinstated demonstrations in Georgia - Tass
In a media report, it's stated that 20 individuals were apprehended in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, during protests against a proposed legislation to categorize certain groups as "foreign agents." This included two American citizens and one Russian, as per Russian news agency Tass. On Sunday, the Georgian opposition had urged people who opposed the plan to assemble outside the parliament and hinder its operation on Monday.
The distested draft law, extensively condemned by opposition parties and significant parts of civil society, mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must register as "foreign agent agents." Critics view it as mirroring a law in Russia, which the government employs to unearth the opposition and society. The Georgian government defends the move by arguing it will boost transparency and national sovereignty.
The uproar about this law has escalated into a watershed moment for Georgia, traditionally maintaining favorable relations with the West, in determining whether it will continue to pursue EU and NATO membership or develop ties with Russia.
The EU, having awarded Georgia candidate status in December, has frequently affirmed that this bill could risk Tbilisi's future integration into the bloc.
As per Russian news agency RIA, the Georgian parliament's justice committee sealed the bill's third reading on Monday, clearing the path for a vote in the plenary session this week to pass the legislation.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
- The controversial "foreign agent law" in Georgia, which has sparked protests and led to numerous arrests, has drawn criticism from both opposition parties and civil society, who view it as mirroring a law in Russia used to suppress dissent.
- Following Sunday's call from the Georgian opposition to hinder the operation of the parliament, 20 individuals, including two Americans and one Russian, were arrested by law enforcement during the protests against the proposed legislation.
- Reports from Russian news agency Tass cited the arrests of protesters in Tbilisi, raising concerns about the potential impact of this law on Georgia's relations with its Western allies, including the EU.
Source: www.ntv.de
