Numerous protesters gather in Tbilisi - SPD politician Roth visits Tbilisi.
The Georgian government's recent plan has been criticized as being transparent but actually having authoritarian undertones of a Moscow-style approach. In 2023, Georgians rallied against this proposed legislation, and this is connected to their desire to join the European Union.
Last weekend, thousands of people marched in Tbilisi to protest a law aimed at controlling foreign influence. They were unhappy with their pro-Moscow government's decision, which has the potential to affect their country's EU membership. Participants showed their support for the EU by waving its flags alongside the Georgian flag. From what's been reported, these protests began without any major disturbances.
Michael Roth, the Chairman of Germany's Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, is planning a visit to Georgia to stand with the protestors. Before his trip, he expressed his admiration for Georgians who remain fearless and resilient in the face of intimidation. He stressed, "Tbilisi is the capital of Europe," and he's proud of those who fight for freedom and democracy, embracing European values.
Roth will be accompanied by parliamentarians from Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Finland on Monday. The group aims to gather firsthand information on the volatile situation and communicate with the government and members of parliament. They want to reiterate that the so-called "Russian law" contradicts EU membership and is akin to Russia's "agent" law, a law that often puts those labeled as foreign agents in a difficult position and is used as a method to silencing critics.
The "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" law, expected to pass its third reading in parliament sometime early next week, would require non-governmental organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to disclose the origin of their funds. The law is suspected of being drafted along the lines of Russia's "agent" law, which has been used by the government to oust critical organizations and media. In Russia, people and organizations have been labeled as foreign agents, leading to various problems for them. This measure is considered a form of political repression targeting people who criticize the government.
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The Georgian government's criticism from EU members is escalating due to their concerns over the proposed "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" law, which mirrors Russia's "agent" law. Michael Roth, a German politician, is set to visit Tbilisi to show solidarity with Georgian protestors opposing the law, as it poses a threat to their country's EU membership.
Source: www.ntv.de
