Thousands gather in Georgia for a concert displaying support for arrested demonstrators.
Attendees at concerts show their frustration towards the Georgian Dream ruling party, who are increasingly being accused of removing Georgia from its western alignment and instead moving towards Russia. Nico Ladaria, a 38-year-old graphic engineer, stated to news agency AFP, "They've imprisoned some of us, but we'll triumph." Georgian Dream Party is "operating in its final months in power."
On Tuesday, the Georgian parliament, with the votes of Georgian Dream Party, finally passed the contentious "foreign influence" law by overriding President Salome Zurabishvili's veto. The legislation necessitates organizations and media that receive at least 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "bodies" in Georgia, which will also be under government supervision.
For weeks, thousands of people have been demonstrating in the nation in favor of Georgia's European perspective and against the new legislation. The critics argue there are clear connections to the 2012 Russian law focused on "foreign agents," allowing Russian authorities to take severe steps against government-critical media and organizations.
The EU, the UN, and NATO have urged the government in Tbilisi to change their course. Since December, Georgia has been an official EU membership candidate. The EU membership of Georgia is enshrined in the country's constitution and is backed by over 80% of the population, according to polls. However, the current government allegedly wants to bring the former Soviet republic closer to Moscow.
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The news agency AFP covered the mass protest in Georgia, where Nico Ladaria, a protest participant, expressed his solidarity with incarcerated demonstrators and expressed his confidence in overcoming the situation. The contentious "foreign influence" law, which requires organizations and media receiving 20% foreign funds to register as "bodies" under government supervision, has been a topic of thousands of protests in Georgia. Notably, this legislation has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Russian law focused on "foreign agents," allowing authorities to take harsh measures against government-critical media and organizations. Despite the EU, UN, and NATO calls for a change in direction, the Georgian government remains determined to shift Georgia's alignment towards Russia, as indicated by its efforts to draw closer to Moscow.
