On Monday, the Georgian Parliament will hold its third and final reading of the highly controversial bill “On the transparency of foreign influence.” Inspired by legislation from the Kremlin that banned Russian opposition, this bill has sparked weeks of protests in Tbilisi. The country’s parliament is set to vote on Tuesday, with tens of thousands of Georgians taking to the streets on Saturday to express their fears that it will jeopardize their path towards EU accession and lead to a more authoritarian government.
The opposition claims that between 100,000 and 200,000 people protested against the bill, but the ruling party downplayed these numbers. However, with less than a week until voting begins, tensions have been high as three opposition leaders were attacked by unknown individuals last week.
As Georgian Dream prepares for its final reading on Monday and a plenary session for a vote on Tuesday, opponents plan to continue protesting if the bill is approved. They fear that it will lead to increased repression and limit freedom of expression. Despite Georgian Dream’s efforts to consolidate power while balancing between EU integration and maintaining relations with Russia, concerns about greater authoritarianism have arisen as accusations surface that they are using legal resources to stifle dissent.
The European Union has approved negotiations with Georgia for integration into its fold, but critics argue that this new law threatens progress towards democracy and the rule of law. With fears rising about the direction in which the country is heading and accusations that Georgian Dream is distancing itself from EU values and human rights, this controversial bill remains a hotly debated topic in Georgia.