Massive protests in Tbilisi: Thousands march against ‘foreign influence bill’ | DW News

thousands of demonstrators have rallied in tiesi in another night of protest against a Russian style foreign influence bill up to 50,000 protesters marched through the Georgian Capital calling on the government of the former Soviet Republic to withdraw the draft legislation they likened the bill to one introduced in Russia by Vladimir Putin which critics say has been used to suppress the scent the ruling Georgian Dream party is currently forcing the legislation through Parliament despite man of protest last year Mass demonstrations forced Georgian Dream to drop plans for a similar measure Let’s cross to DW correspondent Maria katami in The Georgian Capital tii hello Maria what’s going on in tii now yes indeed thousands of protesters uh came out on the streets in Peli we’ve seen an ocean of people marching from three different ations in the city to the Europe Square uh pro-european demonstrators uh are showing their commitment to the European path they say that they’re disapp by the government’s decision to reintroduce this bill what’s interesting here is that it the protest resumed after a long Easter break but surely that Easter break in Georgia here was not uh peaceful at all we’ve seen the spike of violence against the protesters against the activists and opposition figures who are actually opposing this bill in the city you can see the posters of the independent journalists of the uh activists it reads that they are the traitors they are the foreign agents of the country and that’s what people here in Georgia are fearing that even though the bill has not been introduced yet but we can already see the implications the intimidation of the journalists and the discreditation of the pro democracy movements here in the country right so are there any signs to suggest that the government is ready to listen to the crowd and reconsider the bill the government again uh today reiterated its commitment to the so-called foreign agents bill um however yesterday the Prime Minister Iraq kobah uh in the interview with local journalists said that uh it could be that the government decides to make some changes to the bill uh during the uh presidential veto procedure but um Pro Western president salom zish has voted to uh veto the bill however it’s not going to be enough uh because she doesn’t have real power in this country uh the ruling party still can override this veto so and she also what’s interesting here that she is opposing the government and she said that the bill is a problem for Georgia but it’s a bigger problem uh what she calls a Russian government in Georgia referring to the leadership of the ruling party so deep polarization in in Georgia and uh possible clashes between political parties as well quickly on this one what really is at stake for Georgia here while the Georgian democracy is essentially being put to the test now uh the EU integration Euro Atlantic integration rather uh also is ensin enshrined the country’s Constitution and people who are actually protesting this bill they’re saying that they see this move of reintroduction of the bill as unconstitutional move of the government and uh also this is uh as I said the violence uh increased against the Civil Society members and Georgians believe that this bill it’s going to uh cause the same um same uh repressions as it did in Russia and that’s why they say that they will not back down and protest again and again until the government withdraws but government doesn’t show any sign of intending to do so at this moment right Maria katami in tii thank you

Thousands of demonstrators have rallied in Tbilisi in another night of protest against a ‘foreign influence bill’. Critics liken the bill to one introduced in Russia by Vladimir Putin, which they say has been used to suppress dissent.

Up to 50,000 protesters marched through the Georgian capital, calling on the government of the former Soviet republic to withdraw the draft legislation.

The ruling Georgian Dream party is currently forcing the legislation through parliament, despite months of protest. Last year, mass demonstrations forced Georgian Dream to drop plans for a similar measure.

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31 comments

  2. Georgians should take a good look at Ukraine. That's what believing NATO lies leads to – utter destruction. And now the Yanks and their NATO running dogs will abandon Ukraine – just as they have abandoned Vietnam and Afghanistan and so many other countries before.

  10. Just show these protestors similar laws in other countries US EU etc after they see that most developed democracies have the same laws they would have no reason to protest unless they want their country to be dictated by others. US Uk, Germany would never stand for that

  11. I cant' think of a country that won it's freedom by peaceful means?

    Can you think of one? It seems some despot gets a lot of money then buys the chief of police and the entire justice department and the army officers too.

    But one thing, a population of 2 million will wash over that police presence like Locusts on Wheat devouring every single kernel of wheat. That is the critical mass, tens of thousands, armed and motivated and with a serious plan to take power.

    Look everyone! It's a brand new country called Georgia.

  17. Evil is democracy this days. Comment section is full of lies and deceptions. Don’t trust EU, they are an evil empire, trying to destroy and conquer others, destroy their identity and their own culture.

  20. მსოფლიო დგას ქართველების გვერდით თავისუფლებისთვის – არ ოცნებობენ!!!
    The world stands with Georgian freedom- not dreaming !!

  21. Good job people of Georgia,take control of your own country. Of course you want a modern free future not 60's Soviet union. Your choice, your country, your future, your life.

  22. I ask politicians of civilized countries to impose sanctions against Ivanishvili and his people in the Georgian parliament and members of their families, especially Europe and the USA, where their children and money are.

  23. They defend European democracy from Russian influence ✌️ Respect to all the protesters ✊

  25. Letter from the Georgian Tsar Heraclius II to the Russian Empress Catherine the Great:

    1782 December 21, Tiflis.

    Most Serene, Most Sovereign Great Empress Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna, All-Russian Autocrat, Most Gracious Empress.

    We have waited for these most prosperous times, in which the great mercy of your imperial majesty shone over us, our thoughts, brought to despondency by various secular events, and our withered bones were resurrected, having received the decree of your imperial majesty, which is filled with your royal mercies, your majesty deigned to grant the order of the blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky to your slave, my son George, for which we, your slaves together with my surname, to the throne of your imperial majesty, with our deepest respect, dare to offer our deepest gratitude with a bow to the ground.

    Moreover, Your Imperial Majesty deigned to command that our affairs and our borders be presented to Your Majesty through His Grace General Potemkin, and we accepted such your most merciful command with due obedience and consider it an indescribable happiness both for our family and for our regions.

    Your Imperial Majesty, with your most sanctified thoughts, I most humbly ask you to recognize your servants me and my children as such your most faithful slaves, who at all times, according to your highest and most merciful commands, are ready and in submission and wish, if possible, to render their services as diligently as own life.

    By order of your Imperial Majesty, we most humbly dared to present both our previous petitions and the current one to the most merciful court through your Serene Highness Prince General Potemkin, so that they could be conveyed to your Imperial Majesty through heaven, and therefore, most merciful empress, I most humbly dare to ask, if anything is in our most humble petitions deign to see not by your highest permission, then do not deprive us of your royal mercies, and may we, your servants, remain under your most merciful protection without change.

    Your Majesty

    the most humble slave Heraclius

  27. How comes sakashwilli the former prime minister of Goergia(2004-2012/13) is now Gouverneur of Odessa in Ukraine?Do the Georgians don‘t ask themself when all the nice „Western Demokracie“ and their voice repeater Main stream suddenly love the Georgians? Who is now donating free donuts to the „freedom fighter“ in Georgia?

  31. Incredible that voters have somehow forgotten about the war and the blood shed for Georgian freedom. Sad ro see people rejecting sovereignty

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