A cloud of dissent is hovering over Georgia Parliament as it steps closer to translate the contentious foreign agent bill into a law
The Georgian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor on the second reading of the foreign agent bill to allow its legitimate passage. The Wednesday approval makes it for the second-last stage before the bill could enforce into a law. If translated into a law, the bill would incriminate media companies which receive more than 20% of there funding from oversees investors as “foreign agents”.
The Georgian parliament approved the first reading of the bill on April 17th. Thousands of Georgians since then, were seen marching on streets, day-in and day-out, to express their dissent against the bill which the critics label is a “Russian fantasy”. These regular demonstrations intensified on Tuesday in anticipation of the Wednesday vote as countless Georgians gathered outside the parliament, hoisting flags of anti-Russian analogies.
Amidst the disagreement lingering outside the parliament, the ruling Dream party and its allies advanced the legislation, prompting thousands of protesters to echo slogans of profanity against the government. The situation worsened after security forces launched a sudden crackdown on demonstrators, using tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades, erupting into a full-fledged brawl.
Supporter Vs Opposer spat in Parliament regarding foreign agent bill
Wednesday’s parliamentary engagement was tense, with members of the opposition reinstating their disapproval against the bill. A physical confrontation broke out between legislators when a pro-bill supporter lambasted his counterpart violently by tossing a book against him, not a uncommon visual in Georgia’s highly charged parliamentary proceedings.
Each and every lawmaker had a definite standpoint either in favor or against the bill. The opposition had quite a singular perspective – contesting the bill is going to incapacitate Georgia’s democracy and substitute it with a government amiable institution where media will become an instrument to facilitate pro-party propaganda.
Leven Khabeishvili, a liberal, pro-west leader of the United National Movement Party – Georgia’s largest opposition bloc, addressed the parliament with his face disfigured. The party supporters denounced how there leader was beaten by police during the protests, leaving him with concussion, broken facial bones and four broken teeth. “If my beating prevented that of another, young activist, I’m happy it happened only to me”, expressed him.
Georgia’s prime minister – Irakli Kobakhidze, advocator of the bill has since the demonstrations first broke out, confessed his unhindered support for the foreign agent bill as he believes will bolster transparency at the public front. It will bring media companies in a clear standing, withholding them from publishing alien agendas. “Everything should be transparent and public should see how foreign grants are spent.”
Foreign agent bill emulates Russian system of governance?
A clear note against Russian political system was pinched in every banner held by protestors in front of the Georgia parliament. Disregarding Vladimir Putin’s leadership as “oppressed”, “undemocratic” and “self-pitted” were thousands of Georgians who branded the foreign agent bill a “Russian” law meant to obliterate democratic right of freedom of press.
Reckoning the severe consequences the bill will imply if passed, the Georgians suspect the bill can sabotage Georgian democratic media ruining its competency to address key public issues. The media will become a puppet in the hands of the Georgian ministers, producing as they see fit.
Correlating the bill with Russian political regime where media is used as a property of the ruling government invoked fear amongst Georgians, forcing them to march on streets in huge congregation, expressing their discontentment to enable dismissible the passage of the bill. Despite there unwavering commitment, the lawmakers have responded with an adamant spirit to pass the bill which is only a step away from transforming into an executional law.
