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Freedom House Stands With the Georgian People and Their Democratic Aspirations [1]

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Date: 2024-05 

WASHINGTON—In response to the Georgian parliament’s reintroduction of a restrictive “foreign agents” law, and repression and violence occurring at sustained popular demonstrations against the measure, Freedom House interim president Nicole Bibbins Sedaca issued the following statement:

“Freedom House supports the Georgian people, who have consistently and overwhelmingly backed a democratic path for their country. We join them in raising alarm over the Georgian government’s second attempt to pass a “foreign agents” law that would require certain civil society groups and media outlets to register as “organizations serving the interests of a foreign power.” If passed, this law would stigmatize legitimate civic activity and independent media and provide authorities with new tools they can use to fine or otherwise penalize nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) whose work they disagree with. It would align Georgia with repressive regimes such as those in Russia and Kyrgyzstan—autocracies that have systemically worked to decimate civil society using similar measures—and greatly hinder Georgia’s European Union accession efforts. We reiterate our calls to the Georgian Dream party to immediately withdraw the proposed law.

“Freedom House further condemns the ongoing repression and violence against the peaceful protesters who have flooded the streets of Tbilisi to stand against the draft law—including the use of water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and mass arrests. We are also deeply alarmed by the threats and attacks against Georgian human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition figures, and their families. This repression is unacceptable in any country, but particularly for an aspirant country to the European Union.

“We urge immediate and coordinated action from the United States, the European Union, and United Kingdom to curb the growing repression against the Georgian people. These governments should insist that the Venice Commission be allowed to evaluate the proposed law and assess its alignment with European standards. Travel restrictions and financial sanctions should be immediately imposed on high-ranking Georgian Dream officials and their family members if the law is passed without the approval of the Venice Commission or before its findings have been issued.

“This is a critical juncture for Georgia’s democratic path. Democratic governments must stand with the people of Georgia and send a clear message that the Georgian Dream government’s current actions will not be tolerated.”

Background:

In February 2023, Georgia’s ruling coalition submitted a draft “Law On Transparency of Foreign Influence” to be considered in the parliament. The proposed bill, which resembled similar legislation in Russia and Kyrgyzstan, would require civil society organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their income from foreign sources to register as “foreign agents.” While the government argued that the law was intended to improve the transparency of foreign-funded NGOs, similar bills have been used in other countries to stigmatize civil society actors, curtail their operations, and limit their freedom of association and expression. In March 2023, large-scale protests began outside the parliament building as lawmakers debated the draft legislation. Georgian authorities responded to the protests with tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse the crowds. Following several days of public outcry and condemnation by democracies, the ruling coalition withdrew the bill for consideration after it failed to pass the parliament in the second reading.

This year, on April 3, the governing coalition’s Georgian Dream party reintroduced a nearly identical draft law, with the term “foreign agent” replaced with the label, “organization carrying the interests of a foreign power.” As in 2023, the local and international response was swift and united, with local NGOs and Georgia’s international partners condemning the bill’s reintroduction. Renewed protests, which began in front of the Georgian parliament on April 15, have resulted in more than 100 arrests and serious clashes between protesters and police. Certain opposition leaders and activists have been targeted and severely beaten.

To date, the legislation has passed two readings, on April 16 and May 1, and public protests have continued. Democratic governments and, notably, the European Union, have expressed concern that the law would undermine Georgia’s EU accession prospects if approved.

Georgia is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2024 and Free in Freedom on the Net 2023, and it is categorized as a Transitional/Hybrid Regime in Nations in Transit 2024.

Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.

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[1] Url: https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-house-stands-georgian-people-and-their-democratic-aspirations

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