‘FOREIGN AGENT’ BILL protests Georgia police detain dozens

GBNEWS24DESK//

Georgian opposition and civil society groups yesterday called for new protests against government plans to introduce controversial “foreign agent” legislation, reminiscent of Russian legislation to pressure critics. The calls came after sixty-six people were detained and dozens of police officers wounded in violent clashes that broke out in the capital Tbilisi late Tuesday, amid fears of democratic backsliding in Georgia. “Starting from 3:00 pm (1100 GMT), Georgians will start to gather on Rustaveli Avenue and that will continue every day,” politician Nika Melia said. Civil society groups called for protests outside parliament later yesterday. They are opposing a bill on the “transparency of foreign funding”, which critics say resembles a Russian law against “foreign agents”. In Russia, the foreign agent label, which recalls the term “enemies of the people” of the Soviet era, has been used extensively by the authorities against political opponents, journalists and human rights activists accused of conducting foreign-funded political activities.