Georgia's ambassador to France has resigned over his country's draft law on "foreign agents", which opponents say is inspired by Russia and threatens free speech. Gotcha Javakhishvili also warned the bill would draw the South Caucasus nation away from its path of EU integration.
Under the legislation, NGOs and independent media receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad would be required to register as agents of foreign influence, or face heavy fines.
It cleared a second reading in parliament on 1 May, sparking huge street protests in Georgia by demonstrators who see it as authoritarian and inspired by similar legislation used to crush dissent in neighbouring Russia.
The bill was abandoned last year after mass rallies but was reintroduced in mid-April by the ruling Georgian Dream party who said it would boost transparency.
The European Union has condemned the bill, saying its passage may endanger Georgia's bid to join the bloc.
Javakhishvili wrote on social media on Thursday: "The current tensions and climate generated by the revived draft law in our relations with our foreign friends and partners make my mission ... extremely difficult."
He said that while he did not personally know any Georgian officials or diplomats who were "openly pro-Russian", he believed the draft law "may be a kind of tactic to achieve a certain goal".
He added: "I no longer see my role and resources in this direction: the move towards Europe."
EU bid in the balance
Geogia's government says the law is needed to make sure that foreign funding of NGOs is transparent.
NGOs would be monitored by the justice ministry and would face heavy fines if they refused to share sensitive information.
Opponents are worried the legislation could be used to silence critical voices ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.
Several European leaders have warned it is not compatible with European values.
"Our relationship is supposed to be based on shared values and on support for a strong civil society where lists of 'enemies of the people' and anonymous phone calls have no place," Toivo Klaar, EU's special representative for the South Caucasus, wrote on X.
Today should be cause for celebration. Yet my heart aches. Our relationship is supposed to be based on shared values and on support for a strong civil society where lists of “enemies of the people” and anonymous phone calls have no place. Quo vadis, Georgia? pic.twitter.com/rGYsmWKaEj
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) May 9, 2024
Ongoing protests
Demonstrators have gathered almost nightly in the capital Tblisi to show their opposition to the bill and have been met by police firing water cannon, tear gas and stun grenades.
Dozens of protesters have been arrested and over a dozen hospitalised.
The interior ministry said on Thursday it had arrested six people for assaulting police officers and causing damage at previous protests.
A string of Georgian activists opposing the bill have reported being beaten by gangs of unknown men on the streets, Georgian media said this week.
Georgia enters its 4th week of protests against unconstitutional Russian law and the country’s shift to Russia. Initially met w water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, arrests; the government now weaponizes personal repression, physical attacks, intimidation as protests persist. pic.twitter.com/o71NjDfQrw
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) May 10, 2024
Lawmakers are expected to begin debate on a third and final reading of the bill on Monday.
It has to be signed off by President Salome Zurabishvili, a French-Georgian national.
She has vowed to veto the bill, but Georgian Dream has a sufficiently strong majority in parliament to be able to overrule her.
(with newswires)
