2023–2024 Georgian protests

2023 Georgian protests
Location of Georgia
Date	6 March 2023 (2023-03-06) – present (1 year, 3 months and 2 weeks)
Location	Georgia
Caused by	Proposed foreign agents law
Goals	Stopping the enactment of foreign agents law Protecting Georgia's freedom of the press Protecting Georgia's relations with the European Union
Status	Ongoing
Parties
Opposition United National Movement Girchi — More Freedom For Georgia New Political Center — Girchi Supported by: President of Georgia Government of Georgia Ministry of Internal Affairs Police of Georgia Parliamentary majority Georgian Dream People's Power
Casualties and losses
Some were injured Unspecified

The 2023 Georgian protests are an ongoing series of street demonstrations taking place throughout Georgia from March 2023 onwards, over parliamentary backing of a new pro-Russian foreign agents law. Police have been reported as using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protests, especially in the capital Tbilisi.

Background

Under the bill, NGOs and independent media who receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to declare themselves as foreign agents.

The bill was adopted in the first reading, with 76 votes for, 13 against, in the parliament.

Critics say the bill represents an authoritarian shift and could hurt its hopes of European Union membership.They see as the law as stifling freedom of the press. They have also said it is reminiscent of a 2012 law in Russia that has since been used to crack down on dissent.

March 7

Police officers in Georgia used tear gas and water cannons outside of the Georgian Parliament building in downtown Tbilisi on Tuesday against protesters who are opposed a proposed law some see preventing the freedom of the press. As the night turned into the next day, March 8, protesters were trying to break into the parliament building in Georgia.

Reactions

Government of Georgia

The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, threw her support behind protesters, saying “the path of European integration must be protected. She has said she would veto and repeal the bill.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Garibashvili on 7 March Irakli Garibashvili reaffirmed his support for the law, saying the proposed provisions on foreign agents met “European and global standards”.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry asked protesters to disperse, warning that “legal measures” would be taken to restore calm. The ministry reportedly said the protest went beyond the framework of a peaceful assembly and turned into violence. The ministry also said that police were also forced to use proportional force to restore public order.

More than 60 civil society organisations and media outlets have said they will not comply with the bill if it is signed into law.

United States

U.S. Embassy in Georgia issued a statement on parliament’s advancement of legislation on March 7. The embassy said that the Kremlin-inspired laws are incompatible with the people of Georgia’s clear desire for European integration and its democratic development. The statement also mentioned these laws will damage Georgia’s relations with its strategic partners.

European Union

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Georgian draft law was a "very bad development" for the Georgia and its people. He said that the law form risks having a chilling effect on civil society and media organisations. Believing the bill could seriously affect its ties with the EU, he urged Georgia to uphold its commitment to the promotion of democracy.

The United States and the European Union stated that it would be hard for Georgia to join NATO or the European Union if this law was to be passed. International organizations voiced concerns over the draft law, saying it runs against Georgia's democratic development.