Georgian Parliament to continue discussing transparency bill in first hearing

The Georgian Parliament will on Wednesday continue discussions of the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence in its first hearing, the legislative body said.

The bill calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, and has sparked public protests and criticism from some of Georgia's international partners. 

The legislative piece has been reintroduced by the ruling party after its original version was retracted last year following public protests.

Photo: IPN

The Parliament on Wednesday issued a statement on introducing “additional security measures” and said a yellow level of security would be in effect in the venue to “ensure a safe working environment”.

The protests over the draft law will continue simultaneously outside the Parliament in the country’s capital Tbilisi from 12pm, one of the organisers of the rally told citizens on Tuesday.

The country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Tuesday arrested 11 individuals outside the legislative body and Rustaveli Avenue for “violations of public order”, adding the participants of the rally physically confronted the police and threw “various blunt objects” in their direction, including stones and bottles, with one officer injured and a vehicle belonging to the Ministry damaged.

It added law enforcement had “repeatedly called on organisers and participants” of the rally to “not exceed norms established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”, and used pepper spray against the protesters to “prevent physical confrontation”.

Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of the country, on Tuesday called on the Ministry to ensure protection of freedom of expression and assembly of “all citizens in a safe environment” and follow “relevant international standards” in case of use of force. 

Ioseliani said interference in freedom of assembly was only permissible in cases when the activity “takes a violent or illegal nature”, and added the use of force had to adhere to the “strict test of necessity and proportionality”.

Local media reports said law enforcements physically assaulted journalists working during the protests, while nine non-governmental organisations operating in Georgia issued a joint statement which called on the Ministry to “stop physical retaliation against peaceful demonstrators” and urged the country’s Special Investigation Service to investigate alleged violations committed by police officers.