Tbilisi Mayor: authorities “doing everything to maintain peace” during transparency bill protests

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi, on Wednesday said domestic authorities were “mobilised and doing everything to ensure peace” during ongoing public protests against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.

Kaladze’s comments followed a remark by Devi Chankotadze, the member of the United National Movement opposition party, who on Tuesday said adoption of the bill would “cause very bad events” in the country and the processes would “end badly if even one person dies” during the protests.

It was a very dangerous statement. Emphasis was placed on an individual's death. Hearing such statements is, of course, very difficult. [...] Obviously, radical groups have a desire to aggravate the current peaceful situation in the country”, Kaladze said.

The Mayor added “everyone has the right to express their opinion on various matters” as freedom of speech and expression was protected in the country, while adding “unlawful activities” would be followed by “legal action”.

The protest comes against the legislative initiative which calls for 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. 

The legislative piece has been reintroduced by the ruling party after its original version was retracted last year following public protests.