8 (EUROPA PRESS)
Giorgi Vashadze MP, a prominent Georgian opposition leader, has called on the population to surround the national Parliament in protest at the government’s refusal to revoke the passage of the controversial foreign agents law.
Previously, Vashadze himself had granted the Executive a period of one hour to withdraw said legislation and, stating that if it did not do so, the opposition would make a new joint statement announcing new steps to be taken, as has finally happened, the chain picks up. from Rustavi television.
Likewise, the opposition had also called for the release of those detained in the framework of the protests on Tuesday, when dozens of Georgians gathered in front of the Parliament building in a sign of rejection of the legislation. The Executive has not agreed to release the more than 70 prisoners either.
For his part, the leader of the Labor party, Shalva Natelashvili, has demanded the calling of early elections as the only solution to the situation in Georgia. Likewise, he has extolled the “heroic dedication” of the population in taking to the streets in protest against the government.
The Georgian government took a first step on Tuesday to pass a new law on foreign agents that would endorse the preparation of a “blacklist” of NGOs and entities financed by third countries. The opposition has denounced the pro-Russian overtone of this legislation, which also distances Georgia from its aspiration to join the European Union.
In fact, the European bloc issued a statement rejecting said law and emphasizing that it goes radically against community values. Likewise, part of the international community has warned that the law could negatively affect the Georgian population that benefits from the activities of these organizations.
The tension in Georgia has even transcended the political and on Tuesday there was a strong protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi. Georgian security forces tried to disperse the concentration using water cannons and even tear gas.
Part of the population has gathered again this Wednesday in the Georgian capital, this time supported by opposition leaders, in protest against the approval of the aforementioned law on foreign agents.