In response to massive worldwide condemnation and large-scale protests, Georgia’s ruling party has announced that it will remove a contentious proposed bill.
As a law modeled after a Russian statute started to go through parliament this week, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tbilisi in outrage.
The measure would target media and non-governmental organizations if they received more than 20% of their financing from abroad.
The main opposition party declared that it was “unconditionally” withdrawing the bill.
Georgian Dream made reference to the necessity to lessen “confrontation” in society when describing itself as a party of government accountable to all members of society.
Georgia has applied for NATO membership as well as candidate status with the European Union. The proposed legislation had been denounced by EU officials as being inconsistent with EU values.
The EU delegation in Georgia issued a statement in which it hailed the decision to repeal the law as a “positive announcement” and urged political figures to begin “pro-EU measures”.
During a second night of skirmishes between riot police and demonstrators outside of parliament, the government made a U-turn. As the protesters screamed “no to the Russian law,” tear gas and water cannons were used to scatter them.
According to the Ministry of Interior Affairs, protesters who were detained during the demonstrations have been freed.
