The Georgian Parliament, despite international partners’ massive protests and criticism, endorsed the Russian law on so-called Foreign Agents in the first reading.
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"Ivanishvili and his 83 deputies were signed into the list of Russian Agents today. Self-lustration was done. This is the register of Russian agents," said Ana Natsvilishvili, an oppositional Lelo member, who was expelled from the session hall by the parliament chairman before the vote.
73 of the 83 deputies supporting the draft law are members of the ruling Georgian Dream, and the rest are satellites of the ruling party - People's Power and European Socialists.
Georgian Dream: Zaza Lominadze, Davit Matikashvili, Samvel Manukyan, Levan Machavariani, Levan Mgaloblishvili, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Irakli Mezurnishvili, Gogi Meshveliani, Irakli Medzmariashil, Savalan Mirzoev, Givi Mikanadze, Imade Nikuradze, Anton Obolashvili, Beka Odisharia, Anri Okhanashvili, Shalva Papuashvili, Gela Samkharauli, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Viktor Sanikidze, Davit Songulashvili, Giorgi Sosiashvili, Aleksandre Tabatadze, Nodar Turdzeladze, Irakli Kadagishvili, Levan Karumidze, Merab Kvaraia, Salome Kurasbediani, Aluda Ghudushauri, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Irakli Shatakishvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Goderdzi Chankseliani, Ketevan Charkviani, Vasil Chigogidze, Giorgi Tsagareishvili, Bezhan Tsakadze, Nino Tsilosani, Khatia Tsilosani, Greta Tsitsava, Shota Khabareli, Giorgi Khakhubia, Salome Jinjolava, Giorgi Barvenashvili, Gia Benashvili, Rima Beradze, Maia Bitadze, Anzor Bolkvadze, Eliso Bolkvadze, Maka Bochorishvili, Elguja Gotsiridze, Beka Davituliani, Aleksandre Dalakishvili, Zaur Dargali, Isko Daseni, Zaal Dugladze, Gocha Enukidze, Gia Volski, Irma Zavradashvili, Irakli Zarkua, Archil Talakvadze, Edisher Toloraia, Rati Ionatamishvili, Lado Kakhadze, Giorgi Kakhiani, Kakha Kakhishvili, Paata Kvizhinadze, BaIa KvitsianI, Irakli Kirtskhali, Sumbat Kyureghian, Levan Kobiashvili, Resan Kontselidze, Mariam Lashkhi, Dimitri Samkharadze.
People Power: Davit Kacharava, Guram Macharashvili, Sozar Subari, Eka Sepashvili, Viktor Japaridze, Irakli (Dachi) Beraia, Zaal Mikeladze, Dimitri Khundadze, Mikheil Kavelashvili.
European Socialists: Avtandil Enukidze.
During the voting, there was no opposition in the meeting hall. Some of them were expelled by the parliament chairman, and some of them left the session hall of their own free will, as a sign of protest.
Georgian Dream passed a similar bill in the first reading last year, in March, but people's protests forced it to be rejected. Party leaders vowed to withdraw the bill "unconditionally, without any reservations," but a year later, in early April, it was reintroduced. The text of the draft law remained the same - only the term "agent of foreign influence" was replaced by the term "organization carrying out the interests of a foreign power". The aim of the draft law is to restrict independent media and civil society.
