Internal Affairs Ministry Employees are stationed at the Parliament entrance, unlawfully barring media representatives protesting against the ruling Georgian Dream party's reintroduction of Russian law. Against this backdrop, the bureau session has commenced, with plans to register the draft law concerning so-called foreign agents.
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"We've observed that Georgian Dream has deployed a significant number of police ahead of the bureau session. We have the right to enter, but they are refusing us entry into the parliament solely because they fear free speech. They aim to use the Russian law to suppress and eliminate this freedom of speech in our country. Whether they allow us entry or not, we will continue to raise our voices and prevent the passage of this law," stated Gela Mtivlishvili, the editor-in-chief of the Mtis Ambebi publication.
Journalists have been attempting to enter the parliament for over half an hour without success. Some of them possess accreditation, while others hold permits granted by deputies.
"The yellow security level, which is usually declared in such situations since last year, has not even been announced. They did not even provide us with a formal reason for denying our entry. Legally, we are permitted to enter, but they are not allowing us. They are likely afraid of journalists' criticism, of journalists exercising their freedom of speech. They fear what this Russian law represents. There is no other explanation for all of this," stated Tazo Kupreishvili, editor of Netgazeti.
Prior to their arrival at the parliament, independent media issued a joint statement declaring their intent to prevent the Georgian Dream government from passing the Russian law.
Georgian Dream aims to have the parliament approve the Russian law regarding so-called foreign agents in all three readings by the end of the current session, a move it had postponed in March 2023 due to protests and international pressure. The text of the draft law will remain unchanged, with only the term "agent of foreign influence" being replaced by "organization carrying the interests of a foreign power." Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of Georgian Dream, emphasized that even in the event of a larger protest than last year, the bill will not be withdrawn.
The United States, NATO, and the European Union assert that the enactment of the law regarding so-called agents will impede Georgia's European integration process. Peter Stano, the press spokesperson for the EU External Action Service, reiterated the 1st and 9th recommendations of the European Commission, which stipulate that to commence accession negotiations, authorities must guarantee the unhindered operation of civil society within the country and combat disinformation targeting the EU and its values.
