After almost ten hours of discussion, the Parliament Legal Affairs Committee supported the Russian law in the second reading. "The committee supports the mentioned draft law and considers it appropriate to adopt it," said the committee chairman, Anri Okhanashvili, who expelled 14 opposition MPs from the committee during the day, turned off their microphones, and did not allow them to finish their speeches.
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Okhanashvili expelled Giorgi Vashadze, Levan Bezhashvili, Salome Samadashvili, Tamar Kordzaia, Tamar Charkviani, Ketevan Turazashvili, Ana Tsitlidze, Levan Khabeishvili, Davit Khajishvili, Giorgi Godabrelidze, Khatia Dekanoidze, Nika Machutadze, Tina Bokuchava, and Teona Akubardia from the consideration of the Russian Law. Deputies Iago Khvichia, Ana Natsvlishvili, Paata Manjgaladze, and Davit Usupashvili left the session as a sign of protest.
"In a situation where there is a draft law but no actual law, the methods you are employing today are repressive. This demonstrates why you feel the need for this law. This is neither a parliamentary nor a democratic discussion. It is fortunate that everything is recorded, as the statements made here may be used as evidence for treason charges," said Lelo member Ana Natsvlishvili, before leaving the session.
Iago Khvichia, the Girchi member, characterized the session as a sham, stating that even from a technical standpoint, the law cannot be considered adopted in the second reading. "This is a law passed in violation of the rules, in the discussion of which representatives of the population were not involved," Khvichia said.
Anri Okhanashvili expelled several representatives of non-governmental organizations from the committee, including Natia Kuprashvili, director of the regional broadcasters' association, and Lika Sajaia, parliamentary secretary of "Transparency International Georgia." They believe that all articles of the Russian Law are problematic and will hinder democracy in the country.
On April 3, 2024, Georgian Dream once again initiated the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents in parliament. This law had been withdrawn a year ago following thousands of protests, with a promise never to accept it again. The Russian Law requires independent media and non-governmental organizations that operate with grant support from international organizations and cannot be controlled by the government or related groups to register as foreign agents. More than 150 non-governmental and media organizations issued a statement declaring that they will not register in the "defamation register" under any circumstances.
