He Georgian Parliamentdominated by the ruling party Georgian Dream, today formally scrapped the foreign agents billafter the massive protests that led to its approval at first reading last Tuesday.
Georgian Dream and the movement People’s Force announced this Thursday that they were revoking the project, denounced by the opposition as a instrument to suppress dissent just like Russia does with a similar law.
However, the Legislative regulations indicate that a bill that has been approved on first reading cannot be withdrawn and must continue to be processed until it is rejected or approved.
For this reason, the project was submitted to a vote today in a brief plenary session, in which the project received 35 votes against and only one in favor.
A second bill, which contemplated severe penalties against those who did not comply with the regulations on foreign agents and which was not examined by the Legislature, was revoked by its promoters.
The protests and clashes of the past Tuesdays and Wednesdays between protesters and members of the riot police, who used water cannons and tear gas, resulted in more than 130 detainees and 60 police officers injured.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, most of the detainees have been released.
Previously, the Government of USA asked to respect the right to protest after the demonstrations that took place in the streets of the capital of Georgia, tbilisi.
“We urge the Georgian Government to respect the freedom of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation or violent actionrespecting the rule of law and Georgia’s democratic values,” said State Department spokesman, ned pricein a press conference.
Price showed his “support for the Georgian people and their aspirations”, as well as their universal rights, while indicating that the Government has to “reflect the aspirations of its own people”.
He also reiterated the “concern” Washington for the Foreign Agent Bills presented by tbilisias “if they become law, they would stigmatize and silence independent voices and Georgians who are dedicated to building a better future within their own communities.”
The US spokesman indicated that the approval by the “Parliament of these bills inspired by the Kremlin is incompatible with the clear desire of the people of Georgia to integrate into Europe and develop democratically.
“This is an issue that has sparked a lot of debate and protest among the people of Georgia, and we think rightly so, because the implications would be significant and could be significant for the kind of relationship we want to continue to have with the Georgian Government”, he added.
“The passage of these laws, we believe, will harm Georgia’s relations with its strategic partners and jeopardize the Euro-Atlantic future.”Price said, adding that the country “aspires to greater integration with Europe and the European Union.”
Ned Price’s statements are added to those made from Brussels by the President of the European Council, Charles-Michelwho condemned the repression of demonstrations in Georgia and insisted that the controversy foreign agent law“is not compatible” with the acquis communautaire.
(With information from EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com