Georgia approves 'foreign agents' bill despite mass protests: Back to Russia's orbit? • FRANCE 24
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Another showdown in the country that launched the so-called coloured revolutions. Georgia’s parliament has shrugged off some of the biggest protests in its post-Soviet history by approving a “foreign agents” bill that mirrors legislation in neighbouring Russia. The opposition argues it is the way for the government to curb media freedom and dissent in a country which only recently graduated to EU candidate status.
Is Tbilisi returning to Russia’s orbit? Or did that already happen when oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgia Dream party won a supermajority back in 2020? That supermajority is now slated to override a presidential veto on what the opposition calls the “Russian law”. Then what?
Ahead of elections later this year, we take a look at what lessons other former Soviet states, like Armenia, Kazakhstan and of course Ukraine - which just 10 years ago was still evenly split between pro-Moscow and pro-EU citizens - can draw from the developments.
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Guillaume Gougeon and Imen Mellaz.
#Georgia #Russia #EU
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The protest of a minority is also democracy but a majority choice is more democracy
Tha majority is protesting
Hmmmm.... 100K protest from population of 3.7mil. That's 2.7% of the population. In the U.S. that would be 9.2 million.
Tbilisi is only 1.08 million so a 100K is 9.3% of the city is out. You wouldn't expect that children would be out, so, subtract 20% off of 1.08 million to make Tbilisi's population 864K and so the protesters are 11.5% of the population of Tbilisi. Yes those who protest are a minority,,, but,,,, how many will the streets hold so to make participation noticable?
Yeah, because Georgia population is a few thousands 😂@@kairaIda-ez6bp
Majority is definitely not protesting, you should see also demonstration on may 17th.
@@davidpataraia9293 With conservative estimates over 200 thousand people (with some estimates 300k, this seems exaggerated) protested several days ago in a country with 3.7 million population (an official number from 2022, a lot of people have migrated since then). Behind each protestor there are family members who support the protest, but couldn't attend. This is the biggest protest after regaining independence in 1991. If this is not the majority protest, what is?
Where is Victoria Nuland with cookies😂😂😂😂
You mean Vic Nudelman.
This time Landsbergis has come, same thing
You can't stop people of Georgia from getting their freedom and choosing their own future.
@@hhKJgf1M8a0rzt8hP The majority of Georgian people voted for the current Government.
So the majority of Georgians are OK with the Law on Foreign Agents
If the majority in the future decides different there are next elections where they can choose different parties who will abolish the Law they dont like
That is democracy
She has democracy-poisoned and delicious cakes for you. Maybe you've already tried them ?😅
To foreigners asking why we, Georgians are so appalled:
Laws in various democratic countries are very different from ours. The Georgian one doesn't concern lobbyists (unlike FARA,) but any NGO or Media that merely get more than 20% of their funding from abroad, doesn't matter if they are serving Georgian interests or not, doesn't matter they are funded from Russia or from the EU, whether they are helping the people with disabilities or are involved in politics, they are labelled as agents, which is an equivalent of spy in Georgian language and most people working in this sector now are not going to register as such, so effectively the government will get rid of the watchdogs, just like it happened in Russia. It's the same pattern. Plus they already extended the law to the physical persons, even though they had pledged they wouldn't do so. They can request any type of information from anyone connected to these NGOs or even their friends and relatives, including extremely personal data. It's downright unconstitutional at this point, but hey, they control the constitutional court too. over 200 thousand people (with some estimates 300k) protested several days ago in a country with 3.7 million population (an official number from 2022, a lot of people have migrated since then). This is the biggest protest after regaining independence in 1991.
Please, however some of you might dislike the West and loath their mistakes, make yourself familiar with the context and our struggle for freedom here, before you applaud our government for standing tall against Western pressure, they are betraying 2500 year old civilizational choice of this country and all the best people who have died and suffered for this cause. All foreigners I personally know, support us and there are some bots commenting here of course, I still wanted to get across our voice to a genuine observer.
Respectfully,
A Georgian protestor, who wishes merely to live in a free and democratic country
So no EU and RU intervention in inner affairs?!
How dare them! 😂
By limiting mi6 or CIA activities may be 😂😂😂
Let the people pick their future
Without this law, the CIA will pick their future. The US has a similar, but even stricter, law. This channel should just close shop.
We did, 78% of georgia's population chouse eu, that's why we are having a manifestations
The US, UK and EU have even more Draconian foreign interference laws.
The foreign interference law currently proposed in Canada will require disclosure if even 1% of an organization's funding is from foreign entities!
Canada's proposed law even applies to school boards ... it's not just limited to political parties and NGO's.
They don’t want to be same as Ukraine 👍
Chinese go your way!
Whatever do you mean - "whoever in Eastern Europe adopts foreign media is a rightful target for Russia"?! Thank God for the internet!
Doesn't the US also have a similar bill?
That same law exists in the USA and EU. Are they also pro-Russian?
Exactly.. what is happeening in Georgia is much less restrictive. Keeping out foreign meddling should be of interest to every country.
So, you are OK with marking international aid organization, news organization and fair election monitoring organization as foreign agents? I guess if you are going towards Dictatorship makes sense. What laws are you referring to in the EU and US? Please provide facts. Don't just say it exist.
@@georget.1203 international aid organization, news organization etc have nothing to hide ; so they are not afraid of registering....
@@georget.1203 US: "Foreign Agents Registration Act", 1938.
@@georget.1203All those organizations can continue their work.
Nice, democratically elected majority in parliament makes decisions for themselves, it's immediately pro-Russian majority. just because the law is similar to Russian. And American by the way. Are there any Russian NGOs in Georgia? anyone knows?
couldn't get a single Georgian on the Panel? France24, you're better then that!
Pay attention
There is a Georgian there, Tornike Gordadze
What's ironic is the United States has a foreign agent's law that is far stricter than either Georgia's or Russia's which only levy fines. The law in the US has criminal penalties for failure to register as a foreign agent.
EXACTLY. Does the EU also shame the US for it?
Not the same thing. US has freedom. This will kill democracy in Georgia. It cannot stay
and yet we have AIPAC running our country
@@Orson2uare you crazy? Who tells EU what to say and do???
@@tonidimitrova6078 George Soros
So Russia and China can fund French NGOs right!
If this law is pro-Russia then the USA and EU must also be pro-Russia since it has a similar law...
I guess it's only "pro-Russia" when it is not a US overseas territory.
Politicians dont make a government. Ppl do. You cant have a goevenment without ppl. Good luck with that law
amazing debate thanks
I'm confused about the difference between the various countries supporting or opposing foreign media, it seems like everyone does it in some way so we need more clarity as it relates to Georgia and Slovenia. Just saying public broadcasting and 70 years old isn't enough context.
Also, wouldn't the origin of this type of law be the large Asian country that kicked out every US partner around 2019 or so?
Laws in various democratic countries are very different from ours. The Georgian one doesn't concern lobbyists (unlike FARA,) but any NGO or Media that merely gets more than 20% of their funding from abroad, doesn't matter if they are serving Georgian interests or not, doesn't matter they are funded from Russia or from the EU, they are labelled as agents, which is an equivalent of spy in Georgian language and most people working in this sector now are not going to register as such, so effectively the government will get rid of the watchdogs, just like it happened in Russia. It's the same pattern. Plus they already extended the law to the physical persons, even though they had pledged they wouldn't and they can request any type of information from anyone connected to these NGOs or even their friends and relatives, including extremely personal info. It's downright unconstitutional at this point, but hey they control the constitutional court too.
France even can dream Georgian democrazy!!!
Whichever government West dislikes calls regime although Georgian government is democratically elected one. Do not turn Georgia to Ukraine, mind your own colonies!
Hi, I am Georgian and they have been ragging elections and using administrative resources, threatening people they will lose their jobs etc. also bribing people to vote for them. Even if they were democratically elected, they are going against our own constitution now and we have the right and duty to oppose this. Please make yourself familiar with the context before you shun the protest bc you don't like the West. We have our own agency, depriving us the agency is the most colonialist thing you could do.
Very good discussion, captured well the National contexts and regional context and issues for Georgia and Caucasus
Big win for Georgia
Wrong. This won’t end well for them. Mark this post and we’ll see how they do in a year from now
Look I'm not saying anything country in the land have not got issues however this is way out of order
The western powers showed exactly the same support for Ukraine and we all know the results. One thing I would say to the Georgian people if I could. You are very lucky to have a leadership that makes sense. They just saved your country's future.
Russian bot
@kostsks
Yes I live in Georgia it’s a wonderful system : the state pension is 100 dollars a month while the politicians in Georgian Dream are riding in 150 K BMW
Why not if you can get away with looting
Georgia should try hard not to become another Ukraine.
Western nations have their own similar foreign agent bills. So Georgia is simply following western values.
BS spewing. The US law is COMPLETELY different from the r-ian one. Propagandist cnt.
No. Watch the video, little troll.
Francois Holland was persuaded because the campaign foundling from Gaddafi
well,actually after the pathetic western commitment to ukraine ,it's no wonder that the georgian elites do not want to risk another 2008. Despite the aspirations of the people.
Maga fascists are fools
All the people need to go out is a bag of cookies and a banner. Who cares to show them who pulls the strings?
The same type of law exists in USA etc..
West not happy they can't pay people to pretend to be anti Russia without saying they are funding them 😂😂😂
What the people want - is the only choice for election! These tv presenters just can’t understand that the role of the government is to serve their country and the people! They are so detached from reality!
About a time Georgia found its head!
What happen when a country become an eu member. Look at Portugal.
❤
Don’t threaten daddy P. Be good kids.
Well done Georgian parliament for being assertive & decisive. Never give to the US and its proxies. Otherwise, the future will be like Ukraine.
Finny how adopting a law that's a common law in the USA can be so controversial in Georgia. Like, it's ok to air foreign /Russian interventions in the USA but not in Georgia? Or maybe somebody is afraid that the national endowment for democracy (haha), might be shown to be the one stirring up some not so democratic trends? Now that Ukraine is done, we need another victim...
Why is it that anything anti Western is undemocratic even though it’s a majority choice.This is nonsense.The Georgians choose to go Russian
Yes, Ruzzian Democrazy 😂😂
no we don't, in fact 85% of georgians want to be part of EU
The way EU treat their farmers. And protesters.....the EU democracy is a farce..EU is not Democratic
Why does the greed of power and money always get in the way of the human good? The Georgian people are right in doing all they can to remain a truly free democratic country as it is a way better option than the cruel suppressed other option.
A crowd? It was thousands!!!
over 200k with conservative estimates
Orban would want more EU Member States, not merely to appease and please Czar Putin in Moscow, but to act as a cohesive Block of resistance to further European liberalization and integration. Enlargement of EU could easily see the division of the EU itself into a "Western EU" and an "Eastern EU" acting as both a political and economic buffer between EU (as a whole) and Russia and as a conduit for Russian influence of European Affairs.
Who is oligarch in George Republic ???
And who are his supporters ???
Bidzina Ivanishvili, he has no supporters basically, that is to say his supporters are actually people who hate the previous government and he has been employing fearmongering to stay in power. He has no positive agenda, only fear that the previous government will return keeps their supporters in.
‘I won’t give up’… 😅
There approximately 1ngo for every 200 citizens. You don't say that. These NGO are funded by America in the most part. The media is also paid by them.
They are blackmailing the country for operating in a democratic process, with eu rejection.
And yet the eu and us have the same laws in their countries, although the president of Georgia is a specialagent for foreign interest.
Uhuru movement was stopped in the US
I've never seen political guests sound so deluded and immature. I hope they are not getting paid for this. What a waste of money. Peace and love
Why Europeans interfered in another country's affaires
The west is desperate.
Russian bot
Not really. Cool story though.
@Por0
No, because you are afraid that your mastet uncle sam won't pay for you, and that will happen in several months' time when MAGA president is in office.
Learn from Ukraine crisis and stop repeating the same in Georgia.
Gerge soras money buying these jackel who are making noise.
People loves evil.
Every countries has the right to legislative their own Laws according to their needs and interests moreover western countries has to mind their own business and cant dictate terms and conditions to Georgia or any country
Well done Georgia 🇬🇪 but be careful , we know what happened to Slovakia 🇸🇰 PM yesterday
Russian bots working overtime on this forum.
They’re everywhere.
Beware! They are also in your sleeping room! You are doomed!
Clever way of a disguise but we know that you are one.
Because western bots have become obsolete and stretched after years of pushing for chaos everywhere
Things are quite obvious. The Geogrians used to try how it tastes to confront Russia and side with NATO and now learn from mistakes. This is good.
I like Jean-Michel … seasoned diplomat who is actually trying to speak the truth here .. the other guy is next to him has no clue about the reality and is just talking nonsense as per me ..
Look his head
Better stay in step with Russia......look at the terrible things they're doing with ukraine....
Disgusting they just want there freedom
Cancel the visa free regime and suspend the EU candidacy. If they don't wanna be in that team then let them have it. Maybe they can join the Customs Union.
They are merely practicing what other EU nations have with their foreign agent policies.
@@user-vq1pt7yw9l a 5 year old could come up with a better response...
It's as if Georgia doesn't want to be like Ukraine any more.
@@ldhorricks A 5 year old would be able to tell that this clownshow is about Western foreign actors manipulating troglodytes to prevent the passing of laws stripping them of their influence. The troglodyte making the original comment doesn't deserve a better response.
You can't sit on two chairs. Either you're with EU or not. Apparently they are not. Then don't expect to get EU favors. No visa free regime.
Who doesn't want tohe Georgians to lnow who pays for the cookies? If we are full of Russian agents, why the opposition to them registering as foreign agents? Reluctant to expose the rest of the foreign agents?
Joining EU!? Why backing a dying horse? It’s absurd.
How long America will you impose will on small, moderate weak countries!!!
Sorry Georgia yiur not going to be able to stay in the EU with that bill your gone
@ 16:20 It's sad to hear the man apply the label "war party" to those assisting Ukraine's resistance to Russia's use of military force to incorporate Ukraine's territory into its own. He would have you think that effort to dissuade using military force to redraw borders is war mongering. Ukraine's assault of Russian troops ends when Russia quits sending its military into Ukraine. He is so confused and treated as though he's clear minded.
Bruhh. But how can they have a SUPER majority in the parliament but not outside it. It doesn’t make any sense
Fitso had the wrong world view. How dared he oppose the intervention in Ukraine? Wasn't he afraid of Russia at his door???
Russia do have the money stop kidding yourselves
Foreigner speak, read and write English as their second language. So they watch and learn and analyse and compare.and contrast to make their decision.
Georgia, going back to the middle age!
Because of the truth that your midia couldn't hide to act like they are Georgia's
I dont know how much you know about Georgia but it never left the middle ages lol
Chasing the Western values are now of no value at all. Invest your energies in the culture and traditions of your own country first. It has been tried and tested
Why not let these countries into EU, but put a hold on their voting power? Also, it is time that Hungry lost it voting power in the EU. So, they cannot hold up what is needed to strengthen the EU.
Hungary is one of the few EU nations that shows that it does not want a Europe completely dependent on US politics and you criticize it? 🤔
@@trumpforever6706 To see what Orbán politics is. You just need to see whom he has meetings with. Orbán is anti-west.
TL'DR: The EU wants independent countries to depend only on EU; not on other countries and not on their own citizens.
And when the EU wants them to have an opinion, the EU will give it to them.
It's quite simple, I don't understand how Georgians or Hungarians or Slovaks or Serbs don't get it.
Georgia has always been Russia,from centuries of history.
Go read the history!!!
You meant occupied !
Well done Georgia!
Georgia is not Europe and and georgians are not Europeans 😅😅 So, relax and Good luck!
What are they then, but turkey is also part of European union and they part Asia
@@TonyMontana-me2os Please educate yourself better before you make dumb comment like that. Turkey is NOT part of European union.
Deanguars