Georgia to vote on controversial law that sparked mass protests

[Pelican Press 0]

Georgia to vote on controversial law that sparked mass protests

Georgia’s parliament is expected to give final approval to a controversial “foreign agent” law that has sparked weeks of mass street protests.

Critics of the governing Georgian Dream party say the bill – which they call the “Russia law” – could be used to threaten civil liberties.

Thousands of people are gathering near the parliament to protest the expected imminent passage of the law.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has vowed the bill would pass.

On Monday, Mr Kobakhidze also warned that if authorities backed down at the bill’s third reading, Georgia would lose sovereignty and “easily share the fate of Ukraine”, without detailing what he meant.

Massive rallies have gripped the Caucasus country for nearly a month.

Photos and footage posted online in recent days appeared to show violent altercations between protesters and police.

As she walked into the parliament building on Tuesday morning, President Salome Zurabishvili – an opponent of Mr Kobakhidze – told the BBC she would veto the law. However, Georgian Dream has sufficient numbers in parliament to overrule her.

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