Georgia’s ruling party says it will withdraw ‘foreign agents’ bill that led to violent protests

Protests against controversial foreign agent bill widen in Georgia

The disputed bill was seen as a copy of a Russian law that was feared to move Georgia closer to an authoritarian society. The opposition announced that it would continue its demonstrations.

Georgia lawmakers say they are withdrawing a controversial bill that would seek to designate several different entities as foreign agents.

The Georgian Dream party, which leads the country, said in a press release published on Thursday that it would withdraw the bill, which it said it had sincerely and unreservedly supported.

According to the release, the party feels that reducing social confrontation is necessary in the situation.

Demonstrations against the bill, which have turned violent, have continued in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, for two days.

The disputed bill was perceived to be a copy of the law in force in Russia, with the help of which it was feared that Georgia would move closer to an authoritarian society like Russia.

President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili and several other Western parties had time to express their support for the protests. Zurabišvili also vowed to use his veto if necessary to prevent the law from entering into force.

The opposition announced that it would continue the demonstrations

Georgia’s opposition announced on Thursday that the protests in the country will not end, even though the ruling Georgian Dream party promised to withdraw the bill.

– As long as there are no guarantees that Georgia is firmly on a westward course, these processes will not end, a group of opposition parties said in their joint declaration.

At the same time, the group demanded the release of dozens of people arrested at the demonstrations and announced that new demonstrations are planned for Thursday evening.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that the situation in the neighboring country gives cause for concern, even though Russia and Georgia do not have actual relations at the moment.

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