Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Shalba Papuashvili has threatened to crack down on demonstrators and has opened a database of people he claims are “engaging in or approving of violence, illegal acts, intimidation and extortion.” announced plans to create
The database would be published online, naming and shaming those accused of violations. Critics see this as another move to discredit government opponents.
Georgian Dream did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
After Georgia’s parliament voted 84-30 in favor of the bill on Tuesday, thousands of people gathered outside parliament in central Tbilisi, drowning out proceedings with a chorus of whistles, vuvuzelas and banging pots and pans. Riot police used water cannons and sonic weapons to disperse the crowd. Authorities have arrested dozens of people for using tear gas against peaceful protesters and are also suspected of assaulting detainees.
At one end of the rally, several masked men in black spoke to journalists and onlookers, and took photos of attendees in an apparent attempt to intimidate them. When asked by Politico to identify themselves and explain their side of the debate, they remained silent and continued to take photos of attendees.
Georgian Dream has been warned by its US and EU partners that adoption of the bill would undermine Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary Jim O’Brien warned of possible sanctions after Tuesday’s vote.
“If this law goes ahead without complying with EU norms, and there is damage to democracy here and violence against peaceful protesters, we will see restrictions imposed by the US on these. “This tends to result in financial and travel restrictions for individuals” who are responsible for these actions and their families. ”
